Post-vaccination antibodies profile against Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus in sheep and goats of Punjab,Pakistan

A total of 70 sheep and 330 goats were selected randomly. All the animals were kept under same housing and management conditions. Serum samples were collected from all the animals and tested for the presence of antibodies against Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus using competitive ELISA (cELISA). All the animals were found negative showing percentage inhibition (PI) values <50. The animals were vaccinated against PPR with Nig/75/1 strain vaccine of PPR Serum samples were collected from randomly selected 12 sheep and 30 goats at 10, 30 and 45 days post-vaccination. The samples were subjected to cELISA to determine the presence of antibodies against PPRV. The samples with PI >50 were considered as sero-positive. The sheep found positive at 10, 30 and 45 days post-vaccination were 1(8.3%), 7(58.3%) and 12(100%) respectively. In case of goats 3(10.0%), 29(96.6%) and 27(90.0%) animals gave positive results at 10, 30 and 45 days post-vaccination respectively. Mean PI values in sheep at 10, 30 and 45 days post-vaccination were recorded as 37, 65 and 91 respectively, whereas in goats these values were 43, 78 and 86 respectively.     

Prevalence and intensity of Otodectes cynotis in kittens from Thessaloniki area, Greece

From May 2007 to May 2008 we have examined by otoscopy a total number of 214 cats, aged between 0 and 6 months, brought in for their first veterinary examination to a private veterinary clinic. All cats were of urban origin. In all positive cats we performed a washing of the ear using warm paraffin oil in order to determine intensity of infection. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. A total number of 30 cats were found to be infected with Otodectes cynotis (prevalence 14.02%). Prevalence of infection was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cats aged between 3 and 6 months (17.58%) than in cats aged below 3 months (11.38). Intensity of infection ranged between 7 and 85 (mean intensity 35.60) mites per infected cat. The same age group of cats between 3 and 6 months had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean intensity (47.19) compared to cats aged under 3 months (22.36). No statistical significance was found between males and females for neither prevalence nor intensity. Differences and similarities with other studies are discussed.     

Cytokine profiles, apoptosis and pathology of experimental Pasteurella multocida serotype A1 infection in mice

Mice were experimentally infected with Pasteurella multocida serotype A1 to study the cytokine profiles, host cell apoptosis and sequential pathology at different hours of post-infection. Infected mice were dull, anorectic and depressed. A transient leukocytopenia followed by progressive leukocytosis was observed in the course of infection. Serum cytokine profiles showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and mouse KC) in the infected mice when compared to control mice. The circulating lymphocytes were apoptotic on annexin V staining. Apoptotic nuclei were detected in splenocytes, hepatocytes and infiltrating leukocytes of the lungs on TUNEL staining. The lungs were grossly congested and hemorrhagic, and showed infiltration with polymorphonuclear cells at early and mononuclear cells in the late hours of infection. Alveolar epithelia, inter-alveolar septa and capillary endothelium of the lungs showed ultrastructural changes. Liver had degenerative changes in histological and ultrathin sections.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress in hunting dogs during exercise

Exercise has been shown to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a point that can exceed antioxidant defenses, to cause oxidative stress. The aim of our trials was to evaluate oxidative stress and recovery times in trained dogs during two different hunting exercises, with reactive oxygen metabolites-derivatives (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests. A group of nine privately owned Italian hounds were included. A 20-min aerobic exercise and a 4-h aerobic exercise, after 30 days of rest, were performed by the dogs. Our results show an oxidative stress after exercise due to both the high concentration of oxidants (d-ROMs) and the low level of antioxidant power (BAP). Besides, the recovery time is faster after the 4-h aerobic exercise than the 20-min aerobic exercise. Oxidative stress monitoring during dogs exercise could become an interesting aid to establish ideal adaptation to training.     

