Owner Compliance to an Environmental Management Protocol for Severe Equine Asthma Syndrome

Severe equine asthma (SEA) syndrome is a chronic recurrent respiratory disease, common among adult horses. The disease occurs in genetically susceptible individuals after their exposure to organic dust. Thus, environmental management has proved essential in controlling airway challenge and disease exacerbation. This is a demanding process that can only be achieved through the horse owners’ cooperation. One year after initial diagnosis of SEA in a group of 39 horses, owner compliance to an environmental management protocol was evaluated. The overall compliance to the protocol was poor and the horses’ clinical health and need for pharmacological management was related to the successful implementation of the environmental recommendations provided on disease diagnosis.     

High or Low Body Fat Deposition in the Presence of a Normal Oral Sugar Test is Not Associated With Postthaw Semen Parameters in Stallions

This study compared the postthaw semen parameters of stallions with high and low body condition score (BCS) and evaluated associations between body morphometric parameters and postthaw semen parameters. Twenty stallions were split into Low BCS (BCS<7, n = 11) and High BCS (BCS ≥7, n = 9) groups, and underwent a complete morphometric analysis (e.g., neck scores and circumference, crest neck height, body weight, and height), and subcutaneous body fat thickness (SFT) at the tail head, withers, shoulders, and retroperitoneal space. A fasted oral sugar test (OST) was conducted on all stallions. One ejaculate from each stallion was frozen with a commercial egg yolk-based extender. Postthaw sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, hydrogen peroxide and intracellular superoxide production, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed for all stallions. The circumference at 25% and 50% of the neck’s length were larger for High-BCS stallions (P < .05). There were no differences between groups for the neck crest height (P > .05). Stallions with High BCS had greater SFT at the tail head than stallions with Low BCS (P < .05); however, there were no differences between groups in the SFT at the shoulders and withers (P > .05). All stallions had resting blood glucose below the cutoff for equine metabolic syndrome. There were no differences between groups for resting glucose concentrations or for a peak at 30 or 60 minutes after initiation of the OST (P > .05). There were no differences in sperm parameters between groups (P > .05). Collectively, the findings of the present study suggest that High BCS or Low BCS in the presence of normal OST do not explain post-thaw semen parameters.     

高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒株JXA1反向遗传平台的构建

【目的】为高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,HP-PRRSV)的结构功能和致病机理的研究奠定基础。【方法】运用反向遗传技术将HP-PRRSV JXA1株的全基因组分段克隆至改造过的低拷贝载体pOKq上,并在病毒基因组两端分别添加CMV启动子和BGH终止信号肽以及在病毒全基因组第510位核苷酸突变引入Fse I酶切位点,作为遗传标记位点。采取基于DNA-launched途径进行病毒拯救,并对拯救的病毒进行生物学特性分析。【结果】构建的PRRSV JXA1毒株的全长cDNA克隆具有感染性;成功拯救了病毒,命名为rJXA1;成功引入了拯救病毒的遗传标记;拯救病毒与亲本病毒的生长曲线相似,二者达到最高滴度的时间均为感染后72 h。【结论】成功构建了JXA1株反向遗传平台,为进一步研究HP-PRRSV的致病机理、基因功能以及新型疫苗研发奠定了基础。     

猪皮炎肾病综合征诊断与防治

猪皮炎肾病综合症是由圆环病毒二型感染引起的一种以猪皮肤表面出现红疹、丘疹、结痂或坏死,肾脏严重肿大为主要临床特征的常见传染性疾病。皮炎肾病综合症主要危害生长猪和育肥猪。受病毒感染后,患病猪表现为生长发育不良,免疫功能受到严重抑制,易继发感染其他传染性疾病,表现出复杂的临床症状,给生猪养殖业造成严重损失和危害。防范疾病的发生流行,需要掌握猪皮炎肾病综合症的具体流行特点、临床表现,并采取针对有效措施进行诊断,然后构建有效的防控措施,短时间内控制病情,避免损失进一步加大。该文主要论述猪皮炎肾病综合症的流行特点、临床症状、病理变化、诊断方法和防治措施。     

Schiff-Sherrington syndrome in a 7-year-old zebra mare (Equus quagga)

A 7-year-old plains zebra (Equus quagga) mare was presented to the Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany as an emergency. The owner reported that the mare was unable to stand after a suspected traumatic episode at the home yard. The mare was transported in lateral recumbency in a trailer. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia (up to 102 beats/min), tachypnoea (28 breaths/min), mild fever (38.7°C) and clinical dehydration with elastic skin and dry and red mucous membranes. Neurological examination showed paraplegia with complete loss of nociception of the mid-thoracic region and caudal to it. In contrast, examination of the thoracic limbs revealed marked extensor rigidity and hyperaesthesia resulting in an enhanced acute response to minimal touch of the neck and shoulder region. Lateral radiographs of the thoracic vertebral column led to the diagnosis of a complete fracture of the vertebral body of the 7th thoracic (T) vertebra with suspected traumatic compression of the spinal cord. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis. Gross pathology revealed a complete comminuted fracture of T7 with marked compression of the spinal cord. This is the first report describing the clinical, radiological and pathological findings of a fracture of a thoracic vertebra leading to a Schiff-Sherrington syndrome in a zebra (Equus quagga).     

Histomorphological changes between short and long days in ovary guanacos (Lama guanicoe)

This is the first morpho-histological comparison of guanaco ovaries between reproductive (long-days) and non-reproductive (short-days) seasons, and oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) detection. Different stages of follicle development were found in the cortical area, but no corpus luteum was detected. The size and frequency of antral follicles and large atretic follicles were higher in long-day ovaries than short-days, consistent with ovarian activity in this season. Differential expression of ERα and ERβ was observed in follicles at different stages of development between short and long days. These data reveal histological and molecular differences between reproductive and non-reproductive seasons of guanaco ovaries.     

Parathyroid hormone‐related protein‐induced hypercalcemia due to osteosarcoma in a cat

A 15‐year‐old castrated male mixed‐breed cat was presented with a history of sarcoma of the distal right hind limb. Biochemical analysis revealed increased concentrations of blood urea, creatinine, total calcium, ionized calcium, and parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP). The mass was removed surgically by amputation of the hind limb. Osteosarcoma was diagnosed based on histopathologic examination. All abnormal serum analyte concentrations improved immediately after surgery, including azotemia, total calcium, ionized calcium, and PTHrP. The biochemical results were attributed to osteosarcoma causing PTHrP‐induced hypercalcemia.     

Pathogenicity of emerging Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in experimentally infected pigs

To clarify the pathogenicity of Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate in experimentally infected pigs, we evaluated clinical signs and monitored viremia for 21 days post-inoculation (dpi). Lungs were mottled, tanned and reddish in appearance; had lesions predominantly in the cranial, middle and accessory lobes; and failed to collapse at 10 dpi. Although microscopic lesions of lungs were reproduced using the Japanese emerging type 1 PRRSV isolate under experimental conditions, no significant differences were noted between the challenge and control groups regarding mean rectal temperature and daily weight gain. These results provide useful insights into the limited pathogenicity of single infection with the Japanese type 1 PRRSV isolate in piglets, which differ from findings in reported field cases.