Reducing the proportion of animal protein in feed for rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). 2. Supplementation of methionine and lysine

Continuing previous investigations, two test feedstuffs whose fishmeal content had been reduced to 5% and which were supplemented with 4.5 g methionine and 5.0 g lysine per kg resp. 6 g methionine and 6 g lysine per kg were proofed in comparison with a fattening feed for trout as customary in trade and with a fish meal content of 35%. The content of animal protein in the control feed was at least 75% (crude protein content 41%), in test feed I at most 35% (crude protein content 35.4%), in test feed II at most 17% (crude protein content 33.9%). All feedstuffs had the same energy content. The tests were made with rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) of 80...100 g at the beginning and at water temperatures of 11...12 degrees C. They were conducted over a period of 112 days. After giving the same amount of feed, growth of and feed expenditure for the fish feed with the test feedstuffs were less suitable than of those fish which had received the control feed. Concerning the protein efficiency ratio, the productive protein value and the energetic expenditure too, the best results were achieved with the control feed.     

A syncytium regression test to detect antibodies to bovine syncytial virus.

A test to detect antibodies to bovine syncytial virus was developed from the observation that syncytia in monolayer cell cultures infected with bovine syncytial virus regress and disappear in the presence of bovine syncytial virus antibodies. The test is useful in monitoring the presence of bovine syncytial virus and bovine syncytial virus antibodies in cattle used in studies on bovine leukosis.     

Agonistic interactions in developed and undeveloped breeds of chickens

1. Agonistic interactions were observed over a 24‐week period in Rhode Island Red and in Nigerian local fowl aged 32 weeks or 12 weeks at the start of the experiments.

2. Agonistic interactions were both more numerous and more severe (fights and peck avoidances) in groups of the local breed than in those of Rhode Island Reds.

3. The outcome of severe interactions favoured local males and Rhode Island females in the first experiment and Rhode Island males in the second.

4. Small body and comb size might account for the relatively high number of agonistic interactions and the submissiveness of local females and young males while physical strength or some other breed characteristic might account for the high number of agonistic interactions of local males as well as their dominance in breed encounters.     

Comparison of the safety and efficacy of a new live Salmonella Gallinarum vaccine candidate, JOL916, with the SG9R vaccine in chickens

We evaluated a recently developed live vaccine candidate for fowl typhoid (FT)-JOL916, a lon/cpxR mutant of Salmonella Gallinarum (SG)-by comparing its safety and efficacy with that of the well-known rough mutant strain SG9R vaccine in 6-wk-old Hy-Line hens. Forty-five chickens were divided into three groups of 15 chickens each. The chickens were then intramuscularly inoculated with 2 x 10(7) colony-forming units (CFUs) of JOL916 (JOL916 group), 2 x 10(7) CFUs of SG9R (SG9R group), or phosphate-buffered saline (control group). After vaccination, no clinical symptoms were observed in any of the groups. No differences in body weight increase were detected among the three groups postvaccination. A cellular immune response was observed at 2 wk postvaccination (wpv) in the JOL916 group with the peripheral lymphocyte proliferation assay, whereas no response was detected in the SG9R group. Elevation of SG antigen-specific plasma immunoglobulin was observed 2 and 3 wpv in the JOL916 and SG9R vaccine groups, respectively. After virulent challenge on day 25 postvaccination, 0, 1, and 15 chickens in the JOL916 group, SG9R group, and control group, respectively, died by 12 days postchallenge; the death rate of the SG9R vaccine group was statistically similar to that of the JOL916 group. Postmortem examination revealed that the JOL916 vaccine offered more efficient protection than the SG9R vaccine, with significantly decreased hepatic necrotic foci scores, splenic enlargement scores, necrotic foci scores, and recovery of the challenge strain from the spleen. Vaccination with JOL916 appears to be safe and offers better protection than SG9R against FT in chickens.     

