Lung lesion score system in cattle: proposal for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a severe infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. The peculiar pathological features of...     

Intra‐ovarian dynamic blood flow in pseudopregnant rabbits during prostaglandin F2α‐induced luteolysis

In the present study, we evaluated the dynamic changes of intra‐ovarian blood flow, by real‐time colour‐coded and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, as well as the immunopresence of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) receptor (FP) and peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations in pseudopregnant rabbit after PGF2α treatments at either early‐ (4 days) and mid‐luteal (9 days) stages. During the pre‐treatment observation interval of one hour, the ovarian blood flows showed a fluctuating pattern. Independently of luteal stage, PGF2α administration caused a fourfold decline in the blood flow within 40 min that was followed 50 min later by a reactive hyperaemia that lasted several hours, while the resistive index showed an opposite trend. Twenty‐four hour later, the blood flow was one half that measured before PGF2α injection. At day 4 of pseudopregnancy, PGF2α did not affect peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations, but at day 9, it caused functional luteolysis as progesterone levels declined 6 hr later to reach basal values after 24 hr. The changes in the ovarian blood flows of pseudopregnant rabbits receiving PGF2α were accompanied by simultaneous changes in the resistance index. This biphasic response in the blood flow and vascular resistances likely reflects reactive hyperaemia following vasoconstriction. By immunohistochemistry, strong positive immune reaction for FP was detected in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells of ovarian arteries, veins and capillaries. In conclusion, these results suggest that PGF2α could acutely regulate the ovarian blood flow of pseudopregnant rabbits, even if there is no evidence of a blood flow reduction anticipating luteolysis.     

Multiple dermoid sinuses of type Vb and IIIb on the head of a Saint Bernard dog

Dermoid sinus, a congenital malformation of neural tube development, has been reported in humans and several animal species including dogs. It is typically found in the dorsal midline and commonly occurs in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. A case of multiple dermoid sinuses in the fronto-occipital region is described. An 11-month-old, intact female Saint Bernard dog was presented with a 2 day history of discharge from a large irregular subcutaneous mass in the fronto-occipital region. The dog was otherwise healthy. The dog had two circular skin lesions (approximately 4 × 4 and 4 × 2 cm diameter) surrounded by multiple irregular elevated masses. The masses had multiple small openings on the skin surface with tufts of hair protruding from the apertures. The masses were surgically removed, and the diagnosis of multiple dermoid sinuses was confirmed by histological examination. Histopathological examination showed multiple, variably sized, spherical to tubular cysts expanding the dermis and subcutis. Cysts were filled with hair shafts and lamellar keratin and were lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. Sebaceous and apocrine gland adnexal structures were also observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of multiple dermoid sinuses of two different types in the head of a Saint Bernard dog.     

Morphological and acrosomal changes of canine spermatozoa during epididymal transit

Background

During epididymal transit, functional and structural modifications leading to full maturation enable male gametes to reach, recognize and fertilize the oocytes. In dogs, little is known on the modifications of spermatozoa during the passage in the epididymis. The aim of this study was to describe the motility, morphology and acrosomal patterns of canine spermatozoa retrieved from the epididymis caput, corpus and cauda.

Results

After the dilution required for the collection of epididymal content, sperm motility was significantly higher (P <0.0001) in the cauda compared to corpus and caput.Proportions of spermatozoa with normal morphology were significantly higher in corpus (P =0.02) and cauda (P <0.0001) compared to caput. Overall morphological abnormalities of the head and neck/midpiece were similar in the three different epididymal regions. A significantly increased prevalence of tail defects, mainly represented by single bent tails, was observed in the corpus compared to caput (P <0.0001) and cauda (P =0.006).Numbers of immature sperm with cytoplasmic droplets decreased from the proximal to the distal region of the epididymis. Particularly, proximal cytoplasmic droplets were more frequently found in spermatozoa collected from the caput epididymis than in the corpus (P <0.0001) and in the cauda (P <0.0001), whereas the occurrence of distal cytoplasmic droplets was higher in the corpus than in the caput (P =0.0003) and in the cauda (P <0.05).Significantly higher proportions of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes were retrieved from the cauda epididymis than from the caput (P =0.03) and the corpus (P =0.008). This difference was mainly due to a lower proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal acrosomes (mainly swollen acrosomes) rather than with absent acrosomes.

Conclusions

Canine spermatozoa undergo several modifications in the epididymis. The acquisition of progressive motility, migration of the cytoplasmic droplet and acrosomal reshaping lead to mature spermatozoa which are then stored in the cauda epididymis. From this site, spermatozoa can be retrieved and used in assisted reproductive techniques as a valuable tool for propagating genetic traits of high value individuals that dies accidentally or undergoes orchiectomy for medical purposes. Further investigations should be also focused on the potential use of spermatozoa recovered from other epididymal regions.     

