Colonisation of the chicken caecum by afimbriate and aflagellate derivatives of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis.

A semi-quantitative cloacal-swab method was used as an indirect measure of caecal colonisation of one-day old and five-day old chicks after oral dosing with wild-type Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT4 and genetically defined isogenic derivatives lacking the ability to elaborate flagella or fimbriae. Birds of both ages were readily and persistently colonised by all strains although there was a decline in shedding by the older birds after about 21 days. There were no significant differences in shedding of wild-type or mutants in single-dose experiments. In competition experiments, in which five-day old birds were dosed orally with wild-type and mutants together, shedding of non-motile derivatives was significantly lower than wild-type. At 35 days post infection, birds were sacrificed and direct counts of mutants and wild-type from each caecum were determined. Whilst there appeared to be poor correlation between direct counts and the indirect swab method, the overall trends shown by these methods of assessment indicated that flagella and not fimbriae were important in caecal colonisation in these models.     

Costs of studying veterinary science: a national survey of fourth year veterinary students

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the costs to the student of veterinary education. METHOD: A questionnaire was completed by 180 fourth-year veterinary students from the four veterinary schools in Australia. Frequencies and median costs were estimated using the SAS System for Windows 95. RESULTS: The median direct living costs were about $5000 per academic year, but were higher in Sydney and for those with additional expenses including children, pets and cars. Other costs associated with the course including text books, equipment and travel to practical work were of the order of $1000, and income foregone while doing practical work placed additional burdens on some. More than half the students from Sydney and Murdoch needed to work to provide basic necessities. Most of this work involved interaction with animals or people. The percentage of Queensland and Melbourne students needing to work was lower, 47 and 24 respectively, and fewer of those worked directly with animals or people. The students expected to repay a median of $14,000 after they graduate, with 70% of this being due to the Australian government as part of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme. CONCLUSIONS: Although parents contributed an average of between one-third and one half of the costs of obtaining a veterinary degree, the extent of parental contributions was very uneven and almost one half of all students needed to work to provide basic necessities. The average total debt on graduation was about half the annual starting salary, but those starting the course from 1997 are subject to much higher charges, and their average debt is likely to exceed one year's salary.     

Dual-component video image analysis system (VIASCAN) as a predictor of beef carcass red meat yield percentage and for augmenting application of USDA yield grades

An improved ability to quantify differences in the fabrication yields of beef carcasses would facilitate the application of value-based marketing. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the Dual-Component Australian VIASCAN to 1) predict fabricated beef subprimal yields as a percentage of carcass weight at each of three fat-trim levels and 2) augment USDA yield grading, thereby improving accuracy of grade placement. Steer and heifer carcasses (n = 240) were evaluated using VIASCAN, as well as by USDA expert and online graders, before fabrication of carcasses to each of three fat-trim levels. Expert yield grade (YG), online YG, VIASCAN estimates, and VIASCAN estimated ribeye area used to augment actual and expert grader estimates of the remaining YG factors (adjusted fat thickness, percentage of kidney-pelvic-heart fat, and hot carcass weight), respectively, 1) accounted for 51, 37, 46, and 55% of the variation in fabricated yields of commodity-trimmed subprimals, 2) accounted for 74, 54, 66, and 75% of the variation in fabricated yields of closely trimmed subprimals, and 3) accounted for 74, 54, 71, and 75% of the variation in fabricated yields of very closely trimmed subprimals. The VIASCAN system predicted fabrication yields more accurately than current online yield grading and, when certain VIASCAN-measured traits were combined with some USDA yield grade factors in an augmentation system, the accuracy of cutability prediction was improved, at packing plant line speeds, to a level matching that of expert graders applying grades at a comfortable rate.     

In situ hybridization for the detection and localization of swine Chlamydia trachomatis

Gnotobiotic piglets were inoculated intralaryngeally with swine Chlamydia trachomatis strain R33 or orally with swine C. trachmatis strain R27. Archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from piglets euthanatized 4-7 days postinoculation were examined by in situ hybridization for C. trachomatis nucleic acid using a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes that targeted specific ribosomal RNA or omp1 mRNA molecules of the swine C. trachomatis strains. Positive hybridization signals were detected in bronchial epithelial cells, bronchiolar epithelial cells, pneumocytes, alveolar and interstitial macrophages, and jejunal and ileal enterocytes. Chlamydia-infected cells had a strong signal that was confined to the intracytoplasmic inclusions. Positive hybridization signals were not detected in tissue sections from an uninfected control piglet or in C. psittaci-infected sheep placenta. The morphology of host cells was preserved despite the relatively high temperature required in parts of the incubation procedure. The data indicate that in situ hybridization can be used to detect swine C. trachomatis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens.     

Apical fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone in standardbred horses: 43 cases (1990-1996).