Occurrence of systemic hypertension in dogs with acute kidney injury and treatment with amlodipine besylate

Objectives : To describe the occurrence of systemic hypertension in dogs with acute kidney injury and the efficacy of amlodipine besylate for its treatment. Methods : This retrospective study included 52 dogs with acute kidney injury (2007 to 2008) grouped based on the use of amlodipine in their treatment. Systemic blood pressure was measured with an oscillometric device at admission, before, during, and after amlodipine therapy. Results : Occurrence of systolic systemic hypertension (≥160 mmHg) and severe systolic systemic hypertension (≥180 mmHg) was 37% and 15% at admission and increased with hospitalisation to 81% and 62%, respectively. Twenty‐two dogs were treated with amlodipine, at a median daily dosage of 0·38 mg/kg (interquartile range 0·28 to 0·49) divided in one to two applications per day. Amlodipine therapy was associated with a decrease in systolic systemic blood pressure of 24 mmHg (12 to 34) and a correction of severe systemic hypertension in 10 of 11 dogs within 24 hours. Overall, 73% of the dogs survived with a significantly lower proportion of survivors in treated compared to non‐treated dogs (59% versus 83%, respectively, P=0·05). Clinical Significance : Results of this study reveal that systemic hypertension is common in canine acute kidney injury and that treatment with amlodipine is beneficial in reducing systemic hypertension. The potential effect of amlodipine on global outcome requires prospective assessment.     

Analyses of genes encoding Theileria parva p104 and polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) reveal evidence of the presence of cattle-type alleles in the South African T. parva population

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing of the variable region of the p104 and PIM genes was performed on samples obtained from South African T. parva parasites originating from cattle on farms with suspected theileriosis and from buffalo. p104 and PIM PCR-RFLP profiles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock, an isolate that causes ECF in Kenya, were obtained from three of seven cattle samples collected on a farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Amino acid sequences of the p104 and PIM genes from two of these samples were almost identical to the T. parva Muguga p104 and PIM sequences. This result supports findings from a recent p67 study in which p67 alleles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock were identified from the same samples. While these results suggest the presence of a cattle-derived T. parva parasite, reports of cattle-to-cattle transmission could not be substantiated and ECF was not diagnosed on this farm. Although extensive diversity of p104 and PIM gene sequences from South African T. parva isolates was demonstrated, no sequences identical to known cattle-type p104 and PIM alleles were identified from any of the buffalo T. parva samples analyzed. 'Mixed' PIM alleles containing both cattle- and buffalo-type amino acid motifs were identified for the first time, and there appeared to be selection of cattle-type and 'mixed'-type PIM sequences in the cattle samples examined.     

Morphological study of the lingual papillae in the barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak

The morphology of the tongue of the adult barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak, was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The result showed that the tongue of the barking deer was elongated with a rounded apex. Four types of lingual papillae were observed: filiform, fungiform, vallate and large conical papillae. The filiform papillae represented the most numerous types of lingual papillae. The fungiform papillae were distributed among the filiform papillae on the rostral and the body portions of the tongue. Ten to thirteen vallate papillae were distributed on both sides of the lingual prominence among the large conical papillae. Histologically, both the fungiform and vallate papillae contain taste buds in the epithelial layer. The distribution and types of lingual papillae found in the barking deer are similar to those in the other species that belong to the family Cervidae.     

Unilateral granulomatous orchitis in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): a case report

This case report describes orchitis in a stranded adult sexually mature free-living harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Orchitis, with or without epididymitis, is a rare finding in harbour porpoises and has been reported to be associated with infection with Brucella species or fungi. This porpoise was examined as part of an ongoing investigation into causes of death in harbour porpoises stranded on the Dutch coast. At necropsy, the animal was in very poor body condition and the most significant pathological change encountered was unilateral chronic granulomatous orchitis. Histologically, the seminiferous tubules were multifocally severely distended by large numbers of macrophages and fewer neutrophils that often showed central necrosis, with intra- and extracellular rod-shaped bacteria that stained negatively with Gram stain. No acid-fast bacteria, fungal elements, or spirochetes were detected when the lesions were stained with Ziehl-Neelsen, Fite-Faraco, Warthin-Starry, and Periodic acid-Schiff stains. Culture of samples taken from the testis revealed a pure culture of a bacterium of the Alcaligenaceae family. Further analysis by biochemistry, fatty acid profiling, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques identified the bacterium as a Castellaniella species. The association of this bacterium with the observed lesions remains uncertain.     

Transmission of Theileriosis in the Traditional Farming Sector in the Southern Province of Zambia during 1995–1996

The incidence of first contact with the protozoan Theileria parva was determined in three traditional cattle herds in the Southern Province of Zambia in 1995 and 1996. The majority of first contacts occurred during the dry season in June, July and August, at a time of nymphal activity and in the absence of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults, indicating that larva to nymph transmission plays a more prominent role than nymph to adult transmission under the prevailing conditions.