Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) as an indirect assessment of remission status in canine multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) is an indirect measure of heart rate variability and may serve as a marker of disease severity. Higher heart rate variability has predicted lower tumour burden and improved survival in humans with various tumour types. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate VVTI as a biomarker of remission status in canine lymphoma. The primary hypothesis was that VVTI would be increased in dogs in remission compared to dogs out of remission. Twenty-seven dogs were prospectively enrolled if they had a diagnosis of intermediate to high-grade lymphoma and underwent multidrug chemotherapy. Serial electrocardiogram data were collected under standard conditions and relationships between VVTI, remission status and other clinical variables were evaluated. VVTI from dogs in remission (partial or complete) did not differ from dogs with fulminant lymphoma (naive or at time of relapse). Dogs in partial remission had higher VVTI than dogs in complete remission (p = 0.021). Higher baseline VVTI was associated with higher subsequent scores (p < 0.001). VVTI also correlated with anxiety level (p = 0.03). Based on this pilot study, VVTI did not hold any obvious promise as a useful clinical biomarker of remission status. Further investigation may better elucidate the clinical and prognostic utility of VVTI in dogs with lymphoma.     

Growth,feed efficiency and blood profile of buffalo calves consuming high levels of fluoride

Twelve male buffalo calves of 10 to 12 months of age were divided into 3 groups of four each. They were fed wheat straw+concentrate mixture +3 Kg greens. The chemical composition of the diet was same in all the three groups except fluoride which was added (as NaF) in concentrate mixture of group B and C to make the final fluoride concentration 30 ppm and 60 ppm respectively. The animals were kept on scheduled diet for a period of 90 days. Body weights were recorded at the start of the experiment and at fortnightly interval thereafter. Analysis of data revealed that the dry matter intake decreased non significantly in group B and C as compared to control group. A significant decrease in serum calcium and a significant increase in phosphorus concentration were observed in group C animals. A significant increase was observed in alkaline phosphatase activity in group C animals. A non significant decrease was observed in T₄ values in group C animals. On the basis of these results it could be concluded that fluoride in the diet of buffalo calves @ 30 ppm is a safe level whereas 60 ppm has affected the blood metabolites.     

牛活体采卵体外受精不分裂MⅡ期卵母细胞的研究

牛活体采卵体外成熟后,常规进行体外受精,平均卵裂率为73.1%。在卵裂率稳定的前提下,随机挑选96枚没有卵裂的MⅡ期卵母细胞进行Hoechst33342染色分析,以期找出卵子没有分裂的原因,为进一步提高卵裂率提供科学资料。结果发现精子没有进入卵母细胞的占59.4%,精子进入卵母细胞但雌雄原核未融合的占19.8%,多精受精引起发育阻滞的占13.5%。结果表明,在保证卵母细胞成熟的前提下,引起牛体外受精失败的主要原因是精子没有进入卵母细胞。     

Comparative study on responses of cattle and water buffalo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) to experimental inoculation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> biovar 1 by the intraconjunctival route—a preliminary report

The preliminary study was conducted to assess the virulence of a strain of Brucella abortus (1969D) and to compare the susceptibility of water buffalo and cattle calves to infection by the intraconjunctival route. Seven of each cattle and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves aged 3–6 months were inoculated intraconjunctivally with counts ranging from 1.5 × 10⁷ to 1.7 × 10¹⁰ colony forming units of B. abortus. Animals were monitored over an 8-week period for clinical manifestations and serological and hematological evidence of infection. At slaughter, eight lymph nodes from each animal were sampled for bacteriological and histopathological assessments. Lymph nodes from three water buffalo (43%) and five cattle (71%) yielded B. abortus (P = 0.048). Parotid/prescapular lymph nodes were most sensitive in detecting B. abortus. Our data suggest that B. abortus strain 1969D may be used as challenge strain, and water buffalo appeared to have a lower susceptibility to B. abortus infection than cattle.     

