Complete caecal bypass without ileal transection for caecal impaction in horses: seven clinical cases (1997-2007)

Objectives To report the clinical outcome in seven horses following use of a newly described surgical technique for treating caecal impaction. Methods The medical records of seven horses with caecal impaction treated surgically using a stapling technique to create a complete caecal bypass without ileal transection were reviewed. Data were obtained from the records and through telephone interviews with case-associated personnel. Results The mean age was 10 years (range 2–22 years) and duration of colic ranged from 24 h to 2 weeks. Five horses had type II motility dysfunction and the remaining two had type I. Mean surgical time was 185 min (range 146–245 min) and the horses were hospitalised for a mean of 12.4 days (range 9–22 days); 71% (5/7) were discharged from hospital and all five were alive 60 days from the surgery date. One horse was lost to follow-up. The four (66.7%) available remaining horses were alive ≥ 1 year (long-term survivors). Conclusions Complete caecal bypass without ileal transection for clinical cases of caecal impaction had comparable outcomes to complete bypass with ileal transection. The technique is easy to perform, has the potential to reduce surgical time, compared with traditional bypass techniques, and may reduce the risk of intraoperative abdominal contamination. It is recommended for use in clinical cases in which caecal bypass is desirable.     

Effect of egg composition on hatchability and on growth and slaughter characteristics of meat-type chicks

1.?Using the so-called TOBEC (Total Body Electrical Conductivity) method, which allows the determination of egg composition in vivo, correlations between egg composition, hatchability and hatched chicks’ development were studied.

2.?A total of 1500 hen eggs (Ross-308) were measured by TOBEC, and eggs with extremely high (10%, n = 150), extremely low (10%, n = 150) and average (10%, n = 150) electrical conductivity values were chosen for further investigation.

3.?During the incubation period, it was observed that eggs with high electrical conductivity had a significantly higher mortality than eggs with low electrical conductivity.

4.?It was observed that both the increase in electrical conductivity at the same egg weight, and the increase in egg weight at the same electrical conductivity resulted in an increase in the hatching weight.

5.?It was found that the dry matter, protein and fat content of the chicks hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity was higher at hatching than that of the chicks hatched from eggs with high electrical conductivity.

6.?At 42 d of age the liveweight of cocks and pullets hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity was 3·2 and 8·2% higher than the liveweight of cocks and pullets hatched from eggs with high electrical conductivity.

7.?Because of the higher liveweight at slaughter, there was a significant superiority of the chicks hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity in the case of the examined carcase traits at slaughter.

8.?Similar tendencies were found also in the ratios of carcase variables to liveweight, but the between group differences were not statistically significant in this case.

9.?Based on the results it was concluded that TOBEC seems to be a useful method for separating eggs with different composition.

10.?This could be a good starting point for further in vivo investigations in order to clarify the effect of egg composition on hatchability and further development.     

Identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum serovar B-1 from severe infectious coryza outbreaks in Panama

The isolation and identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum serovar B-1 from severe infectious coryza outbreaks in broiler breeders in Panama is reported for the first time. Infectious coryza was absent for over a decade in the breeder farms area. Disease outbreaks were characterized by an up to 45% drop in egg production and increased mortality. Use of a commercial trivalent bacterin and a strengthened biosecurity program prevented outbreaks in susceptible flocks in the farm.     

Estimation of genetic parameters for racing speed at different distances in young and adult Spanish Trotter horses using the random regression model

