Foot and mouth disease and bluetongue: differences and similarities

On 26th of july 2007 a new case of bluetongue was notified in the Netherlands and on 2nd of august 2007 foot-and-mouth disease was diagnosed in Surrey, England, which raised the threat of having both infections simultaniously in one area. Bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease have a different pathogenesis, but symptoms may resemble each other at a later stage of infection. The pathogenesis and possible clinical symptoms of both infections are discussed and illustrated with pictures.     

Dehorning and disbudding distress and its alleviation in calves

Dehorning and disbudding are routine painful procedures carried out on cattle to facilitate management. The pain caused by these procedures and its alleviation may be evaluated by monitoring behaviour and physiological responses, and by measuring their effects on weight gain. The cortisol response to cautery disbudding is significantly smaller than that to amputation dehorning which infers that the latter is more painful. Amputation dehorning stimulates a defined cortisol response with a rapid rise to a peak value within 30 min followed by a decline to a plateau which then declines to pre-treatment values after about 8 h. A cornual nerve blockade using lignocaine virtually eliminates the escape behaviour seen during disbudding and dehorning and reduces the plasma cortisol response to dehorning for about 2 h. Thereafter there is an increase in the plasma cortisol concentration, a delayed response, which lasts for about 6 h. A cornual nerve blockade, using lignocaine combined with cauterizing the wound caused by amputation dehorning, virtually eliminates the cortisol response as does combining a lignocaine blockade with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen. When xylazine is combined with a cornual nerve blockade using lignocaine before dehorning, the cortisol response is virtually eliminated for about 3 h. When this regime is used before cautery disbudding and includes a NSAID given before and after disbudding the behaviour of calves so treated suggests that pain may be alleviated for 24 h. Cautery disbudding is preferable to amputation dehorning, but for optimal pain relief xylazine sedation, local anaesthesia and a NSAID should be used with both procedures.     

The effect of mixing and changing the order of feeding oats and chopped alfalfa to horses on: glycaemic and insulinaemic responses, and breath hydrogen and methane production

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding oats alone before or after feeding chopped alfalfa or, in admixture with the alfalfa on the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses of horses as well as post-prandial breath hydrogen and methane excretion. Horses were fed in a randomized order, chopped alfalfa as a source of dietary fibre and unprocessed oats as a source of starch. Chopped alfalfa intake was adjusted to a crude fibre intake of 0.5 g/kg bodyweight (BW) per meal and the oats intake was adjusted to a starch intake of 2 g/kg BW per meal. The feeds were offered in three different ways: (i) alfalfa followed by oats (A/O), (ii) oats followed by alfalfa (O/A) or (iii) a mixture of alfalfa and oats (A + O). Oats alone were used as a control. Blood and breath were collected after the test meal was fed at the end of a 11.5-h overnight fast following a 10-day acclimatization period. The highest glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were measured when the A/O and O/A diets orders were fed, whereas most hydrogen was produced after feeding oats alone. It was concluded that adding alfalfa chaff to a meal of oats prolonged the pre-caecal digestion of starch, but there was no evidence for any effect on pre-caecal starch digestibility.     

Biological and chemical hazards occurring in fish and fishery products

It is common knowledge that fish are a nutritious component of a human diet, as they constitute a valuable and desired source of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, they are likely to pose a risk to consumer health. The presence of pathogenic bacteria or their toxins, parasites, biogenic amines and toxins or chemical residues may be a causal agent of foodborne illnesses in humans, sometimes even with fatal effect. Usually, infections are a result of insufficient thermal treatment or consumption of raw fish dishes. There are also risk factors that cannot be eliminated by such treatments as cooking, salting or freezing.     

Draining tracts and nodules in dogs and cats

Draining tracts and nodules in the dog and cat can present a diagnostic challenge to the veterinarian. A systematic approach and a complete list of differential diagnoses are needed to define the underlying disease, so that appropriate therapeutic management can be instituted and prognosis can be discussed with the owner. The purpose of this article is to review a complete list of differential diagnoses for draining tracts and nodules in the dog and cat, and discuss the appropriate diagnostic steps including cytology, biopsy and histopathology, culture and sensitivity, serology, and diagnostic imaging that are an important part of the work-up for draining tracts and nodules.     

