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Although vaccination is an effective measure in reducing the risk of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in cattle, BRDC losses remain significant. Increasing the efficacy of vaccination depends on elucidating the protective immune response to different antigens included in vaccines, determining the best timing for vaccination, and understanding the impact of the age of the calf on vaccination. This study measured the serum antibodies present in calves following vaccination against 4 viruses commonly associated with BRDC: bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 and 2 (BVDV1 and BVDV2), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1). Serum antibody titers were measured in more than 1,600 calves at 3-wk intervals starting at the time of the first vaccination. This first vaccination occurred at weaning for approximately half of the individuals and 3 wk before weaning for the other half. Dam age (years), time of weaning (initial vaccination or booster vaccination), and age of calf within year-season (days within year-season) classification all were found to have a significant effect on measured traits such as the initial titer and overall response. An increased initial titer was negatively correlated with each response trait (initial, booster, and overall response). Calves that were weaned at initial vaccination had greater overall antibody response to BVDV1 and BVDV2 compared with calves weaned 3 wk before initial vaccination. In contrast, calves given their initial vaccination 3 wk before weaning had greater overall antibody response to BRSV and BHV1 compared with calves that were vaccinated at weaning. Furthermore, the circulating antibody titer at which each virus needed to be below for an individual calf to positively respond to vaccination was determined (log2 titer of 0.38 for BVDV1, 1.5 for BVDV2, 3.88 for BRSV, and 1.5 for BHV1). This information can be used to improve vaccination protocols to allow for a greater response rate of individuals to vaccination and, hopefully, improved protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consumers are becoming increasingly conscientious about the nutritional value of their food. Consumption of some fatty acids has been associated with human health traits such as blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is important to investigate genetic variation in content of fatty acids present in meat. Previously publications reported regions of the cattle genome that are additively associated with variation in fatty acid content. This study evaluated epistatic interactions, which could account for additional genetic variation in fatty acid content. Results: Epistatic interactions for 44 fatty acid traits in a population of Angus beef cattle were evaluated with EpiSNPmpi. False discovery rate (FDR) was controlled at 5 % and was limited to well-represented genotypic combinations. Epistatic interactions were detected for 37 triacylglyceride (TAG), 36 phospholipid (PL) fatty acid traits, and three weight traits. A total of 6,181, 7,168, and 0 significant epistatic interactions (FDR < 0.05, 50-animals per genotype combination) were associated with Triacylglyceride fatty acids, Phospholipid fatty acids, and weight traits respectively and most were additive-by-additive interactions. A large number of interactions occurred in potential regions of regulatory control along the chromosomes where genes related to fatty acid metabolism reside. Conclusions: Many fatty acids were associated with epistatic interactions. Despite a large number of significant interactions, there are a limited number of genomic locations that harbored these interactions. While larger population sizes are needed to accurately validate and quantify these epistatic interactions, the current findings point towards additional genetic variance that can be accounted for within these fatty acid traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a relationship between liver stiffness measurement ( LSM) and outcome of HCV patients. Aim To evaluate the performance of LSM to predict outcome of HCV patients at risk of liver-related complication. Methods We established a retrospective longitudinal cohort of 341 HCV patients with unequivocal cirrhosis. All underwent LSM and were followed from September 2006 to July 2015. Outcome measure was a composite end-point of end-stage liver disease ( ESLD) and/or hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC). Cox models and areas under receiver operating characteristic ( AUROC) curves were used to evaluate independent risk factors of outcome. Results Overall, LSM was below the 12.5 kPa threshold in 129 (37.8%) patients, including three-fourth and one-third of patients with or without a sustained virological response respectively. Liver disease progressed in 136 (39.9%) patients after a median observational period of 23.5 months. Older age, male gender, alcohol use disorders, metabolic syndrome and LSM were independent risk factors of liver disease progression. Age, alcohol use disorders and LSM were independently associated with ESLD. Age, gender and metabolic syndrome, but not LSM, were associated with HCC. The AUROC curves for disease progression, ESLD and HCC were 0.67, 0.70 and 0.58 respectively. Patients with a liver stiffness >12.5 kPa were at the highest risk of liver disease progression; below 12.5 kPa, liver stiffness was not discriminant. Conclusion Liver stiffness measurement is not a surrogate of disease progression of HCV patients with cirrhosis. HCV patients with cirrhosis should undergo the