Serodiagnosis of Lyme disease in UK dogs

Lyme disease is a chronic, multisystemic, inflammatory disorder of man and animals associated with infection by the tick-borne spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease was recently reported for the first time in a dog in the UK (May and others 1990). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we have performed a serological survey to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to B burgdorferi in UK dogs. The survey has shown that dogs from many areas in the UK have serum antibodies to B burgdorferi, that the presence of serum antibodies is associated with known exposure to ticks and that some dogs seropositive for B burgdorferi have clinical signs consistent with Lyme disease. High levels of serum anti-Borrelia antibodies are not diagnostic for canine Lyme disease, but, in association with appropriate clinical signs, they help to confirm the diagnosis in suspected cases.     

Measurement of Alkaline Phosphatase in Canine Seminal Plasma – An Update

In dogs, diagnosis of incomplete ejaculation and azoospermia can be made by measuring the activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP) in seminal plasma. However, even though upper cut‐off value of 5000 IU / l is given in the literature, results by different assays may vary considerably. Furthermore, no data exist concerning the stability of the enzyme during storage of frozen seminal plasma, and no recommendations for pre‐analytic dilutions can be found. During the present study, we compared results from a conventional large scale wet chemistry analyzer to a widely used dry chemistry point of care system (POC) and established a best practice for pre‐analytical dilutions. Furthermore, stability of enzyme activities in seminal plasma during storage at ?18°C for 24 h was evaluated. The average activity of AP in the 2nd fraction of normal ejaculates measured by Reflotron® was 107 328 IU / l. After 24 h of frozen storage, activities did not differ significantly (96 844 IU / l, p > 0.05). Fresh and frozen samples were analysed in parallel by the POC and conventional chemistry analyser, and the results compared that did not reveal a significant difference (p > 0.05). A dilution of seminal plasma with physiologic saline 1 : 100 prior to analysis was sufficient for the qualitative information whether AP activity is below or above 5000 IU / l. Present data show that AP measurement by a POC dry chemistry system is sufficiently accurate in diluted seminal plasma for the diagnosis of azoospermia and that seminal plasma can be stored frozen for 24 h before analysis.     

An Update on Cystic Ovarian Degeneration in Cattle

Cystic ovarian degeneration (COD) is considered to be one of the most important causes of reproductive failure in cattle. There is a severe economic loss to dairy industry because COD increases days‐open in the postpartum period and the culling rates. The disease process is a consequence of a mature follicle that fails to ovulate at the appointed time of ovulation in the oestrous cycle. This anovulatory follicular structure either regresses or persists as a follicular or luteal cyst depending upon its structural/functional characteristics. The cells lining the follicular cyst synthesize oestrogen that, in certain instances, forces the animal to exhibit clinical signs of nymphomania. Besides oestrogen production, as per recent findings, they are also capable of secreting varying amount of progesterone which may dictate their fate. The animals that carry a luteal cyst may tend to be in anoestrus as the higher amount of progesterone secreted by this luteinized structure may change the pattern of gonadotrophins’ secretion. Present findings suggest that perturbation of the hypothalamo‐hypophyseal‐ovarian (HHO) axis, due to many exogenous and endogenous factors, as the cause for anovulation. For example, it has been suggested that lack of hypothalamic or hypophyseal response to the positive feedback effect of oestrogens that are secreted by the dominant follicle as one of the many causes. The non‐physiological changes that occur in the receptor expression of the HHO axis for the hormones involved in maturation, deviation, dominance and ovulation of the follicle may be yet another cause. The changes that occur at the cellular and molecular level in the ovary (in response to the factors mentioned above) that contribute to anovulation remain to be documented. This approach would allow us to completely understand the disease process. Hitherto, hormonal preparations that release luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary or have luteinizing hormone‐like action are used to treat follicular cysts. GnRH belongs to the former group and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) hormone forms the latter group. Treatment with a luteolytic agent, prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), is successful if a luteal cyst is diagnosed properly. Many agents may be developed in the future if the cellular and molecular pathways of the disease process are delineated. This article will review recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of COD and suggest direction for future studies to completely understand the disease mechanism. This review will also discuss the existing method of treatments for cysts and methods proposed for treatment of cysts that tend to be refractory in nature.     

An Update on Reproduction in Yak and Mithun

Yak and mithun are two domesticated herbivores of high economic importance to the farming community living in highlands. Improved yak and mithun production could significantly enhance the living standards of these highlanders. Over the years, their dwindling numbers have been a cause of serious concern. In view of the lack of knowledge on the reproductive physiology of these ruminants, studies have been undertaken to investigate their reproductive endocrinology in recent years. This paper attempts to present the latest information on the endocrine changes associated with their various reproductive processes viz. growth and puberty, oestrous cyclicity and oestrous behaviour, ovulation, and, pregnancy and parturition. The paper also provides the recent developments on research done towards the enhancement of yak and mithun reproductive efficiencies through endocrine and embryo biotechniques.     

布鲁菌病血清学诊断抗原研究进展

布鲁菌病的临床特征复杂而多变,病原的流行特点和免疫原性存在较大的差异,给人类及动物布鲁菌病诊断带了诸多的困难。目前常用的血清学诊断抗原如菌悬液,脂多糖等特异性差,敏感性低,制备涉及活菌的培养,不能广泛的应用,从而使患者和患畜得不到有效的治疗和预防。随着分子生物学技术的发展,基因重组蛋白可代替传统的抗原,为布鲁菌病的诊断带来了新的契机,文章从以上方面对可用于布鲁菌病诊断的抗原做了综述。     

Microsurgery: An Update for the Veterinary Profession

The history of microsurgery is reviewed and the development of instruments and suture materials briefly described. The implementation of microsurgical techniques to the human operating theater is detailed and the potential role of microtechniques in veterinary surgery projected.     

犬细小病毒病研究进展

犬细小病毒病是由犬细小病毒感染幼犬所引起的一种急性传染病。临床上有两种表现型,出血性肠炎型以剧烈的呕吐、出血性肠炎和白细胞显著减少为主要特征;心肌炎型则以突然死亡为特征。无论那种类型的临床表现,均以发病率高、死亡率高和传染性强为特点,是危害养犬业最为严重的传染病之一,可造成严重的经济损失。论文从病毒生物学特性、基因组结构、病原的检测方法,流行病学、发病机理及病理变化、临床症状以及疫苗研制等角度对犬细小病毒病近年来的研究进展做以概述。     

犬细小病毒病的病原学研究进展

犬细小病毒病是由犬细小病毒感染引起的一种急性传染病,以剧烈的呕吐、出血性肠炎和白细胞显著减少为主要特征,并可引起犬急性心肌炎。症状与猫泛白细胞减少症相似,是危害我国养犬业最为严重的传染病之一,可造成严重的经济损失。文章从病毒生物学特性、基因组结构、疫苗开发研制以及病原的检测方法等角度对犬细小病毒病的病原学研究进行了综述。     

海晏县绵羊传染性胸膜肺炎的血清学诊断

用绵羊传染性胸膜肺炎（MO）间接血凝试验,对来自青海省海晏县的110份绵羊血清,进行了绵羊传染性胸膜肺炎血清检测。结果：从110份绵羊血清中检出抗绵羊传染性胸膜肺炎抗体的阳性血清28份,阳性率为25．45％;表明海晏县的绵羊群中存在绵羊肺炎支原体的感染。