Validation and application of a radioimmunoassay for ovine growth hormone in the diagnosis of acromegaly in cats

The validity of an ovine growth hormone (OGH) assay for the detection of feline growth hormone (FGH) was demonstrated by the parallel displacement of radiolabelled OGH by standard concentrations of OGH and serial dilutions of pooled FGH-rich serum. The minimum detectable limit of the assay was 1.67 microg/l. The mean (sd) basal fasting FGH level in 19 non-acromegalic, non-diabetic cats aged two to 16 years was 4.01 (1.38) microg/l (range 1.87 to 6.33); 19 acromegalic cats had significantly higher FGH levels (range 8.45 to 33.2 microg/l). There were no significant differences in the FGH levels measured when aprotinin was added to the samples or when plain serum and serum gel separation tubes were used for blood collection, but the FGH levels were significantly higher when the samples were collected into EDTA. There were also no significant differences between the concentrations of FGH measured in samples in which the separation of the serum and storage had been delayed by 24 hours, or in samples that had been stored for up to four weeks at -20 degrees C.     

Effects of low concentrations of dietary cobalt on liveweight gains, haematology, serum vitamin B(12) and biochemistry of Omani goats

Seventy-three, 10-week-old, newly weaned Omani goats of three different breeds, namely Dhofari (D), Batinah (B) and Jebel Akhdar (JA) were randomly divided into a control (n=38) and a treated group (n=35) for an experimental period of 10 months. Goats in both groups were fed 150 g/day per head of a pelleted concentrate, based on body weight and their requirements and Rhodes grass hay ad libitum, containing 0.12 and 0.10 mg/kg DM cobalt, respectively. Goats in the treated group also received bi-monthly subcutaneous injections of 2000 microg hydroxycobalamin. In contrast to the treated goats, the control animals of all breeds experienced a severe decrease in their serum vitamin B(12) levels, developed pale mucous membranes, appeared scruffy and two breeds (D and B) had significantly lower weight gains from month 5. Untreated kids of all breeds had significant decreases in their red blood cell counts and erythrocyte indices after approximately four months. Controls developed low total serum protein levels whilst activities of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase significantly increased. Although it is widely assumed that goats are more resistant to cobalt deficiency than sheep this is apparently not true for Omani goats. Based on experimental data from previously reported studies and those from the present study it can be concluded that the reduction in weight gains in D and B goats is related to their lower digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and energy while the increase in alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase are associated with developing hepatic lipidosis.     

Caprine hepatic lipidosis induced through the intake of low levels of dietary cobalt

Forty-one, 10-week-old newly weaned goats were randomly allocated into two groups, namely control (n=22) and treated (n=19). Kids in both groups were fed Rhodegrass hay ad libitum that contained < 0.1 mg/kg DM cobalt and 150 g/day of a commercially prepared ruminant concentrate that contained approximately 0.12 mg/kg DM cobalt. This diet provided the minimum daily requirement of cobalt as specified for sheep. The treated goats were supplemented with bi-monthly subcutaneous injections of 2000 microg of hydroxycobalamin. All goats were weighed and blood samples collected monthly for haematological, clinical biochemical and serum vitamin B12 analysis. After a 10-month experimental period the goats were slaughtered. The control animals exhibited significantly (P<0.05) lower weight gains, and had dry scruffy hair coats. In addition, there was a decline in erythrocyte counts, mean haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Controls also exhibited significantly (P<0.05) lower levels of total serum proteins and elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase compared to treated goats. Fourteen (63.6%) of the control goats developed pathology consistent with reported field cases of hepatic lipidosis associated with low liver levels of cobalt. Only one (5.3%) of the treated goats developed hepatic lipidosis. Contrary to previous reports that suggested that goats are less sensitive to low levels of dietary cobalt than sheep, it is apparent that this is not the case with Omani goats. This is the first report of the induction of hepatic lipidosis in goats due to feeding low levels of cobalt in their diet.     

