Ahmed Mohamed

Mycoplasma ovis in captive cervids: prevalence, molecular characterization and phylogeny.

Hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are bacteria that attach to red blood cells of mammals, leading to acute and/or subclinical disease in infected animals. It has been suggested that Mycoplasma ovis, a hemoplasma that infects sheep and goats worldwide, may also infect deer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether South American deer are infected with M. ovis. EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples from a herd of 32 captive South American deer were collected. DNA extraction of blood samples was performed followed by PCR amplification of the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, and sequencing of products. Using M. ovis PCR, 27/31 (87%) were positive, including 21/22 Mazama nana; 2/3 Mazama americana and 4/6 Blastocerus dichotomus. Sequencing of the nearly entire 16S rRNA gene of 26/27 positive samples showed 98.2-98.8% identity to M. ovis of sheep (GenBank, AF338268) and 98.6-99.4% identity to M. ovis-like of a fawn (FJ824847); the 23S rRNA gene from one of these isolates and the fawns had 97.6% identity. The remaining isolate had just 94.9% identity to the 16S rRNA gene of M. ovis and only 89.4% identity to the 23S rRNA gene of the fawns M. ovis. This is the first report of M. ovis in captive South American deer, revealing a high prevalence of hemoplasma infection in these animals.

Effect of Needle Size and Type, Reuse of Needles, Insertion Speed, and Removal of Hair on Contamination of Joints with Tissue Debris and Hair after Arthrocentesis

OBJECTIVEnTo assess joint contamination with tissue and hair after arthrocentesis of equine fetlock joints.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnExperimental.nnnANIMALSnLimb specimens from 8 equine cadavers.nnnPROCEDURESnSoft tissues including the joint capsule were harvested from the dorsal aspect of the fetlock joints and mounted on a wooden frame. Needles inserted through the joint tissue preparation were flushed into tissue culture plates that were examined for tissue and hair debris. Variables evaluated were gauge and type of needle (16, 18, 20, and 22 G sharp disposable needles and 20 G disposable spinal needles with stylet), number of times each needle was used (1, 2, 3, 4), length of hair (unclipped, clipped, shaved with razor), and needle insertion speed (fast, slow). Descriptive and statistical evaluations were performed.nnnRESULTSnTissue contamination was identified in 1145 of 1260 wells and hair contamination was identified in 384 of 1260 wells. Twenty gauge needles inserted through unclipped hair resulted in the least amount of hair contamination. Compared with 20 G needles with fast insertion 1 time through unclipped hair the odds ratios for contamination with hair were significantly greater for 16 G sharp disposable needles, 20 G spinal needles, clipped hair, shaved hair, and reuse of the needles. Spinal needles inserted through unclipped hair transferred many long hairs into the joint space.nnnCONCLUSIONnReuse of needles for arthrocentesis should be avoided. Removal of hair is not indicated for arthrocentesis with sharp injection needles but is recommended when using spinal needles with stylets.nnnCLINICAL RELEVANCEnJoint contamination with hair and tissue debris will be decreased by specific needle insertion techniques. Decreased contamination of joints may reduce the frequency of joint infections after arthrocentesis.

Detection of a novel hemoplasma based on 16S rRNA gene DNA in captive and free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris).

Two different species of hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris, are known to infect small rodents such as mice and rats. However, there are no previous reports of hemoplasma infection in capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris). The aim of our study was to determine whether these hemoplasmas might infect capybaras from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 31 animals: 10 captive and 21 free-ranging capybaras were collected and packed cell volume and total plasma protein were measured. DNA was extracted and PCR assays for M. coccoides and M. haemomuris were performed. Using the M. coccoides-PCR assay 64% of the capybaras were positive, 80% free-ranging and 30% from captive animals. The prevalence of infection between the groups was significantly different (p=0.001). Sequencing of the nearly entire 16S rRNA gene from the positive samples suggested a novel hemoplasma isolate with identity of 92% with M. coccoides and 86% with M. haemomuris. All capybara samples were negative for M. haemomuris infection. DNA of a housekeeping gene was successfully amplified from all samples. This is the first evidence of a hemoplasma infection in capybaras.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Mycoplasma ovis in Selected Free-Ranging Brazilian Deer Populations

