Cell-mediated immunity and age at vaccination associated with measles inoculation and protection of dogs against canine distemper.

The antibody-mediated immune response (AMIR) of dogs to measles and canine distemper viruses has been described. However, there is little information on the cell-mediated immune response (CMIR). The AMIR and the CMIR of dogs to canine distemper and to measles were examined. The CMIR was determined for 6 weeks by measuring the 3H-thymidine uptake by immune lymphocytes in the lymphocyte transformation test. Concurrently, canine distemper and measles virus serum-neutralization antibodies were measured by a microtitration serum-neutralization test. Dogs vaccinated with canine distemper virus had a CMIR and an AMIR to canine distemper. However, measles virus-vaccinated dogs had only a CMIR to canine distemper. A CMIR in the absence of an AMIR indicates that cell-mediated immunity is the most important immune mechanism in protecting measles virus-vaccinated dogs against canine distemper. Development of CMIR and AMIR to canine distemper and measles antigens depended on the age of the dog at the time of vaccination. Adult and juvenile dogs had immune responses to both canine distemper and measles. Neither virus, however, elicited an immune response in neonates.     

Characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid associated with canine granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis: a retrospective study

Cerebrospinal fluid of 22 dogs with histologically confirmed granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis was analyzed, retrospectively. Seventeen dogs had cisternal CSF analysis, 4 dogs had lumbar CSF analysis, and 1 dog had both. For cisternal CSF, the mean +/- SEM total WBC count was 800.8 +/- 300.9 cells/microliter. The WBC differential count was predominantly lymphoplasmacytic cells, but 13 of the 18 cisternal CSF had polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells, and the mean +/- SEM PMN cell percentage was 18.6 +/- 5.3%. The mean +/- SEM total protein content of cisternal CSF was 255.8 +/- 98 mg/dl. Of 5 cisternal CSF pressures measured, 4 were within the normal range. The mean +/- SEM total WBC count and total protein content of lumbar CSF were 533.4 +/- 256.5 cells/mu/microliter and 163.2 +/- 25 mg of protein/dl, respectively. As with cisternal CSF, the WBC differential count of lumbar CSF was predominantly lymphoplasmacytic cells. Of 5 lumbar CSF, 4 contained PMN cells, but the percentage was less than the PMN cell percentage of cisternal CSF. Although variable, the general pattern of CSF abnormality associated with granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis was different from the CSF abnormalities commonly seen with viral, bacterial, or mycotic encephalitides.     

Effects of age at onset of production,light regime and dietary calcium on performance,eggshell traits,duodenal calbindin and cholecalciferol metabolism

1. Rate of production and shell thickness (ST) decreased, while body weight (BW), egg weight (EW) and percentage breakage increased progressively with age. Shell weight (SW) increased until 8 to 13 months of age and then decreased. 2. Early onset of production resulted in lower BW and EW at the onset of production, and lower pooled averages of BW, EW, SW and ST, as compared with late or medial onset of production. In 4 out of 5 trials, early onset did not result in the production of more eggs during the laying period. 3. Early onset of production is associated with physiological Ca deficiency as indicated by increases in kidney-1-hydroxylase and duodenal calbindin in early layers as compared with late layers. Early layers exhibited a more severe reduction in shell quality as the result of Ca deficiency as compared with late layers. 4. Feeding pullets with a prelaying diet containing 3.9% Ca did not affect unequivocally the performance or shell quality during the whole productive period, whether the birds started to lay early or late. The dietary treatment did not cause renal damage, as indicated by morphological examination and by plasma calcium and uric acid concentration.     

