Snakes and kittens in the grass: No evidence for preferential processing of fear-relevant animals in visual search

Ohman and colleagues provided evidence for preferential processing of pictures depicting fear-relevant animals by showing that pictures of snakes and spiders are found faster among pictures of fiowers and mushrooms than vice versa and that the speed of detecting fear-relevant animals was not affected by set size whereas the speed of detecting fiowers/mushrooms was. Experiment 1 replicated this finding. Experiment 2, however, found similar search advantages when pictures of cats and horses or of wolves and big cats were to be found among pictures of flowers and mushrooms. Moreover, Experiment 3, in a within subject comparison, failed to find faster identification of snakes and spiders than of cats and horses among flowers and mushrooms. The present findings seem to indicate that previous reports of preferential processing of pictures of snakes and spiders in a visual search task may reflect a processing advantage for animal pictures in general rather than fear-relevance.

Prevalence and correlates of the injection of methadone syrup in Sydney, Australia

A sample of 312 heroin users was interviewed on their injection of methadone syrup. Methadone injecting was widespread, with 52% of subjects having injected methadone syrup, 29% in the preceding six months. Males and females were equally likely to report methadone injecting. Forty per cent Of current methadone injectors reported weekly or more frequent methadone injecting over the preceding six months. A history of methadone injecting was;associated with abscesses and infections in injection sites, having been diagnosed with a venous thrombosis and a history of heroin overdose. Current methadone injectors were in poorer general health, had more injection-related symptoms, higher levels of psychological distress, were more likely to have recently passed on used injecting equipment and to have recently committed criminal acts. Implications for the reduction in the prevalence of methadone injecting and associated harm are discussed.

Rho and vascular disease

The Rho family GTPases are regulatory molecules that link surface receptors to organisation of the actin cytoskeleton and play major roles in fundamental cellular processes. In the vasculature Rho signalling pathways are intimately involved in the regulation of endothelial barrier function, inflammation and transendothelial leukocyte migration, platelet activation, thrombosis and oxidative stress, as well as smooth muscle contraction, migration, proliferation and differentiation, and are thus implicated in many of the changes associated with atherogenesis. Indeed, it is believed that many of the beneficial, non-lipid lowering effects of statins occur as a result of their ability to inhibit Rho protein activation. Conversely, the Rho proteins can have beneficial effects on the vasculature, including the promotion of endothelial repair and the maintenance of SMC differentiation. Further identification of the mechanisms by which these proteins and their effectors act in the vasculature should lead to therapies that specifically target only the adverse effects of Rho signalling. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Viruses associated with outbreaks of equine respiratory disease in New Zealand

AIM: To identify viruses associated with respiratory disease in young horses in New Zealand. METHODS: Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected from 45 foals or horses from five separate outbreaks of respiratory disease that occurred in New Zealand in 1996, and from 37 yearlings at the time of the annual yearling sales in January that same year. Virus isolation from nasal swabs and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was undertaken and serum samples were tested for antibodies against equine herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-4 and EHV-5), equine rhinitis-A virus (ERAV), equine rhinitis-B virus (ERBV), equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV-1), equine arteritis virus (EAV), reovirus 3 and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3). RESULTS: Viruses were isolated from 24/94 (26%) nasal swab samples and from 77/80 (96%) PBL samples collected from both healthy horses and horses showing clinical signs of respiratory disease. All isolates were identified as EHV-2, EHV-4, EHV-5 or untyped EHV Of the horses and foals tested, 59/82 (72%) were positive for EHV-1 and/or EHV-4 serum neutralising (SN) antibody on at least one sampling occasion, 52/82 (63%) for EHV-1-specific antibody tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 10/80 (13%) for ERAV SN antibody, 60/80 (75%) for ERBV SN antibody, and 42/80 (53%) for haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody to EAdV-1. None of the 64 serum samples tested were positive for antibodies to EAV, reovirus 3 or PIV3. Evidence of infection with all viruses tested was detected in both healthy horses and in horses showing clinical signs of respiratory disease. Recent EHV 2 infection was associated with the development of signs of respiratory disease among yearlings [relative risk (RR) = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.59-4.47, p = 0.0171]. CONCLUSIONS: Of the equine respiratory viruses detected in horses in New Zealand during this study, EHV 2 was most likely to be associated with respiratory disease. However, factors other than viral infection are probably important in the development of clinical signs of disease.

Therapeutic potential of selective superoxide dismutase mimetics

Selective superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics are potentially useful in pathological conditions in which there is an overproduction of the superoxide anion O-2.(-). These pathological conditions include inflammation, ischemia/reperfusion, shock, various cardiovascular disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders. A major step forward in this field was the development of small-molecule selective SOD mimetics that penetrate cell membranes, These selective SOD mimetics catalytically remove O-2.(-) without interfering with nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) or other radicals such as hydroxyl radical or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These selective SOD mimetics (SC-52608, SC-55858, M-40403 and M-40401) have been shown to have benefits in animal models of inflammation, ischemia/reperfusion, shock, thrombosis and diabetes. The next challenge with selective SOD mimetics is to develop therapeutic potential into therapeutic agents.

