Caprine arthritis encephalitis

Abstract

Extract

Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a disease of goats of any breed, sex and age, caused by a retrovirus related to, but distinct from, the maedi-visna virus which affects sheep.(4) Gazit, A., Yaniv, A., Divr, M., Perk, K., Irving, S.G. and Dahlberg, J.E. 1983. The caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus is a distinct virus within the lentivirus group. Virology, 124: 192–195.  [Google Scholar] (10) Roberson, Susan M., McGuire, T.C., Klevjer-Anderson, Paula, Gorham, J.R. and Cheevers, W.P. 1982. Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus is distinct from visna and progressive pneumonia viruses as measured by genome sequency homology. J. Virol., 44: 755–758. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] Both infections are included among the so-called slow virus diseases which are characterised by a long incubation period, protracted clinical course and persistent infection. Maedi-visna is not present in New Zealand but CAE has been detected in a number of goat flocks.     

Acute enteritis and deaths in sheep from Salmonella hindmarsh associated with oral dosing with zinc oxide

Abstract

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Madam:– The administration of zinc salts to sheep at the time they are exposed to spores of Pithomyces chartarum will reduce the amount of liver damage from the mycotoxin contained in these spores.(7 Smith, B.L., Embling, P.P., Towers, N.R., Wright, D.E. and Payne, E. 1977. The protective effect of zinc sulphate in experimental sporidesmin poisoning of sheep. N.Z. vet. J., 25: 124–127. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar])(10 Towers, N.R., Smith, B.L., Wright, D.E. and Sinclair, D.P. 1975. Preventing facial eczema by using zinc. Proc. Ruakura Farmers Conference 1975, : 57–61.  [Google Scholar])(11 Towers, N.R., Wright, D.E., Aitken, W.M., Smith, B.L., Sim, A.L. and Sinclair, D.P. 1976. Zinc and facial eczema. Proc. Ruakura Farmers Conference 1976, : 65–68.  [Google Scholar]) It is a recommended practice in facial eczema susceptible areas of New Zealand.(9 Towers, N.R. and Smith, B.L. 1983. Facial eczema. Zinc dosing for prevention. Revised recommendations 1984, AgLink FPP 496 end revise [Google Scholar]) We wish to report a suspected outbreak of salmonellosis that occurred only in a ZnO-dosed group of trial animals and suggest that there may be an association between ZnO administration and salmonellosis.     

Salmonellosis in sheep and zinc oxidedosing

Abstract

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Madam:– For several years we have been concerned with developing safe and effective methods of administering zinc to farm animals for the control of facial eczema. In none of our trial work involving repeated daily, weekly and fortnightly dosing of zinc oxide to sheep not vaccinated against salmonellosis has salmonellosis been encountered. Recently two reports(1 Allworth, M.B., West, D.M. and Bruere, A.N. 1985. Salmonellosis in ram hoggets following prophylactic zinc dosing. N.Z. vet. J., 33: 171–171. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]),(3 Neilsen, F.J.A., Jagusch, K.T., Gray, M.G. and Maclean, K.S. 1985. Acute enteritis and deaths in .sheep from Salmonella hindmarsh associated with oral dosing with zinc oxide. N.Z. vet. J., 33: 148–149.  [Google Scholar]) have suggested that high doses of zinc oxide have played a part in the aetiology of two outbreaks of salmonellosis in sheep and we thank the authors of both papers for pointing out their field observations. In the first outbreak(3 Neilsen, F.J.A., Jagusch, K.T., Gray, M.G. and Maclean, K.S. 1985. Acute enteritis and deaths in .sheep from Salmonella hindmarsh associated with oral dosing with zinc oxide. N.Z. vet. J., 33: 148–149.  [Google Scholar]) the sheep were subjected to exceptional stress (thrce days of mustering, yarding, drafting, tagging, weighing, bleeding, dosing and trucking). Even so it appeared that the "zinc dosed" and not the "nonzinc" group were affected by salmonellosis, but in exceptional circumstances.     

