Transient glucose malabsorption in two horses fact or artefact?

Two horses, presented for investigation of chronic weight loss despite normal to increased feed intake, had flat oral glucose absorption curves, suggesting malabsorption. The cause of the apparent malabsorption was not evident grossly or on light microscopic examination of the intestinal tract. Both horses survived long term and at follow-up examination had regained weight and their capacity to absorb glucose. These cases illustrate that flat glucose absorption curves may occur in horses with no obvious intestinal lesions, that they may revert to normal and that the results of these tests should be interpreted with caution.     

用线性回归法测定生长母猪内源钙、磷排泄量和豆粕钙、磷真消化率的研究

本文旨在用线性回归法(又称梯度回归法,regression analysis technique,REG)测定生长母猪钙、磷内源排泄和豆粕钙、磷真消化率。选择6头大白×长白二元杂交生长母猪,平均初始体重为(27.6±3.0)kg。采用6×6拉丁方设计,以玉米淀粉-豆粕为基础配制6个不同钙(0.04%、0.09%、0.13%、0.17%、0.22%和0.26%)和磷(0.09%、0.18%、0.27%、0.35%、0.44%和0.53%)水平的半纯合日粮,试验共6期,每期8d,预试期6d,正试期2d。结果得出,以日粮干物质采食量(DMI)为基础,粪钙的排泄量随日粮钙摄入量的增加而线性增加(P<0.01),用回归曲线法得出内源钙排泄量为0.43g/kg DMI,豆粕钙的真消化率为23.41%。以DMI为基础,粪磷总排泄量随日粮磷摄入量的增加而线性增加(P<0.01),内源磷排泄量为0.89g/kg DMI,豆粕磷真消化率为41.44%。钙平均表观消化率比真消化率低28.77%,磷平均表观消化率比真消化率低29.24%。结果显示,不同钙、磷水平的豆粕日粮,钙、磷的表观消化率变化比较大,而真消化率相对稳定。用表观消化率进行饲料配方,会导致钙、磷生物学效价的低估,造成钙、磷过量添加和猪粪钙、粪磷的增加。用真消化率评定钙、磷的生物学效价,比表观消化率更准确,因此在配制动物日粮时更能接近动物实际生产需要量,既不造成浪费也不会出现缺乏。     

线性回归法测定生长猪内源磷排泄量及鱼粉磷真消化率

本研究采用线性回归法测定生长猪内源磷排泄量及鱼粉磷的真消化率.选用5头健康大白×长白阉公猪为试验动物,平均体重为(27.17±0.28)kg.采用5×5拉丁方设计,设5个磷水平(0.08%、0.12%、0.17%、0.21%和0.25%),日粮以葡萄糖和玉米淀粉等为基础原料,鱼粉为磷唯一来源.日粮中添加0.1%TiO2作为外源指示剂.试验分5个试验期,每期6 d,4 d适应期,2 d收粪期.结果表明,生长猪粪磷的排出量与日粮磷的摄入量呈线性关系(y=0.292 7x-0.052 8,R2=0.99,P<0.01),回归法测得生长猪内源磷的排泄量为0.798 5 g/kg,鱼粉磷的真消化率为71.12%.分析粪磷来源发现,内源磷排泄量基本不变(P>0.05),而粪磷随日粮磷含量的增加而增加(P<0.01).由结果可知,线性回归法可用于测定猪内源磷排泄量及鱼粉磷真消化率.     

