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Journal of Fish Biology Jun 2017Larval development and allometric growth patterns of the black-faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi are described from a larval series (body length, L...
Larval development and allometric growth patterns of the black-faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi are described from a larval series (body length, L = 3·30-12·10 mm) caught by light traps at the Arrábida Marine Park, Portugal. Larvae of T. delaisi possess distinctive morphometric and meristic characteristics which can be used to identify this species from related taxa. Pigmentation is sparse but characteristic, consisting of pigmented eyes, gas bladder pigmentation in the dorsal region, anal pigmentation and a row of regularly spaced postanal ventral melanophores. This pattern is present from as early as the yolk-sac stage and persists throughout all stages with just the addition of head and caudal pigmentation during the flexion and postflexion stages, respectively. The majority of fin development (with the exception of the caudal fin), occurs in the later stages of development. Myomere counts range between 37 and 45 for all stages. Growth is allometric during larval development. When inflexion points of growth were detected, growth was found to be biphasic with the inflexion points occurring within a very narrow range of L (8·70-8·90 mm) close to the mean ± s.d. (9·44 ± 1·48 mm L ) of postflexion larvae. Considering allometric growth patterns and ontogenetic descriptions together, the first developmental phase includes the preflexion and flexion stage larvae, while the second phase characterises the postflexion larvae prior to the transition from larvae to juvenile.
Topics: Animal Fins; Animals; Fishes; Larva; Pigmentation; Portugal
PubMed: 28369894
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13286 -
BioMed Research International 2019is one of the most frequently isolated genera of opportunistic bacteria in animals and human beings. Staphylococci in mammals mostly inhabit the skin and mucous...
is one of the most frequently isolated genera of opportunistic bacteria in animals and human beings. Staphylococci in mammals mostly inhabit the skin and mucous membranes. The objectives of the study were to investigate the distribution of staphylococcal species in healthy and sick cats in order to find diagnostic markers. The risk factors associated with colonization were also explored. Isolates from healthy (n=520) and sick cats (n=67) were identified at the species level using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Swabs from conjunctival sacs, nares, skin, anus, and wounds were investigated using this technique. The diversity of the species was high: 26 and 17 species in healthy and sick cats, respectively, and predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated. The most frequently observed were and in healthy cats, whereas and were most often found in sick animals. strains were only isolated from healthy cats, whereas the only coagulase-positive (CoPS) which occurred in the sick cats group was . The sick, more frequently than the healthy animals, were colonized with and and the relationship was statistically significant. Mostly, regardless of the state of their health, similar species were isolated from cats; therefore, particular attention should be paid during the interpretation of diagnostic results.
Topics: Anal Canal; Animals; Cats; Coagulase; Lacrimal Apparatus; Prevalence; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 30800668
DOI: 10.1155/2019/4360525 -
BMC Veterinary Research May 2019Evidence-based comparison of the disorder-specific welfare burdens of major canine conditions could better inform targeting of stakeholder resources, to maximise...
BACKGROUND
Evidence-based comparison of the disorder-specific welfare burdens of major canine conditions could better inform targeting of stakeholder resources, to maximise improvement of health-related welfare in UK dogs. Population-level disease related welfare impact offers a quantitative, welfare-centred framework for objective disorder prioritisation, but practical applications have been limited to date due to sparse reliable evidence on disorder-specific prevalence, severity and duration across the canine disease spectrum. The VetCompass™ Programme collects de-identified electronic health record data from dogs attending primary-care clinics UK-wide, and is well placed to fill these information gaps.
RESULTS
The eight common, breed-related conditions assessed were anal sac disorder, conjunctivitis, dental disease, dermatitis, overweight/obese, lipoma, osteoarthritis and otitis externa. Annual period prevalence estimates (based on confirming 250 cases from total potential cases identified from denominator population of 455, 557 dogs) were highest for dental disorder (9.6%), overweight/obese (5.7%) and anal sac disorder (4.5%). Dental disorder (76% of study year), osteoarthritis (82%), and overweight/obese (70%) had highest annual duration scores. Osteoarthritis (scoring 13/21), otitis externa (11/21) and dermatitis demonstrated (10/21) highest overall severity scores. Dental disorder (2.47/3.00 summative score), osteoarthritis (2.24/3.00) and overweight/obese (1.67/3.00) had highest VetCompass Welfare Impact scores overall.
