Acute phase protein levels in pregnancy and oestrus cycle in bitches

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute phase protein (serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen) profiles in pregnant dogs as well as bitches at various stages of the estrus cycle and to verify possible relationship(s) among the APPs profile and hormonal status. A total of 60 bitches of various breeds were enrolled. The animals were divided into six groups. B-mode ultrasonographic scanner (concept M/C) was used for pregnancy diagnosis, involving the first and second halves of pregnancy. Proestrus, estrus, diestrus and anestrus stages of sexual cycles were differentiated by use of vaginal cytology and blood progesterone and estradiol 17-β levels. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels were determined. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to the serum SAA and CRP concentrations. Haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen concentrations were elevated in pregnant dogs compared to non-pregnant groups’, independently from the pregnancy stage. No statistically significant differences in acute phase protein concentrations in dogs at various stages of estrus could be detected. Results of this study indicated that ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels may have potential importance in the diagnosis of pregnancy, and acute phase proteins may be used for monitoring the health status of the pregnant dogs.     

The control of oestrus in racing Greyhound bitches using norethisterone acetate

Methods for the control of oestrus are discussed and the results of a trial using norethisterone acetate in racing Greyhound bitches are presented. Résumé. On soumet des méthodes pour le contrôle de l'?strus et les résultats d'une épreuve utilisant de l'acétate noréthisterone chez les levrettes de course. Zusammenfassung. Methoden, welche der Beschränkung des Oestrus belangen, sind aus-führlich beschreiben und Ergebnisse einer Probeanwendung von Noräthisteron Acetat, an rennfähige Windhündinnen, sind unterbreitet.     

母犬发情和适时配种的技术鉴定

一、外阴部检查外阴水肿、增大、流出血性分泌物,阴门周围及尾毛湿润、粘结;发情期肿胀明显,触摸阴部和阴门时摆向一侧,后驱升高,此期后期水肿有所减退;发情结束1周~2周复原,表现为阴门小,有皱褶,具有良好的紧张度。     

Comparative efficacy of bromocriptine,cabergoline and thyroxine in inducing oestrus in bitches

Forty bitches in anoestrus for more than six months from the last heat, with a serum progesterone level less than 1 ng/ml were subjected to oestrus induction trials using anti-prolactin drugs and levothyroxine, once daily orally for 20 consecutive days. The mean serum progesterone level among them was found to be 0.57 ± 0.03 ng/ml. Out of 10 animals treated in each group, five (50%) in Group I (bromocriptine @ 50 μg/kg body weight), nine (90%) in Group II (cabergoline @ 5 μg/kg body weight), eight (80%) in Group III (thyroxine @10 μg/kg body weight) and seven (70%) in Group IV (thyroxine @ 5 μg/kg body weight) responded by evincing proestrual bleeding. The mean (±SEM) time taken from initiation of treatment to onset of proestrual bleeding in Groups I, II, III and IV was 28 ± 3.39, 13.44 ± 3.12 (P < 0.05), 24.50 ± 3.18 and 33 ± 2.21 days respectively. The mean (±SEM) duration of proestrus and oestrus in the treatment groups was 9.80 ± 0.86, 10.11 ± 0.68, 11.25 ± 0.88 and 10.71 ± 0.68 days and 7.60 ± 0.24, 8 ± 0.29, 8.5 ± 0.63 and 7.85 ± 0.46 days respectively. The conception rate in relation to the number of animals responding to oestrus induction in the treatment groups was 80%, 78%, 63% and 57%, respectively. The mean (±SEM) gestation length calculated from the last breeding date and litter size in the treatment groups varied from 60.50 ± 1.55 to 64.00 ± 0.82 days and 5.14 ± 0.34 to 6.40 ± 0.40 respectively.     

