Unilateral scrotal pyocele in ram caused by Staphylococcus capitis

A massive unilateral scrotal pyocele caused by Staphylococcus capitis in a 6‐year‐old ram is reported. Ultrasound examination of the right hemiscrotum showed an irregular hyperechoic mass in an anechoic fluid. A dense exudate was collected from the scrotum for microbiological analysis. Grossly, there was an extensive greenish purulent exudate and a completely atrophied right testis. Coagulase‐negative S. capitis was isolated in pure culture. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of genital infection by S. capitis in rams. This microorganism should be included in the differential diagnosis of ovine genital infections.     

Evaluation of a Collagenase Generated Osteoarthritis Biomarker in Naturally Occurring Canine Cruciate Disease

Objective— To determine the clinical value of a novel osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker in detecting canine cruciate disease.
Study Design— Cross sectional clinical study.
Animals— Dogs (n=22) with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and 12 control dogs.
Methods— Concentrations of collagenase-generated cleavage epitope of type II collagen (Col2-3/4C_{long mono}, or C2C) in serum, urine, and joint fluid were compared between a group of dogs with CCL rupture and a control group. Correlation of C2C concentrations to the clinical stage of stifle OA was also evaluated.
Results— There were no significant differences in C2C concentrations in serum, urine, and joint fluid between groups ( P >.05). Subjective scores of lameness, joint effusion, osteophytosis were significantly more severe in the CCL rupture group compared with the control group ( P <.05). There was no significant correlation of C2C concentrations with clinical stage of stifle OA ( P >.05).
Conclusion— This OA biomarker did not detect pathology associated with CCL rupture. Our results suggest that collagenase-specific degradation of type II collagen in articular cartilage may not be involved in the early stage of naturally occurring canine cruciate disease, and that pathology associated with naturally occurring CCL rupture is different from that of experimental OA model.
Clinical Relevance— C2C is not clinically useful in detecting CCL rupture in dogs.     

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

This study examined the effect of treating mares with equine pituitary extract (EPE) in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; EPE/hCG) on the recovery rate of immature oocytes by ovum pick-up (OPU) and on oocyte morphology. Ten mares were subjected to each of two treatments in a random sequence: superstimulated with EPE (25 mg, twice daily) and treated with hCG (2,500 IU) or control (no exogenous treatment). The cytoplasmic morphology of oocytes recovered was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy. Follicular fluid was collected at aspiration for progesterone analysis, which was performed by radioimmunoassay. The EPE/hCG did not increase the oocyte recovery rate from immature follicles when compared with the controls (15.5% and 16.7%, respectively). A significantly higher oocyte recovery rate per mare was observed (70% versus 50%). However, precocious granulosa cell expansion was observed with EPE/hCG treatment in contrast to the control (64.4% and 33% of follicles with expanded cumulus, respectively), and increased intrafollicular progesterone concentration was also seen (158.80 ng/mL versus 82.05 ng/mL). The ultrastructural analysis of oocytes from both groups showed morphologic features related to immaturity. Numerous vesicles containing cortical granules were found, distributed in clusters into the cytoplasm, and junctional complexes were still seen between oocyte and granulosa cells. In conclusion, EPE/hCG treatment induced some follicular modifications, but the recovery rate was not increased. All oocytes examined presented signs of immaturity.     

Investigation of Neospora sp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in mares and in precolostral foals from Parana State, Southern Brazil

Infections with Eimeria parasites can lead to severe diarrhoea with considerable clinical and economic consequences in first-year grazing stock. To identify and characterise the cause of diarrhoea observed during previous years, 164 animals on 14 dairy farms in northwestern Germany were included in this study. The calves were physically and parasitologically examined prior to turnout and until 21 days post turnout (d.p.t.). Mean animal weights decreased from 194.9 kg at the start to 189.3 kg bodyweight at the end of the study. In all herds, oocyst counts were very low prior to turnout and increased after the calves had been kept on pasture for at least 7 days. On Day 9 post turnout, 90% and at the end of the study (21 d.p.t.) 70% of all animals showed Eimeria-positive faecal samples. During the course of the study, 79 (48.2%) animals passed faecal samples with more than 100,000 oocysts per gram. The predominant species identified was Eimeria alabamensis, which accounted for more than 83% of the oocysts counted. These parasitological findings matched the clinical observations. Diarrhoea was found in 130 (79.3%) of the study animals. At 5d.p.t. and thus prior to the rise of faecal oocyst counts, a significant increase in diarrhoea was recorded. Calves showing diarrhoea excreted statistically significantly more often over 100,000 E. alabamensis oocysts per gram faeces (0.28; p = 0.0002) than calves without diarrhoea. Diarrhoea was also found during significantly more study days in animals with high oocyst counts (0.39; p = 0.0001). These data indicate that in endemic areas first-year grazing calves must be considered at risk to develop clinical coccidiosis due to E. alabamensis infection during the first 2-3 weeks post turnout.     

Invasive dynamics of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in the international section of the River Minho (NW of the Iberian Peninsula)

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Esparto wool as reinforcement in hybrid polyurethane composite foams

In the present work polyurethane foams containing variable concentrations of nano-sized clay and esparto wool were prepared and studied, with the objective of developing new multi-scalar rigid foams. The addition of montmorillonite clay favoured foaming and the formation of finer and homogeneous cellular structures, resulting in foams with compressive elastic moduli and collapse stresses lower than that of the polyurethane foams. Nevertheless, a comparative analysis versus the foams’ relative density demonstrated that both properties follow one single trend for the two materials. The combination of esparto and montmorillonite further reduced the cell size of foams, at the same time promoting higher open cell contents, resulting in the foams with the lowest mechanical properties. Although no important differences in thermal conductivity were found with adding montmorillonite, its value decreasing with reducing the relative density, the incorporation of esparto led to higher thermal conductivities, independently of the relative density. The combination of esparto and montmorillonite resulted in foams with thermal conductivities halfway between the esparto-reinforced and the montmorillonite-reinforced foams, related to a higher open cell content.