A serological survey for the presence of antibodies to ‘egg-drop-syndrome-1976’ adenovirus

Abstract

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Sir, — Avian adenoviruses are widely distributed in the world, and have been associated with a number of disease syndromes in poultry. including respiratory diseases, ⁽⁶⁾ McFerran, Gordon, W. A. M., Taylor, S. M. and McParland, P. J. 1971. Isolation of viruses from 94 flocks of fowls with respiratory disease. Res. vet. Sci., 12: 565–569.  [Google Scholar] egg production loss, ⁽⁹⁾ Van Eck, J. H. H., Davelaar, F. G., Van den Heuvel-Plessman, T. A. M., Van Kol, N., Kouwenhoven, G. and Guldie, F. H. M. 1976. Dropped egg production, soft shelled and shell-less eggs associated with appearance of precipitins to adenovirus in flocks of laying fowls. Avian Path., 5: 261–272. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] and hepatitis. ⁽¹⁰⁾ Horner, G. W. and Hunter, R. 1977. Prevalence of precipitating antibodies to avian adenoviruses in diagnostic serums. N.Z. vet. J., 25: 236–236. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]     

leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo vaccination against leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica infection

Abstract

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Sir, — Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica is now recognised as a widespread infection among opossums in New Zealand ⁽²⁾ Hathaway, S. C, Blackmore, D. K. and Marshall, R. B. 1978. The serologic and cultural prevalence of Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica in opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. J. Wild Dis., 14: 345–350. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and the possibility of domestic stock acting as accidental hosts has recently been demonstrated. ⁽³⁾ Mackintosh, C. G., Marshall, R. B. and Blackmore, D. K. 1980. Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica in cattle. N.Z. vet. J., 28: 268–268. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] With the recent development of hardjo vaccines ⁽¹⁾ Flint, S. H. and Liardet, D. M. 1980. A Trivalent leptospiral vaccine with emphasis on a Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo component to prevent leptospiruria. N.Z. vet. J., 28: 263–266. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ⁽⁴⁾ Marshall, R. B., Broughton, E. S. and Hellstrom, J. S. 1979. Protection of cattle against natural challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo using a hardjo - pomona vaccine. N.Z. vet. J., 27: 114–116. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] for controlling infection with this serovar in the maintenance hosts, stock could be left vulnerable to infection with other prevalent serovars such as balcanica.     

Polio-encephalomalacia of sheep

Abstract

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Increasing references have been made in the recent veterinary literature to malacic diseases of the nervous system in sheep and other animals. Plowright (1954 Cordy, D. R. 19S4. J. Neuropath., 13: 330–330.  [Google Scholar]) and Innes and Plowright (1955 Hartley, W. J. 1956. N.Z.vet.J., 4: 129–129. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) have described a focal symmetrical spinal poliomalacia of unknown aetiology in sheep in Kenya. In the U.S.A., Cordy (1954 Haymaker, W., Ginzler, A. M. and Ferguson, R. L. 1952. Military Surgeon, 111: 231–231.  [Google Scholar]) has described a focal symmetrical encephalomalacia of horses following the ingestion of a species of thistle, and Jensen et al. (1956 Hurst, E. W. 1940. Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci., 18: 201–201.  [Google Scholar]) have described an idiopathic polio-encephalomalacia in cattle and sheep. In New Zealand, Hartley (1956 Innes, J. R. M. and Plowright, W. 1955. J. Neuropath., 14: 185–185.  [Google Scholar]) has described a focal symmetrical encephalomalacia (F.S.E.) of lambs that may be related to the sublethal effects of the toxin of Clostridium perfringens (welchii) Type D. Smith (1957 Jensen, Rue, Griner, L. A. and Adams, O. R. 1956. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 129: 311–311. [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]) has described widespread lesions of polio-encephalomalacia together with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in sodium chloride poisoning of swine.     