Differences in the expression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors in the lower urinary tract between intact and gonadectomised male and female dogs

Receptors for LH (LHR) and FSH (FSHR) are expressed in the canine lower urinary tract (LUT). As gonadectomy results in an increase in plasma LH and FSH, the objective of this study was to determine whether there are any differences in the expression of LHR and FSHR in the LUT between intact and gonadectomised dogs. Four regions of the LUT, i.e. body and neck of the bladder as well as proximal and distal urethra, were collected from 20 healthy dogs (5 intact males, 5 intact anoestrous females, 4 castrated males and 6 spayed females). The mRNA and protein expression of receptors was determined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively, and assessed semi-quantitatively incorporating both the distribution and the intensity of specific staining. Expression of LHR and FSHR was present in all tissue layers (epithelium, sub-epithelial stroma and muscle) of each region with different levels of the expression. Overall mRNA and protein expression for both LHR and FSHR was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in gonadectomised dogs. Intact dogs had more (P < 0.05) LHR and FSHR mRNA and protein in all tissue layers of the four regions, except for LHR mRNA expression in the sub-epithelial stroma where no differences were observed between the two statuses. Decreases in LHR and FSHR mRNA and protein in gonadectomised dogs appeared to be more consistent in spayed bitches compared to castrated males. Lower expression of LHR and FSHR observed in gonadectomised dogs may adversely affect the normal canine LUT function.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of selenium and iodine on growth performance,carcass characteristics and histology of thyroid gland in goats

This study assessed the effects of dietary selenium (Se), iodine (I) and a combination of both on growth performance, thyroid gland activity, carcass characteristics and the concentration of iodine and selenium in Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle in goats. Twenty‐four bucks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: control (CON), basal diet without supplementation, basal diet + 0.6 mg Se/kg dry matter (DM) (SS), 0.6 mg I/kg DM (IP), or combination of 0.6 mg/kg DM Se and 0.6 mg/kg DM I (SSIP) and fed for 100 days. Animals fed diet SSIP exhibited higher (P < 0.05) body weight and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed other diets. Dressing percentage of goats fed the supplemented diets was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control. Carcasses from the IP group had higher (P < 0.05) total fat proportion than the SSIP group. The levels of both elements were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in LL muscle in supplemented goats. Thyroid follicular epithelial cells of IP and SSIP animals were significantly higher than those of CON and SS groups. The study demonstrated that the combined Se and I dietary supplementation improves growth performance, carcass dressing percentage and increases the retention of Se and I in goat meat.     

Effect of ambient management interventions on the production and physiological performance of lactating Sahiwal cattle during hot dry summer

During summer season, increase in the environmental temperature in the subtropical regions of Pakistan is negatively affecting the performance of dairy animals. The study objective was to determine the effect of ambient management (90 days) on productive and physiological performance of lactating Sahiwal cows during hot dry summer season. Fifteen lactating cows during the early lactation stage, having similar parity (3), daily milk production (6.2 l), were randomly allocated to three treatments, 5 cows each, i.e., (1) kept under roof shade only, (2) provision of fans along with roof shade, and (3) provision of roof shade, fans, and sprinklers designated as S, SF, and SFS, respectively. The fans were of 360-rpm capacity and showers were on for 40 min after every 90-min interval from 9:00 to 21:00 h. THI values were 81.1?±?0.7, 80.5?±?0.7, and 77.7?±?0.4 under S, SF, and SFS treatments, respectively. Cows were milked twice daily. Respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) data were collected at 14:00 h on daily basis. The daily milk production was significantly higher in cows under SF (7.9?±?1 kg) followed by SFS (6.9?±?1.2 kg) and S (6.1?±?0.9 kg) treatments. The mean RT (101.0?±?0.04 °F) was significantly lower in cows under SFS than that on SF and S treatments and similarly mean RR was also lower (21.2 breaths/min) in cows under SFS followed by SF and S treatments. It is concluded that milk production and physiological performance in Sahiwal cows can be improved by fan-assisted ventilation during hot dry summer in subtropical regions.     

