Evaluation of functional muscle anatomy scalability in the canine hind limb

In contrast to other mammals, the large variation in dog sizes is not accompanied by any significant genetic re-organization. In order to study the relationship between body mass, limb length and the functional anatomical muscle parameters of the canine hind limb, a large dataset comprising of muscle masses, optimal muscle fibre lengths and physiological cross-sectional area's (PCSA) were acquired for twenty-five muscles in ten dogs of sizes varying between 20 kg and 52 kg. The potential of body mass and limb length for reliably scaling individual muscle masses, optimal muscle fibre lengths and PCSA's were examined. For the majority of the muscles of the canine hind limb, neither body mass nor limb length were reliable scaling parameter for either muscle masses, PCSA's and optimal fibre length. These results indicate the need of a breed-specific approach to musculoskeletal modelling in future canine musculoskeletal research.     

Home range and seasonal movement of taimen,Hucho taimen,in Mongolia

Gilroy DJ, Jensen OP, Allen BC, Chandra S, Ganzorig B, Hogan Z, Maxted JT, Vander Zanden MJ. Home range and seasonal movement of taimen, Hucho taimen, in Mongolia.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 545–554. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract –  Taimen, Hucho taimen, is the world’s largest salmonid and a prized sport fish. We used radio and acoustic telemetry to characterise movements of adult taimen in an extensive river system, the Eg–Uur, in north‐central Mongolia. Forty‐six taimen were tagged with transmitters (27 radio, 17 acoustic and 2 radio‐acoustic combined) and tracked from 2004 to 2008 using mobile surveys and fixed receivers. The mean home range of individual taimen tracked for an average of 2.4 years was 23 km (N = 41, range = 0.5–93.2 km). Of the fish with over 10 relocations (N = 16), 90% remained within a range of 38 km. Four distinct movement patterns were observed: (i) restricted core home range, (ii) core range with seasonal departures, (iii) core range with separate seasonal range and (iv) home range transfer. Movement was greatest in May and June (spawning and postspawning period) with another peak period of movement in September and October (water temperature cooling).     

Acute cortisol responses of calves to scoop dehorning using local anaesthesia and/or cautery of the wound

Objective To measure plasma cortisol responses in calves dehorned using a scoop after administration of local anaesthesia and/or cautery of the wounds.
Design A physiological study with controls.
Procedure There were six treatments: control handling with and without local anaesthesia, dehorning, dehorning after local anaesthesia, dehorning followed by wound cautery, and dehorning after local anaesthesia followed by wound cautery. Blood samples were taken before and after dehorning.
Results Dehorning caused an increase in plasma cortisol concentrations, which decreased a little to plateau values and then declined to pretreatment values 3 to 4 h after dehorning. The peak was smaller after local anaesthesia was administered but when its effects wore off, cortisol concentrations increased and thereafter were similar to those in the dehorned animals. The combination of local anaesthesia and cautery resulted in a plasma cortisol response similar to those in control calves with or without local anaesthesia.
Conclusions If plasma cortisol concentrations reflect the distress being experienced by the calves, then local anaesthesia reduces the acute distress for about 3 h after dehorning but not during the subsequent 3 to 4 h. Combining local anaesthetic and cautery prevented the significant increase in plasma cortisol following dehorning and may eliminate the acute distress caused by scoop dehorning.     

Genetic relationships among isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from Stylosanthes spp. in Africa and Australia using RAPD and ribosomal DNA markers

Thirty-three isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from various Stylosanthes species collected in Africa and Australia and associated with restricted (type A), extensive (type B) or nontypical anthracnose lesions (type C) were first compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 118 reproducible polymorphic bands generated with 16 random primers, using the upgma method. Twenty-nine isolates were grouped in two main clusters, corresponding to types A and B, within which polymorphic subgroups were partially related to geographical origin. Strong similarities were observed among isolates of distant origin. Four isolates presented profiles completely different from the A and B types and were grouped in two additional clusters. To assess the phylogenetic relationship among isolates of various types and origins at the species level, the lnternal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS 1) of the ribosomal DNA was sequenced. Type A isolates and a restricted number of type B isolates selected in the RAPD clusters showed an homology of 99.4–100%. When compared with published sequence data, the isolates that were clustered separately in the phylogenetic tree, had the exact sequence of a C. gloeosporioides strain associated with the rotting of coffee berries, or of C. kahawae , the causal agent of coffee berry disease.     

