Fascioloides magna: Occurrence in Saskatchewan and Distribution in Canada

Infection with Fascioloides magna, the large American liver fluke, was diagnosed in two moose (Alces alces) and six wapiti (Cervus elaphus) from central Saskatchewan. This is believed to be the first record of the parasite in the province. Fecal samples collected from wild wapiti at five sites in the commercial forest zone in Saskatchewan contained eggs believed to be those of F. magna. Trematode eggs were not found in feces from five captive herds of wapiti in the province, nor in samples from wild wapiti in Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Operculate eggs were found in feces of wild wapiti from Cypress Hills, but these were believed to be from trematodes other than F. magna. The distribution and significance of F. magna in Canada, based partially on responses to a mail questionnaire, are reviewed.     

Osteochondrosis in association with copper deficiency in farmed deer calves

Osteochondrosis has been recognised in association with copper deficiency in young farmed red deer and wapiti X red deer hybrids on several deer farms throughout New Zealand. On some properties more than 30% of fawns were affected. Affected animals were lame, often had one or more swollen joints and in some cases had an abnormal “bunny-hopping” gait or “COW hocked” stance. Lesions were most common in the carpal, tarsal, stifle and hip joints and were usually bilateral. Defects in articular cartilage ranged from loose flaps to complete separation with exposure of subchondral bone and the presence of loose bodies within the joint space. In advanced cases the joints had features of degenerative arthropathy. Bilaterial epiphyseolysis of the femoral head was observed in some severely lame deer.     

Activity of closantel against experimentally induced Fascioloides magna infection in sheep

The efficacy of closantel against experimentally induced Fascioloides magna infection in sheep was studied. In each of 3 experiments, closantel was administered 8 weeks after the sheep were given (oral inoculation) 100 metacercariae of F magna. In the 1st experiment, closantel was given orally to 5 groups of 6 sheep each at dosages of 0 (nontreated control), 5, 7.5, 10, and 15 mg/kg of body weight. In the 2nd and 3rd experiments, groups of 10 or 12 sheep were treated to confirm the efficacy of the previously determined optimal dosage of 15 mg/kg. An additional group of sheep (n = 10) was used in the 3rd experiment to evaluate the efficacy of closantel given IM at a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg. Closantel given orally at a dosage level of 15 mg/kg was highly effective (94.6% to 97.7%) in reducing F magna burdens. Also, pathologic scores associated with the F magna infection were reduced by 81.3% to 92.6% in sheep given this dosage of closantel. Efficacy of the IM administered dosage of 7.5 mg of drug/kg was equivalent to that of the 15 mg/kg oral dosage. Other than mild, transient lameness of the limbs which were injected with the drug (group 10), side effects were not observed.     

The efficacy of a pour-on formulation of moxidectin in young red and wapiti-hybrid deer

AIMS: To measure the efficacy of a pour-on formulation of moxidectin against lungworm and abomasal parasites in weaner wapiti x red deer and to compare this with its efficacy in weaner red deer. METHODS: Six red and six wapiti hybrid deer, naturally infected with lungworm and gastro-intestinal parasites, were treated with pour-on moxidectin at 500 microg/kg body weight and slaughtered 14 or 16 days later, along with six red and six wapiti hybrid untreated control deer. Total worm counts were performed on the lungs, abomasum and abomasal digest of each deer. RESULTS: The efficacy of moxidectin pour-on was 100% against adult and immature lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus) in red deer, and 100% and 99.7% effective against adult and immature lungworm in wapiti hybrid deer. The efficacy of moxidectin pour-on was 100, 100, 99.9 and 99.9% respectively against adult, fifth stage, late fourth stage and early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia-type nematodes (assumed to be Ostertagia, Spiculopteragia, Skrjabinagia and Apteragia spp.) in both red and wapiti hybrid deer. CONCLUSIONS: The pour-on formulation of moxidectin, at 500 microg/kg body weight, is highly effective against mature and immature lungworms and abomasal nematodes in wapiti hybrid deer and equally effective in red deer.     