A total of 71 522 records (from 3154 horses) with the times per kilometre (TPK), recorded in Spanish Trotter horses (individual races) from racing performances held from 1991 to 2007, were available for this study. The TPK values for the different age groups (young and adult horses) and different distances (1600–2700 m) were considered as different traits, and a bi character random regression model (RRM) was applied to estimate the (co)variance components throughout the trajectory of age groups and distances. The following effects were considered as fixed: the combination of hippodrome‐date of race (404 levels); sex of the animals (3 levels); type of start (2 levels) and a fixed regression of Legendre polynomials (order 2). Those considered as random effects were the random regression Legendre polynomial (order 1) for animals (9201 animals in the pedigree); the individual environment permanent (3154 animals with data) and the driver (n = 957 levels). The residual variance was considered as heterogeneous with two classes (ages). The heritability estimated by distance ranged from 0.12 to 0.34, with a different trajectory for the two age groups. Within each age group, the genetic correlations between adjacent distances were high (>0.90), but decreased when the differences between them were over 400 metres for both age groups. The genetic correlations for the same distance across the age groups ranged from 0.47 to 0.78. Accordingly, the analysed trait (TPK) can be considered as positive genetic correlated but as different traits along the trajectory of distance and age. Therefore, some re‐ranking should be expected in the breeding value of the horses at different characteristics of the racing. The use of RRM is recommended because it allows us to estimate the breeding value along the whole trajectory of race competition.     

Efficacy of the Bm86 antigen against immature instars and adults of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

The Bm86 antigen has been used to control ticks of the Boophilus genera in integrated programs that also include the use of acaricides. Because of recent phylogenetic studies have lead to the inclusion of all Boophilus species within the Rhipicephalus genera, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of the Bm86 antigen on the biotic potential of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Domestic dogs were vaccinated with Bm86 and challenged with the three instars of R. sanguineus. Male and female mongrel dogs were divided into two groups of four animals each, comprising non-vaccinated and vaccinated animals. Immunized dogs were given two doses of an experimental formulation containing 50 μg of recombinant Bm86, at 21 days interval while the other group was given placebo, consisting of the same preparation without Bm86. Each dog was challenged 21 days after the last dose with 250 larvae, 100 nymphs and 55 adults (25 females and 30 males) released inside feeding chambers (one per instar) glued to their shaved flank. The effect of the vaccination was evaluated by determining biological parameters of ticks including the yield rates of larvae, nymphs and adult females. Adult females engorged weight, egg mass weight, efficiency rate of conversion to eggs (ERCE) and hatchability. In addition, sera were collected from dogs at 0, 21, 36, 45 and 75 days after the vaccination and used for the detection of specific antibodies by ELISA. Collection rates of larvae, nymphs and adult females fed on vaccinated dogs were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 38%, 29% and 31%, respectively, as compared with non-vaccinated controls. Significant reductions were also observed in weight of engorged females and egg mass, in ERCE, but not in the hatch rate of ticks fed on immunized dogs. ELISA data revealed a marked and significant increase in optical densities of sera from vaccinated animals after the second dose of Bm86. We concluded that the Bm86 antigen used as a vaccine for dogs reduced the viability and biotic potential of the R. sanguineus.     

Autochtonous infection of dogs and slugs with Angiostrongylus vasorum in Hungary

On the course of a helminthological survey of the dogs of Baranya County, Hungary Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was detected in two asymptomatic dogs. Identification of the parasite was based on morphology of the first-stage larvae (L1) isolated from droppings, and successful experimental infection with first stage larvae to laboratory reared Discus rotundatus and Lissachatina fulica snails, in order to exclude species of the family Filaroididae that have similar larvae to A. vasorum. While angiostrongylosis is widespread among foxes, this is the first report of A. vasorum infection in housedog in Hungary. In gardens, where infected dogs were being kept 91 specimens of 6 species of limacid and arionid slugs were collected of which 5 specimens of Arion lusitanicus were found to carry larvae of A. vasorum. Dogs usually do not ingest such large slugs willingly. Frogs are known to act as paratenic hosts in the life cycle of A. vasorum. Since one of the infected dogs harboured also infection with the intestinal trematode Alaria alata, of which frogs certainly play the role of the second intermediate host, therefore it is assumed that in this case the dog became infected with A. vasorum by eating frogs.     

