Outbreaks of proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy on two pig farms

SUMMARY Clinical signs of proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy (PHE) including anaemia, dysentery and sudden death were observed in finisher pigs and young breeding stock on 2 farms. On farm A, PHE occurred 12 months after repopulation of the farm. Other outbreaks of PHE occurred after the withdrawal of therapeutic concentrations of in-feed antibacterial agents (farm A), or after monensin sodium (100 g/t) replaced olaquindox (100 g/t) in feed (farm B). The outbreaks, the possible sources of contamination and the role of antibacterial feed additives in the treatment and control of PHE are described.     

Clinical exercise testing in the normal Thoroughbred racehorse

To evaluate normal cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of Thoroughbred horses to a standardised treadmill exercise test, we examined 28 horses ranging in age from 1 to 4 years. The group consisted of eight yearlings, eight 2-year-olds and twelve 3 and 4-year-olds. All horses except the yearlings were in training, and either racing or ready to race, at the time of examination. None of the horses had histories of performance problems. On the first day the horses received a full physical examination, resting electrocardiogram, upper respiratory tract endoscopy and either one or two acclimatisation runs on the treadmill. The following day they were given an exercise test on a treadmill inclined at 6 degrees (+10% slope). The test consisted of 3 min at 4 m/sec, 90 sec at 6 m/sec and 60 sec intervals at 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 m/sec. During the last 15 sec of each step, blood samples were collected for plasma lactate determination, expired respiratory gases were obtained using an open flow mask system for measurement of oxygen uptake, and heart rate was measured using telemetry electrocardiogram. From these measurements, various derived values were calculated, which have been used by others as indices of exercise capacity. These values included: V200 (speed at HR of 200 bpm), VHRmax (speed at which horses reached maximum HR), VO2-200 (oxygen uptake at a HR of 200 bpm), VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake), VLA4 (speed at which horses reached a plasma lactate of 4 mmol/l) and HRLA4 (HR at which horses reached a plasma lactate of 4 mmol/l). The yearlings had significantly lower values than the older age groups for most of the derived values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Molecular expression of caprine estrogen receptor gene 1 in reproductive and non‐reproductive tissues

During the last decades, physiological effects of oestrogens have been increasingly explored by scientists and biotechnologists. Estrogens exert a wide range of effects on a large variety of cell types. Oestrogen and its receptors are essential for sexual development and reproduction. Estrogen receptor alpha is a nuclear receptor activated by the hormone oestrogen. In male, ERα is encoded by the gene estrogen receptor gene 1 (ESR1), responsible for better fertility. The ESR1 is involved in the reabsorption of luminal fluid during the transit of spermatozoa from the testis to the head of the epididymis which is important for their survival and maturation during epididymal storage. The absence of ESR1 leads to reduced epididymal sperm content, reduced sperm motility and fertilizing ability. Therefore, this is a good startby to study the expression pattern of estrogen receptor 1 gene in high‐fertile (G1) and low‐fertile (G2) bucks of Jamunapari and Barbari breeds identified on the basis of seminal quality traits and fertility trials. RNA was extracted from the tissues by TRIzol method. The identification and expression pattern of caprine ESR1 gene was analysed by real‐time PCR (Roche LC‐480). Our work shows that the relative quantification by RT‐PCR indicates more fold in head of epididymis as compared to spleen of caprine ESR1 gene. Furthermore, the RT‐PCR indicated that fertile bucks of Jamunapari breed have more fold value as compared to Barbari breed in respect of reproductive organ.     

Amplification of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Introduced into an In Vitro Embryo Production System Via Oocytes from Persistently Infected Cattle

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not embryos derived from in vitro fertilization of oocytes from persistently infected (PI) cattle would contain infectious virus. Three in vitro embryo production treatment groups were assessed: 1) oocytes and uterine tubal cells (UTC) free of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) (negative control), 2) oocytes free of BVDV fertilized and cultured in media containing UTC obtained from PI heifers, and 3) oocytes from PI heifers fertilized and cultured in media containing UTC free of BVDV. The developmental media, UTC and embryos (individual or groups of five) were assayed for virus. Virus was not isolated from any samples in treatment group 1. As shown in previous studies, a proportion of embryo samples were positive for BVDV in treatment group 2. In treatment group 3, the virus associated with the oocytes contaminated the developmental media and infected susceptible co-culture cells used during fertilization and culture. In addition, 65% (11/17) of the degenerated ova from treatment group 3 had infectious virus associated with them. While none of the ova developed into transferable embryos, the study did confirm that use of oocytes from PI cows could lead to amplification of BVDV and cross contamination during in vitro embryo production.     

