Classical swine fever in the pygmy hog.

The pygmy hog is a rare, small and highly endangered mammal belonging to the Suidae family, and it is presently found only in the Assam state of India. While investigating the cause of death of pygmy hogs housed at a conservation centre for captive breeding and research at Basistha, Assam, it was confirmed that they were susceptible to and died as a result of contracting classical swine fever (CSF), caused by CSF virus (CSFV), which is a highly infectious endemic disease of domestic pigs in India. The post-mortem findings and serum CSFV-specific antibody titres, along with the isolation of CSFV from two pygmy hogs, and further confirmation by CSFV genomic E2 and 5' untranslated region (UTR) gene amplification in PCR (polymerase chain reaction), clearly established the cause of death of the pygmy hogs. Further, on phylogenetic analysis, the pygmy hog CSFV 5' UTR sequences were grouped in the genotype 1.1 cluster of Indian CSFVs, and hence the strains causing infection were closely related to CSFV isolates circulating in domestic pigs. Therefore, the occurrence of CSF in this endangered species may pose a potent threat to their existence unless properly controlled, and thus it needs urgent attention. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report on CSF in pygmy hogs.

Oxygen cost of running barefoot vs. running shod.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxygen cost of running barefoot vs. running shod on the treadmill as well as overground. 10 healthy recreational runners, 5 male and 5 female, whose mean age was 23.8±3.39 volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects participated in 4 experimental conditions: 1) barefoot on treadmill, 2) shod on treadmill, 3) barefoot overground, and 4) shod overground. For each condition, subjects ran for 6 min at 70% vVO (2)max pace while VO (2), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. A 2 × 2 (shoe condition x surface) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that running with shoes showed significantly higher VO (2) values on both the treadmill and the overground track (p<0.05). HR and RPE were significantly higher in the shod condition as well (p<0.02 and p<0.01, respectively). For the overground and treadmill conditions, recorded VO (2) while running shod was 5.7% and 2.0% higher than running barefoot. It was concluded that at 70% of vVO (2)max pace, barefoot running is more economical than running shod, both overground and on a treadmill.

An innovative surgical technique for treating penile incarceration injury caused by heavy metallic ring.

Penile incarceration injury by heavy metallic ring is a rare genital injury. A man may place metal object for erotic or autoerotic purposes, for masturbation or increasing erection, and due to psychiatric disturbances are some of the reasons for a penile incarceration injury. The incarcerating injury results in reduced blood flow distal to the injury, leading to edema, ischemia, and sometimes gangrene. These injuries are divided into five grades and their treatment options are divided into four groups. Surgical techniques are reserved for the advanced grades (Grades IV and V). We describe an innovative surgical technique, which can be adopted in Grades II and III injuries.

Isolation, identification and retrospective study of foot-and-mouth disease virus from affected Mithun (Bos frontalis) in north-eastern India.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals that causes substantial and perpetual economic loss. Apart from the contagious nature of the disease, the FMD virus can establish in a "carrier state" among all cloven-hoofed animals. The Mithun (Bos frontalis), popularly called the "Cattle of Mountain," is found in the geographically isolated, hilly region of north-east India: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Despite the geographical inaccessibility, infection by FMD virus has emerged as the single most devastating disease among Mithun after the eradication of rinderpest from this region. Samples from outbreaks of FMD in Mithun were analysed by sandwich ELISA, multiplex RT-PCR (MRT-PCR) and liquid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and isolated in the BHK-21 cell line. The results indicate the presence of FMDV serotype "O." The sequencing and molecular phylogenies have revealed close relationships in the lineage of type "O" isolates from Bangladesh. The findings will provide useful information for further research and development of a sustainable programme for the progressive control of FMD in the Mithun population.

