培养液磷含量和pH值对鸡离体小肠磷吸收的影响

本研究主要探讨了培养液不同pH值和磷含量对鸡离体小肠磷吸收的影响,为体外培养鸡小肠合理选择培养液pH值和用外翻肠囊法评定饲料有效磷时合理选择培养液磷浓度提供参考依据。采用2个单因子随机试验,每个因子4个处理。48只30日龄体重相近的三黄肉公鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠肠囊随机分配到8个处理中,每个处理6个重复,每个重复1个肠囊,39℃培养50min。结果表明：pH5．0～7．0时,肠囊的磷吸收量线性增加;pH8．0时,肠囊的磷吸收量降低;与pH5．0比较,pH7．0时,肠囊的磷吸收量极显著增加（P〈0．01）。培养液磷含量在50～200μg／mL时,肠囊的磷吸收量与磷含量呈正相关;当磷含量增加到400μg／mL,十二指肠肠囊和空肠肠囊的磷吸收量开始降低;磷吸收率与培养液磷含量之间呈负相关,不同处理之间差异极显著（P〈0．01）。结果显示：以肉仔鸡为动物模型,用外翻肠囊法评定饲料有效磷时,培养液适宜pH为6．0～7．0;有效磷含量不能超过200μg／mL,以50μg／mL左右为宜。     

用外翻肠囊法研究有机锰在肉仔鸡小肠中的吸收特点

用外翻肠囊法研究肉仔鸡十二指肠、空肠和回肠对无机锰和有机锰的吸收特点。共包括2个试验，试验1是以硫酸锰为锰源，根据单位时间锰的吸收率与外翻肠囊培养时间的曲线关系确定最佳培养时间，试验2是在此培养时间下比较不同形态锰在肉仔鸡小肠中的吸收特点。2个试验均采用单因子完全随机设计。试验1培养时间分别为20、40、60和80min 4个处理组，将48只28日龄商品代AA肉公鸡随机分到4个处理组，每组6个重复，每个重复2只鸡(为了扣除内源影响，其中1只鸡作为零添加锰水平处理)，每只鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠分别用作相应部位肠段外翻肠囊的1个重复。在试验2中共设8个处理组，分别为：硫酸锰、甘氨酸锰螫合物、蛋氨酸锰螫合物、弱络合强度的蛋氨酸锰(Mn—Met E)、中等络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn—AA A)和强络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn—AA B)、硫酸锰与甘氨酸混合物及硫酸锰与蛋氨酸混合物的处理组。为了扣除内源影响，另设1组作为零添加锰水平处理。用于试验1中日龄相同的AA肉公鸡72只，随机分到9个处理组，每组8个重复，每个重复1只鸡，每只鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠分别用作相应部位肠段外翻肠囊的1个重复。结果表明：(1)锰的吸收率和培养时间在40min内呈线性关系，因此选择30min为试验2的培养时间；(2)体外培养回肠肠囊对无机锰的吸收率一般是十二指肠和空肠肠囊的2～6倍；(3)回肠中锰的吸收率受到添加锰源的显著影响，其中合成蛋氨酸锰组锰的吸收率明显高于硫酸锰和合成甘氨酸锰，中等和强络合强度的氨基酸锰组锰的吸收率也明显高于无机锰和合成甘氨酸锰。试验结果提示，在体外简单缓冲溶液培养的肉仔鸡小肠各段外翻肠囊中，回肠是肉仔鸡小肠吸收锰的主要部位；络合或螫合的有机态锰在体外培养的小肠外翻肠囊中的吸收率比无机形态的锰高；作为配体而言，蛋氨酸比甘氨酸更有利于促进锰的吸收。     

