Effects of chronic obesity and weight loss on plasma ghrelin and leptin concentrations in dogs

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in dogs, the effects of obesity and weight loss on plasma total ghrelin and leptin concentrations. Twenty-four Beagle dogs, 12 control lean and 12 obese dogs of both genders and aged between 1 and 9 years, were used for the experiments. Mean body weight was 12.7+/-0.7 kg for the lean group and 21.9+/-0.8 kg for the obese group. The trial was divided into three phases. During phase 1, all 24 Beagle dogs were fed a maintenance diet. During phase 2, the obese dogs were submitted to a weight loss protocol with a high protein-low energy diet. The weight loss protocol ended once dogs reached optimal body weight. During phase 3, the dogs that were submitted to the weight loss protocol were maintained at their optimal body weight for 6 months. Plasma total ghrelin, leptin, insulin and glucose concentrations were measured to evaluate the effects of obesity and weight loss on these parameters in dogs. Body weight, body condition score, thoracic and pelvic perimeters, and ingested food amounts were also recorded during the study. Obese dogs demonstrated a significant decrease in plasma ghrelin and a significant increase in plasma leptin and insulin concentrations when compared with control dogs. During weight loss, significant increases in plasma total ghrelin and glucose and significant decreases in plasma leptin and insulin were observed. The increase in plasma ghrelin concentrations seemed to be transient. Body weight and the morphometric parameters correlated positively with leptin concentrations and negatively with total ghrelin concentrations. These results suggest that ghrelin and leptin could play a role in dogs in the adaptation to a positive or negative energy balance, as observed in humans.     

Adenoviral gizzard erosion in commercial broiler chickens

Pathologic and immunohistochemical changes caused by group I of the fowl adenovirus (FAV) serotype-1 99ZH strain, isolated from broiler chickens exhibiting gizzard erosion, were investigated in commercial broiler chickens. One hundred twenty-two chickens were inoculated with the strain by both oral and ocular routes at 1, 3, or 5 weeks of age and euthanatized for necropsy within 4-18 days of inoculation. Focal gizzard erosions were observed in the inoculated chickens of each age group. A histologically degenerative koilin layer, necrotic mucosa, intranuclear inclusion bodies in the glandular epithelial cells, inflammatory cell infiltrations in the lamina propria, submucosa, and a muscle layer were seen in the gizzards. Immunohistochemical staining showed evidence of FAV antigens in the intranuclear inclusion bodies. These findings were recognized regardless of their maternal antibody levels for FAV serotype-1. Gizzard lesions appeared later in the lower-dose-inoculated chickens than in the higher-dose-inoculated chickens. Numerous CD3-positive cells and IgY-positive plasma cells were seen in the gizzard lesions. In 5-week-old chickens the heterophil infiltrations in the lesions were milder than in younger chickens. Intranuclear inclusion bodies also were observed in the epithelial cells of the ileum or cecal tonsils of some chickens. Thus, this study shows that FAV-99ZH causes adenoviral gizzard erosion in broiler chickens without hepatic or pancreatic lesions and that cell infiltration is more severe than in dietary gizzard erosions.     

Experimental dual infection of specific pathogen-free pigs with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and pseudorabies virus

Twenty 6-week-old specific pathogen-free pigs were divided into four groups. On day 0 of the experiment, PRRSV-PRV (n = 6) and PRRSV (n = 4) groups were intranasally inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) (10(5.6) TCID50). On day 7, the PRRSV-PRV and PRV (n = 6) groups were intranasally inoculated with pseudorabies virus (PRV) (10(3.6) TCID50). Control pigs (n = 4) were kept as uninoculated negative controls. Half of the pigs in each group were euthanized and necropsied on day 14 or 21. Clinical signs such as depression and anorexia were observed in the PRRSV-PRV and PRV groups after inoculation with PRV. Although febrile response was observed after virus inoculations, the duration of that response was prolonged in the PRRSV-PRV group compared with the other groups. The lungs in the PRRSV-PRV group failed to collapse and were mottled or diffusely tan and red, whereas the lungs of the pigs in the other groups were grossly normal. Histopathologically, interstitial pneumonia was present in all PRRSV-inoculated pigs, but the pneumonic lesions were more severe in the PRRSV-PRV group. Mean PRRSV titres of tonsil and lung in the PRRSV-PRV group were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the PRRSV group on day 21. These results indicate that dual infection with PRRSV and PRV increased clinical signs and pneumonic lesions in pigs infected with both viruses, as compared to pigs infected with PRRSV or PRV only, at least in the present experimental conditions.     

Changes in somal growth and dendritic patterns of the retinal ganglion cells in the chicks and chick embryos

Changes in the somal growth and dendritic patterns of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were studied in early chick embryos and post-hatching chicks by means of the retrograde axonal transport labeling with DiI. Branching patterns of the dendrites were relatively uniform on E8 (embryonic day 8) and became more complicated on E11. Variety of the branching pattern became plainly abundant after E14. On the other hand, somata of RGCs continued to grow until E14, corresponding the appearance of the central-peripheral gradient of the somal size. After E14, RGCs elaborated on the formation of the dendritic patterns as found in chick retina, and simultaneously the growth of somal sizes almost ceased.     