Some observations on disease incidence among dairy cattle in North Taranaki

Extract

In recent years there has been increasing interest in schemes for disease eradication and preventive medicine. Any such schemes depend upon a clear definition of the expected animal heath risk in a particular area and season, but precise information on disease incidence is still conspicuous by its absence in veterinary literature, and much of what is available has relied upon informed guesswork. The Animal Health Laboratories are now undertaking electronic data processing of laboratory reports to help fill this gap in our knowledge. However, this will only supply data on the type of case from which samples are submitted. These data will have undergone a double process of selection and deletion, first by the farmer selecting the cases for which he will summon professional assistance, and secondly by the veterinary practitioner selecting the cases for which he requires laboratory investigations.     

Vaginal cytology and cervicovaginal mucus arborisation in the breeding management of bitches

Fifty bitches were mated on the basis of results of vaginal cytological and cervicovaginal mucus arborisation examination. When these were compared with a control group of 50 bitches mated on days 10 and 12 after the onset of proestrus there was a significant increase in pregnancy rate from 78 to 92 per cent. The litter size and bitch productivity was also increased, although this was not statistically significant. Forty-two per cent of bitches had two peaks of anuclear epithelial cells in the vaginal smear, separated by a mean of 3–6 ± 1–5 (SD) days. For these bitches, the maximum percentage of anuclear cells at the second peak was between 57 and 98 per cent, and the mean interval between the calculated day of the surge in plasma luteinising hormone (LH) and the second peak of anuclear cells was 4-4 ± 2-0 days. In bitches with one peak of anuclear epithelial cells, the maximum percentage of anuclear cells was between 43 and 94 per cent and the mean interval between the calculated day of the LH surge and the peak of anuclear cells was 1–9 ± 2-1 days. Arborisation of mucus collected from the anterior vagina was noted in all bitches; the mean interval between the calculated day of the LH surge and the peak of ferning was 2–3 ± 2-1 days. The collection of exfoliative cells by aspiration from the cranial vagina and the assessment of the anuclear cell index, may allow the identification of the fertile period after the surge of plasma LH. The anuclear cell index offers advantages over other methods of classification of exfoliative vaginal cells. When used in combination with examination of arborisation of cervicovaginal mucus this method can improve the breeding management of bitches.     

The effect of the use of norethisterone acetate to control oestrus in Greyhound bitches on subsequent racing performance and fertility

It has been shown that norethisterone acetate (Norlutin-A—Parke-Davis), when used for a 4-week course starting in prooestrus, is capable of controlling oestrus in Greyhound bitches (Prole, 1974). A study of their racing performance will give some measure of objective assessment of the effect of this progestagen. The subsequent breeding history of some of the bitches is also discussed.
Résumé. On a montré que Norlutin-A (Norlutin-A — Parke-Davis), est capable d'avoir contrôle sur l'œstrus chez les lévriers femelles (Prole, 1974) quand on l'utilise pour un traitement de quatre semaines, commençant par le prœstrus. Une étude de leur performance à la course donnera quelque mesure de l'évaluation objective de l'éffet de ce progestagène. On discute aussi des cas subséquents d'élevage de qualeques-unes de ces femelles.
Zusammenfassung. Es hat sich erzeigt, dass Norlutin-A (Norlutin-A — Parke-Davis) wenn in einer vier Wochen langen Behandlungserrie angewendet, fähig ist Oestrus in Windhündinnen zu kontrollieren (Prole 1974). Eine Studie ihrer Rennleistung gibt einen Massstab von objectiver Schätzung über die Wirkung von diesem Progestagen. Der spätere Zuchtverlauf von einigen dieser Hündinnen wird ebenfalls diskutiert.     

