Ultrasonic Assessment During Pregnancy in Goats – A Review

Obstetric ultrasonography is the most common diagnostic approach used in veterinary reproduction because it is a simple, reliable and non‐invasive imaging technique. With advances in ultrasonography of small ruminants, assessment of pregnancy in goats is challenging for accurately managing reproduction. This article presents an up‐to‐date review of the use of ultrasonography in pregnancy for the diagnosis and evaluation of intrauterine foetal growth in goats.     

Hunting For Tularaemia – A Review of Cases in North Carolina

Human infections with Francisella tularensis can be acquired via numerous routes, including ingestion, inhalation, arthropod bite or direct contact with infected animals. Since 1991, there have been 25 reported cases of tularaemia in North Carolina, most of which were associated with rabbit hunting or cat bites. We present two adults cases of pulmonary and oropharyngeal tularaemia and review the reported cases since 1991–2013. We also present the fifth case of pulmonary empyema. While cavitary pneumonias are primarily treated with drainage, we illustrate a case of cavitary pneumonia associated with tularaemia successfully treated with oral ciprofloxacin after drainage. Tularaemia should be considered in patients with a perplexing radiographic image, animal exposure and lack of response to conventional empiric broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Even in serious cases of pneumonic tularaemia, fluoroquinolones may provide a suitable alternative to aminoglycosides.     

The Amniotic Membrane: Development and Potential Applications – A Review

Foetal membranes are essential tissues for embryonic development, playing important roles related to protection, breathing, nutrition and excretion. The amnion is the innermost extraembryonic membrane, which surrounds the foetus, forming an amniotic sac that contains the amniotic fluid (AF). In recent years, the amniotic membrane has emerged as a potential tool for clinical applications and has been primarily used in medicine in order to stimulate the healing of skin and corneal diseases. It has also been used in vaginal reconstructive surgery, repair of abdominal hernia, prevention of surgical adhesions and pericardium closure. More recently, it has been used in regenerative medicine because the amniotic‐derived stem cells as well as AF‐derived cells exhibit cellular plasticity, angiogenic, cytoprotective, immunosuppressive properties, antitumoural potential and the ability to generate induced pluripotent stem cells. These features make them a promising source of stem cells for cell therapy and tissue engineering. In this review, we discussed the development of the amnion, AF and amniotic cavity in different species, as well as the applicability of stem cells from the amnion and AF in cellular therapy.     

奶水牛泌乳特性的研究综述

本文综述了国内外奶水牛泌乳特性的研究现状,从奶水牛的泌乳生理特性、泌乳规律及其泌乳潜力的激发等方面介绍了沼泽型水牛和河流型水牛及其杂交水牛的一些泌乳特征,并对今后水牛业的发展提出一些建议。     

Camelid Immunoglobulins and Their Importance for the New‐Born – A Review

Camelid immunoglobulins differ from all other known antibodies and contradict all common theories on antibody diversity. It was demonstrated that up to 75 % of all serum proteins are immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules lacking light chains. IgG₂ and IgG₃, which only consist of heavy chains, have a low molecular weight which improves their biodistribution and allows a better tissue penetration. Of special importance is the long complementary determining region (CDR) loop which inserts deep into the active site of an enzyme. This binding property was only observed in experiments to gain structural data and to point out the extraordinary value of heavy chain antibodies as biochemical and pharmacological tools. The acquisition and absorption of adequate amounts of colostral immunoglobulins are essential to the health of the neonate. Pre‐colostrum serum IgG levels in camelids are low, with concentrations of 0.26 ± 0.23 mg/ml. Maximum IgG levels are reached after 24 h and kept at a plateau with concentrations of 24.52 ± 8.8 mg/dl. IgG concentrations above 10 mg/ml indicate a successful passive transfer. IgG levels decline after 2–5 weeks and a marked increase is observed between 1 and 2 months, indicating that the immune system of the neonate has started to mature. A number of different tests are available for the assessment of IgG serum levels. Single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) is the only method that specifically measures serum IgG concentrations. It is a reliable assay to test failure of passive transfer (FPT). FPT is a major factor in neonatal mortality in camelids, but very little has been published so far. Therapeutic administration of colostrum will provide passive protection against infectious diseases for a 2–3‐week period of risk, and the intravenous administration of 20–40 ml of camelid plasma helps to combat FPT.     