Effect of infestation by nematodes of the family Trichostrongylidae upon the liveweight gain and wool production of young sheep

Abstract

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Much work has been, carried out in New Zealand to ascertain the response in young sheep to drenching with anthelmintics (for review see Whitten, 1954 Brown, H. D., Matzuk, A. K., Iives, I. R., Peterson, L. H., Harris, S. A., Sarett, L. H., Egerton, J. R., Yakstis, J. J., Campbell, W. C. and Cuckler, A. C. 1961. J. Amer. chem. Soc, 83: 1764–1764. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Clarke &; Filmer (1958) Brunsdon, R. V. 1960. N.Z. vet. J., 9: 13–13.  [Google Scholar] have also examined response to drenching in their studies on hogget' ill-thrift. As Whitten (1954) Clarke, E. A. and Filmer, D. B. 1958. N.Z. J. agric. Res., 1: 382–382. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] has shown, results of past drenching trials have been extremely variable. In some cases little or no response has been observed, in others considerable increases; in weight gains have been achieved. More recently, Robertson (1963) Gordon, H. McL. 1961. Nature, 191: 1409–1409. [Lond.] [Google Scholar] has summarized the results of part of an extensive series of country-wide post-weaning drenching trials conducted by the Department of Agriculture with the new anthelmintic thiabendazole. In those trials consistent, weight gain responses were recorded in favour of the drenched animals. However, most of the published data are from trials involving strategic drenching programmes designed to control or limit infestation rather than to suppress completely, patent infestation. Most of these trials have been confined to late summer, autumn and winter, and few have attempted to cover the entire first year of young sheep. Furthermore, little attempt has hitherto been made to correlate responses obtained with the changing degree and species composition of infestation throughout the course of the trial.     

Importance of the ewe as a source of trichostrongyle infection for lambs: Control of the spring-rise phenomenon by a single postlambing anthelmintic treatment

Abstract

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There are two principal sources of initial infection for the young lamb, the ewe grazing with it and the residual pasture infection resulting from any previous grazing. Several workers (Hawkins et al., 1944 Hawkins, P. A., Cole, C. L., Kline, E. E. and Drudge, J. H. 1944. Studies of sheep parasites. I. The course of untreated nematode infections. Vet. Med., 39: 154–161.  [Google Scholar]; Leiper, 1951 Leiper, J. W. G. 1951. Anew approach to phenothiazine therapy in sheep. Vet. Rec., 63: 885–889.  [Google Scholar]; Spedding and Brown, 1956 Spedding, C. R. W. and Brown, T. H. 1956. The “spring rise” in the nematode egg-count of sheep. J. Helminth., 29: 171–178. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]; Spedding, 1962 Spedding, C. R. W. 1962. Modern trends in animal health and husbandry. The agricultural ecology of sheep grazing. Brit. vet. J., 118: 461–481.  [Google Scholar]; Crofton, 1958 Crofton, H. D. 1958. Nematode parasite populations in sheep on lowland farms. V. Further observations on the post-parturient rise and a discussion of its significance. Parasitology, 48: 243–250.  [Google Scholar]; Soulsby, 1962 Soulsby, E. J. L. 1962. “Immunity to helminths and its effect on helminth infections”. In Animal Health and Production, 165–183. London: Butterworths.  [Google Scholar]) believe that the former is generally the more important.     

Chemotherapy of brucellosis in rams

Abstract

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Recognition that one infective agent could cause ram epididymitis and ewe abortion in New Zealand was due to McFarlane et al. (1952 McFarlane, D., Jebson, J. L., Hartley, W. J., Salisbury, R. M., McClure, T. J. and Osborne, H. G. 1952. Aust. vet. J., 28: 226–226. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). The organism was not identified at that time, but Buddie and Boyes (1953 Buddle, M. B. and Boyes, B. W. 1953. Aust. vet. J., 29: 145–153. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) classified it in the genus Brucella—possibly a variant of Br. melitensis. This finding provided a basis for research on control and treatment of the disease. The present paper describes studies on one aspect of this problem, the chemotherapy of affected rams.     