Effect of Enterococcus faecium AL41 and Thymus vulgaris essential oil on small intestine integrity and antioxidative status of laying hens

We investigated the effect of Enterococcus faecium on phagocytic activity, antioxidative status in vivo and the effect of E. faecium and 0.4% concentration of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) on the duodenal tissue integrity in vitro in laying hens. The birds were fed the same standard diets and were divided into four groups. E. faecium was added to the drinking water for the second and fourth groups. EO was added to special chambers for measuring trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) for the third and fourth groups only. TEER was lower in groups where EO was added, but in the group with E. faecium TEER was not changed significantly. Our results show that EO at 0.4% concentration may negatively affect intestine integrity, and the probiotic strain E. faecium AL41 is able to eliminate this effect and can strengthen non-specific immunity. To confirm our findings further histopathological investigations of intestinal tissue are needed.     

Use of Akaike information criteria for model selection and inference. An application to assess prevention of gastrointestinal parasitism and respiratory mortality of Guinean goats in Kolda,Senegal

A field experiment was carried out in Kolda (southern Senegal) from July 1986 to July 1988. Its goals were to: (1) describe the patterns of mortality of female Guinean goats by age, season and year; (2) assess preventive measures against respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal parasitism in reducing mortality; and (3) estimate the overall impact of these measures on survival to 1 year of age. Preventive measures for respiratory disease included vaccination against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and pneumonic pasteurellosis (Pasteurella multocida types A and D). Control of gastrointestinal parasites was by deworming does with morantel (7.5 mg kg⁻¹, three times during the rainy season). The effects of vaccines and deworming were tested in a randomised factorial field experiment with villages being the experimental units. A total of 19 villages, 113 goat herds and 1458 goats were included in the study.

Generalised linear models of survival for five cohorts of goats (defined by five different birth seasons) used a binomial assumption for the response distribution and a complementary log–log link. Explanatory variables included age, season, year, vaccination, deworming and their interactions. A complex a priori model was built on the basis of previous epidemiological knowledge; a purposively selected set of simpler models was compared to this full model by the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and derived statistics. Inference on 1-year survival and treatment effects accounted for model-selection uncertainty. It was carried out with a bootstrap procedure and used information from the whole set of selected models.

Large variations in mortality by year and season were observed but no regular seasonal pattern was apparent. Mortality probabilities of kids in dewormed groups decreased quickly after birth, but remained elevated up to 9 months of age in the non-dewormed groups. Deworming lowered the risk of mortality. Vaccination alone was not protective (except during an observed outbreak of PPR).     

Body composition and tissue accretion rates of barrows fed corn-soybean meal diets or low-protein, amino acid-supplemented diets at different feeding levels

Two experiments, each with 39 high-lean-gain potential barrows, were conducted to evaluate the organ weights, body chemical composition, and tissue accretion rates of pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets (CONTROL) and low-protein diets supplemented with crystalline lysine, threonine, tryptophan, and methionine either on an ideal protein basis (IDEAL) or in a pattern similar to that of the control diet (AACON). Amino acids were added on a true ileally digestible basis. The initial and final BW were, respectively, 31.5 and 82.3 kg in Exp. 1 and 32.7 and 57.1 kg in Exp. 2, and pigs were fed for 55 and 27 d in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. In Exp. 1, the CONTROL and IDEAL diets were offered on an ad libitum basis, or by feeding 90 or 80% of ad libitum intake. In Exp. 2, the CONTROL, IDEAL, and AACON diets were offered on an ad libitum basis, or by feeding 80% of the ad libitum intake. Three pigs were killed at the start of the experiments and three from each treatment were killed at the end of each experiment to determine body chemical composition. In both trials, the whole-body protein concentration (g/kg) and the accretion rates of protein (g/d) were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the CONTROL than for pigs fed the IDEAL and AACON diets. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the CONTROL diet had a trend (P < 0.10) for greater water and lower lipid concentration and had greater (P < 0.05) water and ash accretion rates. Whole-body protein concentration was greatest (P < 0.05) in pigs fed at 80% of ad libitum, but protein, water, and ash accretion rates were greatest (P < 0.05) in pigs allowed ad libitum access to feed. In summary, pigs fed the IDEAL and the AACON diets had less protein in the body and lower protein accretion rates than pigs fed the CONTROL diet. It seems that reductions in protein deposition in pigs fed the IDEAL and AACON diets may have been due to a deficiency of one or more essential amino acids or possibly to increases in the NE for metabolic processes leading to increases in adipose tissue deposition.     