DISCUSSION
Of the eight common, breed-related disorders assessed, dental disorder, osteoarthritis and overweight/obese demonstrated particular welfare impact, based on combinations of high prevalence, duration and severity. Future work could extend this methodology to cover a wider range of disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
Dental disorders, osteoarthritis and overweight/obese have emerged as priority areas for health-related welfare improvement in the UK dog population. This study demonstrated applicability of a standardised methodology to assess the relative health-related welfare impact across a range of canine disorders using VetCompass clinical data.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Electronic Health Records; Primary Health Care; United Kingdom
PubMed: 31118035
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1902-0 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2009Serum hypercalcemia in dogs has been reported in association with a variety of diseases. Serum-ionized calcium (iCa) concentration is a more accurate measure of...
BACKGROUND
Serum hypercalcemia in dogs has been reported in association with a variety of diseases. Serum-ionized calcium (iCa) concentration is a more accurate measure of hypercalcemia than total serum calcium or corrected serum calcium concentrations. The severity of hypercalcemia has been utilized to suggest the most likely differential diagnosis for the hypercalcemia.
HYPOTHESIS
Diseases causing ionized hypercalcemia may be different than those that cause increases in total or corrected serum calcium concentrations. The severity of ionized hypercalcemia in specific diseases cannot be used to determine the most likely differential diagnosis for ionized hypercalcemia.
ANIMALS
One-hundred and nine client-owned dogs with a definitive cause for their ionized hypercalcemia evaluated between 1998 and 2003 were included in this study.
METHODS
Retrospective, medical records review.
RESULTS
Neoplasia, specifically lymphosarcoma, followed by renal failure, hyperparathyroidism, and hypoadrenocorticism were the most common causes of ionized hypercalcemia. Dogs with lymphoma and anal sac adenocarcinoma have higher serum iCa concentrations than those with renal failure, hypoadrenocorticism, and other types of neoplasia. The magnitude of serum-ionized hypercalcemia did not predict specific disease states.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Serum-ionized hypercalcemia was most commonly associated with neoplasia, specifically lymphosarcoma. Although dogs with lymphosarcoma and anal sac adenocarcinoma had higher serum iCa concentrations than dogs with other diseases, the magnitude of the serum iCa concentration could not be used to predict the cause of hypercalcemia. Total serum calcium and corrected calcium concentrations did not accurately reflect the calcium status of the dogs in this study.
Topics: Animals; Calcium; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Hypercalcemia; Male; Neoplasms; Renal Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 19658207
DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0288.x -
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology Dec 2021Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging modality that has been investigated for real-time surgical margin evaluation in human breast cancer patients....
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging modality that has been investigated for real-time surgical margin evaluation in human breast cancer patients. Previous veterinary OCT studies have been limited to surgical margin imaging for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) tumours. To the authors knowledge, OCT has never been used to characterize or evaluate other types of neoplasia in dogs. The goal of this study was to characterize the OCT imaging appearance of apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA) in excised ex vivo specimens from five client-owned dogs. All excised tissue surgical margins were imaged using a clinical spectral domain OCT system and two to four areas suspicious for incomplete surgical margins were selected. These areas were inked and sections were trimmed for histopathology. This enabled OCT imaging from each area of interest to be compared with corresponding H&E stained histology imaging from the same location. OCT was able to identify the presence of AGASACA at or within 1 mm of the surgical margin in all areas of interest. AGASACA, similar to the previously described canine STS, generated a dense, highly scattering image without any specific textural architecture. This study was able to validate the ability of OCT to accurately identify another type of tumour presence at or close to the surgical margin in the dog. Further study is needed to assess OCT accuracy at identifying other tumour types in dogs to understand its potential clinical applications.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Anal Sacs; Animals; Apocrine Glands; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Margins of Excision; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 32562302
DOI: 10.1111/vco.12633 -
BMC Veterinary Research Feb 2020The Chihuahua, the world's smallest dog breed, is a popular breed in the UK today. The VetCompass™ Programme collates de-identified clinical records from primary-care...
BACKGROUND
The Chihuahua, the world's smallest dog breed, is a popular breed in the UK today. The VetCompass™ Programme collates de-identified clinical records from primary-care veterinary practices in the UK for epidemiological research. This study aimed to characterise the demography, age at death and common disorders of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care during 2016 in the UK.