Induction of oestrus by administering Inhibin antiserum along with equine chorionic gonadotropin in anoestrous bitches

As dogs experience oestrus only once or twice a year, it is necessary to establish an effective method of oestrous induction for efficient breeding. In the present study, we evaluated inhibin antiserum (IAS) on oestrous induction in anoestrous females. Bitches were administered 0.5 ml/kg IAS or a mixture of 50 IU/kg equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and 0.5 ml/kg IAS and 500 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administered 7 days after the mixture injection. As a control, bitches received 50 IU/kg eCG, with 500 IU hCG administered 7 days after eCG injection. Blood-tinged vaginal discharge, vulvar swelling, plasma progesterone concentrations and ovarian follicular development were assessed from day 0 to day 14. IAS alone injection did not induce oestrus in bitches at the anoestrous stage. Conversely, vulvar swelling, blood-tinged vaginal discharge and an estimated luteinizing hormone (LH) surge appeared on days 3–7, days 3–6 and days 7–9 after the IAS+eCG mixture injection, respectively, in all five bitches at the anoestrous stage. The average number of developing and ovulated follicles in bitches administered IAS+eCG was 8.8 and 9.6 respectively. A single eCG injection followed by hCG induced oestrous signs, with an average of 8.3 developing follicles and 4.5 ovulated follicles. This study revealed that IAS alone did not induce oestrus, but when IAS was used in combination with eCG, it induced oestrus and promoted a considerable number of ovulations in anoestrous dogs.     

Effect of seasonal conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period in Anatolian water buffaloes

Oestrus and calving records of Anatolian buffaloes were analyzed to investigate influence of climatic conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period. Oestrus records showed a seasonal pattern concentrated between July and September which is the warmest period of the year. Likewise, more than half (52.7%) of the total calvings occurred between May and August. Month of calving significantly influenced the length of calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.01). The average length of open period was significantly shorter in autumn and summer calvers compared to those calved in spring and winter (P < 0.05) during long days. The humidity rate was negatively correlated with both calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to high environmental temperatures around 20 degrees C exerted no suppressive influence on ovarian activity in Anatolian buffaloes. Although humidity rate (P < 0.05) and ambient temperature (P < 0.01) was found to be correlated with the duration of postpartum period, day length might be the main factor regulating reproductive biorhythm and postpartum events in Anatolian buffalo cows.     

Some observations on the biology and control of the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis (Hering) in Britain

Sheep scab was eradicated from Britain in 1952 but reappeared in 1973. The host specificity of the sheep scab mite is discussed; sheep are the only reservoir of the disease in Britain. Control is by single dipping in the approved acaricides, HCH, diazinon or propetamphos. Acaricides are approved only if the minimum use rate (Maintenance level) will give at least 4 weeks' protection. The method of testing is described. Traditionally, compulsory dipping has been in the winter when the disease is most active. Although the mites were originally thought to enter a latent phase during the summer, new observations indicate that there is little difference between their summer and winter behaviour. In Britain, dipping is now compulsory in both the summer and winter.     

Long-term study of aerobic bacteria of the genital tract in breeding bitches.

The aerobic bacterial flora of the genital tract was characterized in 59 bitches in an 18-month study. The bitches represented 4 breeds and were from 3 kennels. Collection of vaginal swab specimens for bacterial culturing was performed every month, except during estrus when specimens were collected every week (n = 826). The capsule of the swab containing transport media was broken before specimen collection to moisten the tip, which helped to reduce the number of negative cultures. All bitches helped at least once during the study and, thus, had known reproductive functions. Pregnancy rates, litter sizes, and pup mortality were within normal limits. Pasteurella multocida, beta-hemolytic streptococci group G, and Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria isolated. Although these species generally were isolated from mixed cultures, pure cultures were obtained from 18% of the specimens. There was a tendency for the various breeds to differ in their vaginal bacterial flora. The flora also varied during the reproductive cycle. Pasteurella multocida was isolated significantly more often during proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and pregnancy, than during anestrus and the postpartum period, and beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated significantly more often during proestrus than during estrus, pregnancy, or the postpartum period. Staphylococcus intermedius was almost exclusively found after parturition. Culture results were negative for only 5.2% of specimens cultured. On the basis of our findings, bacterial culturing of vaginal swab specimens from bitches without signs of genital disease is of little value.