Molecular epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

Bovine anaplasmosis is endemic in Pakistan where it reduces livestock productivity and leads to high mortality, especially in young animals. This study was aimed to identify the potential risk factors responsible for the occurrence and spread of anaplasmosis in cattle and buffaloes for the first time in Pakistan. A total of 900 (cattle?=?479, buffalo?=?421) blood samples were collected irrespective of age and sex from three distinct zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for the molecular detection of anaplasmosis. Data collected on a piloted questionnaire including 11 predicting variables which were analyzed using R-statistical software, and association between the dependent and independent variables was assessed using univariable analysis. Automated and manual approaches were exercised, producing comparable models. Key risk factors identified in all the approaches included species of the animal, breed of animal, sex of animal, tick infestation status, previous tick history, tick control status, and acaricides used (odds ratio?>?1). The 611 bp DNA fragment specific for 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma spp. was produced from 165 samples. The samples were confirmed for anaplasmosis through sequencing and BLAST queries. The findings of the current study conclude that by enhancing the protective measures to control the identified risk factors can reduce the spread of anaplasmosis in Pakistan.

     

Comparison of haematology and serum biochemistry of cultured and wild Dojo loach <Emphasis Type="Italic">Misgurnus anguillicaudatus</Emphasis>

Haematological and serum biochemistry parameters were studied and compared between cultured and wild ecotypes of Dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus during the prime fishing season, i.e. May–August. Data were analysed for the impact of feeding regime and other ecological conditions on the physiology of fish. The results revealed that haemoglobin, cholesterol, total protein, creatinine and uric acid levels in the two ecotypes were significantly different (n = 56, df = 54, P < 0.05). In addition, red blood cell, glucose, triglyceride and urea nitrogen levels were significantly higher in cultured individuals (n = 56, df = 54, P < 0.01) than in their wild counterparts. In contrast, the white blood cell level in cultured fish was significantly (n = 56, df = 54, P < 0.01) lower than that in the wild ones. These differences can be attributed to the physiological acclimatization of the fish to their living conditions and feeding regime, which influences the energy metabolism and, consequently, the health of the fish.     

用于干形描述的2个少参数削度函数

以修正的Brink函数和Pain函数拟合尾巨桉干形曲线.材料来源于南非暖温带花岗岩低地草原地区桉树工业用材林53块标准地的153株尾巨桉干形测定数据.2个削度方程均能对调查数据进行很好地拟合,只是在不同的相对高度时有小的偏差.参数少的方程具有十分好的应用前景,因为从理论上来说,可以用参数预估的方法建立一个广义的干形模型.参数预估不能运用于修正的Brink函数,但在Pain函数的基础上建立参数预估模型是可能的甚至是必要的,因为Pain函数是把绝对树干直径描述为相对树干高度的函数.为此,对参数预估模型是否能描述的树形差异或者仅仅是大小的差异作了测度评价.应用结果表明,参数预估模型未必能用于描述树形的差异.     

Whole cell inactivated autogenous vaccine effectively protects red Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against francisellosis via intraperitoneal injection

Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis is a pathogen of tilapia and other warm‐water fish for which no vaccines are commercially available. In this study, a whole cell formalin‐inactivated vaccine was developed for the first time using the highly virulent isolate STIR‐GUS‐F2f7 and the oil‐based adjuvant Montanide? ISA 763A VG. The efficacy of the vaccine was assessed in red Nile tilapia via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection using homologous experimental infection and correlates of protection such as seral antibody production and bacterial loads in the spleen. For immunization, fish were i.p. injected with 0.1 ml of the vaccine, the adjuvant alone or PBS. At 840 degree days post‐vaccination, all fish were i.p. injected with 4.0 × 10³ CFU/fish of pathogenic bacteria. The RPS at the end of the trial was 100% in the vaccinated group with significantly higher survival than in the adjuvant and control groups. The RPS in the adjuvant group was 42%, and no significant difference was seen in survival between this and the PBS group. Moreover, significantly higher antibody titres in the serum and significantly lower bacterial loads in the spleen were detected in the vaccinated fish by ELISA and qPCR, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of autogenous vaccines for controlling francisellosis in tilapia.