中药复方制剂对鸡红细胞免疫功能影响的研究

选择120只健康仔鸡，随机分成8组，每组15只。Ⅰ组为健康对照，Ⅱ组为接毒对照，Ⅲ～Ⅴ组分别是中药免疫对照(剂量为1％，2％，5％饲料添加)，Ⅵ组为疫苗应用对照组，Ⅶ组为中药预防对照组，Ⅷ组为疫苗与中药共同免疫，再接种禽流感病毒，中药应用剂量与方法同Ⅲ组。分别在免疫前1天、免疫后第三天、攻毒后第二天，按郭峰法测定各组鸡的红细胞免疫功能状态。结果试验表明：Ⅱ组攻毒后三天，RBC—CR1花环率和RBC—IC花环率显著降低，相对其他各组差异极显著。Ⅵ组在疫苗免疫后第三天，红细胞免疫功能出现短暂性降低，但在第九天恢复正常。Ⅶ组中药预防组虽然RBC—CR1花环率和RBC—IC花环率降低，相对Ⅰ组(正常对照组)差别不显著，且在第九天，升高到正常水平。Ⅷ组疫苗与中药同时应用，该复方制剂能消除红细胞免疫功能短暂性降低的不良反应。Ⅲ～Ⅴ组(免疫增强组)RBC—CR1花环率和RBC—IC花环率，相对Ⅰ组(正常对照组)差别显著，与其他组差别极显著。结论：接种AIV后会引起鸡红细胞免疫功能降低，该中药复方能增强机体免疫功能的同时，且能消除红细胞免疫功能降低所带来的不良反应。     

中药复方制剂对鸡红细胞免疫功能影响的研究

选择120只健康仔鸡,随机分成8组,每组15只。Ⅰ组为健康对照,Ⅱ组为接毒对照,Ⅲ-Ⅴ组分别是中药免疫对照(剂量为1％,2％,5％饲料添加),Ⅵ组为疫苗应用对照组,Ⅶ组为中药预防对照组,Ⅷ组为疫苗与中药共同免疫,再接种禽流感病毒,中药应用剂量与方法同Ⅲ组。分别在免疫前1天、免疫后第三天、攻毒后第二天,按郭峰法测定各组鸡的红细胞免疫功能状态。结果试验表明:Ⅱ组攻毒后三天,RBC-cR1花环率和RBC-IC花环率显著降低,相对其他各组差异极显著。Ⅵ组在疫苗免疫后第三天,红细胞免疫功能出现短暂性降低,但在第九天恢复正常。Ⅵ组中药预防组虽然RBc—CR1花环率和RBc—IC花环率降低,相对Ⅰ组(正常对照组)差别不显著,且在第九天,升高到正常水平。Ⅷ组疫苗与中药同时应用,该复方制剂能消除红细胞免疫功能短暂性降低的不良反应。Ⅲ～Ⅴ组(免疫增强组)RBC—CR1花环率和RBC—IC花环率,相对Ⅰ组(正常对照组)差别显著,与其他组差别极显著。结论:接种AIV后会引起鸡红细胞免疫功能降低,该中药复方能增强机体免疫功能的同时,且能消除红细胞免疫功能降低所带来的不良反应。     

