Plasma myeloperoxidase level and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in horses suffering from large intestinal obstruction requiring surgery: preliminary results.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a specific enzyme of neutrophil azurophilic granules with a strong oxidative activity. Thanks to a radioimmunoassay of equine myeloperoxidase, the authors have observed a significantly higher plasma level of MPO in horses operated for strangulation obstruction of the large intestine (n = 6) than in horses suffering from a non-strangulating displacement of the large intestine (n = 9). For the 2 groups, 3 phases were distinguished: reception (P1), intensive care (P2) and terminal phase (P3). The mean peak values of MPO for these phases were 121.6 ng/mL (P1), 168.6 ng/mL (P2), and 107.0 ng/mL (P3) for the non-strangulating group, and 242.6 ng/mL (P1); 426.0 ng/mL (P2), and 379.5 ng/mL (P3) for the strangulation group. The variations of the mean peak values of plasma MPO were significantly different between the 2 groups and between the different phases. A significant increase of the least square means of MPO was observed between P1 and P2. A significant decrease of the least square means of the number of circulating leukocytes was observed between P1 and P3. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil activation could play a major role in the pathogenesis of acute abdominal disease and endotoxic shock.     

Effects of protein and energy supplementation of wheat straw-based diets on site of nutrient digestion and nitrogen metabolism of lambs.

A 4 x 4 Latin square metabolism trial with 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted with lambs to determine effects of energy and CP supplementation of wheat straw-based (WS) diets on apparent N digestion, retention, and flow to the abomasum. Four wether lambs (average weight, 32 kg) fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were fed 70 vs 42% WS (remainder of the diet was concentrate) and 9.5 vs 12.5% CP. Ruminal and total tract DM and OM digestion was 41 and 33% greater (P less than .03) for high-energy than for low-energy diets. Apparent N digestibility was greater (P less than .05) for 12.5% CP than for 9.5% CP diets (69.2 vs 62.0%, respectively) and also greater (P less than .03) for high-energy than for low-energy diets (67.4 vs 63.7%, respectively). High-energy diets resulted in a 23% greater (P less than .03) N retention (percentage of N intake) than did low-energy diets; 12.5% CP diets resulted in a 9% greater N retention (P less than .10) than did 9.5% CP diets. Nitrogen retention (percentage of N digested) was 15% higher (P less than .03) for high-energy than for low-energy diets. Protein level had no effect (P greater than .10). Nitrogen retention (grams/day) was 5.65, 6.97, 5.28, and 7.43 for low-energy, high-energy, low-protein, and high-protein diets, respectively; there were responses to energy level (P less than .03) and protein level (P less than .05). Total N flow (grams/day) to the abomasum did not differ (P greater than .10) due to treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Occurrence of Staphylococcus intermedius on the hair and skin of normal dogs.

Aerobic bacterial populations were studied on the distal hair coat and at the skin surface of the shoulder, rump and abdomen of 10 healthy dogs. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were more frequently isolated from the hair than the skin at the shoulder and rump. There was no difference in the isolation rate of coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) (Staphylococcus intermedius) between the hair and skin. Total skin counts were greatest on the abdomen whereas CNS counts from the hair were least at this site. There were no differences between CPS counts at the three sites on either hair or skin. The populations on the relatively unfavourable microenvironment of the distal hair may represent contamination rather than colonisation. The low populations of CPS at the skin surface also indicate contamination or transient colonisation rather than true resident status.     

Genetic components of heat stress in finishing pigs: development of a heat load function

The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of heat stress during the life of a pig on its final weight, as a first step toward a genetic evaluation for heat tolerance. Data included carcass weights of 23,556 crossbred pigs [Duroc x (Landrace x Large White)] raised on 2 farms in North Carolina and slaughtered from May 2005 through December 2006. Weather data were available from a nearby weather station. Lifetime of a pig was assumed to be partitioned into 2 periods. During an initial period, the effect of heat stress was assumed to be negligible or compensated for later. During the second period ending in slaughtering, the ADG was assumed to be affected linearly by heat load. Weekly heat load was calculated as degrees of average temperature-humidity index in excess of a threshold (18 degrees C). The total heat load (H) was the sum of weekly heat loads during the second period. During the months of January to May H was 0; H reached a peak in September. The final BW during the peak of heat stress decreased about 6 kg compared with BW during months of non-heat stress. Weekly and monthly averages of carcass weight generally moved similarly to H. However, there were large fluctuations unrelated to H; the fluctuations were different on the 2 farms. The model included the effects of farm-year of slaughter, sex, age at slaughter, and H, where age at slaughter and H were linear regressions. In analyses, the threshold was varied from 16 to 20 degrees C, and the second period was varied from 8 to 16 wk. The greatest R(2) (10.4%) was at the threshold of temperature-humidity index = 18 degrees C for a period of 10 wk. Varying the threshold and the length of time reduced R(2) less than 1%. Least squares means of year-month and year-week of carcass weight were calculated using a model with the fixed effects farm-year-month or farm-year-week of slaughter, sex, and age at slaughter (linear covariate), and the random effect of birth litter. Changes in BW of finisher pigs due to heat stress can be quantified by H during the last 10 wk of the life of the pig.     

Physiology of the periparturient period and its relation to severity of clinical mastitis

Incidence of clinical mastitis is highest at drying off and during the periparturient period. Intramammary Escherichia coli infection in high-yielding cows can show a severe clinical response during the early post-partum period. Severe clinical mastitis is mainly determined by cow factors, in particular the functionality of the circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) which are recruited to the mammary gland during the inflammatory reaction. There is a co-incidence between the periods of highest incidence of clinical mastitis and specific structural changes in the mammary gland. During the periparturient period, marked changes in various systemic and local hormones are related to the secretory state of the mammary gland epithelium (lactogenesis). Estrogen and progesterone induce proliferation of the mammary epithelium throughout gestation and act as survival factors in different tissues, although conflicting data have been reported on their effect on PMN oxidative burst. Somatotropin (STH), responsible for maintenance of lactation in ruminants, has been shown to positively influence innate immunity and a more rapid recovery in milk production of severely affected animals. The concentration of STH, and as a result also IGF-I levels is, however, quite low during early lactation. IGF-I and its regulating binding proteins are associated with cell survival, modulation of apoptosis and functionality of PMN in humans. During early lactation, bio-availability of IGF-I is decreased, which might reduce its stimulating effects on PMN quality and functionality. PRL, concomitantly known as a lactogenic hormone and an immunoregulatory cytokine, has also been associated with modulation of the immune system. It is expected that in periparturient animals, hormone changes could interfere with the immune response and the clinical response of mastitis.