Anatomical and functional communications between the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint

The anatomical and functional communications of the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint were evaluated in 50 stifle joints of 25 horses. Femoropatellar joint (FPJ) sacs were injected with 50 ml of gelatin-based dye and horses were then walked for 50 m. Horses were subsequently killed, the stifle joints dissected and the location of the dye recorded. Twenty-three horses (46 joints) had clinically normal stifle joints and in this group, anatomical communications of the stifle joints were bilaterally symmetrical in each horse. In 15 of these 23 horses (65 per cent), direct anatomical communication between the FPJ sac and the medial sac of the femorotibial joint (FTJ) was demonstrated. The FPJ sac communicated with both the medial and lateral sacs of the FTJ in four of these 23 horses (17.5 per cent). There were no anatomical communications between the FPJ sac and either sac of the FTJ in the remaining four horses (17.5 per cent). Functional communication, which was established by finding dye in the FTJ sacs were anatomical communication with the FPJ sac existed, was demonstrated in 14 of 19 horses (74 per cent). Two horses were affected with degenerative joint disease of one stifle joint. In both of these joints the FPJ sac communicated with both the medial and lateral FTJ sacs. This distribution was different from that of the contralateral joint. When performing intra-articular anaesthesia of equine stifle joints, each synovial sac needs to be injected separately to ensure that anaesthesia of the appropriate synovial sac is obtained.     

Phylogenetic characterisation of bluetongue viruses from naturally-infected insects, cattle and sheep in Australia

SUMMARY The polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of blue-tongue virus (BTV) in a number of clinical and insect samples collected in the Northern Territory of Australia. Sequence analyses of the amplified BTV genes differentiated endemic Australian and exotic viruses. Two potential exotic BTV were detected as a result of PCR analyses of blood from sentinel animals and of the insect vector, Culicoides wadai. The detection of BTV in C wadai was the first direct demonstration of the presence of BTV in this potential vector. This new technology can significantly reduce the time taken for a diagnosis from a clinical sample and increase the amount of useful information obtained on a BTV isolate by using rapid sequencing techniques. Sequence data were used to differentiate between BTV20 isolated in 1975 and two isolates of the same serotype, isolated in 1992, and indicated that the latter were probably a recent incursion into Australia from Indonesia due to their greater VP3 sequence homology to the BTV9 (Java) than to Australian BTV isolates.     

Role of genetically engineered animals in future food production

Genetically engineered (GE) animals are likely to have an important role in the future in meeting the food demand of a burgeoning global population. There have already been many notable achievements using this technology in livestock, poultry and aquatic species. In particular, the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to produce virus‐resistant animals is a rapidly‐developing area of research. However, despite the promise of this technology, very few GE animals have been commercialised. This review aims to provide information so that veterinarians and animal health scientists are better able to participate in the debate on GE animals.     

Heat stress as a manageable risk factor to mitigate pneumonia in lambs

Abstract

Extract

The paper by Goodwin et al (2004 Goodwin, KA, Jackson, R, Brown, C, Davies, PR, Morris, RS and Perkins, NR. 2004. Pneumonic lesions in lambs in New Zealand: patterns of prevalence and effects on production. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 52: 175–9. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) which appeared in the August 2004 issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal highlighted the prevalence and costs to the sheep industry of pneumonia in lambs. The costs are considerable, and the article begs the question, “what can sheep farmers do to reduce the effects of pneumonia in lambs?”     

The influence of diel period on fish assemblage in the unstructured littoral of reservoirs

Abstract Diel changes in littoral fish assemblage were studied in four reservoirs in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). The sampling was performed by beach seining in an unstructured littoral zone. Perch, Perca fluviatilis L., roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), bream, Abramis brama (L.), carp, Cyprinus carpio L., ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernua (L.), pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.) and A. brama × R. rutilus hybrids exhibited higher densities at night. Only bleak, Alburnus alburnus (L.) exhibited higher densities during the day. The number of species was higher in night hauls, and mean body size of roach and bleak was also higher at night. Diel changes in fish densities resulted in the change in species composition between day and night. The study has implication for the sampling design to assess littoral fish assemblages using beach seine netting and recommends night sampling for a representative assessment or sampling during both diel periods for a robust assessment.