Neuro-imaging the serotonin 2A receptor as a valid biomarker for canine behavioural disorders

The serotonergic system is disturbed in different mood and affective disorders, with especially the serotonin (5-HT) 2A receptor involved in impulsive aggressiveness and anxiety. The aim of the study was to evaluate the involvement of the brain 5-HT 2A receptor in dogs with different behavioural disorders. Three groups of drug naive dogs were studied: 22 dogs showing impulsive aggressive behaviour, 22 showing normal behaviour, and 22 showing anxious behaviour. The serotonin 2A receptor was evaluated with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and the serotonin 2A receptor-selective radiopharmaceutical (123)I-R91150. A serotonin 2A receptor binding index (BI), proportional to the cortical receptor density, was calculated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine cut-off values at which optimal sensitivity and specificity are achieved and to evaluate the general performance of the BI in reflecting the state of the dog, i.e., impulsive aggressive, normal or anxious. Significantly (P<0.0056) altered 5-HT 2A receptor binding indices were found in bilateral frontal, temporal and occipital cortical brain areas of the dogs behaving abnormally, with consistently increased BI in impulsive aggressive dogs and decreased BI in anxious dogs. These results provide clear evidence for a disturbed serotonergic balance in canine impulsive aggression and anxiety disorders. A right frontal cut-off value of ≥1.92 with 86.4% sensitivity and 2.3% (1-specificity) was obtained for the impulsive aggressive dogs. Differentiating the anxious dogs from the rest of the population was possible with a cut-off value of ≤1.73 with 86.4% sensitivity and 18.2% (1-specificity). We conclude that SPECT imaging with the radioligand (123)I-R91150 can be a helpful tool in evaluating the involvement of the serotonin 2A receptor in the complex mechanisms of impulsive aggressive and anxious behaviour. The 5HT-2A binding index of the right frontal cortex appears to be a valid biomarker in differentiating the studied canine behavioural disorders.     

Laparoscopic surgery in adult cattle.

Laparoscopy in cattle is a promising tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The lower cost of the materials available in addition to the possibility of an intervention on an animal that is sedated does not entail more costs than an exploratory laparotomy. The application of this tool during abdominal explorations and biopsies allows the avoidance of invasive and often useless surgical interventions and even with the diagnosis and prognosis of certain conditions. Surgical techniques currently are limited to abomasopexies; however, never-ceasing progress and improvements in human surgery are expected to affect the future of bovine surgery.With the advancements in the multimedia technology used by universities, the use of laparoscopy as a pedagogic tool definitely has a promising future. Endoscopic exploration of the thorax is possible using the same material as for laparoscopy. In addition, diagnostic and biopsy applications are useful. The use of the laparoscope in different body cavities and for different applications would make the purchase of the required materials more cost-effective.     

Clinical value of carcinoembryonic antigen in mammary neoplasms of bitches

This study aimed at evaluating the behaviour and understanding the diagnostic value of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in bitches with mammary carcinoma as a tool for monitoring and prognosis of canine cancer patients. Serum samples from 77 bitches were divided into four groups, G1 (n = 21), control group (healthy/neoplasia free bitches); G2 (n = 31), bitches with non‐metastatic mammary carcinoma less than 3 cm; G3 (n = 12), bitches with non‐metastatic mammary carcinoma greater than 3 cm; and, G4 (n = 13) bitches with mammary carcinoma and lymph node metastasis. The marker was dosed once in G1, whereas in G2, G3 and G4, CEA levels were determined before (M0) and 15 days after (M1) mastectomy, using the ELISA kit for humans while reading used ELISYS ONE human. A group of 11 bitches was followed up 45 days after mastectomy (M2). The results for the concentration of markers in blood serum samples at the evaluated times and their relationship with neoplasia biological behaviour and observed clinicopathological changes were evaluated by the Tukey test at 5% significance. The ROC curve was established to find the cut‐off value and calculate the test sensitivity and specificity, the multivariate matching analysis was performed to confirm the association between CEA values and clinicopathological variables. CEA values increased significantly in bitches with mammary carcinoma, metastatic tumours with a diameter larger than 3.0 cm and high grade, compared with healthy ones. In addition, mastectomy reduced the CEA concentration in the blood (P < .05) whereas high CEA levels were associated with unfavourable prognostic factors (P < .05). The biomarker presented good diagnostic value, especially for more aggressive tumours. In conclusion, CEA serum concentrations allowed to follow efficiently the evolution of mammary tumours in bitches, since CEA values increased in bitches with mammary gland tumour and decreased after mastectomy while correlating with prognostic factors such as tumour size, nodal metastasis and histological grade. Further studies are still needed to confirm its diagnostic value for follow‐up of relapse and early metastasis.     