Blood flow and steroid and nutrient uptake of the gravid uterus and fetus of sows

Uterine and umbilical blood samples and blood flow (BF) measurements were obtained from one uterine horn and a single fetus of sows at d 70, 90 and 110 of gestation. Concentrations of O2 in blood and of estrogen (E), progesterone (P), glucose, alpha-amino nitrogen (N) and urea N in plasma were determined. Fetal weights were .267 +/- .018, .633 +/- .019 and 1.208 +/- .073 kg on d 70, 90 and 110, respectively. Uterine and umbilical BF remained constant with day of gestation, averaging 1.51 +/- .06 and .31 +/- .02 liters/min. Uptake of P by a uterine horn and fetus remained constant, but secretion of E by a uterine horn and uptake of E by a fetus increased (P less than .05) with stage of gestation. Uterine and fetal uptake of O2, glucose and alpha-amino N did not change and uptake of O2, glucose and alpha-amino N per kg fetus decreased (P less than .01) as gestation advanced. Secretion of urea N from the uterus was observed, with a concentration gradient from the fetal to the uterine circulations. Uterine and fetal respiratory quotients for glucose were .79 and .38, respectively. Thus, although glucose potentially served as a major energy source, a large portion of the energy requirements of the fetal pig were met by catabolism of other substrates. The decrease in umbilical BF and uptake of nutrients per kg fetus with day of gestation suggested that porcine fetal metabolism declined as pregnancy advanced.     

Coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis in sheep and goats

The protozoan diseases, coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis, are important enteric diseases of sheep and goats, resulting in diarrhea, inefficient weight gains, and occasionally death. Coccidiosis is a widespread, serious economic disease affecting animals who are preweaned, recently weaned, or in unsanitary, stressful, or crowded conditions, as well as after entering feedlots. The Eimeria species in sheep and goats are relatively host specific. Control is accomplished through sanitation and by incorporating one of the modern coccidiostats, such as lasalocid or decoquinate, in feed or salt to ensure an intake of approximately 1 mg of drug per kg of body weight per day for at least 30 consecutive days. Prevention and control of coccidiosis results in significantly greater weight gains and production, whereas disease with or without treatment is likely to result in inefficient production and economic loss to the producer. Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, is primarily a disease of lambs and kids less than 30 days of age and is usually a milder disease than coccidiosis. Infective oocysts are passed in feces and are transmitted by oral ingestion. Oocysts readily infect a variety of animals, including humans. Cryptosporidiosis is a prevalent disease in neonatal ruminants and in humans. Effective treatments are not available, but because the disease is usually mild and self-limited, supportive care, primarily hydration, is important. Control is strict sanitation and quarantine of sick animals. Disinfection of contaminated housing with ammonia or formalin will kill the oocysts. The cyst-forming coccidia diseases, toxoplasmosis and sarcocystosis, utilize two hosts in their life cycles: sheep or goats and carnivores. Abortions and reproductive failures are major manifestations of disease. Control is through elimination of carnivore feces from the premises through management.     

Disease and destiny-mystery and mastery

When early people made their appearance, zoonotic infectious diseases were already waiting, but epidemic diseases did not appear in human history until people began to live in large numbers under conditions of close contact, mainly during the last 10,000 years. Disease has decimated urban populations, conquered armies, and disrupted society. The focus here is on (1) the plague of Athens and the Black Death; (2) smallpox, influenza, and rabies; (3) avian influenza prion diseases, and foot & mouth disease; and (4) emerging and re-emerging diseases. All have veterinary public health associations. In Athens, Greece, in 430 BC, when the Spartans ravaged the countryside, hordes crowded into Athens so that orderly movements, space in which to live, and adequate supplies of food became impossible. Crowding of any population fosters disease transmission; chaos and disorder enhance it all the more. Out of northern Egypt came a terrible plague from across the Mediterranean Sea. The identity of the plague of Athens remains unsure, but the well-considered conclusion is Rift Valley Fever, a mosquito borne, viral zoonosis. The Black Death, also called the Plague, raged in Asia for centuries. In 1347, the Black Death was brought by a ship out of Asia to Sicily. The scenes of devastation were repeated throughout Europe, with 90% or more of the people dying in city after city. Influenza, too, has been a cause of periodic human epidemics, but the great pandemic of influenza occurred in the last months of World War I. In the years of highest occurrence, more than half the world's population became clinically infected. If veterinary public health had been born earlier, it could have led to elucidating the epidemiology of influenza and the plagues of Athens, Europe, and Asia. In turn, smallpox had also caused continual tragedy. In 1796, Edward Jenner began to harvest pustules of cowpox from children or infected cows and inject them into susceptible children. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eliminated from the world. Rabies, though, still strikes terror. A number of animal diseases, broadly termed emerging and re-emerging diseases, need surveillance because they have the potential to impact human health. From late in 2003 to 2007, the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in poultry infected at least 121 people and caused 62 deaths in four countries. The prion diseases, too, all have very high numbers in concentrated contacts. To control these diseases, veterinary public health is essential, with diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, clinical manifestations, and prevention as primary measures.     

Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and gastrointestinal disease

Gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic diseases provide a significant challenge to the veterinary practitioner. Specific causes and effective therapies can be elusive and sometimes frustrate both the animal caretaker and the veterinarian. The therapeutic options of a conventional veterinary practice are frequently limited and may come down to a decision of which is worse: the disease or the side effects of the treatment. This article provides information for the veterinary practitioner to consider for expanding his/her options. Acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy are not newly discovered modalities. They are old practices that are getting a fresh look from Western medicine as we seek new ways to better serve our patients and clients. The goal of this article is to provide the reader with many ideas and sufficient solid information to consider the use of these options. Specific therapies are suggested for numerous gastrointestinal and liver problems. Many of these may be used in conjunction with conventional therapies to aid in the healing process.     

Detection of chromosome segments of zebu and taurine origin and their effect on beef production and growth

Cattle in breeds formed by recent crossing of Bos taurus (Bt) and Bos indicus (Bi) subspecies should contain chromosomes that are a composite of Bt and Bt segments. Using data from a 50K SNP chip, we were able to identify whether a chromosome segment of 11 SNP in a composite animal descended from a Bt or a Bi ancestor. When the method was tested in purebred Bt or Brahman cattle, about 94% of segments were assigned correctly. About 10% of the genome in Australian Brahman cattle appears to be of Bt origin, as might be expected from their history. We then examined the effect of the origin of each chromosome segment on BW in a population of 515 Bt × Bi composite cattle and found 67 chromosome segments with a significant (P<0.01) effect. We confirmed these effects by examining these 67 segments in a population of Brahman cattle and in a population of mixed breeds including composite breeds such as Santa Gertrudis and Brahman cattle. About 66% of the 67 segments had an effect in the same direction in the confirmation analyses as in the discovery population. However, the effect on BW and other traits of chromosome segment origin is small, indicating that we had low power to detect these effects with the number of animals available. Consequently, when chromosome segment origin was used in genomic selection to predict BW, the accuracy was low (0.08). Chromosome segments that had a positive effect on BW tend to be at greater frequency in composite breeds than chromosome segments with a negative effect on BW.     

鸡禽霍乱疾病流行病学特点及防控措施

鸡养殖中禽霍乱疾病的出现主要是由于多杀性巴氏杆菌感染的一种传染性疾病,主要会导致鸡只出现急性败血症和机体炎症反应等,慢性型感染会导致鸡只出现皮下及机体内脏器官、关节等的化脓性炎症反应。禽霍乱疾病在鸡养殖全年均会出现,尤其是在气温变化较大的时期疾病爆发的可能性更高。禽霍乱疾病在急性爆发的情况下病死率相对较高,同时短期内即会出现死亡的情况,难以进行有效的治疗,易导致鸡养殖户出现严重的经济损失。该文主要对鸡禽霍乱疾病的流行病学特点、临床症状及相关的防治措施进行论述。     

The growth and carcass characteristics of crosses between Aabio and Tegal ducks and Muscovy and Pekin drakes

1. The growth and food utilisation of Pekin, Alabio and crosses between Muscovy or Pekin drakes and Alabio or Tegal ducks were recorded up to 20 weeks of age on a high plane of nutrition. Ducks were killed at 6, 10 and 16 weeks of age for carcass analysis.

2. The weight of Alabio ducks at 12 weeks of age was increased by 40 and 48% by crossing with Muscovy and Pekin respectively. Pekin crosses grew faster to 8 or 12 weeks of age than Muscovy crosses but after 17 weeks of age there was no significant difference in weight. Food utilisation for Muscovy crosses was generally better at all ages.

3. Both at a given age and per unit of carcass weight, Muscovy crosses contained less fat and as a consequence more protein and ash, and a higher proportion of breast meat than Pekin crosses. Proportion of fat in Muscovy × Tegal ducks increased only slightly with carcass weight, while it decreased in Muscovy × Alabio ducks.     

