Gut and Whole-Body Microbiota of the Honey Bee Separate Thriving and Non-thriving Hives.

The recent worldwide decline of honey bee colonies is a major ecological problem which also threatens pollinated crop production. Several interacting stressors such as environmental pressures and pathogens are suspected. Recently, the gut microbiota has emerged as a critical factor affecting bee health and fitness.

Cytological diagnosis of cardiac masses with ultrasound guided fine needle aspirates.

Background: Cardiac masses are uncommon in the canine population. When present, an attempt should be made to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Our goal with this case series was to report that as long as anatomic location permits, obtaining fine needle aspirates (FNAs) for cytological evaluation is practical, safe, and may provide a definitive diagnosis.

Echocardiographic predictors of survival in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Objectives: To evaluate vena contracta and other echocardiographic measures of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) severity in a multivariable analysis of survival in dogs.

Animals: 70 dogs diagnosed with MMVD from stored echocardiographic images that met study inclusion criteria.

Methods: Left heart dimensions were measured as well as mitral regurgitant jet area/left atrial area (JAR), early mitral filling velocity (Evel), extent of mitral valve prolapse in right and left views (ProlR, ProlL), Prol indexed to aortic diameter (ProlR:Ao, ProlL:Ao), presence of a flail leaflet (FlailR, FlailL), and mitral regurgitation vena contracta diameter (VCR, VCL) indexed to aortic diameter (VCR:Ao, VCL:Ao).

Identification of 2 loci associated with development of myxomatous mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in dogs. It is characterized by chronic progressive degenerative lesions of the mitral valve. The valve leaflets become thickened and prolapse into the left atrium resulting in mitral regurgitation (MR).

Assessment of mechanical ventricular synchrony in Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Loss of temporal synchrony of myocardial contraction has been shown to reduce systolic function and be responsible for disease progression in people. The objective of this study is the assessment of inter- and intra ventricular synchrony in healthy Doberman Pinschers and those with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by use of conventional Doppler and tissue velocity imaging.

Animals: A total of 60 scans from 35 client-owned Doberman Pinschers presented for cardiac evaluation were analysed.

A locus on chromosome 5 is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heterogeneous group of heart diseases with a strong genetic background. Currently, many human DCM cases exist where no causative mutation can be identified. DCM also occurs with high prevalence in several large dog breeds.