Polymerase chain reaction tests for the identification of Ross River, Kunjin and Murray Valley encephalitis virus infections in horses

Objective To develop and validate specific, sensitive and rapid diagnostic tests using RT-PCR for the detection of Ross River virus (RRV), Kunjin virus (KV) and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) infections in horses. Methods Primer sets based on nucleotide sequence encoding the envelope glycoprotein E2 of RRV and on the nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) of KV and MVEV were designed and used in single round PCRs to test for the respective viruses in infected cell cultures and, in the case of RRV, in samples of horse blood and synovial fluid. Results The primer pairs designed for each of the three viruses amplified a product of expected size from prototype viruses that were grown in cell culture. The identity of each of the products was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing indicating that in the context used the RT-PCRs were specific. RRV was detected in serums from 8 horses for which there were clinical signs consistent with RRV infection such that an acute-phase serum sample was taken and submitted for RRV serology testing. The RRV RT-PCR was analytically sensitive in that it was estimated to detect as little as 50 TCID50 of RRV per mL of serum and was specific in that the primer pairs did not amplify other products from the 8 serum samples. The RRV primers also detected virus in three independent mosquito pools known to contain RRV by virus isolation in cell culture. Samples from horses suspected to be infected with KV and MVEV were not available. Conclusion Despite much anecdotal and serological evidence for infection of horses with RRV actual infection and associated clinical disease are infrequently confirmed. The availability of a specific and analytically sensitive RT-PCR for the detection of RRV provides additional opportunities to confirm the presence of this virus in clinical samples. The RTPCR primers for the diagnosis of KV and MVEV infections were shown to be specific for cell culture grown viruses but the further validation of these tests requires the availability of appropriate clinical samples from infected horses.

Australian veterinarians who work with horses: attitudes to work and career

Objective To describe the attitudes to their work and career of those Australian veterinarians who work with horses. Method Questionnaires were mailed to 866 veterinarians who had been identified as working with horses, and 87% were completed and returned. Data were entered onto Excel spreadsheets, and analysed using the SAS System for Windows. Results The main attractions of veterinary work with horses were the horses themselves and the equine industries, but working outdoors and with rewarding clients, and the satisfaction of successful outcomes were attractions for many. The list of disadvantages was longer, and included unreasonable and disagreeable clients as well as those who provided inadequate facilities, could not control their horses or did not care for them. The physical demands and risks of injury, the amount of time required, low rates of return and difficulties in collecting payment, were other major disadvantages. Some mentioned concerns about litigation, unethical behaviour, and recruiting and retaining veterinarians competent with horses. For many in mixed practice, the difficulties in affording modern equipment, and of developing and maintaining their own competence with horses, was a real concern. More than three-quarters of the respondents reported that their careers had lived up to expectations and that they would become veterinarians again; 70% of equine veterinarians would become an equine veterinarian again. Almost all (93%) of the respondents were either very glad, or 'generally glad though with some misgivings' that they had done the veterinary course. Older veterinarians reported suffering less stress, and being more content with their career, than younger colleagues. Conclusions The advantages of doing veterinary work with horses outweigh the disadvantages for most veterinarians, especially those well advanced in their careers.

Behavioral and physiological responses to stabling in naive horses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of horses to confinement and isolation in a stable (indoor individual housing) for the first time using behavioral indices, heart rate, and salivary cortisol concentration. Six naive 2-year-old Australian Stock Horse fillies were examined at 4-hour intervals over 24 hours in an outdoor group paddock followed by 24 hours in indoor individual housing. Behavioral observations and scores and heart rates were recorded and saliva samples were taken at each interval. During stabling, all horses became agitated and demonstrated increased vocalization and movement. Behavioral scores were significantly higher in the indoor individual housing (P

Supplementary feeding of horses with processed sorghum grains and oats

Two feeding experiments and in vitro hind gut fermentation tests were carried out to study the effect of processing sorghum grain on digestion of starch and on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract environment of the horse. In experiment 1, 12 yearling Australian stock horses were blocked on the basis of sex then randomly divided into four equal groups, each containing one castrated male and two females of approximately the same age and weight. Horses were offered at 0800 and 1500 h, 3 kg medium quality liverseed grass (Urochloa panicoides) hay and 2 kg of either oats (O), dry rolled sorghum (DRS), steam-flaked sorghum (SFS) or expanded sorghum (ES). Lanthanum was used as external solid marker for the measurements of apparent total tract digestibility. Fresh water was available ad libitum. Horses were allowed 18 days to adapt to the diets followed by a 3-day faecal collection period. Digestibility of dry matter (DM), and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were higher (P