Mycoplasma ovis is a hemoplasma that may cause anemia and mortality in small ruminants. Our aim was to determine whether M. ovis infects populations of free-ranging deer in Brazil. Buffy coat samples from 64 Blastocerus dichotomus from Porto Primavera, 18 Ozotocerus bezoarticus from Pantanal, and 21 O. bezoarticus from Emas National Park were tested. Using a M. ovis PCR protocol to amplify extracted DNA, 46/64 (72%) of deer from Porto Primavera, 10/18 (56%) from Pantanal, and 4/21 (19%) from Emas National Park were positive, giving an overall positive rate of 58% for hemoplasma in these wild deer. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 3 genetically distinct hemoplasmas including M. ovis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma erythrocervae’, and a hemoplasma most closely related to M. ovis. Phylogenetic analysis of the 23S rRNA gene from selected sequences confirmed these relationships.

Gentamicin Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics during Short-Daily Hemodialysis

Background/Aims: Gentamicin pharmacokinetics have not been described in patients undergoing short-daily hemodialysis (SDHD). The aim of this study is to describe gentamicin pharmacokinetics and dialytic clearance (Cldial) in SDHD patients and simulate gentamicin exposure after six dosing regimens to help guide future dosing. Methods: Six anuric patients undergoing SDHD were enrolled. Patients received intravenous infusion of 2 mg/kg gentamicin on day 1 after the first HD session followed by HD sessions on days 2, 3, and 4. Blood samples for determination of gentamicin concentrations were serially collected. Gentamicin pharmacokinetic parameters and Cldial and interindividual variability terms (IIV) were estimated using NONMEM VII. Influence of patient weight on systemic clearance (Cls) and central volume of distribution (Vc) and influence of urea removal estimates on Cldial were assessed. The model was used to simulate gentamicin concentrations after six dosing regimens including pre- and postdialysis as well as daily and every-other-day dosing. Results: A two-compartment model with first-order elimination from central compartment described gentamicin pharmacokinetics. Population estimates for Cls and Cldial were 7.6 and 134 ml/min, respectively. Patient weight was statistically significantly associated with Cls and Vc. Predialysis every-other-day regimens were as effective (Cmax ≥8 mg/l and AUC48 h ≥140 mg·h/l) and less toxic (Cmin <2 mg/l and AUC48 h <240 mg·h/l) than postdialysis regimens. Conclusions: Estimated gentamicin Cldial is higher than previous estimates with thrice-weekly regimens. Predialysis every-other-day dosing may be recommended during SDHD.

Impact of demographic characteristics in pet ownership: Modeling animal count according to owners income and age

Pet owner characteristics such as age, gender, income/social class, marital status, rural/urban residence and household type have been shown to be associated with the number of owned pets. However, few studies to date have attempted to evaluate these associations in Brazil. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between age and income of owners and the number of owned dogs and cats in a Brazilian urban center. Pinhais, metropolitan area of Curitiba, Southern Brazil, the seventh largest city in Brazil, was chosen for this study. Questionnaires were administered door-to-door between January and February 2007 and data were analyzed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models. A total of 13,555 of 30,380 (44.62%) households were interviewed. The majority (62.43%) of households reported having one or more dogs, with one or two dogs being the most common (29.97% and 19.71%, respectively). Cat ownership per household was much lower (P=0.001) than dog ownership, with 90% of the households reported having no owned cats. ZINB analyses indicated that income is not associated with the number of both dogs and cats among households that have pets. However, households from higher income categories were more likely to have dogs (but not cats) when compared to the lowest income category (P<0.05), contradicting a common belief that the poorer the family, the more likely they have pets. Certain age categories were significantly associated with the number of dogs or cats in households that have pets. In addition, most age categories were significantly associated with having dogs and/or cats (P<0.05). In conclusion, our study has found that age but not household income is associated with the number of dogs or cats in households that have pets; higher income households were more likely to have dogs when compared to low-income households.