温度对鸡离体小肠磷吸收的影响研究

采用单因子随机试验,24只35日龄体重相近的三黄肉公鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠肠囊随机分配到4个处理中,每个处理6个重复,每个重复1个肠囊,分别在30℃、34℃、38 ℃和42℃条件下水浴振荡培养50min,探讨不同培养温度对鸡离体小肠磷吸收和肠黏膜细胞活性的影响.结果表明:培养温度在30～38℃C时,肠囊磷吸收量与温度呈正相关,38℃时肠囊的磷吸收量显著高于30℃和34℃时肠囊的磷吸收量(P＜0.05),42℃时,肠囊的磷吸收量极显著降低(P＜0.01);培养液中LDH活性与培养温度呈线性关系,培养温度在30～38 ℃时,培养液中LDH活性没有明显差异(P＞0.05),但42℃时培养液中LDH活性极显著高于其它处理(P＜0.01).结果提示:鸡离体小肠适宜的培养温度是38℃.研究为鸡小肠离体培养温度的合理选择提供依据.     

温度对鸡离体小肠磷吸收和黏膜细胞活性的影响

通过研究探讨不同培养温度对鸡离体小肠磷吸收和肠黏膜细胞活性的影响,旨在为鸡小肠离体培养温度的合理选择提供参考依据。采用单因子随机试验,选用24只35日龄体重相近的三黄肉公鸡,取十二指肠、空肠和回肠肠囊,分别随机分配到4个处理中,每个处理6个重复,每个重复1个肠囊,分别在30、34、38和42℃条件下水浴振荡培养50min。结果表明:培养温度在30～38℃时,肠囊磷吸收量与温度呈正相关,38℃时肠囊的磷吸收量显著高于30℃和34℃时肠囊的磷吸收量(P<0.05),42℃时,肠囊的磷吸收量极显著降低(P<0.01);培养液中LDH活性与培养温度呈线性关系,培养温度在30～38℃时,培养液中LDH活性部分有显著差异(P<0.05),42℃时培养液中LDH活性极显著高于其它处理(P<0.01)。结果提示:鸡离体小肠适宜的培养温度是38℃。     

不同水平精氨酸-甘氨酸-谷氨酰胺对断奶仔猪空肠体外酶活及细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

本试验旨在研究精氨酸-甘氨酸-谷氨酰胺(Arg-Gly-Gln)对断奶仔猪空肠体外酶活及细胞增殖与凋亡的影响.试验采用单因子设计,设6个处理,培养液分别添加Arg-Gly-Gln 0、0.28、0.56、1.11、2.23、4.45 mmol/L,每个处理8个重复,每个重复1个空肠组织块.检测培养液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH...     

用外翻肠囊法研究高钙条件下有机锰在肉仔鸡小肠中的吸收特点

本试验用外翻肠囊法研究高钙对肉仔鸡不同肠段(十二指肠、空肠和回肠)吸收不同形态锰的影响,以比较有机锰和无机锰在高钙条件下吸收特点的差异。采用单因子完全随机设计,培养液中添加的4种锰源分别为:硫酸锰、弱络合强度的蛋氨酸锰(Mn-MetE)、中等络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn-AAA)和强络合强度的氨基酸锰(Mn-AAB)。为了扣除内源的影响,设置1个零添加锰水平处理。将40只31日龄AA肉公鸡随机分到以上5个组,每组8个重复,每个重复1只鸡,每只鸡的十二指肠、空肠和回肠分别作为相应肠段外翻肠囊的一个重复。结果表明:1)体外培养回肠肠囊对锰的吸收率显著高于十二指肠(P<0.01);2)回肠肠囊对强络合强度的Mn-AAB中锰的吸收率显著高于硫酸锰或中等络合强度的Mn-AAA(P<0.05)。本试验结果表明:在高钙条件下,络合形态的有机锰在体外培养的肉仔鸡肠囊中的吸收率显著高于无机形态的锰;强络合强度有机锰源中的锰能更强地抵抗小肠内的解离,比弱或中等络合强度的有机锰源更有利于锰的吸收。     