FC-20 Efficacy of griseofulvin for juvenile cellulitis in dogs

Medical records of 97 dogs with pemphigus foliaceus were evaluated. The average age of onset was 6.3 years (range 0.5–16 years). Crusts were the most common lesions in 79 dogs; pustules were observed in 36 dogs. No gender predisposition was identified. The trunk was the most commonly involved area (51 dogs), followed by the inner pinnae (46), dorsal muzzle (37), footpads (32), periocular area (26), outer pinnae (23) and planum nasale (23). Facial involvement only was noted in 15 dogs. Of the 48 dogs in which cytology was recorded, concurrent infections were identified in 32 dogs, acantholytic cells were seen in 37 dogs, numerous neutrophils in 35 dogs, and numerous eosinophils in eight cases. Final control of the disease was achieved with: glucocorticoids (24 dogs); azathioprine (9); chlorambucil (1); aurothioglucose (1); a combination of glucocorticoids and azathioprine (31); glucocorticoids and aurothioglucose (2); tetracycline/doxycycline and niacinamide (8); prednisolone, tetracycline and niacinamide (1); fatty acid supplementation (2); and tacrolimus (1). One dog was completely tapered off drugs and stayed in remission. Average time to improvement was 6 weeks, and average time to remission was 9.3 months. Forty-three dogs were followed for <12 months, and 12 of these were euthanized: eight for other diseases and four due to a lack of response or adverse effects of treatment. In 54 dogs, the follow up was >12 months; four of these dogs were euthanized (one due to an unrelated cause, one due to neoplastic disease and two related to pemphigus foliaceus).
Funding: Self-funded.     

P‐5 Importance of psychogenic factors in canine recurrent pyoderma

Recurrent pyoderma is a relapsing bacterial infection of the skin. Evaluation of the primary predisposing factors is essential, but they are not always easy to determine. We reported that psychogenic factors should be considered as one cause of canine dermatoses featuring pruritic behavior such as grooming and scratching, and predicted that it could be added as a cause of recurrent pyoderma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the roles of psychogenic factors in canine recurrent pyoderma. This study examined 21 dogs with recurrent pyoderma, which showed relapsing but antibiotic‐responsive skin lesions. Predisposing factors, especially allergy, infection, endocrine disorders, congenital factors and improper treatments, were carefully ruled out with standard diagnostic procedures. Diagnosis of psychogenic factors was based on fulfillment of the following features: (1) distinctive area of broken hairs or asymmetric erythema, (2) incidental pruritic behavior related to emotionally unstable situation or physiological intervention, (3) existence of environmental antecedent triggers or concurrent psychiatric symptoms, and (4) requirement for psychogenic treatment, consisting of behavior modification and psychopharmacological therapy in some. The incidence of psychogenic factors and the efficacy of the treatment in recurrent pyoderma were evaluated. In these 21 dogs, 10 cases (47.6%) were compatible with the presence of psychogenic factors, and seven cases (33.3%) were improved with behavioral treatment. Psychogenic factors should be considered in the aetiology of so‐called idiopathic canine recurrent pyoderma. Further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between skin barrier dysfunction and psychogenic factors. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Virological and serological studies of porcine respiratory coronavirus infection on a Japanese farm

We detected transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) antibodies in pig farms in Tochigi prefecture, although the farms had no past record of TGEV vaccination or TGE. Among the farms, Farm A showed a high antibody incidence. We could not confirm if either TGEV or porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) induced the antibodies, since conventional tests failed to discriminate PRCV from TGEV. Therefore, we conducted virological and serological examinations of this farm for 4 years to establish the etiology - TGEV or PRCV. Although no TGEV was detected, PRCVs were isolated from the nasal samples of pigs. Using a commercial ELISA kit, it was found that the antibodies detected in pigs of all the raising stages and sows were raised against PRCV but not TGEV. The phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the isolates showed that they were closely related to each other, and formed a separate cluster apart from the U.S.A. and European strains. In Cesarean-derived, colostrums-deprived piglets inoculated with a PRCV isolate, no clinical signs were seen, and the viruses were mainly isolated from the nasal samples. Moreover, viral genes were detected from the nasal sample of the contact pig. The result suggested that PRCV infection was located in the nasal cavity of pigs, and horizontal transmission easily occurs. From these results, PRCVs with different origins from the exotic PRCVs might be prevalent in pig farms in Japan.     

Effect of volume of non-surgical embryo transfer medium on ability of porcine embryos to survive to term

Non-surgical embryo transfer is a promising method for improving efficiency in the pork industry and also for biotechnology applications, such as in vitro embryo production, transgenesis and cloning. Several groups have reported successful piglet production using an artificial insemination catheter or flexible catheter designed for this procedure; however, the efficiency of the technique is still low. The critical points that need to be addressed in order to improve this procedure are (1) the embryo deposition site and (2) volume of transfer medium associated with the embryos; however, the latter has not yet been examined systematically. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the volume of non-surgical embryo transfer medium on the ability of porcine embryos to survive to term by using a recently produced flexible catheter. The catheter consists of a guide and an injector. Blastocysts 200-230 mum in diameter were collected from donor gilts and transferred to recipient gilts. The time required for the completion of embryo transfer using this catheter was 14.6 +/- 3.9 min. The tip of the injector was determined by laparotomy to be located in a uterine horn 20-30 cm anterior from the branching point of the uterus body. We transferred 17.0-17.3 embryos with different volumes of medium (1.6, 3.2 and 10 ml) into each of 5, 4 and 4 recipients, respectively, and pregnancy was confirmed in 4, 3 and 1 of these recipients, respectively. Three recipients in the 1.6 ml group farrowed a total of 19 piglets (4, 5 and 10 piglets, respectively). These results suggest that successful non-surgical embryo transfer is affected by the volume of transfer medium.