云南省昆明市动物园大肠杆菌分离株毒力基因分布特征

为研究云南省昆明市动物园动物体内大肠杆菌(E.coli)分离株毒力基因的分布特征,从圆通山动物园37个动物种群粪便中分离出37株E.coli,采用生化鉴定方法鉴定大肠杆菌,PCR方法检测19种毒力基因。鉴定结果表明:37株E.coli中,ompA、iroN、fimC、aatA、vat 5种毒力基因携带率分别为100%、95.49%、83.78%、70.27%、51.35%,ibeA、neuC、iutA、traT、stx 5种毒力基因携带率为0,其他9种毒力基因携带率均低于40.00%;分离菌株普遍携带8种以下毒力基因,同时携带10种以上毒力基因的概率为8.10%;分离株强毒力岛基因携带率较高,分布较为普遍。结果表明,昆明市圆通山动物园内流行的大肠杆菌以致病性大肠杆菌为主,不同种类动物体内大肠杆菌的毒力基因携带率存在较大差异,其原因可能与动物的饲养环境以及动物自身的适应能力和抵抗力有关。因此,对于动物园内具有较高大肠杆菌致病风险的动物,要采取相应防治措施,防止大肠杆菌病发生与流行。     

Clinicopathological studies on facial eczema outbreak in sheep in Southwest Turkey

After very hot summer, 22 sheep from 5 different flocks consisting of approximately 150-200 animals each were diagnosed with facial eczema in September 2005, in southwest Turkey. Photophobia, corneal opacity, severe ulcers of the facial skin, especially localized around the eyes and mouth, and 3% mortality were the most prominent clinical symptoms. GGT levels of the animals were very high and varying between 261- 328 U/l. While the activities of ALT and total bilirubin were elevated and AST was normal in affected sheep. Total bilirubin level was higher than normal. Seven of the 22 sheep were euthanatized and necropsy was performed on all of these animals. Severe icterus, hepatomegaly, enlarged gallbladder, congestion of mesenteric vessels were the common necropsy findings. Histopathological changes of the liver included necrosis of the hepatocytes, cholangiohepatitis characterized by mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate in the portal area and mild to severe fibrosis around bile ducts. A diagnosis of sporidesmin toxicosis was made based on the histopathology of the livers, the elevation in liver enzymes, and the development of cutaneous lesions consistent with photosensitization and high spore counts in the ruminal contents. Surviving sheep were treated with procaine penicillin + dihidrostreptomycin sulfate, multivitamin complexes and flunixin meglumine. Additionally, zinc sulphate was also given at a dose of 6 gr per 100 lt drinking water for 28 days. All treated sheep recovered. Pasture spore counts were between 96,300- 267,500 spores/g grass.     

犊牛大肠杆菌病的诊治

2010年5月,黑龙江省双城市某乡先后有3位畜主来我院对其所养的5头犊牛发病情况进行就诊。通过询问得知,这几头犊牛基本都是刚出生半个月左右。病犊发热,精神沉郁或昏迷。间有腹泻,有2头死前发生腹泻,并有明显的脖颈扭转现象。另外2头犊牛发病初期排出黄色粥样粪便,后期排灰白色水样粪     

Effects of artemisinin in broiler chickens following chronic oral intake

Artemisinin has been used for centuries to treat malaria, intestinal tract helminthosis, diarrhea, and used as an antipyretic and sedative agent, but the usage in veterinary medicine is a new field. Recently, it has been used successfully to control experimental poultry coccidiosis. The present study aimed to determine the effects of different doses of artemisinin in broiler chickens with chronic usage. Sixty birds divided into one control and four treatment groups that fed rations mixed with artemisinin at doses of 17, 34, 68, and 136 ppm for 36 days. During the experiment, birds showed no clinical signs except anemia. In microscopic examinations, heart, lung, and spleen had no lesion, but liver, kidney, and brain showed various lesions. Degenerative lesions like intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were seen in both kidney and liver but fatty change was seen only in liver. There was no relationship between severity of the liver lesions and drug dosage. Central chromatolysis, scattered neuronal necrosis, and mild spongy changes were observed in five regions of the brain that were chosen for sectioning (motor cortex, cerebellar nuclei, midbrain nuclei, and hindbrain nuclei at two separate levels). Severity of lesions in brain was dose-dependent, and cerebral cortex was the most vulnerable area. Haematologic tests showed lower values for hematocrit and red blood cell count dose-dependently. In conclusion, artemisinin is a promising drug for prevention and control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens and its side effects are not too much serious especially at therapeutic doses.     

辽宁绒山羊羔羊卵母细胞体外培养技术的研究

本研究以4～8周龄的辽宁绒山羊母羔为研究对象,研究不同激素处理对羔羊卵泡发育数量和发育质量的影响,同时还比较了不同配方的培养液对羔羊卵母细胞体外成熟率的影响.结果表明:最佳的母羔超数排卵方案是依次注射PMSG 400 IU 1次,FSH(加拿大)40 mg 3次,间隔时间12 h;在成熟培养液中添加15％的发情羊血清(ESS)卵母细胞的体外成熟率最高.