补充谷氨酰胺和维生素E对肉仔鸡小肠粘膜形态学的影响

做肉仔鸡的生长试验，用L-赖氨酸盐酸盐和L-赖氨酸硫酸盐添加于含不同水平双低莱粕（canola meal）日粮中以比较其生物学效价。共价1440只1日龄的母哈巴德（HUBBARD）肉仔鸡被随机分配于6个日粮处理组，每个处理4个重复，每个重复60只。     

植物乳杆菌及其培养物对肉仔鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在探究日粮中添加植物乳杆菌活菌、菌液、培养液和灭活菌液对肉仔鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响,试验选取300只健康的、体重相近的1 d AA肉仔鸡,随机分配到5个处理组中,每个处理组6个重复,每个重复10只。结果表明:7~21 d,添加培养液和灭活菌液组肉仔鸡的ADG(P0.05)显著高于对照组,22~42 d,与对照组相比,培养液组的ADG显著提高(P0.05),培养液组和灭活组的饲料增重比均显著降低。21 d,试验组肉仔鸡的IgA显著高于对照组(P0.05),饲喂培养液组肉仔鸡的IL-2显著高于对照组(P0.05)。42 d,饲喂活菌、菌液组肉仔鸡血清中的IgG显著高于对照组(P0.05)、培养液组和灭活组;试验组肉仔鸡的IgA、IFN-γ和IL-2均显著高于对照组(P0.05),饲喂活菌组、菌液组和培养液组对肉仔鸡血清中IL-6均显著高于对照组(P0.05);因此,添加植物乳杆菌活菌、菌液、培养液和灭活菌液均可提高肉仔鸡生长性能和和免疫功能。     

利用酿酒醇母抑制肉鸡黄曲霉毒素中毒

用360只1日龄肉用仔鸡进行试验,以检验酿酒酵母抑制黄曲霉毒素中毒的效果。试验共设6个处理,每个处理3个重复。将酿酒酵母和黄曲霉毒素按设计处理混入标准的商品肉鸡饲料中,饲喂4周。试验期间每周测体重,试验结束测肝脏、肌胃、胰脏和心脏的相对重量。对血清白蛋白、总蛋白、胆固醇、尿酸及甘油三酸 酯浓度进行测定,对304三月桂胺转氨酶、天门冬氨酸转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶和肌酸磷酸激酶等活性也进行了测定。     

仔猪小肠对二肽吸收特点的研究

本试验采用体外外翻肠囊的方法研究了等摩尔浓度的Ｌ 甘氨酸 Ｌ赖氨酸组成的二肽（Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ）和游离甘氨酸和赖氨酸混合物（Ｇｌｙ＋Ｌｙｓ）在仔猪小肠各段的吸收特点。将仔猪小肠划分为空肠前段、中段、后段和回肠段,分别在各段设置了两个不同的培养液处理组,分别是浓度为２０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ和Ｇｌｙ＋Ｌｙｓ混合物培养液组。每个处理３个重复（回肠段无重复）,每个重复为一个外翻肠囊,将每个外翻肠囊置１０ｍｌ培养液中培养１５分钟。旨在比较：体外培养１５分钟后,同一浓度下的Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ和Ｇｌｙ＋Ｌｙｓ在外翻肠囊各部位的吸收差别,从而确定Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ在仔猪各肠段的吸收特点。结果表明,同等摩尔浓度下,Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ组中的赖氨酸和甘氨酸在仔猪空肠中段肠组织的累积量显著大于Ｇｌｙ＋Ｌｙｓ组;从肠囊在１５分钟培养后总的氨基酸摄入量上看,Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｙｓ组的赖氨酸和甘氨酸在空肠中段高于Ｇｌｙ＋Ｌｙｓ组,且二者在赖氨酸上的差异显著。这说明,二肽中甘氨酸和赖氨酸至少在空肠中段的运输系统有别于游离态的甘氨酸和赖氨酸,且对二肽的运输显得比对游离氨基酸的运载更有效。     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

