Infertile Boars with Knobbed and Immotile Short‐tail Sperm Defects in the Finnish Yorkshire Breed

In the period 1996–2006 two specific sperm defects, the knobbed acrosome (KA) defect and the immotile short‐tail sperm (ISTS) defect, showed a strong negative association with fertility in Finnish breeding boars. In this study, we examined the incidence of these two sperm defects in two pig breeds, their effects on fertility and their associations with sperm morphology and testicular histology. Semen samples from 2048 (1097 Yorkshire, 951 Landrace) boars were collected. None of the Landrace boars revealed either the KA defect or the ISTS defect. Of the Yorkshire boars, 0.8% were afflicted with the KA defect and 7.6% with the ISTS defect. Boars diagnosed with the ISTS defect produced no litters. Fertility data were available from two artificially inseminated (AI) boars and six farm breeding boars affected with the KA defect. Breeding boars with 45–81% knobbed spermatozoa (n = 6) did not produce any litters out of 71 sows bred. AI boars with 25–30% knobbed spermatozoa had a poor non‐return rate (on average 47% compared with 85% for normal control boars) and produced small litters, on average 2.5 piglets less than other boars of the same breed. Morphometry of testicular tissue and distribution of different cells in the seminiferous tubules were examined in nine boars. Boars with the KA defect had a smaller diameter of the seminiferous tubules (p < 0.05) and a lower number of Sertoli cells (p < 0.05) than controls. ISTS boars, in turn, had a significantly lower number of elongated spermatids (p < 0.05), and they also produced on average only 12% of the spermatozoa of normal boars. The ISTS defect is a manifestation of an autosomal recessive disease caused by an insertion in the KPL2 gene in porcine chromosome 16. Although we tried to map the KA defect, its aetiology remains unclear.     

An economic model to evaluate the mitigation programme for bovine viral diarrhoea in Switzerland

Economic analyses are indispensable as sources of information to help policy makers make decisions about mitigation resource use. The aim of this study was to conduct an economic evaluation of the Swiss national mitigation programme for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), which was implemented in 2008 and concludes in 2017. The eradication phase of the mitigation programme comprised testing and slaughtering of all persistently infected (PI) animals found. First, the whole population was antigen tested and all PI cattle removed. Since October 2008, all newborn calves have been subject to antigen testing to identify and slaughter PI calves. All mothers of PI calves were retested and slaughtered if the test was positive. Antigen testing in calves and elimination of virus-carriers was envisaged to be conducted until the end of 2011. Subsequently, a surveillance programme will document disease freedom or detect disease if it recurs. Four alternative surveillance strategies based on antibody testing in blood from newborn calves and/or milk from primiparous cows were proposed by Federal Veterinary Office servants in charge of the BVDV mitigation programme. A simple economic spreadsheet model was developed to estimate and compare the costs and benefits of the BVDV mitigation programme. In an independent project, the impact of the mitigation programme on the disease dynamics in the population was simulated using a stochastic compartment model. Mitigation costs accrued from materials, labour, and processes such as handling and testing samples, and recording results. Benefits were disease costs avoided by having the mitigation programme in place compared to a baseline of endemic disease equilibrium. Cumulative eradication costs and benefits were estimated to determine the break-even point for the eradication component of the programme. The margin over eradication cost therefore equalled the maximum expenditure potentially available for surveillance without the net benefit from the mitigation programme overall becoming zero. Costs of the four surveillance strategies and the net benefit of the mitigation programme were estimated. Simulations were run for the years 2008-2017 with 20,000 iterations in @Risk for Excel. The mean baseline disease costs were estimated to be 16.04m CHF (1 Swiss Franc, CHF=0.73 € at the time of analysis) (90% central range, CR: 14.71-17.39m CHF) in 2008 and 14.89m CHF (90% CR: 13.72-16.08m CHF) in 2009. The break-even point was estimated to be reached in 2012 and the margin over eradication cost 63.15m CHF (90% CR: 53.72-72.82m CHF). The discounted cost for each surveillance strategy was found to be smaller than the margin, so the mitigation programme overall is expected to have a positive net economic benefit irrespective of the strategy adopted. For economic efficiency, the least cost surveillance alternative must be selected.     

Comparisons of 3‐, 2‐Dimensional,and M‐Mode Echocardiographical Methods for Estimation of Left Chamber Volumes in Dogs with and without Acquired Heart Disease

Background: Real‐time 3‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3D) is a recent technique based on volumetric scanning, eliminating the need for geometric modeling of the cardiac chambers and minimizing the errors caused by foreshortened views. Hypothesis: Estimations of left ventricular (LV) end‐diastolic (EDV) and end‐systolic volume (ESV), and left atrial (LA) size, differ depending on the echocardiographic technique of estimation. Animals: Fifty‐one dogs with acquired heart disease and 34 healthy control dogs. Methods: Prospective observational study by M‐mode (Teichholz method), Simpson's modified 2‐dimensional (2D) method, and RT3D methods for estimation of LV volumes. LA size was evaluated by 2D and RT3D methods. Results: RT3D showed good agreement with 2D for EDV and ESV, whereas Teichholz method overestimated LV volumes in comparison with the other 2 methods by approximately a factor 2. There were no statistically significant differences among the 3 methods in estimating ejection fraction. Comparison between RT3D assessment of LA end‐systolic volume per kilogram (LAs/kg) and LA to aortic ratio (LA/Ao) measured by 2D relative to each other showed that the RT3D method underestimated LAs/kg at lower values, and overestimated it at higher values. The difference between methods increased with increasing LA size. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There was good agreement between RT3D and 2D methods of estimating EDV and ESV, whereas the Teichholz method overestimated LV volumes by approximately a factor 2. In comparison with RT3D, LA/Ao underestimated LA size, especially when LA was enlarged.     

