Avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 isolates from the spinal cord of parrots display a very low virulence

The spinal cord of 32 psittacines suffering from proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) was investigated. In six cases, a virus was isolated which upon electron microscopic examination revealed morphological details typical of members of the Paramyxoviridae. All isolates were subsequently characterized as avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) by type-specific polyclonal antisera. According to their reactivity with APMV-1 specific monoclonal antibodies, the six isolates shared epitopes within the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase spike protein, distinct from pigeon-type paramyxoviruses and the LaSota vaccine strain. This grouping was further corroborated by properties of the haemagglutinin: all isolates showed a very thermosensitive haemagglutination activity and were rapid eluters. Virulence of the APMV-1 isolates in 1-day-old specific pathogen free (spf) chicken was very low, with intracerebral pathogenicity indices between 0 and 0.1. In embryonated spf chicken eggs, psittacine isolates replicated to high titres (10(8.6)-10(10.7) EID50/ml). However, they exhibited a reduced lethality over an observation time of 7 days (10(6.1)-10(8.3) ELD50/ml). In a haemagglutination inhibition test with parrot sera from birds with no history of APMV-1 vaccination, sera reacted preferentially with two isolates compared with APMV-1 vaccine strains LaSota and B1. The other four isolates exhibited a differentiated reaction pattern with the parrot sera, indicating an antigenic inhomogeneity. This is the first report of isolating very low virulent APMV-1 from neuronal tissue of parrots and implications for a possible role in slow progressing disease will be discussed.     

Left atrial volume and function in dogs with naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease

Objective

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) induces progressive left atrial (LA) enlargement. The LA modulates left ventricular filling and performance through its reservoir, conduit, and contractile function. Assessment of LA size and function may provide valuable information on the level of cardiac compensation. Left atrial function in dogs with naturally occurring MMVD remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate LA volume and function in dogs with naturally occurring MMVD.

Comparison of production systems and selection criteria of Ankole cattle by breeders in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda

A survey in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda was conducted in order to determine the different production systems under which Ankole cattle are currently kept. Additionally, selection criteria of livestock keepers were documented. In Burundi, Rwanda and parts of Uganda, livestock keepers are sedentary and herds are small, whereas in the other areas Ankole cattle are kept in large herds, some of them still under a (semi-)nomadic system. Milk is the main product in all areas, and is partly for home consumption and partly for sale. Although the production systems vary in many aspects, the selection criteria for cows are similar. Productive traits such as milk yield, fertility and body size were ranked highly. For bulls, the trait ‘growth’ was ranked highly in all study areas. Phenotypic features (coat colour, horn shape and size) and ancestral information are more important in bulls than in cows. The only adaptive trait mentioned by livestock keepers was disease resistance. In areas of land scarcity (Burundi, Rwanda, western Uganda), a clear trend from pure Ankole cattle towards cross-bred animals can be observed.     

Alteration of body composition in rats: effect of organic chromium and L-carnitine

A growth trial was carried out to test the effect of organic, trivalent chromium and L-carnitine on the body composition of growing rats. At the same time, an evaluation of different measurement methods (weight of epididymal fat pad, adipocyte morphometry, total body electrical conductivity) was performed. Outbred Wistar rats of 30 days of age were fed diets of different (0, 10 and 20%) protein level. The diets were supplemented with 4 mg/kg Cr as chromium nicotinate, and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental feeding lasted 15 days, after a 5-day-long adjustment period. It was found that Cr addition increased feed intake. Both treatments caused changes in body composition, increasing fat and protein deposition. Organic chromium had no effect at either protein level, while L-carnitine improved the protein retention only at an optimum (20%) protein supply. No statistically significant correlation was found between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and body composition, which could be attributed to the great individual differences. A close correlation was found among total body fat percentage, weight of epididymal fat pad and the adipocyte surface. The data suggest that there is an interaction between dietary protein supply and the effect of repartitioning agents.     

