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.     

Top Dressing of Feed with Desiccated Chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans for Biological Control of the Pre-Parasitic Stages of Ovine Haemonchus contortus

Feeding trials were conducted with stall-fed sheep parasitized with Haemonchus contortus. For 10 days they were offered 250 g of a concentrate feed that had been top-dressed with desiccated chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans at 1×10⁵, 5×10⁵, 1×10⁶ or 2×10⁶ chlamydospores/kg body weight. Pooled faeces from each group on day 7 of spore feeding were spread on different pasture plots. On day 28 after the start of spore feeding, further pooled faeces from each group were spread on the same plots. The larval burdens on the plots were monitored for 2 months and the larval harvest from in vitro faecal cultures were monitored regularly. The application of 1×10⁶ or more spores/kg body weight virtually eliminated larvae from both the pasture and the faecal cultures. The application of as few as 1×10⁵ spores/kg body weight had a profound impact on larval recovery. The effect persisted while the spores were being fed but not for more than 4 days following discontinuation of spore feeding. Top dressing supplementary feed with dried chlamydospores offers a potential way of using D. flagrans for biological control of the pre-parasitic stages of H. contortus.     

Serotype C foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates from India belong to a separate so far not described lineage

Complete 1D gene sequences of 13 Indian foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type C field isolates and a vaccine strain (C-Bombay/64) were determined. All the field isolates showed a greater genetic homogeneity (95-100%) among themselves and were 19.7-21.2% divergent from the vaccine strain. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Indian field isolates formed a separate lineage (lineage VII) different from the previously identified six lineages (lineage I-VI) in type C FMDV [J. Virol. 66 (1992) 3557]. The vaccine strain was grouped with European lineage (lineage II). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of antigenic sites A and C of field isolates showed no significant variation from the vaccine strain. One-way serological relationship determined in ELISA showed antigenic closeness of the field isolates with C-Bombay/64.     

The disposition kinetics of albendazole following the administration of single and divided doses to cattle and buffalo

Concentrations of albendazole sulphoxide and its sulphone metabolite in plasma in cattle and buffalo were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography after single and divided intraruminal administration of albendazole at the recommended nematocidal and fasciolicidal dose rates of 7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant differences in the plasma concentrations of the metabolites or their pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between cattle or buffalo at either dose rate. Pharmacokinetic analysis and the disposition curve of the metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in both cattle and buffalo when the same total amount of the drug was given in divided doses compared to a single dose (p<0.05). The divided dose schedules of administration could possibly be exploited to extend the life of the available benzimidazole anthelmintics.     

Comparative Disposition Kinetics of Albendazole in Sheep Following Oral and Intraruminal Administration

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole was studied in sheep following single oral and intraruminal administration at nematocidal dose rates. The disposition curves of its metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in sheep following intraruminal as compared to oral dosing (p<0.05). The increased bioavailability of benzimidazole anthelmintics given by the intraruminal route could be exploited for optimizing the use of anthelmintic for sustained parasite control in small ruminants.     

Evidence of cell mediated immune response in infection with Eimeria bareillyi in buffaloes

Delayed dermal hypersensitivity and leucocyte migrations were measured in buffalo calves experimentally inoculated with Eimeria bareillyi. Dermal hypersensitivity, characterized by increased thickness and local inflammation, was observed in calves inoculated intradermally with E. bareillyi antigen on Days 21 and 28 after infection. The highest inhibition of leucocyte migration was observed in infected buffalo calves on Days 21 and 28 post-infection.     

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)     

Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of the phosphoprotein gene of peste des petits ruminants vaccine virus of Indian origin

The nucleotide sequences of the phosphoprotein (P) gene of peste des petits ruminants (PPRV) vaccine virus (PPRV Sungri/96) belongs to Asian lineage have been determined and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared with another vaccine strain PPRV/Nigeria75/1 and with those of the other morbilliviruses. The 1652 nucleotides of the P gene encode a phosphoprotein of 509 amino acid residues (from nucleotide numbers 60 to 1587), which is 91% identical to that of PPRV/Nigeria75/1. The C protein consists of 177 amino acid residues and is 91% identical with that of PPRV/Nigeria75/1. The conserved mRNA editing site (5'TTAAAAGGGCACAG) was present at positions 742-756 in the P gene, which is conserved in all other morbilliviruses. The CTT trinucleotide sequence is present at the N/P and P/M intergenic region, which is totally conserved in morbilliviruses. This will be the third sequence for the P gene of PPRV since that of the vaccine strain and a wild-type Turkish isolate has been published already.