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Full-Text Articles in Veterinary Medicine

Arbovirus Phenotype Alters Transmission Potential, Rebecca C. Christofferson Jan 2011

Arbovirus Phenotype Alters Transmission Potential, Rebecca C. Christofferson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Extrinsic and environmental factors are known to affect the transmission of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), including variations in the arthropod vector populations. Differences among these factors have been associated with differential transmission and are sometimes used to control the spread of an arbovirus through a vertebrate population in an effort to prevent or disrupt an outbreak. However, diversity in intrinsic viral populations, such as genetic and phenotypic variability, is not often accounted for when considering alterations in transmission. Presented in this dissertation are four experimental studies that explore the contribution of viral intrinsic factors, especially phenotypic variability, to the transmission potential …


Biomechanical Evaluation Of Medial And Lateral Approaches For Experimentally Created Medial Condylar Fractures Of The Equine Third Metacarpal Bone, Saybl Beauton Sprinkle Jan 2011

Biomechanical Evaluation Of Medial And Lateral Approaches For Experimentally Created Medial Condylar Fractures Of The Equine Third Metacarpal Bone, Saybl Beauton Sprinkle

LSU Master's Theses

Objective -To compare the compression produced in reduction of experimentally created medial condylar fractures using lag screw fixation with medial vs. lateral approach, and to determine the maximum torque at screw failure. Materials and Methods- Twelve (12) pairs (left and right) 3rd metacarpal bones (MC3) were collected from adult (2-7 years) Thoroughbreds euthanized for reasons unrelated to orthopedic disease. Complete parasagittal medial condylar osteotomies were created at a measurement of 9, 13, and 21 mm axial to the epicondylar fossa on four pairs each of cadaveric MC3 bones resulting in fracture fragments measuring 8, 12, and 20 mm in thickness. …


Characterization Of Spiroplasma Mirum And Its Role In Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Hilari Maree French Jan 2011

Characterization Of Spiroplasma Mirum And Its Role In Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Hilari Maree French

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

There are many contradictory reports in the literature involving the culture of Spiroplasma mirum, its resistance to disinfectants and antibiotics, and its potential role in Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). These contradictions led to an interest in a possible link between spiroplasma and TSEs and the development of a research plan to elucidate this connection. It was hypothesized that Spiroplasma was associated with a neurodegenerative disease such as TSE. In this work we further characterized S. mirum laboratory strains and continued to evaluate the possible correlations they have with TSE infections and the prion. To optimize recovery of S. mirum from …


The Tick Response To Rickettsial Dissemination During Typical And Atypical Rickettsial Infection, Piyanate Sunyakumthorn Jan 2011

The Tick Response To Rickettsial Dissemination During Typical And Atypical Rickettsial Infection, Piyanate Sunyakumthorn

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Ticks are the only disease vectors for spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia which are obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia. In nature, ticks maintain the infection of SFG Rickettsia via vertical and horizontal transmission. However, the prevalence of rickettsial transmission is limited to certain species of ticks, and this limitation is known as a specific tick/Rickettsia relationship. Due to the continuous increase of tick-borne rickettsial disease cases in the United States, which contrasts with very low prevalence of Rickettsia in tick vectors, the study of vector competence of tick to Rickettsia is needed in order to understand the …


The Role Of Inflammatory Molecules In Hypertension, Jeffrey Paul Cardinale Jan 2011

The Role Of Inflammatory Molecules In Hypertension, Jeffrey Paul Cardinale

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Hypertension is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality rates, as well as a major predisposing factor for multiple cardiovascular and renal diseases. Angiotensin II (Ang II) of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in propagating the hypertensive response. Moreover, hypertension is considered a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition that intimately involves the actions of proinflammatory cytokines (PICs) such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). Recent evidence highlights the role that inflammation, specifically TNF, plays in hypertension and in regulating the RAS, but the understanding as to how inflammation is regulated following Ang II or TNF activation, as well …


Mapping And Modeling Of Neglected Tropical Diseases In Brazil And Bolivia, Paula Mischler Jan 2011

Mapping And Modeling Of Neglected Tropical Diseases In Brazil And Bolivia, Paula Mischler

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Accurately defining disease distributions and calculating disease risk is an important step in the control and prevention of diseases. This study used geographical information systems and remote sensing technologies within the MaxEnt ecological niche modeling program to create predictive risk maps for leprosy and Schistosomiasis in Brazil and Chagas disease in both Brazil and Bolivia. New disease cases were compiled for leprosy, Schistosomiasis, and Chagas disease from the Brazilian ministry of Health for 2001 to 2009 and the data was stratified to a 10,000 population for each municipality. Bolivian Chagas prevalence rates were calculated from 2007 to 2009 survey data. …


Mechanical Evaluation Of Aluminum Oxide Roughened Screws In Equine Third Metacarpal Bone, Petrisor Baia Jan 2011

Mechanical Evaluation Of Aluminum Oxide Roughened Screws In Equine Third Metacarpal Bone, Petrisor Baia

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT Objectives – To compare the osseointegration of roughened and electropolished 5.5 mm cortical screws used to secure a 4.5 mm broad dynamic compression plate (DCP) in equine third metacarpal (MC3) bones. Study Design – In vivo study Animals – 5 Adult thoroughbred horses (2-7 years old). Methods – For each horse one MC3 was randomly assigned to secure a 4.5 mm broad DCP with 4aluminum oxide (Al2O3) roughened screws on the dorsal mid diaphysis. Four regular electropolished screws used to secure a similar plate on the contralateral limb served as control. They were removed at 12 weeks and the …


Arginine Metabolism In The Edwardsiella Ictaluri- Channel Catfish Macrophage Dynamic, Wes Arend Baumgartner Jan 2011

Arginine Metabolism In The Edwardsiella Ictaluri- Channel Catfish Macrophage Dynamic, Wes Arend Baumgartner

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Edwardsiella ictaluri encodes a urease operon and an arginine decarboxylase (AdiA) that are required for virulence in head kidney derived macrophages (HKDM). The urease produces ammonia in amounts sufficient to alter environmental pH from acid to neutral. A hypothetical model was proposed, involving arginine metabolism in E. ictaluri infected HKDM, focusing on bacterial urease, AdiA, a second arginine decarboxylase (SpeA), and agmatinase (SpeB). Using fluorescence based ratiometric pH determination of E. ictaluri in live HKDM, it was shown that E. ictaluri modulates HKDM phagosome pH to above six. Urease and AdiA mutants failed to up-regulate vacuole pH, while vacuole pH …