Natural postnatal Neospora caninum infection in cattle can persist and lead to endogenous transplacental infection

A serological follow-up study of 3.5 years duration was done of a dairy herd that had experienced a mass seroconversion to Neospora caninum following a point source exposure shortly before the 17th of January 2000. A total of 913 blood samples of 244 animals at seven sampling dates were used to investigate the seroprevalence dynamics in the herd. Most postnatally infected cattle remained seropositive during the period of investigation but 11 animals became seronegative after 6-27 months indicating transient infection. Six animals seroconverted later than the main group of 45 animals and 5 animals became seronegative after at least two seropositive records possibly due to a low infection dose or difference in the haplotypes of the infected animals. In total 58% (14/24) of the offspring of postnatally infected dams was seropositive. Nine of 16 (56%) daughters originating from inseminations after the postnatal infection of their dams were seropositive indicating endogenous transplacental infection.     

Blood vitamin concentrations in privately owned dogs fed non-standardized commercial diets and after intake of diets with specified vitamin concentrations

The objective was to investigate in a survey study the blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs fed non-specified commercial complete diets and in an intervention study to determine the effects of defined dietary vitamin intakes on blood vitamin levels and hair and skin condition. Sixty-four privately owned dogs, aged from 1 to 8 years, without history of skin or coat problems were included. All animals were fed commercial complete diets with uncertain vitamin concentrations before enrolment. The animals were assigned, according to weight and gender, to four groups with graded vitamin intakes. The blood vitamin levels and skin and coat quality of the dogs were investigated at days 0 and day 122. Coat and hair condition was not influenced by the experimental diets. The retinol concentrations were reduced at the end of the experiment compared with the baseline levels, retinyl esters were not influenced. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol decreased in all groups, alpha-tocopherol was constant or tended to decrease. Ascorbic acid, thiamine pyrophosphate and riboflavin concentrations were not affected by treatment, flavin adenine dinucleotide and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate were partially reduced on day 122. Cobalamin, pantothenate and biotin concentrations increased with higher dietary intakes, folate levels in tendency. In conclusion, this study gives a survey of blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs and provides a data base for the evaluation of the vitamin status in health and disease.     

Meat inspection education in Finnish veterinary curriculum

This article describes the Finnish meat-inspection curriculum and presents an expert-panel evaluation of meat-inspection education. The work tasks of the meat-inspection veterinarian are challenging and include classical meat inspection, meat hygiene, hygiene control, and animal disease and welfare. The meat-inspection veterinarian is not only an inspector, which by itself is very demanding, but also an expert or "consultant" on food safety. The significant role of the meat-inspection veterinarian in society puts high demands on meat-inspection education, which should provide veterinary students with sufficient tools to perform meat inspection and hygiene control in slaughterhouses, cutting premises, and further processing plants. To be of high quality, such education must be evaluated from time to time. An expert panel evaluated Finnish undergraduate meat-inspection education and found that it provides veterinary students with good knowledge of meat inspection. The structure of the curriculum, with theoretical studies followed by four weeks of practice in a slaughterhouse, was considered vital for learning and for creating interest in meat inspection. The evaluation also revealed that certain subjects should receive greater emphasis and some new subjects should be introduced. Hygiene-control tasks, in particular, have increased and should receive more emphasis in education. Personnel management and interaction skills should be introduced into the curriculum as these skills influence all the duties of the meat-inspection veterinarian. This article outlines the subjects to be included in the modern, high-quality meat-inspection curriculum recommended by the expert panel.     

野猪源奇异变形杆菌的分离鉴定及致病性分析

为探究贵州省野猪携带病原菌情况,本试验对无菌采集自全省6个地区15头野猪肝脏样本的分离菌株进行培养观察、革兰染色、生化鉴定、16S rRNA基因序列分析、药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验及病理组织切片,同时根据已报道的基因序列合成奇异变形杆菌的mrpA、rsbA、ureC、zapA、rsmA、hpmA、FIiL、ucaA、pm...