PHOTOGRAPHY - China Airlines Cargo plane.
is the state-owned flag carrier of Taiwan. It is one of Taiwan's two major airlines, along with EVA Air. It is headquartered in Taoyuan International Airport
China Airlines Cargo, a member of SkyTeam Cargo, which operates a fleet of freighter aircraft and manages its parent airline's cargo-hold capacity.
17 Nov 2024. 3 pm
Canon R5. 105mm, 1/800 sec, f/4.5, ISO 160. Tv mode.
The oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) is a common species found in tropical regions, including Singapore. It is characterized by:
They are typically seen basking in the sun, on tree trunks, or among dense vegetation in gardens, forests, and urban areas.
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The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), also known as the Changeable Lizard, is commonly found in Singapore, especially in urban areas, parks, and gardens. This species is known for its adaptability and ability to thrive in various habitats, ranging from forests to residential neighborhoods. It has a robust body, long tail, and spiny crest along its back. During the breeding season, males develop striking colors, such as an orange head with a black throat patch.
This species is considered non-native to Singapore, likely introduced from neighboring regions like Thailand or Northern Malaysia. It has outcompeted some native species, such as the Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella), due to its territorial nature and adaptability.
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CHATGPT
The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) is a common sight in Singapore, especially in urban gardens, parks, and natural areas. Here's what you might like to know about them:
In Singapore, these lizards are not just a part of the local biodiversity but also a reminder of the coexistence between wildlife and urban life. They are harmless to humans and often admired for their agility and adaptability.
SINGAPORE - 16 NOV 2024: The African Princess (Costus fissiligulatus) is a dazzling pink trumpet flower with a yellow throat. It is very floriferous with an inflorescence of numerous flower buds.
Ref. BBC Wildlife. discoverwildlife.com
Feb 2024.
An adult cassowary nearly 2m tall and weighing up to 50kg. Large flightless birds found in N E Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Males undertake the 50-day incubation duty and rear the young.
15cm claws on their middle toes used as a defence against predators such as dingos, pythons, birds of prey which target young ones.
run at speeds of 50kph, clear 2m when jumping and deliver a mean kick.
primary distributor of seed in rainforest, cassowaries are a keystone species.
large ornate structure on top of their heads, known as casque. Made of sponge-like material and keratin, this leathery crest is found in both sexes, suggesting it does not play a role in attracting a mate. The casque acys like a therma radiator: at high temperatures, heat is offloaded through the casque, helping the bird to stay cool. Back of the cassque heats up before the front.
a member of ratites, known for their inability to fly.
Cassowary, Greater rhea, Emu, Ostrich and Tinamou (can fly).
The southern cassowary is the third-tallest bird in the world. Two other species are northern cassowary, dwarf ca
ssowary.
habitat destruction and urban development,
Christmas presents photography. Tripod and manual mode is best.
Canon R5, tripod, manual mode, 53mm, 1/8 sec, f/11, ISO 200. 5.27pm. Overcast.
Red, green and white are colours of Christmas. The decorator uses these 3 colours.
Eosinophils are polymorphonuclear, granulocytic leukocytes involved in the initiation and propagation of inflammatory responses that act as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity.1 Normal eosinophil blood count typically measures between 0 and 1500/μL and may vary based on the instrumentation and methodology used (eg, reference laboratory vs in-house).2,3 Eosinophilia is a state in which blood eosinophil levels are above the normal reference interval.
Eosinophilia in cats is most often associated with parasitic infestation or hypersensitivity reactions (ie, allergies).4,5 Tissue sites most commonly affected by hypersensitivity conditions include the skin, lungs, and/or GI tract.6 Transient epinephrine-induced excitement may lead to mild eosinophilia in conjunction with lymphocytosis and mild neutrophilia. Prolonged survival and increased numbers of eosinophils may also be seen in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, some neoplastic conditions, and/or paraneoplastic syndromes.7-9
Eosinophils—with or without accompanying peripheral eosinophilia—have 3 primary features, including:
Role as a vital host defense against helminthic parasitic infections
Frequent presence in allergic disorders (eg, asthma, atopy, food allergies)
Nonspecific, destructive, and cytotoxic effects against both the pathogen and the host
Following are the author’s 5 most common causes of eosinophilia in cats.
