Comparison of the Johne''s absorbed EIA and the complement-fixation test for the diagnosis of Johne''s disease in cattle

A commercially available absorbed ELISA for the diagnosis of Johne's disease (JD) (paratuberculosis) in cattle, the Johne's Absorbed EIA, was compared with the conventional complement-fixation test (CFT) used in Australia. Stored plasma from 3 Victorian dairy herds with a history of JD, sera from specimens submitted from animals showing clinical signs of JD and sera from the US National Repository for Paratuberculosis Specimens were used to determine the sensitivity of each test. The EIA detected 48.8% of 43 Australian animals with subclinical JD, while the CFT detected only 12 (21.4%) of 56 subclinically affected cattle. Of 150 subclinically infected US cattle, the EIA detected 47.3% and the CFT detected 52.0%. The EIA detected 59.7% of animals which at the time of sampling were shedding Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in their faeces, but showed no clinical signs of JD, while the CFT detected 57.3%. The EIA correctly identified 88.2% of 136 histologically confirmed clinical cases, and the CFT detected 83.4%. The specificity of each test was determined by testing sera collected at slaughter from animals residing in a known JD-free area of Australia, and from samples from the US National Repository of Paratuberculosis Specimens collected from certified-free herds in Wisconsin. The EIA was found to have a specificity of 99.8% when 998 Australian animals were used as the test population, and 99.0% when 196 US animals were used. The specificity of the CFT using Australian samples was 96.9% and 95.2% using American samples.     

A Study of Endometritis Causing Repeat Breeding of Cycling Iraqi Buffalo Cows

The objectives of this study were to determine the non‐specific aerobic and anaerobic bacterial causes of endometritis causing repeat breeding of cycling Iraqi buffalo cows at Nineveh province, validate diagnostic criteria for endometritis and to evaluate the treatment efficiency of using systemic or intra‐uterine infusion of antibiotics for the treatment of endometritis. Data were collected from 60 buffalo cows with history of repeat breeding in different herds. All buffaloes were subjected to detailed clinical examination including external inspection, vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Swabs for bacteriology and biopsies for histopathology were collected from the uterine lumen from each cow. Character, odour and estimation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) of the vaginal mucus were scored. Blood samples were collected from cows for creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) measurement. Treatment conducted using oxytetracycline with tylosin in local intrauterine infusion or systemically with hormonal treatment. The most pre‐disposing factor for uterine infection was retained placenta (13.3%). The most prevalent bacteria in uterine lumen were E. coli (23%), Archanobacterium pyogenes (13%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10%) were mostly isolated from buffaloes with repeat breeding. Vaginal mucus character score was associated with the bacterial growth density score. The difference in PMN was highly significant (p < 0.01) in animals with repeat breeding than control groups. In addition, PMNs was significantly (p < 0.01) correlated r = 0.894 with the character of vaginal discharge. High level of PMNs observed in buffaloes infected with A. pyogenes. Buffalo cows with endometritis had higher CK (321.47 ± 39.06 vs 162.01 ± 16.41 U/l) and AST (133.93 ± 12.43 vs 97.01 ± 6.86 U/l) activities (p < 0.05) than control‐heifers, but no significant difference was observed between buffalo cows with endometritis in CK (321.47 ± 39.06 vs 208.33 ± 5.84) and AST (133.93 ± 12.43 vs 156.17 ± 9.65) activities than control‐pluriparious. It could be concluded that A. pyogenes was the only non‐specific uterine pathogen directly associated with severe endometrial lesions. Vaginoscopy examination combined with palpation of uterus increase the accuracy of diagnosing endometritis and cytogenic examination of uterine discharge is more reliable method of establishing the presence or absence of uterine inflammation in buffalo cows. Animals with repeat breeding (endometritis) showed clinical cure and improved pregnancy in all treatment groups with no significant difference. The use of oestradiol in repeat breeder cases has no effect in improving neither clinical cure rate nor pregnancy rate.     

兔球虫与大肠杆菌病混合感染的诊治

阐述了兔球虫与大肠杆菌病混合感染的临床症状、实验室检验及防治方法,力求为科学防控两病提供有益的参考。     

A Study on Postpartum Metritis in Iraqi Buffalo Cows: Bacterial Causes and Treatment

The objectives of the present study were to determine the relationship between bacteriological findings, clinical signs and histopathological changes in postpartum metritis. Evaluation of the treatment efficiency of using systemic or intra‐uterine infusion of antibiotics with some hormonal preparations for the treatment of postpartum metritis. Data were collected from 50 buffalo cows with history of calving of more than 1 month. All buffaloes were subjected to detailed clinical examination including external inspection, vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Swabs for bacteriology and biopsies for histopathology were collected from uterine lumen from each buffalo included in the present study. Bacteria identified using API systems following aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Vaginal mucus scored for character, odour and estimation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Treatment conducted using oxytetracycline in local intrauterine infusion or systemically with hormonal treatment including prostaglandinF2α (PGF2α) and oestradiol benzoate. Results revealed that the most predisposing factor for postpartum uterine infection was retained placenta and toxic puerperal metritis. The most prevalent bacteria in uterine lumen were Escherichia coli, Archanobacterium pyogenes, Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum the most prevalent bacteria in buffaloes with postpartum metritis. A. pyogenes and F. necrophorum were an important pathogens causing severe uterine inflammation as found in histopathological examinations. Buffaloes with postpartum metritis showed good clinical cure when oxytetracycline injected systemically with PGF2α. Intrauterine infusion of oxytetracycline had no advantage for the treatment of uterine infection in buffalo cows with postpartum metritis. PGF2α improved clinical cure of buffaloes with postpartum metritis.     