BILATERAL ELBOW MALFORMATION IN A CAT CAUSED BY RADIO-ULNAR SYNOSTOSIS

A 9-month-old neutered male cat was referred because of left forelimb lameness. Physical examination, laboratory analysis, and radiographic examination of the entire skeleton were performed. The radiographic diagnosis was bilateral radio-ulnar synostosis with secondary elbow malformation. A comparison between clinical and radiographic findings of the cat and those described in children affected by radio-ulnar synostosis is reported. Correlations and differences are discussed.     

Methaphylactic effect of tulathromycin treatment on rumen fluid parameters in feedlot beef cattle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tulathromycin as a bovine respiratory disease (BRD) metaphylactic treatment on rumen fluid parameters in feedlot cattle in an intensive livestock production farm. One hundred beef cattle, immediately after housing, were divided in 2 equal groups: 50 animals with metaphylactic treatment against BRD (treated group; tulathromycin at 2.5 mg/kg BW) and 50 animals with placebo treatment (control group). Rumen fluid samples were collected from each animal by rumenocentesis in 3 periods: 1 d (T1), 8 d (T8), and 15 d (T15) after treatment. Rumen pH was determined by ruminal fluid using portable pH meter. Total volatile fatty acids (total VFA) were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All animals were singularly weighed at T1 and T15. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine significant effects of treatment (treated group versus control group) and period (T1, T8, and T15) on rumen fluid parameters and body weight. No clinical signs of BRD or other related diseases were recorded during the periods of study from any animal. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between treated group and control group for mean values of ruminal pH (6.02 versus 5.89) and total VFA (5.84 versus 5.13) at 8 d after treatment. The weight gain (Δ) showed an average increase of 8.6 kg in treated group (P < 0.05). The trends of ruminal pH and VFA values suggest an effect of tulathromycin as BRD metaphylactic treatment on the modulation of rumen fermentation, particularly 8 d after administration.     

The new European legislation on traditional herbal medicines: main features and perspectives

Under the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July 2003-December 2003) an agreement has been reached by the European Parliament and the Council on the approval of the proposal of Directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending the Directive 2001/83/EC as regards traditional herbal medicinal products. Once implemented in the E.U. Member States, this new Directive will remove the constraints that have made it difficult granting marketing authorisations of herbal substances and preparations as traditional medicinal products under the pre-existing Community legislation. The main features (i.e. traditional herbal medicine definition, simplified registration procedure, provisions for Community herbal monographs and Community list of herbal substances and preparations and establishment of the Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products) of this new Community legislation are analysed and discussed in the present paper together with some expected positive public health impacts.     

Adsorption of Heavy Metals on Mixed Fe-Al Oxides in the Absence or Presence of Organic Ligands

A study was carried out on the adsorption of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions on mixed Fe-Al oxides inthe absence or presence of increasing concentrations of oxalate or tartrate. Mixed Fe-Al oxides were prepared by precipitating at pH 5.5 mixtures of Fe and Al ions at initial Fe/Al molar ratios (R) of 0, 1, 2, 4, 10 and ∞ (R0, R1, R2, R4, R10 and R∞).The oxides aged 7 days at 20 °C or 30 days at 50 °C showed different chemical composition and physico-chemical and mineralogical properties. All the mixed Fe-Al oxides showed presence of poorly crystalline materials (ferrihydrite) even after prolonged aging. The heavy metals wereselectively adsorbed on the oxides. For all the precipitates aged7 days at 20 °C, the selectivity sequence wasPb²⁺> Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Co²⁺, but the pH at which 50% ofeach cation was adsorbed (pH₅₀) was different from sample tosample. It was found that usually the greater the amounts of Fe in Fe-Al gels the lower the pH₅₀ for each metal, but the adsorption of a heavy metal was not linearly related to Fe content. The pH₅₀ usually did not change significantly when the oxides were aged 30 days at 50 °C. Competitive adsorption of Cu and Zn on ferrihydrite (R∞) showed thatCu strongly prevented Zn adsorption even at an initial Zn/Cu molar ratio of 8, whereas Cu sorption was not inhibited. In thepresence of oxalate (OX) or tartrate (TR) (organic ligand/Pb molar ratio (r_L) from 0 to 7) the quantities of Pb adsorbedon the Fe-Al oxides usually increased with increasing r_L. The adsorption increase of Pb was particularly high on the oxidesricher in Fe (R4-R∞), but a significant increase was also observed on R0-R2 samples. The adsorption of Pb on the oxides hasbeen influenced not only by the presence and concentration of organic ligands but also by the sequence of addition of Pb and tartrate on the sorbents. It has been ascertained that on each oxide the greater amounts of Pb were adsorbed when tartrate wasadded before Pb and usually according to the following sequence: Tr before Pb > Pb before Tr > Pb + Tr > Pb.