对养猪生产造成巨大损失的猪疥癣

北卡罗来纳州立大学的研究人员 J.J.Arends,C.M.Stanislaw 和 D.Gerdon 为了解疥癣对母猪及其仔猪从出生到屠宰的生产力的影响情况,进行了一次试验。该试验共分6组,每组16～20头妊娠母猪。妊娠期母猪饲养在帘子相隔、明沟冲洗的待产舍里,每圈5～6头。种公猪则饲养在用帘于相隔的种猪棚内,每厩1头。母猪临产前转入可控制环境的产仔舍里,舍内为全漏缝地板,每厩饲养1头。在试验的后期,生长猪转入肥育舍内,舍也是全漏缝地板,厩与厩之间也用帘子相隔开。     

A review of the experimental use of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of periodontitis and gingivitis in the dog

Tetracycline, metronidazole, and chlorhexidine have been tested for their effectiveness in the treatment of periodontitis in dogs under experimental conditions. Tetracycline has been effective in reducing bone resorption in dogs with periodontitis when used in the long-term. When used for short times, it can result in reduction of the numbers of microorganisms that are associated with disease. Tetracycline can inhibit the activity of mammalian collagenase thought responsible for the destruction of alveolar bone and it may be capable of inhibiting the adherence of microorganisms and thus preventing infection. In some experiments, metronidazole was more effective than tetracycline in eliminating spirochetes from the periodontal flora, and it has been found effective in preventing the inflammation and the development of the bacterial flora usually associated with the natural accumulation of plaque. Chlorhexidine (0.2% aqueous solution) has been found effective in preventing the normal progression of periodontal disease when used as a spray for the long-term treatment of dogs. It could prove to be as effective as brushing for the long-term control of periodontitis in the dog. Limited information is available on the use of clindamycin, spiramycin, and vancomycin.     

Blood thiamine levels in normal cattle and sheep at pasture

Analysis of whole blood samples from 174 cattle and, 174 sheep from 3 geographical regions of New Zealand over a 10 month period showed a mean (range) thiamine level of 122 nmol/l (71-237 nmol/l) for cattle and 118 nmol/l (67-227 nmol/l) for sheep. Regional and seasonal differences were noted with levels tending to rise over the summer period. A reference range of 75-185 nmol/l is proposed for both cattle and sheep to cover these variations. Levels below 50 nmol/l are considered indicative of deficiency.     

Serum bile acids: reference values in healthy dogs and comparison of two kit methods

Serum bile acid (SBA) reference intervals were established by use of a radioimmunoassay method for fasting dogs to be 0.2 to 4.3 micro mol/L (n = 60) and for 2 hour postprandial samples to be 0.6 to 24.2 micro mol/L (n = 37). The SBA reference intervals estimated using an enzymatic method were 0 to 8.6 micro mol/L for fasting (n = 26) and 0 to 29.8 micro mol/L for 2 hour postprandial samples (n = 36). The correlation between the two methods including samples from healthy dogs and clinical cases is good (n = 128, r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The radioimmunoassay method is linear to 50 micro mol/L and the enzymatic method is linear to 100 micro mol/L, thus both methods require serum dilutions to be made in many cases of primary liver disease. The enzymatic method is less expensive and more convenient for use in a clinical laboratory but requires a greater sample volume (400 micro I) than the RIA method (50 micro I). Both methods have adequate precision and accuracy to be useful as diagnostic tests of liver function in dogs.     

Geologic youth of galapagos islands confirmed by marine stratigraphy and paleontology

Six distinctive types of fossiliferous marine deposits occur on the Galádpagos Islands that provide evidence for the age of emergence of the islands above sea level and hence a maximum age for the islands' terrestrial biota. These subtidal to supratidal deposits include (i) volcanic tuffs with fossils, (ii) limestones and sandstones interbedded with basalt, (iii) terrace deposits, (iv) beach rock, (v) supratidal talus deposits, and (vi) recently uplifted tidal and subtidal rocks and sand. With the exception of (vi), the deposits were previously assigned ages varying from Miocene to Pleistocene, but all are less than about 2 million years old. This age, together with independently determined geologic ages, indicate that the islands emerged from the sea relatively recently and that all evolution of the islands' unique terrestrial biota occurred within the past 3 to 4 million years.     

Single-cell proteins

Both photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic microorganisms, grown on various carbon and energy sources, are used in fermentation processes for the production of single-cell proteins. Commercial-scale production has been limited to two algal processes, one bacterial process, and several yeast and fungal processes. High capital and operating costs and the need for extensive nutritional and toxicological assessments have limited the development and commercialization of new processes. Any increase in commercial-scale production appears to be limited to those regions of the world where low-cost carbon and energy sources are available and conventional animal feedstuff proteins, such as soybean meal or fish meal, are in short supply.     

Examination of the origin of increased equine serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations

Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was found to be increased in 32.6% of equine samples analyzed at the Ontario Veterinary College over an 18 month period. An attempt was made using sensitivity to L-phenylalanine and heat to identify the origin of increased serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes present in 44 clinical cases. No difference in sensitivity to either procedure was observed for serum alkaline phosphatase from groups of foals and horses representing different clinical problems. Alkaline phosphatase of osseous tissue origin appeared to be the major source of activity for each group of animals reported.