High COX‐2 expression is associated with increased angiogenesis,proliferation and tumoural inflammatory infiltrate in canine malignant mammary tumours: a multivariate survival study

COX‐2 expression affects mammary tumourigenesis by promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation, encouraging metastatic spread and tumour‐associated inflammation. Samples of canine mammary tumours (n = 109) were submitted to immunohistochemistry to detect COX‐2, CD31, VEGF, Ki‐67, CD3 and MAC387 expression. Concurrent high expression of COX‐2/CD31, COX‐2/VEGF, COX‐2/Ki‐67, COX‐2/CD3 and COX‐2/MAC was associated with elevated grade of malignancy, presence of intravascular emboli and presence of lymph node metastasis. Tumours with high COX‐2 (P < 0.001) and tumours with concurrent expression of high COX‐2 and high CD31 (P = 0.008); high VEGF (P < 0.001); high Ki‐67 (P < 0.001); high CD3+ T‐lymphocytes (P = 0.002) and elevated MAC387 macrophages (P = 0.024) were associated with shorter overall survival (OS) time. Interestingly the groups with high COX‐2/CD31 and high COX‐2/VEGF retained their significance after multivariate analysis arising as independent predictors of OS. Present data highlight the importance of COX‐2 in canine mammary tumourigenesis.     

Prognosis of canine patients with nasal tumors according to modified clinical stages based on computed tomography: a retrospective study

To evaluate the efficacy of clinical staging based on computed tomography (CT) imaging over the World Health Organization (WHO) staging system based on radiography for nasal tumors in dogs, a retrospective study was conducted. This study used 112 dogs that had nasal tumors; they had undergone radiography and CT and had been histologically confirmed as having nasal tumors. Among 112 dogs, 85 (75.9%) were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. Then they were analyzed for survival time according to each staging system. More than 70% of the patients with adenocarcinoma were classified as having WHO stage III. The patients classified under WHO stage II tended to survive longer than those classified under WHO stage III. Dogs classified under WHO stage III were further grouped into CT stages III and IV, and CT stage III patients had a significantly longer survival time than CT stage IV patients. In addition, patients treated with a combination of surgery and radiation had a significantly longer survival time than the patients who did not receive any treatment in CT stage III. On the other hand, different treatment modalities did not show a significant difference in the survival time of CT stage IV dogs. The results suggest that WHO stage III dogs may have various levels of tumor progression, indicating that the CT staging system may be more accurate than the WHO staging system.     

Genetic diversity of group A rotaviruses associated with repeated outbreaks of diarrhea in a farrow-to-finish farm: identification of a porcine rotavirus strain bearing a novel VP7 genotype, G26

ABSTRACT: Group A rotaviruses (GARs) are one of the most common causes of diarrhea in suckling pigs. Although a number of G and P genotypes have been identified in porcine GARs, few attempts have been made to study the molecular epidemiology of these viruses associated with diarrhea outbreaks within a farm over an extended period of time. Here, we investigated the molecular characteristics of GARs that caused four outbreaks of diarrhea among suckling pigs in a farrow-to-finish farm over the course of a year. G and P genotyping of GARs detected at each outbreak demonstrated genetic diversity in this farm as follows: G9P[23] was detected at the first outbreak, G9P[13]/[22] and G9P[23] at the second, G3P[7] at the third, and G9P[23], G5P[13]/[22], and P[7] combined with an untypeable G genotype at the fourth. Sequence analysis of the detected GARs revealed that such genetic diversity could have resulted not only from the introduction of new GAR strains, but also from gene reassortment between GAR strains within the farm. Further, the GAR strain carrying the untypeable G genotype was shown to be a novel porcine GAR bearing a new G26 genotype, as confirmed by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group.     

Prognosis following surgical excision of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors with histopathologically tumor-free versus nontumor-free margins: a retrospective study of 31 cases

The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence of histopathologically tumor-free versus nontumor-free margins was prognostic for relapse or tumor-related death in dogs following surgical excision of single or multiple cutaneous mast cell tumors confined to the skin without evidence of metastasis to lymph nodes or other noncutaneous sites. Differences in tumor-related death or frequency of relapse between the two groups were not significant. Failure to achieve histopathological tumor-free margins frequently did not lead to local relapse. All tumor-related deaths occurred following local relapse. The lack of statistical support for an association between prognosis and histopathological tumor-free versus nontumor-free margins may be a result of small sample size.     