Malignant hyperthermia in a crossbred landrace-large white pig

Abstract

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Malignant hyperthermia is a rare and usually fatal complication of general anaesthesia. It occurs in man (Britt and Kalow, 1970 Britt, B. A. and Kalow, W. 1970. Malignant hyperthermia: a statistical review. Can. Anaesth. Soc. J., 17: 293–315. [Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]) and in certain breeds of pigs, the, Landrace (Hall et al., 1966 Hall, L. W., Woolf, N., Bradley, J. W. P. and Jolly, D. W. 1966. An unusal reaction to suxamethonium chloride. Br. med. J., 3: 594–594.  [Google Scholar]; Berman et at, 1970 Berman, M. C., Harrison, G. G. and Bull, A. B. 1970. Changes underlying halothane-induced malignant hyperpyrexia in Landrace pigs. Nature. Lond., 225: 653–655.  [Google Scholar]; Harrison et al., 1970 Harrison, G. G., Berman, M. C., Heekman, R., Bull, A. B., Terblanche, J. and Kench, J. E. 1970. “Anaesthetic induced malignant hyperpyrexia — Some observations of the syndrome in Landrace pigs”. In Ill Asian Australasian Congress of Anesthesiology, Canberra. Butterworths 158–166.  [Google Scholar]) the Poland China (Jones et al., 1972 Jones, E. W., Nelson, T. E., Anderson, I. L., Kerr, D. D. and Burnap, T. K. 1972. Malignant hyperthermia in swine. Anesthesiology, 36: 42–51.  [Google Scholar]), the Pietrain (Allen et al., 1970 Allen, W. M., Harding, J. D. J. and Paterson, D. S. P. 1970. Experimentally induced acute stress syndrome in Pietrain pigs. Vet. Rec., 87: 64–69.  [Google Scholar]) and the Large White (Mawdesley-Thomas, 1969 Mawdesley-Thomas, L. E. 1969. Cited by Allen, W. M. et al. (1970) [Google Scholar]).     

The Complement Fixation Test For brucella Ovis

Abstract

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Sir, — Correspondence in your journal has indicated that there is some divergence of opinion about the efficacy of the complement fixation (CF) test for the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis (Brucella ovis) ⁽¹⁾ Hicks, J. D., Burr, G. R., Marshall, D. R. and Vidier, B. M. 1978. CFT inaccurate for epididymitis. N.Z. vet. J., 24: 34–34.  [Google Scholar] ⁽²⁾ Bruére, A. N. and West, D. M. 1978. CFT inaccurate for epididymitis. N.Z. vet. J., 26: 115–115. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] ⁽³⁾ O'Hara, P. J., Anderson, L. D. and Weddell, W. 1978. N.Z. vet. J. CFT inaccurate for epididymitis, 26: 115–116. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] ⁽⁴⁾ Hicks, J. D., Burr, G. R. and Marshall, D. R. and. 1978. CFT inaccurate for epididymitis. N.Z. vet. J., 26: 135–135. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. A number of letters which have recently been received at the Animal Health Reference Laboratory indicate that this issue is not yet fully resolved. We believe that part of the difficulty is due to misunderstanding about the use and interpretation of the test, and we would therefore like to comment.     