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether fracture fragment dimensions, suspensory ligament damage, and racing status at the time of injury were associated with outcome in Standardbred horses with apical fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 43 Standardbred racehorses. PROCEDURE: Medical records, racing records, and radiographs were reviewed, and ultrasonographic findings were scored. Measurements of the fractured portion of the proximal sesamoid bone were made. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent (32/43) of horses were pacers, and 26% (11/43) were trotters. Statistical differences between trotters and pacers regarding ability to start, number of starts, or amount of money earned after injury were not detected. Females earned significantly more money per start after injury than males. Eighty-six percent (37/43) of fractures involved hind limbs and 14% (6/43) involved forelimbs. Horses with forelimb injuries earned less money per start. Severity of suspensory ligament damage did not affect postinjury racing performance. A higher proportion of horses that had raced before injury returned to racing after surgery than horses that had not raced before injury, although a significant difference between these groups was not detected. Eighty-eight percent of horses that raced before injury raced after injury. Fifty-six percent of horses that did not race before injury raced after injury. Fracture fragment dimensions did not affect outcome. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dimensions of the apical fracture fragment of the proximal sesamoid bone in Standardbred horses and degree of suspensory ligament damage did not affect outcome. Prognosis for return to racing soundness is good in horses that had raced before injury and fair in horses that had not raced before injury.     

Comparison of Tifton 85 and Coastal bermudagrasses for yield, nutrient traits, intake, and digestion by growing beef steers.

A study was undertaken to compare Tifton 85 (T85) and Coastal (CBG) bermudagrasses for effects of cultivar and age at harvest on yields of DM and digestible DM, in vitro digestion, nutrient content, cell wall composition, in situ digestion kinetics, and feed intake and digestion by growing beef steers. In Exp. 1, T85 and CBG forages staged for growth in May or July of 1993 were harvested at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 wk from subplots. Tifton 85 bermudagrass had 7.1% greater DM yield, 18.2% higher (P < .05) digestible DM yield, and 7.1% greater IVDMD than CBG, and, after 5 wk of forage growth, IVDMD of both T85 and CBG decreased with increased age at harvest (P < .05). In Exp. 2, T85 and CBG forages staged for growth in July 1997 were harvested at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 wk from subplots. Even though T85 had higher concentrations of NDF and ADF than CBG, T85 had 34.1% higher DM yield, 47.9% higher digestible DM, 55.0% higher digestible NDF, 91.7% higher digestible ADF, greater IVDMD, in vitro NDF and ADF disappearances, and higher in situ DM and NDF digestion (P < .05). Coastal bermudagrass had higher concentrations of lignin and lower concentrations of total neutral sugars, arabinose, glucose, and xylose than T85 (P < .05). In vitro digestibilities of DM, NDF, and ADF were lower and concentrations of ADF and lignin were greater for 7- vs 6-wk harvests of both T85 and CBG (P < .05). In Exp. 3, T85 and CBG forages staged for growth in July 1997 were harvested as hay at 3, 5, and 7 wk from .8-ha pastures and fed to 36 individually penned growing beef steers (initial BW = 244 kg) to quantify ad libitum intake without supplementation. Tifton 85 bermudagrass had lower concentrations of lignin and ether-linked ferulic acid and greater concentrations of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and cellulose than CBG (P < .05). Steers fed T85 had higher (P < .05) digestion of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and cellulose than steers fed CBG. Digestion of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and cellulose decreased (P < .05) with increased age at harvest for both cultivars. In conclusion, T85 produced more DM and had more digestible nutrients in vitro, in situ, and in vivo than CBG, and 3 and 5 wk of growth would be recommended ages to harvest either cultivar.     

Elephant herpes virus--a problem for breeding and housing of elephants]

Herpesvirus infections which take a fatal turn on African elephants as well as on Asian elephants seem to occur increasingly not only in the USA but also in European stocks. The endotheliotropic herpesvirus causes a rapidly progressing and severe disease which makes any therapeutical effort unsuccessful and finally results in death of the animal, especially in young Asian elephants. As all attempts to culture the virus failed up to now, molecular biological procedures have to be used more often for diagnostical purpose together with the common methods of pathology, virology, and electronmicroscopical evaluation. This is a report on the case of 'KIBA', an eleven year old male elephant at the Zoological Garden Berlin, infected with the endotheliotropic elephants herpesvirus. 'KIBA' was born at the Zoo in Houston, Texas, and raised within his herd. Upon arriving in Berlin in November 1997 he adapted to the new premises and climate and new social circumstances without any problems. In June 1998 he already serviced three females of his new herd several times. In August 1998 he died after passing a peracute progression of the disease after residenting in Berlin for only 9 months. The dissection of the animal revealed some evidence on an agent damaging the endothelium. Major signs indicating this agent were bleedings in several serous membranes, mucosa and on the the right atrium, as well as other parts of the myocardium. Furthermore there have been ulcerations at various localisations of the whole digestive tract. Slightly basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies have been found histologically in endothelial cells of different organ samples. An examination of altered organ-material by electronmicroscopy made some herpesvirus-like particles visible. A virological investigation first revealed evidence of giant cell formations with solitary basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in different cell cultures, however, without any distinct cytopathogenic effect. Supported by molecular biological procedures the infection of 'KIBA' could be verified as the elephants herpesvirus. By means of PCR and subsequent sequence analysis a DNA-sequence typical for the elephants herpesvirus could be obtained which showed an identity of 97% with the terminase sequence of the elephant herpesvirus described by American authors. The deduced amino acid-sequences were 100% identical. To the terminase of the human cytomegalovirus, the elephant sequence had an identity of 53% (similarity: 74%). Based on the cooperation of ILAT, Institute of Veterinary-Pathology/Free University Berlin, Robert-Koch-Institut Berlin, and Zoological Garden Berlin, the cause of 'KIBA's' death could be discovered immediately. Possible implications of this case especially on breeding and keeping elephants are discussed briefly.