Virulence of South African isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum. Part 3: experimentally produced NAD-independent isolate

A NAD-dependent isolate 46 (C-3) of Haemophilus paragallinarum, which was previously demonstrated to be of high virulence, was transformed to NAD independence using a plasmid isolated from a naturally occurring NAD-independent isolate of H. paragallinarum. The transformation was performed by two different methods and the identity of all of the isolates, before and after transformation was confirmed using a H. paragallinarum-specific PCR test. The transformed NAD-independent serovar C-3 isolate and the wild-type serovar C-3 isolate were used to experimentally infect vaccinated layer chickens. It was shown that the transformation to NAD independence significantly altered the virulence of the serovar C-3 isolate that was used in the transformation experiment. The mechanisms responsible for a decrease in virulence are not clear, but may be related to the pathology of the transformed isolate in the sinus of the chickens.     

Unilateral renal agenesis associated with additional congenital abnormalities of the urinary tract in a Pekingese bitch

An eight-month-old Pekingese bitch with urinary incontinence was found to have three congenital anomalies of the urinary tract: left renal agenesis, bilateral ectopic ureters with a left cranial blind-ending ureter, and urinary bladder hypoplasia. The diagnoses were made by retrograde vaginourethrography, excretory urography, ultrasonography and duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Although urological anomalies associated with renal agenesis have been frequently observed, a cranial blind-end ectopic ureter has not, to the authors' knowledge, been described in the bitch. The dog was managed medically with a restricted protein diet because of a compromised unilateral kidney with hydronephrosis and hydroureter.     

Use of human intravenous immunoglobulin in dogs with primary immune mediated hemolytic anemia

Immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs is a severe disease with a high mortality rate. As human immunoglobulin (HIG) was reported to be beneficial for the treatment of IMHA in dogs we examined the influence of HIG on the course of the disease in our dogs with IMHA. Of 22 dogs with primary IMHA 9 dogs received in addition to routine immunosuppressive therapy HIG at a dose of 0.19 to 0.68 g/kg (median 0.35 g/kg), 13 dogs did not receive HIG (-HIG group). Both groups were similar in terms of age, weight, the presence of autoagglutination, spherocytosis, positive Coombs' test, icterus and pigmenturia. The lowest hematocrit measured during the disease was significantly lower in the +HIG group compared to the -HIG group and dogs in the +HIG group received significantly more transfusions than those of the -HIG group. This is an indication for more severe disease signs of the +HIG group dogs. Although mortality during hospitalization and the time from hospital admission to release or death was not significantly different between the two groups, we interpret this similar course of the IMHA despite more severe signs of the +HIG group dogs as a potential positive effect of the HIG therapy.     

The transactional stress model for the animal keeper

A health problem of an animal or a group of animals represents a potential stress situation for the animal keeper. In this article, the transactional stress model, which was developed in social psychology was applied on the animal keeper and shows, how he perceives the influence of animal care. If veterinary help is considered relevant, it may lead to an improved coping, which affects the health of the animal keeper and the animal as well. This viewpoint leads to a cycle, in which cause, success, coping and utility are closely linked together.     

Unilateral laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in a llama

Cryptorchism is an inherited congenital abnormality characterized by the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum. Diagnosis can be difficult if the retained testicular tissue cannot be localized during clinical examination and the history of the animal is unknown, or if the animal shows persistent male behaviour despite the history of successful previous castration. The present case report describes the history of a cryptorchid Lama and the techniques of general anesthesia and laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy advocated.     

Disposition kinetics of tylosin administered intravenously and intramuscularly to pigs

The distribution of tylosin was studied using a crossover design, in six pigs following i.v. and i.m. administration of 10 mgkg(-1) b.w. Plasma samples were analysed by HPLC and UV absorbance detection. After i.v. administration, t(1/2beta) was 271.3 min, V(d) 14.6 Lkg(-1), V(ss) 9.7 Lkg(-1) and CL 26.8 mLmin(-1)kg(-1). After i.m. administration, a C(max) of 1 microgmL(-1) was reached at 90 min. Mean absorption time was 1988.7 min and bioavailability was 95%.     

Blood plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17beta,testosterone and testosterone/oestradiol ratio in dogs with neoplastic and degenerative testicular diseases

Oestradiol-17beta and testosterone blood plasma concentrations were measured in dogs with Leydig-cell tumours (n=20), Sertoli-cell tumours (n=6), seminomas (n=9), unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism (n=7), abdominal cryptorchidism (n=9, one bilateral), degenerate scrotal testicles (n=6, two bilateral), and animals with normal scrotal testicles (n=20). The testosterone/oestradiol ratio (testosterone concentration [ng/mL]x100/oestradiol concentration [pg/mL]) was calculated.A considerably higher oestradiol concentration was found in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (29.0, 14.4-48.3 pg/mL; median, minimum-maximum; P=0.0256, Mann-Whitney test) and lower oestradiol levels were found in animals with seminomas (12.0, 3.4-17.6 pg/mL; P=0.0025) compared to the healthy control group (18.0, 8.6-31.5 pg/mL). Testosterone concentration was decreased in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.08, 0.03-0.77 ng/mL) when compared to the control group (1.95, 0.05-3.70 ng/mL; P=0.0012). Testosterone/oestradiol ratios differed from the control (9.6, 0.58-35.8) only in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.32, 0.06-2.80; P=0.0005). Clinical signs of feminization were observed in five dogs with Sertoli-cell tumour and one dog with a Leydig-cell tumour, and were more often associated with decreased testosterone/oestradiol ratios than with an increased oestradiol-17beta concentration.     

Vitamin E supplementation can alleviate negative effects of heat stress on egg production,egg quality,digestibility of nutrients and egg yolk mineral concentrations of Japanese quails

The aim of this study was to determine if the negative effects of high ambient temperature (34 degrees C) on egg production, egg quality, digestibility of nutrients, and mineral content of egg yolk could be alleviated by dietary vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) supplementation in laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japanica). Japanese quails (n=240; 7-week-old) were divided into eight groups, 30 birds per group. The quails were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 125, 250 or 500 mg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg of diet. Birds were kept at 22 degrees C and 55% relative humidity (RH). At 14 weeks of age, the thermo-neutral (TN) group remained in the same temperature as at the beginning of the experiment, whereas the heat stress (HS) group was kept at an environment-controlled room at 34 degrees C and 44% RH for 3 weeks. Heat exposure decreased performance when basal diet was fed (P=0.001). With 250 and 500 mg/kg of diet, an increase in body weight (P=0.01), feed intake (P=0.01), egg production (P=0.001), and improvement in feed efficiency (P=0.01) was found with vitamin E supplementation in quails reared under heat stress conditions (HS). Similarly, egg weight (P=0.01), egg specific gravity (P=0.01), egg shell thickness (P=0.05) and Haugh unit (P=0.01) were positively influenced by vitamin E supplementation. Heat exposure decreased digestibility of dry matter (DM) (P=0.03), organic matter (OM) (P=0.05), crude protein (CP) (P=0.02), ether extract (EE) (P=0.05) and were elevated by supplemental vitamin E (P相似文献