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Objective—To determine the seroprevalence of antibody against canine influenza virus H3N8 in a group of pet dogs that participate in flyball in Pennsylvania. Design—Serologic survey. Animals—Dogs attending a flyball tournament in Downingtown, Pa, from November 13 to 14, 2009. Procedures—Blood samples were collected from dogs following owner consent. Medical, travel, and activity history of the dogs for the previous 10.5 months was obtained from owners. Serum was harvested and submitted to Cornell University Diagnostic Laboratory for measurement of antibody against canine influenza virus H3N8 via hemagglutination inhibition testing. Results—Serum samples were obtained from 100 of 256 dogs participating in the flyball event. Although 3 of the 100 (3%) samples had positive results for antibody against canine influenza, none of the associated dogs had respiratory signs of infection (eg, coughing, sneezing, or nasal or ocular discharge) in the 10.5 months prior to testing. Eleven dogs had a history of respiratory signs, but none of those dogs had antibody against canine influenza H3N8. In addition, none of the study dogs had been vaccinated against canine influenza H3N8. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Although canine influenza is considered enzootic in certain areas of the country (eg, Pennsylvania or New York), this study identified a low seroprevalence in dogs considered at high risk for infection given their life conditions and geographic origins. More research is warranted to elucidate the prevalence of exposure to the H3N8 virus in competitive sporting dogs and determine whether vaccination is warranted in such dogs.

Corticosterone is the primary glucocorticoid hormone produced by reptiles in response to stressful stimuli. Evaluating hormone responses to stress in reptiles relies on acquiring baseline corticosterone levels; however, the stress associated with restraint needed to collect blood samples from animals can affect the results. Therefore, it is important to obtain a blood sample in a relatively short time after the capture of an animal. In some avian and reptilian species, a “3 min rule” has been determined, suggesting that blood samples collected within 3 min of capture are more likely to represent baseline corticosterone levels. The purpose of this study was to determine a time limit for collection of blood samples to evaluate baseline corticosterone concentrations in captive gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus. Four nonreleasable, adult gopher tortoises were used for this study. All tortoises were acclimated to their captive environment for 10 months. Each tortoise was then manually restrained f...

Objective—To determine the level of agreement between direct and indirect blood pressure measurements obtained from healthy Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) anesthetized with isoflurane. Design—Validation study. Animals—16 healthy adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots. Procedures—Parrots were anesthetized, and a 26-gauge, 19-mm catheter was placed percutaneously in the superficial ulnar artery for direct measurement of systolic, mean, and diastolic arterial pressures. Indirect blood pressure measurements were obtained with a Doppler ultrasonic flow detector and an oscillometric unit. The Bland-Altman method was used to compare direct and indirect blood pressure values. Results—There was substantial disagreement between direct systolic arterial blood pressure and indirect blood pressure measurements obtained with the Doppler detector from the wing (bias, 24 mm Hg; limits of agreement, −37 to 85 mm Hg) and from the leg (bias, 14 mm Hg; limits of agreement, −14 to 42 mm Hg). Attempts to obtain indirect blood pressure measurements with the oscillometric unit were unsuccessful. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that there was substantial disagreement between indirect blood pressure measurements obtained with a Doppler ultrasonic flow detector in anesthetized Hispaniolan Amazon parrots and directly measured systolic arterial blood pressure.

The recently published dose response data by Dr Redpath's research group for low energy (30 kVp) mammography X-rays, displaying Adaptive Response (AR) radio-protective behavior, is significant for millions of American women that undergo annual breast cancer screening. We here, using the recently developed Microdose Model that encompasses the Bystander Effect (BE) and AR behavior, examine the data for BE, AR and high radiation domination by the priming radiations high dose Direct Damage.The dose response is divided into three regions, Bystander Effect Region, Adaptive Response Region and Direct Damage Region (with possible retention of the AR protection). The Bystander Effect Region is below the microdose Specific Energy deposition for single photon induced charged particle traversals through the cell nucleus (the microdose Specific Energy Deposition per Traversal value =z1= 0.638 cGy per Hit). Strong evidence is shown that a protective BE of about 50% occurs at a very low dose of 0.054 cGy, the BE is depleted reverting the response back to nearly the zero dose control value at 0.27 cGy, a 42% AR protection then is developed at 1.08 cGy and then the Direct Damage increasingly begins to dominate in the range from 5.4-21.6 cGy. Using the precise Method of Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE), the high dose Direct Damage Region is examined. We show that to the dose of 21.6 cGy the AR protection is retained in spite of the significant Direct Damage. We apply the same MLE analysis to the Redpath data for 137Cs gammas and find that the AR protection is completely dissipated at high Direct Damage inducing doses of 100 cGy.The model shows that a protective BE of about 50% occurs at a low factor of 12 below single tracks traversals where less than 10% of the cell nuclei have been hit. Poisson distributed single tracks activates the 42% AR protection. The AR protection is retained at high dose but one needs to understand why 137Cs does not. Other Redpath group AR data sets for 137Cs, 232 MeV protons, and brachytherapy 125I photons did not reveal BE since the lowest data points were above thez1for the radiations, but diagnostic X-rays do.