我国农牧民补助奖励政策背景与成效

草原生态补助奖励政策是自2011年起实施的草原地区资金规模最大、受益农牧户最多的惠民政策,是通过给予农牧民补助奖励,支持鼓励农牧民合理利用草原、加快发展草牧业,解决人草畜矛盾的关键措施。中央政府不断完善政策内容、加大扶持力度,并按照“四到省”和“五到户”的原则,由地方政府结合地域实际创新性地落实政策,取得了显著的生态、经济和社会效益。与补奖前的2011年相比,草原鲜草产量提高了9.07%,植被综合盖度从51.0%提高到55.3%;政策执行以来,牛出栏率提高了1.3%,羊出栏率提高了4.2%,牧区和半农半牧区草食畜总量增加0.27亿头(只),实现了禁牧不禁养、减畜不减收的经济目标;政策通过转变畜牧业生产方式,实现了牧区人口转移,牧民对政策满意度高。当前,草原地区生产生态还不够协调平衡,人草畜矛盾尚未得到根本性解决,需要进一步完善农牧民补助奖励政策,促进草原保护建设和合理利用可持续发展。     

Pathogenesis and immunopathology of systemic and nervous canine distemper

Canine distemper is a worldwide occurring infectious disease of dogs, caused by a morbillivirus, closely related to measles and rinderpest virus. The natural host range comprises predominantly carnivores. Canine distemper virus (CDV), an enveloped, negative-sense RNA virus, infects different cell types, including epithelial, mesenchymal, neuroendocrine and hematopoietic cells of various organs and tissues. CDV infection of dogs is characterized by a systemic and/or nervous clinical course and viral persistence in selected organs including the central nervous system (CNS) and lymphoid tissue. Main manifestations include respiratory and gastrointestinal signs, immunosuppression and demyelinating leukoencephalomyelitis (DL). Impaired immune function, associated with depletion of lymphoid organs, consists of a viremia-associated loss of lymphocytes, especially of CD4+ T cells, due to lymphoid cell apoptosis in the early phase. After clearance of the virus from the peripheral blood an assumed diminished antigen presentation and altered lymphocyte maturation cause an ongoing immunosuppression despite repopulation of lymphoid organs. The early phase of DL is a sequel of a direct virus-mediated damage and infiltrating CD8+ cytotoxic T cells associated with an up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-12 and a lacking response of immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. A CD4+-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells contribute to myelin loss in the chronic phase. Additionally, up-regulation of interferon-γ and IL-1 may occur in advanced lesions. Moreover, an altered balance between matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors seems to play a pivotal role for the pathogenesis of DL. Summarized, DL represents a biphasic disease process consisting of an initial direct virus-mediated process and immune-mediated plaque progression. Immunosuppression is due to early virus-mediated lymphocytolysis followed by still poorly understood mechanisms affecting antigen presentation and lymphocyte maturation.     

细胞凋亡与疾病

细胞凋亡(apoptos is)是普遍存在于人体组织细胞内的细胞死亡的形式之一,是不同于坏死的正常生理性的程序性细胞死亡。细胞抗凋亡是生物机体为了适应环境变化,维持生理平衡的一种主动的自我保护行为。凋亡或抗凋亡均是在基因控制下,多样性、偶联性、多途径的信号转导过程。它也受到内外生存因子的影响和制约,肿瘤等多种疾病均能影响细胞凋亡过程。     

动物饲养管理与疾病防控的关系

在养殖业生产过程中,动物疾病防控是非常重要的工作,防控工作做得成功与否,事关养殖业成效,直接影响养殖户经济收入,做好动物疾病防控就显得尤为重要了,本人认为要做好动物疾病防控工作,就从平时日常管理做起,建立一整套完善的饲养管理制度,为畜禽提供优异的圈舍环境和优质的饲草料,做好防寒防暑措施,落实动物疫病防控措施,增强动物个体抗病能力,就会有效地降低动物疾病的发生,尤其是传染病发生都可以避免;即使发生传染病,也能及时得到有效控制。在大规模养殖过程中,我们要把重点放在做好饲养管理,确保各项生理指标健康,增加个体抗病能力,从而增强群体抗病能力,而不是忙于治疗个别病畜,否则会因小失大,会使动物疾病防控工作完全陷入被动局面。为此不难看出,动物饲养管理和疾病防控工作有着密切关系,本人通过调查研究、查阅资料,对动物饲养管理与疾病防控的关系进行探讨。     

Comparison of the oral bioavailability and tissue disposition of monensin and salinomycin in chickens and turkeys