中药免疫增强剂对鸡ILT疫苗免疫和强毒攻击的影响

选择健康仔鸡 70只 ,随机分为 7组 ,每组 10只。 1组为健康对照组 (不免疫、不攻毒 ) ,2～ 4组为不同处理的免疫试验组。在试验仔鸡 45日龄时 ,2组免疫传染性喉气管炎 (ILT)疫苗 ,3组免疫ILT疫苗同时肌肉注射中药免疫增强剂Ⅰ ,4组免疫ILT疫苗同时肌肉注射中药免疫增强剂Ⅱ。 5、6组为非免疫试验组。在仔鸡 5 2日龄时 ,5组肌肉注射中药免疫增强Ⅰ ,6组肌肉注射中药免疫增强Ⅱ。 7组为单纯强毒攻击组。 5 5日龄时 ,2～ 7组全部用ILT强毒 (EID50 =10 -5 33/ 0 1ml)攻击。结果显示 :试验 2组在免疫后 3d ,RBC -CRl和RBC -IC花环率显著降低 ,免疫后第 9d ,上述两个花环率恢复到正常值。试验 3、4组 ,RBC -CRl和RBC -IC花环率在免疫后升高 ,且高于 1组和 2组。强毒攻击后 5d、10d ,试验 2～ 6组 ,RBC -CRl、RBC -IC花环率仍然保持在攻毒前的水平。 7组的RBC -CRl和RBC -IC花环率显著降低 ,与其他各组比较差异极显著 (P <0 0 1) ,在攻毒后第 10d(试验 2、3、4组免疫后 2 0d) ,体内ILT抗体检测结果为 ,试验 1组ILT抗体全部阴性 ,其他试验组的ILT抗体效价为 :2组、3组、7组为 1∶8;4组、5组为 1∶32 ;6组为 1∶2 5 6。说明ILT疫苗免疫或强毒攻击 ,均会引起机体红细胞免疫功能降低 ;中药免疫增强剂能够消除ILT     

蓝黄青口服液对鸡传染性喉气管炎疫苗免疫的影响

为测定蓝黄青口服液(LHQY)对鸡传染性喉气管炎(ILT)免疫以及红细胞免疫力的影响,试验分为4组,分别为对照组、LHQY(浓度为1∶1500)饮水组、鸡传染性喉气管炎和鸡痘基因工程活载体疫苗免疫组和二者同时给予组.结果显示,LHQY给药后3d就能极显著提高健康鸡的RBC-CR1花环率和RBC-IC花环率(P＜0.01),并且这种作用效果可以持续20d以上;与疫苗同用,RBC-CR1花环率和RBC-IC花环率均显著或极显著高于健康对照组和疫苗组(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).进行攻毒保护试验,发现LHQY用药组的RBC-CR1花环率和RBC-IC花环率均极显著高于感染对照组(P＜0.01),LHQY与疫苗混合使用这两种花环率也极显著高于感染对照组(P＜0.01),并整体高于疫苗组.说明蓝黄青口服液能显著提高鸡红细胞免疫功能,对ILT有很好的预防和治疗作用.     

鸡血型系统对红细胞免疫功能的影响

采用狼山鸡、海兰W－36鸡、AA肉用种鸡、南京当地鸡研究了各血型系统因子对鸡红细胞免疫功能的影响，结果表明，狼山鸡、南京当地鸡的CR1花环率显著高于海兰W－36、AA肉用种鸡，但红细胞免疫物花环率在各品种与血型因子相关性无显著差异（P＞0．05）；带有B2、B21、B365、B614因子的鸡，其红细胞CR1花环率高于带D15、A653、B13因子的鸡，但在各品种鸡中有很大差异；本文还分析了红细胞免疫功能与遗传抗性的关系，提示鸡的红细胞免疫功能CR1花环率与鸡的抗马立克氏病（MD）特性呈一定的正相关。     

马立克氏病疫苗胚胎免疫鸡红细胞免疫功能的研究

作者检测了胚胎免疫鸡（孵化至18日龄时鸡胚接种马立克氏病二价疫苗）及其相应1日龄免疫鸡和未免疫鸡的红细胞CR1花环率和红细胞IC花环率以观察其外周血液红细胞免疫功能。结果表明,随着试验鸡日龄的增长,其外周血液中红细胞CR1活性呈现一定的递减性变化,但胚胎免疫鸡红细胞CR1活性的降低幅度远低于其它两组鸡。胚免鸡出壳后7日龄进行vMDV攻毒,结果也显示胚胎免疫可显著阻止红细胞免疫功能的下降。此外,胚免组鸡血清中红细胞免疫粘附抑制因子活性下降（IC形成减少）,使得红细胞免疫功能得以更好的发挥。     