Toxicity of zinc in ruminants in relation to facial eczema

Abstract

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The toxicity of zinc salts to ruminants has been studied by Ott et al (4) Ott, E. A., Smith, W. H., Harrington, R. B. and Beeson, W. M. 1966. Zinc toxicity in ruminants. I. Effect of high levels of dietary zinc on gains, feed consumption and feed efficiency of lambs. J. Anim. Sci., 25: 414–481. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (5) Ott, E. A., Smith, W. H., Harrington, R. B. and Beeson, W. M. 1966. Zinc toxicity in ruminants. II. Effects of high levels of dietary zinc on gains, feed consumption and feed efficiency of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 25: 419–423. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (6) Ott, E. A., Smith, W. H., Harrington, R. B., Stob, M., Parker, E. H. and Beeson, W. M. 1966. Zinc toxicity in ruminants. III. Physiological changes in tissues and alterations in rumen metabolism in lambs. J. Anim. Sci., 25: 424–431. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (7) Ou, E. A., Smith, W. H., Harrington, R. B., Parker, H. E. and Beeson, W. M. 1966. Zinc toxicity in ruminants. IV. Physiological changes in tissues of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 25: 432–428.  [Google Scholar] and others (3) Miller, W. J., Clifton, C. M., Fowler, P. R. and Perkins, H. F. 1965. Influence of high levels of dietary zinc on zinc in milk, performance and biochemistry of lactating cows. J Dairv Sci., 48: 450–453.  [Google Scholar] (16) Zurcher, T. D. 1970. “A study of the zinc requirement of beef cattle”. In PhD Thesis, Purdue University.  [Google Scholar] (2) Feaster, J. P., Hansard, S. L., McCall, J. T., Skipper, F. H. and Davis, G. K. 1954. Absorption and tissue distribution of radio zinc in steers fed high-zinc rations. J Anim. Sci., 13: 781–788.  [Google Scholar] (12) Thompson, A., Hansard, S. L. and Bell, M. C. 1959. The influence of aluminium and zinc upon absorption and retention of calcium and phosphorous in lambs. Anim. Sci., 18: 187–197.  [Google Scholar] (9) Rosenberger, G. and Gruender, H. D. 1975. “Experiments on the toxicity of zinc dusts in cattle”. In 20th World Veterinary Congress Summaries Vol. 2 Thessaloniki Greece 920–921.  [Google Scholar]. In much of this work zinc has been incorporated in the feed, a situation more applicable to intensive feedlot farming rather than the New Zealand pastoral situation, or the zinc has been fed for limited periods of time with the possibility that the full potential of zinc for causing toxicity has not been realised.     

A mass screening programme of angus cattle for the mannosidosis genotype — A prototype programme for control of inherited diseases in animals

Abstract

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Recent research has shown that the gene frequency for mannosidosis (pseudolipidosis) may approximate 0.05 in pedigree Angus herds (Jolly, unpublished data). As epidemiological studies suggest an equal frequency in commercial non-pedigree herds, the disease is elf economic importance to the national beef industry. Mannosidosis is an inherited lysosomal storage disease associated with a defect in catabolism, of the heterosaccharide fractioln of glycoproteins (Whittem and Walker, 1957 Donnelly, W. J. C., Sheahan, B. J. and Rogers, T. A. 1973a. GM₁ gangliosidosis in Friesian calves. J. Path., 111: 173–179.  [Google Scholar]; Jolly 1971 Donnelly, W. J. C., Sheahan, B. J. and Kelly, M. 1973b. Bet α-galactosidase deficiency in GM₁ gangliosidosis of Friesian calves. Res. vet. Sci., 15: 139–141.  [Google Scholar]; Hocking et al., 1972 Hocking, J. D., Jolly, R. D. and Batt, R. D. 1972. Deficiency of α-mannosidase in Angus cattle. Biochem. J., 128: 69–78.  [Google Scholar]; Phillips et al., 1974 Jolly, R. D. 1971. The pathology of the central nervous system in pseudolipidosis of Argus cattle. J. Path., 103: 113–121.  [Google Scholar]). Whereas animals with mannosidosis have negligible tissue sand plasma levels of α-mannosidase, heterozygotes having one normal gene and one defective gene have approximately half the normal level of enzyme in their tissues and plasma. This observation forms the basis for a control programme in which heterozygotes are identified by their plasma α-mannosidase 1evels (Jolly et al., 1973 Jolly, R. D., Tse, C. A. and Greenway, R. M. 1973. Plasma α-mannosidase activity as a means of detecting mannosidosis heterozygotes. N.Z. vet. J., 21: 64–69. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar], 1974a Jolly, R. D., Thompson, K. G., Tse, C. A., Munford, R. E. and Merrall, M. 1974a. Identification of mannosidosis heterozygotes — factors affecting normal plasma α-mannosidase levels. N.Z. vet. J., 22: 155–162. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar], b Jolly, R. D., Thompson, K. G. and Tse, C. A. 1974b. Evaluation of a mass screening programme for identification of mannosidosis heterozygotes in Angus cattle. N.Z. vet. J., 22: 185–190. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]).     

