Evaluation of the precision of intradermal injection of control substances for intradermal testing in clinically normal horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the precision of intradermal testing (IDT) in horses. ANIMALS: 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE: IDT was performed on the neck of each horse by use of 2 positive control substances (histamine and phytohemagglutinin [PHA]) and a negative control substance. An equal volume (0.1 mL) for each injection was prepared to yield a total of 20 syringes ([4 concentrations of each positive control substance plus 1 negative control substance] times 2 positive control substances times 2 duplicative tests) for each side of the neck. Both sides of the neck were used for IDT; therefore, 40 syringes were prepared for each horse. Hair was clipped on both sides of the neck, and ID injections were performed. Diameter of the skin wheals was recorded 0.5, 4, and 24 hours after ID injection. RESULTS: Intra- and interhorse skin reactions to ID injection of histamine and PHA resulted in wheals of uniform size at 0.5 and 4 hours, respectively. Significant intra- and interhorse variation was detected in wheals caused by PHA at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ID injection of histamine and PHA caused repeatable and precise results at 0.5 and 4 hours, respectively. Concentrations of 0.005 mg of histamine/mL and 0.1 mg of PHA/mL are recommended for use as positive control substances for IDT in horses. This information suggests that consistent wheal size is evident for ID injection of control substances, and variation in wheals in response to ID injection of test antigens results from a horse's immune response to specific antigens.     

Comparison of results for intradermal testing between clinically normal horses and horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in response to ID injection of histamine, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and Aspergillus organisms between clinically normal horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). ANIMALS: 5 healthy adult horses and 5 adult horses with RAO. PROCEDURE: Intradermal testing (IDT) was performed on the neck with 2 positive control substances (histamine and PHA) and a mixture comprising 5 Aspergillus species. Four concentrations of each test substance plus a negative control substance were used. Equal volumes (0.1 mL) of each test substance were prepared to yield 15 syringes ([4 concentrations of each test substance plus 1 negative control substance] times 3 test substances) for each side of each horse (ie, 30 syringes/horse). Intradermal injections were administered; diameter of wheals was recorded 0.5, 4, and 24 hours after injection. RESULTS: Hypersensitive responses to ID injection of histamine were detected 0.5 hours after injection, and a delay in wheal formation after ID injection of Aspergillus mixture 24 hours after injection was detected in RAO-affected horses but was not observed in clinically normal horses. No differences were detected between the 2 groups after ID injection of PHA. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: RAO-affected horses are hypersensitive to histamine, suggesting that RAO is associated with a heightened vascular response to histamine. Higher concentrations of Aspergillus mixture may be needed to detect horses that are sensitive to this group of antigens. Wheal reactions to Aspergillus may be a delayed response, suggesting that IDT results should be evaluated 0.5, 4, and 24 hours after ID injection.     

Pigmented-anaerobic bacteria associated with canine periodontitis

The etiology of human periodontal disease has been the focus of considerable research, yet relatively little is known about the causative agents of companion animal periodontitis. In humans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, a black-pigmented anaerobic bacteria (BPAB), has been implicated as the primary periopathogen. It has been demonstrated that BPAB are also found in companion animal periodontal pockets. While some animal BPAB have been individually identified, a study to identify the most frequently isolated subgingival BPAB has not been completed using genetic tools. The objective of this work was to identify the types and relative frequencies of pigmented anaerobic bacteria found in the periodontal pockets of dogs. Porphyromonas salivosa, Porphyromonas denticanis (a novel species) and Porphyromonas gulae were found to be the most frequently isolated BPAB associated with canine periodontitis.     

Growth performance of stocker calves backgrounded on sod-seeded winter annuals or hay and grain

