Acute phase protein response, food intake, liveweight change and lesions following intrathoracic injection of yeast in sheep

Acute phase protein concentrations in blood, food intake and liveweight changes were compared in 10 sheep given intrathoracic injections of yeast and 10 control sheep over a period of 61 days. The yeast injections caused acute pleuritis and limited necrotising lung lesions which progressed to fibrous pleural adhesions and walled-off abscesses. The responses of ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen and haptoglobin were closely correlated (r = 0·87 to 0·91) in the yeast-injected sheep with peaks on days 5 or 7 after treatment (4, 4·6 and over 130 times control, respectively). Albumin concentration fell to a nadir of 89 per cent of control on day 12 after treatment. Depression of food intake was temporally related to the ‘positive’ acute phase protein responses with a nadir on day 5 after treatment (30 per cent of control). Liveweight showed a pronounced fall to five days after treatment and thereafter remained depressed relative to the controls for most of the experimental period. The data suggest that the ‘positive’ acute phase proteins may be useful indicators of production losses due to inflammatory diseases in sheep.     

Long-term survival of four dogs with disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection treated with itraconazole

SUMMARY Four dogs with disseminated aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus terreus were treated with oral itraconazole for 190 to 1095 days. Infection was eliminated in 1 dog. Two dogs were treated for 1000 and 1095 days but were eventually euthanased 572 and 485 days after treatment was stopped. At necropsy both dogs had widespread aspergillosis. The fourth dog was euthanased for other reasons after 190 days of treatment when it was showing a good clinical response although there was radiographic evidence that the disease was progressing.     

Echocardiographic evaluation of the effects of medetomidine and xylazine in dogs

The echocardiographic effects of medetomidine and xylazine were evaluated in 6 healthy dogs. Values for echocardiographic variables were significantly different from pre-treatment values after administration of both drugs. The effects of medetomidine were similar to that of xylazine. Because of their cardiac depressant effects, both drugs should be used with care in sick dogs.     

Studies of the effect of supplementing protected methionine (HMM-Ca) to dairy cows on milk yield and fertility

A trial with 90 cows was conducted to examine the effect of supplementing 30 g N-hydroxymethyl-DL-methionine-calcium (HMM-Ca) from 14 days pre calving till 100 days in lactation on the performance and some physiological traits. Cows were kept on four energy levels by feeding different amounts of concentrate. At each energy level, half of the cows were given a methionine supplement. Forage consisted of 1/3 corn- and/or beet pulp silage and 2/3 grass silage ad libitum. The amount of daily milk yield differed not significantly from 31.5 kg for the supplement group to 30.6 kg for the control group. No interaction between the methionine supplementation and energy level could be detected. Mean methionine content in blood plasma differed from 22.7 mmol/l for the supplement group to 16.8 mmol/l for the control group. GOT, tau-GT, bilirubin and urea in blood serum and milk urea content did not indicate a positive effect of the methionine supplementation on the metabolism. Conception rate differed slightly from 87% in the supplement group to 73% in the control group.     

Clinical skills and knowledge used by veterinary graduates during their first year in small animal practice

Objective To determine the clinical skills and areas of knowledge used by veterinarians in small animal practice during their first year after graduation and the degree of assistance and supervision they received while developing these skills. Design A postal survey was sent in December 1999 to 59 veterinarians who completed their training at Murdoch University in December 1998. Procedure The first part of the survey asked for information on veterinary work patterns since leaving university. The second part consisted of a list of diagnostic and therapeutic skills of varying complexity and the graduates were asked to indicate whether they had used these skills in practice and whether they had been assisted or supervised while doing them. The respondents were also asked if they had had the opportunity to practise these skills as undergraduates at university or during extramural experience. In the third part the areas of knowledge used in practice were assessed by analysis of a series of consecutive cases. Results Forty replies were received but since three graduates had done no small animal work the analysis of the skills section is based on 37 responses. Thirty graduates supplied information on 994 canine cases and 308 feline cases. The distribution of the mean work time was dogs and cats 69%, horses 13%, farm animals 11%, birds 3% and others 4%. Skills used by over 90% of graduates included general anaesthesia, examination of the tympanic membrane, taking and interpreting an abdominal radiograph, catheterising a male cat, fine needle aspiration of a mass, neutering dogs and cats, tooth scaling and extraction and treating an aural haematoma. The survey also identified the opportunities for undergraduates to practise some of these skills during extramural experience and the extent of assistance given to new graduates during their first year in practice. The areas of knowledge used in over 10% of the cases included vaccination, anaesthesia/sedation, skin/coat problems, general advice on pet health, neutering and musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusion Veterinarians, in their first year after graduation, use a wide range of complex diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Although many of these skills are acquired during the undergraduate training, a significant contribution is made by extramural practical work undertaken during the clinical years of the undergraduate course and in the first year following graduation. Practising veterinarians play an important role in providing opportunities and supervision for clinical training.     