Henri, J., Maurice, R., Postollec, G., Dubreil‐Cheneau, E., Roudaut, B., Laurentie, M., Sanders, P. Comparison of the oral bioavailability and tissue disposition of monensin and salinomycin in chickens and turkeys. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  35 , 73–81. The current study describes the pharmacokinetic parameters of two carboxylic polyether ionophores: monensin in turkeys and salinomycin in chickens. These data can be used to understand and predict the occurrence of undesirable residues of coccidiostats in edible tissues of these animal species. Special attention is paid to the distribution of residues between the different edible tissues during and at the end of the treatment period. For the bioavailability studies, monensin was administered to turkeys intravenously, in the left wing vein, at a dose of 0.4 mg /kg and orally at a dose of 20 mg /kg. Salinomycin was administered to chickens intravenously, in the left wing vein, at a dose of 0.25 mg /kg and orally at a dose of 2.5 mg /kg. Residue studies were carried out with supplemented feed at the rate of 100 mg /kg of feed for monensin in turkeys and 70 mg /kg for salinomycin in chickens, respectively. Coccidiostats had a low bioavailability in poultry (around 30% for monensin in chickens, around 1% for monensin in turkeys and around 15% for salinomycin in chickens). Monensin in chickens had a longer terminal half‐life (between 3.07 and 5.55 h) than both monensin in turkeys (between 1.36 and 1.55 h) and salinomycin in chickens (between 1.33 and 1.79 h). The tissue /plasma partition coefficients showed a higher affinity of both monensin and salinomycin for fat, followed by liver and muscle tissue. The depletion data showed a fairly rapid elimination of coccidiostats in all the tissues after cessation of treatment. According to the results of depletion studies, a withdrawal period of 1 day seems sufficient to avoid undesirable exposure of consumers.     

马的咽气癖及其防制措施研究进展

在动物的异常行为中以刻板行为最为常见,而咽气癖又是马最常见的口部刻板行为之一。作者就咽气癖在生理方面和心智方面对马体产生的影响、行为基础、诱因的研究进展及常见的防治措施进行综述。     

Induction and recovery characteristics and cardiopulmonary effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane in bald eagles

OBJECTIVE: To compare induction and recovery characteristics and cardiopulmonary effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane in bald eagles. Animals-17 healthy adult bald eagles. PROCEDURES: Anesthesia was induced with isoflurane or sevoflurane delivered in oxygen via a facemask in a crossover design with 4 weeks between treatments. Eagles were intubated, allowed to breathe spontaneously, and instrumented for cardiopulmonary measurements. Time to induction, extubation, and recovery, as well as smoothness of recovery, were recorded. RESULTS: Administration of sevoflurane resulted in a significantly quicker recovery, compared with isoflurane. Temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate significantly decreased over time, whereas systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) significantly increased over time with each treatment. Temperature, heart rate, SAP, DAP, and MAP were significantly higher with isoflurane. Blood pH significantly decreased, whereas PaCO(2) significantly increased over time with each treatment. Bicarbonate and total carbon dioxide concentrations significantly increased over time with each treatment; however, there was a significant time-treatment interaction. The PaO(2) and arterial oxygen saturation increased over time with isoflurane and decreased over time with sevoflurane with a significant time-treatment interaction. Six eagles developed cardiac arrhythmias with isoflurane, as did 4 with sevoflurane anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Isoflurane and sevoflurane administration resulted in smooth, rapid induction of and recovery from anesthesia similar to other species. Isoflurane administration resulted in tachycardia, hypertension, and more arrhythmias, compared with sevoflurane. Sevoflurane was associated with fewer adverse effects and may be particularly beneficial in compromised bald eagles.     

Energy utilization and organ mass of Targhee sheep selected for rate and efficiency of gain and receiving high and low planes of nutrition

Two experiments were conducted to examine changes in usage of energy and visceral organ mass in Targhee lambs selected on the basis of improved rate and efficiency of growth. In Exp. 1, Targhee ram lambs from a breeding line selected for improved growth rate and feed efficiency and a control line that was maintained without selection for 20 yr were provided with either a high (ad libitum) or low (maintenance) plane of nutrition. Rams were slaughtered and weights of the visceral organs were recorded. Analysis of variance, using a factorial model with BW as a covariant, was used to examine effects of lines of breeding, plane of nutrition, interaction between line of breeding and plane of nutrition, and days on feed. Weights of liver, kidneys, rumen, abomasum, and small and large intestines from lambs receiving a high plane of nutrition were, respectively, 39, 25, 12, 28, 40, and 31% greater than weights of those tissues in lambs receiving a low plane of nutrition. Ruminal weights were 13% greater for rams from the select line of breeding than for those from the control line. In Exp. 2, seven Targhee ewe lambs from the select line and eight from the control line were examined for differences in heat production and energy usage by indirect open circuit respiration calorimetry using a completely randomized design. Fasting heat production of lambs from the select line was 7.8% greater than that of lambs from the control line. Partial efficiencies of ME used for maintenance and tissue accretion were not different between lines of breeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)