Cellulitis in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

A case of cellulitis was observed in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared for commercial meat production. This condition in Japanese quail has not been reported in the literature. This incident was the first, and to date only, occurrence of cellulitis in this processing plant. The cellulitis lesions were localized to the subcutis overlying the breast and inner thigh. Carcasses of processed birds and live birds from the affected farm were presented to the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia. Escherichia coli was cultured from the lesion. The affected live birds displayed lameness and had osteomyelitis. Pasteurella multocida serotype 3,4 was cultured from the liver and bone marrow of affected birds. Approximately 4.61% of the processed carcasses from the flock were condemned because of cellulitis. This represented a 10fold increase from the typical condemnation rate. Further investigation revealed birds were placed in higher than normal density; therefore, we theorize that the concurrent pasteurellosis and increased placement density resulted in the cellulitis condition.     

Discrete time survival analysis of lamb mortality in a terminal sire composite population

Mortality records of 8,642 lambs from a composite population at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center during the first year of life were studied using discrete survival analyses. Lamb mortality was studied across periods from birth to weaning, birth to 365 d of age, and weaning to 365 d of age. Animal-time data sets were created for each period using different time intervals: daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly. Each data set was analyzed using logistic and complementary log-log sire, animal, and maternal effects models. Explanatory variables included in the models were duration of time interval, sex, type of birth, contemporary group, age of dam, and type of upbringing (nursery or not). Similar estimates of explanatory variables were obtained within the same period across models and different time intervals. Heritability estimates from the complementary log-log models were greater than those from the comparable logistic models because of the difference in variance of the respective link functions. Heritability estimates from the complementary log-log sire model ranged from 0.13 to 0.21 for all periods. These estimates were greater than the complementary log-log animal model estimates that ranged from 0.04 to 0.12. Maternal effects were important early in life, with the maternal heritability slightly greater than the direct additive heritability. Negative correlations (-0.72 to -0.65) between direct additive and maternal effects was estimated. The similarity of results among survival analysis methods demonstrates that the discrete methodology is a viable alternative to estimate variance components in livestock survival data.     

Effects of feeding ergovaline on lamb performance in a heat stress environment

Lambs exposed to a heat-stressed environment (33 degrees C, 50% relative humidity) were used in three experiments to determine whether ergovaline (EV) is the primary toxin involved in fescue toxicosis. The first study evaluated the effects of feeding diets containing increasing levels of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed (E+) and decreasing levels of endophyte-free tall fescue seed (E-). The second and third study evaluated the response to a diet that contained synthetic EV added to an E- diet and the response to a diet containing endophyte-infected ryegrass seed (R+) with an elevated concentration of EV. In Exp. 1, lambs were fed diets of: 1) 10% E- and 0% E+, 2) 5% E- and 5% E+, or 3) 0% E- and 10% E+. Increasing the percentage of E+ in the diet resulted in a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in feed intake (as-fed basis), skin temperature, thermocirculation index (TCI), and serum prolactin. Body weight gain also decreased (P < 0.06). Respiratory rate and core body temperature were not affected by the 5 or 10% E+ diets. In Exp. 2, lambs were fed diets that contained: 1) 10% E-, 2) 10% E- with synthetic EV added at a level equivalent to the 10% E+ diet, or 3) 10% E+. Feed intake (as-fed basis), body weight gain, and skin temperature did not differ for lambs fed the E- and EV diets. The EV diet elicited a decrease (P < 0.05) in TCI and prolactin compared with the E- diet. The TCI for lambs fed EV did not differ (P > 0.10) from the E+ lambs; however, serum prolactin was lower (P < 0.05) for lambs on the E+ diet than for those fed EV. Core body temperature was not affected (P > 0.10) by feeding EV or E+ fescue seed in Exp. 2. In Exp. 3, lambs were fed diets that contained: 1) 10% E-, 2) 3.24% R+ and 6.76% E-, which added an equivalent amount of EV to E+ diets but reduced concentrations of other ergot alkaloids, or 3) 10% E+. Lambs fed the E+ diet and maintained at 33 degrees C had lowered feed intake (as-fed basis), skin temperature, and TCI compared with lambs fed the E- or R+ diets (P < 0.05). Lambs fed the E+ diet had increased rectal temperatures and lowered serum prolactin compared with lambs on the R+ diet (P < 0.05). Lambs on the R+ diet had a greater rectal temperature and lower serum prolactin than lambs on the E- diet (P < 0.05). These results suggest that EV is a fescue toxin; however, other alkaloids might work synergistically with EV, causing the full expression of fescue toxicosis.     