Eosinophilia associated with parasitic infestations in cats includes those caused by Gl helminths (eg, Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma spp), filarial helminths (eg, Dirofilaria immitis), respiratory helminths (eg, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Eucoleus aerophilus, Paragonimus kellicotti), ectoparasites (eg, fleas, ticks, mites, mosquitoes), and, rarely, protozoa (eg, Giardia duodenalis, Coccidia spp, Isospora spp, Toxoplasma gondii, Tritrichomonas foetus).10,11
Internal and external parasites may cause clinical signs ranging from subclinical infections to serious disease. Clinical signs commonly depend on the body system that is parasitized (eg, diarrhea, vomiting, failure to thrive, or weight loss with GI parasites; anemia, lackluster coat, or skin lesions with flea infestation). Clinically significant parasitism can affect any cat but depends on age (with increased prevalence and incidence in kittens), general health and immune function, geographic location, and lifestyle (with increased risk to outdoor cats, feral cats, and cats that hunt).
Eosinophil function contributes to the host’s defense against helminth infection.12 The large size of helminths precludes phagocytosis. Eosinophils adhere to a variety of tissue-invading helminth larvae coated with immunoglobulins, then degranulate and secrete soluble factors, which kill larvae.12-16 Migrating parasites that have been in prolonged contact with host tissue are more likely to induce peripheral eosinophilia, as are migrating stages of ascarids, hookworms, lungworms, and heartworms.17-22 Rather than persisting long-term, peripheral eosinophilia may be present for only a few weeks after helminth endoparasite infection or for a few months after heartworm infection.17,18,22,23 A low intestinal parasite burden may not even induce peripheral eosinophilia.23
One report showed no difference in mean eosinophil counts in 62 cats with endoparasitism as compared with 122 cats with a negative fecal examination for endoparasite ova.4 Although sensitivity of fecal flotation methods can vary approximately 13% to 100% depending on the exact method and combination of methods used (eg, zinc sulfate centrifugation, saturated sodium chloride, spontaneous sedimentation, formol-ether technique) and on presence of particular endoparasites,24 absence of peripheral eosinophilia does not rule out parasitic infection. However, presence of peripheral eosinophilia in combination with other diagnostic information (eg, fecal ova or helminth larvae noted in fecal analysis, elevated serum liver parameters with liver flukes, respiratory signs with migrating larva or lungworms) is supportive of presence of clinically significant parasitic infection.
Allergic inflammation is an inappropriate immune response that arises from polarization of T cells toward a Th2 immune-mediated response. Greater expression of Th2 cytokines, along with downregulation of Th1 cytokines, is seen in allergen-challenged patients. Eosinophils are increased in number in both the serum and in skin lesions and contribute to the pathogenesis of feline allergic dermatitis. Pathogenesis involves multifaceted immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction stemming from an increasingly complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.25-27 Impaired skin integrity increases patient susceptibility to allergens and pathogens, which may lead to activation of innate and adaptive immune responses.27
Hypersensitivity may manifest as reactions to allergens derived from food ingredients, inhalants (eg, atopy), contact material, and/or fleas, lice, mites, ticks, or insect bites (eg, hymenoptera). Regardless of the inciting cause, cats with allergic dermatitis are usually pruritic, and primary skin lesions (eg, erythema, maculae, papules) are frequently present. One or more of the following cutaneous reaction patterns may be observed28,29:
Head, neck, and/or pinnal excoriations
Self-induced alopecia
Miliary dermatitis
Eosinophilic lesions, including eosinophilic plaques, eosinophilic granulomas, and indolent ulcers
Histologic or cytologic examination of pruritus-induced skin lesions and surrounding areas commonly reveals increased numbers of eosinophils and mast cells.30-32 The degree of tissue eosinophilia can correlate with the severity of skin lesions.30-32
Age at onset of allergic dermatitis signs is broad. Atopic cats have been reported to experience onset between 3 months and 12 years of age, with a mean age of approximately 2 to 3 years, and cats with food allergies have been reported to experience onset between 3 months and 11 years of age, with a mean age of 4 to 5 years.33-35 Various studies have reported that approximately 38% to 46% of allergic cats developed signs before 2 to 3 years of age.34,36 No particular breed or sex predilection has been firmly established for atopy,34 although some studies have noted an increase of atopy in purebreed and female cats.32 Higher risk for food allergies has been noted in Siamese, Siamese crossbreeds, and Birmans.34 Positive treatment responses to atopic dermatitis therapy have been reported with cyclosporine (100%), systemic glucocorticoids (55%), and allergen-specific immunotherapy (57%), and a partial-to-good response has been reported with antihistamines (67%).35 Avoidance of allergens is recommended.