灌溉、施磷量及AM真菌对紫花苜蓿产量和水磷利用效率的影响

为探究灌溉、施磷量和丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM)真菌对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa. L)产量和水分及磷素利用效率的影响,本研究设置调亏灌溉(RDI)和定额灌溉(QI)2个灌溉处理,施磷肥0(P₀),60(P₁),120(P₂)和180 kg·hm^-2(P₃)4个肥力梯度,以及AM(土壤不灭AM真菌)和-AM(土壤灭AM真菌)2种处理。对紫花苜蓿产量、磷含量、磷吸收量和水分利用效率指标测定,并进行相关性分析和差异比较。结果表明：紫花苜蓿平均总产量在QI和RDI下分别为14 487.08 kg·hm^-2,13 395.23 kg·hm^-2,QI与RDI相比产量高出8.1%,但其水分利用效率降低了24.3%。与不施磷处理相比,施磷处理下紫花苜蓿总产量提高15.40%～39.96%。平均总产量在AM处理和-AM处理下分别为14 938.47 kg·hm^-2,13 450....     

Pre-cecal phosphorus digestibility for corn,wheat, soybean meal,and corn gluten meal in growing Japanese quails from 28 to 32 d of age

The optimization of dietary phosphorus (P) depends on precise details of the P availability in feed ingredients to avoid excess or deficient P in a mixed diet. This study was carried out to measure the apparent ileal digestibility of P for corn, wheat, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal in growing Japanese quails from 28 to 32 d posthatch. A total of 400 quail chicks were randomly distributed across 5 treatments with 4 replicates and 20 birds in each floor pen. The P-free diet (PFD) was formulated based on cornstarch to measure the basal endogenous P losses (EPL). Digestibility coefficients were determined by ileal digesta sampling using TiO₂ as an indigestible marker. The EPL was estimated at 384 mg/kg DMI. The apparent ileal P digestibility (AIPD) for corn, soybean meal, wheat, and corn gluten meal were determined to be 0.38, 0.53, 0.38, and 0.78, respectively. The corresponding values for true ileal P digestibility (TIPD) were 0.48, 0.61, 0.50, and 0.83, respectively. The t-test analysis showed that the difference of AIPD and TIPD values for corn (P = 0.031) and wheat (P = 0.015) were statistically significant, however, no significant differences were observed for corn gluten meal (P = 0.318) and soybean meal (P = 0.104). In conclusion, the correction of AIPD coefficients for EPL in low-P ingredients such as corn and wheat may be much more important than that in high-P feedstuffs such as corn gluten meal and soybean meal in growing quails.     

Cytokine dysregulation in aged horses and horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is the result of a loss of dopaminergic inhibition of the pars intermedia secondary to neurodegeneration of periventricular hypothalamic neurons. The pathologic events contributing to development of neurodegeneration or clinical signs in equids with PPID are unknown. Chronic inflammation may contribute to initiation or progression of PPID. HYPOTHESIS: Horses with PPID have a distinct systemic cytokine profile compared with that of normal adult or aged horses. The cytokine profile of healthy aged horses differs from that of adult horses. ANIMALS: Aged horses with PPID, healthy aged-matched controls, and adult controls (n = 14 per group). METHODS: Total leukocyte cytokine expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha plasma concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) TNF-alpha response after endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) treatment was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: Aged healthy horses had increased expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and interferon-gamma as well as PBMC TNF-alpha release after LPS stimulation compared with healthy adult horses. In contrast, aged horses with PPID had increased IL-8 expression, but expression of other cytokines was similar to that of healthy adult horses, not age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Aged horses show evidence of a proinflammatory state that may contribute to development of age-associated diseases. Horses with PPID have increased expression of IL-8, which may influence the ability of horses with PPID to respond to bacterial pathogens. The general decrease in proinflammatory cytokine expression observed in horses with PPID may be the outcome of high plasma concentrations of anti-inflammatory hormones.     