Early acute depletion of lymphocytes in calicivirus-infected adult rabbits

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a lethal infection caused by calicivirus that kills 90% of the infected adult rabbits within 3 days. The calicivirus replicates in the liver and causes a fulminant hepatitis. Most studies on the pathology of RHD have been focused on the fulminant liver disease. This may not be the only mechanism in the pathogenesis of RHD: calicivirus infection may also induce leukopenia in the infected adult rabbits. We show now by flow cytometry analysis that the calicivirus induces an early decrease in B and T cells, in both spleen and liver. The depletion of B and T cells was associated with apoptosis labelled by annexin V. These changes occurred in rabbits before they showed enzymatic evidence of liver damage and persisted after liver transaminase values were very high. We conclude that depletion of lymphocytes caused by the calicivirus infection precedes or attends liver damage. The relative contribution of this lymphocyte depletion for the pathogenesis of the fatal calicivirus infection of rabbits remains to be investigated.     

Pararectal Cystotomy for Urolith Removal in Nine Horses

Objective: To report outcome of horses after standing pararectal cystotomy for removal of uroliths. Study Design: Case series. Animals: Horses (n=9) with cystic calculi. Methods: Medical records (December 1998–May 2007) of horses with cystic calculi that had standing pararectal cystotomy were reviewed. Signalment; urolith number, size, and type; surgical technique; sedation and analgesia protocols; intra‐ and postoperative complications and outcome were analyzed. Results: Uroliths (mean diameter, 6.37 cm; median, 6 cm; range, 3–10 cm) were removed intact without need for fragmentation. Eight (89%) horses had no complications and 1 horse (11%) developed persistent drainage from the perineal incision and incisional healing was prolonged. The complications resolved after wound revision, and although cystoscopy showed absence of uroliths, the clinical signs associated with cystitis recurred. Conclusions: Cystic calculi can be removed safely in standing horses using a pararectal approach. The procedure was well tolerated and no serious complications were encountered. Clinical Relevance: Pararectal cystotomy allows removal of cystic calculi in standing sedated horses. The technique may offer an economic advantage over approaches that require general anesthesia.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase is increased in the placenta of sheep at high altitude in the Andes

Fetal weight and the placenta of sheep at high altitude (HA) are affected by hypoxia. Placental changes (an increase in placental size and vascularization) are greater in ewes from populations that have lived for several generations at HA than in those exposed during just 1 gestation. This study investigated placental expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), 2 molecules involved in placental angiogenesis that could be upregulated by hypoxia. Two groups of ewes were maintained at HA (3589 m) during pregnancy: HA-native ewes (group HH) and ewes native to lowlands but moved to HA immediately after the diagnosis of pregnancy (group LH). A control group (LL) was kept at sea level. Near term, placentomes were removed, weighed, and processed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF and eNOS, as well as for vascular area measurement. Placental weight was significantly higher in the HH group than in the LH and LL groups; between the latter 2 groups there was no significant difference. The placental area occupied by vasculature was significantly greater in both the HA groups than in the LH group; the number of placentomes was greatest in the LL group. The density of VEGF and eNOS in the placentome tissue was significantly greater in both HA groups than in the LL group. Although the density of VEGF was significantly lower in the HH group than in the LH group, no differences were observed in eNOS density between the HH and LH animals. These results demonstrate that chronic hypoxia upregulates the expression of placental VEGF and eNOS, suggesting an important role of these molecules in the placental response to HA hypoxia. In addition, an attenuated response to hypoxia in VEGF synthesis may be part of the long-term process of adaptation to HA.     

Participatory organic certification in Mexico: an alternative approach to maintaining the integrity of the organic label

Over the past two decades the growth of the organic sector has been accompanied by a shift away from first party, or peer review, systems of certification and towards third party certification, in which a disinterested party is responsible for the development of organic standards and the verification of producer compliance. This paper explores some of the limitations of the third party certification model and presents the case of Mexico as an example of how an alternative form of participatory certification has emerged. The paper suggests that participatory guarantee systems (PGS) are reflective of the growing “beyond organic” movement, which focuses on reconstructing the local and re-embedding food systems into their socio-ecological contexts. It argues that PGS offers a number of benefits for producers and consumers, particularly in the South, but that it faces a number of challenges as well, such as a lack of formal recognition, social conflicts and dependence on donated resources.