A Necropsy Survey of Neurologic Diseases in 4,319 Horses Examined in Normandy (France) from 1986 to 2006

The frequencies of neurologic diseases and various corresponding causes were analyzed in 4,319 Norman horses examined by autopsy between 1986 and 2006. Five hundred forty-three cases of nervous system disorders were detected, or a total prevalence of 12.6%. One hundred eighty-seven of the 543 horses (34.4%) exhibited lesions of a traumatic origin affecting the skull or the vertebral column at different levels. Their frequency was less in foals younger than 1 month of age and higher in horses aged 6 months to 2 years. Eighty-three cases of cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) (15.3%) were identified. Males and geldings were more often affected than females. CVCM was diagnosed mostly in animals aged 6 months to 2 years. Horses affected with lesions in the mid-cervical region (region C3–C5) were significantly younger than those exhibiting more caudal lesions (region C5–C7). Neonatal maladjustment syndrome was diagnosed in 62 foals younger than 3.5 days (4.8% of the causes of death between birth and 1 month) by using clinical or lesional criteria. The prevalence was higher in Thoroughbreds as well as in the miscellaneous breed category and less in French Standardbreds. Bacterial meningoencephalomyelitis and meningitis represented 9.6% of nervous system disorders (52 cases) and most often affected foals aged 1 to 6 months. The main bacteria identified were beta-hemolytic Streptococci , Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Actinobacillus sp. The other causes diagnosed were, in decreasing order of frequency: grass sickness or equine dysautonomia (6.3% of neurologic diseases), hepatic encephalopathy syndrome (5.2%), septic vertebral arthritis or osteitis mainly caused by Rhodococcus equi (2.6%), congenital defects of the nervous system (2.4%), equine herpesvirus 1 myeloencephalopathy (2.2%), botulism (2.2%), malformations of the vertebral column other than CVCM (2%), and neighboring polyneuritis associated with guttural pouch mycosis (1.5%).     

Soil carbon mineralisation responses to alterations of microbial diversity and soil structure

Soil organisms are of fundamental importance for many soil functions, such as organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling and energy flow. Most research suggests that soil microbial communities are functionally redundant, meaning that there is little relationship between microbial diversity and soil functions. However, the activity of biological communities is known to be affected by their physical environment. Here, the effects of changes in microbial diversity and soil structure on organic C (OC) mineralisation were investigated. Sterile soil samples that had been subjected to different physical perturbations were inoculated with microbial communities with different levels of diversity. The samples were incubated for a period of 127 days and the mineralisation of native and added (¹³C-labelled substrates, fructose and vanillin) OC was measured. It was hypothesised that the magnitude of the effect of changes in soil structure on OC mineralisation would increase as diversity decreased. The diversity treatment had a small but significant effect on the mineralisation of SOC and of the added substrates. The soil structure treatment had a significant effect only on the mineralisation of the added substrate C. There was no interaction between diversity and soil structure treatments, indicating that the relationship between diversity and OC decomposition was not dependent on the soil physical environment.     

Inheritance, mode of inheritance, and candidate genes for primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is caused by inappropriate secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by autonomously functioning neoplastic or hyperplastic parathyroid "chief" cells. Keeshonden are thought to be over-represented in studies on canine PHPT, but no proof of heritability or mode of inheritance has been published. The canine disease clinically resembles human familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP). HYPOTHESIS: Primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden is genetically transmitted and is caused by a mutation in 1 of 4 genes implicated in human FIHP: MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET. ANIMALS: Pedigrees consisting of 1647 Keeshonden were created including 219 Keeshonden with known PHPT phenotypes (69 positive). DNA samples were obtained from 176 of the 219 Keeshonden (34 positive). METHODS: Heritability and mode of inheritance were determined by segregation analysis. Canine homologs to the human genes were identified. Exons and surrounding intron regions were sequenced and scanned for sense-altering polymorphisms or polymorphisms that segregated with the disease. Messenger RNA from a parathyroid tumor of an affected Keeshond was analyzed for polymorphisms and splice alterations. RESULTS: PHPT follows an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance in Keeshonden with possible age-dependent penetrance. No polymorphisms identified in the genes analyzed were associated with a change in predicted protein or in hypothesized splice sites. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: PHPT is an autosomal dominant, genetically transmitted disease in Keeshonden. Once the mutation locus is identified, genetic testing should quickly decrease the incidence of PHPT in this breed. It is unlikely that mutations in MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET cause PHPT in Keeshonden.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABDOMINAL ESOPHAGUS AND CARDIA IN DOGS

Differential diagnoses for regurgitation and vomiting in dogs include diseases of the gastroesophageal junction. The purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to describe ultrasonographic characteristics of the abdominal esophagus and gastric cardia in normal dogs and dogs with clinical disease involving this region. A total of 126 dogs with no clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease and six dogs with clinical diseases involving the gastroesophageal junction were included. For seven euthanized dogs, ultrasonographic features were also compared with gross pathology and histopathology. Cardial and abdominal esophageal wall thicknesses were measured ultrasonographically for all normal dogs and effects of weight, sex, age, and stomach filling were tested. Five layers could be identified in normal esophageal and cardial walls. The inner esophageal layer was echogenic, corresponding to the cornified mucosa and glandular portion of the submucosa. The cardia was characterized by a thick muscularis, and a transitional zone between echogenic esophageal and hypoechoic gastric mucosal layers. Mean (±SD) cardial wall thicknesses for normal dogs were 7.6 mm (±1.6), 9.7 mm (±1.8), 10.8 mm (±1.6), 13.3 mm (±2.5) for dogs in the <10 kg, 10–19.9 kg, 20–29.9 kg and ≥30 kg weight groups, respectively. Mean (±SD) esophageal wall thicknesses were: 4.1 mm (±0.6), 5.1 mm (±1.3), 5.6 mm (±1), and 6.4 mm (±1.1) for the same weight groups, respectively. Measurements of wall thickness were significantly correlated with dog weight group. Ultrasonography assisted diagnosis in all six clinically affected dogs. Findings supported the use of transabdominal ultrasonography as a diagnostic test for dogs with suspected gastroesophageal disease.     

Dairy sheep production research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,USA-a review

Commercial milking of sheep is a new agricultural industry in the United States starting approximately 30 yr ago. The industry is still small, but it is growing. The majority of the sheep milk is used in the production of specialty cheeses. The United States is the major importer of sheep milk cheeses with 50 to 60% of annual world exports coming to the United States during the past 20 yr. Therefore, there is considerable growth potential for the industry in the United States. The only dairy sheep research flock in North America is located at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The research program started in 1993 and has been multifaceted; dealing with several areas important to commercial dairy sheep farmers. The East Friesian and Lacaune dairy breeds were compared and introduced to the industry through the research program. Both dairy breeds produced significantly more milk than traditional meat-wool breeds found in the U.S., but the two breeds differed in their production traits. East Friesian-cross ewes produced more lambs and slightly more milk than Lacaune-cross ewes whereas Lacaune-cross ewes produced milk with a higher percentage of fat and protein than East Friesian-cross ewes. Lactation physiology studies have shown that ewes with active corpora lutea have increased milk yields, oxytocin release during milking is required to obtain normal fat percentages in the milk, large udder cisterns of dairy ewes can allow for increased milking intervals, and short daylengths during late pregnancy results in increased milk yield. In the nutrition area, legume-grass pastures and forages with a higher percentage of legume will result in increased milk production. Grazing ewes respond to additional supplementation with increased milk yield, but it is important to match the supplement to the quality of the grazing. Ewes on high quality legume-grass pastures that are high in rumen degradable protein respond with increased milk production to supplements high in energy and/or