Magnetic resonance imaging in pre-operative staging of endometrial cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers and the fourth most common cancer in the female. Although clinical evaluation with diagnostic imaging has not yet proved to be accurate enough in the evaluation of tumor extent to replace surgical staging, it may enable optimization of the surgical procedure and a better tailored therapeutic strategy. This study will review the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in endometrial carcinomas in the pre-operative staging of endometrial carcinomas and compare it with the newly revised Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging scheme of 2009 based on post-operative surgical histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective analysis of 36 patients diagnosed and treated for endometrial carcinoma in our institute from January 2009 to December 2012. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (61%) were between the age group of 41-60 years. Most of the patients (72%) were postmenopausal at the time of presentation. Most common histopathology of endometrial carcinoma was endometroid adenocarcinoma (27 patients, 75%). FIGO staging of 12 patients (85.7%) showed concordance with MRI Staging for Stage Ia, with up-gradation of two patients to Stage Ib. CONCLUSION: The information provided by MRI can define prognosis, help planning the surgical approach and identify those patients requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Evaluation of specific humoral immune response in pigs vaccinated with cell culture adapted classical swine fever vaccine.

AIM: To determine an efficient vaccination schedule on the basis of the humoral immune response of cell culture adapted live classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vaccinated pigs and maternally derived antibody (MDA) in piglets of vaccinated sows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cell culture adapted live CSFV vaccine was subjected to different vaccination schedule in the present study. Serum samples were collected before vaccination (day 0) and 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 180, 194, 208, 270, 284 and 298 days after vaccination and were analyzed by liquid phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, MDA titre was detected in the serum of piglets at 21 and 42 days of age after farrowing of the vaccinated sows. RESULTS: On 28 days after vaccination, serum samples of 83.33% vaccinated pigs showed the desirable level of antibody titer (log10 1.50 at 1:32 dilution), whereas 100% animals showed log10 1.50 at 1:32 dilution after 42 days of vaccination. Animals received a booster dose at 28 and 180 days post vaccination showed stable high-level antibody titre till the end of the study period. Further, piglets born from pigs vaccinated 1 month after conception showed the desirable level of MDA up to 42 days of age. CONCLUSION: CSF causes major losses in pig industry. Lapinised vaccines against CSFV are used routinely in endemic countries. In the present study, a cell culture adapted live attenuated vaccine has been evaluated. Based on the level of humoral immune response of vaccinated pigs and MDA titer in piglets born from immunized sows, it may be concluded that the more effective vaccination schedule for prevention of CSF is primary vaccination at 2 months of age followed by booster vaccination at 28 and 180 days post primary vaccination and at 1 month of gestation.

Salmonellosis in pigmy hogs (Sus salvanius)--a critically endangered species of mammal.

The pigmy hog (Sus salvanius) is the smallest and the rarest wild suid in the world. This species is on the verge of extinction and the World Conservation Union has rated it among the most endangered of all mammals. This paper reports the investigation into an outbreak of salmonellosis among captive pigmy hogs at the Research and Breeding Centre of the pigmy hog conservation programme, Guwahati, Assam, India. Of 75 pigmy hogs (38 males and 37 females) maintained at the Centre, seven (9.3%) died within five days. The causative organism associated with the outbreak was identified as Salmonella Typhimurium (syn. S. enterica serovar Typhimurium). All the isolates of S. Typhimurium belonged to phage type DT193. The isolates harboured multiple plasmids. Five isolates harboured four (65.0 MDa, 4.2 MDa, 3.0 MDa, 1.3 MDa), while two isolates carried three plasmids (65.0 MDa, 4.2 MDa, 3.0 MDa). All strains showed resistance to amikacin, ampicillin, streptomycin and sulfamerazin; five strains were resistant to oxytetracycline and trimethoprim. All the strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and gentamicin. All seven isolates of S. Typhimurium were found to harbour stn, sopB and pefA genes. However, none of them was found to carry sefC and sopE genes.

Regeneration of encapsulated protocorms of Phaius tankervilliae stored at low temperature.

Embryos (80 days old) developed after selfing P. tankervilliae were cultured on Nitsch medium for protocorm development. Protocorms (70 days old) thus developed were encapsulated with alginate matrix. Ninety six per cent of freshly prepared encapsulated protocorms differentiated into shoots and roots when cultured on Nitsch medium. Storage of encapsulated protocorms in sealed petri plates or by embedding in liquid paraffin at 4 degrees C showed no reduction in their regeneration frequency up to 120 days when cultured on Nitsch medium. However, 90% of encapsulated protocorms stored at room temperature in empty petri plates differentiated within 35-40 days. Regeneration frequency of encapsulated protocorms was drastically reduced when stored in liquid paraffin at room temperature.