梅花鹿、马鹿及杂种鹿茸料比的分析

以较大样本数为基础 ,采用加权法对我国 1988～ 2 0 0 2年家养的 14种茸用鹿鲜茸的茸料比进行了统计分析及选择。结果表明 ,3个地方品种即东北梅花鹿、东北马鹿和天山马鹿的茸料比分别为 5 773,5 6 0 3,11 76 0 ;2种杂交鹿花马杂交F1和东天杂交F1的茸料比分别为 8 6 6 2和 11 2 17;人工选育品种品系长白山品系、双阳、四平、西丰和敖东品种梅花鹿的茸料比分别为 7 346 ,6 15 6 ,6 0 5 6 ,5 75 2 ,5 6 13,天山马鹿清原品系和清原塔里木、乌兰坝马鹿品种的茸料比分别为 11 76 0 ,12 894 ,11 175 ,7 35 8。     

Efficacy of clorsulon against Fascioloides magna infection in sheep

In a study to evaluate the efficacy of clorsulon against Fascioloides magna infection in sheep, 12 ewes were inoculated orally with 100 metacercariae of F magna, and 6 were treated with clorsulon (15 mg/kg of body weight) 8 weeks after inoculation. The sheep were euthanatized 16 weeks after inoculation, flukes were recovered, and the liver and other tissues were subjectively scored for the severity of lesions (0 to 4+). The number of flukes recovered from the clorsulon-treated group (3.8 +/- 1.2 flukes) was significantly (P = 0.025) lower than the number of flukes recovered from the group of untreated controls (10.0 +/- 6.6 flukes). The severity of lesions was significantly (P = 0.004) reduced (45.9%) in the treated group (2.0 +/- 1.1), compared with that in the untreated controls (3.7 +/- 0.5). In the untreated group, 3 sheep died and 1 became moribund 14 to 16 weeks after inoculation. The data suggested that a single treatment with clorsulon at a dosage of 15 mg/kg 8 weeks after inoculation was not effective in preventing F magna infection in sheep, because the survival of only a few F magna is potentially fatal in sheep within 6 months after infection.     

Historic, pre-European settlement, and present-day contribution of wild ruminants to enteric methane emissions in the United States

The objectives of this analysis were to estimate historic (pre-European settlement) enteric CH(4) emissions from wild ruminants in the contiguous United States and compare these with present-day CH(4) emissions from farmed ruminants. The analysis included bison, elk (wapiti), and deer (white-tailed and mule). Wild ruminants such as moose, antelope (pronghorn), caribou, and mountain sheep and goat were not included in the analysis because their natural range is mostly outside the contiguous United States or because they have relatively small population sizes. Data for presettlement and present-day population sizes, animal BW, feed intake, and CH(4) emission factors were adopted from various sources. Present-day CH(4) emissions from livestock were from recent United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates. The most important factor determining CH(4) emissions from wild ruminants in the presettlement period was the size of the bison population. Overall, enteric CH(4) emissions from bison, elk, and deer in the presettlement period were about 86% (assuming bison population size of 50 million) of the current CH(4) emissions from farmed ruminants in the United States. Present-day CH(4) emissions from wild ruminants (bison, elk, and deer) were estimated at 0.28 Tg/yr, or 4.3% of the emissions from domestic ruminants. Due to its population size (estimated at 25 million), the white-tailed deer is the most significant present-day wild ruminant contributor to enteric CH(4) emissions in the contiguous United States.     

低剂量梅花鹿XY精子马花杂交人工授精试验

采用流式细胞分离仪分离的梅花鹿X和Y型冷冻精液与常规冻精对62头3组同期化处理的马鹿进行直肠把握人工授精。结果表明,0.25 mL/支含106个有效精子的X和Y型冻精产仔率分别为43%和37%,而0.25 mL/支含107个有效精子的常规冻精产仔率为55%,X、Y型冻精与常规冻精组间差异显著(P<0.05),所产后代性别比率分别为0∶10,9∶0和5∶6,X、Y型冻精与常规冻精组间差异显著(P<0.05),X、Y型冻精与常规冻精所产后代出生及60 d时的体重差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Efficacy of two formulations of albendazole against liver flukes in cattle.