recommended follow-up, regardless of liver stiffness measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide®, Merial) is the only approved adulticidal drug for the treatment of canine heartworm disease (HWD). However, in cases where arsenical therapy is not possible or is contraindicated, a monthly heartworm preventive along with doxycycline for a 4-week period, which targets the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia , might be considered. There are published reports on the efficacy of ivermectin and doxycycline in both experimentally and naturally infected dogs, but no data on the use of other macrocyclic lactones (MLs) with a similar treatment regime. Preliminary results of studies in dogs show that a topical formulation of moxidectin, the only ML currently registered as a microfilaricide, is also adulticidal when combined with doxycycline. It is not yet known if the efficacy of these combination therapies is due to pharmacokinetic synergism. A recent study showed that serum levels of doxycycline in dogs treated with the combination protocol were not statistically different compared to dogs treated with doxycycline alone. However, lungs from dogs treated with the combination therapy showed a marked reduction in T regulatory cells, indicating that treatment efficacy may be due to a heightened immune response against the parasite. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of combination protocols and to establish the most efficient treatment for HWD in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid ( AMPA)-type glutamate receptors play a key role in mediating glutamatergic transmission in the cortex. Perampanel (2-[2-oxo-1-phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl] benzonitrile) is a potent, orally active, highly selective, non-competitive AMPA-type glutamate receptor antagonist, identified via a focused discovery program at Eisai Research Laboratories. Development of perampanel as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures was planned in keeping with regulatory guidance and guidelines on antiepileptic drug ( AED) development. This is the first AED with a specific action on glutamate-mediated excitatory neurotransmission to show evidence of efficacy and tolerability in reducing treatment-refractory partial-onset seizures in Phase III clinical trials. Perampanel ( Fycompa®) has been approved in the EU and the United States for adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adulticide therapy in heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)-infected dogs can lead to thromboembolism, which can seriously compromise post-treatment health status. Lung pathology following adulticide therapy was evaluated in three groups of experimentally infected dogs. Group 1 was treated with doxycycline at 20mg/kg per os once daily for 30 days post infection followed by an intramuscular injection of melarsomine dihydrochloride (2.5mg/kg) at Week 12, followed 1 month later by two injections 24h apart. Group 2 was treated as described for Group 1, with the addition of ivermectin at 6 mcg/kg given monthly per os for 24 weeks post-infection. Group 3 received melarsomine alone, as described above. All dogs were necropsied at Week 24 and lung pathology was evaluated. Lesion criteria included perivascular inflammation and endothelial proliferation. Lesions were scored by two independent pathologists who were blinded as to treatment. Results indicate that doxycycline treatment alone or combined with ivermectin had lower lesion scores than lungs from dogs who had received melarsomine alone. Dogs that received the combined doxycycline/ivermectin protocol and treated with adulticide showed less severe arterial lesions and the virtual absence of thrombi. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The antifilarial effects of tetracycline drugs were first demonstrated when they were found to be highly effective against L3 and L4 of Brugia pahangi and Litomosoides sigmodontis in rodent models. Tetracyclines are also now known to have activity against microfilariae and adult Dirofilaria immitis, but assessment of their activity against larval and juvenile heartworms has not been reported previously. This study assessed the effects of doxycycline administered orally at 10mg/kg twice daily for 30-day periods at selected times during the early part of the life cycle of D. immitis in dogs with dual infections of D. immitis and B. pahangi. Twenty beagles were randomly allocated by weight to four groups of five dogs each. On Day 0, each dog was given 50 D. immitis L3 and 200 B. pahangi L3 by SC injection. Dogs received doxycycline on Days 0–29 (Group 1); Days 40–69 (Group 2); or Days 65–94 (Group 3). Group 4 served as untreated controls. Blood samples were collected for microfilariae counting and antigen testing. Necropsy for collection of adult heartworms and selected tissues were performed Days 218–222. Heartworms recovered were examined by immunohistology, conventional microscopy/transmission electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. No live heartworms were recovered from dogs in Group 1; dogs in Group 2 had 0 to 2 live worms (98.4% efficacy), and dogs in Group 3 had 0–36 live worms (69.6% efficacy). All control dogs had live adult heartworms (25–41). The live worms recovered from dogs in Groups 2 and 3 were less developed and smaller that worms from control dogs. Microfilariae were not detected in any dogs in Groups 1 and 2; one dog in Group 3 had 1 microfilariae/ml at necropsy. All control dogs had microfilariae at necropsy. One dog in Group 1 was antigen positive at one sampling (Day 166). One dog in Group 2 was antigen positive Days 196 and 218–222 and three dogs in Group 3 were antigen positive at one or more samplings All five control dogs were antigen positive at all three sampling times. These findings suggest that doxycycline at 10mg/kg orally twice daily for 30 days has efficacy against migrating tissue-phase larvae and juvenile worms and will delay or restrict microfilarial production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Capillaria plica (Trichuroidea: Capillariidae), commonly known as bladderworm, is a nematode rarely associated with clinical disease that resides in the lower urinary tract of wild and domestic canids. In the present paper a case of canine urinary capillariosis associated with glomerular amyloidosis is described. The dog, an 8-year-old, male, hunting Jagd terrier had a history of weight loss and diarrhoea and was referred to the University of Parma Teaching Veterinary Hospital (UPTVH). Clinical and laboratory tests shown here suggest that C. plica may be a contributing factor to glomerular amyloidosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Since the definitive identification in 1995 of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia that resides in different tissues of the filarial worm Dirofilaria immitis, there has been increasing interest to understand whether and what role it plays in the pathogenesis of and immune response to heartworm infection. The present study evaluated the effects of treatments on lung pathology in 20 beagle dogs experimentally infected with D. immitis. Dogs in Group 1 were treated with doxycycline (10mg/kg/day) orally from weeks 0–6, 10–12, 16–18, 22–26, and 28–34. Dogs in Group 2 served as infected, non-treated controls. Dogs in Group 3 were given doxycycline as described for Group 1 combined with weekly oral doses of ivermectin (6mcg/kg) for 34 weeks and intramuscular (IM) melarsomine (2.5mg/kg) at week 24, followed by two additional melarsomine injections 24h apart 1 month later. Group 4 received only melarsomine as described for Group 3. Lung lesion criteria, scored by two independent blinded pathologists, included perivascular inflammation and endothelial proliferation. Doxycycline treatment alone had no effect on lesion scores, whereas the combination of doxycycline and ivermectin resulted in less severe perivascular inflammation. All lungs were evaluated for positive immunostaining for the Wolbachia surface protein (WSP). Control dogs showed numerous thrombi, intense perivascular and interstitial inflammation and, occasionally, positive staining for WSP. Interestingly, dogs receiving doxycycline/ivermectin/melarsomine showed significantly less severe arterial lesions and the virtual absence of thrombi. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agency and nonagency supportive resources contributed to the stability and well-being of 34 newly adoptive families over 3 years. Results revealed significant pre- to postadoption declines in families' contact and satisfaction with formal and informal helping resources. Greater preadoption contact with formal adoption agency staff predicted adoption stability and lower levels of family conflict at the 3-year assessment. The results highlight the importance of providing adoptive families with formal and informal support that meets their evolving needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In critically ill patients, hepatic dysfunction is regarded as a late organ failure associated with poor prognosis. We investigated the incidence and prognostic implications of early hepatic dysfunction (serum bilirubin >2 mg/dL within 48 hrs of admission).Design: Prospective, multicenter cohort study.Setting: Thirty-two medical, surgical, and mixed intensive care units.Patients: A total of 38,036 adult patients admitted consecutively over a period of 4 yrs.Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: Excluding patients with preexisting cirrhosis (n = 691; 1.8%) and acute or acute-on-chronic hepatic failure (n = 108, 0.3%), we identified 4,146 patients (10.9%) with early hepatic dysfunction. These patients had different baseline characteristics, longer median intensive care unit stays (5 vs. 3 days; p < .001) and increased hospital mortality (30.4% vs. 16.4%; p < .001). Hepatic dysfunction was also associated with higher observed-to-expected mortality ratios (1.02 vs. 0.91; p < .001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed an independent mortality risk of hepatic dysfunction (odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.71-2.03; p < .001), which exceeded the impact of all other organ dysfunctions. A case-control study further confirmed these results: Patients with early hepatic dysfunction exhibited significantly increased raw and risk-adjusted mortality compared with control subjects.Conclusions: Our results provide strong evidence that early hepatic dysfunction, occurring in 11% of critically ill patients, presents a specific and independent risk factor for poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of five genes surrounding the callipyge ( CLPG) mutation was analysed in skeletal muscles from lambs at one prenatal and two postnatal ages that coincide with the onset and establishment of muscle hypertrophy. Genotype-specific changes in transcript abundance were detected for paternal allele-specific DLK1 and PEG11 (the official symbol of the latter is RTL1) and the maternal allele-specific MEG3, PEG11AS and MEG8 when the mutation was inherited in cis. There were differences in the temporal and muscle-specific effects on expression between the maternal