赛乐硒对奶牛产奶量及胰岛素、生长激素和促乳素的影响

选用35头处于干奶期40 d、泌乳期相近和上胎平均日产奶量20 kg的中国荷斯坦奶牛,采用完全随机区组设计分为7组,即:对照组、亚硒酸钠组(含硒量7.5、15和22.5 mg/d)和赛乐硒组(含硒量7.5、15和22.5 mg/d),研究赛乐硒和无机硒对奶牛产奶量和促乳素水平的影响。结果表明:在相同硒水平下,泌乳期30~90 d赛乐硒较无机硒显著提高了奶牛产奶量。产前5 d和产后10 d赛乐硒较无机硒显著提高了血清胰岛素、生长激素和促乳素含量。由此推断:日粮添加赛乐硒能有效提高产奶量和血清促乳素水平。     

硒酵母对西门塔尔牛瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

本试验旨在研究硒酵母对瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物浓度的影响。选用8头体重(430±20)kg,年龄2.5岁,装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国西门塔尔牛阉牛,采用4×4重复拉丁方设计,以硒酵母为硒源,分别在日粮中添加硒0、0.3、0.6和0.9 mg/kg。结果表明:试验各组瘤胃pH、乙酸、丁酸和总挥发性脂肪酸差异不显著(P>0.05);处理组较对照组丙酸显著提高,而乙酸/丙酸比例和NH3-N浓度显著降低(P<0.05),0.6 mg/kg组NH3-N浓度显著低于0.3和0.9 mg/kg组;0.6 mg/kg组豆粕干物质、粗蛋白质有效降解率显著高于对照及其他处理组(P<0.05);0.6 mg/kg组玉米秸秆干物质、中性洗涤纤维有效降解率显著高于对照组和0.9 mg/kg组(P<0.05)。处理组尿嘌呤衍生物和微生物氮显著增加(P<0.05),0.6 mg/kg组显著高于0.3和0.9 mg/kg组(P<0.05)。硒酵母显著促进瘤胃代谢和提高尿嘌呤衍生物浓度,适宜添加水平为0.6 mg/kg。     

赛乐硒对西门塔尔牛矿物质存留率的影响

选用7头体重420kg,2．5岁的西门塔尔牛,采用7×7拉丁方设计．研究日粮添加赛乐硒（7．5、15和22．5mg硒／d）和亚硒酸钠（7．5、15和22．5mg硒／d）对日粮矿物质存留率的影响。结果表明：赛乐硒各组硒的表观存留率较亚硒酸钠组和对照组显著提高,钙、磷、锌和铜表观存留率较亚硒酸钠组提高。铁、钼和硫表观存留率无显著变化。赛乐硒组血清硒浓度较亚硒酸钠组显著提高,血清铁浓度无显著变化,赛乐硒组血清铜浓度增加。以上结果表明赛乐硒较无机硒能更有效促进矿物质的消化与利用,硒适宜添加量为7．5～15mg／d。     

赛乐硒对发情奶牛外周血生殖激素含量和繁殖性能的影响

选用35头处于干奶期40d、泌乳期相近和上胎平均日产奶量20kg的荷斯坦奶牛,采用完全随机区组设计分为7组,即:对照组,基础日粮(不加硒);试验组1、2、3添加亚硒酸钠,分别在基础日粮中加硒7.5mg/d、15mg/d和22.5mg/d;试验组4、5、6添加赛乐硒,分别在基础日粮中加硒7.5mg/d、15mg/d和22.5mg/d,研究赛乐硒和无机硒对奶牛发情周期生殖激素分泌和繁殖性能的影响。结果表明:赛乐硒较无机硒显著提高了发情周期促性腺激素释放激素、促卵泡素、促黄体素、雌二醇和孕酮含量,显著提高了受配率和受胎率,缩短了胎衣排出周期,促进母牛正常发情。适宜补硒量为15 mg/d。     

赛乐硒对发情奶牛外周血生殖激素含量和繁殖性能的影响

选用35头处于干奶期40d、泌乳期相近和上胎平均日产奶量20kg的荷斯坦奶牛,采用完全随机区组设计分为7组,即:对照组,基础日粮(不加硒);试验组1、2、3添加亚硒酸钠,分别在基础日粮中加硒7.5mg/d、15mg/d和22.5mg/d;试验组4、5、6添加赛乐硒,分别在基础日粮中加硒7.5mg/d、15mg/d和22.5mg/d,研究赛乐硒和无机硒对奶牛发情周期生殖激素分泌和繁殖性能的影响.结果表明:赛乐硒较无机硒显著提高了发情周期促性腺激素释放激素、促卵泡素、促黄体素、雌二醇和孕酮含量,显著提高了受配率和受胎率,缩短了胎衣排出周期,促进母牛正常发情.适宜补硒量为15 mg/d.     

日粮添加富硒益生菌对奶牛硒吸收转化、抗氧化能力与生产性能的影响

将36头经产荷斯坦奶牛随机分成4组,对照组喂基础日粮,富硒益生菌(Se-Pro)组每头牛添加108.2 g/d,益生菌(Pro)组每头牛添加20.8 g/d,亚硒酸钠(Na2seO3)组每头牛添加5 mg/d.试验期为产前30 d至产后3个月.于试验0、30、60、90、120 d,采血样测定全血se含量、GPx活性和血浆丙二醛(MDA)含量;于产后2(初乳)、30、60、90 d,采乳样测定se含量;产后每个月测定产奶量1次.结果显示,Se-Pro组和Na2SeO3组的全血、初乳、常乳Se含量和GPx活性均显著高于对照组和Pro组(P<0.05);Se-Pro组的全血、常乳Se含量和GPx活性(30 d除外)均显著高于Na2SeO3组(P<0.05);Se-Pro组和Na2SeO3组的血浆MDA含量均显著低于对照组和Pro组(P<0.05);Se-Pro组的血浆MDA含量均显著低于Na2SeO3组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,Se-Pro组、Pro组、Na2SeO3组的泌乳期前3个月的平均日产奶量(4%FCM)分别增加了2.96 kg/d(P=0.069)、1.64 kg/d(P>0.05)、0.69kg/d(P>0.05).结果表明,Se-Pro的作用效果优于Pro和Na2SeO3.     

