@article{watson_hazen_rasko_jacob_elfenbein_stauffer_gookin_2021, title={Comparative Genomics of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli from Kittens and Children Identifies Bacterial Factors Associated with Virulence in Kittens}, volume={89}, ISSN={["1098-5522"]}, DOI={10.1128/IAI.00619-20}, abstractNote={Typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea and associated death in children worldwide. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) lacks the plasmid encoding bundle-forming pili and is considered less virulent, but the molecular mechanism of virulence is poorly understood. ABSTRACT Typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea and associated death in children worldwide. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) lacks the plasmid encoding bundle-forming pili and is considered less virulent, but the molecular mechanism of virulence is poorly understood. We recently identified kittens as a host for aEPEC where intestinal epithelial colonization was associated with diarrheal disease and death. The purposes of this study were to (i) determine the genomic similarity between kitten aEPEC and human aEPEC isolates and (ii) identify genotypic or phenotypic traits associated with virulence in kitten aEPEC. We observed no differences between kitten and human aEPEC in core genome content or gene cluster sequence identities, and no distinguishing genomic content was observed between aEPEC isolates from kittens with nonclinical colonization (NC) versus those with lethal infection (LI). Variation in adherence patterns and ability to aggregate actin in cultured cells mirrored descriptions of human aEPEC. The aEPEC isolated from kittens with LI were significantly more motile than isolates from kittens with NC. Kittens may serve as a reservoir for aEPEC that is indistinguishable from human aEPEC isolates and may provide a needed comparative animal model for the study of aEPEC pathogenesis. Motility seems to be an important factor in pathogenesis of LI associated with aEPEC in kittens.}, number={3}, journal={INFECTION AND IMMUNITY}, author={Watson, Victoria E. and Hazen, Tracy H. and Rasko, David A. and Jacob, Megan E. and Elfenbein, Johanna R. and Stauffer, Stephen H. and Gookin, Jody L.}, year={2021}, month={Mar} }
 @article{johnson_holcombe_shearer_watson_gandy_southwood_lynch_schroeder_fogle_sordillo_2020, title={Multicenter Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of Ethyl Pyruvate in Horses Following Surgical Treatment for >= 360 degrees Large Colon Volvulus}, volume={7}, ISSN={["2297-1769"]}, DOI={10.3389/fvets.2020.00204}, abstractNote={Identifying therapies that mitigate ischemic colonic injury and improve mucosal healing and intestinal viability are crucial to improving survival in horses with ≥360° large colon volvulus (LCV). Ethyl pyruvate is the ethyl ester of pyruvate with diverse pharmacologic effects that limit ischemic injury and hasten intestinal mucosal repair in preclinical rodents, sheep and swine models. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ethyl pyruvate on systemic indices of colon viability, expression of inflammatory genes in whole blood, morbidity and survival after surgical correction of LCV compared to controls. Horses received either 150 mg/kg ethyl pyruvate in 1 liter lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) or 1 liter LRS intravenously (IV) every 6 h for 24 h following surgical recovery for correction of LCV. Colic duration, perioperative heart rate (HR), packed cell volume (PCV), total solids (TS), blood L-lactate concentration, surgical time, intraoperative episodes of hypoxemia and hypotension, expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, fecal consistency and survival to hospital discharge were compared between ethyl pyruvate treated horses and controls. Twenty-two horses, 12 receiving ethyl pyruvate and 10 controls, were enrolled in the study. Ethyl pyruvate was safely administered to horses following surgical correction of LCV. No significant effects of ethyl pyruvate on post-operative variables, including survival, were found. Seven of 12 ethyl pyruvate treated horses and 5/10 controls survived to hospital discharge. Higher HR, PCV and blood L-lactate concentration at the time of hospital admission, P = 0.005, 0.01, 0.04, respectively, 24 h after surgery, P = 0.001, 0.03, 0.02, respectively, were associated with death. Heart rate, P = 0.005, 48 h after surgery was associated with death. Ethyl pyruvate was safely administered to horses following correction of LCV with no apparent adverse events but was not associated with improved post-operative outcomes including survival. A larger, randomized control trial is needed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of ethyl pyruvate. A major limitation of this investigation is the small sample size, making the study underpowered and creating a high possibility of type II error.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE}, author={Johnson, Lindsey M. and Holcombe, Susan J. and Shearer, Tara R. and Watson, Victoria and Gandy, Jeffery and Southwood, Louise L. and Lynch, Tymothy M. and Schroeder, Eric L. and Fogle, Callie A. and Sordillo, Lorraine M.}, year={2020}, month={Apr} }
 @article{fowler_gilbertie_watson_prange_osborne_schnabel_2019, title={Effects of acellular equine amniotic allografts on the healing of experimentally induced full-thickness distal limb wounds in horses}, volume={48}, ISSN={["1532-950X"]}, DOI={10.1111/vsu.13304}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVE
To characterize the growth factors contained in equine amniotic membrane allograft (eAM; StemWrap scaffold and StemWrap+ injection) and to evaluate the effect of eAM on equine distal limb wound healing.