Use of an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) to measure the mitogenic activity of extracts from heifer mammary tissue: effects of nutrition and ovariectomy

The objectives of the experiment were (1) to determine whether MAC-T cells would accurately mimic the previously observed proliferative responses of primary mammary epithelial cells (MEC) to mammary tissue extracts from high and low-fed heifers and (2) to determine whether mammary tissue extracts from ovariectomized (OVX) heifers would have lower mitogenic activity than intact controls. Addition of mammary tissue extracts to cell culture media of MAC-T cells plated on plastic or collagen-coated plastic to a range of concentrations between 1 and 8% resulted in dose-dependent increases in cell proliferation. Furthermore, mammary tissue extracts from low-fed prepubertal heifers aged 9 months, stimulated significantly more proliferation of MAC-T cells, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA than mammary tissue extracts from high-fed heifers (40.6 cpm x 10(3) per well versus 21.9+/-1.8 cpm x 10(3) per well). These observations suggested that MAC-T cells would be a suitable alternative to primary MECs for measuring the mitogenic activity of mammary tissue extracts. Conversely, no difference was observed in the mitogenic activity of mammary tissue extracts from OVX or control heifers. Possibly, MAC-T cells provide a good model for nutrition- but not ovarian-induced changes in mammary growth. Alternatively, that reduction of in vivo mammary development following OVX did not result in reduced mitogenic activity of the mammary tissue extracts emphasizes that heifer mammary development is the result of complex interactions between local growth factors and systemic hormones.     

Production of polyclonal antisera against feline immunoglobulin E and its use in an ELISA in cats with experimentally induced asthma

Serum samples from six cats with experimentally induced asthma were used to purify feline IgE using gel filtration and affinity chromatography. The resultant IgE, evaluated for purity by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and reactivity by Prausnitz-Kustner (PK) testing, was used to develop polyclonal rabbit anti-feline IgE antisera. Using reverse cutaneous anaphylaxis (RCA), the antisera were determined to be specific for feline IgE. The polyclonal rabbit anti-feline IgE antiserum was then validated in an allergen-specific ELISA. Serum samples from an additional five asthmatic cats sensitized with Bermuda grass allergen (BGA) were evaluated prior to sensitization, after parenteral sensitization, and after aerosol sensitization and challenge. A significant increase in serum BGA-specific IgE was noted over time.     

Dictyocaulus species: cross infection between cattle and red deer

Aim: To discover whether cross infection between red deer (Cervus elaphus) and cattle is possible with either a bovine isolate of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, or with a cervine isolate of the lungworm, Dictyocaulus eckerti which is thought to be maintained primarily in deer. Method: Twelve cattle and 12 red deer were reared parasite-free from birth. At 3-4 months of age, half of each species (n=6) were experimentally infected with D. viviparus and the other half with D. eckerti. The course of infection was monitored for 34 days, after which the animals were slaughtered and the lungs removed to assess levels of infection. Results: Faecal larval counts demonstrated that patent Dictyocaulus infections occurred in all groups. At necropsy, adult worms were found in the lungs in all groups except the cattle that were infected with D. eckerti. The largest numbers of adult worms were found in the red deer infected with D. eckerti. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that both cattle and red deer could be infected with either D. viviparus or D. eckerti. However, D. eckerti larvae that originated from deer established more successfully in deer and D. viviparus larvae that originated from cattle established more successfully in cattle.     

Comparison of anthelmintic activity of pyrantel, praziquantel, and nitazoxanide against Anoplocephala perfoliata in Horses

Three anthelmintics were compared for efficacy in reducing the egg production of Anoplocephala perfoliata in a herd of central Texas horses. Two trials were run, 1 in mares and the other in weanlings that were diagnosed as being infected with Anoplocephala by recovery of eggs in 5 g of feces with sugar centrifugation. Each animal was evaluated twice before treatment and again twice following treatment (at weeks 2 and 4 after treatment). The criteria for infection were the recovery of eggs on at least 1 occasion before treatment and the finding of eggs on 1 day following treatment. The mares were treated 1 time with either pyrantel pamoate at 13.2 mg/kg, nitazoxanide at 100 mg/kg, praziquantel at 1.23 mg/kg or remained as untreated controls. The weanlings were treated with pyrantel at 13.7 mg/kg nitazoxanide at 100 mg/kg or remained as untreated controls. The percentage reduction of patient infection in mares after treatment with pyrantel was 83%, with nitazoxanide was 78%, and with praziquantel was 83% and in controls was 17%. There was a 75% reduction of patient weanlings treated with pyrantel or nitazoxanide and a 17% reduction in untreated controls. The reduction of infection in all horses treated with any drug was significantly different from controls. All of the drugs were somewhat effective in the control of Anoplocephala, and there were no differences among the drugs in their effectiveness.