Albendazole (10 mg/kg of body weight) was administered as a drench suspension or as a feed additive to 24 cattle with naturally acquired infections of Fasciola hepatica and Fascioloides magna. Cattle were euthanatized 16 to 30 days after treatment, and the number of viable flukes was counted. Viable F hepatica and F magna were decreased by 91.4% and 70.6% for drench administration and by 82.9% and 71.9% for the feed additive treatment, respectively. There was no significant difference between the efficacy of the 2 formulations in decreasing viable fluke numbers, compared with untreated controls.     

分离Y精子在茸鹿性别控制中的应用研究

为研究一种新的茸鹿繁殖方法,2007～2008年对469头马鹿,79头梅花鹿进行性别控制技术研究。结果表明：性别控制冻精情期受胎率马鹿为87．21％,梅花鹿为60．76％,两者之间差异极显著（P〈0．01）,性比率（指产公仔率）马鹿为90．95％,梅花鹿为93．75％,两者之间无显著差异（P〉0．05）;性别控制冻精与普通冻精输精比较,马鹿情期受胎率之间、性比率之间和梅花鹿性比率之间都存在极显著差异（P〈0．01）,梅花鹿情期受胎率之间则无显著差异（P〉0．05）。普通冻精受胎率马鹿为94．89％、梅花鹿为61．63％,性比率马鹿为50．22％、梅花鹿为49．06％,性别控制冻精受胎率整体接近普通冻精,性比率则提高40％以上,比较分析认为对茸鹿X、Y精子分离进行性别控制试验是成功的。     

An antegrade surgical uterine flush technique for ova collection in the ewe

A surgical uterine flush technique was evaluated for percentage of ova/corpora lutea (CL) collected and development of reproductive adhesions in 79 superovulated ewes. The median collection rate for ova/CL was 70%, and 47 of 79 ewes had greater than or equal to 67% ova/CL. At 50 to 80 days after uterine flushing, celiotomies were performed on 50 of the 79 ewes to evaluate the reproductive tract for adhesions. Adhesions of the reproductive tract were not found. Thirty ewes were given prostaglandin F2 alpha, were mated, and became pregnant. The ova collection rates were comparable with rates reported in ewes in which oviductal flush methods were used; however, adhesions did not develop and reproductive function was maintained after surgery.     

Efficacy of triclabendazole against experimentally induced Fascioloides magna infections in sheep

Efficacy of oral administration of 20 mg of triclabendazole/kg of body weight was evaluated against 12-week Fascioloides magna infections in 12 sheep, each inoculated orally with 250 viable metacercariae. From 6 sheep treated with triclabendazole, 1 immature F magna was recovered, whereas 116 F magna with a mean length of 19 +/- 6.5 mm were recovered from 6 untreated control sheep. Efficacy of triclabendazole was 99.14%. Signs of toxicosis or illness were not observed in the sheep.     

The isolation of Yersinia sp. from feral and farmed deer faeces

Faecal samples from clinically normal farmed red deer, wapiti, fallow deer; and feral red deer and white tail deer were examined for members of the genus Yersinia. From 922 samples 176 strains of Y.enterocolitica, 56 strains of Y.frederiksenii, 29 strains of Y.kristensenii, eight strains of Y.intermedia, and seven strains of Y.pseudotuberculosis were isolated. High isolation rates of Yersinia sp. were recorded from some farms. Two herds had isolation rates of 33.3% and 36.8%. Sixteen strains of Yersinia sp. in addition to strains of Y.psuedotuberculosis were found to be Hela cell invasive. The majority of these strains were confined to a single herd and represented Y.enterocolitica biotypes I, II and III, Y.intermedia, Y. fredericksenii, and Y.kristensenii.     

