致病性大肠杆菌O157:H7生物被膜形成的影响因素研究

为了解不同因素对大肠杆菌(E.coli)O157∶H7生物被膜形成的影响,本研究采用生物被膜体外定量粘附性检测方法对E.coli O157∶H7在不同环境(培养时间,培养基类型,营养条件)下产生生物被膜的差异进行研究。实验结果显示,在载体为96孔聚乙烯微孔板中,E.coli O157∶H7体外生物被膜的形成最适的形成时间是培养48 h,最适合的培养基为5%的TSB,而且效果显著优于LB和M63培养基。另外,在M63培养基中当葡萄糖浓度为3%时可以促进生物被膜的形成。本研究结果表明,不同培养基和不同的葡萄糖浓度均可以影响生物被膜的形成。本研究为E.coli相关菌膜疾病防治提供了实验数据。     

Ⅰ型菌毛对F18ac大肠杆菌粘附性能的影响

为研究Ⅰ型菌毛在F18ac大肠杆菌(F18ac E.coli)粘附过程中的作用,本研究利用λ-Red同源重组系统构建了F18ac E.coliⅠ型菌毛主亚基编码基因fim A缺失突变株(F18ac△fim A),以野生株为对照,通过体外易感细胞粘附试验和生物被膜(BF)形成定量试验,探索Ⅰ型菌毛在F18ac E.coli粘附宿主细胞过程中的作用。体外易感细胞粘附结果显示,经8%甘露糖封闭Ⅰ型菌毛受体或fim A基因缺失后,F18ac E.coli对易感仔猪上皮细胞IPEC-1的粘附能力均显著下降。BF结晶紫定量试验显示,F18ac△fim A菌株形成BF的能力显著下降,而F18ac△fim A/pfim A回补株的粘附能力以及生物被膜形成能力均得到了恢复。本研究表明Ⅰ型菌毛是F18ac E.coli重要的粘附素,介导了F18ac E.coli对仔猪易感细胞的粘附过程。本研究为进一步阐释F18ac E.coli致病机制中多毒力因子的作用提供了实验依据。     

粪肠球菌生物膜的形成及影响因素

本试验研究了不同的培养时间、培养温度、生物膜引导材料和葡萄糖浓度对生物膜形成的影响,发现培养时间为36h,培养温度为37℃,生物膜引导材料为乳胶时生物膜内活菌数最多。在不影响细菌活力的条件下,糖浓度越高,生物膜内活菌数越多;刚果红-阿利新兰对不同培养时间的生物膜染色后,用高倍镜对其形成过程进行动态观察,发现8h时出现少量的细菌黏附;24h时开始形成一些微菌落;36h时开始大量黏附形成明显的微菌落;72h时膜细胞脱落,微菌落开始减少;通过光密度测定法测定生物膜形成过程中胞外多糖的含量,证实其分泌量与生物膜内细菌增长周期时间一致。研究探讨了细菌粘附和细菌生物膜的形成机理,为阻断细菌生物膜形成提供实验依据。     

禽致病性大肠杆菌唾液酸酶siaK1基因缺失株的构建及其生物学特性分析

禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)是危害养禽业发展的重要病原之一。本试验利用Red同源重组技术构建APEC IMT5155唾液酸酶基因sia K1缺失株和互补株,系统比较其生物学特性的差异。生长曲线测定表明,缺失株比野生株和互补株生长速度加快,而野生株和互补株的生长速度无明显差异;生物被膜形成能力测定表明,sia K1缺失导致细菌生物被膜形成能力显著减弱,而互补株可恢复至野生株水平,说明sia K1基因缺失可影响禽致病性大肠杆菌的生长速度及生物被膜的形成。本研究为进一步探讨sia K1基因功能奠定了基础。     

鸭源阿培依姆沙门菌的生物学特性及致病性分析

为探究鸭源阿培依姆沙门菌的生物学特性及对雏鸭的致病性，本实验将本研究室前期分离到的1株阿培依姆沙门菌BJ1999分别接种至不同培养基测定菌落生长特征，接种至LB肉汤培养基测定细菌生长特性，通过生化反应试验测定其生化反应特征，结果显示，分离菌BJ1999株在Rambach培养基、XLD培养基、亮绿琼脂培养基和麦康凯琼脂培养基中均生长，且呈典型沙门菌菌落颜色和形态；在LB肉汤中生长良好；生化反应结果也符合沙门菌属细菌的特征。通过结晶紫染色法测定该分离菌生物被膜(BF)形成能力，结果显示，分离菌在LB肉汤中培养48 h和96 h的BF形成能力均极显著弱于鼠伤寒沙门菌ATCC14028株(P<0.001)。采用PCR方法检测该分离菌的毒力基因，结果显示扩增到胞内存活(msg A、spiA等)、Ⅲ型分泌系统结构和功能(invA、hilA等)、菌毛结构和功能(lpfA、lpfC)、铁代谢(sitC)等相关的毒力基因共18个。进一步选用健康雏鸭，以109cfu/只、108cfu/只皮下注射和109cfu/只口服感染该菌，评估分离菌对雏鸭的致病性。结果显示，109cfu/只和108cfu/只皮下...     

