Absorption of equations for non-parents for an animal model with maternal effects and genetic groups

Rules for forming the mixed-model equations for the reduced animal model with all relationships and including maternal effects have been set out by Quaas and Pollak. They also have shown how to simplify the mixed-model equations when genetic group effects are included in the model with what has become known as the Q-P transformation. Westell has given rules for calculating the coefficients for the Q-P transformed equations that are associated with the inverse of the numerator relationship matrix and genetic group effects. Those rules can be extended to include maternal effects and genetic groups for maternal as well as direct effects. As with the rules of Quaas and Pollak for the equations for the reduced animal model, a similar set of rules can be obtained for the genetic groups model after the Q-P transformation. The rules are derived easily by examining the algebraic results of absorbing the direct and maternal breeding value equations for non-parents into the parent breeding value, group and fixed effects equations. These rules involve Westell's rules and the inverse elements of the genetic (co)variance matrix for direct and maternal additive genetic effects. The rules make calculation of breeding values for parents for models including direct and maternal genetic group effects nearly as easy as for models without genetic group effects. Back solution for direct and maternal breeding values of non-parents similarly is as simple as when genetic group effects are not in the model.     

Field trials of an immunization procedure against hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys

The efficacy of oral vaccination for hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys was assessed by comparing flocks raised on the same premises, under the same management, with and without vaccination. The immunizing virus, a strain of marble spleen disease virus of pheasants, was administered via the drinking water. Vaccinated and unvaccinated turkeys differed significantly in feed conversion rates and spleen weights after challenge.     

Morphological changes in the small intestinal smooth muscle layers of horses suffering from small intestinal strangulation. Is there a basis for predisposition for reduced contractility?

Reasons for performing study: Intestinal strangulation often leads to enterectomy after which ileus can develop. This has prompted research to look into possible pathophysiological processes triggering equine ileus. However, morphological changes of the small intestinal smooth muscle in relation to equine colic have not yet been studied. Objectives: The presence of some smooth muscle proteins was morphologically assessed and quantified in control and colic horses. In addition, the up‐ or down‐regulation of heat shock proteins (HSP20 and HSP27) influencing the contractility of smooth muscles was studied. Methods: Cranial resection margins of 18 strangulated small intestinal samples were collected. Small intestinal control samples were collected from 11 horses subjected to euthanasia for other than gastrointestinal‐related reasons. Formaldehyde‐fixed tissue was paraffin‐embedded and processed for conventional staining and immunohistochemistry. Snap‐frozen full‐thickness biopsies were collected for western blot analyses. Results: Evaluating the muscle layer microscopically, colic samples showed significantly more signs of degradation than controls (P = 0.026) of which vacuolar degeneration was most prominent (P = 0.009). In colic samples, myosin protein levels were decreased (P = 0.022) whereas desmin (P = 0.049) and HSP20 protein levels (P = 0.005) were elevated. Conclusions: In colic samples, microscopic lesions at the level of the muscle layer indicate a stress response. In addition, modified amounts of structural proteins such as myosin and desmin together with increased HSP20 levels could perhaps provide a basis for explaining the malfunctioning of the intestinal muscle layer. Potential relevance: Post operative ileus, following small intestinal strangulation and resection, could be related in part to a dysfunctional muscle layer. In addition to microscopic signs of degeneration, myosin and HSP20 were affected. Pharmacological interventions might alter HSP20 expressions and thus serve a protective effect.     

Antibiotic aerosolization: the effect on experimentally induced Alcaligenes rhinotracheitis in turkeys

Oxytetracycline hydrochloride was delivered by aerosol twice daily for 3 days to uninfected turkeys and to turkeys experimentally inoculated with Alcaligenes faecalis. The clinical, microbiological, and histological changes in the upper respiratory tracts were studied. No lesions were observed in the tracheas of uninoculated poults exposed to the aerosol. In experimentally infected poults, clinical signs included ocular and nasal discharges and open-mouthed breathing. Histologic lesions included progressive bacterial colonization of ciliated epithelium, loss of cilia, depletion of mucin from goblet cells, and accumulation of inflammatory cells within the tracheal lumen. Aerosolization of oxytetracycline effected a temporary decrease in bacterial colonization and a delay in clinical signs and histologic lesions in infected treated poults compared with untreated infected poults. Bacterial colonization and histologic lesions in the tracheas of both treated and untreated infected poults were similar by 4 days after the treatment was discontinued. This study indicates additional research with bactericidal antibiotics is needed to further evaluate antibiotic aerosolization as a treatment for alcaligenes rhinotracheitis.     