Challenges posed to the traceability of weaner pigs following live auction

Objectives   To gather demographic data on live pig sales through a peri-urban saleyard in Camden, New South Wales, and to demonstrate the difficulties in tracing the subsequent movements of pigs, particularly weaner pigs.
Procedure   Records of pig sales held weekly at the Camden saleyards for the 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 financial years were analysed. Saleyard data on a number of variables were entered into a purpose-designed database. Distributions of pig sales according to pig class (weaner/porker/baconer/backfatter), purchaser type (butcher/non-butcher), and transaction type (cash/account) were determined.
Results   More weaners (3192 in 2003/2004 and 3940 in 2004/2005) were sold than any other class of pig, accounting for 45% of the total pigs sold during this period. During 2003/2004, 3802 pigs were bought by 329 non-butcher purchasers including 1631 weaners (43%) purchased by 153 non-butchers (47%). The majority of these non-butchers during the study period (86%) paid cash for their pigs and did not provide the necessary information to allow the end destination of pigs to be determined. Location data was available for all vendors but only 25% of purchasers.
Conclusions   This study highlights the challenges posed in tracing movement of pigs following sale by auction. A high proportion of weaners sold at this peri-urban saleyard would not have been slaughtered immediately. This study highlights the potential difficulties in tracing pig movements after sale, for disease control purposes. We recommend that legislation be amended requiring the identification of weaner pigs sold live at auction in all states of Australia and the recording of the property identification code of all vendors and purchasers of pigs sold live at auction.     

Identifying obstacles to reducing the use of antibiotics to control porcine proliferative enteropathy

Proliferative enteropathy (PE) is an enteric disease of pigs that results in diarrhoea, reduced growth rate, reduced feed conversion efficiency and sometimes death. A survey of 13 pig veterinary practitioners in Australia was conducted to determine: (1) PE control strategies (antibiotics and vaccination), (2) how the efficacies of these strategies are evaluated and (3) how reliance on antibiotics could be reduced by increasing vaccine adoption. Antibiotics were routinely prescribed in the diets of weaner, grower and finisher pigs by 9/13, 10/13 and 8/13 veterinarians, respectively, if vaccination was not implemented. Water-soluble antibiotics were prescribed less frequently than in-feed antibiotics. Efficacy of control strategies was assessed most often through reduced clinical signs (diarrhoea, 'tail-ender' pigs, death) and reduced lesion incidence at abattoir postmortem inspection. Twelve practitioners had recommended PE vaccination to their clients in the previous 6 months. Barriers to continued vaccine implementation included perceived lack of efficacy for pigs housed in bedded systems, high cost relative to medication and difficulties in vaccinating pigs post-weaning.     

Analysis of relationship between crop growth parameters,yield and physical environment within the crop canopy of sesame (Sesamum Indicum) at different sowing dates: Untersuchung der beziehungen zwischen wachstumsparametern,ertrag und physischer umwelt im pflanzenbestand von sesam (Sesamum Indicum) bei verschiedenen aussaatterminen

Relation between crop growth parameters of sesame (Sesamum indicum) and the physical environment within the crop canopy at different sowing dates was studied during the summer seasons of 1999 and 2000. The maximum leaf growth rate (LGR) and leaf area index (LAI) was obtained from February 19 sown crop. About 34.4% variation in LGR could be explained through the variation in the physical environmental elements within the crop canopy. The LAI was depressed in the later months of sowing. The February 19 sown crop produced significantly, the highest dry matter production (DMP) in all the stages of crop growth. The regression model indicated that the crop growth rate (CGR) was adversely affected by the ambient temperature and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) within the crop canopy. Crops sown on 19 February and 1 March produced statistically similar yields. The cultivar Rama produced higher yields than B-67 and Kanke-1. Regression models suggested that the temperature profile and PAR within the crop canopy produced 69 and 39% variation in yield, respectively.