A brief history of the prevention of infectious diseases by immunisations

Infectious diseases have always been a terrible scourge for humans. The appearance of these plagues, as they were called without distinction, was generally connected to various conditions: asters, climatic changes or religious reasons. The concept of contagious, and then infectious, diseases came slowly. Variolation, i.e. transmission of ‘virulent’ matter to induce a natural disease and the immunity against it, was brought from Constantinople to England by Lady Montague, in 1721. This ‘variolation’ technique was also often performed in veterinary medicine against diseases like sheep-pox or pleuropneumonia. As ‘vaccination’ is the term generally accepted for ‘immunisation’, variolation can be the word designating such a technique. The second period of the history of immunisation began, in 1880, with the studies of Pasteur and his collaborators. A great number of bacterial vaccines were developed: dead, live but attenuated or only parts of pathogens. The viruses were produced in animals, then in eggs and at last, in tissue cultures. Second generation vaccines appeared with genetic engineering: recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines, nucleic acids vaccines, and markers vaccines, among others. These novel technologies can permit the development of new ones and improve the quality of the vaccines already existing.     

Micronutrient Content of Certain Tropical Conventional and Unconventional Feed Resources of Southern India

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.     

Bovine Mastitis in Selected Areas of Southern Ethiopia

A study on bovine mastitis, designed to determine the causal agents, prevalence of infection and impact of risk factors in three cattle breeds, was conducted in selected areas of southern Ethiopia. A total of 307 lactating and non-lactating cows, of which 162 were indigenous Zebu, 85 Jersey and 60 Holstein-Friesian, were examined by clinical examination and the California mastitis (CMT) test. Of these, 40.4% were positive by CMT and bacteriology for clinical or subclinical mastitis, with prevalence rates of 37.1% and 62.9%, respectively. Out of 1133 quarters examined, 212 (18.7%) were found to be infected, 83 (39.2%) clinically and 129 (60.8%) subclinically. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly higher in Holstein-Friesian than in indigenous Zebu, in non-lactating cows than in lactating cows, in the early lactation stage than in the mid-lactation stage, in cows with lesions and/or tick infestation on skin of udder and/or teats than in cows without this factor, and in the wet season than in the dry season. Mastitis increased with parity number (R = 0.9). Of 248 CMT and clinically positive udder quarter samples analysed microbiologically, 212 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and 36 were negative. Of the 199 positive samples, Staphylococcus accounted for 39.2%, Streptococcus for 23.6%, coliforms for 14.1%, Micrococcus and Bacillus species for 8.0% each and Actinomyces or Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) for 7.0%. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli, in this study area.     

不同日粮氮水平对山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同日粮氮水平对内蒙古白绒山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成(MCP)的影响,以达到提高氮利用率,减少环境污染和饲料资源的浪费。试验选用9只体况良好、体重为(43.83±2.95)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,按体重随机分为3组,每组3只。日粮分为低氮7.5%、中氮10.5%、高氮13.5%3个氮水平。试验使用常规试验方法分析测定粪尿血液等生化指标,通过全收尿法和尿嘌呤衍生物法估测MCP。结果表明:随着氮水平增加,氨氮(NH3-N)浓度、氮摄入量、尿氮排出、尿中尿素氮(UUN)和MCP显著增加(P0.05),干物质采食量(DMI)显著降低(P0.01);沉积氮占总摄入氮的比例在中氮组最高,MCP在高氮组最高。综上所述,适当降低日粮氮水平可减少粪尿氮排放,提高反刍动物氮利用率。     

Microsporidial keratopathy in two dogs

A microsporidial keratopathy is described in two dogs. Both dogs presented with a unilateral stromal keratopathy characterized by multifocal coalescing opacities, and the diagnosis was made on histopathologic examination of keratectomy specimens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded corneal tissue was performed in one dog, and the morphologic features were consistent with Nosema species infection. Both dogs were initially diagnosed and treated by superficial keratectomy. One dog received additional antifungal medication and underwent a penetrating keratoplasty following local recurrence two years later. No other systemic lesions attributable to the microsporidial infection were identified clinically. The clinical and diagnostic pathology findings, treatment, and follow‐up are discussed.     

