Use of paramunization in raising pigs

The fundamentals of paramunization are briefly discussed to provide better understanding of paramunization of pigs. Veterinary practice and experimental studies demonstrate the usefulness, efficacy and harmlessness of paramunization of pigs. Mortality, morbidity as well as weight gain in piglets are used to evaluate the effect of the inducers PIND-AVI and/or PIND-ORF on piglets which have been treated shortly after birth. The therapeutic effect of paramunization has been studied in herds with enzootic pneumonia. Paramunization is especially suitable in stimulating the immune system, in treating immune deficiencies, in the prophylaxis of the stress syndrome (e.g. induced by transport, weaning, changing stalls, etc.) and in treating pluricausal, multifactorial infectious diseases such as enzootic pneumonia, rhinitis atrophicans, "crowding" disease. Paramunization of pigs is discussed, using PIND-ORF as an example of a biological inducer. Paramunization as a biological method to stimulate immunity provides a new concept of prophylaxis and therapy opposed to the uncontrolled use of chemicals in pig production.     

Parvovirus infections in dogs and cats: problems of immunization

The general problems of immunization against parvoviroses are only understandable when knowing the basic principles of epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunology of those virus infections. The main difficulties with regard to vaccinations are 1. efficacy of homologous respectively heterologous vaccines, 2. indications for live resp. inactivated vaccines, 3. combination with other vaccines, 4. bridging of the "immunological gap" (refractory phase) of puppies, 5. mode of application and timing of vaccinations (schedule of vaccinations), 6. failure in vaccinated animals, 7. complications originating from vaccinations, 8. passive immunization.     

Variation of the growth hormone gene in ryr 1 genotyped Austrian pig breeds

SUMMARY: Polymorphism in the second intron of the porcine growth hormone gene of 273 Austrian Landrace and 81 Austrian Edelschwein pigs was investigated with a PCR-RFLP-technique. Results showed significantly different genotype patterns between the two breeds. The frequency of the Hae II(-) allele was significantly (P < 0,001) higher in the landrace than in the Edelschwein population (0,83 and 0,47 resp.). The Msp I(+) allele was predominant in both breeds but signifanctly higher in the Landrace (0,98 versus 0,69; P < 0,01). Analyses the Hae II/Msp I locus combination revealed also in breed specific difference. In the Landrace a very low interaction was found between the Hae II and ryr 1 locus, and between Msp I and ryr 1 locus (c. c. = 0,181 and 0,186 resp.). The correlation was slightly stronger (c. c. = 0,266) between the ryr 1 and Hae II/Msp I genotypes. No correlation was detected among the three loci in the Edelschwein population. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Variabilit?t des Somatotropin Gens in ?sterreichischen Schweinerassen genotypisiert hinsicbtlich ryr 1 An 273 ?sterreichischen Landrasse Schweinen und 81 ?sterreichischen Edelschweinen wurde der Polymorphismus am zweiten Intron des Schweinewachstumshormons mittels PCR-RFLP-Technik untersucht. Genotypen-und Genfrequenzen waren zwischen den beiden Rassen signifikant verschie- den. Die Hae II(-) Allelfrequenz war bei den Landrassetieren signifikant h?her (P < 0,001) als bei den Edelschweinen (0,83 bzw. 0,47). In beiden Rassen überwiegte das Msp I(+) Allel, das aber signifikant ?fters bei der Landrasse auftrat (0,98 bzw. 0,69; P < 0,01). Die Verteilung der Locuskombination von Hae II/Msp I zwischen den beiden Rassen war ebenfalls unterschiedlich. Bei der Landrasse konnte nur ein sehr geringer Zusammenhang zwischen dem Hae II und ryr 1 Locus (c. c. = 0,181 bzw. 0,186) und auch zwischen dem Msp I und ryr 1 Locus festgestellt werden. Die Korrelation zwischen dem ryr 1 und Hae II/Msp I Genotyp war geringfügig gr??;er (c. c. = 0,266). Bei den Edelschweinen konnte kein Zusammenhang zwischen den drei untersuchten Loci festgestellt werden.     

