A Morphometric Study on the Skull of the German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)

In this study, a total of 33 skulls of German shepherd (Alsatian) puppies between 45 and 105 days old were used. Animals were divided into two groups. Group 1 included puppies between 45 and 60 days old, and group 2 included those between 61 and 105 days old. In group 1, a skull weight of 36.95 g, a skull length of 113.96 mm, a maximum zygomatic width of 66.52 mm, a cranial length of 71.31 mm, a maximum neurocranium width of 52.11 mm, a viscerocranial length of 50.28 mm, a skull index of 58.43, a cranial index of 73.24, a facial index of 133.13 and a cranial volume of 55.38 ml were measured. In group 2, a skull weight of 61.17 g, a skull length of 143.38 mm, a maximum zygomatic width of 73.54 mm, a cranial length of 83.38 mm, a maximum neurocranium width of 53.70 mm, a viscerocranial length of 68.64 mm, a skull index of 51.44, a cranial index of 64.57, a facial index of 107.96 and a cranial volume of 75.75 ml were obtained. In order to determine the likely relationship, if any, between the indices and the other parameters, correlation coefficients were computed. It was found that all the measurements increased with age, while indices decreased, and an insignificant positive correlation was found between cranial volume and skull weight. The data obtained in this study may be of use in the consideration of the German shepherd type. For German shepherd dogs, which are a dolichocephalic race, it should be agreed that, in line with growth, the farther the values are from the mean value, the higher the defect rate of a puppy is. Also, the data may be of use in investigating the correlation between, for example, nasal cancer risk and the shape of the skull.     

The Anatomy of the Arterial Supply of the Thoracic Limb of the Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the arterial supply and branches of the thoracic limb of the porcupine. With this aim, five (three male and two female) adult porcupines were used. The vascular tree of the thoracic limb was injected through the common carotid arteries with coloured latex. The a. thoracica externa arose from the a. axillaris at the level of the fourth rib. It divided into two branches and went to the m. cutaneus trunci and the m. pectoralis ascendens. The a. subscapularis came off the a. thoracodorsalis. Later, the a. circumflexa humeri caudalis et cranialis, the three muscular branches and the a. circumflexa scapulae arose from the a. subscapularis. The a. profunda brachii arose together with the a. bicipitalis from the same truncus. The a. collateralis ulnaris left from the a. brachialis independently. Rete carpi dorsale was formed by the a. radialis. the r. carpeus dorsalis of the a. collateralis ulnaris and the a. interossea caudalis. Arcus palmaris profundus was formed by the r. profundus of the a. interossea caudalis and the r. palmaris profundus of the a. radialis. In conclusion, despite a partial resemblance to that in the rat, the distribution of the thoracic limb arteries in the porcupine was found to be completely different from that of other mammals. These findings represent, to our knowledge, the first study on the distribution of thoracic limb arteries in the porcupine.     

Human case of bubonic plague resulting from the bite of a wild Gunnison's prairie dog during translocation from a plague‐endemic area

Plague is a zoonotic disease (transmitted mainly by fleas and maintained in nature by rodents) that causes severe acute illness in humans. We present a human plague case who became infected by the bite of a wild Gunnison's prairie dog, and a good practical example of the One Health approach that resulted in a rapid public health response. The exposure occurred while the animal was being transported for relocation to a wildlife refuge after being trapped in a plague enzootic area. This is the first report of a human plague case resulting from the bite of a Gunnison's prairie dog. Additionally, we present an observation of a longer incubation period for plague in captive prairie dogs, leading to a recommendation for a longer quarantine period for prairie dogs during translocation efforts.     

