Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin,triglycerides, glucose,fructosamines, and ɣ-GT)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three-month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data from clinically healthy animals were used as an orientation. Plasma ACTH concentrations showed seasonal changes in both animal groups. However, it was generally higher in donkeys than mules. Although blood glucose (EDTA plasma) showed no difference between groups, serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. Serum fructosamine levels were slightly higher in mules, whereas, in some cases, serum triglyceride levels were considerably higher in donkeys. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase showed a striking peak in mules in August, whereas the remaining gamma-glutamyltransferase values were lower compared to donkeys. By comparing donkeys and mules, the present work reveals differences in various blood parameters which should be considered for diagnoses and future studies.     

Association between endometritis and urocystitis in culled sows

Slaughterhouse sampling and examination of urogenital tracts of 499 sows and gilts culled for reproductive reasons from 21 Hungarian herds were performed over a 6-year period. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of different urogenital tract lesions, and to provide sensitivity and specificity estimates for macroscopic and bacteriological examinations in the diagnosis of urocystitis and endometritis. Furthermore, the association between endometritis and urocystitis was assessed. The prevalence of main lesions of the urogenital tract was similar to that reported in other studies. The 'sensitivity' of macroscopic and bacteriological methods was determined statistically by taking histopathology as the 'Gold Standard'. As a result, the 'sensitivity' of macroscopic methods for the diagnosis of endometritis and urocystitis was < or = 18.1% and 47.9%, respectively, while the 'sensitivity' of bacteriology for the diagnosis of the same conditions was < or = 31.8% and 63.0%, respectively. The presumed positive association between urocystitis and endometritis was confirmed; it was not confounded by parity. Animals affected by urocystitis had a 3.5 times higher odds to simultaneously have endometritis than animals without urocystitis.     

Integration of Calneem® oil and parasitoids to control <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cadra cautella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Corcyra cephalonica</Emphasis> in stored grain cereals

The compatibility and protectant potential of Calneem® oil derived from the neem tree Azadirachta indica and two parasitoids, Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, for the control of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored rice and wheat, were evaluated in the laboratory. Calneem® oil (= neem oil) is a biopesticide produced, registered and marketed in Ghana by AQUA AGRIC Community Projects (AACP/Caldor Ghana Ltd., Tema). It contains 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. Fourth instar moth larvae were held in grain treated with neem oil only, grain treated with one of the parasitoids only, grain treated with a combination of neem and one of the parasitoids, and a control with untreated grain. Neem oil was applied at concentrations from 5,000 to 30,000 ppm. All samples were kept in growth cabinets maintained at 25°C and 65–70% r.h. Adult emergence was recorded after 4 weeks. Parasitoid or neem treatments alone reduced the emergence of C. cephalonica and C. cautella. In general, parasitoid releases were as effective as a combination of neem oil and parasitoids. At the lowest dose, 5,000 ppm, the combination of neem and parasitoid was more effective than the neem alone. The number of adults of H. hebetor and V. canescens that emerged in rice containing either parasitoids alone or in combination with neem oil was similar. This indicates minimal or no adverse effect of neem oil on the two parasitoids. It is thus possible to incorporate neem oil in a well-designed pest management program with parasitoids.     

Report of the 3rd Havemeyer workshop on allergic diseases of the Horse, Hólar, Iceland, June 2007

Allergic diseases occur in most mammals, although some species such as humans, dogs and horses seem to be more prone to develop allergies than others. In horses, insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), an allergic dermatitis caused by bites of midges, and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a hyperreactivity to stable born dust and allergens, are the two most prevalent allergic diseases. Allergic diseases involve the interaction of three major factors: (i) genetic constitution, (ii) exposure to allergens, and (iii) a dysregulation of the immune response determined by (i) and (ii). However, other environmental factors such as infectious diseases, contact with endotoxin and degree of infestation with endoparasites have been shown to influence the prevalence of allergic diseases in humans. How these factors may impact upon allergic disease in the horse is unknown at this time. The 3rd workshop on Allergic Diseases of the Horse, with major sponsorship from the Havemeyer Foundation, was held in Hólar, Iceland, in June 2007 and focussed on immunological and genetic aspects of IBH and RAO. This particular venue was chosen because of the prevalence of IBH in exported Icelandic horses. The incidence of IBH is significantly different between Icelandic horses born in Europe or North America and those born in Iceland and exported as adults. Although the genetic factors and allergens are the same, exported adult horses show a greater incidence of IBH. This suggests that environmental or epigenetic factors may contribute to this response. This report summarizes the present state of knowledge and summarizes important issues discussed at the workshop.     

