The incidence and consequences of failure of passive transfer of immunity on a Thoroughbred breeding farm

Circulating IgG concentration was determined between 12 and 24 hours after birth for 323 foals born on a Thoroughbred breeding farm over 3 consecutive years. The incidence of failure of passive transfer (FPT) of maternal immunoglobulins (foal circulating IgG concentration < 8 g/L) was found to be 9.6%. Foals born late in the season (October to December) were found to be at increased risk for the development of FPT. The degree of assistance required at parturition and the presence of a periparturient problem in the mare or foal also significantly influenced the subsequent incidence of FPT. Passive immune status significantly influenced the likelihood of foals developing septic illness (joint ill, septicaemia, pneumonia) in the first month of life, but had no significant effect on the development of diarrhoea or Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. The results of the current study support the value of routine monitoring of passive immune status and the early speculative treatment of foals considered to be at risk for the development of FPT.     

Examination of the equine foot.

The examination of the foot must be based on observations of the hoof, followed by a careful determination of areas of pain. This must be followed by an assessment of the biomechanical forces on the hoof and limb. Finally, imaging gives insight into the nature of the injury and allows the examiner to prognosticate the outcome.     

Radiographic imaging of the equine foot.

Radiographic examination of the equine foot can provide the veterinarian and farrier with a wealth of information. Positioning and selection of exposure factors are of central importance if one is to produce radiographs of maximum diagnostic value.     

Standing surgical procedures of the foot.

Several surgical conditions affecting the foot can be successfully managed with the horse standing. Many factors affect the clinician's choice of whether to perform surgery with the horse standing or anesthetized. Temperament or pregnancy of the horse and economics may influence the decision to perform surgery with the horse standing. This article discusses several foot conditions that can be treated successfully in the ambulatory horse.     

Evaluation of the hoof and foot relevant to purchase.

The equine hoof and foot are the most commonly affected anatomic sites of lameness encountered during purchase examination of the performance horse. This article presents a thorough, systematic approach to the clinical evaluation of the hoof and foot relevant to the pre-purchase examination. Normal and abnormal conditions are discussed with reference to their potential effects on future performance and soundness. Proper trimming, balancing, and shoeing principles are emphasized.     

德国牧羊犬对人体脚部与手部气味进行鉴别的准确性研究

德国牧羊犬气味鉴别以其独特的方式证明案情的事实,在科学技术高度发达的今天仍发挥着其他科学技术所无法替代的作用。在实际案件现场,犯罪嫌疑人的人体气味将持续存在于犯罪现场及其走过的线路和活动的范围内,特别是触碰过的物体,如手握过的门把手,翻墙逃跑时落下的足印。如何利用这少量的痕迹发挥德国牧羊犬气味鉴别作用,为串并案、确定犯罪人数提供帮助,就要考虑到德国牧羊犬对人体不同部位气味鉴别的问题。而在实际案件侦破中,利用人体不同部位气味进行德国牧羊犬鉴别已有成功案例。研究德国牧羊犬对人体脚部气味与手部气味等人体不同部位气味进行鉴别的准确性就显得十分重要。     

The metabolic consequences of trauma

Although shock is clinically the most important consequence of trauma, it is only part of a complex response involving alterations in many aspects of metabolism. Moreover, it presents features which cannot be understood merely in terms of malfunction of the circulatory system, and defects in cellular metabolism may also be involved. Changes in the composition of blood and the distribution of water and electrolytes are important since they are highly relevant to questions of therapy. Alterations in acid-base physiology are particularly significant and are closely related to the cellular defects. During shock and for some time following recovery there are drastic changes in energy metabolisms and the utilization of protein. As with most aspects of the response to trauma, it is easier to describe these changes than to decide which are harmful and which are beneficial. Résumé. Bien que le choc soit au point de vue clinique, la conséquence la plus importante du trauma, c'est une partie seulement d'une réaction complexe comprenant des changements dans nombreux aspects de métabolisme. Cela présente d'ailleurs des caractéristiques que l'on ne peut simplement comprendre en termes de malfonctions du système de la circulation et il peut également être question de défauts dans le métabolisme cellulaire. Des changements dans la composition du sang et la balance électrolytique sont importants puisqu'ils se rapportent entièrement aux questions de thérapeutique. Des modifications dans la physiologie acido-basique sont particulièrement significatives et se rattachent étroitement aux défauts cellulaires. Pendant le choc et quelque temps aprts la période de récuperation, il y a des changements drastiques dans le métabolisme basal et l'utilisation de protéine. Comme avec la plupart des aspects de réaction ou trauma, il est plus facile de décrire ces changements que de déterminer lesquels sont néfastes et lesquels sont avantageux. Zusammenfassung. Obwohl Schock klinisch gesehen, die wichtigste Folge von Trauma ist, ist er bloss Teil einer Komplexreaktion die Änderungen des Stoffwechsels in vielen Aspekten einbegreift. Er zeigt jedoch Merkmale die nicht allein in Beziehung zu schlechten Funktionen des Kreislauf-Systems verstanden werden kann, ebenfalls könnten Defekte in zellulärem Stoffwechsel einbegriffen sein. Veränderungen in der Komposition des Blutes und in dem Elektrolyt- und Wasserhaushalt sind wichtig, da sie höchst aufschlussreich für Fragen der Therapie sind. Veränderungen in der Säure-Basen-Physiologie sind besonders bedeutsam und eng mit den zellulären Defekten verbunden. Während des Schocks und für einige zeitlang nach der Genesung gibt es drastische Veränderungen im Grundumsatz und der Eiweissverdauung. Wie mit meisten Aspekten von dem Verhalten zu Trauma, ist es leichter diese Veränderungen zu beschreiben als zu entscheiden, welche schädlich und welche nützlich sind.     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因的体外表达鉴定与蛋白结构分析

