Effects of Supplementing a Basal Diet of Chloris gayana Hay with One of Three Protein-rich Legume Hays of Cassia rotundifolia,Lablab purpureus and Macroptilium atropurpureum Forage on Some Nutritional Parameters in Goats

Growth and digestibility experiments were conducted on growing East African type goats offered Chloris gayana hay supplemented with one of three high-protein (119–128 g CP/kg DM) legume hays, Cassia rotundifolia (cassia), Lablab purpureus (lablab) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), and crushed maize to investigate the feed intake, digestibility, growth and urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Goats in the supplemented groups had higher total dry matter and nitrogen intakes and higher N retention and body mass gains than unsupplemented counterparts. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were increased by protein supplementation. Animals on supplemented diets had higher fractional outflow rates of particulate matter from the rumen. The production of protein by ruminal microbes and the efficiency of microbial N production were increased by supplementation. It was concluded that a mixture of low-quality grass hay (61.9 CP/kg DM) and either cassia, lablab or siratro hay, and maize grain can provide a productive balanced diet for growing goats.     

Rhabdovirus-like particles in the sporocyst of the trematode Brachylaimus fuscatus from terrestrial mollusc Ponsadenia duplocincta

Rhabdovirus-like particles containing nucleoprotein in a helix with eight turns was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy in subtegumental cells and syncytial layer of tegument in Brachylaimus fuscatus sporocyst. This is the first case of virus infection in trematodes. The possibility of transfer of the virus to intra-molluscan parasitic generations of the trematode is discussed with respect to the peculiarities of the life cycles of the family Brachylaimidae.     

Electroacupuncture-induced neural activation detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and elucidate the relationship between somatic acupoint stimulation and brain activation. ANIMALS: 40 New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Manganese-enhanced fMRI was performed in anesthetized rabbits manipulated with electroacupuncture (EA) on Zusanli (ST-36) and Yanglingquan (GB-34) acupoints. Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. T1-weighted images were acquired sequentially as follows: baseline, after mannitol injection, after manganese infusion, and 5 and 20 minutes after initiation of EA. RESULTS: Changes in focal neural activity were detected by use of manganese-enhanced fMRI. Stimulation on Zusanli (ST-36) for 5 minutes resulted in activation of the hippocampus, whereas stimulation on Yanglingquan (GB-34) resulted in activation of the hypothalamus, insula, and motor cortex. Activation became less specific after 20 minutes of EA. Furthermore, stimulation on ipsilateral acupoints led to bilateral brain activation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Each acupoint has a corresponding cerebral linkage, and stimulation on these points resulted in time-dependent neural activation. Understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways may provide a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

Prevalence of antibodies to equine viruses in the Netherlands

Summary The prevalence of antibodies to various viruses was investigated in a series of serum samples collected from horses in the Netherlands between 1963 and 1966 and from 1972 onwards. Neutralizing antibodies to equine rhinopneumonitis virus, equine arteritis virus and to equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2 were detected in respectively 76%, 14%, 66% and 59% of the equine serum samples tested. The observed incidence of serum samples positive to equine adenovirus in the complement fixation test was 39%. Precipitating antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus were detected only in serum samples from two horses imported from abroad. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to Myxovirus influenzae A / equi-1, M. Influenzae A / equi-2, and Reovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were present in respectively 82%, 50%, 10%, 33% and 3.6% of the serum samples tested. The most frequently observed incidence of antibodies to the various equine respiratory viruses occurred in the groups of horses having repeatedly contact with other horses.     

Two-dimensional,long-axis echocardiographic ratios for assessment of left atrial and ventricular size in dogs

Introduction

Left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) enlargement affect management and outcome of dogs with cardiac disease. Short-axis, two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) images, indexed to the aorta (Ao), are frequently used to identify cardiomegaly. Long-axis images offer complementary views of the left heart.

Crystalluria. Observations, interpretations, and misinterpretations

Crystalluria results from oversaturation of urine with crystallogenic substance. However, oversaturation may occur as a result of in vitro as well as in vivo events. The microscopic appearance of crystals only represents a tentative identification of their composition because variable conditions associated with their formation, growth, and dissolution may alter their appearance. Definitive identification is dependent on physical methods such as optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic analysis.     

Inheritance of virulence in Fusarium circinatum,the cause of pitch canker in pines

Wildtype strains of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker, were crossed to obtain an F₁ generation. Progeny of this cross were tested for virulence by inoculating Pinus radiata seedlings, and were found to induce a wide range of lesion lengths. Two strains from the F₁ generation that induced long lesions (= high virulence) were used as parents to produce an F₂ generation, followed by a second round of selection for high virulence to obtain an F₃ generation. Mean lesion lengths were not significantly different between the three generations (P ≥ 0.196). A parallel set of crosses was performed to select for low virulence by using progeny in the F₁ and F₂ generations that induced short lesions as parents for F₂ and F₃ generations, respectively. In this case, both rounds of selection resulted in a significant reduction in mean lesion length, from 33.8 ± 0.8 mm in the F₁ generation, to 19.7 ± 0.7 and 12.9 ± 0.7 mm in the F₂ and F₃ generations, respectively. Thus it is apparent that F. circinatum retains the genetic capacity for avirulence to pines, which could reflect a lack of strong selection for virulence in nature. Progeny of a cross between high and low virulence parents manifested nearly continuous variation in lesion lengths, consistent with virulence being a quantitatively inherited trait. Based on this cross, broad‐sense heritability (H²) was determined to be 0.74, which suggests that virulence is under strong genetic control.     