Observations of Phytophthora spp. in Water Recirculation Systems in Commercial Hardy Ornamental Nursery Stock

Samples of water and sediment were taken from drains, reservoirs and wells from four commercial hardy ornamental nurseries with water recirculation systems. The samples were taken on seven different dates throughout a single year from August 1994 to July 1995. The samples were screened for Phytophthora species using five different methods: direct plating, three bait tests (using lupin seedlings, apples and Rhododendron leaves) and a DAS-ELISA (double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay) with two antisera. In the nurseries with old water recirculation systems, Phytophthora species were detected in the drains and in the reservoirs. In the nursery with a new recirculation system, the pathogens were only present in the drains. None of the water samples from wells in any of the nurseries were contaminated. Phytophthora species were present in the water as well as in the sediment samples from drains and reservoirs. They were detected in the water recirculation systems irrespective of the season. The number of isolates increased about sevenfold between late summer and spring. At least 12 different Phytophthora species were identified: some isolates were previously unrecorded species. The epidemiology of the pathogens in outdoor water recirculation systems as well as the importance of the results for commercial nurseries is discussed.     

Diagnosis and surgical removal of brain abscesses in a juvenile alpaca

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-month-old female alpaca was examined because of progressive clinical signs consistent with an intracranial lesion. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical signs included signs of depression, lethargy, tetraparesis, and neck weakness. Two large isointense intracranial masses could be seen on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. On T2-weighted images, the masses contained concentric rings of hypointense and hyperintense material. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 2 abscesses were removed via a craniotomy that incorporated removal of the sagittal crest and surrounding skull and transection of the sagittal sinus. The bony deficit was replaced with polypropylene mesh. The alpaca recovered within 2 weeks and was fully integrated into the herd within 1 month after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings indicated that surgical removal is a feasible means of successfully treating intracranial abscesses in juvenile alpacas.     

The aetiology of generalized alopecia in young calves

The objective of this study was to test for correlations between alopecia and ruminal drinking in young calves. 331 calves up to an age of 31 days were tested for evidence of generalized hair loss daily during their stay in the clinic. Incidence of diarrhoea and the results of ruminal fluid and blood analysis were compared between the groups with and without alopecia. Calves with alopecia showed a significantly higher incidence of diarrhoea and of ruminal acidosis persisting for at least 24 hours. Blood analysis revealed significant differences in degree of acidosis, in concentrations of D-lactate, urea, and creatinine in serum as well as in the activities of glutathione peroxidase, aspartate amino transferase, and creatine kinase. Alopecia in calves is correlated to longer periods of diseases, which are known to be accompanied by the production of D-lactate in the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhoea and ruminal drinking. The question, whether alopecia is due to formation of toxic substances or to deficiency of essential substances can not be answered.     

Clinical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of intracavitary administration of pegylated liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a fatal malignancy, and most affected dogs die within a few months of diagnosis. Most dogs present with signs from tumor rupture, resulting in hemoabdomen and intra-abdominal dissemination. The abdomen is also the main site of disease recurrence. HYPOTHESIS: Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of doxorubicin will delay or prevent intra-abdominal tumor recurrence and prolong survival in dogs with HSA. ANIMALS: Fourteen dogs with splenic HSA. METHODS: A prospective, unmasked, uncontrolled clinical trial. After staging of disease status and splenectomy, pegylated liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin was administered intraperitoneally (1 mg/kg body weight) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. All dogs were monitored for recurrence of HSA. Samples of plasma and abdominal fluid were collected for measurement of doxorubicin concentration and pharmacokinetic analysis. Nonlinear mixed-effect modeling was used to describe the pharmacokinetics of liposomal doxorubicin administered IP. RESULTS: All 14 dogs died, 12 because of HSA and 2 from other causes. Postmortem examination was performed on 12 dogs. All 12 dogs died because of HSA-related causes and had hepatic metastases and hemoabdomen. The IP-treated dogs had fewer serosal, mesenteric, and omental metastases than historical controls treated with systemic doxorubicin. Results of the postmortem examination and pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed that IP delivery of doxorubicin resulted in an effective drug concentration with a clearance comparable with that after i.v. delivery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: IP pegylated liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin administration did not prevent intraabdominal recurrence of HSA in dogs.     

Quantification of stress sensitive markers in single fecal samples do not accurately predict excretion of these in the pig

All feces produced during 24 h were collected from five pigs and cortisol and immunoreactive cortisol metabolites (CICM), and IgA were quantified. Within pigs, the concentrations of CICM and IgA varied extensively between random samples obtained from a single fecal dropping, and deviated in most cases significantly from the true concentration measured in total fecal output (CV 6.7-130%). The CICM and IgA contents varied considerably (CV 8.1-114%) within and between individual fecal droppings from the same pig compared to the total fecal excretion. In conclusion, single random samples could not be used to reliably quantify the total fecal concentration or excretion of CICM or IgA in pigs. Analyses of all feces collected during shorter periods than 24 h did not provide an accurate estimate of the daily excretion of CICM. Thus, the concentration of stress sensitive molecules in random single fecal samples as an indicator of animal welfare should be interpreted with prudence.