Flea infestation, the most common cause of allergic dermatitis in cats, may be accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia in approximately 13% to 20% of allergic cats.37 Peripheral eosinophilia may be identified in 20% to 50% of cats with food allergies. Concurrent GI signs, including frequent bowel movements, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or flatulence, may be exhibited.33,34
Feline asthma is a result of a reaction to inhaled aeroallergens provoking a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction.38 Although their clinical presentations may be similar, chronic bronchitis and asthma have different etiologies. Chronic bronchitis may arise from previous airway insult (eg, smoke, toxins, infections)—leading to permanent lung damage—and is dominated by neutrophilic inflammation of the lower airways accompanied by edema and hypertrophy of the respiratory mucosa and excessive mucus production. Although asthma is dominated by eosinophilic airway inflammation (≥17% eosinophils in bronchial lavage cytology) and bronchoconstriction, excessive mucus production and bronchial wall edema are often present to varying degrees.39,40
Hallmark characteristics of asthma include reversible airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction causing obstruction/airflow limitation, and airway hyperresponsiveness.39
Long-term asthma can lead to irreversible airway remodeling (including bronchiectasis, fibrosis, and/or emphysema), lung hyperinflation, and airway trapping. Cats with asthma are usually young to middle-aged, and no sex predilection has been identified, although middle-aged (ie, 2-8 years) female cats and some Oriental breeds appear to be overrepresented.38 Asthma is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the general domestic cat population and possibly as many as 5% of the Oriental cat population.39,41 Clinical presentation includes various combinations of coughing, expiratory wheezing, tachypnea, exercise intolerance, and respiratory distress characterized by an expiratory respiratory pattern.41-44
Clinical signs of heartworm-associated respiratory disease may appear similar to asthma; therefore, heartworm serum antibody/antigen tests may be helpful in ruling out heartworm infection.38,39,45,46 However, heartworm tests have poor sensitivity because antibody and antigen blood levels may only be transient and can be easily missed. Appropriate fecal analysis (eg, direct, float, centrifugation, Baermann technique for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) should be performed in cats with lower respiratory disease signs if intestinal parasite larval lung migration is suspected and in cats that live in or have visited lungworm-endemic areas.
The most common radiographic change described in patients with asthma is a bronchial pattern with lung hyperinflation arising from bronchial wall thickening due to peribronchial infiltration. Focal atelectasis (typically affecting the right middle lung lobe) and/or diffuse interstitial patterns may also be seen.41,42
The most common treatment for asthma is long-term anti-inflammatory doses of corticosteroids administered orally (eg, prednisolone) or via an inhaler (eg, fluticasone). Bronchodilators (eg, terbutaline) may also be included in therapy. Other drugs such as immunomodulating agents (eg, cyclosporine) may be used, particularly in cats that do not respond well to corticosteroids23 or that develop diabetes mellitus or heart disease.47
Approximately 20% of feline asthma patients have peripheral eosinophilia, which is not correlated with the degree of airway eosinophilia.38,39,43,48 Hyperproteinemia has been reported in 33% to 50% of feline asthma cases.38,49,50
Eosinophilic enteritis (EE) has been reported to be the second most prevalent variant of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), only surpassed by the lymphocytic-plasmacytic form.51 Although the etiology is poorly defined, it has been hypothesized that affected cats suffer from immunologic dysregulation triggered by one or more factors, possibly including food ingredients (eg, food allergies or intolerance), dysbiosis of gut microbiota, or other factors (eg, ingestion of ectoparasites, endoparasites, excessive hair, or plant material).23 Eosinophilic IBD may also involve the stomach and/or colon.51 Diagnosis of EE is made via intestinal biopsy. Cats with primary lymphocytic-plasmacytic or lymphocytic IBD may also show subtle eosinophilic infiltrates on histopathology. In contrast, cats with EE have predominant tissue eosinophilia, variable mucosal architectural disturbances (eg, villus atrophy), and increased incidence of total intestinal wall thickening associated primarily with muscularis thickening as compared with cats with lymphocytic or lymphocytic-plasmacytic IBD.23,52 Diffuse disease is most common, but multisegmental EE has also been reported.52