二元线性回归法测定生长猪内源磷排泄量及麦麸和豆粕磷的真消化率

本研究采用二元线性回归法测定生长猪内源磷排泄量及麦麸和豆粕磷的真消化率.选用6头健康大白×长白阉公猪为试验动物,平均体重为(34.42±0.64)kg.采用6×6拉丁方设计,设6个总磷水平(0.12%、0.25%、0.28%、0.35%、0.47%和0.54%),日粮以豆粕、葡萄糖、玉米淀粉等为基础原料,麦麸和豆粕为磷来源.日粮中添加0.1%TiO2作为外源指示剂.试验分6个试验期,每期6 d,4 d适应期,2 d收粪期.结果表明,生长猪粪磷的排出量与日粮磷的摄入量呈线性关系(y=0.515 7x-0.0133,R2=0.97,P<0.01),回归法测得生长猪内源磷的排泄量为0.933 0g/kg,麦麸和豆粕磷的真消化率分别为48.07%和47.50%.分析粪磷来源发现,内源磷排泄量基本不变(P>0.05),而粪磷随日粮磷含量的增加而极显著增加(P<0.01).由结果可知,线性回归法可用于测定猪内源磷排泄量及麦麸和豆粕磷的真消化率.     

6个紫花苜蓿品种根系形态结构对低磷胁迫的响应

为明确低磷胁迫下紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）根系形态结构的响应差异对磷效率的影响,以6个紫花苜蓿品种为材料,采用营养液砂培法,测定两种磷水平（对照：0.5 mmol·L^-1;低磷：0.05 mmol·L^-1）下苜蓿根系形态、解剖结构和磷效率。结果表明：低磷胁迫下,各苜蓿品种的根系长度、表面积、导管直径、中柱直径及其占根直径比例均降低,其余根系性状则呈现不同的变化趋势。低磷胁迫抑制了各苜蓿品种的生长和磷吸收;除‘赛迪’的磷利用效率显著增加外,其余5个苜蓿品种的磷利用效率均显著降低。‘赛迪’主要通过增加根冠比和磷利用效率,表现出较强的耐低磷能力。总体表明,根系长度、表面积、体积、导管直径、中柱直径及其占根直径比例是苜蓿根系响应低磷胁迫的主要指标,其中根系长度和中柱直径占根直径比例分别是影响6个苜蓿品种磷吸收和利用效率最关键的根系性状。     

Plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy horses and horses with atrial fibrillation

Introduction

Homocysteine (HCY) is an amino acid produced from methionine metabolism. Plasma homocysteine concentrations ([HCY]_p) are elevated (>13 μmol/L) in people with atrial fibrillation (AF) and can predict the recurrence of AF after cardioversion. This study aimed to validate a commercially available human HCY assay for use in horses to develop reference intervals for [HCY]_p and compare [HCY]_p in healthy horses and horses with AF.

Fragmentation of intravenous catheters in three horses

Fragmentation of an intravenous, polytetrafluoroethylene catheter occurred in three horses. The retained fragment was identified in the cervical region by radiography and in the jugular vein by ultrasonography. The retained fragment was removed successfully by jugular venotomy.     

Sarcocystis neurona-specific immunoglobulin G in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of horses administered S neurona vaccine

A vaccine against Sarcocystis neurona, which induces equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), has received conditional licensure in the United States. A major concern is whether the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response elicited by the vaccine will compromise the use of Western blotting (WB) as a diagnostic tool in vaccinated horses with neurologic disease. Our goals were to determine if vaccination (1) causes seroconversion: (2) causes at least a transient increase in S neurona-specific IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and (3) induces an IgG response that can be differentiated from that induced by natural exposure. Horses included in the study (n = 29) were older than 6 months with no evidence of neurologic disease. The presence or absence of anti-S neurona antibodies in the serum of each horse was determined by WB analysis. Seropositive horses had CSF collected and submitted for cytology, CSF index, and WB analysis. The vaccine was administered to all the horses and boostered 3-4 weeks later. On day 14 after the 2nd administration, serum and CSF were collected and analyzed. Eighty-nine percent (8 of 9) of the initial seronegative horses seroconverted after vaccination, of which 57% (4 of 7) had anti-S neurona IgG in their CSE Eighty percent (16 of 20) of the seropositive horses had an increase in serum S neurona IgG after vaccination. Of the 6 of 20 horses that were initially seropositive/CSF negative, 2 were borderline positive for anti-S neurona IgG in the CSF, 2 tested positive, and 2 were excluded because the CSF sample had been contaminated by blood. There were no WB banding patterns that distinguished samples from horses that seroconverted due to vaccination versus natural exposure. Caution must be used in interpreting WB analysis from neurologic horses that have been recently vaccinated for EPM.     