allele-specific genes and paternal allele-specific genes. Maternal inheritance of the CLPG allele had a significant effect on the expression of MEG3 and MEG8 at prenatal and postnatal ages, whereas paternal inheritance of DLK1 and PEG11 only affected postnatal expression. Genotype-specific changes in PEG11AS expression were detected only in prenatal muscle. Maternal inheritance of the mutation caused similar changes in MEG3 and MEG8 expression in the semimembranosus, which undergoes hypertrophy, and the supraspinatus, which does not hypertrophy. Paternal inheritance of the mutation caused changes in PEG11 expression in both muscles, although the magnitude of expression in semimembranosus was more than 100-fold greater than in supraspinatus. DLK1 expression was upregulated in callipyge animals at both postnatal ages in the semimembranosus, but there was no effect of genotype on DLK1 expression in the supraspinatus at any age. Increased DLK1 expression was likely the primary cause of muscle hypertrophy, but a contribution of PEG11 to the phenotype cannot be ruled out based on gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two unusual cases of heartworm infection are described, including one of spontaneous rupture of cardiac chambers, most likely due to the progressive increase in pressure within the right ventricle caused by Dirofilaria immitis infection. Another case report describes persistent left cranial vena cava, which interfered with the surgical removal of heartworm via the left jugular vein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Human and animal parasitic filarial nematodes, which often are the cause of severe disease, harbor intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (Rickettsiaceae). It is thought that these bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune response to filarial infection. In order to determine the possible role of Wolbachia in heartworm disease, dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis were studied for specific antibody response to Wolbachia surface protein (WSP). Antibody subclasses were analyzed to determine immune response polarization. Dogs that died from heartworm disease were necropsied, and various organs were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine whether Wolbachia-derived molecules were present in tissue from infected dogs. Humoral response to the WSP was present in all infected dogs and appeared to be predominantly of the Th1-type. Several organs, including lung, liver, and kidney, contained positive-staining cells for WSP, confirming that the canine host does come into contact with Wolbachia-derived molecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: To characterise the cognitive, motor, and language skills of toddlers and preschoolers who had been physically abused and to obtain concurrent MRIs of the brain. Methods: A between groups design was used to compare a sample of 19 children, aged 14-77 months, who had been hospitalised for physical abuse with no evidence of neurological injury to a comparison group of 19 children matched for age and socioeconomic status. Children underwent cognitive, language, and motor testing within three months of their discharge from the hospital. Caregivers of the injured children were interviewed and were asked to complete questionnaires to characterise the child's developmental level and behaviour just prior to the hospitalisation. Results: Children who had been physically abused scored significantly lower than the comparison group on measures of cognitive functioning, motor skills, and language skills. The groups did not differ in child behaviour ratings completed by the caregivers. MRI of the brain was performed for 15 children in the physical abuse group; two were found to have significant cerebral atrophy. Conclusions: Children who have been physically abused are at high risk for delays in cognitive, motor, and language development. Standard of care for these children should include developmental testing as well as neuroimaging of the brain to detect occult brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To investigate pharmacokinetics and metabolism of sodium citrate in critically ill patients. To determine the risk of citrate accumulation in the setting of liver dysfunction (cirrhosis, hepatorenal syndrome). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital Vienna. PATIENTS: Consecutive critically ill cirrhotic (n = 16) and noncirrhotic patients (n = 16). INTERVENTIONS: Infusion of sodium citrate (0.5 mmol.kg-1.hr-1) and calcium chloride (0.17 mmol.kg-1.hr-1) for 2 hrs. Analysis of serial arterial blood samples. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Total body clearance of citrate was normal in noncirrhotic critically ill patients but significantly reduced in cirrhotic patients (710 vs. 340 mL/min, p =.008). Citrate peak concentrations and concentration over time were increased by 65% and 114% in cirrhotic patients (p <.001), respectively; volumes of distribution were similar. Net metabolic changes were quantitatively similar, with pH and plasma bicarbonate concentrations increasing more slowly in cirrhotic patients. No citrate-related side effects were noted. Citrate clearance could not be predicted by standard liver function tests and was not appreciably influenced by renal function and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. CONCLUSIONS: This first systematic study on citrate pharmacokinetics and metabolism in critically ill patients confirms a major role of hepatic citrate metabolism by demonstrating reduced citrate clearance in cirrhotic patients. Pharmacokinetic