Positive Streptobacillus moniliformis PCR in guinea pigs likely due to Leptotrichia spp

Streptobacillus moniliformis is a zoonotic bacterium. We obtained positive S. moniliformis PCR results in oral swab samples from guinea pigs from an experimental colony and the breeding colony of origin. Comparison of the DNA sequence of an amplicon with deposited 16S rDNA sequences revealed that Leptotrichia sp. can be the source of a false positive S. moniliformis PCR outcome.     

The effect of levels of concentrate in feedlot diets on the health status of beef calves

In this two year study we investigated the effect that the level of concentrate in feedlot diet had on the occurrence of health problems in bull calves belonging to two multibreed groups.

In each of the two years, the 168 day feedlot period was divided into two equal periods of 77 days with an intervening 14 day adjustment period. During the first period, the animals in half of the pens within each breed-group received a high concentrate (85% grain) diet (H) while the rest of the pens received a diet (L) of hay ad libitum and half as much concentrate as the bulls on high concentrate. The L diet contained an average of 48% grain. In the second period, diets of bulls in half of the pens within each breed-group were switched from L to H and vice versa. During the feedlot period, the incidence of sickness among bulls was recorded. Disease incidence was higher in the second year compared to the first. In the second year, 49 out of 56 (87.5%) calves on the high concentrate diet required treatment for respiratory infections compared to only four (7.14%) in bulls on the low concentrate diet. The results suggest that a high concentrate diet for animals in feedlots may be more stressful to calves coming directly to the feedlot following weaning compared to a low concentrate diet, thereby acting as an additional predisposing factor to respiratory infections.

     

Using current on-line carcass evaluation parameters to estimate boneless and bone-in pork carcass yield as influenced by trim level.

The objective of this study was to develop prediction equations for estimating proportional carcass yield to a variety of external trim levels and bone-in and boneless pork primal cuts. Two hundred pork carcasses were selected from six U.S. pork processing plants and represented USDA carcass grades (25% USDA #1, 36% USDA #2, 25% USDA #3, and 14% USDA #4). Carcasses were measured (prerigor and after a 24 h chill) for fat and muscle depth at the last rib (LR) and between the third and fourth from last rib (TH) with a Hennessy optical grading probe (OGP). Carcasses were shipped to Texas A&M University, where one was randomly assigned for fabrication. Selected sides were fabricated to four lean cuts (ham, loin, Boston butt, and picnic shoulder) then fabricated progressively into bone-in (BI) and boneless (BL) four lean cuts (FLC) trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, and BL 0 cm trim, seam fat removed, four lean cuts (BLS-OFLC). Total dissected carcass lean was used to calculate the percentage of total carcass lean (PLEAN). Lean tissue subsamples were collected for chemical fat-free analysis and percentage carcass fat-free lean (FFLEAN) was determined. Longissimus muscle area and fat depth also were collected at the 10th and 11th rib interface during fabrication. Regression equations were developed from linear carcass and OGP measurements predicting FLC of each fabrication point. Loin muscle and fat depths from the OPG obtained on warm, prerigor carcasses at the TH interface were more accurate predictors of fabrication end points than warm carcass probe depth obtained at the last rib or either of the chilled carcass probe sites (probed at TH or LR). Fat and loin muscle depth obtained via OGP explained 46.7, 52.6, and 57.1% (residual mean square error [RMSE] = 3.30, 3.19, and 3.04%) of the variation in the percentage of BI-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively, and 49.0, 53.9, and 60.7% (RMSE = 2.91, 2.81, and 2.69%) of the variation in the percentage of BL-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively. Fat and loin muscle depth from warm carcass OGP probes at the TH interface accounted for 62.4 and 63.5% (RMSE = 3.38 and 3.27%) of the variation in PLEAN and FFLEAN, respectively. These equations provide an opportunity to estimate pork carcass yield for a variety of procurement end point equations using existing on-line techniques.     

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa) for Detection of Antibodies to Mycobacterium Para-Tuberculosis in Cattle

Paratuberculosis may be diagnosed by clinical, bacteriological and immunological methods, but so far only the demonstration of M. paratuberculosis is considered a definite proof of the infection. World-wide use is being made of the complement fixation (CF) test as a valuable immunological test for diagnosis of clinical cases, but its low specificity and sensitivity makes its value problematic in non-clinical cases.     

Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides melaninogenicus as etiologic agents of foot rot in cattle.

Fusobacterium necrophorum (Sphaerophorus necrophorus) and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were the predominant bacteria isolated from biopsy specimens of lesions in cattle affected with foot rot. Mixed inoculums of the 2 bacteria, applied to the scarified interdigital skin or inoculated intradermally into the interdigital skin of test cattle, induced typical lesions of foot rot. Both bacteria were reisolated in large numbers from the induced lesions.