蜂胶防治大田烟草病害效果试验

用蜂胶乙醇提取液对大田栽培的烟株进行病害防治的试验 ,结果表明 4种不同浓度的蜂胶对烟草病害均有防治作用 ,以原液稀释 50 0倍、 80 0倍防治效果最好。     

The transfer of maternal IgE and other immunoglobulins specific for Trichostrongylus colubriformis larval excretory/secretory product to the neonatal lamb

The transference of immunoglobulins from six New Zealand Romney ewes to their lambs was examined. Immunoglobulin levels were determined in ewe plasma, colostrum and lamb plasma shortly after birth and before the lambs fed, in lamb plasma 2 days after birth, and lamb plasma, ewe plasma and milk 30 days after parturition. Levels of total IgE, and IgE, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA with specificity for Trichostronglus colubriformis third stage larval secretory/excretory products (TcL3E/S) were determined. Mean levels of total IgE were three times higher in colostrum than in parturient ewe plasma while only trace amounts were detected in milk at 30 days after birth (107.7, 34.3, and 0.2U ml(-1), respectively, differences between means P< or =0.01). Mean total IgE in lamb plasma rose from being undetectable before suckling to levels comparable to those of the ewes by 2 days after birth (21.7U ml(-1)) and then declined to low levels by 30 days (0.4U ml(-1)). Total IgE levels in lamb plasma were significantly correlated with levels in ewe plasma and colostrum (r=0.91, P< or =0.01; r=0.96, P< or =0.003, respectively). The transference of TcL3E/S-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgA was substantial with mean levels of these antibodies in lamb plasma at 2 days comparable to that in parturient ewe plasma (absorbance levels in lamb plasma of 0.283, 0.537, and 0.334, respectively). Proportionally less maternal IgM and IgG2 appeared to be transferred to the lambs (absorbance of 0.112 and 0.081, respectively). Levels of TcL3E/S-specific IgE and IgG1 in lamb plasma at 2 days were significantly correlated with levels in parturient ewe plasma and colostrum (r=0.89 and 0.82, 0.85 and 0.96; all P< or =0.05, respectively). These results indicate that IgE is concentrated in ewe colostrum and that substantial amounts of maternal IgE are transferred to lambs via colostrum. Further, the results suggest that humoral immunity against gastro-intestinal nematode parasites and potentially other parasites in colostrum-fed lambs may approximate that of the ewe. The implications of the transference of humoral immunity through colostrum in ruminants for the passive protection and the development of active immunity against parasites remains to be fully explored.     

The pathology and pathogenesis of pleural adhesions in sheep

Pleural adhesions in 155 young (3 to 15 months old) and 474 older sheep were examined macroscopically and by light microscopy. The pulmonary tissue under the adhesions was also examined. Two major types of adhesions were encountered, and were called type I and type II adhesions. Stages in the development and resolution of the type I adhesions were called fibrinous, early dense, dense and thin. Except for abnormalities of the blood circulatory system, the type I adhesions were similar to those in experimental models. Type II adhesions were proliferative lesions with villous projections, strands and nodules. Abnormality of the blood circulatory system also occurred in these adhesions. Most type I adhesions appeared to have developed in association-with pulmonary abscessation and pneumonia. No relationship between type II adhesions and lesions in the underlying lung was obvious.