Risk factors for delays between intake and veterinary approval for adoption on medical grounds in shelter puppies and kittens.

To maximize their capacity to save lives and optimize resource allocation, animal shelters need to identify highly adoptable animals that are unlikely to be delayed on medical grounds before they can be made available for adoption. In this retrospective cohort study, our objective was to identify risk factors for delays from intake to approval for adoption on medical grounds in shelter puppies and kittens. Shelter medical records from 2008 for 335 puppies and 370 kittens were selected randomly at a large metropolitan adoption-guarantee shelter. Data including signalment, source shelter, intake veterinary examination findings, clinical history and days from intake until approval by a veterinarian for adoption on medical grounds were extracted from shelter records and analyzed using multivariate Cox regression. Puppies and kittens with clinical signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal disease at intake took significantly longer to receive approval for adoption on medical grounds (puppies - respiratory p<0.0001; gastrointestinal p<0.0001; kittens - respiratory p<0.0001; gastrointestinal p=0.002). Stray kittens were more likely to be delayed than owner-relinquished kittens or those transferred from other shelters (p<0.01). Older kittens were less likely to be delayed (p<0.0001). Administration of oral or parenteral antibiotics to puppies and kittens with respiratory and/or ocular signs within 24h of intake significantly reduced time to approval on medical grounds for adoption (puppies p=0.02; kittens p=0.03). The analyses suggested that puppies and kittens with respiratory or gastrointestinal signs on intake are more likely to experience delays between intake and veterinary approval for adoption on medical grounds. Prompt antimicrobial treatment of animals with respiratory and/or ocular signs may decrease length of stay in the shelter.

Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Simulation of Procainamide and N-Acetylprocainamide in a Patient Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Novel Approach to Guide Renal Dose Adjustments

References 1. Isakova T, Xie H, Yang W, et al. Fibroblast growth factor 23 and risks of mortality and end-stage renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. JAMA. 2011;305(23):2432-2439. 2. Zoccali C, Ruggenenti P, Perna A, et al. Phosphate may promote CKD progression and attenuate renoprotective effect of ACE inhibition. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;22(10):1923-1930. 3. Foley RN, Collins AJ, Ishani A, Kalra PA. Calciumphosphate levels and cardiovascular disease in communitydwelling adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Am Heart J. 2008;156(3):556-563. 4. Moe SM, Drueke TB, Block GA, et al. KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney Int Suppl. 2009;113:1-140. 5. Klahr S, Levey AS, Beck GJ, et al. The effects of dietary protein restriction and blood-pressure control on the progression of chronic renal disease. The MDRD Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1994;330(13):877-884. 6. Portale AA, Halloran BP, Morris RC, et al. Dietary intake of phosphorus modulates the circadian rhythm in serum concentration of phosphorus. Implications for the renal production of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. J Clin Invest. 1987;80(4):1147-1154. 7. Block GA, Wheeler DC, Persky MS, et al. Effects of phosphate binders in moderate CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23(8):1407-1415. 8. Ix JH, Ganjoo P, Tipping D, Tershakovec AM, Bostom AG. Sustained hypophosphatemic effect of once-daily niacin/laropiprant in dyslipidemic CKD stage 3 patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2011;57(6):963-965. 9. Yamamoto KT, Robinson-Cohen C, de Oliveira MC, et al. Dietary phosphorus is associated with left ventricular mass: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [published online ahead of print January 2, 2013]. Kidney Int. doi 10.1038/ki.2012.303. 10. Burnett SM, Gunawardene SC, Bringhurst FR, Juppner H, Lee H, Finkelstein JS. Regulation of C-terminal and intact FGF-23 by dietary phosphate in men and women. J Bone Miner Res. 2006;21(8):1187-1196.