data could provide a basis for the clinical use of citrate anticoagulation in critically ill patients. Provided dose adaptation and monitoring of ionized calcium, citrate anticoagulation seems feasible even in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Metabolic consequences of citrate infusion were not different between groups in this study but may be more pronounced in prolonged infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case of a first episode of psychosis among members of different associations of families of mentally ill people, little is known about their priorities and how satisfied they are with the help provided to them. A survey was conducted in five European family associations. Respondents emphasized the need for early (ambulant) intervention through outreach with very practical goals directed at creating stability and social functioning. About one-third of the respondents are unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. The highest percentage of unsatisfied respondents was in the following five areas of care: advice on how to handle specific problems; help with preserving or regaining social functioning; help with regaining structure and routine; information; prompt assistance preferably in patientˈs own environment. The agreement of these findings with findings from earlier studies underlines the importance of suggesting specific changes in the delivery of care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The curriculum in veterinary medicine in Italy is undergoing important changes, as in the rest of Europe. The 2001 fall semester will mark the beginning of a new format for the degree in veterinary medicine and these changes will obviously affect the teaching of veterinary parasitology. In Italy, veterinary parasitology is usually taught in the third year with a disciplinary approach, similar to that described by Euze´by [Vet. Parasitol. 64 (1996) 21] and Eckert [Vet. Parasitol. 88 (2000) 117]. Approximately 90 h of lectures and 40 h of laboratory are offered and are usually divided into parasitology, followed by parasitic diseases. A more problem-oriented approach to parasitology is offered to fifth-year students within several professional routes (large animal medicine, small animal medicine, hygiene and food safety, etc.), amounting to approximately 15–60 h per student. Indeed, in the last year of study, there are less students and it is possible to present clinical cases and orient the students towards team work and critical discussion. This new curriculum gurantees a reduction in the number of lecture hours and an increase in both laboratory work and personal study, as suggested by the guidelines of the European association of establishment for veterinary education (EAEVE). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Describes oscillatory media using the Ginzburg-Landau approach. Generic aspects of oscillatory media; Modeling of real chemical systems by the Ginzberg-Landau equation; Effect of natural forcings on chemical oscillators; Effects of convection on chemical waves; Effect of vertical gradients on chemical oscillations.

The role of carbon produced from the decomposition of CO-CO gas mixtures traditionally is ignored during oxidation experiments, and only the oxygen potential established by the gas mixture is generally considered. Accordingly, to overcome this problem, a model which takes into account both carbon and oxygen dissolution into a p-type scale has been developed and tested. Two distinct cases of the model were tested at 1002°C. In the first case, variable CO/CO ratios were used to determine the parabolic kinetics. Thus, both variable oxygen and carbon potentials were studied. In the p-type region of MnO, the developed model appeared to hold quite well. In the second case, constant CO-CO ratios diluted with helium were utilized to maintain a constant oxygen potential with a variable carbon activity. The developed model appeared to hold again for the p-type region of MnO. Metallographically it was noted that the MnO scale developed exhibited an outer compact region and an inner layer that was somewhat porous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial communities residing in the mosquito midgut play a key role in determining the outcome of mosquito pathogen infection. Elizabethkingia anophelis, originally isolated from the midgut of Anopheles gambiae possess a broad-spectrum antiviral phenotype, yet a gap in knowledge regarding the mechanistic basis of its interaction with viruses exists. The current study aims to identify pathways and genetic factors linked to E. anophelis antiviral activity. The understanding of E. anophelis antiviral mechanism could lead to novel transmission barrier tools to prevent arboviral outbreaks. We utilized a non-targeted multi-omics approach, analyzing extracellular lipids, proteins, metabolites of culture supernatants coinfected with ZIKV and E. anophelis. We observed a significant decrease in arginine and phenylalanine levels, metabolites that are essential for viral replication and progression of viral infection. This study provides insights into the molecular basis of E. anophelis antiviral phenotype. The findings lay a foundation for in-depth mechanistic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the local intermixing of gallium aluminum arsenide quantum wells using an individual ion implant tracks. Use of ion-beam mixing in formulating lower dimensional structures in quantum wells; Effects of ion implantation on photoluminescence spectra; Effectiveness of ion beam technique in fabricating quantum structures.