Effect of unilateral cornual insemination upon fertilization rate in superovulating and single-ovulating cattle

In Exp. 1, 21 first-service cattle and seven repeat-breeder cattle, averaging 4.7 infertile services, were brought into estrus and superovulated by treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone and prostaglandin F2 alpha. At insemination, semen was deposited in the greater curvature of one uterine horn, about midway between the utero-cervical junction and the utero-tubal junction. Cattle were necropsied 2 to 7 d after estrus and ova were recovered and examined. The fertilization rate for first-service cows was 74% of 362 intact ova and for repeat-breeders, 43% of 128 intact ova (P less than .001). Fertilization rate in first-service cows was 81% on the side of semen deposition and 68% on the opposite side (P less than .01); the rates in repeat-breeders were 54% and 32% (P less than .025). Differences between sides were due mostly to four cows that averaged 93% fertilization on the side of semen deposition and 19% on the opposite side. The proportion of fertilized ova with accessory sperm (17%) did not differ between sides of the reproductive tract. In Exp. 2, 60 first-service and 32 repeat-breeder cows in natural estrus had semen deposited in the uterine body or in the greater curvature of one uterine horn, either on the side of impending ovulation or on the opposite side. At necropsy, 55 ova were recovered from first-service cows, of which 42 (76%) were intact and 13 (24%) were ruptured or fragmented. Of the 42 intact ova, 41 (98%) were cleaved. From the 32 repeat-breeders, 30 ova were recovered, of which 26 (87%) were intact and 4 (13%) were ruptured; 23 of the 26 intact ova (88%) were cleaved. Site of semen deposition had no significant effect on either fertilization rate or number of accessory sperm in either type of cow. First-service cows averaged more accessory sperm (40) than did repeat-breeders (19, P less than .01). Overall results indicated that sperm deposited deep in one uterine horn fertilized ova nearly as frequently in the opposite oviduct as in the adjacent oviduct except in 14% of superovulating cattle.     

A comparison of lungworm faecal larval counts and trichostrongyloid faecal egg counts between red deer (Cervus elaphus) and red deer x wapiti F1 hybrids

To determine if breed differences in susceptibility to trichostrongyloid and lungworm infection exist, two groups of weaner deer containing seven red deer and red deer x wapiti F1 hybrids were compared using faecal egg counts and faecal larval counts. All animals were run on the same pasture at the same time and treated with the same anthelmintics at the same time. Results indicated that there were significant differences between red deer and red deer x wapiti hybrids, with red deer having higher faecal lungworm counts and red deer x wapiti hybrids having significantly higher faecal egg counts. It is likely that these differences were due to breed. Differences in the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments were also noted between the two groups, with oral oxfendazole being less effective at reducing faecal lungworm counts in red deer X wapiti hybrids than red deer.     

Co-culture of ovine ova with oviductal cells in medium 199

Three experiments were conducted to test the suitability of medium 199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (M199FCS) as a medium for co-culture of one-cell sheep ova with sheep oviductal cells. In Exp. 1, ova were co-cultured for 5 d in 5 ml of M199FCS or in Ham's F10 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (F10FCS). Co-culture did not increase the number of cleavages at the end of 5 d of culture, but M199FCS supported more cleavages than did F10FCS (P = .016). In Exp. 2, ova were cultured for 1 to 3 d in M199FCS alone or on oviductal, uterine or kidney cell monolayers from ewes 2 d postestrus and transferred to recipients from which they were recovered at 8 d postestrus. Co-culture with oviductal cells improved (P less than .001) the cleavage index of recovered embryos compared with culture in medium alone or co-culture with other cell types. In Exp. 3, monolayers of oviductal cells from ewes 2 d postestrus and from luteal-phase ewes were cultured as in Exp. 2. No difference was observed between the two sources of oviductal cells for their ability to support in vitro development of one-cell sheep eggs for 1 or 2 d. These studies suggest that M199FCS may be a good medium to use in an oviductal cell co-culture system for one-cell sheep ova. Results further suggest that specific secretions of oviductal cells may be important for early embryo development in vivo.     

