An intense stratospheric jet on Jupiter.

The Earth's equatorial stratosphere shows oscillations in which the east-west winds reverse direction and the temperatures change cyclically with a period of about two years. This phenomenon, called the quasi-biennial oscillation, also affects the dynamics of the mid- and high-latitude stratosphere and weather in the lower atmosphere. Ground-based observations have suggested that similar temperature oscillations (with a 4-5-yr cycle) occur on Jupiter, but these data suffer from poor vertical resolution and Jupiter's stratospheric wind velocities have not yet been determined.

A 6 x 6 drop plate method for simultaneous colony counting and MPN enumeration of Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli.

A protocol was developed using 96-well plates and multichannel pipettes for serial dilutions, followed by drop plating on agar in a 6 x 6 format. This protocol permits simultaneous plating of six dilutions which greatly decreases the number of plates utilized thereby saving incubator space for organisms such as Campylobacter which require unique environmental conditions.

Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease in young rottweilers.

A number of idiopathic degenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nerves and muscles of immature and young adult rottweilers are reported. Tetraparesis or ataxia causing abnormalities in gait and posture are clinical findings common to these conditions. The current knowledge about these syndromes is presented in this review, with an emphasis on the clinical characteristics.

Humans, dogs and parasitic zoonoses--unravelling the relationships in a remote endemic community in northeast India using molecular tools.

Canine parasitic zoonoses pose a continuing public health problem, especially in developing countries and communities that are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Our study combined the use of conventional and molecular epidemiological tools to determine the role of dogs in transmission of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites such as hookworms, Giardiaand Ascarisin a parasite endemic tea-growing community in northeast India. A highly sensitive and specific PCR-RFLP was developed to detect and differentiate the zoonotic species of canine hookworm eggs directly from faeces.

Two species of canine Babesia in Australia: detection and characterization by PCR.

The haemoprotozoan Babesia canis has been recognized in Australia for many years, and a second, smaller species has recently been discovered. Amplification and sequencing of a partial region of the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene enabled detection and characterization of the large and small canine babesiae of Australia for the first time. Isolates from northern Australia were genetically characterized to be 99% homologous to Babesia canis vogeli, confirming previous speculation about the subspecies of B.

Genomic hypomethylation in neoplastic cells from dogs with malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification in which a methyl group is added usually to the fifth carbon position of a cytosine residue. Dysregulation of this process is an important molecular event which has been shown to be associated with neoplastic transformation and tumour progression in humans and mice. Features of methylation dysregulation in many different types of neoplasms include general genomic hypomethylation, focal hypermethylation, and altered expression of genes which encode a series of DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferases.

The role of dogs in transmission of gastrointestinal parasites in a remote tea-growing community in northeastern India.

The prevalence and risk factors associated with canine gastrointestinal parasitic zoonoses and the role of dogs in the mechanical transmission of human Ascaris infection was examined in three tea estates in Assam, India. Nearly all (99%) dogs harbored one or more zoonotic species of gastrointestinal parasites, with hookworm infection being most common (94%). Parasitic stages presumed to be host-specific for humans such as Ascaris spp.

Babesia gibsoni infection in three dogs in Victoria.

Small intraerythrocytic parasites were observed in the blood of three related male American Pit Bull Terriers. Two of the dogs, both less than 1-year-old, were anaemic at the time of initial examination and the third, an adult and sire of the two younger dogs, had a normal haemogram and low parasitaemia. The morphological appearance of the erythrocyte inclusions, analysis of a 450-bp region of the 18S rRNA gene and antibody titres provided evidence that this parasite was Babesia gibsoni, a species not previously reported in Australia.

Companion animal parasitology: a clinical perspective.

In recent years there have been many changes to the ways that clinical veterinary science is conducted and nowhere is this more evident than in companion animal practice. Veterinarians working with pet dogs and cats are facing new challenges associated with the emergence and re-emergence of parasitic diseases. Some, such as Neospora caninum, have been recently recognised; others like Giardia and Cryptosporidium have been reported with increasing frequency, in part as a result of laboratory tests with improved sensitivity and specificity.

Regional variations in stroke care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: results from the National Sentinel Audit of Stroke. Royal College of Physicians Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party.

Study Objective: To identify the variations between regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the case-mix, organization and process of care for stroke.

Design: Retrospective audit of case notes and service organization.

Setting: Two hundred and ten Trust sites from 197 Trusts in 10 Health Regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Detection of immunomagnetically captured Escherichia coli O157:H7 by antibody-conjugated alkaline phosphatase.

A rapid and sensitive detection process for Escherichia coli O157:H7 was developed using alkaline phosphatase (APase)-labeled anti-E. coli O157 antibodies to tag the targeted bacteria. Immunomagnetic beads or antibody-labeled streptavidin-coated magnetic beads were then used to capture the APase-tagged E.