Significance of β2‐Toxigenic Clostridium perfringens Infections in Animals and Their Predisposing Factors – A Review

The novel β2‐toxin of Clostridium perfringens has recently been described as the cause of enteric diseases in animals. The biological activity of β2‐toxin is similar to that of the β1‐toxin with a possibly weaker cytotoxic activity. However, the production of β2‐toxin in vitro is not seen in all β2‐toxin‐gene (cpb2)‐positive C. perfringens strains, and to deduce a clinical importance solely from the detection of cpb2 is difficult. Detection of cpb2‐positive C. perfringens from various animal species with and without enteric diseases demonstrates the wide distribution of cpb2 in nature, and the presence of cpb2 gene is therefore not considered a risk by itself. Predisposing factors like low trypsin activity in the intestinal tract, antibiotic and/or antiphlogistic treatment or changes in diet can result in the selection of β2‐toxigenic C. perfringens which may lead to enteritis or enterotoxaemia.     

Prevention and Control of Rabies in an Age of Global Travel: A Review of Travel‐ and Trade‐Associated Rabies Events – United States, 1986–2012

Rabies prevention and control efforts have been successful in reducing or eliminating virus circulation regionally through vaccination of specific reservoir populations. A notable example of this success is the elimination of canine rabies virus variant from the United States and many other countries. However, increased international travel and trade can pose risks for rapid, long‐distance movements of ill or infected persons or animals. Such travel and trade can result in human exposures to rabies virus during travel or transit and could contribute to the re‐introduction of canine rabies variant or transmission of other viral variants among animal host populations. We present a review of travel‐ and trade‐associated rabies events that highlight international public health obligations and collaborative opportunities for rabies prevention and control in an age of global travel. Rabies is a fatal disease that warrants proactive coordination among international public health and travel industry partners (such as travel agents, tour companies and airlines) to protect human lives and to prevent the movement of viral variants among host populations.     

Objective Sperm Motion Analysis to Assess Dairy Bull Fertility Using Computer‐Aided System – A Review

Motility is one of the most important characteristics associated with the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa and is an expression of their viability and structural integrity. Computer‐assisted semen analyser (CASA) provides precise and accurate information on different sperm motion characteristics. This article reviews various aspects of computer‐aided motility analysis of bull sperm like sample preparation, standardization of instrument settings, importance of various motility parameters evaluated by the system and its impact on basic functional studies of spermatozoa. It gives special emphasis to various aspects of bull sperm motion analysis especially sub‐populations of spermatozoa, hyper‐activation, motion characteristic in different genetic and age groups, etc. and their utility in predicting the fertility of dairy bulls. The need to fill the gap in research and the necessity of universal standardization of the equipment has been discussed.     

Equine placenta – A clinician's perspective. Part 1: Normal placenta – Physiology and evaluation

A complex organ, the equine placenta is responsible for fetal nourishment, protection from external and internal insults, and the production and/or metabolisation of various hormones. The endometrial cups are unique structures of the equine placenta that are responsible for producing an essential hormone for equine pregnancy, equine chorionic gonadotropin. Since mares have epitheliochorial placentae, with 6 layers of tissue separating maternal from fetal circulation, almost the entire surface of the chorioallantois must be attached to the maternal endometrium in order to support a developing fetus adequately. The only avillous areas of the normal chorioallantois are: the cervical star, sites of the endometrial cups, areas facing oviductal papillae, folds overlying major allantoic vessels, and fetal foot PADs (placental areas of degeneration). There are characteristic differences between the gravid and the nongravid horn of the chorioallantois. Allantoic vesicles, allantoic pouches, hippomanes, amniotic plaques and yolk sac remnants are normal features of the equine placenta. The clinician should thoroughly examine the entire placenta immediately after its expulsion. The most important aspect of this evaluation is to check for completeness of the chorioallantois, along with identifying any pathological lesions on the fetal membranes or the umbilical cord.     

International Symposium on Buffalo Products - Book Review

Tropical Animal Health and Production -