Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs.

We argue that there is currently an under-reporting of the ways in which pain can be associated with problem behavior, which is seriously limiting the recognition of this welfare problem. A review of the caseloads of 100 recent dog cases of several authors indicates that a conservative estimate of around a third of referred cases involve some form of painful condition, and in some instances, the figure may be nearly 80%. The relationship is often complex but always logical.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex differentiation by genomic deletion patterns with multiplex polymerase chain reaction and melting analysis.

Differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) species is important for patient management. We developed a genomic deletion assay based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction with melting temperature analysis that correctly identified 124 (96%) of 129 MTC isolates. This assay is a fast single-tube method to differentiate members of MTC.

Identification of an emerging pathogen, Mycobacterium massiliense, by rpoB sequencing of clinical isolates collected in the United States.

Mycobacterium massiliense is a rapidly growing mycobacterium that is indistinguishable from Mycobacterium chelonae/M. abscessus by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We sequenced rpoB, sodA, and hsp65 genes from isolates previously identified as being M.

Discovering potential pathogens among fungi identified as nonsporulating molds.

Fungal infections are increasing, particularly among immunocompromised hosts, and a rapid diagnosis is essential to initiate antifungal therapy. Often fungi cannot be identified by conventional methods and are classified as nonsporulating molds (NSM). We sequenced internal transcribed spacer regions from 50 cultures of NSM and found 16 potential pathogens that can be associated with clinical disease.

Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides species by repetitive-sequence-based PCR.

The performance of repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) using the DiversiLab system for identification of Coccidioides species, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Histoplasma capsulatum was assessed by comparing data obtained to colony morphology and microscopic characteristics and to nucleic acid probe results. DNA from cultures of 23 Coccidioides, 24 B. dermatitidis, 24 H.