The association between rainfall and seropositivity to Leptospira in outdoor reared pigs

Outdoor reared pigs were used as indicators for investigating the effect of weather conditions in the seroprevalence of Leptospira. Over the period February to March 2008, sera from 386 sows on 11 farms in southern Sweden were tested for antibodies to the following Leptospira serovars: L. interrogans serovar (sv) Bratislava, L. kirschneri sv Grippotyphosa, L. interrogans sv Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans sv Pomona, L. borgpetersenii sv Tarassovi and one domestic strain (mouse 2A) related to L. borgpetersenii sv Sejroe and L. borgpetersenii sv Istrica. The highest seroprevalence was to this strain (8.0%) followed by sv Bratislava (3.9%). Six of the 11 farms had sows which were seropositive to at least one of the Leptospira serovars. Data on rainfall and temperature were retrieved for the respective farms. For each millimetre of extra rainfall, there was an increase in the odds ratio (OR) for seropositivity to sv Bratislava of 4.3 (95% CI 1.9-10), and to strain mouse 2A of 2.5 (95% CI 1.0-6.4). There was no association between seropositivity and temperature. This study indicates that different climate conditions within the northern temperate climate zone may be of importance for the presence of Leptospira-seropositivity in mammals.     

Innovations in the diagnosis of infectious agents of veterinary importance--a seven-league boots fairy tale?

The development of infectiological diagnostic methodology is characterized by saltatoric, revolutionary leaps. Improved sensitivity and specificity, reduction of analytical sample volumes, increased sample throughput, reduced test complexity associated with improved user friendliness are hallmarks of such developments. Apart from purely technical amenities some innovations also enable conceptual adaptations of monitoring strategies. These include the use of diagnostic assays on-site, e. g. in the stable or in the practice. Selecting the assay which is most "fit-for-purpose" among the plethora of sometimes loudly advertised new technology may be difficult even for the well trained and experienced diagnostician. Standardized licensing procedures for infectiological diagnostic kits may be required to guarantee minimal norms of diagnostic quality. At the same time availability of a diversity of diagnostic kits is needed to broaden the base of diagnostic reliability. New infectiological diagnostic innovations will only be useful if the (expanded) results are transposable to the improved practical care of companion animals and farm animal holdings. In addition, the judgment of results, e. g. for epidemiological plausibility, remains a very important issue even when the test results have been produced by novel high technology diagnostics.     

Cardiac troponin I and the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in horses with experimentally induced endotoxaemia

Branding is the traditional and well-established method used to mark horses, but recently microchip transponders for implantation have become available. In this study, behaviour, physiological stress variables and skin temperature in foals were determined in response to hot-iron branding (n=7) and microchip implantation (n=7). Salivary cortisol concentrations increased in response to branding (1.8 ± 0.2 ng/mL) and microchip implantation (1.4 ± 0.1ng/mL), but cortisol release over time did not differ. In response to both manipulations there was a transient increase in heart rate (P<0.001) and heart rate variability (P<0.01). Branding and microchip implantation induced a comparable aversive behaviour (branding, score 3.86 ± 0.85; microchip, score 4.00 ± 0.82). Both techniques thus caused similar physiological and behavioural changes indicative of stress. Acutely, implantation of a microchip was as stressful as branding in foals. Branding caused a necrotising skin burn lasting at least 7 days. Moreover branding, but not microchip implantation (P<0.001), was accompanied by a generalized increase in skin temperature which was comparable to low degree post-burn hypermetabolism in humans.