Standards in scientific contributions

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Sir,—In their reply to my earlier letter (N.Z. tlct. 1. 6: 27) on the above subject, Messrs McDonald and Rudge (N.Z. vet. J., 6: 59) have carefully avoided the major issues I raised and, instead, have laid down a heavy smokescreen of quibbles—some of them hardly cricket—which I crave space to answer as briefly as maybe.     

Intraperitoneal vaccination of rams against brucella epididymitis

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Sir, —In reply to the letter of Quinlivan and Wallace in this issue, I must state that their comments give me no reason to modify or retract my comments in Surveillance (1978) No.5.     

“P & P Practice — A Reply

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Madam:– I am delighted to be able to reply to this letter, and thank you for the opportunity.     

Rupture of the Flexor Metatarsi Muscle in the Horse

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Sir,—The New Zealand Veterinary Journal has built up an excellent reputation during its relatively short life and this reputation should be jealously guarded. I therefore heartily endorse Mr Thornbury's criticisms of a recent article in his letter headed “Enucleation of Corpora Lutea” published in your September issue. Contributions of the calibre of that which drew his criticism reflect little credit on the authors and will hardly enhance the reputation of our Journal.     

Drug sales and the veterinarian

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Sir,—I was interested to read the letter by R. Jackson, (N.Z. vet. J., 9: 81) and would like to support his views. However, he did not offer a solution to the problem.     

Animal welfare and laparoscopic A.I.

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Madam:— I was most disturbed to read the recent letter from D A Conway,⁽¹⁾ which indicated that some veterinarians appear to be compromising the welfare of goats when carrying out laparoscopic A.I.     

A copy of Dr Charleston's letter was sent to I.C.I. Tasman Ltd,and the following reply was received. — Ed.

Extract

Sir, — In reply to Dr Charleston's letter, the following points are pertinent.     

Predicted Redistribution of Ceratomyxa shasta Genotypes with Salmonid Passage in the Deschutes River,Oregon

Abstract

A series of dams on the Deschutes River, Oregon, act as migration barriers that segregate the river system into upper and lower basins. Proposed fish passage between basins would reunite populations of native potamodromous fish and allow anadromous fish of Deschutes River origin access to the upper basin. We assessed the potential redistribution of host-species-specific genotypes (O, I, II, III) of the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta that could occur with fish passage and examined the influence of nonnative fish on genotype composition. To determine the present distribution of the parasite genotypes, we exposed eight salmonid species—three native and five stocked for sport fishing—in present and predicted anadromous salmonid habitats. We monitored fish for infection by C. shasta and sequenced a section of the parasite ribosomal DNA gene from fish and water samples to determine parasite genotype. Genotype O was present in both upper and lower basins and detected only in steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss. Genotype I was spatially limited to the lower basin, isolated predominately from Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha, and lethal for this species only. Genotype II was detected in both basins and in multiple species, but only as a minor component of the infection. Genotype III was also present in both basins, had a wide host range, and caused mortality in native steelhead and multiple nonnative species. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and kokanee O. nerka were the least susceptible to infection by any genotype of C. shasta. Our findings confirmed the host-specific patterns of C. shasta infections and indicated that passage of Chinook salmon would probably spread genotype I into the upper Deschutes River basin, but with little risk to native salmonid populations.

Received April 20, 2012; accepted July 19, 2012     

COnfusion reigns — a reply

Extract

Madam:– Thank you for the opportunity to reply to the letter from Dr. Wiessing.     

A comparison of highveld fodders and fodder flows for growing out long yearling steers

Abstract

A fodder flow/animal experiment 40,8 ha in extent (7,5 ha irrigated), with 19 paddocks, was carried out over a two and a half year period.

The aims were: firstly, to compare fodder crops within seasons, and fodder flows over three seasons (winter‐spring‐summer), by means of pasture and animal parameters; secondly, to make economic comparisons between different fodder flows, for growing out beef steers.