No breed or sex predilections have been reported for EE in cats53,54; however, although cats of any age can be affected, the condition may be more common in mature cats (ie, 7-9 years). Clinical signs are similar to those of other forms of chronic gastroenteritis and may include vomiting, small- or large-bowel diarrhea, weight loss, and/or anorexia.53 Borborygmus, flatulence, abdominal pain, hematochezia, and mucoid stools are reported less commonly. Idiopathic EE may be solely or partially responsive to treatment with hypoallergenic diets and corticosteroids, which may be suggestive of an underlying immune disorder.52
Peripheral eosinophilia is not always present with EE but was observed in approximately 43% of cats in one study.52 If peripheral eosinophilia is associated with GI eosinophilic inflammation, other causes (eg, GI parasites, food-responsive enteropathy, intestinal neoplasia [eg, mast cell tumor, lymphoma], hypoadrenocorticism) should be ruled out.54 Parasitic infestation or dietary intolerance should be considered if moderate-to-large numbers of eosinophils are noted in intestinal biopsy samples with accompanying mild peripheral eosinophilia.53
Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) is a recently recognized nodular, nonneoplastic, densely fibroproliferative, eosinophil- and mast cell-rich inflammatory disease. It is thought to be a variant of EE.54-56 Its pathogenesis is unknown, but bacteria have been postulated to be an initiating factor due to their presence in 56% to 85% of cases55,57,58; however, antibiotic treatment alone is ineffective.55,57,58 Fungal infection has also been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis in some cases,59 but in other cases, no bacteria or fungi have been detected.55,56,60 Several other mechanisms (eg, penetrating wounds from a migrating foreign body, genetic eosinophil dysregulation, FHV-1, food hypersensitivity) have been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of FGESF.55,56 FGESF carries a guarded prognosis if untreated; however, survival times may be good in some cats, with some possibly surviving for years if they receive appropriate treatment, which includes a combination of surgery, antibiotics, and immunomodulatory drugs.57
Peripheral eosinophilia occurs more often in cats with FGESF than in cats with EE.52,55 One study reported that 58% of cats with FGESF had peripheral eosinophilia.55 If peripheral eosinophilia and an abdominal mass are observed, FGESF should be considered a differential diagnosis,57 although absence of peripheral eosinophilia alone does not rule out FGESF.57
Hypereosinophilic syndrome is an uncommon systemic disorder in cats characterized by sustained eosinophilia resulting from the overproduction of eosinophils in the bone marrow and infiltration of eosinophils into multiple tissues and organs, often leading to organ damage and failure.23,61,62
Eosinophilic leukemia has been reported in cats and may be difficult to distinguish from hypereosinophilic syndrome, as each condition may represent different patterns of a similar neoplastic process.7,8 Some subtle differences in bone marrow and hematologic assessment have been reported; for example, patients with eosinophilic leukemia have been reported to have a higher myeloid:erythroid ratio in bone marrow and a higher WBC count with increased immature eosinophils. However, absolute peripheral eosinophilia is often higher with hypereosinophilic syndrome, although both conditions are typically associated with severe eosinophilia (ie, 3500-130 000/μL).
Peripheral eosinophilia may also be associated with paraneoplastic syndrome.9 Paraneoplastic peripheral eosinophilia has been observed with mast cell tumors, intestinal T-cell lymphoma, acute leukemia, and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and likely involves production of factors including IL-5, IL-3, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by these tumors.9,63-65
In human medicine, it has been suggested that eosinophils have important regulatory roles in homeostasis and immunity.66-68 With an increased understanding of basic eosinophil biology, improved targeted therapies in humans—and thus, potentially, in cats—toward eosinophilic diseases may be possible.68
29 Nov 2024:
Problems: 1. Matted hair on tummy area ++++.
2. So much loose skin in tummy. Is it due to spay?
3. Declawing query.
The family of 4 adopted a kitten called Fluffy. She was born on 18 Apr 2021.
"Did your daughters pull the cat's tail?" I WhatsApp Mrs Wang.
"No," she replied. "She became very fierce after the vet spayed her. She did scratch my daughters sometimes."