Comparison of oil adjuvant and aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid for the passive immunization of lambs against tetanus

Immunization of ewes with oil emulsion toxoid followed by an aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid both containing 10 Lf per dose, resulted in a very high antitoxin level in their lambs. Two injections of aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid also imparted a passive immunity to lambs which is considered to be adequate to protect them against tetanus for 4 weeks after birth.     

REGIONAL BINDING INDEX OF THE RADIOLABELED SELECTIVE 5-HT2A ANTAGONIST 123I-5-I-R91150 IN THE NORMAL CANINE BRAIN IMAGED WITH SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

The pattern of the specific 5-HT2A (5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor) antagonist 123I-5-I-R91150 was measured in 10 healthy dogs without neurologic and behavior abnormalities. Eight cortical regions (left and right fronto-, temporo-, parieto-, and occipitocortical area), one global subcortical region (including the thalamic system) were compared with a reference region lacking receptors; that is, the cerebellum. The 123I labeled radioligand was injected intravenously 100-200 minutes before acquisition. Both transmission and emission data were obtained with a triple head gamma camera equipped with high-resolution fanbeam collimators. The emission data were corrected for scatter and attenuation. To delineate different cerebral regions more accurately, the regions of interest (ROI) defined in a former study on brain perfusion measured with 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) in the same dogs were used. The co-registration of the 99mTc-ECD and the 123I-5-I-R91150, obtained from each dog, was realized with the help of corresponding transmission maps. By normalizing each regional cerebral activity to the activity observed in the cerebellum, the regional radioactivity (binding index) could be relatively quantified. Highest brain uptake was noted in the frontocortical brain areas (right: 1.85, left: 1.89), followed by the temporocortical region (right: 1.58, left: 1.56). Least uptake was noted in the more caudal and middle brain regions [occipito- (right: 1.46, left: 1.41), parietocortical (right: 1.30, left: 1.26), and striatal region (1.19)]. No gender nor age influence was noted in this series. The 123I labeled serotonin-2A receptor ligand seems to have similar cortical binding in the normal canine brain, as shown in humans and other animal species. A frontocortical to occipitocortical (rostrocaudal) binding index gradient was identified within the dog, which has not been seen in imaging studies from humans and other animal species. The significance of these results will need further investigation. This normative data can be used to compare regional brain uptake of the 123I-radioligand to dogs with behavioral disorders related to the serotonergic system, in future studies.     

Papillomavirus-associated basosquamous carcinoma in an Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).

A 5-yr-old female Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) had a small raised pigmented mass removed from the lateral canthus of the left eye. Six additional variably sized, raised, smooth to cauliflower-like skin masses were observed randomly distributed throughout the left wing membranes. Four masses were removed and diagnosed microscopically as basosquamous carcinomas and papillomas. Additional masses, removed 6 mo and 1 yr later, showed bony invasion and squamous differentiation. Immunohistochemistry detected positive intranuclear staining for bovine papillomavirus antibody in all samples. Polymerase chain reaction done on DNA extracts from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue amplified a 450 base-pair segment analogous to the L1 region of human papillomavirus types 96 and 5. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of sequenced amplicons suggests a novel chiropteran papillomavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of papillomavirus-associated carcinoma in a chiropteran species.     

Diagnostic assays applied in BVDV control in The Netherlands

In The Netherlands, a voluntary bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-free certification programme was started in 1997. After an intake procedure in which all cattle are tested for the presence of BVD virus, a herd obtains the status "BVD-virus-free". To maintain this status a monitoring procedure is executed to verify absence of BVDV circulation in the herd. Several diagnostic tests are used: RT-PCR in bulk milk and pooled blood samples, antigen-ELISA (Ag-ELISA) and antibody ELISA in individual blood samples. Sensitivity and specificity of these tests are discussed. In addition, a diagnostic quick scan has been introduced, consisting of a combination of bulk milk tests for virus and antibody, and antibody tests in samples from young stock. Preliminary results are presented.