Introduction

Anoplocephala perfoliata, the lappeted tapeworm, is an inhabitant of the intestine of equids. Adult tapeworms attach to the intestinal mucosa at the ileocaecal valve and, when present in large numbers, cause edema and hypertrophy of the ileum. The disease manifest by this infection may be inapparent or may give rise to colic (abdominal pain) in the horse apparently from mechanical obstruction or intussusception of the small intestine into the caecocolon.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8} The prevalence of infection is geographically variable^{9, 10, 11, 12 and 13} but appears to be increasing,¹⁴ with a much higher rate of infection found with necropsy as opposed to fecal observations. Horses become infected by the ingestion of infected orbatid mites in pastures. Orbatid mites, the intermediate hosts, are predatory and are found in decaying organic material, such as leaf litter. Horses of all ages are infected, but there are lower numbers of clinical cases in horses older than 4 years of age.⁴ The intensity of infection is highest in the late summer and autumn.^{8 and 12} Anthelmintics with reported efficacy against A perfoliata include pyrantel pamoate at 13.2 mg/kg,¹⁰ pyrantel tartrate at 2.6 mg/kg for 30 days,¹⁵ pyrantel embonate at 38 mg/kg,¹⁶ and praziquantel at 1 to 2 mg/kg.^{17 and 18} Nitazoxanide has not been evaluated for Anoplocephala but was included in the trial because of its effects against nematodes and tapeworms in humans.¹⁹ Because Anoplocephala infections may cause disease and there is a perception that current anthelmintics may not be as effective as in the past, a study was done to compare anthelmintics to lower the intensity of fecal egg counts in a herd of horses in central Texas.

Materials and methods

Quarter horse mares and weanlings from a single herd were evaluated with 5 g of feces with a sucrose double centrifugation test to determine whether eggs of Anoplocephala were present.²⁰ Feces from each individual horse were evaluated twice, once approximately 2 weeks before treatment and again on the day of treatment. If Anoplocephala eggs were found on either date, the horse was considered to have positive results. Within each group (mares or weanlings), the treatment selection was randomly allocated as the horses were restrained for treatment. Fecal samples were again evaluated at 14 and 28 days after treatment for the presence or absence of eggs on either day.The dose for each individual horse was determined by chest girth weight tape at the time of treatment. The treatments were as follows: pyrantel pamoate (Strongid-T, Pfizer Animal Health, Exton, Pa) at 13.7 mg/kg via nasogastric intubation (12 mares, 8 weanlings), nitazoxanide oral paste (Nitazoxanide, Idexx Laboratories, Westbrook, Me) at 100 mg/kg (9 mares, 8 weanlings), praziquantel (Droncet injectable, Bayer Corp, Shawnee Mission, Kan) at 1.23 mg/kg via nasogastric intubation (6 mares), and untreated controls (6 mares, 6 weanlings). A 1-tailed Fisher exact test was used to compare rates of infection before and after treatment. If a mare or foal did not have positive results before treatment, it was not evaluated in this study.

Results and discussion

No abnormal clinical signs were seen after treatment with any of the products. Treatment was administered to several additional animals with each product, but they were not included in the analysis if they did not have positive results on 1 of the 2 evaluations before treatment, hence, the different numbers of horses in treatment groups.None of the horses in the trial exhibited clinical signs associated with the infection of A perfoliata. However, before the trial, a mare from the infected herd exhibited signs of colic and Anoplocephala eggs were detected in the feces. Examination of the remainder of the herd gave impetus to the study.Mean egg counts before and after treatment are given in the Table.The presence of strongylate and Parascaris eggs in weanlings served as a control of the methodology of evaluation. The difficulty of finding Anoplocephala eggs has been recognized by several authors,^{5, 8, 13, 14 and 21} but the authors also recognize that when there were greater numbers of parasites there was increased egg production. Therefore, finding of eggs with fecal flotation indicated that there were 20 worms or more. However, there appears to be no correlation between the number of worms and egg counts once the detection threshold is reached,²² so the criterion for evaluation was the presence of eggs in the feces before treatment compared with after treatment. Although mean egg counts were not compared, the number of eggs in each infected horse was less after treatment in all groups compared with untreated controls (Table). The method of evaluation used in this study cannot be equated to those of critical^{10 and 16} or control¹⁴ studies in which horses are killed so that all worms are detected. However, the use of clinical studies to compare compounds is useful in detecting which anthelmintics are likely to be of value against geographically distinct populations of worms. Admittedly, more sampling may have increased the number of horses with positive results, both before and after treatment.