优质肉鸡S3系体重与体尺性状指标的主成分分析

为研究地方优质肉鸡S3系体重和体尺性状之间的内在相关性,12周龄时选取同一饲养条件下的150只鸡(公母各半)进行体重和体尺性状等7个指标的测定。结果表明:S3系公鸡的体重、体斜长、龙骨长、胸角均显著高于母鸡(P0.05);公母鸡体重、体斜长、胸宽、胫围这4项指标变异系数较大,有较大选育空间;体重与体斜长、龙骨长、胸宽、胸角、胫围呈极显著正相关(P0.01),相关系数分别为0.57、0.52、0.51、0.49和0.47,与胸深、胫长呈显著相关(P0.05),相关系数分别为0.44和0.39;其他各体尺指标间也存在不同程度的正负相关性(P0.05或P0.01);体重和7个体尺性能指标综合成5个复合指标,累计贡献率达92.6355%,其中第l、2、3、4、5主成分分别解释总变异的36.5353%、22.8642%、13.3115%、10.4535%和8.4710%;各主成分的特征根分布较广,经统计计算入选的5个主成分所包含信息的侧重点各有相同,分别都在一定程度上反映了S3鸡的体型特征和生长发育规律,为今后选育出更加符合市场需求的屠宰加工优质型肉鸡指明了的方向。     

Efficacy of tropicamide,homatropine, cyclopentolate,atropine and hyoscine as mydriatics in Angora goats

Abstract

AIM: To document the efficacy of five commercially available mydriatics for their potential for diagnostic and therapeutic use in Angora goats.

METHODS: Over 8 weeks, the mydriatic effects of 1% tropicamide, 2% homatropine, 1% cyclopentolate, 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine were evaluated. Given as block treatments, drugs were applied randomly to one eye of 10 Angora goats, and the contralateral eye served as a control. Vertical and horizontal pupil diameters were measured to document onset ofeffect, time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical/horizontal pupil diameter between eyes, time to maximum pupillary dilation, and duration of mydriatic action.

RESULTS: Onset of mydriasis for all drugs occurred within 15 minutes. Time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical pupil diameter between eyes was shortest for 1% tropicamide and 0.25% hyoscine (0.5 h), then 2% homatropine and 1% atropine (0.75 h), and longest for 1% cyclopentolate (1.5 h). The maximum vertical pupillary dilation occurred earliest with 1% tropicamide and 1% atropine (2 h), followed by 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (4 h), and latest with 1% cyclopentolate (8 h). The duration of vertical dilation of the pupil was shortest with 1% tropicamide (6 h), then 2% homatropine (12 h), 1% cyclopentolate (12 h), 1% atropine (24 h), and longest for 0.25% hyoscine (96 h).

The time to reach maximum horizontal dilation of the pupil in treated eyes was shortest with 1% cyclopentolate (1 h), followed by 1% tropicamide (1.5 h), 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (3.5 h), and 1% atropine (4 h). The duration of horizontal pupil dilation was shortest with 1% tropicamide (4.5 h), and longest with 0.25% hyoscine (48 h).

CONCLUSION: All five mydriatics induced clinical dilation. Tropicamide (1%) had the shortest duration of effect, but gave incomplete dilation. Good dilation was achieved with 1% cyclopentolate and 2% homatropine, but took too long to reach maximum dilation for routine mydriasis. The largest vertical dilation of the pupil was achieved with 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine, but pupils remained dilated for more than 24 h.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For routine mydriasis in goats, it is recommended that 1% tropicamide be used, though there may be incomplete dilation. For a longer duration of mydriasis, such as in the treatment of anterior uveitis, 1% atropine or 0.25% hyoscine would be the drugs of choice.