"Did she scratch their faces?" I asked. "It may cause scars and adversely affect their appearance."
"No so serious injuries,".
The reason for this behavioural change after spaying wass unknown.
"The father bought a puppy for the daughters," Mrs Wang said. "Fluffy stays. A pet is for life."
On 26 Nov 2024, I texted:
"How is Fluffy's loose skin?"
"ok ah... also don't know why she has loose skin. Is it because of the spay?"
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DRAFT
Three years later, Mrs Wang contacted me to sedate and demat Fluffy. She had researched the internet and knew that sedation is needed to clip away the matted hairs on the belly.
MATTED HAIRS:
Wanted vet to:
1. Sedate her
2. Shave off the fur, except head and tail end.
3. Cut her nails.
All done.
Now the vexing question Mrs Wang wanted an answer was why Fluffy had loose skin under her belly?
VERY FIERCE CAT: We should discuss declawing her if it doesn't affect her health or cause depression.
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16 Sep 2023:
Owner: Ms Wang. Marketing manager.
Cat: Furry. Born 18 Apr 2021.
Problems:
1. Matted hair on tummy area ++++.
2. So much loose skin in tummy. Is it due to spay?
3. Declawing query.
Very fierce cat. No vaccination. Revolution every month.
MATTED HAIRS:
Wanted vet to:
1. Sedate her
2. Shave off the fur, except head and tail end.
3. Cut her nails.
Advised:
4. Ear cleaning
5. Anal glands expressed
6. Blood test
7. Dental check up for tartar
8. Heart and lung examination.
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VERY FIERCE CAT:
We should discuss declawing her if it doesn't affect her health or cause depression
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28 Oct 2024 Wuhan Tour. Pit-stop after visit to Chibi’s Battle of Red Cliffs.
Toilets are under construction! Can the Seniors win the battle to control their bladders till the next pit-stop?
Things happen during a packaged tour. Good tour leaders usually schedule a pit-stop for Seniors after 2-3 hour of coach ride. But this pit-stop is under construction!
Canon R5, 50mm, 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 1250 TV Mode.
28 Oct 2024, 5pm, Wuhan China.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: Indoor mural. Use AV, but hand must be steady.
Good morning. Mural at T4. Changi Airport. Is there some nonya kueh missing from the painting? Ang Ku Kueh
Canon r5, 35mm, 1/6 sec, f/8, ISO 400
30 Sep 2022. 6pm
What is a perforated corneal ulcer?
A corneal ulcer is a rupture within the
cornea. The cornea is the clear window in the
front of the eye.
A
perforated corneal ulcer usually occurs when
the infection causes the cornea to thin. This
may lead to a hole or rupture in the cornea,
which damages the cornea and may seriously
impact the cat's vision.
Common symptoms include: • Blurred vision • Eye pain with or without sensitivity to light • A white spot on the cornea • Constant tearing from the eye
What causes a perforated corneal ulcer? Corneal ulcers often occur after some kind of trauma, like a scratch or cut to the cornea. This can be the result of eye surgery or being hit with an object. A scratched area on the cornea allows bacteria or fungi to enter and infect it. Viruses (namely herpes simplex or zoster) may also lead to a perforated corneal ulcer. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis may also cause this condition.
Perforated corneal ulcers are sometimes caused by dry eye. The cat eye’s tears help to keep the surface of the eye moist and also protect it from invading germs and bacteria. When the eye is dry, it is more likely to become infected.
How are perforated corneal ulcers treated?
HUMAN CASES.
Treatment for perforated corneal ulcers depends on the location, size, and
cause of the damage. For small perforations, a tissue adhesive (glue) may be
used to heal the hole.
HUMAN CASES.
If the condition is non-infectious, a bandaged contact
lens (BCL) can be worn to help your cornea heal. If your case is more serious,
you may need to have surgery to fix the cornea and restore your vision.
If the perforation is caused by an infection, your eye doctor will likely prescribe
antibiotic eye drops. In addition, oral pain medications may be prescribed.
You and your doctor will discuss the treatment that is best for you. To prevent future corneal ulcers, it is important to wear protective eye gear, such as goggles or glasses, if there is any chance for an eye injury. Such eyewear can be worn when you are doing activities such as yard work, construction work, or playing sports.
