Reliability of fluoroscopic examination of nasopharyngeal dorsoventral dimension change in pugs and French bulldogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intra- and interobserver agreements in two-dimensional measurements of changes in nasopharyngeal dimensions during breathing in pugs and French bulldogs. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental randomized study. ANIMALS: A total of 20 French bulldogs and 16 pugs. METHODS: Four observers with different levels of experience measured the dorsoventral dimensions of the nasopharynx during inspiration and expiration on fluoroscopy videos. Measurements were performed at the maximal narrowing of the nasopharynx for the functional method and at the level of the tip of the epiglottis for the anatomically adjusted method. The intra- and interobserver agreements of the measurements, ratio of the dynamic nasopharyngeal change (ΔL), and grade of nasopharyngeal (NP) collapse (no, partial or complete) were evaluated. RESULTS: The functional method resulted in intraobserver correlation coefficients of 0.532 (p < .01) and 0.751 (p < .01) and interobserver correlation coefficients of 0.378 (p < .01) and 0.621 (p < .01) for NP collapse grade and ΔL, respectively. The anatomically adjusted method, 0.491 (p < .01) and 0.576 (p < .01) and 0.495 (p < .01) and 0.729 (p < .01) for NP collapse grade and ΔL, respectively, were being used. One observer (radiologist) achieved intraobserver correlation coefficients >0.9 for both methods. CONCLUSION: Fair interobserver agreement was found for NP collapse grade (functional method), moderate intra- and interobserver agreements were found for NP collapse grade and ΔL (both methods) while intraobserver agreement for ΔL was good (functional method). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Both methods seem repeatable and reproducible but only for experienced radiologists. The use of ΔL may offer higher repeatability and reproducibility than grade of NP collapse regardless of the method used.

The transcriptome from asexual to sexual in vitro development of Cystoisospora suis (Apicomplexa: Coccidia).

The apicomplexan parasite Cystoisospora suis is an enteropathogen of suckling piglets with woldwide distribution. As with all coccidian parasites, its lifecycle is characterized by asexual multiplication followed by sexual development with two morphologically distinct cell types that presumably fuse to form a zygote from which the oocyst arises. However, knowledge of the sexual development of C. suis is still limited. To complement previous in vitro studies, we analysed transcriptional profiles at three different time points of development (corresponding to asexual, immature and mature sexual stages) in vitro via RNASeq. Overall, transcription of genes encoding proteins with important roles in gametes biology, oocyst wall biosynthesis, DNA replication and axonema formation as well as proteins with important roles in merozoite biology was identified. A homologue of an oocyst wall tyrosine rich protein of Toxoplasma gondii was expressed in macrogametes and oocysts of C. suis. We evaluated inhibition of sexual development in a host-free culture for C. suis by antiserum specific to this protein to evaluate whether it could be exploited as a candidate for control strategies against C. suis. Based on these data, targets can be defined for future strategies to interrupt parasite transmission during sexual development.