黄芪多糖对接种NDⅣ雏鸡红细胞免疫功能的影响

以50日龄内健康海兰白雏鸡为研究对象,将黄芪多糖（APS）按0 mg/只、5 mg/只和10 mg/只经滴鼻点眼、肌肉注射等方式分别与鸡NDⅣ系疫苗同时免疫接种适龄雏鸡。结果表明,雏鸡C3b受体花环率（E-C3bRR）和红细胞C3b受体花环促进率（ERER）显著升高,红细胞免疫复合物花环率（E-ICRR）和红细胞C3b受体花环抑制率（ERIR）则降低,即APS可显著提高雏鸡的红细胞免疫功能,且APS 10 mg/只组效果优于5 mg/只组;对NDⅣ系苗免疫雏鸡来说,以APS 10 mg/只肌肉注射,NDⅣ滴鼻点眼对红细胞免疫功能的增强作用最显著。     

中药制剂肠宁Ⅱ对新生犊牛免疫水平的影响

为探讨中药制剂肠宁Ⅱ对新生犊牛免疫水平的影响，选择12头健康新生犊牛分为试验组和对照组，连续给药10d。分别在第10、20、30天颈静脉采血，测定红细胞C3b受体花环率、红细胞IC花环率、淋巴细胞转化率、Ea花环率和EAC花环率，并进行比较。统计学分析结果显示差异显著，表明中药制剂肠宁Ⅱ具有增强犊牛机体免疫水平的功能。     

铜缺乏对奶牛免疫功能的影响

为阐明铜缺乏奶牛免疫机制的变化特征及补铜对奶牛免疫功能的影响，本实验选择缺铜地区全血铜低于NRC有（0.8mg/kg）但无明显摇摆症状的犊牛25头作为亚临床铜缺乏组；并对其中15头进行补铜试验9饲料中添加硫酸铜100mg/kg干重），以15头临床健康奶牛作为对照组，分别于40d及80d采集血样并检测血清循环免疫复合物（CIC）含量、血清总IgG含量、外周血淋巴细胞亚群分类计数、ANAE－T^ 阳性细胞计数、红细胞C3b受体花环率、循环免疫复合物花环率（IC)、血清红细胞粘附促进率（ERIR）及抑制率（ERER）。结果表明，发病组及亚临床组奶牛血清CIC含量、红细胞IC花环率及血清粘附抑制率显著高于对照组；但血清中IgG含量、ANAE－T^ 计数值、外周血淋巴亚群T值、C3b受体花环率及血清红细胞粘附促进率显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。在补铜后40d亚临床组奶牛血清CIC含量及红细胞IC花环率显著低于补铜前，而外周血淋巴细胞亚群T值、C3b受体花环率显著高于补铜前（P＜0.05）。在补铜后80d，亚临床组奶年血清CIC含量、红细胞IC花环率有继续下降的趋势，血清中IgG含量、ANAE－T^ 计数值及C3b受体花环率显著高于实验前（P＜0.05）。结论：铜缺乏能够抑制奶牛的免疫机制，补铜能使其免疫功能得到改善。     

口服姬松茸多糖对鸡疫苗免疫力及红细胞免疫功能影响的研究

本试验的目的在于研究姬松茸多糖对鸡疫苗免疫力和红细胞免疫功能的影响.方法：将试验鸡随机分为3组：对照组用新城疫Ⅳ冻干苗及新城疫灭活疫苗进行免疫;Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组同样进行免疫,同时分别灌服0.6%和3%的姬松茸多糖灭菌溶液1 ml/只,连续3 d.于免疫前及免疫后的第4、11、18 d,分别检测ND抗体效价及红细胞C3b受体花环率.结果：Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组的抗体水平在免疫后第4 d至第18 d一直处于上升趋势,且在免疫后第4 d和第18 d显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组间差异不显著;Ⅱ组在免疫后第4d红细胞花环率显著高于对照组和Ⅲ组（P＜0.05）,而Ⅲ组在免疫后第11d红细胞花环率显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）.结论：姬松茸多糖具有提高鸡疫苗免疫力和红细胞免疫功能的作用,但未见明显的量效关系.     

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.