Comparison of brain PrPd distribution in ovine BSE and scrapie

Scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) are both prion diseases affecting ruminants, and these diseases do not share the same public health concerns. Surveillance of the BSE agent in small ruminants has been a great challenge, and the recent identification of diverse prion diseases in ruminants has led to the development of new methods for strain typing. In our study, using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we assessed the distribution of PrP(d) in the brains of 2 experimentally BSE-infected sheep with the ARQ/ARQ genotype. Distribution of PrP(d) in the brain, from the spinal cord to the frontal cortex, was remarkably similar in the 2 sheep despite different inoculation routes and incubation periods. Comparatively, overall PrP(d) brain distribution, evaluated by IHC, in 19 scrapie cases with the ARQ/ARQ, ARQ/VRQ, and VRQ/VRQ genotypes, in some cases showed similarities to the experimentally BSE-infected sheep. There was no exclusive neuroanatomical site with a characteristic and specific PrP(d) type of accumulation induced by the BSE agent. However, a detailed analysis of the topography, types, and intensity of PrP(d) deposits in the frontal cortex, striatum, piriform cortex, hippocampus, mesencephalon, and cerebellum allowed the BSE-affected sheep group to be distinguished from the 19 scrapie cases analyzed in our study. These results strengthen and emphasize the potential interest of PrP(d) brain mapping to help in identifying prion strains in small ruminants.     

Effect of a short duration feed withdrawal followed by full feeding on marbling fat in beef carcasses

The effect of feed withdrawal for 48 h, prior to initiation of the finishing (fattening) period (75 d) on carcass marbling fat was studied in 120 European × British cross-bred heifers with an average weight of 585 ± 39 kg. Heifers were randomized in a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment with two dietary management treatments, where half the heifers were provided the feed components of steam rolled barley and barley silage either free choice or as a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 87% steam rolled barley and 13% barley silage with ad libitum vitamins and minerals via salt blocks for all animals. Within each dietary management treatment, 30 heifers were denied feed (water was available) for 48 h prior to the two week adaptation to the high grain diet preceding the 75 d finishing period. At the end of the 48 h feed denial blood samples were collected from the jugular vein prior to feeding for determination of glucose and insulin concentrations, which indicated that 48 h feed withdrawal consistently decreased (P = 0.0001) plasma concentrations of both glucose and insulin but the ratios of the concentrations of glucose to insulin were not affected. At slaughter samples of subcutaneous fat from the brisket (BF) and skirt muscle (pars costalis diaphragmatis; PCD) were procured for determination of chemical fat content, fat dissected from the muscle and for enumeration of adipocytes, less than 35 μm in diameter and to determine the average cell size in the dissected fat and from the BF by flow-cytometry of adipocytes fixed in osmium tetroxide. The carcass characteristics were also obtained. Although no differences due feed withdrawal for 48 h were evident for carcass weight, percent lean (saleable) meat yield, rib eye area, average fat cover, fat content of PCD or BF, the US marbling score was increased (P = 0.048) and the amount of dissected fat from the muscle tended to be higher (P = 0.107), thus 81% of the carcasses graded “US Choice” or “Canada AAA,” or displayed at least a “small” amount of intramuscular fat as compared (P = 0.0807) to 68% of the heifers not denied feed. Based on more than three years of weekly prices of carcasses that graded “Canada AAA” and “Canada AA,” these experimental results suggested that the expected price of a finished heifer could increase by $4.61 Canadian if a 48 h feed withdrawal was imposed prior to initiation of the finishing phase. Although significant differences in adipocyte numbers due to a single time 48 h feed withdrawal prior to initiation of the finishing phase were not detected, the carcass quality factors were affected leading to an odds ratio of 1.84 times in favour of cattle carcasses to grade “Canada AAA” than if fed continuously.     

Characterization of staphylococci associated with clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis

Attempts were made to identify 900 species of staphylococci or micrococci recovered from samples of bovine milk examined for mastitis pathogens. The presence and identity of haemolysins was recorded together with results of disc diffusion antibiotic sensitivity tests. The occurrence of clinical mastitis was also noted and somatic cell counts (SCC) were performed on milk samples which were normal in appearance. Eight hundred and thirty-one coagulase positive staphylococci were obtained, of which 810 were S. aureus and 21 were S. intermedius. Of 65 coagulase negative staphylococci the species of 19 could not be determined by the identification systems used. The remainder were identified as S. hyicus sub sp. hyicus (1), S. hyicus sub sp. chromogenes (19), S. haemolyticus (17), S. hominis (3), S. epidermidis (4), S. capitis (1) and either S. hominis or S. warneri (1). Four other isolates could not clearly be assigned to the genus Staphylococcus or Micrococcus and were designated irregular strains. No micrococci were identified. The presence of alpha, beta, or delta haemolysins occurring singly or in various combinations was identified in 98.3% of coagulase positive staphylococci and in 60% of coagulase negative staphylococci. Epsilon haemolysin was detected in 47.6% of the coagulase negative staphylococci and in 9.5% of S. intermedius. All staphylococci were sensitive to tetracycline (30 microg), novobiocin (1.6 microg), nafcillin (30 microg), methicillin (10 microg) and cephalothin (30 microg) and variable numbers of each species were sensitive to penicillin (2 iu) and streptomycin (10 microg). One non-identified species of coagulase negative staphylococcus was sensitive to erythromycin (0.4 microg) the remaining staphylococci were resistant. Each of the four irregular strains was sensitive to erythromycin and novobiocin. Clinical mastitis was associated with 30.6% of coagulase positive staphylococci, 15.3% of coagulase negative staphylococci, and two of the four irregular strains (50%). Subclinical mastitis as determined by SCC of 500 x 10(3) or greater was associated with 92.7% of coagulase positive and 37.5% of coagulase negative staphylococci.