Intermandibular width and and cannon bone length in “winners” versus “others”

Conformation is defined as the form or outline of an animal and is sometimes expanded to include a relationship of form to function. In the course ofa studentproject,25 traits were measured in each of 20 Thoroughbreds as 3-year-olds in training. "Winners" were three year olds who had won a listed race in 1990 as two year olds. "Others" were three year olds who had raced but not won in listed races in 1990 as two year olds. Twelve of these Waits were evaluated using a linear assessment scoring system; 13 traits were measured using a steel tape, vernier calipers or an improvised compass. This short communication confines itself to two measured waits, intermandibular width and cannon bone length.     

Unusual “erythroid loops” in canine blood smears after viper‐bite envenomation

Abstract: Northern Italy is a habitat for many species of viper; Vipera aspis is responsible for most reported bites of humans and animals. Five dogs of different breeds and ages were presented by their owners to a veterinary clinic in northern Italy between September 2004 and August 2007 with a history of being bitten by a viper within the past 2 hours. On physical examination, all of the dogs were depressed, had pale mucous membranes, and had a painful area consistent with a recent viper bite wound on the nose (2), distal front leg (2), or lip (1). Hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria were observed in plasma and urine from all dogs. CBCs were done at the time of presentation, daily for 4 days, and 10 days after presentation in all dogs with the exception of one dog that died after 2 days. All dogs had an acute decrease in HCT within 24 hours of presentation; all dogs had neutrophilia, 3/5 had a mildly toxic left shift, and 4/5 had thrombocytopenia. On Diff‐Quik‐stained blood smears, moderate numbers of echinocytes, spherocytes, and erythrocyte ghosts were observed. In addition, moderate numbers of unusual erythrocyte membrane‐like structures (“erythroid loops”) were observed. The loops were annular in shape and sometimes disrupted, appearing as thin pale blue bands. Erythrocyte morphologic abnormalities decreased by day 3 and were no longer observed on day 10. The unique appearance of the erythroid loops together with evidence for intravascular hemolysis and other erythrocyte morphologic changes suggest they may be a consequence of erythrocyte lysis. Echinocytes, spherocytes, and erythrocyte ghosts are known to result from the action of phospholipase in viper venom; however, erythroid loops have not been reported previously and their exact mechanism of formation is unknown.     

Uncertainty in the “detection times” for drugs in horses

There are three major sources of uncertainty in the times for which drugs can be detected in a horse's blood or urine. First, horses are treated with drugs at one million-fold different doses, and they eliminate these doses at rates that vary about 300-fold. Second, the sensitivity of the tests that the analyst uses to detect these drugs can vary up to 100-fold or more. Third, horses treated with exactly the same doses of drugs can “spread out” or distribute the plasma levels of these drugs about50-fold in a skewed or irregular manner. In this distribution, a large proportion of horses show lowerblood levels of drugs, but a small proportion of horses show relatively much higher blood levels of drugs. Beyond this, the different pH (acidity) values of urine samples can cause urinary levels of drugs to vary by at least 200-fold. These factors cause large uncertainties concerning the blood or urinary levels of drugswhich are found even after the same doses of the same drug. These uncertainties result in considerable technical difficulties for the regulatory process of medication control.     

Using “Uterine Index” to diagnose embryonic death in mares

Embryonic death plays an important role in infertility in mares, and most of embryonic mortality occurs at an early stage (before day 40) of pregnancy. Previous investigations focused on B-mode sonographic images to determine abnormal pregnancy; however, no study has provided a quantitative and objective method to diagnose embryonic death. Here we developed a new index, “Uterine Index,” using color Doppler sonography to describe alterations of uterine blood flow in physiological and pathological gestations during early gestation. Six Trotter mares were used in this study. The pregnancies were interrupted with a prostaglandin F2α (PGF_2α) analog (tiaprost) at days 25, 30, and 40. Three gestations were investigated in each stage. After the PGF_2α administration, these mares were examined every 8 hours until the embryonic vesicles were not visible on ultrasound. In the control group, three pregnancies were examined daily from days 12 to 60. The embryo size was measured in B-mode sonography, and the blood flow in uterine arteries was examined in Doppler ultrasound. The resistance index (RI) and uterine index (UI) were calculated. In the control group, the RI values of uterine artery were lower in pregnant side compared with that of the non-pregnant side from day 15 on, and the difference became greater as the pregnancy advanced (P < .05). The UI was close to 0 before week 3 and increased to approximately 10 after week 4. In the PGF_2α-treated group, the UI values reduced from pregnancy level to approximately 0. As early as 32 hours before embryonic death, we observed a significant difference of UI values between control and treated mares. On the contrary, the embryo size of treated mares was not different from that of normal mares. Through the analysis of all recorded UI values, we suggest that the UI values 10 and 5 are good values for distinguishing normal pregnancy (UI >10) from embryonic death (UI < 5). If the UI values are located between 10 and 5, a reexamination at intervals of 1 to 3 days is recommended. Our findings demonstrate that the UI is a useful method to diagnose and predict embryonic death in mares by providing reliable and objective information.     

Discrimination of “grazing milk” using milk fatty acid profile in the grassland dairy area in Hokkaido

Milk produced by the grazing system, referred to as “grazing milk” contains many components required for human health. The milk fatty acid (FA) profile is strongly associated with the diet on the farms. In the present study, based on the FA profile of farmer's bulk milk, we determined how to discriminate between milk produced on grazing and on a confinement system. A field survey was conducted four times (grazing and confinement season) in the Konsen (29 farms) and Okhotsk (25 farms) area in Hokkaido. Farmer's bulk milk samples and details of feeding management were collected and the FA profile of milk was measured. Milk produced during the grazing season contained less C16:0 and cis‐9 C16:0, and more C18:0, cis‐9 C18:1, trans‐11 C18:1, cis‐9,12 C18:2, cis‐9,trans‐11 C18:2 and cis‐9,12,15 C18:3 than milk produced during the confinement season. Discrimination analysis using 16 FA revealed that almost all milk samples were discriminated correctly (confinement season: 90% correct and 10% borderline, grazing season: 88% correct, 9% borderline and 3% incorrect). For farmers that were categorized incorrectly and were considered borderline in the grazing season, the dependency on pasture was low compared with that for farmers correctly discriminated. Therefore, to claim “grazing milk”, a high dependency on pasture is required for grazing dairy farmers.