Inheritance of 'overshot' malocclusion in German shorthaired pointers.

An abnormality of jaw development in the German shorthaired pointer which results in severe overshot is described. Its frequency of occurrence in a kennel where only phenotypically normal breeding stock were used was six/100 pups alive at three weeks. The abnormality was inherited in a manner consistent with the influence of a single autosomal recessive gene. The penetrance of the gene could possibly be masked in populations in which undershot jaw occurs.     

Dysautonomia in a family of German shorthaired pointers.

Four, 5-week-old German shorthaired pointers from a litter of five puppies were presented for evaluation of vomiting and diarrhea. The dam was euthanized for suspected dysautonomia, and the fifth puppy died 1 day prior to presentation. On presentation, two puppies had vomiting and diarrhea, and the other two appeared healthy. The results of testing supported the diagnosis of dysautonomia in the two affected puppies but not in the healthy puppies. On day 5 of hospitalization, one apparently healthy puppy developed vomiting and diarrhea and had supportive testing for dysautonomia. Dysautonomia was confirmed at necropsy in affected dogs.     

Heritability of plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration in German Wirehaired pointers

We applied quantitative genetic analyses to a population of German Wirehaired pointer dogs affected with type 2 von Willebrand disease. Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) protein concentration measured as vWF antigen (vWF:Ag), clinical history, and pedigree data were compiled for 331 dogs over a 5-year test period. Eight dogs had histories of abnormal bleeding and had markedly decreased plasma vWF:Ag concentrations (<1%). Four per cent of the dogs were inbred, with an average inbreeding of 2.52%. The estimated heritability of plasma vWF concentration was 0.52. We found a major gene effect on vWF concentration. Using a single gene locus model and two different prediction methods, the upper threshold value for the aa genotype was less than 1% vWF:Ag, and the optimal threshold value for discrimination between the AA and Aa genotypes was between 68% and 72% vWF:Ag. Our analyses indicate that phenotype, assigned on the basis of a single vWF:Ag determination, is heritable and can be applied for selective breeding in a von Willebrand disease test programme.     

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a litter of five mixed-breed cats.

A litter of five, 18-month-old, mixed-breed cats were determined to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Although no overt clinical signs were present in any cat, systolic heart murmurs were present in each. Electrocardiograms were normal, while subjective interpretations of heart enlargement on radiographs were made on four cats. Echocardiographic analyses indicated abnormalities consistent with HCM. Overt clinical signs are absent two years following diagnosis.     

Clinical, histopathological and immunological characteristics of exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus in 25 German short-haired pointers

Clinical, histopathological and immunological features of exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus, an uncommon generalized exfoliative dermatitis occurring exclusively in German short-haired pointers, were characterized in 25 dogs. The disease affects young adult dogs and its familial incidence strongly suggests a hereditary origin. Lesions were characterized by scaling and alopecia affecting 100 (25/25) and 76% (19/25) of dogs, respectively. Follicular casts were present in 28% (7/25) of dogs. The muzzle, pinnae and dorsum were typically affected. Generalized skin lesions were described in 52% (13/25) of dogs. Systemic signs of pain and lameness affected several dogs. Anaemia and thrombocytopenia were detected in several dogs with a more severe clinical phenotype. The most common histopathological features were hyperkeratosis and a lymphocytic interface dermatitis. Direct immunostaining revealed IgG deposition in the epidermal and follicular basement membrane of 100 (19/19) and 41% (7/17) of dogs, respectively. Circulating antifollicular and antisebaceous gland IgG antibodies were demonstrated by indirect immunostaining in 57% (4/7) of dogs. This disease usually responds poorly to immunosuppressive therapy and it has a guarded prognosis. Where outcome was recorded, 85% (10/12) of dogs were euthanased due to either a failure to respond to, or complications associated with, immunomodulatory therapy. Two affected dogs are in remission and maintained on immunomodulatory dosages of prednisolone. This study demonstrates the existence of a cellular and humoral immune response directed against the epidermal basement membrane of dogs with exfoliative cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Additional studies are required to further characterize the immunological pathogenesis of this disease.     

Chronic idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in five dogs

Five dogs presented with chronic and progressive pulmonary illness characterized by progressive dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and significant inspiratory crackles on auscultation. Radiographically, there was a widespread and diffuse interstitial lung pattern with varying degrees of bronchial involvement. Histopathological changes included thickened alveolar septa, interstitial fibrosis, and pneumocyte hyperplasia. Based on the clinical, radiographic, and histopathological changes, a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium and peripheral airspaces, which has been poorly characterized in the dog.     

Candidate gene markers for litter size in different German pig lines.

Three diallelic RFLP markers at candidate gene loci for litter size, the estrogen receptor (ESR) gene, the prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene, and the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene, were evaluated for their association with the number of piglets born alive in different German pig lines. Genotyping was performed on boars and sows belonging to three different genetic groups from a single farm. Information on 8,336 litter records from 2,159 sows (German Landrace, n = 1,672; Duroc, n = 214; and a synthetic line, n = 273) was used in the analyses with respect to litter size. Growth performance traits were only analyzed for the synthetic line. The ESR locus showed no polymorphism in the tested boars of the German Landrace and Duroc lines. In the synthetic line, the frequency for the A allele was 0.90 and no homozygous BB animal was detected. No significant associations of ESR alleles with number of piglets born alive, backfat thickness, or average daily gain were observed. A new PCR-RFLP was developed for testing the PRLR polymorphism. The frequencies of PRLR allele A were 0.40 in the German Landrace, 0.49 in the synthetic, and 0.82 in the Duroc line. In the Duroc line, a small additive effect of the allele B on litter size was observed. The allelic substitution effect was 0.71 piglets born alive across all parities (P = 0.05). No significant associations of the PRLR locus with litter and growth performance traits were detected. The frequencies of RBP4 allele A ranged from 0.62 in the synthetic line to 0.67 in the German Landrace to 0.85 in the Duroc line. For the genotyped sows of the synthetic line, there was no indication of a favorable effect of the A allele with respect to litter size. Results of this study demonstrate that allele effects differ between lines or populations. This may be due to possible different linkage phases between the marker alleles and the causal mutations in the different lines. The results may also be explained by many minor genes affecting litter size. A selection strategy should be designed for each line separately and should always consider possible pleiotropic effects.     

