Observations on cloisonné kidney in sheep

Abstract

Extract

Cloisonné kidney, though considered to be a non-clinical entity, has a pathological significance in certain animals, as has been reported in goats from many countries ⁽¹⁾ Altman, NH, Grossman, IW and Jernigan, NB. 1970. Manual of Histologie Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology 3rd Edtn Vol. LX, 82–90.  [Google Scholar] ⁽²⁾ 1 and FW, Light. 1960. Manual of Histologie Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology 3rd Edtn Vol. 9, 228–238.  [Google Scholar]. Pigmentation of renal cortical tubules has also been observed in horsesc ⁽⁴⁾ Marcato, PS and Simoni, P. 1982. Manual of Histologie Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology 3rd Edtn Vol. 19, 572–573.  [Google Scholar]. However, no reports are yet available on such a condition in sheep. This communication therefore presents observations on cloisonne kidney in an Iranian sheep.     

Winter Scours' in sheep — An oibsolete term

We recently published a paper⁽¹⁾ documenting the success of head-only electrical stunning in red deer (Cervus elaphus). This work has now been extended to fallow deer (Dama dama) to determine whether there are differences between this species and red deer in terms of behavioural responses and effectiveness of electrical stunning.     

Eperythrozoon ovis — A blood parasite of sheep

Eleven goats given dog-derived Sarcocystis sporocysts, showed illness from day 18. Doses of 5 × 10⁶ sporocysts caused a progressive temperature rise, with peaks at 6,11 and 18 days. Necropsy at 18 and 19 days revealed multiple petechiation and schizogony in endothelial cells. In goats given smaller doses, Hb, PCV and TP levels fell from day 17. IFAT titres rose from day 28.     

Vitamin E status of cattle and sheep 2: Survey of liver from clinically normal cattle and sheep for α-tocopherol

Analysis of liver from clinically normal animals showed a mean α-tocopherol level of 20 mg/kg for cattle and 6 mg/kg for sheep. The corresponding normal values (mean ±2 S.D.) were 9 to 44 mg/kg and 1.8 to 20 mg/kg. The usefulness and assessment of tocopherol analyses on liver and serum samples are discussed in the light of these normal values and routine diagnostic submissions.     

Tularemia in range sheep: an overlooked syndrome?

Abortion and death caused by Francisella tularensis were well recognized in range flocks of domestic sheep in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming in the first 6 decades of the 20th century. The current report describes 4 episodes of tularemia in 3 range flocks in Wyoming and South Dakota in 1997 and 2007 (1 flock was affected twice). Flock owners reported that ticks were unusually numerous and commonly present on sheep during outbreaks. Tularemia presented as late-term abortions (3 episodes) or listlessness and death in lambs and, to a lesser extent, ewes (1 episode). Lesions were multifocal pinpoint necrotic foci in tissues, particularly spleen, liver, and lung. An immunohistochemical procedure demonstrated F. tularensis, particularly in necrotic foci. The diagnosis was corroborated by bacterial isolation and, in individual cases, by serology, fluorescent antibody assay, and/or polymerase chain reaction detection of F. tularensis. Diagnosticians in endemic areas should include tularemia as a differential diagnosis when investigating late-term abortions or outbreaks of fatal illness in young lambs, particularly in years of high tick activity and when characteristic necrotic foci occur in spleen, liver, and lung.     

WormKill to WormBoss--can we sell sustainable sheep worm control?

Despite the economic importance of nematodes for sheep enterprises, it is often difficult to convince producers to adopt best practice in worm control. In this paper we discuss key issues in effecting change by communicating worm control messages. The adoption of new strategies is affected by many factors including the relative advantage, complexity, compatibility and the ability to trial the proposed change. The visibility of the problem to be solved and proposed positive outcome are also important. Extension campaigns from the last 30 years, including "WormKill" and "CRACK", are used as examples, and future opportunities and tools, including the internet, for promoting best practice in sheep worm management are discussed.     

Population genetic structure of Santa Inês sheep in Brazil

This study aimed to describe the population genetic structure and evaluate the state of conservation of the genetic variability of Santa Inês sheep in Brazil. We used pedigree data of the Santa Inês breed available in electronic processing of the Brazilian Association of Sheep Breeders. A file with 20,206 records, which enabled the calculation of the genetic conservation index (GCI), individual inbreeding coefficient (F), change in inbreeding (ΔF), effective population size (Ne), effective number of founders (?_e), effective number of ancestors (?_ɑ), generation interval (L), average relatedness coefficient of each individual (AR), and Wright’s F-statistics (F _IT, F _IS, and F _ST). For pedigree analysis and calculation of population parameters, the program ENDOG was used. The average inbreeding coefficient (\( \overline{F} \)) was 0.97% and the mean average relatedness (\( \overline{\mathrm{AR}} \)) 0.49%. The effective numbers of founders and ancestors were, respectively, 199 and 161. The average values of F and AR increased significantly over the years. The effective population size fluctuated over the years concurrently to oscillations in inbreeding rates, wherein N _e reached just 68 in the year 2012. The mean average generation interval was 5.3 years. The Santa Inês breed in Brazil is under genetic drift process, with loss of genetic variation. It requires the implementation of a genetic management plan in the herd, for conservation and improvement of the breed.     

Morphological characterization of Pelibuey sheep in Colima, México

A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Pelibuey sheep in the state of Colima, Mexico. A total of 386 sheep were scored for 12 body measurements in addition to live weight and five racial and eight functional indices were calculated. The influence of sex on the body measurements and indices was analyzed, and morphological harmony was determined through Pearson correlation. The sexual dimorphism was 1.21, with males being 67 % heavier than females. Females and males had a high and moderate degree of harmony in their morphological model, respectively. Pelibuey sheep were dolichocephalous, tended to be medium- to large-sized according to the thoracic index, with a convex curve rump; they were a homogeneous breed, well adapted to environmental and production conditions of the state of Colima, Mexico, and show an undefined zootechnical aptitude and therefore a great potential to be oriented towards meat or milk production through genetic selection or terminal crossbreeding systems using specialized breeds.