The influence of age and gender on the immune system: a longitudinal study in Labrador Retriever dogs

While aging studies employing a cross-sectional design have been informative in documenting many age-related alterations in immune function between different age cohorts within a population, longitudinal studies are invaluable for verifying changes at the level of the individual and for defining the precise periods of life during which particular changes occur. In the present study, a battery of immunological parameters were evaluated in a group of Labrador Retrievers as part of a comprehensive longitudinal aging study. Twenty-three dogs (14 females, 9 males; from 4 to 11 years of age) were evaluated annually for total WBC counts, lymphocyte subset distributions, natural killer cell activity and neutrophil phagocytic activity, and biannually for lymphoproliferative activity. An age-related decline in absolute numbers of lymphocytes, T-cells, CD4-cells and CD8-cells was observed in both genders. The distribution of lymphocyte subsets shifted with age, most dramatically in the females; percentages of B-cells declined while those of T-cells increased. Changes in percentages of CD4- and CD8-cells over the 8-year period were not dramatic; in females, percentages of CD8-cells increased significantly in early- to mid-life and then stabilized. Lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens declined over time in both genders. Males demonstrated higher levels of NK cytolytic activity than females; a marginal decline in activity with age was observed. No significant age-related changes in the phagocytic capacity of PMN were observed. These longitudinal findings help to discriminate between those immune parameters which change most dramatically in early-life versus those which either change more dramatically later in life or change gradually over the entire span of life. In addition they identify significant gender differences in several parameters and corroborate our previously published cross-sectional aging data in the same species.     

Prevalence of nephrotoxicosis associated with a short-term saline solution diuresis protocol for the administration of cisplatin to dogs with malignant tumors: 61 cases (1987-1989).

The study reported here was undertaken to determine the nephrotoxicosis associated with the administration of cisplatin, an antineoplastic agent, to dogs when administered during 6-hour saline solution diuresis. Cisplatin (70 mg/m2 of body surface, IV, every 21 days) was given to 61 dogs with malignant neoplasia with a total of 185 doses in 1 (n = 9 dogs), 2 (n = 26 dogs), 3 (n = 4 dogs), 4 (n = 9 dogs), 5 (n = 2 dogs), and 6 (n = 11 dogs) treatments. The cisplatin was given over a 20-minute period after 0.9% NaCl solution (saline solution) was administered IV for 4 hours at a rate of 18.3 ml/kg of body weight/h. After the cisplatin infusion, saline solution diuresis was continued at the same rate for 2 hours. Before each treatment with cisplatin, dogs were evaluated with at least a physical examination, CBC, determination of serum urea nitrogen concentration, and in most cases, determination of serum creatinine concentration and urine specific gravity. Four of the 61 dogs (6.6%) developed clinically evident renal disease after 2 (1 dog), 3 (2 dogs), and 4 (1 dog) doses of cisplatin were administered. Three of the 4 dogs had preexisting disease of the urinary tract prior to the start of treatment. The survival time in dogs that developed renal disease (median, 145 days; range, 15 to 150 days) was similar to that of all dogs in this study (median, 154 days; range, 30 to 500 days), with 13 dogs still alive at the conclusion of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of the naked‐neck gene on traits associated with egg laying in a dwarf stock at two temperatures

1. Naked‐neck (NaNa and Nana⁺ ) and normal hens, all dwarf (dw), were compared for laying performance in two groups at 15 to 20 or 30 °C.

2. Naked‐neck hens, especially homozygotes, weighed less only at the cooler temperature. Body fatness was not different.

3. Normal, but not naked‐neck birds, showed a depression in food intake and egg output at 30 °C. In the hot environment mean egg weight and egg mass output were highest for naked‐neck homozygotes. At the cooler temperature mean egg weight was also higher for this genotype, at fixed body weight.