Management of inappetant sheep during export by sea

In the first of 2 experiments, a simulated voyage was conducted to examine the effects of various treatments on bodyweight change and feeding frequency of inappetant sheep at the end of lot-feeding (non-feeders). The treatments, applied during simulated shipping, were: normal quantities of feed and length of troughs; extra trough length; extra feed. Adult Merino wethers (n = 108) were used in each treatment. A voyage to the Middle East was then conducted to establish whether shipboard mortality could be reduced by separating non-feeders (n = 305) from feeders (n = 5,620) late in the feedlot hase and housing the groups separately aboard ship. A control group of non-feeders (n = 215) mixed with feeders (n = 5,732) was used for comparison. Bars (marker bars), containing a coloured dye, were attached to feed troughs to mark sheep that fed. Most non-feeders (82%) began eating when placed in shipping pens in both studies. However, there was no significant difference in percentage of sheep that fed between non-feeders given extra trough length or extra feed compared with non-feeders given standard management at any stage of simulated shipping. There was no significant difference in mean bodyweights between treatment groups on days 1, 8 and 15 of simulated shipping. Differences in bodyweight on d 22 were probably associated with different levels of gut fill. Death rates were not significantly different in separated and control groups (1.1%, 0.9%, P = 0.6) in the voyage of 14 d to the Middle East.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Preliminary Investigation of the Area Under the l‐Lactate Concentration–Time Curve (LACAREA) in Critically Ill Equine Neonates

Background

A variety of measures of l‐lactate concentration ([LAC]) in the blood of critically ill neonatal foals have shown utility as prognostic indicators. These measures, evaluating either the severity of hyperlactatemia or the duration of exposure to hyperlactatemia, perform fairly well and have correctly classified 75–80% of foals examined in several studies. The area under the l‐lactate concentration versus time curve (LAC _Area) encompasses both severity and duration of hyperlactatemia and should improve correct classification of patient survival.

Hypothesis/Objectives

LAC _Area is larger in nonsurviving critically ill neonatal foals.

Animals

Forty‐nine foals admitted for critical illness to 1 of 4 referral hospitals.

Methods

Whole blood was obtained at admission and 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after admission for measurement of l‐lactate using a handheld lactate meter. LAC _Area was calculated for: admission–6, 6–12, 12–18, 18–24 hours, and admission–24 hours using the trapezoidal method and summing the 6‐hours interval areas to determine total 24 hours area. Differences between survivors and nonsurvivors were determined using robust regression and Kruskal–Wallis testing, P < .05.

Results

LAC _Area was significantly larger in nonsurviving foals (n = 9) than in surviving foals (n = 40) at all time periods examined.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Differences in LAC _Area between surviving and nonsurviving critically ill neonatal foals are large and support further investigation of this method as an improved biomarker for survival in critically ill neonatal foals is indicated.     

Transient Fanconi syndrome in Quarter horses

Two Quarter horses with weight loss had glucosuria, euglycemia, and a mild metabolic acidosis suggesting a proximal renal tubular defect. Further testing revealed transient generalized aminoaciduria, lactic aciduria, and glucosuria, indicating Fanconi syndrome. Both horses recovered with supportive therapy. This is the first report of acquired Fanconi syndrome in horses.     

Determination of Feeder Cell‐Based Cellular Niches Supporting the Colonization and Maintenance of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Prepubertal Domestic Cat Testes

Recently, isolation and in vitro culture of putative spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the domestic cat have been conducted. However, the cellular niche conditions that facilitate the establishment and long‐term maintenance of feline SSCs (FSSCs) have not been described. Therefore, we investigated the type of feeder cells used to stimulate colony formation and growth of FSSCs among the various factors in the FSSC niche. Spermatogonial stem cells isolated from feline testes were cultured on mitotically inactivated testicular stromal cells (TSCs) derived from cats, dogs and mice, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The formation and growth of colonies derived from SSCs cultured on each type of feeder cell were identified at passage 0, and the morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes in surviving colonies were investigated at passage 4. Among these diverse feeder cells, TSCs from cat showed the greatest colony formation, growth and maintenance of FSSCs, and SSC colonies cultured by passage 4 showed a typical dome‐shaped morphology, AP activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and CD9). Accordingly, these results demonstrate that feline TSCs could be used as feeder cells to support the establishment and maintenance of SSCs from domestic cats.