东北梅花鹿与天山马鹿种间杂交效果

为充分利用茸鹿的种间杂交优势，对东北梅花鹿与天山马鹿的种间杂交效果进行了试验观测。结果表明：花×马杂交F1代初角～三锯鲜茸产量分别是2．21kg、2．59kg、4．53kg、5．82kg，单产平均（初角～三锯）3．79kg；鲜茸质量性状杂种优势率分别为54．01％、5．93％、23．77％、-3．88％，杂种优势明显；...     

Evaluation of clorsulon against immature Fascioloides magna in cattle and sheep

Efficacy of clorsulon was evaluated against infection with immature Fascioloides magna in 24 cattle and 12 sheep. Infections were induced by oral administration of 600 metacercariae/host. In cattle, clorsulon at dosages of 7 and 21 mg/kg of body weight was 65 and 100% effective against 8-week-old flukes, and 20 and 74% effective against 16-week-old flukes, respectively. In sheep, clorsulon at a dosage of 21 mg/kg was 92% effective against 8-week-old flukes. Significantly (P less than 0.05) more F magna were recovered from untreated sheep than from untreated cattle.     

Recovery of Fascioloides magna (Digenea) population in spite of treatment programme? Screening of Galba truncatula (Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae) from Lower Austria

During the past decade, Fascioloides magna, the large American liver fluke, has spread within free-living deer in wetlands of the Danube in Lower Austria. The aim of this study was to determine the current infection rates with F. magna and other digenean parasites in the intermediate host snail Galba truncatula from risk areas in Lower Austria. A total of 3444 G. truncatula were collected and examined microscopically for the presence of digenean trematodes. A set of randomly selected snails and isolated trematode stages were also investigated molecular biologically by PCR and sequencing. Digenean parasites were detected with a prevalence of 2.41% (1.83% Paramphistomoidea; 0.46% Echinostomatoidea; 0.09% Strigeida; 0.06% Plagiorchiida). F. magna was found with an overall prevalence of 0.23%, which may indicate a recovery of the parasite population in spite of an ongoing triclabendazole treatment programme. Moreover, high risk areas and a seasonality of infections were observed.     

梅花鹿、马鹿血清IGF-1及GH浓度年周期变化规律研究

选用8只雄性成年梅花鹿,6只雄性成年东北马鹿,在我国传统饲养模式下,每月采集鹿血液样品,进行鹿血清胰岛素样生长因子(IGF-1)及生长激素(GH)浓度年周期变化规律研究。试验结果表明,①梅花鹿血清IGF-1质量浓度4月份上升较高,5月份略有下降,到6月份达到一年周期变化的最高值,7月份开始逐渐下降,7～10月份均保持在一个稳定的水平,从11月至翌年3月,梅花鹿血清IGF-1质量浓度为全年最低水平,从翌年4月开始,IGF-1水平又开始回升。梅花鹿血清GH质量浓度在夏季的4～7月份相对处于较高状态,2月份梅花鹿血清GH质量浓度为一年中的最低水平。梅花鹿血清GH质量浓度相对比IGF-1质量浓度水平高,且变化趋势具有同步性。②马鹿血清IGF-1质量浓度4月份较高,5月份略有下降,到6月份达到一年周期变化的最高值,7月份开始逐渐下降,7～10月份均保持在一个稳定的水平,11月份略有上升,从12月至翌年3月,马鹿血清IGF-1质量浓度为全年最低水平,从翌年4月开始,IGF-1水平又开始回升,5月份同上一年的变化规律,又有一个下降的水平。马鹿血清GH质量浓度全年均较为平稳,但在夏季的4～8月份相对处于较高状态。③梅花鹿与马鹿血清IGF-1及GH质量浓度变化同步,在一年的大部分时间点,梅花鹿血清IGF-1及GH水平均高于马鹿血清IGF-1和GH水平,梅花鹿IG