Economically viable options for retaining ownership of spring-born calves through a winter backgrounding program are somewhat limited in the southeastern United States. Although sod-seeded winter annual forages produce less forage than those same forages planted using conventional tillage practices, sod-seeded winter annual forages have the potential to provide a low-cost, rapid-gain, ecologically and economically viable option for retaining ownership of fall-weaned calves. A study was conducted during the winters of 1998, 1999, and 2000 using 180 crossbred calves (261 +/- 2.8 kg initial BW; n = 60 each year) to compare sod-seeded winter annual forages with conventional hay and supplement backgrounding programs in southeast Arkansas. Calves were provided bermudagrass hay (ad libitum) and a grain sorghum-based supplement (2.7 kg/d) on 1-ha dormant bermudagrass pastures or were grazed on 2-ha pastures of bermudagrass/dallisgrass overseeded with 1) annual ryegrass, 2) wheat plus annual ryegrass, or 3) rye plus annual ryegrass at a set stocking rate of 2.5 calves/ha. Calves grazed from mid-December until mid-April but were fed bermudagrass hay during times of low forage mass. Mean CP and IVDMD concentrations were 19.0 and 71.1%, respectively, across sampling dates and winter annual forages, but three-way interactions among forage treatments, year, and sampling date were detected (P < 0.01) for forage mass, concentrations of CP, and IVDMD. The IVDMD of rye plus ryegrass was greater (P < 0.05) than that of ryegrass in yr 2. A forage treatment x sampling date interaction was detected for forage CP in yr 1 (P < 0.05) and 2 (P = 0.05) but not in yr 3 (P = 0.40). Forage mass did not differ (P > or = 0.22) among winter annual treatments on any sampling date. During the first 2 yr, calves fed hay plus supplement gained less (P < 0.05) BW than calves that grazed winter annual forages; gains did not differ (P > or = 0.23) among winter annual treatments. During the 3rd yr, undesirable environmental conditions limited growth of the winter annual forages; total gain did not differ (P = 0.66) among the four treatments. Winter annual forages offer potential to provide high-quality forage for calves retained until spring, but consistent forage production and quality are a concern when sod-seeding techniques are used.     

Differences and similarities among experts' opinions on Salmonella enterica dynamics in swine pre-harvest

A workshop was conducted to elicit expert opinion on infection status and transmission of salmonella in pigs at the farm of origin, during transport and during lairage. A second objective was to compare opinions regarding risk factors for salmonella introduction and control at the farm level between experts from different countries. Thirty-six experts from 11 countries filled in a paper-and-pencil questionnaire during an international conference. Experts from all countries agreed on the risk of salmonella introduction related to live animals and the importance of general hygiene and all-in/all-out management for salmonella control. However, workshop participants from Denmark put more weight on factors related to feed while experts from USA rated factors related to rodents and people contact higher. The experts believed that 21-33% of pigs coming from a chronically infected farm would be infected with salmonella, but only one-third of the infected pigs would be shedders. Regarding transport and lairage, the US participants believed that contamination was occurring in the majority of pigs regardless of initial infection status and particularly during lairage; in contrast, the Danish experts were more optimistic with respect to the contamination and infection risk. US experts believed that the incidence of salmonella shedding would be high among pigs infected during transport and lairage and that an important proportion of 'carrier' pigs would start shedding.Our results reflect the differences in the level of salmonella infection and implemented control strategies between countries as well as the different philosophies that professionals have. The differences in opinion regarding salmonella dynamics could be due either to true differences in risk as a consequence of distinct management and transport practices in Denmark and USA or to a difference in perception.     

中国生猪生产结构、成本和效益比较研究

本文采用两个主要的数据资源,对中国近来生猪产业的结构、成本、效益、饲料用途等状况作了一定的分析研究。分析推断出中国生猪生产在向规模化发展过程中,综合效益最高、最适宜的是中等养殖规模。对未来饲料和畜牧业的发展及畜牧业的结构变化趋势进行分析和预测。     

Evaluation of three strategic parasite control programs in captive wild ruminants.

Parasite control in wild ruminants is based mainly on anthelmintics. The objective of the present study was to evaluate three parasite control programs in seven herds of captive wild ruminants in 3 consecutive years. In the first year, a biannual spring-summer treatment regime with fenbendazole at 7.5 mg/kg body weight p.o. for 3 days was applied. The next year, an early-season treatment program with three administrations of fenbendazole at the same dosage at 3-wk intervals was used. In the third year, an early-season treatment program with ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg p.o. for 3 days), applied three times at 5-wk intervals, was evaluated. Effectiveness of these control programs was assessed by fecal egg counts and by scores of body condition and fecal consistency at weekly intervals. Involved animal species were Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros), Soay sheep (Ovis aries soay), ibex (Capra ibex), red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus), and Nelson's elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni). With the spring-summer regime, fecal egg counts remained low during the first 5 mo, but from September onward, they slowly increased to significant levels in all seven herds. The early-season program with fenbendazole resulted in fecal egg counts near zero during the entire year in four herds but a significant egg shedding from August onward was noted in Arabian oryx, scimitar-horned oryx, and Soay sheep. The early-season program with ivermectin resulted in very low to zero egg shedding in gazelle, adult Soay sheep, ibex, red deer, and Nelson's elk during the entire grazing season, but failed to prevent high shedding in October in Arabian oryx and scimitar-horned oryx. High contamination of grassy pastures with infective larvae/eggs in the previous year or before the first treatment may explain failure of the treatment regimes in some herds.     