National stroke audit: a tool for change?

Objectives: To describe the standards of care for stroke patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and to determine the power of national audit, coupled with an active dissemination strategy to effect change.

Design: A national audit of organisational structure and retrospective case note audit, repeated within 18 months. Separate postal questionnaires were used to identify the types of change made between the first and second round and to compare the representativeness of the samples.

Concurrent Cryptosporidium and parvovirus infections in a puppy.

Cryptosporidium parvum, an intestinal coccidian parasite, was isolated from faeces and intestinal biopsies of a 9-week-old puppy with acute parvoviral gastroenteritis. Gene sequence analysis identified a Cryptosporidium genotype not previously recorded in Australia. The puppy recovered after treatment with crystalloid fluids, synthetic and natural colloids and jejunostomy tube feeding.

Reliability and validity of the Intercollegiate Stroke Audit Package.

The aim of this study was to assure the validity and reliability of the Intercollegiate Stroke Audit Package as used in the National Sentinel Audit of Stroke. The Intercollegiate Working Party for Stroke, which included most stakeholders, including patients, devised the audit standards. These were submitted to a formal consensus (modified Delphi) survey before the audit questions were developed and piloted for validity and reliability.

Effects of an oral vasopressin receptor antagonist (OPC-31260) in a dog with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Objective: The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone is a rare disorder in dogs characterised by hypo-osmolality and persistent arginine vasopressin production in the absence of hypovolaemia and/or hypotension. The study describes the efficacy and safety of the nonpeptide selective arginine vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist OPC-31260 in a dog with the naturally occurring syndrome.

Design: The detailed case history of a dog with spontaneous syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone that received long-term therapy with oral OPC-31260 is presented.

Expression and processing of proteins encoded by the Saccharomyces retrotransposon Ty5.

Retroelements (retrotransposons and retroviruses) have two genes in common: gag, which specifies structural proteins that form a virus or virus-like particle, and pol, which specifies catalytic proteins required for replication. For many retroelements, gag and pol are present on separate reading frames. Their expression is highly regulated, and the ratio of Gag to Pol is critical for retroelement replication.

The role of companion animals in the emergence of parasitic zoonoses.

Pets offer individuals and the community significant benefits, however cognisance must be taken of the potential for transmission of infectious agents from these animals to humans. The prevalence of many parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, has increased over the past few decades while others, such as Toxocara and Ancylostoma, have decreased. These changes could be real, associated with the ready availability of efficacious anthelmintic products or could be artificial due to the type of surveys conducted, the animals surveyed and the diagnostic tests used.

Transient hypoparathyroidism following successful treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy in a dog.

A 4-year-old, entire female, English Cocker Spaniel was presented for treatment of lymphosarcoma and secondary hypercalcaemia. After induction chemotherapy the dog became severely hypocalcaemic and showed signs of weakness, muscle fasciculation and facial pruritus. Hormone analysis confirmed inadequate production of parathyroid hormone.

A prospective study of conservatively managed acute urinary retention: prostate size matters.

Objective: To evaluate in a prospective study the medium- to long-term outcome of a policy of conservatively managing acute urinary retention (AUR), arising solely by bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostatic enlargement (BPE), and to identify the factors favouring a positive outcome of a trial without catheter (TWOC).

Patients And Methods: All men admitted as an emergency with primary AUR caused by BPE (from August 1997 to March 2000) underwent a TWOC. The following variables were recorded; the nature and duration of any preceding lower urinary tract symptoms, previous episodes of retention, concomitant anticholinergic medication, coexisting constipation, alcohol as a precipitating cause of AUR, previous prostatectomy, confirmed urinary tract infection, residual urine drained on catheterization and prostate size, as determined by a digital rectal examination (DRE) carried out by one consultant urologist in all patients.

Minimum detectable level of Salmonellae using a binomial-based bacterial ice nucleation detection assay (BIND).

A modified bacterial ice nucleation detection (BIND) assay was used for rapid and sensitive detection of several Salmonella species. For the BIND assay, Salmonella cells are infected with bacteriophage genetically modified to contain DNA encoding an ice nucleation protein (INP). After infection, de novo protein synthesis occurs and INPs are incorporated into the outer membrane of the organism.

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection in a dog with chronic diarrhoea.

A 3-year-old Maltese-cross dog presented with a 4-month history of chronic diarrhoea and inappetence. Poorly regenerative anaemia, leukocytosis and hypoproteinaemia were evident on several occasions. Biopsies of stomach, duodenum and colon revealed marked infiltration of mucosae by macrophages containing many acid-fast bacilli.