Relative bioactivity of dietary RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetates in swine assessed with deuterium-labeled vitamin E

This study evaluated the relative bioactivities of natural and synthetic stereoisomers of alpha-tocopherol in swine. Deuterium-labeled vitamin E (150 mg each of d3-RRR- [natural] and d6-all-rac- [synthetic] alpha-tocopheryl acetates) was administered orally to adult female pigs (n = 3) with the morning feed. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 36, 48, and 72 h after the dose. The time of maximum plasma d3-alpha-tocopherol concentration (0.486 microg/mL) occurred at 12 h, and d6-alpha-tocopherol peaked earlier (at 9 h) and at a lower (P < 0.05) concentration (0.288 microg/mL). The d3-/d6-alpha-tocopherol ratio increased from 1.35 (SD = 0.73) at 3 h after dosing to 2.0 (SD = 0.14) at 72 h (P = 0.03). The plasma disappearance rates of d3- and d6-alpha-tocopherols (post-maximum concentrations) were similar and were estimated to be 0.013 microg/mL per hour. In summary, swine discriminated between RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopherols, which resulted in an approximately twofold higher plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration arising from the RRR-form. This 2:1 ratio of RRR- to all-rac- is higher than the currently accepted USP definition of RRR-:all-rac- of 1.36:1.00.     

Effects of supplementation on intake, digestion, and performance of beef cattle consuming fertilized, stockpiled bermudagrass forage

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing supplement protein concentration on performance and forage intake of beef cows and forage utilization of steers consuming stockpiled bermudagrass forage. Bermudagrass pastures were fertilized with 56 kg of N/ha in late August. Grazing was initiated during early November and continued through the end of January each year. Treatments for the cow performance trials were: no supplement or daily equivalents of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g of supplemental protein per kilogram of BW. Supplements were formulated to be isocaloric, fed at the equivalent of 0.91 kg/d, and prorated for 4 d/wk feeding. Varying the concentration of soybean hulls and soybean meal in the supplements created incremental increases in protein. During yr 1, supplemented cows lost less weight and condition compared to unsupplemented animals (P < 0.05). During yr 2, supplemented cows gained more weight (P = 0.06) and lost less condition (P < 0.05) compared to unsupplemented cows. Increasing supplement protein concentration had no affect on cumulative cow weight change or cumulative body condition score change. Forage intake tended to increase (P = 0.13, yr 1 and P = 0.07, yr 2) in supplemented cows. Supplement protein concentration did not alter forage intake. In a digestion trial, four crossbred steers were used in a Latin square design to determine the effects of supplement protein concentration on intake and digestibility of hay harvested from stockpiled bermudagrass pasture. Treatments were no supplement; or 0.23, 0.46, and 0.69 g of supplemental protein per kilogram of BW. Forage intake increased (P < 0.05) 16% and OM intake increased (P < 0.01) 30% in supplemented compared to unsupplemented steers. Diet OM digestibility increased (P = 0.08) 14.5% and total digestible OM intake increased (P < 0.05) 49% in supplemented compared to unsupplemented steers. Supplement protein concentration did not alter forage intake, total digestible OM intake, or apparent digestibility of OM or NDF. During the initial 30 d after first killing frost, beef cows did not respond to supplementation. However, later in the winter, supplementation improved utilization of stockpiled bermudagrass forage.