STUDY DESIGN
Prospective experimental controlled study.


SAMPLE POPULATION
Eight adult horses.


METHODS
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) concentrations in StemWrap+ were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two full-thickness 6.25-cm2 skin wounds were created on each metacarpus. On one forelimb, one wound was treated with eAM, and the other was left untreated (eAM control). On the contralateral limb, one wound was treated with a silicone dressing, and the other served as negative control. Three-dimensional images were obtained to determine wound circumference and surface area analyses at each bandage change until healed. Excessive granulation tissue was debrided once weekly for 4 weeks. Biopsy samples were taken to evaluate quality of wound healing via histologic and immunohistochemistry assays.


RESULTS
StemWrap+ contained moderate concentrations of TGF-β1 (494.10 pg/mL), VEGF (212.52 pg/mL), and PGE2 (1811.61 pg/mL). Treatment of wounds with eAM did not affect time to healing or histologic quality of the healing compared with other groups but was associated with increased granulation tissue production early in the study, particularly on day 7.


CONCLUSION
Application of eAM resulted in increased granulation tissue production while maintaining appropriate healing of experimental wounds.


CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Use of eAM is likely most beneficial for substantial wounds in which expedient production of large amounts of granulation tissue is desirable.}, number={8}, journal={VETERINARY SURGERY}, author={Fowler, Alexander W. and Gilbertie, Jessica M. and Watson, Victoria E. and Prange, Timo and Osborne, Jason A. and Schnabel, Lauren V}, year={2019}, month={Nov}, pages={1416–1428} }
 @article{watson_jacob_flowers_strong_debroy_gookin_2017, title={Association of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli with Diarrhea and Related Mortality in Kittens}, volume={55}, ISSN={0095-1137 1098-660X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00403-17}, DOI={10.1128/jcm.00403-17}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Diarrhea is responsible for the death of approximately 900,000 children per year worldwide. In children, typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a common cause of diarrhea and is associated with a higher hazard of death. Typical EPEC infection is rare in animals and poorly reproduced in experimental animal models. In contrast, atypical EPEC (aEPEC) infection is common in both children and animals, but its role in diarrhea is uncertain. Mortality in kittens is often attributed to diarrhea, and we previously identified enteroadherent EPEC in the intestines of deceased kittens. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of EPEC in kittens and whether infection was associated with diarrhea, diarrhea-related mortality, gastrointestinal pathology, or other risk factors. Kittens with and without diarrhea were obtained from two shelter facilities and determined to shed atypical EPEC at a culture-based prevalence of 18%. In contrast, quantitative PCR detected the presence of the gene for intimin (eae) in feces from 42% of kittens. aEPEC was isolated from kittens with and without diarrhea. However, kittens with diarrhea harbored significantly larger quantities of aEPEC than kittens without diarrhea. Kittens with aEPEC had a significantly greater severity of small intestinal and colonic lesions and were significantly more likely to have required subcutaneous fluid administration. These findings identify aEPEC to be prevalent in kittens and a significant primary or contributing cause of intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, dehydration, and associated mortality in kittens.}, number={9}, journal={Journal of Clinical Microbiology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Watson, Victoria E. and Jacob, Megan E. and Flowers, James R. and Strong, Sandra J. and DebRoy, Chitrita and Gookin, Jody L.}, editor={Fenwick, BradEditor}, year={2017}, month={Jun}, pages={2719–2735} }
 @article{rissi_levine_eden_watson_griffin_edwards_porter_2015, title={Cerebral oligodendroglioma mimicking intraventricular neoplasia in three dogs}, volume={27}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation}, author={Rissi, D. R. and Levine, J. M. and Eden, K. B. and Watson, V. E. and Griffin, J. F. and Edwards, J. F. and Porter, B. F.}, year={2015}, pages={396–400} }