Maximization of total genetic variance in breed conservation programmes

The preservation of the maximum genetic diversity in a population is one of the main objectives within a breed conservation programme. We applied the maximum variance total (MVT) method to a unique population in order to maximize the total genetic variance. The function maximization was performed by the annealing algorithm. We have selected the parents and the mating scheme at the same time simply maximizing the total genetic variance (a mate selection problem). The scenario was compared with a scenario of full-sib lines, a MVT scenario with a rate of inbreeding restriction, and with a minimum coancestry selection scenario. The MVT method produces sublines in a population attaining a similar scheme as the full-sib sublining that agrees with other authors that the maximum genetic diversity in a population (the lowest overall coancestry) is attained in the long term by subdividing it in as many isolated groups as possible. The application of a restriction on the rate of inbreeding jointly with the MVT method avoids the consequences of inbreeding depression and maintains the effective size at an acceptable minimum. The scenario of minimum coancestry selection gave higher effective size values, but a lower total genetic variance. A maximization of the total genetic variance ensures more genetic variation for extreme traits, which could be useful in case the population needs to adapt to a new environment/production system.     

Seminoma in a southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor): diagnosis, surgical management and effect on fertility

A testicular mass was identified by ultrasonography performed during a routine reproductive evaluation of an adult male southern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis minor ). Histological examination of a testicular biopsy supported a presumptive diagnosis of testicular neoplasia. Hemi-castration was performed to excise the affected testis and a pathological diagnosis of a seminoma was made. Assessment of semen suggested reduced fertility as a consequence of the neoplastic process, but hemi-castration prevented further growth and metastasis of the tumour and ensured the animal's breeding potential. This is the second documented case of a seminoma in a rhinoceros species and the first case in a black rhinoceros.     

Elevating the uterus (uteropexy) of five mares by laparoscopically imbricating the mesometrium

Reasons for performing study: There is a need for study of a method for restoring a ventrally positioned uterus to a horizontal position involving fertility of mares with delayed uterine clearance. Hypothesis: A ventrally‐angled uterus can be elevated to a horizontal position using a laparoscopic technique. Objective: To develop a laparoscopic technique of imbricating the mesometria to elevate the uterus to a horizontal position. Methods: The right and left mesometria of 5 pluriparous mares, all barren for 1–8 years (mean 3.8 years), with a pendulous, ventrally‐angled uterus were shortened laparoscopically, by imbrication, with the mares standing, to raise the uterine body and horns to a horizontal position. Sutures were placed through the dorsal aspect of the uterine body and uterine horn and the adjacent region of the mesometrium using a simple continuous suture pattern. Results: The uterus of all 5 mares was elevated successfully to a horizontal position. Three of the mares became pregnant the same year, without other treatment, after the procedure. Conclusions: A pendulous, ventrally‐angled uterus can be returned to a normal, horizontal position by imbricating the mesometria, using a laparoscopic technique. Potential relevance: Elevating a ventrally‐angled uterus to a horizontal position may improve egress of uterine debris, thereby improving fertility.     

Development of monitoring procedures for the herbaceous layer on the Northeastern Transvaal escarpment

Abstract

A step‐wise approach was followed towards the design of a monitoring system for the herbaceous layer on the escarpment of the Drakensberg mountains in the Transvaal, South Africa. The parameter of concern was proportional species composition. In a first phase, the plot size and number of point observations required to achieve a repeatable assessment of a single plot at a predetermined precision level were investigated. The Chapman‐Richards three‐parameter model was fitted to similarity values obtained from comparisons between successively larger sets of points. This resulted in 140 points being required within a 30 × 30 m plot in order to recover 95% of the internal association of the composition data. In a second phase, the number of plots required for a repeatable assessment of a large stratum was determined. Successively larger nested areas were sampled. Monitoring of a large stratum at 95% of asymptotic replicate similarity would require sets of 21 randomly selected plots. The third and final phase was concerned with the development of a procedure for detecting change. A similarity test made it possible to detect change between successive surveys with a known degree of precision.     

A HACCP-based approach to mastitis control in dairy herds. Part 1: Development

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems are a risk based preventive approach developed to increase levels of food safety assurance. This is part 1 of a pilot study on the development, implementation and evaluation of a HACCP-based approach for the control of good udder health in dairy cows. The paper describes the use of a novel approach based on a deconstruction of the infectious process in mastitis to identify Critical Control Points (CCPs) and develop a HACCP-based system to prevent and control mastitis in dairy herds. The approach involved the creation of an Infectious Process Flow Diagram, which was then cross-referenced to two production process flow diagrams of the milking process and cow management cycle. The HACCP plan developed, may be suitable for customisation and implementation on dairy farms. This is a logical, systematic approach to the development of a mastitis control programme that could be used as a template for the development of control programmes for other infectious diseases in the dairy herd.     

