Cryptosporidium scrofarum n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa)

We describe the morphological, biological, and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium pig genotype II and propose the species name Cryptosporidium scrofarum n. sp. to reflect its prevalence in adult pigs worldwide. Oocysts of C. scrofarum are morphologically indistinguishable from C. parvum, measuring 4.81–5.96 μm (mean = 5.16) × 4.23–5.29 μm (mean = 4.83) with a length to width ratio of 1.07 ± 0.06 (n = 400). Oocysts of C. scrofarum obtained from a naturally infected pig were infectious for 8-week-old pigs but not 4-week-old pigs. The prepatent period in 8-week-old Cryptosporidium-naive pigs was 4–6 days and the patent period was longer than 30 days. The infection intensity of C. scrofarum in pigs was generally low, in the range 250–4000 oocysts per gram of feces. Infected pigs showed no clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis and no pathology was detected. Cryptosporidium scrofarum was not infectious for adult SCID mice, adult BALB/c mice, Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha), yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), or guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rRNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 gene sequences revealed that C. scrofarum is genetically distinct from all known Cryptosporidium species.     

Feline leukaemia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management

OverviewFeline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that may induce depression of the immune system, anaemia and/or lymphoma. Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of FeLV infection has decreased considerably, thanks both to reliable tests for the identification of viraemic carriers and to effective vaccines.InfectionTransmission between cats occurs mainly through friendly contacts, but also through biting. In large groups of non-vaccinated cats, around 30–40% will develop persistent viraemia, 30–40% show transient viraemia and 20–30% seroconvert. Young kittens are especially susceptible to FeLV infection.Disease signsThe most common signs of persistent FeLV viraemia are immune suppression, anaemia and lymphoma. Less common signs are immune-mediated disease, chronic enteritis, reproductive disorders and peripheral neuropathies. Most persistently viraemic cats die within 2–3 years.DiagnosisIn low-prevalence areas there may be a risk of false-positive results; a doubtful positive test result in a healthy cat should therefore be confirmed, preferably by PCR for provirus. Asymptomatic FeLV-positive cats should be retested.Disease managementSupportive therapy and good nursing care are required. Secondary infections should be treated promptly. Cats infected with FeLV should remain indoors. Vaccination against common pathogens should be maintained. Inactivated vaccines are recommended. The virus does not survive for long outside the host.Vaccination recommendationsAll cats with an uncertain FeLV status should be tested prior to vaccination. All healthy cats at potential risk of exposure should be vaccinated against FeLV. Kittens should be vaccinated at 8–9 weeks of age, with a second vaccination at 12 weeks, followed by a booster 1 year later. The ABCD suggests that, in cats older than 3–4 years of age, a booster every 2–3 years suffices, in view of the significantly lower susceptibility of older cats.     

以鸭脚稗秸秆和稻草作为粗饲料对杂交奶牛常量和微量营养素利用和产奶量的影响

在印度南部,鸭脚稗秸秆和稻草是主要的粗饲料来源。因此用鸭脚稗秸秆和稻草作为粗饲料饲喂杂交奶牛来研究营养利用率、产奶量和牛奶组成。每组日粮用精料、青饲料和粗饲料以30∶45∶25的比例组成(干物质)。在为期50d的消化试验中,每7d对饲料、饲草、粪便、尿液和奶液混合采样,进行常量和微量营养素的分析。鸭脚稗秸秆含有更高的粗蛋白质、钙、磷、镁、铜、锌和钴,稻草含有更高的酸性洗涤纤维、灰分和无水硅酸。饲喂鸭脚稗秸秆的奶牛干物质、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维和大多微量营养素(钙、磷、镁、锌、铁、锰和钴)的摄入量显著增高,并且,饲喂鸭脚稗秸秆的奶牛对干物质、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维的消化率显著增高,钙、铜、锰、钴的肠道吸收率也显著增高。在每组日粮中,微量营养素都能满足奶牛需要量,但稻草组钙含量(0.40%)低于鸭脚稗秸秆组(0.60%)。鸭脚稗秸秆组的平均产奶量(7.0L/头)高于稻草组(6.3L/头)。奶液组成没有差异,仅有乳脂率(4.7%和4.5%),稻草组偏低。上述结果表明鸭脚稗秸秆是一种优于稻草的粗饲料,当稻草作为唯一的粗饲料饲喂奶牛时,需要额外添加钙来满足产奶需要。     

Variations among unbred heifers in the activities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes from the mammary gland and blood

The phenotypic characteristics are described for the activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes NMN) obtained by either lavage of the cavity system of juvenile mammary glands stimulated with a synthetic muramyl dipeptide analogue or isolation from the peripheral blood. Attention was paid to the variability of characteristics and its sources, and to correlations among them. The following characteristics were investigated in 27 clinically healthy, unbred Bohemian Red Pied x Holstein heifers: migration activity in situ, number of phagocytosing PMN, phagocytotic index, bactericidal activity of PMN and unstimulated and zymosan-stimulated luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Considerable individual variation was found in the characteristics. Significant differences between blood PMN and PMN from lavages after influx induction were found for bactericidal activity (P < 0.05) and chemiluminescence (P < 0.01). A significant correlation between blood PMN and mammary gland PMN was found only for the number of phagocytosing cells (r = 0.329; P < 0.01). Highly significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were demonstrated between the number of phagocytosing PMN [a], phagocytotic index [b], and bactericidal activity [c] in both blood PMN (r(ab) = 0.602; r(ac) = 0.565; r(bc) = 0.529) and mammary gland PMN (r(ab) = 0.730, r(ac) = 0.618, r(bc) = 0.589). No significant correlation was demonstrated for non-stimulated (NS), zymosan-stimulated (ZS), or opsonized zymosan-stimulated (OZS) chemiluminescence with any of the other characteristics of phagocytotic activity, in either blood PMN or mammary gland PMN (P > 0.05). The animal was a highly significant source of variability for all the phagocytotic activity characteristics (P < 0.01). Udder quarter was a non-significant source of variability for all the characteristics of phagocytotic activity except for NS chemiluminescence (P < 0.05) and ZS or OZS chemiluminescence (P < 0.01). However, udder quarter was a non-significant source of variability of chemiluminescence indices ZS/NS and OZS/NS (P > 0.05). It has been demonstrated that in situ migration activity, the number of phagocytosing PMN, phagocytotic index, bactericidal activity of PMN and chemiluminescence indices of PMN collected from juvenile mammary glands of unbred heifers after influx induction can be regarded as candidate early markers of resistance to mammary infections.