Hypomagnesemia in hospitalized horses

This study was initiated to identify the signalment and clinical variables potentially associated with hypomagnesemia in horses evaluated at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-CVM) veterinary teaching hospital between January 1999 and May 2001. A nested case reference study (nested case-control study) was conducted to examine the potential relationship between hypomagnesemia and signalment, serum chemistry panel analyses, number of hospitalization days, discharge status, and diagnosis. A series of independent and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the potential association of each variable with low total serum magnesium concentrations. Four hundred one of 823 (48.7%) horses had serum total magnesium concentrations below the normal reference range. Hypomagnesemia was more likely to occur in horses older than I month of age. Colic (odds ratio [OR]: 2.96, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.14-4.08), acute diarrhea (OR: 5.91, 95% CI: 2.32-15.06), other gastrointestinal disease (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.15-3.71), infectious respiratory disease (OR: 5.07, 95% CI: 2.09-12.28), and multiorgan system disease (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.24-4.28) were associated with hypomagnesemia in adult horses, whereas foals with diarrhea (excluding septic foals) (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01-0.84) were less likely to have hypomagnesemia. Overall, there was no relationship between hypomagnesemia and mortality (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.72-1.41), but horses with colic and hypomagnesemia were less likely to die than horses with colic and normal or high total magnesium (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30-0.95). Among horses that survived, hypomagnesemia at admission was associated with a longer hospitalization period (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.00-2.11).     

Models to quantify excretion of dry matter,nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in growing pigs fed regional diets

Modern pig production contributes to many environmental problems that relate to manure, especially in areas with highly intensive production systems and in regions like Asia where the regulative control is not effective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use three different pig diets varying in dietary protein, fibre and fat as representative for Danish (DK), Thai (TH) and Vietnamese (VN) pig production to develop and evaluate different approaches to predict/calculate excretion from growing pigs in comparison with the experimentally determined values.Nine female growing pigs were used in a digestibility and balance experiment. Excretion of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) of the experimental diets were determined.Due to the highest dietary fibre content, VN had the lowest digestibility of N, P and C (73, 49, and 73%, respectively) compared with the DK and TH pig diets. From the known diet composition using standard table values on chemical and nutrient digestibly, high accuracy (bias) and low variation was found and the results could be used for prediction on chemical composition and excretion in faeces and urine in growing pigs. Calculation based on standard values regarding nutrient retention in the pig body as used in the Danish manure normative system (DMNS) showed likewise to be quite useful for quantifying the total excretion of N and P.Overall, the results demonstrate that simple models that require cheap and normally available information on dietary nutrients can give useful information on nutrient excretion in growing pigs.     

Models to quantify excretion of dry matter,nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in growing pigs fed regional diets

Modern pig production contributes to many environmental problems that relate to manure, especially in areas with highly intensive production systems and in regions like Asia where the regulative control is not effective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use three different pig diets varying in dietary protein, fibre and fat as representative for Danish （DK）, Thai （TH） and Vietnamese （VN） pig production to develop and evaluate different approaches to predict/calculate excretion from growing pigs in comparison with the experimentally determined values. Nine female growing pigs were used in a digestibility and balance experiment. Excretion of dry matter （DM）, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） and carbon （C） of the experimental diets were determined. Due to the highest dietary fibre content, VN had the lowest digestibility of N, P and C （73, 49, and 73%, respectively） compared with the DK and TH pig diets. From the known diet composition using standard table values on chemical and nutrient digestibly, high accuracy （bias） and low variation was found and the results could be used for prediction on chemical composition and excretion in faeces and urine in growing pigs. Calculation based on standard values regarding nutrient retention in the pig body as used in the Danish manure normative system （DMNS） showed likewise to be quite useful for quantifying the total excretion of N and P. Overall, the results demonstrate that simple models that require cheap and normally available information on dietary nutrients can give useful information on nutrient excretion in growing pigs.     