Chronic moderate heat dermatitis (erythema ab igne) in five dogs,three cats and one silvered langur

Erythema ab igne, an old and rare disease in the human literature, is an erythematous, often pigmented, reticular, macular dermatosis that occurs at the site of repeated exposure to moderate heat. We identified lesions consistent with erythema ab igne in five dogs, three cats and one silvered langur (Trachypithecus cristatus[Raffles, 1821]). In dogs and cats, the cutaneous lesion distribution typically reflected chronic exposure to moderate heat during lateral or sternal recumbency. The silvered langur developed cutaneous lesions on the dorsal neck from exposure to a heat lamp. Principal clinical lesions consisted of irregular areas of alopecia (7/9) and erythema (7/9), sometimes with hyperpigmentation (3/9). Principal histological features consisted of karyomegaly (9/9) and keratinocyte atypia (4/9), scattered apoptotic or vacuolated basal cells and/or apoptotic keratinocytes (6/9), mild mixed mononuclear interstitial or interface dermatitis (9/9) with adnexal atrophy (8/9), and a variable number of wavy eosinophilic elastic fibres (9/9). The presence of these cutaneous lesions in an animal indicates that the environment should be evaluated for exposure to chronic moderate heat, and the heat source should be eliminated or modified to prevent further exposure and progression of lesions.     

Direct genetic, maternal and litter effects on behaviour in German shepherd dogs in Sweden

The aim of this study was to study genetic (co)variation of broader behavioural traits in German shepherd dogs and to test whether there is maternal and litter influence on these traits. Data were extracted from the Swedish Dog Mentality Assessment (DMA) from 1989 to 2001 on 5959 German shepherd dogs. Based on previous results, personality traits were created from the 15 behavioural variables extracted from the test. These personality traits were (1) Playfulness, (2) Chase-proneness, (3) Curiosity/Fearlessness, and (4) Aggressiveness. A trait Boldness was constructed from all behaviour variables except those included in Aggressiveness. Mixed linear models with fixed effects of sex, test type, test year, test month, age, and judge were used. Models with all combinations of random effects of animal (direct genetic), genetic and non-genetic maternal, and litter were tested. The best model included effects of animal and litter. Direct heritability estimates were between 0.09 and 0.23, highest for Playfulness and Curiosity/Fearlessness. Maternal heritabilities were all low (0.01-0.08), lowest and not significant if litter or non-genetic maternal effects were included in the model. Additive genetic correlations among Playfulness, Chase-proneness, and Curiosity/Fearlessness were higher (0.54-0.74) than genetic correlations with Aggressiveness (0.29-0.40). Litter variance ratios (c²) were larger than the maternal heritabilities (0.03-0.10). Boldness had a direct heritability estimate of 0.27 and a direct genetic correlation with Aggressiveness of 0.37. We conclude that there is substantial additive genetic variation, that the mother has rather little influence (both genetically and environmentally) and that the litter seems to have a larger influence than the mother for these personality traits. Genetic improvement in these behaviour traits is thus possible.     

Increased Risk of Conception Failure in German Holstein Friesian Cows with Chronic Endometritis

The objective of this retrospective field study was to evaluate the effect of chronic clinical endometritis (CCE) on days open in German Holstein Friesian cows. Two hundred and sixty‐four cows diagnosed with CCE from day 14 to 42 postpartum were included in this study. A Cox’s proportional hazards regression model with stepwise forward selection for days open was used and the variables type of vaginal discharge, ovarian cysts and a marked loss of body condition score proved to be significant with hazard ratios of 1.5, 2.0 and 1.9 respectively. Although not remaining in the model, a weak positive effect of treatment for CCE and a negative effect of high milk production could also be found in the univariate analysis. These results suggest that the suppression of fertility of animals diagnosed with CCE varies according to the different symptoms, which could be used to support decisions regarding treatment. Management factors such as a marked loss in body condition and high milk production prolonged the number of days open of animals with CCE.     

饲料添加剂中重金属铊的测定

文章用电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定饲料添加剂中重金属铊的含量。样品经硝酸消解后,试样液引入等离子体质谱仪。对于一定质荷比的待测离子,质谱信号响应与进入质谱仪中的离子数成正比,通过测量质谱的信号计数来测定样品中元素的浓度。采用标准曲线法计算元素的含量。试验结果:饲料级磷酸二氢钙中铊回收率为65%~100%,饲料级维生素中铊回收率为100%~110%,饲料级硫酸亚铁中铊回收率为80%~100%,饲料级硫酸锌中铊回收率为75%~100%;相对标准偏差均小于10%。结果显示,用电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定饲料添加剂中重金属铊含量,方便、简单、有效性高。