RESULTS
Chihuahuas comprised 11,647/336,865 (3.46%) dogs under veterinary care during 2016. The annual proportional birth rate for Chihuahuas rose from 1.01% in 2005 to 5.35% in 2016. Median adult bodyweight was 3.4 kg (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.7-4.3, range 0.8-9.8).). Median age was 2.8 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.6-4.9). Median age at death from this young expanding population was 8.2 years (IQR 3.5-12.1). Females (10.2 years) outlived males (6.9 years) (Mann-Whitney U test: P = 0.005). The most common grouped causes of death were heart disease (18.8%, 95% CI: 10.9-29.0), lower respiratory tract disorder (16.3%, 95% CI: 8.9-26.2) and traumatic injury (13.8%, 95% CI: 7.1-23.3). The most common specific disorders were periodontal disease (13.5%, 95% CI: 12.6-14.4), obesity (5.9%, 95% CI: 5.3-6.5), retained deciduous dentition (5.7%, 95% CI: 5.1-6.4), anal sac impaction (4.9%, 95% CI: 4.4-5.5) and aggression (4.2%, 95% CI: 3.7-4.8). Among the 28 most common fine-level disorders, males had statistically (P < 0.005) higher probability than females for 5 disorders (aggression, heart murmur, otitis externa, conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract infection). There were no disorders with statistically (P < 0.005) higher prevalence in females.
CONCLUSIONS
This study documented rising ownership and a currently youthful population of Chihuahuas in the UK. These results suggest that the Chihuahua is currently undergoing a popularity boom but veterinarians need to be watchful for welfare issues related to impulse purchase of Chihuahua puppies by owners with limited experience of dog care. Periodontal disease, obesity, retained deciduous dentition, anal sac impaction and aggression were identified as common health issues within the breed. The unique veterinary care needs of this popular miniature breed suggest that veterinarians should consider the value of advanced training in anesthesia and dentistry in small-sized dogs.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Body Size; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Male; Ownership; United Kingdom
PubMed: 32046714
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-2258-1 -
PloS One 2013The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the primary vector of the bacterium causing citrus huanglongbing (citrus greening), the most...
Behavioral, ultrastructural and chemical studies on the honeydew and waxy secretions by nymphs and adults of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the primary vector of the bacterium causing citrus huanglongbing (citrus greening), the most serious disease of citrus worldwide. Psyllids and other hemipterans produce large amounts of honeydew, which has been used previously as an indicator of phloem sap composition and insect feeding or metabolism. Behavioral, ultrastructural and chemical studies on ACP, its honeydew and waxy secretions showed important differences between nymphs, males and females, and suggested some mechanisms by which the psyllids, especially nymphs and adult females, can minimize their contamination with honeydew excretions. The anal opening in ACP, near the posterior end of the abdomen, is on the ventral side in nymphs and on the dorsal side in adult males and females. Video recordings showed that adult males produce clear sticky droplets of honeydew gently deposited behind their body on the leaf surface, whereas adult females produce whitish honeydew pellets powerfully propelled away from the female body, probably to get their excretions away from eggs and newly hatched nymphs. ACP nymphs produce long ribbons or tubes of honeydew that frequently stay attached to the exuviae after molting, or drop when feeding on the lower side of citrus leaves. Furthermore, honeydew excretions of both nymphs and adult females are covered with a thin layer of whitish waxy material ultrastructurally composed of a convoluted network of long fine filaments or ribbons. This material is extruded from intricate arrays of wax pores in the circumanal ring (around the anus) that is found in nymphs and females but not in males of ACP or other psyllid species. Infrared microscopy and mass spectroscopy revealed that, in addition to various sugars, honeydew excretions of ACP nymphs and females are covered with a thin layer of wax similar in profile to ester waxes.
Topics: Anal Sacs; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Bodily Secretions; Citrus; Female; Food Chain; Hemiptera; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nymph; Spectrophotometry, Infrared
PubMed: 23762268
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064938 -
The American Journal of Pathology May 1982Adenocarcinomas derived from apocrine glands of the anal sac and associated with persistent hypercalcemia in dogs were composed of tumor cells with numerous profiles of...
