Comparison of the efficacy of two different iron supplements for anemia prevention in piglets

In a randomized, confirmatory study performed between July and October 2000 the efficacy of two iron products in preventing iron deficiency anaemia was compared. A total of 102 newborn piglets from ten litters were treated intramuscularly with 200 mg iron as iron dextran per ml, or 200 mg iron as gleptoferron per ml. For true comparison, piglets within a litter of a sow were subdivided into pairs on the basis of birth weight (one pair of the two heaviest piglets, et cetera). Within a pair, treatment with the iron supplements was randomly allocated. One group of piglets was injected at an age of 1 day (experiment 1) and the other group of piglets was injected at an age of 3 days (experiment 2). The piglets were weighed and blood samples were taken at an age of 18 days (experiment 1) or at an age of 19 days (experiment 2). Average daily weight gain and haemoglobin concentrations of both treatment groups were compared. Both products were very effective in preventing anaemia. No significant differences could be found between the two formulations. It can be concluded that iron-dextran and gleptoferron can be used with similar effect for anaemia prevention in piglets.     

Outcome of superficial keratectomy without conjunctival graft as a surgical technique for immune-mediated keratitis in horses: Four cases

This case report describes four horses with unilateral superficial or mid-stromal immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK) treated with a superficial keratectomy (SK) without a conjunctival graft. In two horses, the surgery was performed under general anaesthesia, and in two horses standing with sedation and local blocks. Results of this report show that SK is a viable treatment option in horses with chronic superficial and/or mid-stromal IMMK that can even be performed in the standing, sedated horse. When sufficient corneal tissue is removed, no recurrence is to be expected in the long-term follow-up (up to 31 months). In two horses, healing occurred without complications. Two horses developed a secondary bacterial infection post-operatively (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus). In one case, this resulted in a pre-perforating melting corneal ulcer necessitating conjunctival pedicle graft surgery 13 days post keratectomy. In three horses, there was no recurrence of the IMMK with a long-term follow-up of 6–31 months. One case showed recurrence of IMMK in the cornea region surrounding the keratectomy 9 months after surgery.     

Evaluation of a regimen using a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (CIDR) and PMSG as a treatment for post partum anoestrus in dairy cattle

Anoestrous dairy cows in seasonally calving herds in the Macalister Irrigation District of Gippsland, Victoria were treated at the start of the mating period with a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (CIDR). The CIDR was inserted for 7 days and 400 IU of PMSG was injected intramuscularly at removal. There was no clinically useful difference among cows receiving the CIDR, a placebo and untreated cows in the interval from treatment to either first oestrus or conception, the conception rate to first service or percent pregnant by the end of mating. Analyses of data from 2-year-old cows, older cattle, cows calved at least 45 days or cows calved at least 55 days and cows treated 3 weeks after the start of mating did not show improved reproductive performance following treatment with the CIDR.     

Mitral valve dysplasia in a cat causing reversible left ventricular hypertrophy and dynamic outflow tract obstruction

A 6-month-old male European shorthair cat was examined because of a 2/6 systolic left apical cardiac murmur. Echocardiography revealed severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and severe dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (pressure gradient of 85 mmHg) caused by systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the septal mitral valve leaflet. After 2 months of oral treatment with atenolol, the cardiac murmur had disappeared. Echocardiography showed only slight thickening of the interventricular septum and resolution of the pressure gradient. The cat was discharged and its owner was advised to continue atenolol lifelong. Echocardiographic findings of a combination of left ventricular concentric hypertrophy and dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction can be caused by hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) or mitral valve dysplasia in the absence of hypertension and fixed aortic stenosis. In the case of HOCM, left ventricular hypertrophy is the primary process. In the case of mitral valve dysplasia, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve is the primary problem, which leads to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and ultimately to left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, due to pressure overload. If the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is reduced with an oral beta-receptor blocker the secondary left ventricular hypertrophy may resolve. This would not happen in the case of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first documented case of severe dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and severe left ventricular hypertrophy in a cat successfully treated with oral atenolol.     

New insights into an ancient antibrowning agent: formation of sulfophenolics in sodium hydrogen sulfite-treated potato extracts

The effect of sodium hydrogen sulfite (S), used as antibrowning agent, on the phenolic profile of potato extracts was investigated. This extract was compared to one obtained in the presence of ascorbic acid (A). In the presence of A, two major compounds were obtained, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 4-O-caffeoyl quinic acid. With S, their 2'-sulfo-adducts were found instead, the structures of which were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Also, for minor caffeoyl derivatives and quercetin glycosides, the corresponding sulfo-adducts were observed. Feruloyl and sinapoyl derivatives were not chemically affected by the presence of S. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was thought to be responsible for the formation of the sulfo-adducts. This was confirmed by preparing 2'-sulfo-5-O-caffeoyl quinic acid in a model system using 5-CQA, sodium hydrogen sulfite, and PPO. This sulfo-adduct exhibited a small bathochromic shift (λmax 329 nm) as compared to 5-CQA (λmax 325 nm) and a strong hypochromic shift with an extinction coefficient of 9357±395 M(-1) cm(-1) as compared to 18494±196 M(-1) cm(-1), respectively. The results suggest that whenever S is used as an antibrowning agent, the O-quinone formed with PPO reacts with S to produce sulfo-O-diphenol, which does not participate in browning reactions.     

Survival and fertility after uterine prolapse in dairy cows

Sixty-eight cases of uterine prolapase in pastured dairy cows were treated in 2 consecutive spring calving seasons in East Gippsland, Victoria. Fifty cows survived (73.5%). Of 43 cows available for followup, 36 (84%) conceived in the mating period following the prolapse, taking 10 d longer to conceive than herd mates that calved on the same day. Three of the 36 cows (8%) that conceived, aborted, this occurring in the middle trimester of pregnancy. No prolapses occurred at the following calving but one case had suffered uterine prolapse 2 years previously. The conclusions drawn from these observations are that cows with uterine prolapse have a good chance of surviving if treated, that treatment is cost-effective, that uterine prolapse is unlikely to reoccur and treated cows have a good chance of conceiving. The veterinarians involved in this investigation were reasonably accurate in their ability to predict long term survival but not as good in predicting ability to conceive again.     

Black soil blindness: A new mycotoxicosis of cattle grazing Corallocytostroma-infected Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp)

A new, fatal mycotoxicosis of cattle has been recognised in north-western Australia. A feeding trial confirmed the toxicity of a previously unknown species of Corallocytostroma that grows on Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp). The disease has been colloquially named ‘black soil blindness’ because its most prominent features are its confinement to pastures on black soil, and blindness and death of affected animals. Over 500 cattle have died and considerable subclinical disease is present. Above average wet season rainfall and extended growing seasons may explain the emergence of the fungus. The disease is important because cattle production in large areas of Australia utilise Mitchell grass pastures.