异丁酸对西门塔尔牛瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

本文旨在研究异丁酸对西门塔尔牛瘤胃pH、NH3-N、VFA和营养物质降解率及尿嘌呤衍生物浓度的影响。选用4头平均体重420 kg,年龄2.5岁装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国西门塔尔牛阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,以混合精料和风干玉米秸秆为基础日粮,在基础日粮中分别添加异丁酸0、0.02、0.04和0.06 g/(kgW.d)。结果表明:各组瘤胃pH差异不显著(P>0.05),0.04 g/(kgW.d)组和0.06 g/(kgW.d)组NH3-N浓度极显著低于对照和0.02 g/(kgW.d)组(P<0.01);0.02 g/(kgW.d)组豆粕干物质、有机物和粗蛋白质动态降解率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.04 g/(kgW.d)组玉米秸干物质、有机物、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维的降解率显著提高(P<0.05),0.04 g/(kgW.d)组瘤胃乙酸、乙酸/丙酸、总挥发性脂肪酸和尿嘌呤衍生物显著增加(P<0.05)。根据试验结果推断日粮中异丁酸的适宜添加水平为0.04 g/(kgW.d)。     

包被硒对西门塔尔牛瘤胃发酵和尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

选用4头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的西门塔尔阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,研究日粮中添加包被硒(0、0.3、0.6、0.9mg/kg)对瘤胃发酵和尿嘌呤衍生物的影响。结果表明:添加包被硒瘤胃中pH值、VFA、乙酸/丙酸比值均无显著差异(P>0.05);瘤胃氨态氮浓度显著降低(P<0.05);玉米秸秆DM、OM、ADF和NDF有效降解率提高;0.6mg/kg和0.9mg/kg组豆粕DM、OM和CP有效降解率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.6mg/kg组和0.9mg/kg组尿囊素、PD显著高于对照组和0.3mg/kg组(P<0.05)。兼顾基础日粮含硒量以及考虑硒的安全剂量,建议以包被硒为硒源时日粮硒添加水平为0.60mg/kg(以干物质计)。     

不同硒源对胎衣滞留母牛血清P_4和E_2水平的影响

选用90头2～4胎次,体况良好的西门塔尔经产母牛,采用完全随机区组设计,研究亚硒酸钠、赛乐硒、蛋氨酸硒和包被硒(0.6mg/kg)对分娩前后胎衣滞留母牛外周血P4、E2水平及P4/E2比例的影响。结果表明,产前第2天和产犊时各加硒组和胎衣滞留对照组血清P4含量显著高于正常牛(P<0.05);E2水平显著低于正常牛(P<0.05),但亚硒酸钠组、赛乐硒组、蛋氨酸硒组和包被硒组显著高于胎衣滞留对照组(P<0.05);加硒组和正常牛组血清P4/E2比例显著低于胎衣滞留对照组。产后加硒组和胎衣滞留对照组血清P4含量显著高于正常牛(P<0.05);胎衣滞留对照组血清E2含量与正常牛无显著差异,但亚硒酸钠组、赛乐硒组、蛋氨酸硒组、包被硒组血清E2含量显著提高,各硒源间无显著差异;胎衣滞留对照组血清P4/E2显著高于正常牛组(P<0.05),各硒源组显著低于胎衣滞留对照组(P<0.05),赛乐硒组、蛋氨酸硒组和包被硒组显著低于亚硒酸钠组(P<0.05),但与正常牛组无显著差异(P>0.05),亚硒酸钠组显著高于正常牛组(P<0.05)。上述结果表明,产前第10天到第6天P4/E2比例升高可以作为牛胎衣滞留的指征,添加硒可以减缓这些指征,有机硒和包被硒优于无机硒。     

富铜酵母对西门塔尔牛阉牛瘤胃发酵及尿嘌呤衍生物的影响

本文旨在研究富铜酵母对瘤胃发酵和尿嘌呤衍生物浓度的影响.选用4头体重(420±15.2)kg、年龄2.5岁、装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国西门塔尔牛阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理1,2、3组分别在基础日粮干物质基础七添加富铜酵母(含铜10%)80、160和240 mg/kg.结果表明:瘤胃pH和挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)无显著差异(P>0.05);160和240 mg/kg组氨态氮(NH3-N)浓度显著低于对照组和80 mg/kg组(P<0.05),240 mg/kg组乙酸/丙酸比例低于对照组和80 mg/kg组(P<0.05).玉米秸秆和豆粕的干物质(DM)以及有机物(OM)有效降解率无显著差异,240 mg/kg组玉米秸秆中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)有效降解率显著降低(P<0.05),160和240 mg/kg组豆粕粗蛋白质(CP)有效降解率显著降低(P＜0.05).尿酸含量无显著变化,80和160 mg/kg组尿囊素和尿嘌呤衍生物含量显著高于对照组和240 mg/kg组(P<0.05).在本试验条件下,富铜酵母添加量在每千克干物质80～160 mg时效果较好;考虑在不同生产条件下,基础日粮中的铜水平有所不同,建议在以富铜酵母为日粮铜源时,日粮铜水平不可超过每千克干物质13.87 mg.     

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.