Prevalence of dental and mandibular disorders in culled sheep in Spain

At the slaughterhouse, 1465 culled sheep heads were studied in order to identify disorders of the mandibular cheek teeth. Of these, 227 (15.5%) had evidence of osteomyelitis. The lesional profile showed that the mandible was affected in a similar proportion on both sides (46.7% on the right side vs 50.7% on the left side), mainly in the middle region (55.3%) and with most of the lesions closed without fistulisation (89.4%). In addition, swelling was palpable, with an increase in thickness in the area of the affected body (2.65 ± 0.065 cm vs 1.74 ± 0.030 cm). In 78.6% of the animals, the regional lymph nodes were enlarged. Concerning the mandibular cheek teeth, more than half of the animals lacked at least one tooth (57.0%), with the first premolar being the most frequently missing tooth (34.8%) and the third molar the least (8.2%). The impaction of food around the teeth was very common with the posterior molars being more frequently affected. In the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study that analyses the prevalence of mandibular molar and premolar disorders in sheep, and these are revealed as an important condition affecting culled sheep.     

Quantifying Transport Between the Tropical and Mid-Latitude Lower Stratosphere

Airborne in situ observations of molecules with a wide range of lifetimes (methane, nitrous oxide, reactive nitrogen, ozone, chlorinated halocarbons, and halon-1211), used in a tropical tracer model, show that mid-latitude air is entrained into the tropical lower stratosphere within about 13.5 months; transport is faster in the reverse direction. Because exchange with the tropics is slower than global photochemical models generally assume, ozone at mid-latitudes appears to be more sensitive to elevated levels of industrial chlorine than is currently predicted. Nevertheless, about 45 percent of air in the tropical ascent region at 21 kilometers is of mid-latitude origin, implying that emissions from supersonic aircraft could reach the middle stratosphere.     

Treatment of Unobserved Oestrus in a Dairy Cattle Herd with Low Oestrous Detection Rate up to 60 days Post-partum

The efficiency of treatments for unobserved oestrus and their effect on the reproductive performance of a dairy cattle herd with low oestrous detection rate till 60 days post‐partum (dpp), attributed to the declivous and slippery concrete floor were investigated. The herdsman requested advice in order to improve the mean days open of the herd, but no investments were allowed because a new unit was about to be built. Due to the low oestrus detection rate of the herd, the breeding policy was to inseminate at the first detected post‐partum oestrus. Cows were examined at 20–30 dpp to assess uterine involution, ovarian activity and prevalence of reproductive disorders and, at 60 dpp if no previous oestrus was detected. Each examination included palpation per rectum, ultrasound scanning and collection of a blood sample for plasma progesterone (P4) measurement. Cows with unobserved oestrus till 60 dpp were allocated either to a treatment group (n=139) or to a control group (n=139). Three treatments were used: (a) injection of PGF_2α (PG) upon detection of a corpus luteum (CL; n = 30), cows not observed in oestrus being re‐injected 11–12 days later. AI was at oestrus; (b) PRID (n=35) or Crestar (n=74) devices kept in situ for 12 and 9 days, respectively, were associated to an injection of PG and of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) at device removal. Cows were double‐fixed time‐inseminated at 48 and 72 h after device removal. All treated cows were examined at 48–72 h after treatment to confirm oestrus. The percentage of cows detected in oestrus up to 60 dpp remained unchanged through the trial (35 and 47% for years before intervention: 1994–95; 51 and 48% for years of intervention: 1996–97). In contrast, the oestrous detection rate was high both in treated (93%) and control (100%) cows. This possibly resulted from an improvement in the oestrous detection efficiency of the herd's personnel and from examination of cows at 48–72 h after treatment. Treated and control cows had identical conception rate (CR; 36 and 37%, respectively) and reproductive performance. However, the mean days open of the herd in 1996 was significantly improved in comparison with previous years (mean ± SEM: 134 ± 6, 126 ± 5, 110 ± 4 and 114 ± 5 days, for years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively, p < 0.05, ANOVA ). Conception rate to AI up to 40 dpp was significantly reduced, compared with the period between 60 and 100 dpp but, mean days open were significantly improved in cows inseminated up to 60 dpp, compared with thereafter (p < 0.05).     

Serial Transrectal Ultrasonography for Monitoring the Reproductive Activity of the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus)

This study evaluated the structural changes in the reproductive tract of Asiatic black bears using serial transrectal ultrasonography. In addition, the ultrasonographic observations were compared with the results of vaginal cytology and hormonal analyses. The collection of blood for hormonal analysis, vaginal cytology and transrectal ultrasonography was performed in two bears (Bears 1 and 2) from June 2011 to August 2013 without mating and in a third bear (Bear 3) from April to December 2012, allowing natural mating. Serial ultrasonographic observations showed cyclic changes in ovarian structures (e.g. emergence of small follicles, growth and ovulation of dominant follicles and corpus luteum (CL) formation) during the reproductive cycles of the three bears. The diameter of the uterine horns remained similar throughout the reproductive cycle in Bears 1 and 2, and it remained similar from April until October, but an enlargement containing foetuses was observed in Bear 3 in December. The ultrasonographic observations were consistent with the data obtained through vaginal cytology and progesterone analysis during the reproductive cycle. An average of 4.0 (±0.4) dominant follicles was observed during the oestrous stage (May‐August), during which the superficial cells accounted for >90% of the total vaginal cells. In addition, the detection of an average of 2.6 (±0.2) CL was associated with increased plasma progesterone concentrations (3.0 ± 0.4 ng/ml) between June and December (near hibernation). In conclusion, serial transrectal ultrasonography demonstrated yearly oestrous (ovulation) cycles via follicular dynamics and CL formation on ovaries, accordingly with vaginal cytology and hormonal level in the Asiatic black bear.