Production, behaviour and fertility of Merino wethers, hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma and induced cryptorchids

Greasy wool production, body weight, behaviour and fertility of male, fine wool Merino sheep were studied from 10 to 21 months of age to assess their suitability for wool production. The males were either castrated (wethers), or were hemi-castrated with a vasectomy and reduction (either partially or in full) of the parenchyma of the retained testicle, or the testicles pushed up into the ingulnal canal and the scrotum shortened (induced cryptorchids). There were significant differences among all groups in body weight, with increases being associated with the larger amounts of testicular tissue present. Fertility was low in the induced cryptorchids at 19 months of age. The hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma were infertile. The hemi-castrates with reduced testicular parenchyma had significantly heavier greasy fleece weights than the wethers and induced cryptorchids, which had similar fleece weights. The wether group suffered a higher prevalence of posthitis in spring and autumn than the hemi-castrate or induced cryptorchid groups. Those hemi-castrates with the largest amount of testicular parenchyma retained and the induced cryptorchids exhibited masculine behaviour patterns and had an increased incidence of fly strike to the head. The principle of hemi-castration and reduction of the testicular parenchyma is shown to be applicable in wool producing flocks with the potential to increase greasy wool production while minimising the management and marketing limitations previously associated with induced cryptorchids.     

Comparison of In Vitro Developmental Competence of Cloned Caprine Embryos Using Donor Karyoplasts from Adult Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells vs Ear Fibroblast Cells

The aim of this study was to produce cloned caprine embryos using either caprine bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or ear fibroblast cells (EFCs) as donor karyoplasts. Caprine MSCs were isolated from male Boer goats of an average age of 1.5 years. To determine the pluripotency of MSCs, the cells were induced to differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Subsequently, MSCs were characterized through cell surface antigen profiles using specific markers, prior to their use as donor karyoplasts for nuclear transfer. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in fusion rates was observed between MSCs (87.7%) and EFCs (91.3%) used as donor karyoplasts. The cleavage rate of cloned embryos derived with MSCs (87.0%) was similar (p > 0.05) to those cloned using EFCs (84.4%). However, the in vitro development of MSCs‐derived cloned embryos (25.3%) to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those derived with EFCs (20.6%). In conclusion, MSCs could be reprogrammed by caprine oocytes, and production of cloned caprine embryos with MSCs improved their in vitro developmental competence, but not in their fusion and cleavage rate as compared to cloning using somatic cells such as EFCs.     

Clinical field study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the amino-acetonitrile derivative, monepantel, compared with registered anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Australia

Objective   To determine the efficacy of monepantel, a developmental compound from the amino-acetonitrile derivative class of anthelmintics, against field infections of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep.
Procedures   Comparisons of efficacy (using standard faecal worm egg count reduction tests) and safety (on the basis of visual observations) were made in a large-scale field study in Australia, between groups of sheep treated with either an oral solution of monepantel or a registered anthelmintic. The sheep were naturally infected with the major gastrointestinal nematode genera present in Australia.
Results   The post-treatment efficacy results for monepantel were: at 7 days (±1 day) efficacy was >98%; at 14 days (±1 day) it was generally close to or >99%; and at 21 days (±1 day) efficacy was consistently >99%. A high proportion of the targeted nematode populations were confirmed as being resistant to one or more of the currently available anthelmintic classes.
Conclusions   Monepantel when used under field conditions at a minimum dose rate of 2.5 mg/kg was highly effective against mixed-genus natural field infections of the major gastrointestinal nematode genera including Haemonchus , Teladorsagia ( Ostertagia ), Trichostrongylus , Nematodirus , Chabertia and Oesophagostomum . This result included efficacy against some populations resistant to the currently available broad-spectrum anthelmintics. Few Cooperia spp. were present to allow confirmation of efficacy against this genus. On no occasion after treatment did any commercial anthelmintic-treated groups have significantly lower faecal egg counts than the monepantel-treated groups. Monepantel was safe for the target animals and human operators when used in a field situation.     

Spirometra erinacei / S. erinaceieuropaei in a feral cat in Manawatu with chronic intermittent diarrhoea

CASE HISTORY: A feral cat captured in the Manawatu region of New Zealand was treated for worms and fleas, and kept confined in a metabolic cage. It showed good appetite and weight gain but had intermittent watery, yellow diarrhoea.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical examination under sedation was unremarkable and routine blood tests showed no significant abnormalities. The cat was negative for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). Different canned cat foods did not alter the course of the diarrhoea, and the cat was euthanised 6 months after capture. At necropsy, two sections of adult Spirometra tapeworms were found in the jejunum and typical Spirometra eggs were found in colonic contents. Molecular identification of the parasite was undertaken, using the cytochrome- c oxidase subunit-1 gene (cox1) sequence.

DIAGNOSIS: Chronic intermittent diarrhoea associated with Spirometra erinacei / S. erinaceieuropaei infection.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Spirometra has not been reported in New Zealand before but has been associated with gastrointestinal disease in cats in other parts of the world. It requires speciestargeted treatment to be eliminated effectively, and is zoonotic. Diagnosis could be diffi cult for clinicians who are not familiar with the parasite and its life cycle.