The conclusions were that: Digitaria eriantha ssp. eriantha is superior to Eragrostis curvula cv. Ermelo for animal production; maize residue gives economically favourable results due to low costs and compensatory growth of cattle; an irrigated pasture providing fodder in more than one season of a flow, for example, Festuca foggage — Festuca pasture — Digitaria pasture, gives a very profitable fodder flow, because the costs of production are divided between two seasons; dryland fodder flows with the sequence maize residue — silage or hay — Digitaria or, with silage or hay replacing the maize residue, were also very profitable; and, the fodder flow giving the highest livemass gain per steer, is not necessarily the most economic. Different kinds and classes of livestock require different fodder flows.     

Production and quality norms of certain grass species for fodder flow planning: Pretoria area

Abstract

Four subtropical (Cenchrus. Digitaria, Anthephora and Sorghum) and two temperate grass species (Festuca. Agrotricum) were grown in a replicated field experiment at three levels of N application, with adequate P and K. Species were mown at 4‐, 6‐ and 8‐weekly intervals. DM production data for 6‐ and 8‐weekly and 4‐ and 6‐weekly intervals are presented for subtropicals and temperates, respectively.

The object was to determine the seasonal accumulative DM production curves, productivity spread and quality, for use in fodder flow planning.

The subtropical grasses produced 2 to 3 times as much DM as the temperate grasses : CGR 745—1237 versus 345—440 kg/ha/wk under supplementary irrigation. The subtropicals produced ca 2^{h times as much under irrigation than under rainfed conditions.

Festuca and Agrotricum, Digitaria. Athephora and Sorghum, Cenchrus, gave peak CGR's after 9, 15, 16 and 18 weeks after end of August, respectively. Irrigation resulted in peak CGR being reached earlier in the growing season than under rainfed conditions and in subtropicals maintaining a high CGR for 1½ — 2½ months longer.

Various implications of the results for pasture management, and the fact that quality and DM yield generally are antagonistic in subtropical grasses, were discussed.     

First report of the use of mucosal swabs of the palatine tonsillar crypt for detection of Mycoplasma bovis in naturally infected calves

ABSTRACT

Aims: To compare detection by real-time PCR of DNA from Mycoplasma bovis on mucosal swabs taken from the palatine tonsillar crypt and the mainstem bronchi of clinically asymptomatic calves after slaughter.

Methods: We compared the sensitivity of mucosal swabs taken from two sites: the palatine tonsillar crypt and the mainstem bronchi. Paired samples were taken post-mortem at slaughter from 55 clinically well calves from an infected herd and were tested by real-time PCR for the presence of M. bovis-specific DNA.

Results: Mycoplasma bovis DNA was detected in 51 palatine tonsillar crypt swabs (92.7 (95% CI?=?82.4–98.0)%) and seven mainstem bronchial swabs (12.7 (95% CI?=?5.3–24.5)%). All seven calves with positive mainstem bronchial swabs also had positive palatine tonsillar crypt swabs.

Conclusions: When compared to mucosal swabs of the mainstem bronchi, mucosal swabs of the palatine tonsillar crypt were seven times more sensitive for the post-mortem detection of M. bovis DNA. The viability of detected M. bovis was not assessed, because any cattle carrying viable or non-viable M. bovis DNA were determined to be a potential risk to eradication. Palatine tonsillar crypt mucosa may be a useful anatomical site for real-time PCR detection of M. bovis DNA in naturally infected calves. More work is needed to define the persistence and viability of M. bovis at this anatomical site.

Clinical relevance: The results of this study helped form the basis of surveillance tools used in M. bovis control and eradication efforts. Familiarity with these results may help veterinarians better communicate with their clients about the science behind the eradication efforts.     

Live sheep exports — a reply

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Madam:- Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reply to the letters regarding the export of live sheep for slaughter.     

