Basic concepts in statistics for veterinary ophthalmologists

Abstract This review article provides a comprehensive coverage of basic statistical procedures commonly used in biologic experiments and is intended to be a basic guide to the selection of appropriate tests and also to aid the reader in the evaluation of published studies. The focus is on the use, interpretation and presentation of the main statistical tests and their key concepts for the practicing veterinary ophthalmologist. Several examples derived from actual ophthalmic research are presented in the text. Lastly, the article discusses computer-based statistical analysis, provides a list of different software available and gives a practical example of a 'real life' statistical analysis.     

Is the Santa Inês sheep a typical non-seasonal breeder in the Brazilian Southeast?

This study aimed to characterize the annual reproductive cycle of Santa Inês sheep in the Fluminense lowland region (latitude 22° 27′ 45″ south, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) between September 2011 and August 2012. Ten ewes were maintained in a semi-intensive system under natural photoperiods with access to pasture and shelter. Blood samples were collected every 2 weeks to determine plasma progesterone concentrations. The body condition score (BCS) was determined each month. There was no seasonal variation in the plasma progesterone concentration from the months of September to January, April, and May to August. In the months of February and April, the plasma hormone levels were higher than August to November. Seventy percent (7/10) of the sheep studied had short seasonal anestrus. The periods of anestrus were concentrated between the months of September and December (spring season) in 85.7 % (6/7) of the cases evaluated. In these cases, 57.1 % (4/7) also had short periods of reproductive inactivity during other months of the year. The progesterone values obtained in the spring corroborate the higher reproductive anestrus observed in this season. Higher plasma progesterone values were found in summer and autumn with reduction in the winter to lower values in the spring. No changes in the BCS during the study period were observed. Under the studied conditions, the Santa Inês sheep showed a low degree of reproductive seasonality. However, some individual ewes had seasonal anestrus during the spring. Further studies that include management techniques are needed to improve reproductive efficiency without hormone therapy in this breed under tropical conditions.     

Effect of phase-feeding crude protein on performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred beef bulls: an application to reduce nitrogen compounds in beef cattle diets

Beef cattle (24) with an average initial body weight of 417?±?54 kg were assigned in a 2?×?2 factorial design with six repetitions. The factors studied were two levels of CP: 11 (low CP) or 13 % (high CP) in the initial feedlot phase (days 1–36) and in the final phase (days 37–72). After 36 days, half of the bulls fed with each level of CP were selected to reverse the CP level. No interaction was observed (P?>?0.05) between the level of protein in the initial and final phases on the intake of the nutrients evaluated. There was no effect (P?>?0.05) of the protein levels in the initial and final phases on intake of dry matter, organic matter, CP, non-fiber carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients. No differences were observed among treatments (P?>?0.05) for average daily gain (X = 1.99 kg/day) and carcass traits. We conclude that it is possible to feed Holstein-Zebu crossed bulls with an average daily gain of approximately 2 kg using a fixed level of 11 % CP during the entire feedlot period, and this diet is economically viable and environmentally sound.     

Genetic association between milk yield,stayability, and mastitis in Holstein cows under tropical conditions

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield, stayability, and the occurrence of clinical mastitis in Holstein cows, as well as studying the genetic relationship between them, in order to provide subsidies for the genetic evaluation of these traits. Records from 5,090 Holstein cows with calving varying from 1991 to 2010, were used in the analysis. Two standard multivariate analyses were carried out, one containing the trait of accumulated 305-day milk yields in the first lactation (MY1), stayability (STAY) until the third lactation, and clinical mastitis (CM), as well as the other traits, considering accumulated 305-day milk yields (Y305), STAY, and CM, including the first three lactations as repeated measures for Y305 and CM. The covariance components were obtained by a Bayesian approach. The heritability estimates obtained by multivariate analysis with MY1 were 0.19, 0.28, and 0.13 for MY1, STAY, and CM, respectively, whereas using the multivariate analysis with the Y305, the estimates were 0.19, 0.31, and 0.14, respectively. The genetic correlations between MY1 and STAY, MY1 and CM, and STAY and CM, respectively, were 0.38, 0.12, and ?0.49. The genetic correlations between Y305 and STAY, Y305 and CM, and STAY and CM, respectively, were 0.66, ?0.25, and ?0.52.     

