Comparison of three serologic techniques for detection of antibody to Mycoplasma pulmonis

A comparison of three micro-assay detection systems for naturally occurring and experimentally induced rat antibody to Mycoplasma pulmonis was performed. The micro-enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay was found superior to counter immunoelectrophoresis or complement fixation techniques when comparing sensitivity, duration of antibody response, or technical requirements. The primary immune response was routinely detected at 3 weeks after antigen exposure when using the enzyme linked or complement fixation assays.     

Effects of treadmill exercise on the transfer of plasma triglyceride into the ovary of the laying fowl

1. The effects of 90 min continuous treadmill exercise on the plasma-to-ovary transfer of 14C-labelled triglycerides in laying hens were examined. 2. Exercised birds showed a 4-fold increase in plasma free fatty acid concentration, a 15% decrease in plasma glucose concentration and unchanged plasma triglyceride concentration compared with resting controls. The mean plasma-to-ovary triglyceride transfer rate was approximately halved by exercise. 3. The surface area-specific triglyceride transfer rate was greatest for oocytes weighing 0.25-1.5 g and decreased with increasing oocyte size. The lowest rates were in the small (less than 0.25 g) white oocytes. This pattern was largely unaffected by exercise. 4. Factors that might be responsible for the reduction in triglyceride transfer into the oocytes during exercise include hormonal effects on the permeability of the oocyte envelope, increased competition for plasma lipids by the working muscles and reduced blood flow to the ovary, as a result of the release of vasoconstrictors.     

Real-time non-invasive measurement of heart rate in working dogs: a technique with potential applications in the objective assessment of welfare problems

The Polar Sport Tester (Polar Electro OY) is a telemetric heart rate monitor designed for use in humans. Its usefulness as a monitor during training of guide dogs is assessed in this paper. Heart rates from six representative dogs at a similar stage of early training were recorded at 5-s intervals during a 15-20 min work session. The dogs were F1 Labrador Retriever x Golden Retrievers. They were chosen if their behaviour could be clearly categorized by their experienced trainers as either 'calm/non-stress prone' (Type A) or 'excitable/stress prone' (Type B) during work. Verbal recordings were made of environmental cues and behavioural responses in each dog. Variability in heart rate was significantly related to a subject's described temperament.     

Sciatic nerve block in dogs: description and evaluation of a modified ultrasound-guided parasacral approach

Objective

To develop a modified ultrasound-guided parasacral approach to the sciatic nerve and compare the effects of a volume of 0.2 mL kg^–1 of 0.5% levobupivacaine with an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline injected near the sciatic nerve.

Changes in body composition during weight loss in obese client-owned cats: loss of lean tissue mass correlates with overall percentage of weight lost

Obesity is one of the most common medical diseases in cats, but there remains little information on success of weight loss regimes in obese client-owned cats. No information currently exists on body composition changes during weight loss in clinical cases. Twelve obese client-owned cats undertook a weight loss programme incorporating a high-protein low fat diet. Body composition was quantified by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, before and after weight loss. Mean (+/-standard deviation) weight loss was 27+/-6.8% of starting weight, and mean rate of weight loss was 0.8+/-0.32% per week. Mean energy allocation during weight loss was 32+/-7.0 kcal/kg target weight. Mean composition of tissue lost was 86:13:1 (fat:lean:bone mineral). The proportion of lean tissue loss was positively associated with overall percentage of weight loss (simple linear regression, r(2)=44.2%, P=0.026). Conventional weight loss programmes produce safe weight loss, but lean tissue loss is an inevitable consequence in cats that lose significant proportions of their starting body weight.