Xylaxine

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In reply to the correspondence from Beasley⁽¹⁾, may I heartily endorse his request for any factual or anecdotal reports of the effects of xylazine in humans.     

Behavior of Rocinela angustata (Isopoda,Aegidae), an Ectoparasite of Alaskan Marine Fishes

Abstract

Observations were made on the feeding and host selection behavior of the aegid isopod Rocinela angustata. Host susceptibility was assessed by placing isopods into laboratory tanks containing 14 common species of Alaska marine fishes. Five species of Sebastes and Blepsias bilobus were attacked within a few minutes of the introduction. Five species—Enophrys bison, Eumicrotremus orbis, Hexagrammos lagocephalus, Pleuronectes asper, and Pholis laeta—were attacked 10–24 h after introduction of the isopods. Three species—Podothecus acipenserinus, Liparis gibbus, and Lycodes brevipes—were not successfully attacked, even when held in isolation with an isopod for 14 d. Starved isopods isolated with B. bilobus attached to fish within 1 h and remained attached 4–14 d. The isopods reattached 1–4 d after detachment. Isopod digestive tracts cleared within 24 h after detachment.     

Animal welfare considerations of laparoscopic A.I.

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Madam:— Members of the public have brought to my attention that there are some within our profession performing laparoscopic A.I. in goats in an unsatisfactory fashion.     

Letters to the editor

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Sir,—I have used morantel tartrate as a drench by stomach tube for horses infested with Oxyuris, strongyles, Parascaris, and Anoplocephala perfoliata. In the first three horses treated, symptoms of oxyuriasis soon disappeared and the strongyle egg counts became negative.     

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for specific and rapid detection of Brucella abortus in cattle

Background: Brucella abortus, the major causative agent of abortion in cattle and a zoonotic pathogen, needs to be diagnosed at an early stage. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test is easy to perform and also promising to be adapted at field level.

Objective: To develop a LAMP assay for specific and rapid detection of B. abortus from clinical samples of cattle.

Methods: LAMP primers were designed targeting BruAb2_0168 region using specific software tool and LAMP was optimized. The developed LAMP was tested for its specificity with 3 Brucella spp. and 11 other non-Brucella spp. Sensitivity of the developed LAMP was also carried out with known quantity of DNA. Cattle whole blood samples and aborted fetal stomach contents were collected and used for testing with developed LAMP assay and results were compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: The developed LAMP assay works at 61 °C for 60 min and the detection limit was observed to be 100-fold more than the conventional PCR that is commonly used for diagnosis of B. abortus. Clinical sensitivity and specificity of the developed LAMP assay was 100% when compared with Rose Bengal plate test and standard tube agglutination test. SYB® green dye I was used to visualize the result with naked eye.

Conclusion: The novelty of the developed LAMP assay for specifically detecting B. abortus infection in cattle along with its inherent rapidness and high sensitivity can be employed for detecting this economically important pathogen of cattle at field level as well be exploited for screening of human infections.     

Vitiligo in a cow associated with hepatosis

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I am concerned with the claims about the interpretation of the clinical pathological results in a recent letter published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (Yeruham et al., 1998).     

A serologic study on Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughtered sheep and goats in Qazvin Province,Iran

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a common protozoan parasite among all mammals, in particular small ruminants, worldwide. Traditional husbandry can be a major risk factor for infection of sheep and goats with this parasite.

Objectives

The present study aimed to determine the current status of the prevalence for T. gondii in livestock of Qazvin Province.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, the sera of 455 sheep and 375 goats were examined to detect anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by using in-house indirect ELISA.

Results

Overall, 33.62% (153/455) of sheep and 36.41% (130/375) of goats were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies with no statistically significant difference. The prevalence rate of T. gondii among the sheep of Qazvin County was significantly higher than in Abyek and Abhar counties (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results of the present study indicate that the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goats of the study area is high. Therefore, the meat of the animals reared in this area can be a potential source of human infections by this parasite.