4. The decline in egg mass with time seemed greater for fully‐feathered layers at high temperature.

5. At moderate temperature residual food intake was slightly increased by the naked‐neck gene, but owing to the reduced body weight, food utilisation was not poorer for the NaNa or Nana ⁺ genotypes. At higher temperature Nana ⁺ and especially NaNa hens utilised food more efficiently.

6. An increase in wattle size and a slight decrease in body temperature were associated with the Na allele.

     

Mortality of captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) associated with serous fat atrophy: a review of five cases at Auckland Zoo.

Five giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) died peracutely within an 8-yr period. The giraffe were maintained in an outside enclosure during the day and moved under shelter at night. All the deaths occurred in winter. All the dead giraffe had serous fat atrophy at postmortem. The giraffe were fed good quantities of browse, together with alfalfa hay and commercial supplements. Retrospective analysis of the dietary ingredients showed that the diets were energy deficient. Subsequent additional high-energy feeds have caused a marked increase in surviving giraffe body weights although energy levels consumed were at the lower end of current recommendations. The relationship between low-energy reserves, high-energy demand in colder temperatures, and the possibility that hypoglycemia is a credible cause of the collapse of giraffe in these circumstances, is postulated to be the likely pathogenesis of giraffe deaths, previously reported elsewhere under the generic term "peracute mortality syndrome".     

Effect of a ventral slot procedure and of smooth or positive-profile threaded pins with polymethylmethacrylate fixation on intervertebral biomechanics at treated and adjacent canine cervical vertebral motion units

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanics of cervical vertebral motion units (VMUs) before and after a ventral slot procedure and after subsequent pin-poly-methylmethacrylate (pin-PMMA) fixation and to assess the use of smooth and positive-profile threaded (PPT) pins in pin-PMMA fixation and intravertebral pin placement. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cervical portions (C3 through C6 vertebrae) of 14 cadaveric canine vertebral columns. PROCEDURE: Flexion and extension bending moments were applied to specimens before and after creation of a ventral slot across the C4-C5 intervertebral space and after subsequent smooth or PPT pin-PMMA fixation at that site. Data for the C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6 VMUs were compared among treatments and between pin types, and pin protrusion was compared between pin types. RESULTS: Compared with values in intact specimens, ventral slot treatment increased neutral zone range of motion (NZ-ROM) by 98% at the treated VMUs and appeared to decrease overall ROM at adjacent VMUs; pin-PMMA fixation decreased NZ-ROM by 92% at the treated VMUs and increased overall NZ-ROM by 19% to 24% at adjacentVMUs. Specimens fixed with PPT pins were 82% (flexion) and 80% (extension) stiffer than smooth-pin-fixed specimens. Overall, 41% of pins protruded into foramina; PPT pins were more likely to protrude into transverse foramina. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that fixation of a cervical VMU alters the biomechanics of adjacent VMUs and may contribute to intervertebral degeneration of adjacent intervertebral disks. Use of threaded pins may lower the incidence of pin loosening and implant failure but enhances the likelihood of transverse foramina penetration.     

Effect of chronic pain associated with lameness on plasma cortisol concentrations in sheep: a field study

Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in two groups of sheep taken from 29 flocks in north Devon. The first group were healthy adult females and the second group were adult females suffering from footrot in one forefoot. These sheep were assessed for the severity of the lesion and the level of lameness and assigned a score. The plasma cortisol concentration was significantly higher in the lame sheep than in the healthy sheep and remained so for up to three months after the apparent resolution of the clinical lesion. There was no correlation between the severity of the footrot and the concentration of plasma cortisol.     

The effect of a combined dietary treatment with cholesterol and cholic acid on the lipid metabolism of geese at low or high choline concentrations.