Emerging outbreaks associated with equine coronavirus in adult horses

The purpose of this study was to describe clinical, hematological and fecal PCR results from 161 horses involved in outbreaks associated with ECoV. The outbreaks happened at four separate boarding facilities between November 2011 and April 2012 in the States of CA, TX, WI and MA. Following the molecular detection of ECoV in the feces from the initial index cases, the remaining herdmates were closely observed for the development of clinical signs. Fecal samples were collected from sick and healthy horses for the PCR detection of ECoV. All four outbreaks involved primarily adult horses. Fifty-nine horses developed clinical signs with 12–16 sick horses per outbreak. The main clinical signs reported were anorexia, lethargy and fever. Four horses from 3 different outbreaks were euthanized or died due to rapid progression of clinical signs. The cause of death could not be determined with necropsy evaluation in 2 horses, while septicemia secondary to gastrointestinal translocation was suspected in 2 horses. Blood work was available from 10 horses with clinical disease and common hematological abnormalities were leucopenia due to neutropenia and/or lymphopenia. Feces were available for ECoV testing by real-time PCR from 44 and 96 sick and healthy horses, respectively. 38/44 (86%) horses with abnormal clinical signs tested PCR positive for ECoV, while 89/96 (93%) healthy horses tested PCR negative for ECoV. The overall agreement between clinical status and PCR detection of ECoV was 91%. The study results suggest that ECoV is associated with self-limiting clinical and hematological abnormalities in adult horses.     

生长猪对饲料原料中磷的消化率

磷是生长猪的一种重要营养素,但它总是不能被猪完全利用,因为其经常与植酸结合在一起。使用标准全肠道消化率（Standard Total Tract Digestibility,STTD）概念,可以更好地测定饲料原料中磷的准确营养价值。豆粕是猪饲料中一种优质蛋白质原料,由于全球猪鸡的饲养规模不断扩大,大豆的需求量快速增加,大大超过了其供应量。因此,一些其它来源的蛋白质原料有时会用于饲料中,以向动物提供一些必需氨基酸。     

Brainstem auditory-evoked responses in horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy

Background: Facial and vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction occurs commonly in horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO); however, auditory dysfunction has not been thoroughly assessed.
Objective: To determine if auditory abnormalities occur in horses with THO.
Animals: Eleven diseased and 8 control horses.
Methods: This is a prospective study in which brainstem auditory-evoked responses (BAER) were recorded in 11 horses diagnosed with THO through neurologic, endoscopic, radiographic, or computed tomographic examinations. BAER findings were compared with those recorded from 8 adult control horses.
Results: All horses with THO were found to have BAER abnormalities that included complete unilateral BAER loss (82%, n = 9/11), partial unilateral BAER loss (18%, n = 2/11) on the most affected side, and contralateral partial BAER loss (46%, n = 5/11). Nine horses had bilateral THO based on diagnostic imaging findings; of these, 5 (56%) horses also had bilateral BAER abnormalities. The complete absence of BAER in affected horses was most consistent with peripheral sensorineural hearing loss. There was a significant association between complete BAER loss and neurologic and diagnostic abnormalities.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Auditory abnormalities such as complete or partial BAER loss are common in horses with THO. The BAER test is an objective diagnostic tool that can aid along with other diagnostic modalities in the assessment, management, and follow-up of horses with THO. Furthermore, BAER studies may help to elucidate the pathophysiology of THO in horses.