口蹄疫病毒为小RNA病毒科属的成员。其基因组为一约含8500个核苷酸的正链RNA，只有1个开放阅读框，编码1个原始翻译产物，该产物可被蛋白水解酶裂解为几个分子量较大的前体，包括P1、P2、P3、P4等。P1又可被病毒编码的蛋白水解酶裂解为VP1、VP2、VP3和VP4四个结构蛋白单位。由于VP1暴露于病毒颗粒的表面，所以研究工作最多的是VP1。该基因位于FMDV基因组的2977～3615核苷酸，编码213个氨基酸。     

养猪生产中的肢蹄病问题

猪群肢蹄病给养猪生产带来重大损失,但对此头痛又无奈的问题国内未见符合科学标准的研究报告和综述。为此,本刊特邀国家饲料工程技术研究中心冯占雨先生撰写此专题综述。本文搜集最近30年来国内外农牧行业重要期刊有关猪群肢蹄病的80篇英文文献及40余篇中文文献,对其内容进行综述（其中40余篇中文文献因不符合科学试验标准而未被采用）,此为反映最近30年来有关猪群肢蹄病研究进展最具全面性、科学性和权威性的综述,值得业界同仁认真研读。     

Subjective and quantitative scintigraphic assessment of the equine foot and its relationship with foot pain

It was hypothesised that in solar bone images of the front feet of clinically normal horses, or horses with lameness unrelated to the front feet, there would be less than a 10% difference in the ratio of uptake of radiopharmaceutical in either the region of the navicular bone, or the region of insertion of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), compared to the peripheral regions of the distal phalanx. Nuclear scintigraphic examination of the front feet of 15 Grand Prix show jumping horses, all of which were free from detectable lameness, was performed using dorsal, lateral and solar images. The results were compared with the examinations of 53 horses with primary foot pain, 21 with foot pain accompanying another more severe cause of lameness and 49 with lameness or poor performance unrelated to foot pain. None of the horses with foot pain had radiological changes compatible with navicular disease. All the images were evaluated subjectively. The solar views were assessed quantitatively using regions of interest around the navicular bone, the region of insertion of the deep digital flexor tendon and the toe, medial and lateral aspects of the distal phalanx. In 97% of the feet of normal showjumpers, there was <10% variance of uptake of the radiopharmaceutical in the navicular bone, the region of insertion of the DDFT and the peripheral regions of the distal phalanx. There was a significant difference in uptake of radiopharmaceutical in the region of the navicular bone in horses with foot pain compared to normal horses. There was a large incidence of false positive results related to the region of insertion of the DDFT. Lateral pool phase images appeared more sensitive in identifying potentially important DDFT lesions. There was a good correlation between a positive response to intra-articular analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint and intrathecal analgesia of the navicular bursa and increased uptake of radiopharmaceutical in the region of the navicular bone in the horses with primary foot pain. It is concluded that quantitative scintigraphic assessment of bone phase images of the foot, in combination with local analgesic techniques, can be helpful in the identification of the potential source of pain causing lameness related to the foot, but false positive results can occur, especially in horses with low heel conformation.     

An overview of molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with porcine pregnancy success or failure

Prenatal mortality remains one of the major constraints for the commercial pig industry in North America. Twenty to thirty per cent of the conceptuses are lost early in gestation and an additional 10-15% is lost by mid-to-late gestation. Research over the last two decades has provided critical insights into how uterine capacity, placental efficiency, genetics, environment, nutrition and immune mechanisms impact successful conceptus growth; however, the exact cause and effect relationship in the context of foetal loss has yet to be determined. Similar to other mammalian species such as the human, mouse, rat, and primates, immune cell enrichment occurs at the porcine maternal-foetal interface during the window of conceptus attachment. However, unlike other species, immune cells are solely recruited by conceptus-derived signals. As pigs have epitheliochorial placentae where maternal and foetal tissue layers are separate, it provides an ideal model to study immune cell interactions with foetal trophoblasts. Our research is focused on the immune-angiogenesis axis during porcine pregnancy. It is well established that immune cells are recruited to the maternal-foetal interface, but their pregnancy specific functions and how the local milieu affects angiogenesis and inflammation at the site of foetal arrest remain unknown. Through a better understanding of how immune cells modulate crosstalk between the conceptus and the mother, it might be possible to therapeutically target immune cells and/or their products to reduce foetal loss. In this review, we provide evidence from the literature and from our own work into the immunological factors associated with porcine foetal loss.