A previous study demonstrated that a dietary treatment of young geese with cholesterol and cholic acid raises lipid concentrations in the liver. The present study was carried out to investigate whether such a lipid accumulation caused by those hyperlipidemic compounds can be intensified by low dietary choline concentrations. Therefore, 38 eight-week old geese were divided into four groups of 9 or 10 animals each and received a basal diet poor in choline which consisted predominately of maize and soy protein isolate over a period of 8 weeks. Treatment factors were supplementation of diets with cholesterol and cholic acid (0 vs. 5 g of cholesterol and cholic acid each per kg) and supplementation of choline chloride (0 vs. 1.5 g/kg). Final body weights as well as carcass weights were neither influenced significantly by dietary treatment with cholesterol and cholic acid nor by low dietary choline concentrations. However, feeding diets supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid markedly increased liver weights (two-fold), hepatic triglyceride (3.7-fold) and cholesterol (12-fold) concentrations and percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids at the expense of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. In geese fed diets with cholesterol and cholic acid, insufficient choline supply did not intensify, but even slightly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation. Geese fed diets with cholesterol and cholic acid exhibited markedly increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in plasma and very low-density lipoproteins, regardless of the choline supply. Muscle tissue of geese fed diets supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid exhibited also increased concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol whereas the fatty acid composition of muscle lipids remained unchanged. Among geese without hyperlipidemic treatment, concentrations of triglycerides in plasma and very low-density lipoproteins as well as the concentrations of phosphatidylcholine in liver and muscle tissue were not reduced by low dietary choline concentrations. Therefore, it is suggested that those animals were able to synthesize endogenous sufficient choline.     

Digestibility and metabolism of copper in diets for pigs and influence of dietary copper on growth performance,intestinal health,and overall immune status: a review

The current contribution reviews absorption and metabolism of copper(Cu), Cu deficiency, Cu toxicity, Cu bioavailability, and effects of pharmacological levels of Cu on growth performance and intestinal health of pigs.Copper is a micro mineral involved in metabolic reactions including cellular respiration, tissue pigmentation,hemoglobin formation, and connective tissue development. Copper is mostly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the duodenum, but some Cu is absorbed in the stomach. One way to evaluate the efficacy of sources of Cu is to measure relative bioavailability where responses include tissue concentrations of Cu, concentrations of metalloproteins, and enzymatic activity of animals fed test diets containing graded levels of Cu. The requirement for Cu by pigs is 5 to 10 mg/kg diet, however, Cu can be included at growth-promoting levels(i.e., 75 to 250 mg/kg diet) in diets for weanling and growing pigs to reduce post-weaning diarrhea and improve growth performance. The consistently observed improvement in growth performance upon Cu supplementation is likely a result of increases in lipase activity, growth hormone secretion, and expression of genes involved in postabsorptive metabolism of lipids. The growth-promoting effects of dietary Cu have also been attributed to its bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties because Cu may change bacterial populations in the intestine, and thereby reduce inflammation caused by pathogens. However, further research is needed to determine potential interactions between Cu and non-nutritive feed additives(e.g., enzymes, probiotics, phytobiotics), and the optimum quantity of Cu as well as the optimum duration of feeding supplemental Cu in diets for pigs should be further investigated. These gaps needs to be addressed to maximize inclusion of Cu in diets to improve growth performance while minimizing diseases and mortality.     

Effects of isovolemic resuscitation with hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier Hemoglobin glutamer-200 (bovine) on systemic and mesenteric perfusion and oxygenation in a canine model of hemorrhagic shock: a comparison with 6% hetastarch solution and shed blood