Accessory sulcus of the liver - an incidental laparotomy finding.

The diaphragmatic surface of the liver is normally smooth but may be grooved occasionally. Such grooves could be 'cough furrows' or due to a 'corset liver'. Accessory sulci have also been described and may confuse the inexperienced surgeon. We describe one such case of an accessory sulcus found incidentally at laparotomy.

Unusual cause of hematuria.

The leech is an invertebrate which has the habit of entering the anatomical orifices of man and animals. During the process of sucking blood it releases an anticoagulant and causes continuous bleeding from the bite site. A leech as a cause of gross hematuria is unusual. We present a case of a leech in the bladder as a cause of gross hematuria.

Leiomyoma of the female urethra. A case report.

We report a case of leiomyoma of the female urethra and a review of the literature. A mass protruding from the urethral meatus caused voiding difficulty and dysuria. Uroflowmetry showed an obstructive pattern with low maximum urine flow. Cystourethroscopy revealed a mass arising from lateral urethral wall extending from meatus up to 2 cm proximally. Histopathological studies confirmed urethral leiomyoma. Surgery completely resolved the original symptoms.

An outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infection in pygmy hogs (Sus salvanius).

An outbreak of salmonellosis was recorded in captive pygmy hogs (Sus salvanius), a critically endangered species of mammal. Of 42 captive animals maintained for conservation breeding by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, Guwahati, Assam, India, 7 (16.67%) died within 3 days. The organism associated with this outbreak was identified as Salmonella enteritidis. The organisms were highly susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, norfloxacin and cefotaxim but were resistant to ampicillin, oxytetracycline, mezlocillin and sulfamerazin. The strain belonged to phage type 13a/7 and harboured two plasmids (38 and 44 megadaltons). The organisms were enterotoxigenic in CHO cell assay and were found to carry stn, sef and pef genes.

Comparison of tipless and helical baskets in an in vitro ureteral model.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rapidity of stone capture and removal by six tipless and four helical baskets in a ureteral model. Expeditious ureteral stone extraction is reliant on the basket size, configuration, and radial dilation force. METHODS: A 5-mm feline calculus was placed in a simulated model of the human ureter at a distance of 7.5 cm from the orifice, and saline irrigant instilled. A 6/7.5F Wolf semirigid ureteroscope was used for access and visualization of the stone. Operators were randomized to start stone extraction with 1 of 10 stone baskets, and three extraction attempts were conducted with each device. Six experienced operators tested each device. The tipless baskets tested were the ACMI Sur-Catch NT 3.0F, Bard Dimension 3.0F, Boston Scientific Zerotip 3.0F, Cook N-Circle 3.0F, Cook Delta 2.4F, and Sacred Heart Halo 1.9F. The helical baskets tested were the Cook N-Force 3.2F, Microvasive Gemini 3.0F, ACMI Sur-Catch Helical 3.0F, and Sacred Heart Hercules 3.0F. The time to extraction in seconds was recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the tipless (14 +/- 7 seconds) or helical (12.8 +/- 6.6 seconds, P = 0.21) basket groups. All baskets were able to retrieve the ureteral stones successfully. The most efficient basket was the Cook N-Circle with an average time of 8.7 seconds to stone extraction compared with the least efficient basket, the ACMI Sur-Catch NT, at 15.8 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The Cook N-Circle basket provided the most expeditious means to stone extraction in a ureteral model.

Isolation and fusion studies on protoplasts from pollen tetrads.

Different enzymes were tested for isolation of intact protoplasts from pollen tetrads. About 80% isolation was achieved from pollen tetrads of Cajanus cajan and Zea mays and about 60% from Luffa cylindrica and Lycopersicon esculentum after 4 h of treatment with 5% cellulase. When these mononucleate protoplasts were incubated in presence of 0.05 M CaCl2 in 0.3 M glucose at pH 10.5, 70-80% fusion was achieved. Fusion was rare in sodium nitrate solutions.