Serological evidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection in lambs

Abstract

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Madam;–The results of field trials of a live parainfluenza virus type3(PI₃)vaccine suggested that(PI₃)might not be the only virus involved in the initiation of outbreaks of pneumonia in lambs in New Zealand,(5 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])The outbreaks that were not associated with infection with(PI₃)could not be linked to infection with the other ovine respiratory viruses then known to be present in New Zealand (ovine adenovirus type 6 and the ovine variant of bovine adenovirus type 7)((1 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]),(4 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]),(5 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])suggesting that other unrecognised viruses might be involved. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of pneumonia in human infants and in cattle.(8 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])This virus has recently been isolated from a yearling ewe with mild rhinitis(6 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])and there is serological evidence of infection in adult sheep.(3 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]),(6 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])However, there are no reports implicating this virus in outbreaks of pneumonia in lambs, although experimental infection of lambs with a bovine isolate of RSV resulted in reduced pulmonary bacterial clearance leading to secondary pneumonic pasteurellosis.(2 Adair, B.M., McFerran, J.B. and McKillop, E.R. 1982. A sixth species of ovine adenovirus isolated from lambs in New Zealand. Arch. Virol., 74: 269–269. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar])     

The diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency in young lambs

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In the course of some earlier experiments, it was observed that vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in 2 hoggets was corrected by injection of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B_12b) (E. D. Andrews, pers. comm., 1972). Since this form of therapy offered a convenient and effective means of treating young lambs suffering from vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, more detailed investigations were desirable. It has been known for some time that lambs on the cobalt-deficient area at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Kaitoke Farm lose condition after weaning. Abnormal amounts of methylmalonic acid (MMA) had been found in the urine of some of these lambs, indicating a state of vitamin B12 deficiency Andrews et al, (1970 Andrews, E. D., Hogan, K. G., Stephenson, B. J., White, D. A. and Elliott, D. C. 1970. Cobalt and thiabendazole live-weight responses in grazing sheep, and their relation to the urinary excretion of methylmalonic acid. N.Z. Jl agric. Res., 13: 950–965. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]).     

A condition resembling Chastek paralysis in cats

Abstract

Extract

The design of a national mastitis survey, the methods used and the results have been described in Parts 1 and 2 of this series (Elliott et al., 1976 Elliott, R. E. W., Tattersfield, Jean G. and Brookbanks, E. O. 1975. New Zealand National Mastitis Survey: 1965–6. 1. Preliminary Studies. N.Z. vet. J., 24: 18–20.  [Google Scholar]; Tattersfield et al., 1976 Tattersfield, Jean G., Elliott, R. E. W. and Brookbanks, E. O. 1976. New Zealand National Mastitis Survey: 1965–6. 2. Measures of Mastitis Prevalence. N.Z. vet. J., 24: 40–54. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]).     

Protein nutrition of dairy cattle

Abstract

In the June 1998 issue of the New Zealand Veterinay Journal, a clinical review was published focusing on aspects of the protein nutrition of dairy cattle (Westwood et al., 1998 Westwood, CT,, Lean, IJ, and Kellaway, RC. 1998. Indications and implications for testing milk urea in dairy cattle: A quantitative review. Part 1. Dietary protein sources and metabolism. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 46: 87–96. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The authors wrote: “Most species of rumen bacteria can use ammonia for growth, but some, particularly bacteria which ferment cell wall carbohydrates, use or have obligate requirements for amino acids and peptides (Russel et al., 1992 Russel, JB,, O’Connor, JD,, Fox, DG,, Soest, PJ, van and Sniffen, CJ. 1992. A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets. I. Ruminal fermentation. Journal of Animal Science, 70: 3551–61. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar])”.     