OBJECTIVE: To study Hemoglobin glutamer-200 bovine (Hb-200), 6% hetastarch (HES) and shed whole blood (WB) resuscitation in canine hemorrhagic shock. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective laboratory investigation. Animals Twelve adult dogs [29 +/- 1 kg (mean +/- SD)]. METHODS: Anesthetized dogs were instrumented for recording systemic and mesenteric hemodynamic parameters and withdrawal of arterial, mixed and mesenteric venous blood, in which hematological, oxygenation, blood gas and acid-bases variables were determined. Recordings were made before [baseline (BL)], after 1 hour of hypovolemia and immediately and 3 hours post-resuscitation with 30 mL kg(-1) of either Hb-200, HES, or WB. RESULTS: Blood withdrawal (average 34 +/- 2 mL kg(-1)) caused significant hemodynamic changes, metabolic acidosis and hyperlactatemia characteristic for hemorrhagic shock. Only WB transfusion restored all variables. Hemoglobin glutamer-200 bovine infusion returned most hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output and mesenteric arterial blood flow to BL but increased mean arterial pressure above BL (p < 0.05). However, Hb-200 failed to restore total Hb and arterial oxygen content (CaO2), leaving systemic (DO2I) and mesenteric O2 delivery (DO2Im) below BL (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, acid-base variables recovered completely after Hb-200 resuscitation, and met-hemoglobin (Met-Hb) levels increased (p < 0.05). Hetastarch resuscitation returned hemodynamic variables to or above BL but further decreased total Hb and CaO2, preventing recovery of sDO2I and mDO2I (p < 0.05). Thus, systemic and mesenteric O2 extraction stayed above BL (p < 0.05) while acid-base variables recovered to BL, although slower than in Hb-200 and WB groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Resuscitation with Hb-200 seemed to resolve metabolic acidosis and lactatemia more rapidly than HES, but not WB; yet it is not superior to HES in improving DO2I and DO2Im. The hyperoncotic property of solutions like Hb-200 that results in rapid volume expansion with more homogenous microvascular perfusion and the ability to facilitate diffusive O2 transfer accelerating metabolic recovery may be the key mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects as resuscitants.     

Disease at the wildlife-livestock interface: Acaricide use on domestic cattle does not prevent transmission of a tick-borne pathogen with multiple hosts

Several prominent and economically important diseases of livestock in East Africa are caused by multi-host pathogens that also infect wildlife species, but management strategies are generally livestock focused and models of these diseases tend to ignore the role of wildlife. We investigate the dynamics of a multi-host tick-borne disease in order to assess the efficacy of tick control from an ecological perspective. We examined the efficacy of a widespread measure of tick control and developed a model to explore how changes in the population of ticks due to control measures on cattle impact dynamics of Theileria parva infection in a system with two primary host species, cattle and Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer). We show that the frequency of acaricide application has a significant impact on the tick population both on the host and in the environment, which can greatly reduce the pathogen load in cattle. We also demonstrate that reducing the tick population through cattle-related control measures is not sufficient to diminish disease transmission in buffalo. Our results suggest that under current control strategies, which target ticks on cattle only, T. parva is likely to remain a significant problem in East Africa, and require the continued use of acaricides, which has significant economic and ecological consequences.     

Influence of intervertebral disc fenestration at the herniation site in association with hemilaminectomy on recurrence in chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar disc disease: a prospective MRI study

Objective— To describe the influence of fenestration at the disc herniation site on recurrence in thoracolumbar disc disease of chondrodystrophoid dogs.
Study Design— Prospective clinical study.
Animals— Chondrodystrophic dogs (n=19).
Methods— Dogs were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (9 dogs) had thoracolumbar disc extrusion (Hansen type I) treated by hemilaminectomy and concomitant fenestration of the affected intervertebral disc and group 2 (10 dogs) had hemilaminectomy without fenestration. All dogs had 3 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations: preoperatively, immediately postoperatively to assess removal of herniated disc material, and again 6 weeks after surgery.
Results— There were 13 male and 6 female dogs; mean age, 7.1 years. Thoracolumbar disc herniation was confirmed with MRI. Immediate post surgical MRI revealed that the herniated disc removal was complete in all but 1 dog and that fenestration did not lead to complete removal of nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral disc space. On the 3rd MRI examination, none of the group 1 dogs had further disc material herniation at the fenestrated site. Six of the 10 group 2 dogs had a recurrence of herniation leading to clinical signs in 3 dogs (pain in 2 dogs, paresis in 1 dog).
Conclusion— In thoracolumbar disc herniation, fenestration of the affected intervertebral disc space prevents further extrusion of disc material.
Clinical Relevance— Fenestration reduces the risk of early recurrence of disc herniation and associated postoperative complications.