Localised infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is described in two Kelpies, a Whippet and a Koolie domiciled on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. The diagnosis was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the M. ulcerans-specific insertion sequence (IS2404) in DNA extracted from swabs of ulcerated lesions in all cases. Where available, molecular typing confirmed that three of the dogs were infected with a strain of M. ulcerans that was indistinguishable from a disease-causing strain in people and other animals in Victoria. One dog was still undergoing treatment at the time of writing, but the remaining three dogs were successfully treated with a combination of surgical debridement and medical therapy in one case, and medical therapy alone in the other two. Investigation of the home environs of three of the dogs using real-time PCR revealed low amounts of M. ulcerans DNA in various environmental samples. Mycobacterium ulcerans infection should be included in the differential diagnoses of any ulcerated skin lesions in dogs that live in or visit endemic areas of Victoria and Queensland.

Plasma zinc, serum albumin and alkaline phosphatase (a zinc-dependent enzyme) were measured in thirty-five psoriatics and their age- and sex-matched controls. No significant difference was seen between these two groups as a whole, but psoriatics with less than 10% surface involvement had significantly higher mean plasma zinc levels than their respective control group. Psoriatic patients also showed a relationship between the extent of surface involvement and the plasma zinc level, those with more extensive involvement having lower levels than those with minimal involvement. The differences were not due to disturbances in serum albumin, and no abnormalities in serum alkaline phosphatase were observed.

Mycobacterium ulcerans infection should be suspected in alpacas domiciled in endemic areas and presented with ulcerative skin disease.

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Summary In the past there has been controversy over the existence of a significant diurnal variation of plasma zinc. For clinical use one is not only interested in the possible existence of such a varying pattern, but whether it is of sufficient magnitude that samples should be taken at standardized times of the day. Plasma zinc levels were estimated throughout the day (in a period encompassing normal laboratory working hours) in sixteen healthy male volunteers. There was a significant decrease in the mean plasma zinc level from 08:00 to 19:00 of 33%, (P < 0·001). Even over the relatively short time interval of 08:00–10:00 a significant decrease in plasma zinc occurred (11%; P < 0·05).