犊牛脑炎源大肠杆菌生物被膜形成及其影响因素分析

为了解近年来石河子某规模化牛场死于脑炎的犊牛大脑中分离的大肠杆菌生物被膜形成及影响因素,试验以犊牛脑炎源大肠杆菌为研究对象,采用96孔板培养细菌结合结晶紫染色,分析该菌产生生物被膜(bacterial biofilm, BF)的能力及形成的最佳时间;定性和定量分析不同培养条件对该菌BF形成能力的影响。结果表明:犊牛脑炎源大肠杆菌BF形成能力较弱,从6 h开始形成,48 h时BF的形态趋于完整直至顶峰,之后BF网状结构逐渐解离,72 h时BF的结构消失;当在LB培养基中分别添加3%的葡萄糖、1%的蔗糖和0.5%的NaCl时BF的结构最完整;LB、BHI、TSB三种培养基比较,LB培养基中形成BF的形态最佳。致犊牛脑炎大肠杆菌形成BF能力较弱,培养至48 h时BF形态较为完整,在LB培养基中适当添加葡萄糖、蔗糖、NaCl可提高其形成BF的能力。     

水貂源致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成能力、耐药性及毒力岛基因检测与分析

为探索水貂肠道致病性大肠杆菌(E.coli)生物被膜(BF)形成能力、耐药性、毒力岛基因分布及其之间可能存在的相关性,本研究对收集的临床分离鉴定的54株致病性E.coli,采用结晶紫染色定量法测定体外BF形成能力,K-B法药敏试验检测对10种常见抗菌药物的敏感性,PCR检测毒力岛代表基因。结果显示,54株E.coli BF形成阳性率为90.7%,以强阳性为主;分离株对氨苄西林、环丙沙星、青霉素和四环素的耐药率分别为100%、97.5%、92.5%和90%,对多黏菌素B的耐药率最低为17.5%,多数菌株呈现多重耐药,其中对6种以上抗菌药物耐药的占92.6%。毒力岛基因irp2和eae阳性率均为7.4%,未检测到SGI基因。这些分离株普遍具有较强BF形成能力,并呈现多重耐药性,BF形成能力与菌株对呋喃妥因、环丙沙星及氟苯尼考的耐药性呈正相关,但未发现和毒力基因分布率存在明显相关性。     

cpxR基因对大肠杆菌E41株生物学特性及生物被膜形成的影响研究

为研究双组份系统cpxR基因缺失对大肠杆菌临床分离野生株E41生物学特性的影响、培养条件与其生物被膜(BF)形成能力的关系及黄芩苷对BF的清除作用，本研究以野生株E41、缺失株E41ΔcpxR、回补株E41ΔcpxR/pcpxR为对象进行试验。比较3株菌的生长特性，结果显示三者生长曲线无显著性差异。比较3株菌的运动性，结果显示E41ΔcpxR的游泳运动和群集运动能力弱于野生株及回补株。采用平板计数检测3株菌的抗鸡血清杀菌能力，结果显示E41ΔcpxR株抗鸡血清杀菌能力弱于野生株及回补株。采用微量肉汤稀释法检测菌株的药物敏感性，结果显示与野生株和回补株相比，卡那霉素、阿米卡星和环丙沙星对缺失株的MIC降低1/2，但氟苯尼考对其MIC升高了2倍。采用结晶紫染色法检测不同成膜载体和培养温度对BF形成的影响，结果显示3株菌均在硅胶载体上的BF形成能力最强，但25℃条件下适于E41和E41ΔcpxR/pcpxR株BF的形成，37℃条件下则更适于E41ΔcpxR株BF的形成。采用平板计数法检测黄芩苷对BF的清除作用，结果显示，不加黄芩苷的空白对照组，E41和E41ΔcpxR/pcpxR株在试验起始...     

嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对致病性大肠杆菌粘附鸡肠纹状缘膜的影响

为研究嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对致病性大肠杆菌(E.coli)粘附鸡肠纹状缘膜的影响,本实验以雏鸡小肠纹状缘膜为模型,以嗜酸乳杆菌和鸡致病性E.coli O78为研究对象,提取嗜酸乳杆菌表层蛋白、肽聚糖及E.coli O78菌毛,雏鸡小肠纹状缘膜,采用固相粘附试验和生物素标记法从分子间相互作用的关系评价了嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对菌毛粘附的抑制作用,结果表明:表层蛋白和肽聚糖对菌毛粘附具有明显的抑制作用,呈浓度依赖性抑制菌毛与纹状缘膜的结合,具有竞争性拮抗作用,这主要是由空间占位造成的。肽聚糖的抑制作用相对较小。     

Ⅲ型分泌系统2转录因子YqeI对禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜调控机制的研究

生物被膜是导致细菌产生耐药性的主要原因之一,本文通过探究Ⅲ型分泌系统2(ETT2)转录调节因子YqeI对禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成的影响及其影响机制,为探究ETT2对禽致病性大肠杆菌致病机制的影响提供研究基础。利用Red同源重组的方法构建yqeI基因缺失株,并通过检测野生株与缺失株生物被膜形成能力、结合转录组学测序及荧光定量检测生物被膜基因表达量等,探究转录调节因子YqeI对禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成能力的影响。结果显示成功构建了yqeI基因缺失株,且yqeI的缺失并不影响生长曲线,但生物被膜形成能力显著下降,且相关生物被膜基因转录量显著下调。禽致病性大肠杆菌ETT2转录调节因子YqeI显著影响了禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成能力,为从ETT2及yqeI的角度发掘潜在的调控网络提供依据。     

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.