Turtle-associated salmonellosis was first recognized as a public health concern in the 1960's, particularly due to an increase in the incidence of disease among children. In response to the public health threat, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented regulations in 1975 restricting the sale of turtles with a carapace length

Background: It is well known that exercise has beneficial effects on health. Although intense exercise is experienced by the body as a condition of stress, a well designed training has long term beneficial effects on the organism of an athlete. Less is known about the effects that the genetic background might have on training adaptation and on the consequent modification of laboratory parameters. Methods: In our study we evaluated the blood chemistry parameters of a group of 41 athletes compared with a group of 45 amateur athletes, to assess whether the training has effects on their variation. In addition we typed our subjects for polymorphisms 308 A/G of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and 1082 A/G of Interleukin-10 (IL10). Results: After statistical analysis, performed with Mann-Whitney Test, we observed a statistically significant (p value< 0,05) increase of basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and total bilirubin and decreased levels of neutrophils, glucose, electrolytes and AST in professionals compared to amateurs. These parameters were not modified by the genetic background. Actually the training modification observed were independent of the presence of pro-inflammatory (carrier allele A of 1082 A/G of IL10) or anti-inflammatory alleles (subjects A negative for 308 A/G of TNFα). Conclusions: The genetic polymorphisms analyzed do not influence changes in laboratory parameters values induced by professional training.

Objective – To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a newly available, semi-quantitative, cage-side test for the detection of ethylene glycol (EG) toxicosis in cats. Design – Prospective, laboratory study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals – This study utilized samples from 57 cats, whose blood had been anticoagulated with EDTA and submitted to the hospital’s laboratory for a complete blood count. Samples were centrifuged, and the plasma separated, aliquoted, and immediately frozen at 30 1C. Interventions – Samples were randomly divided into 2 primary groups (Group 1: no EG added, Group 2: EG added). Twenty microliters of plasma from each of the Group 1 samples was applied directly to the test strip. Plasma samples from Group 2 had EG added at different concentrations to achieve approximate final concentrations of 20, 60, or 80mg/dL. These samples were then applied to the test strip. Measurements – Two readers who were blinded to the sample preparation procedure and isolated from each other were asked to categorically interpret the colorimetric reaction on the randomly presented test strips. Main Results – The agreement of the 2 reviewers at the 3 different levels of EG concentrations (20, 60, 80mg/ dL) were 0.7, 0.7, and 0.5, respectively. Thus, the readers demonstrated substantial agreement while reading the 2 lower concentrations, while at 80mg/dL the level of agreement was moderate. Overall, the sensitivity of the assay increased as the concentration of EG increased (reviewer 1: 67%, 67%, 86%; reviewer 2: 56%, 89%, 100%), while the specificity of the assay decreased with increasing concentrations of EG (reviewer 1: 77%, 45%, 50%; reviewer 2: 77%, 53%, 25%). Conclusions: Because of the likelihood for false negatives and false positives, results from this test must be viewed in light of clinical data and should not be relied upon as a lone diagnostic test.

Vicia faba seedlings with attached cotyledons were cultured in 20% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG). Under this condition the mitotic index and incorporation of thymidine into DNA of root tip cells decreased during the first 8 hours of treatment and remained lower than the control for 40 to 56 hours. After this period of time both parameters increased to near the levels of the control indicating a self-recovery response. Seedlings transferred out of PEG after 24 hours of treatment showed a recovery in mitotic index and incorporation, but not to the control levels. Those transferred after 48 or 72 hours recovered fully. PEG-stressed seedlings lacking cotyledons did not exhibit self-recovery, indicating a possible cotyledon role in this phenomenon. Roots of stressed seedlings with attached cotyledons exhibited a drop in water potential, solute potential and turgor pressure demonstrating a close relationship between cell cycle responses and the water relations of root cells.