Adenocarcinomas derived from apocrine glands of the anal sac and associated with persistent hypercalcemia in dogs were composed of tumor cells with numerous profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum, clusters of free ribosomes, and a prominent Golgi apparatus. Neoplastic cells contained microtubules, microfilaments, tonofibrils, and had two types of electron-dense granules. Large lysosomelike dense bodies ranged from 0.6 to 2.2 microns in diameter and had a poorly delineated limiting membrane. Small granules (150-400 nm in diameter) had a sharply delineated limiting membrane with a narrow submembranous space and a homogeneous dense core. These smaller granules usually were located near the apexes of neoplastic cells, whereas the larger granules were situated near the base of cells. Apocrine cells in glands of the anal sac from control dogs that were in the secretory phase were columnar and had large dilated profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum fused with the plasmalemma and appeared to secrete their product directly into the lumens of acini, characteristic of merocrine secretion. Apical blebs of electron-lucent cytoplasm pinched off from nonneoplastic aprocine cells and were released into glandular lumens. Similar electron-lucent cytoplasmic blebs were present at the apexes of tumor cells. Myoepithelial cells were present between the epithelial cells and basement membrane in normal apocrine glands and were absent in neoplasms derived from these glands. Identification of the contents of the secretory-like granules in tumor cells and characterization of the hypercalcemic factor in the plasma or tumor tissue from dogs with this syndrome will help explain the pathogenesis of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy in animals and man.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Anal Gland Neoplasms; Anal Sacs; Animals; Cytoplasmic Granules; Cytoskeleton; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Female; Golgi Apparatus; Hypercalcemia; Ribosomes; Sweat Gland Neoplasms
PubMed: 7200729
DOI: No ID Found -
Analytical Chemistry Feb 2021Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy is a powerful tool that can quantify complex biomolecules and their structural conformations. However, conventional approaches to...
Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy is a powerful tool that can quantify complex biomolecules and their structural conformations. However, conventional approaches to protein analysis in aqueous solutions have been significantly challenged because the strong IR absorption of water overwhelms the limited dynamic range of the detection system and thus allows only a very short path length and a limited concentration sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate a solvent absorption compensation (SAC) approach that can improve the concentration sensitivity and extend the available path length by distinguishing the analyte signal over the full dynamic range at each wavelength. Absorption spectra without any postprocessing show good linearity from 100 to 0.1 mg/mL protein concentration, allowing a >100 times enhanced signal-to-noise ratio in the amide I band compared to the non-SAC results. We apply this method to investigate the isothermal kinetics of insulin fibrillation at two clinical concentrations at 74 °C for 18 h. Simultaneous monitoring of both reactants (native forms) and products (fibrils) allows quantitative discussion of the detailed fibrillation mechanisms, which are not accessible with other single modality measurements. This simple optical technique can be applied to other absorption spectroscopies of analytes in strongly absorbing solvents, allowing for enhanced sensitivity without changing the detection system.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Insulin; Kinetics; Models, Chemical; Protein Structure, Secondary; Proteins; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Water
PubMed: 33433190
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04091 -
Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.Canine Medicine and Genetics Jan 2024Shih Tzus are a popular dog breed in the UK although there is relatively little reported information on their health. This study aimed to characterise the demography,...
BACKGROUND
Shih Tzus are a popular dog breed in the UK although there is relatively little reported information on their health. This study aimed to characterise the demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzus under primary veterinary care during 2016 in the UK using de-identified clinical records from the VetCompass™ Programme.
RESULTS
The study population of 336,865 dogs under veterinary care during 2016 included 11,082 Shih Tzus (3.3%). The median age was 4.1 years (IQR: 2.1-7.1, range: 0.3-20.4) and mean adult bodyweight was 7.9 kg (SD: 1.9 kg). Annual proportional births increased from 2.2% of all dog births in 2005 to 3.8% in 2013, dropping to 3.3% by 2016. From a random subset of 2,423 Shih Tzus that had information extracted on disorders diagnosed during 2016, the most prevalent fine-level precision disorders were periodontal disease (n = 229, prevalence 9.5%, 95% CI: 8.4-10.7), anal sac impaction (180, 7.4%, 95% CI: 6.5-8.5) and ear disorders (134, 5.5%, 95% CI: 4.7-6.5). The most prevalent grouped-level precision disorders were cutaneous (n = 402, prevalence: 16.6%, 95% CI: 15.2-18.1), dental (322, 13.3%, 95% CI: 12.0-14.7), and ophthalmological (289, 11.9%, 95% CI: 10.7-13.3). Males were more likely than females to be diagnosed with skin disorders (P = 0.007) and musculoskeletal disorders (P = 0.010) while females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with hernias (P = 0.005). The median age of death was 12.7 years (IQR 8.7-14.3, range 2.0-19.9) and did not differ statistically between males and females. The most common grouped causes of death were enteropathy (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4), heart disease (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4) and poor quality of life (7.9%, 95% CI: 3.9-15.4).
CONCLUSIONS
Periodontal disease, anal sac impaction and ear disorders were identified as common health issues. Shih Tzus had higher prevalence of anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than reported previously in dogs overall, suggesting potential predispositions. Shih Tzus appear to be relatively long-lived compared to previous reports of lifespan in dogs overall. The results can inform veterinarians and owners on priority disorders for monitoring to protect welfare. Oral hygiene was highlighted as a healthcare priority.
PubMed: 38263229
DOI: 10.1186/s40575-023-00135-y