Effect of three shoe types on the duration of breakover in sound trotting horses

In a controlled experimental study, eight sound horses were shod with a plain steel shoe on one forelimb (control limb) and with four different shoe types on the other forelimb (treated limb). The four shoe types used on the treated limb were a plain steel shoe, a rocker-toe shoe, a rolled-toe shoe, and a square-toe shoe. The selection of the treatment limb (left or right) was randomized between the horses and a replicated Latin square design was used to determine the order of application of the shoes to the treatment limb. High speed cinematography (200 frames/s) was used to film the horses trotting in hand on a concrete surface. Eight strides were analyzed for each shoeing treatment. The breakover times of both forelimbs were measured, and the breakover ratio was computed as the ratio between the breakover time of the treated limb to the breakover time of the control limb. The results of an analysis of variance, using a probability of 0.05 alpha, showed that the breakover ratio did not differ significantly between the four types of shoes (p=0.10). It is concluded that, in sound horses trotting at a slow speed on a hard surface, the application of a rocker-toe shoe, a rolled-toe shoe or a square- toe shoe did not shorten forelimb breakover duration significantly compared with a plain steel shoe.     

Skull typology of adult male Kangal dogs

In this study, a total of 16 skulls of the adult male Kangal dog were used. Craniometric measurements for 44 different parts of the skull were made. All investigated features were expressed as mean +/- SD. Cephalic indices and ratios were calculated. These indices and ratios have been compared with the average values of indices calculated for other breeds. A skull index of 50.29 +/- 1.033, a cranial index of 46.05 +/- 2.213, a facial index of 99.62 +/- 3.891, a facial index-1 of 81.67 +/- 3.667, a basal index of 28.71 +/- 1.425, a basal index-1 of 57.91 +/- 1.365, a length-length index-2 of 1.08 +/- 0.045, a length-width index-2 of 1.99 +/- 0.041, a length-width index-4 of 2.18 +/- 0.108, a palatal index-1 of 62.24 +/- 2.528, a palatal index-2 of 65.37 +/- 2.208, a palato-basal ratio of 55.44 +/- 1.975, a palato-basal ratio-1 of 54.47 +/- 1.716, a palato-palatine ratio of 33.71 +/- 0.860, a palato-palatine ratio-1 of 34.30 +/- 0.733, a cranio-facial ratio of 107.87 +/- 4.819 and a cranio-facial ratio-1 of 144.17 +/- 8.099 were obtained. When the skull, cranial and facial indices were considered together with the other calculated indices and ratios, it was clear that the skulls of the Kangal dogs have to be regarded as of dolichocephalic type. Kangal dogs, with their mastiff-like appearance and massive head, are shown in this study to be typical of a dolichocephalic breed.     

The withdrawal time estimation of veterinary drugs revisited

The aim of this article is to review current issues concerning the statistical determination of a withdrawal time for a veterinary drug. Special attention has been paid to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approach which consists of using a regression method to estimate a 99th percentile of the population with a 95% confidence level. The different assumptions of the simple regression techniques are reviewed. It is shown, both on theoretical grounds and using Monte Carlo simulations, that the main assumptions for the correct use of linear regression do not hold when a tissue depletion curve is under investigation. Finally, it is suggested that methods other than the regression technique must be evaluated, especially a revised version of the so-called simpler approach, which consists of using a non-parametric strategy to estimate a withdrawal time.     

Haematological and clinicochemical blood profiles in slaughter pigs.