Accuracy of heart rate obtained by auscultation in atrial fibrillation

The accuracy of heart rate estimation by cardiac auscultation over a 15-second period, and the influence of clinical experience on accuracy were evaluated in a dog with chronic atrial fibrillation by test subjects of varying experience. Only 30% of all test subjects provided accurate heart rate estimates. Board-certified specialists, medicine residents, and experienced nurses were significantly more accurate in their estimates than surgery residents and students. Accurate estimates were provided by 12.5% of surgery residents and students, as opposed to 64% of the other test subjects. Auscultatory estimates of heart rate in atrial fibrillation may be significantly inaccurate, and under some circumstances they may not provide a sound basis for making clinical decisions.     

Agreement of high definition oscillometry with direct arterial blood pressure measurement at different blood pressure ranges in horses under general anaesthesia

ObjectiveTo determine the agreement of high definition oscillometry (HDO) with direct arterial blood pressure measurements in normotensive, hypotensive and hypertensive horses during general anaesthesia.Study designExperimental study.AnimalsSeven healthy warmblood horses, aged 3–11 years, weighing 470–565 kg.MethodsMeasurements from a HDO device with the cuff placed around the base of the tail were compared with pressures measured invasively from the facial artery. High blood pressures were induced by intravenous (IV) administration of dobutamine (5 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹) over ten minutes followed by norepinephrine (0.1 mg kg⁻¹ IV) and low pressures by increasing the inspired fraction of isoflurane and administration of nitroglycerine (0.05 mg kg⁻¹ IV). For analysis three pressure levels were determined: high (MAP>110 mmHg), normal (60 mmHgResultsA total of 245 paired measurements of systolic (SAP), mean (MAP) and diastolic (DAP) pressures were obtained. The HDO device underestimated blood pressure at hypertensive and normotensive levels and overestimated blood pressure at hypotensive levels. Best agreement was obtained for SAP and MAP within normotensive limits. At normotension, bias ± standard deviation for SAP, MAP and DAP were 0.1 ± 19.4 mmHg, 0.5 ± 14.0, 4.7 ± 15.6, respectively. At high pressure levels bias and SD were 26.1 ± 37.3 (SAP), 4.2 ± 19.4 (MAP), 1.5 ± 16.8 (DAP) and at low pressures -20.0 ± 20.9 (SAP), -11.4 ± 19.6 (MAP), -4.7 ± 20.1 (DAP), with HDO measurements at a MAP <50 mmHg often failing.Conclusion and clinical relevanceGood agreement with invasive arterial blood pressures was obtained with HDO at normotensive levels in horses. At high and low pressure ranges HDO was unreliable. Therefore, if haemodynamic instability is expected, invasive measurement remains preferable.     

Genetic parameters for claw health and feet and leg conformation traits in Finnish Ayrshire cows

Genetic parameters for different claw disorders, overall claw health and feet and leg conformation traits were estimated for Finnish Ayrshire cows. The merged data set with records of claw health and feet and leg conformation traits consisted of 105 000 observations from 52 598 Finnish Ayrshire cows between 2000 and 2010. The binary claw health data and the linearly scored conformation data were analysed using an animal model and restricted maximum likelihood method by applying the statistical package ASReml. Binomial logistic models with mixed effects were used to estimate genetic parameters for sole haemorrhages, chronic laminitis, white‐line separation, sole ulcer, interdigital dermatitis, heel horn erosion, digital dermatitis, corkscrew claw and overall claw health. Estimated heritabilities for different claw disorders using a binomial logistic model ranged from 0.01 to 0.20. Estimated heritability for overall claw health using a binomial logistic model was 0.08. Estimated heritabilities for feet and leg conformation traits ranged from 0.07 to 0.39. The genetic correlations between claw health and feet and leg conformation traits ranged from ?0.40 to 0.42. All phenotypic correlations were close to zero. The moderate genetic correlation, together with higher heritability of feet and leg conformation traits, showed that RLSV (rear leg side view) is a useful indicator trait to be used together with claw trimming information to increase the accuracy of breeding values for claw health in genetic evaluation.     

Net mineral requirements for growth of Saanen goat kids in early life are similar among genders

The current mineral requirements for growing goat kids are based on sheep and cattle studies without differentiating between the stages of development or gender. The aims of this study were to determine the net requirements for growth of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K of Saanen goat kids during the initial stages of growth and to analyse the effect of gender on the net requirements for growth of these macrominerals. Eighteen female, 19 intact male and 10 castrated male Saanen goat kids were studied. The kids were selected applying a completely randomized design and slaughtered when their body weight (BW) reached approximately 5, 10 and 15 kg to determine the mineral requirements for growth at these stages. The net mineral requirements for growth were similar among genders. The goat kids had slightly increased net requirements of Ca, P and Mg for growth with increasing BW from 5 to 15 kg. The net requirements for growth of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K ranged from 9.61 to 9.67 g/kg of BW gain, 7.14 to 7.56 g/kg of BW gain, 0.34 to 0.37 g/kg of BW gain, 1.26 to 1.13 g/kg of BW gain, 1.88 to 1.82 g/kg of BW gain as the animals grew from 5 to 15 kg respectively. In conclusion, when formulating diets for Saanen goat kids in early growth stage mineral levels do not need to adjusted based on gender.