Estimation of roaming dog populations in Timor Leste

The continued spread of rabies through the eastern islands of Indonesia poses a risk of rabies introduction to Timor Leste. To prepare for such an incursion and to undertake surveillance activities, the size and distribution of the roaming dog population needs to be estimated. We present the results of the first such surveys ever undertaken in Timor Leste.     

Impact of Probing the Reproductive Tract During Early Pregnancy on Fertility of Beef Cows

This short communication reports the impact of endometrial biopsies, uterine flushings and follicular fluid aspiration procedures at day 6 post artificial insemination (AI) on pregnancy rates. In Experiment 1, cows were timed AI (TAI) and assigned to the following treatment groups: control (n = 37), uterine flushing (n = 35) and endometrial biopsy (n = 38). On day 30 post AI, pregnancy rates were 40.5%, 33% and 28.5%, respectively (p > 0.1). Pregnancy rate on day 60 was lower (p < 0.004) in flushed cows than in the controls. In Experiment 2, oestrus was detected and cows were assigned to flushing (n = 32) or biopsy (n = 33) treatments 6 days after AI, which resulted in pregnancy rates of 31% and 36%, respectively (p > 0.1). In Experiment 3, cows were, 6 days after TAI, randomly assigned to the following treatments: control (n = 84) or aspiration of the largest follicle (n = 73). Pregnancy rates on day 30 post AI were 63.5% for the control group and 53% for the aspirated group (p > 0.1). In conclusion, uterine flushing and endometrial biopsy negatively affect pregnancy rates, but neither procedure can be considered to be incompatible with pregnancy maintenance. Follicular aspiration during pregnancy does not interact with pregnancy success. The amount and quality of samples obtained are compatible with the use of cellular and molecular analysis of uterine variables from cows that failed or succeeded on maintaining pregnancy.     

Subdiffraction multicolor imaging of the nuclear periphery with 3D structured illumination microscopy

Fluorescence light microscopy allows multicolor visualization of cellular components with high specificity, but its utility has until recently been constrained by the intrinsic limit of spatial resolution. We applied three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM) to circumvent this limit and to study the mammalian nucleus. By simultaneously imaging chromatin, nuclear lamina, and the nuclear pore complex (NPC), we observed several features that escape detection by conventional microscopy. We could resolve single NPCs that colocalized with channels in the lamin network and peripheral heterochromatin. We could differentially localize distinct NPC components and detect double-layered invaginations of the nuclear envelope in prophase as previously seen only by electron microscopy. Multicolor 3D-SIM opens new and facile possibilities to analyze subcellular structures beyond the diffraction limit of the emitted light.     

Descriptive morphometry and stereology in accessing the testis structure and function of the marsupial Philander frenatus (Olfers, 1818) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)

Philander frenatus is an important marsupial for the maintenance and conservation of the Atlantic Rainforest, however, it has biological characteristics that are still little explored. The study of the reproductive biology is an important key to understand the species reproductive strategies and to improve the development of conservation and management activities. The present study aimed to conduct a histological and morphometric investigation of the testis structure and function of P. frenatus. The average body and testicular weight were 445 g and 0.74 g, respectively, with a gonadosomatic index of 0.17%. The seminiferous tubules occupying 64.95% of the organ, totalising 9.26 m per gram of testis. The tubulesomatic and epitheliumsomatic indexes were 0.10% and 0.07%, respectively. Philander frenatus showed cell loss of approximately 98% during the proliferative phase and the spermatogenic yield was 10.3 cells. The high loss during the mitotic phase contributed to the low spermatogenic yield. The testicular parenchyma was composed of 35% of intertubular components, one of the highest proportions observed in mammals. Leydig cells were responsible for approximately 25% of the testes, followed by lymphatic space (6.44%), blood vessels and connective tissue (4% together). The organisation of the intertubular components resembles the Fawcett III category. The volume and number of Leydig cell per gram of testis were 2,627.12 µm³ and 91.28 × 10⁶ cells, respectively. High investment in the intertubular compartment, specifically number and volume of Leydig cells in P. frenatus is consistent with territorial behaviour and polygynic mating system, which have greater androgenic capacity.