In a cohort study, 40 pig finishing herds were selected: twenty pig herds with a low and twenty pig herds with a high prevalence of several pathological lesions recorded at slaughter in a six-month period before the start of the study. Blood samples were taken from 20 pigs per herd at the end of the finishing period to investigate haematological and clinicochemical profiles. There was only a significant difference in serum albumin concentration between the low and high lesion prevalence groups. There were distinct differences in blood profiles between pig herds, but also between batches of pigs within a herd, housed in different compartments. Differences between castrated males and gilts were also demonstrated with respect to mean values of the blood variables haemoglobin, iron, copper, beta-globulin, eosinophils and segmented neutrophils. However, the differences were not of a biologically important magnitude. The mean values of the blood variables pepsinogen and lymphocytes differed significantly between pig herds from the two participating integration groups. Pigs with a higher albumin concentration, a lower gamma-globulin concentration, a higher copper concentration and a higher creatine kinase activity in serum showed a higher daily weight gain.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the superficial pineal gland of the 15-day-old rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The presence of a cortex and medulla in the superficial pineal gland has been a controversial point in the morphology of this structure in mammals. The published reports indicate contradictory data especially in rodents. In this study the pineal gland of 15-day-old male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were studied, using scanning electron microscopy, in an attempt to determine whether or not a cortex and medulla are apparent in the pineal gland of young rats. The superficial pineal gland of the 15-day-old rat exhibited both a cortex and a medulla; these areas exhibited different structural organizations. The cortex had a thickness of 40-80 microm and the cells did not show a particular arrangement. The center of the gland was composed of a medulla, which had a width of 1000-1200 microm, and consisted of cells arranged in cords; its morphology was distinctly different from that of the cortex.     

Studies on the interaction between an irradiated bovine lungworm vaccine and a morantel sustained release bolus

The interaction of the morantel sustained release bolus with the development of immunity in calves vaccinated with two doses of gamma irradiated (40 Kr) Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae was investigated under laboratory conditions. A total of 37 helminth-naive calves were used. Eight calves were used in the first part of the study to test the efficacy of a larval vaccine prepared by using gamma rays delivered from a cobalt source. In the second part of the study, four groups of four groups of four calves each were vaccinated and of these, all the animals in two groups each received a bolus. The remaining three groups (two groups of four and one group of five calves each) remained nonvaccinated with each animal in one group receiving a bolus. All the calves were challenged with approximately 2000 lungworm larvae four months postvaccination. In order to simulate possible field conditions, two of the vaccinated groups and two of the nonvaccinated groups were given a trickle infection of 800 lungworm larvae over a four-week period, three months prior to challenge. Based on a comparison of clinical signs, pathology and lungworm burdens at necropsy, the vaccination of the calves conferred a significant degree of protection (P less than 0.001) to a subsequent challenge compared with controls. The introduction of a morantel sustained release bolus and/or a trickle infection had no effect on the high degree of protection engendered by the vaccination. Nonvaccinated calves given a trickle infection, with or without a bolus, were also highly immune to challenge.     

Strategy for the detection and differentiation of Mycobacterium avium species in isolates and heavily infected tissues

The members of Mycobacterium avium species, comprising M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, M. a. hominissuis, M. a. avium, M. a. silvaticum, are currently the most prevalent opportunistic pathogenic mycobacteria causing mycobacterial infection in animals and humans. The ability to distinguish between these subspecies is of relevance for proper diagnosis and control programmes of the diseases. The aim of this study was to design a fast and specific PCR strategy for the detection and differentiation of M. avium subspecies from the solid plate cultures for use in routine veterinary diagnosis. We have developed a multiplex PCR based on IS900, IS901, IS1245 and the dnaJ gene. This method allows the detection of M. a. paratuberculosis, M. a. hominissuis and M. a. avium/M. a. silvaticum in one PCR reaction and theoretically enables mixed infections of M. a. paratuberculosis and M. a. avium or M. a. paratuberculosis and M. a. hominissuis to be revealed. The sensitivity of this multiplex PCR is 10(3)CFU for each bacterial strain in one PCR reaction, which also enabled the use of this test directly for DNA isolated from the tissue of the heavily infected sheep.     

