Ejaculatory failure associated with aortic-iliac thrombosis in two stallions.

Two mature breeding stallions were evaluated because of specific ejaculatory dysfunction, and each was found to have aortic-iliac thrombosis occluding 60 to 70% of the aortic lumen. In each case, the stallion had strong libido, normal mounting, and vigorous initial thrusting. With continued exertion, thrusting became weak and dismount was awkward. Treatment aimed at maximizing sexual arousal before mounting and reducing hind limb pain and exertion during breeding allowed these stallions to continue breeding. A program of gradually increasing daily exercise also was associated with improved breeding performance during subsequent breeding seasons. In cases of specific ejaculatory dysfunction, aortic-iliac disease should be included among the differential diagnoses.     

Marketing dairy practice

Marketing to veterinarians is the process of synchronizing the business aspects of his or her goods and services so that they are understood and desired by animal owners. The basic components of a successful marketing program are in four categories: the individual, the situation, the needs, and the implementation. Each category is important and all are interrelated; however, the implementation of a program should not begin until a self-analysis has been done and the situation and its needs are thoroughly researched. Programs that have been used by successful practitioners can be copied. No program can be effective unless the economic status of the client's enterprise is known and understood.     

Determination of sulfamethazine and trimethoprim in liquid feed premixes by HPLC and diode array detection, with an analysis of the uncertainty of the analytical results.

Sulfamethazine (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) are antibacterials used in veterinary practice. This paper describes a method for their determination in veterinary liquid feed premixes that is based on liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Gradient elution with methanol and ammonium acetate achieved excellent separation of the two analytes within 15 min without any interference from the matrix. Absorbance of the column effluent was monitored at 264 nm for SMZ and at 230 nm for TMP. Detailed analyses of the uncertainties of determinations afford estimated expanded uncertainties of, respectively, 0.2 and 0.1 w/v % for typical SMZ and TMP concentrations of 10.7 and 2.1 w/v %, respectively. At the lower end of the calibrated range of the method, the dominant source of uncertainty is the preparation of standards and the construction of the calibration line.     

Effect of folic acid supplements on homocysteine concentration in plasma of gestating sows.

An experiment comprising 19 German Landrace sows was established to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplements (10 mg/kg concentrate) on homocysteine and folic acid concentration in plasma and serum, respectively, of highly pregnant sows as compared to an unsupplemented control (basal diet contained 0.62 mg folic acid/kg concentrate). Blood samples were taken between day 75 and 110 of gestation for homocysteine analysis and on day 100 of gestation for folic acid determination. Due to the folic acid supplements serum folic acid concentration increased significantly (104 nmol/l in controls and 140 nmol/l in supplemented sows). In contrast, homocysteine concentration in the plasma was not significantly influenced by folic acid supplements (16.6 mumol/l in controls and 15.2 mumol/l in supplemented sows). Further investigations seem to be necessary to clarify the physiology of homocysteine metabolism in swine.     

Laboratory-based surveillance of salmonellosis of humans in Germany--safety of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis live vaccines]

The Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, in Germany has been licensed different live vaccines of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis for use in the veterinary medicine since I the 90s. The Robert Koch Institute has established a lab-based surveillance system for these live vaccine strains for an evaluation of recent public health safety. Since 2000 all strains of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis from humans were investigated in respect to their phage types and other vaccine markers. 3676 S. Typhimurium strains and 4489 S. Enteritidis strains mainly from Salmonellose patients were investigated after phage typing according to their auxotrophic or antibiotic resistance markers. The live vaccine strains of Zoosaloral, TAD Salmonella vacT or TAD Salmonella vacE and Salmovac SE could not be found from infections in humans.     

The effect of eradication of lice on the occurrence of the grain defect light flecks and spots on cattle hides.

The influence of an eradication programme for lice on the prevalence of light flecks and spots on cattle hides was studied in 33 dairy cattle herds during a period of two and a half years. Lice were eradicated from the main group of herds after 9 to 12 months and the quality of the hides before and after treatment was compared. Hides from slaughtered animals were collected during the study period, tanned and examined with special emphasis on the occurrence of the grain damage light flecks and spots. The prevalence of hides without light flecks and spots increased from 24.2% before treatment to 61.6% after treatment. The prevalence of hides free from the damage increased significantly in all examined anatomical regions. The improvement in hide quality was most marked in the shoulders and neck region which corresponded to the major predilection site of cattle lice. The prevalence of hides with light flecks and spots started to decrease in the first period (2-40 days) after eradication. The changes after treatment suggested that most healing process took place over a period of about 4 months. The eradication programme eliminated the seasonal variation in the prevalence of light flecks and spots which was present before treatment.     

Association between Chlamydia psittaci seropositivity and abortion in Italian dairy cows.

Although the seroprevalence of Chlamydia psittaci is widespread in Italian dairy herds, its role in inducing genital disorders has not been elucidated. We therefore set up a case-control study to compare seroprevalence to C. psittaci in an aborted-cow population and in a randomly selected control group in the province of Parma (the Po Valley of northern Italy). The true seroprevalence (45%) in aborted cows was significantly higher than that in the control group (24%) (adjusted odds ratio=2.53).     

Effect of concentrate crude protein level on grass silage intake, milk yield and nutrient utilisation by dairy cows in early lactation.

Twenty-one multiparous dairy cows were fed concentrates containing three levels (119, 154 and 191 g/kg DM) of crude protein (CP) during the first ten weeks of lactation. Part of the grain and molassed sugar beat pulp was substituted with 0% (RSM0), 15% (RSM15) or 30% (RSM30) repeseed meal. Wilted grass silage was fed ad libitum after calving. The average response between RSM0 and RSM15 was +1.66 kg milk/d per percentage unit change in concentrate CP content. No further response occurred between RSM15 and RSM30. The positive effect of RSM inclusion was seen throughout the experimental period and was associated with increased plasma non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and decreased plasma insulin concentration one week after calving, and higher efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation for milk production. Digestibility of the diet remained unaffected. Milk and plasma urea tended to increase with RSM30 indicating excessive supply of rumen degradable protein. Because of the limited potential of cows to compensate for a deficit in feed protein supply by mobilising tissue protein, a substantial milk yield response can be achieved with a moderate level of protein supplementation during early lactation.     

Host serum proteins in Taenia saginata metacestode fluid

Taenia saginata cyst fluid was examined for host proteins; IgG1 and IgG2 as well as haemolytic complement activity were detected. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed differences in proteinograms among the samples taken from 1-, 4-, and 10-month old cysts. Fluid from older cysts had fewer protein components and showed a weaker antigenic reaction with sera of bovines infected with T. saginata than that of younger cysts. The roles of antibody and complement in initiating degeneration of the parasite are discussed.