Background: Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is one of the most important sources of loss within the beef cattle industry in the USA. Steps have been taken to reduce the incidence of BRDC through vaccination. Despite the effectiveness of vaccines, large proportions of cattle still experience morbidity and mortality. Identification of genomic regions that are associated with variation in response to vaccination would allow for the selection of individuals genetically predisposed to respond to vaccination based on specific markers, while heritability and accuracy estimates would help facilitate genomic selection. This in turn may lead to selection for beef cattle herds that may have lower incidence rate of BRDC after vaccination. This study utilizes an Angus herd of more than 2000 head of cattle to identify these regions of association. Results: Genome wide association studies were performed for viral neutralization antibody level and response to vaccination traits against four different viruses associated with BRDC: bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2 (BVDV1 and BVDV2), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine herpesvirus (BHV1). A total of six 1-Mb windows were associated with greater than 1% of the genetic variance for the analyzed vaccination response traits. Heritabilities ranged from 0.08 to 0.21 and prediction accuracy ranged from 0.01 to 0.33 across 7 different vaccination traits. Conclusions: Although six 1-Mb windows were identified as associated with 1% or greater genetic variance for viral neutralization antibody level and response to vaccination traits, few genes around these windows could readily be considered candidates. This indicates the need for further functional genomic annotation, as these regions appear to be gene deserts. Traits ranged from lowly to moderately heritable, which indicated the potential for selection of individuals that are genetically pre-disposed to respond to vaccination. The relatively low amount of genetic variance accounted for by any 1-Mb window indicated that viral neutralization antibody level and response to vaccination traits are polygenic in nature. Selection for these traits is possible, but likely to be slow due to the low heritabilities and absence of markers with high genetic variation associated with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), an important vector of West Nile virus (WNV) in the U.S.A., was first detected on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) in the 1980s. However, little is known of its ecology, distribution or capacity for arbovirus transmission in the Galápagos. We characterize details of lifecycle (including gonotrophic period), temporal abundance, spatial distribution, vector competence and host‐feeding behaviour. Culex quinquefasciatus was detected on five islands of the Galápagos during 2006–2011. A period of 7–14 days was required for egg–adult emergence; water salinity above 5 ppt was demonstrated to hinder larval development. Blood‐meal analysis indicated feeding on reptiles, birds and mammals. Assessment of WNV vector competency of Galápagos C. quinquefasciatus showed a median infectious dose of 7.41 log10 plaque‐forming units per millilitre and evidence of vertical transmission (minimal filial infection rate of 3.7 per 1000 progeny). The distribution of C. quinquefasciatus across the archipelago could be limited by salt intolerance, and its abundance constrained by high temperatures. Feeding behaviour indicates potential to act as a bridge vector for transmission of pathogens across multiple taxa. Vertical transmission is a potential persistence mechanism for WNV on Galápagos. Together, our results can be used for epidemiological assessments of WNV and target vector control, should this pathogen reach the Galápagos Islands. Invasive mosquito species can transmit novel disease pathogens; Culex quinquefasciatus Say is a recent invader of the Galápagos archipelago, where it has been found on five of the islands.In Galápagos, high temperatures limit C. quinquefasciatus abundance, and water salinity hinders larval development. They blood‐feed on reptiles, birds and mammals, and could act as bridge vectors for arboviral transmission.Experimental infection studies indicate Galápagos C. quinquefasciatus can transmit West Nile virus vertically to progeny, as well as horizontally to potential susceptible hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor that focuses on the quality of life in Polish patients with psoriasis is presented.

Analyzes the risk factors associated with seropositivity to neospora caninum in dogs. Absence of significant interaction between risk factors; Prevalence value for serum antibodies; Confirmation of several factors.

Highlights the workshop on Pattern Formation in Liquid Crystals in Waischenfeld/Bayreuth, Germany. Introduction of a bi-annual series on pattern formation in complex systems; Use of temperature oscillation in dendrite growth regularization; Correlation between the Couette flow and the flow alignment properties of materials.