Food aversion learning: ability of lambs to distinguish safe from harmful foods

We studied the ability of lambs to select safe foods in the presence of harmful foods. In a series of feeding experiments, 3- to 6-mo-old lambs were offered a choice between 1) a familiar, safe and a novel, harmful food, 2) a novel, safe and a novel, harmful food and 3) a familiar, harmful and a novel, safe food. All harmful foods were palatable feeds that had been treated with lithium chloride (LiCl), a non-lethal gastrointestinal poison. When lambs ingested a meal composed of a novel food containing LiCl and a familiar, safe food, lambs subsequently avoided the novel food. Lambs avoided the novel food even when the familiar food contained LiCl. The response of lambs varied when lambs were given a choice between a novel, safe food and a novel food containing LiCl. Lambs either avoided the novel food containing LiCl and ingested the safe food or they limited their intake of both novel foods. Their response was dependent on the novelty of the food containing LiCl. When a novel, palatable food contained 2% LiCl, lambs always ate some of the food, even after experiencing illness from ingesting it. Lambs experienced with foods containing LiCl displayed greater food neophobia than lambs naive to LiCl-treated foods. Thus, novelty was the major criterion that lambs used to associate foods with gastrointestinal illness.     

Familial cases of coat colour-change in a Piétrain cross

In this note the coat colour‐change of a descendant of a cross involving Piétrain, Landrace and Large White is described. One sow was born as a black spotted piglet with a white background. At the end of rearing the gilt showed a red background, a change which was also observed in one full brother and two half sisters of the sow. By 1 year of age the red colour had turned to roan. This colour also appeared in another unrelated pig, which was born as a tricoloured animal.     

Identification of a periorbital wooden foreign body as the cause of chronic ocular discharge in a horse

The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of a horse with a wooden foreign body embedded in the deep portion of the right masseter muscle adjacent to the right orbit are presented. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging findings and treatment of a penetrating wooden foreign body in a horse that had no history of trauma or evidence of a puncture wound. This report documents the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging to detect a wooden foreign body embedded in the soft tissues of a horse with a chronic copious ocular discharge. Two surgical procedures were necessary, which is a frequent complication encountered with wooden foreign bodies.     

A quantitative assessment of primary and secondary immune responses in cattle using a B cell ELISPOT assay

The aim of the study was to build a comprehensive picture of the appearance in the blood stream of Ag-specific plasma cells and memory B cells in the bovine model. For this purpose, we have developed a method allowing the detection and quantification of both cell types within individual calves immunised with ovalbumin. During the primary response, we detected a burst of ovalbumin-specific plasma cells at days 6 and 7 post-immunisation, which was followed by the production of specific Ab, whereas a gradual increase of memory B cells was only detected from day 15. As expected, a boost immunisation performed 7 weeks later induced a quicker and stronger secondary response. Indeed, a burst of plasma cells was detected in the blood at days 3 and 4, which was followed by a strong increase in Ab titres. Furthermore, a burst of memory B cells, and not a gradual increase, was detected at days 5 and 6 post-boost immunisation. Importantly, we showed a strong correlation between the anti-ovalbumin-specific IgG titres detected 5 months after secondary immunisation and the plasma cell numbers detected in the blood at the peak response after secondary immunisation. The detection and quantification of plasma cells following an mmunisation/vaccination strategy could constitute a very effective means for predicting the magnitude and longevity of an Ab response.     

Quantitative assessment of clinical signs for the detection of classical swine fever outbreaks during an epidemic

The performance of clinical signs as a diagnostic test for the detection of classical swine fever (CSF) outbreaks during the 1997-1998 CSF epidemic in The Netherlands was evaluated by constructing and analysing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. This curve assesses the discriminating ability of a diagnostic test over a range of test signals. The cut-off values for a defined diagnostic test to detect CSF outbreaks were set by different combinations of clinical signs observed. The area under the ROC curve, which is a quantitative measure of test performance, was significantly (P<0.001) larger than the area under the random ROC curve. This indicates that clinical signs have a significantly higher performance as a diagnostic test for the detection of CSF than for flipping a coin. However, the gain in diagnostic performance compared to a random process is not as much as we would wish it to be. The optimal efficient diagnostic test combined a sensitivity of 72.7% with a specificity of 52.7%, with a combination of the following clinical signs: unsteady gait/ataxia, not eating, not reacting to antibiotic treatment, conjunctivitis, hard faecal pellets.