Beta-carotene uptake and changes in ovarian steroids and uterine proteins during the estrous cycle in the canine

The uptake of beta-carotene by reproductive tissues and the effects of beta-carotene on reproductive function in the dog are unknown. We studied the uptake of beta-carotene by blood, corpus luteum, and uterine endometrium and the role of dietary beta-carotene in influencing ovarian steroid and uterine protein production during the estrous cycle in the dog. Mature female Beagle dogs (n = 56) were fed diets containing 0, 2, 20, or 50 mg of beta-carotene daily for approximately 6 wk before estrus detection. Blood was sampled at regular intervals from estrus through d 45 after ovulation (d 0 = ovulation), when laparotomy was performed. The ovaries were obtained for the isolation of corpus luteum. The uterus was flushed with phosphate-buffered saline and the endometrium obtained by scraping. Beta-carotene was not detectable in plasma, corpus luteum, or endometrium of unsupplemented dogs. However, beta-carotene and alpha-carotene in plasma, corpus luteum, and uterine endometrium increased in a dose-dependent manner. Alpha-carotene made up a high percentage of total carotenoids even though the alpha-carotene content in the dietary source was very low. Dogs fed 50 mg of beta-carotene had significantly higher concentrations of plasma progesterone between d 12 and 26 compared with unsupplemented dogs. Dietary beta-carotene did not influence plasma estradiol-17beta and total uterine proteins. Therefore, beta-carotene is absorbed into plasma, corpus luteum, and uterine endometrium of dogs. Furthermore, dietary beta-carotene increased plasma progesterone concentrations during the estrous cycle. It is possible that dietary beta-carotene may improve reproductive function in the canine.     

Antibiotic-resistant mutants identified from nodules of uninoculated soybeans grown in a strongly acidic soil

Two hypotheses that antibiotic-resistant nodule isolates from uninoculated soybeans grown in a strongly acidic soil were naturally occurring rhizobia which had acquired resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin or were contaminants from adjacent, inoculated treatments, were tested in laboratory experiments. Soybean nodule isolates (166) as well as 48 cowpea and 89 Rhizobium japonicum strains were used in tests of resistance to six concentrations (0–500 μg ml^?1) of kanamycin, spectinomycin and streptomycin, tolerance of stresses of pH 4.6, with or without 50 μm Al, and serological cross-reactivity.More strains from the strongly acidic soil were resistant to the antibiotics than from slightly acidic soils, but resistance to antibiotics did not necessarily entail resistance to pH 4.6 or to 50 μm Al. Twenty-three nodule isolates which were resistant to spectinomycin or streptomycin cross-reacted with antisera of the inoculum strains, indicating that they were contaminants. None of 59 antibiotic-sensitive nodule isolates from uninoculated plants and none of 31 from inoculated plants cross-reacted with the antisera. All 53 antibiotic-resistant isolates from nodules of plants in inoculated plots cross-reacted with test antisera, indicating stability of the antibiotic markers.Cowpea rhizobia were generally more resistant to the antibiotics and more tolerant of pH 4.6 and 50 μm Al than were R. japonicum. Among strains of R. japonicum, slow growers were more resistant to antibiotics than moderately fast growers.     

Incidence of clinical mastitis in a cohort of British dairy herds

A three-year survey to determine the incidence of clinical mastitis and the associated bacteria in dairy herds in England and Wales is described. Escherichia coli was the predominant organism in each year. Streptococcus uberis and Staphylococcus aureus were important for part for each year. The annual incidence of mastitis declined from 54.6 cases per 100 cows in 1980 to 41.2 in 1982. The incidence increased with age and declined with increasing herd size. The culling rate due solely to mastitis was 3 per cent. Strep uberis was the pathogen most frequently isolated from clinical cases which occurred in the dry period. Thirty per cent of all cases recurred at least once and staphylococcal cases exhibited the highest frequency of recurrence.