Pharmacokinetics of Procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide during Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

References 1. Isakova T, Xie H, Yang W, et al. Fibroblast growth factor 23 and risks of mortality and end-stage renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. JAMA. 2011;305(23):2432-2439. 2. Zoccali C, Ruggenenti P, Perna A, et al. Phosphate may promote CKD progression and attenuate renoprotective effect of ACE inhibition. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;22(10):1923-1930. 3. Foley RN, Collins AJ, Ishani A, Kalra PA. Calciumphosphate levels and cardiovascular disease in communitydwelling adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Am Heart J. 2008;156(3):556-563. 4. Moe SM, Drueke TB, Block GA, et al. KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney Int Suppl. 2009;113:1-140. 5. Klahr S, Levey AS, Beck GJ, et al. The effects of dietary protein restriction and blood-pressure control on the progression of chronic renal disease. The MDRD Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1994;330(13):877-884. 6. Portale AA, Halloran BP, Morris RC, et al. Dietary intake of phosphorus modulates the circadian rhythm in serum concentration of phosphorus. Implications for the renal production of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. J Clin Invest. 1987;80(4):1147-1154. 7. Block GA, Wheeler DC, Persky MS, et al. Effects of phosphate binders in moderate CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23(8):1407-1415. 8. Ix JH, Ganjoo P, Tipping D, Tershakovec AM, Bostom AG. Sustained hypophosphatemic effect of once-daily niacin/laropiprant in dyslipidemic CKD stage 3 patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2011;57(6):963-965. 9. Yamamoto KT, Robinson-Cohen C, de Oliveira MC, et al. Dietary phosphorus is associated with left ventricular mass: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [published online ahead of print January 2, 2013]. Kidney Int. doi 10.1038/ki.2012.303. 10. Burnett SM, Gunawardene SC, Bringhurst FR, Juppner H, Lee H, Finkelstein JS. Regulation of C-terminal and intact FGF-23 by dietary phosphate in men and women. J Bone Miner Res. 2006;21(8):1187-1196.

CorrespondenceResearch LetterPharmacokinetic Modeling and Simulation of Procainamide and N-Acetylprocainamide in a Patient Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Novel Approach to Guide Renal Dose Adjustments

References 1. Isakova T, Xie H, Yang W, et al. Fibroblast growth factor 23 and risks of mortality and end-stage renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. JAMA. 2011;305(23):2432-2439. 2. Zoccali C, Ruggenenti P, Perna A, et al. Phosphate may promote CKD progression and attenuate renoprotective effect of ACE inhibition. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;22(10):1923-1930. 3. Foley RN, Collins AJ, Ishani A, Kalra PA. Calciumphosphate levels and cardiovascular disease in communitydwelling adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Am Heart J. 2008;156(3):556-563. 4. Moe SM, Drueke TB, Block GA, et al. KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney Int Suppl. 2009;113:1-140. 5. Klahr S, Levey AS, Beck GJ, et al. The effects of dietary protein restriction and blood-pressure control on the progression of chronic renal disease. The MDRD Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1994;330(13):877-884. 6. Portale AA, Halloran BP, Morris RC, et al. Dietary intake of phosphorus modulates the circadian rhythm in serum concentration of phosphorus. Implications for the renal production of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. J Clin Invest. 1987;80(4):1147-1154. 7. Block GA, Wheeler DC, Persky MS, et al. Effects of phosphate binders in moderate CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23(8):1407-1415. 8. Ix JH, Ganjoo P, Tipping D, Tershakovec AM, Bostom AG. Sustained hypophosphatemic effect of once-daily niacin/laropiprant in dyslipidemic CKD stage 3 patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2011;57(6):963-965. 9. Yamamoto KT, Robinson-Cohen C, de Oliveira MC, et al. Dietary phosphorus is associated with left ventricular mass: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [published online ahead of print January 2, 2013]. Kidney Int. doi 10.1038/ki.2012.303. 10. Burnett SM, Gunawardene SC, Bringhurst FR, Juppner H, Lee H, Finkelstein JS. Regulation of C-terminal and intact FGF-23 by dietary phosphate in men and women. J Bone Miner Res. 2006;21(8):1187-1196.