Isolation of Leptospira hardjo from the opossum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Isolation of leptospira hardjo from the opossum (trichosurus vulpecula)

Extract

Sir, — In 1971 and 1972 the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries conducted surveys on the incidence of leptospirosis among fanners and their stock on the Hauraki Plains. As a result, Leptospira hardjo was identified for the first time in New Zealand, being isolated from humans (Christmas et al., 1974 Christmas, B. W., Till, D. G. and Bragger, Judith M. 1974. Dairy farm fever in New Zealand: Isolation of L. pomona and L. hardjo from a local outbreak. N. Z. med. J., 79: 904–906. [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]) and from dairy cattle (Lake, 1973 Christmas, B. W., Till, D. G. and Bragger, Judith M. 1974. Dairy farm fever in New Zealand: Isolation of L. pomona and L. hardjo from a local outbreak. N. Z. med. J., 79: 904–906. [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]). Evidence to date suggests that most human infections in New Zealand, whether of L. hardjo or of other serotypes, are contracted while milking.     

A sheep mortality survey in Hawke's bay

Abstract

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Disease surveillance systems can take many forms, depending upon what is desired of them. Surveys of mortality can be useful as an integral part of any surveillance system, both as a record of the losses and as an indication as to which conditions may be responsible for lowering the thrift of the population. Both these sources of loss are important in reducing the monetary return from a stock population as a whole. Surveys of mortality can indicate the importance of low incidence diseases and can be used to identify conditions previously unknown in the area. Totally new diseases can also be detected in this manner. Many individual disease conditions as well as surveys of groups of diseases (Hartley and Kater, 1962 Hartley, W. J. and Kater, J. C. 1962. Observations on diseases of the central nervous system of sheep in New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 10: 128–142. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; O'Hara and Shortridge, 1966 O'Hara, P. J. and Shortridge, E. H. 1966. Some diseases of the porcine central nervous system in New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 14: 1–12. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; Shortridge and Cordes, 1971 Shortridge, E. H. and Cordes, D. O. 1971. Neoplasms in cattle: A survey of 372 neoplasms examined at the Ruakura Veterinary Diagnostic Station. N.Z. vet. J., 19: 5–11. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) have been reported from material submitted to New Zealand laboratories and mortality studies on groups of animals have been undertaken elsewhere (Everitt and Evans, 1970 Everitt, G. C. and Evans, S. T. 1970. Beef production from a dairy herd: an analysis of mortalities. N.Z. vet. J., 18: 132–139. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; Jackson et al., 1972 Jackson, C. A. W., Kingston, D. J. and Hemsley, L. A. 1972. A total mortality survey of nine batches of broiler chickens. Aust. vet. J., 48: 481–487.  [Google Scholar]).     

Biochemical characterisation of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Abstract

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Sir:– Recently, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) was isolated in New Zealand.(5 Oliver, R.E., Adams, D.S., Gorham, J.R., Julian, A.F., McNiven, R.A. and Muir, J. 1982. Isolation of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus from a goat. N.Z. vet. J., 30: 147–149. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) The virus induced syncytial cell formation in cell culture, budded from the cytoplasmic membrane of infected cells, was 80-100 nm in diameter, and reacted with both CAEV- and maedi/visna-positive antisera. We wish to present evidence that this isolate of CAEV has other biochemical characteristics of the Retroviridae. The two biochemical techniques used were the detection of 3H uridine-Iabelled virus and the assay for viral RNA-directed DNA polymerase (RDDP).