Dietary roughage sources affect lactating Holstein x Zebu cows under experimental conditions in Brazil: a meta-analysis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - To reduce costs, lactating cows are often fed a higher proportion of roughage and alternative feeds; however, such protocols may not lead to optimal milk...     

Disease and mortality on red deer farms in New Zealand

A longitudinal observational study of 15 red deer farms was carried out in New Zealand for two years from March 1992. The deer were monitored for performance and health problems, and farm management practices were recorded. Numbers at risk were 4,683 hind-years, 2,459 stag-years and 3,202 weaner-years. The numbers of primiparous and adult hinds at risk of losing their progeny by weaning were 653 and 3,364, respectively. Where possible, postmortem examinations were carried out, and organs were sampled for histological and microbiological investigation. Rates of mortality varied with season with most stag and hind deaths in winter and weaner deaths in autumn and winter. Overall mortality rates were 1.77, 2.60 and 5.87 per 100 deer-years for hinds, stags and weaners, respectively. Malignant catarrhal fever accounted for 0.53 stag and 0.17 hind deaths per 100 deer-years at risk Misadventure, including broken bones, accounted for 15.4 per cent of weaner mortalities, or 0.53 weaner mortalities per 100 weaner-three months in autumn. Yersiniosis was confirmed in 18.6 per cent of weaner deaths, or 1.09 weaners per 100 weaner-years during the first six months after weaning, but was also suspected but unconfirmed in a further 41 per cent of weaner mortalities. Overall, 17 per cent of yearling hinds, and 9.2 per cent of adult hinds lost their progeny between pregnancy diagnosis in June and weaning in March. One outbreak of osteochondrosis was recorded. Mortality rates varied between farms and many mortalities were preventable.     

Development and validation of a radioimmunoassay for thyrotropin in cattle.

In mammals, thyrotropin, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), assay is used for the diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is the most common type of thyroid disorder in cattle. The aim of this study was to develop and validate, under physiologic and pathologic conditions, a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for bovine TSH (bTSH). Double RIA was performed with purified bTSH and specific bovine antiserum. Laboratory validation included research of minimal detection limit, accuracy, and reproducibility. The physiologic validation included a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) challenge performed on euthyroid cows and a follow-up of bTSH concentration over a 24-hour period. Furthermore, bTSH concentration was assayed in a large population of healthy dairy and beef cows to define reference interval. The pathologic validation was made by assaying bTSH and thyroid hormones on healthy and goitrous newborn calves. The minimum detection limit (MDL) for bTSH assay was 1.3 microU/ml. The recovery was 101% to 106%. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation (CVs) ranged from 5% to 11% and 11% to 15%, respectively. The RIA covered the whole range of physiologic bTSH values, as shown by bTSH values induced by TRH-challenge. A pulsatile secretion of bTSH was observed, accompanied by a diurnal variation with lower night values than day values. Reference intervals of bTSH ranged from 1.3 to 13.0 microU/ml for beef and dairy breeds. Finally, bTSH easily discriminated goitrous newborn calves from healthy ones, leading to the definition of a cutoff value of 35 microU/ml. The bTSH assay positively reacted to physiologic and pathologic conditions. The accuracy and precision of the RIA were satisfying.     

Tsetse control in cattle from pyrethroid footbaths

In Burkina Faso, we assessed the efficacy of treating cattle with a footbath containing aqueous formulations of pyrethroids to control two tsetse-fly species, Glossina tachinoides Westwood, 1850 (Diptera, Glossinidae) and Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank 1949. Legs were the most targeted parts of the body for tsetse-fly blood meals: 81% (95% CI: 73, 89) for G. tachinoides and 88% (81, 95) for G. palpalis.

The in-stable efficacy of footbath treatments was compared with manual full spraying with a 0.005% alphacypermethrin (Dominex, FMC, Philadelphia, USA) formulation (250 mL versus 2 L). The proportions of knocked-down flies were the same with footbath and full spray but the latter was more protective against fly bites. In field use, the efficacy of both methods should be similar given the recommended treatment frequency: 3 days for footbath versus 7 days for full spray.

Among 96 cattle drinking at the same water point in Dafinso (Burkina Faso), 68 (71%) were treated with a footbath containing a 0.005% deltamethrin formulation (Vectocid, CEVA SA, Libourne, France). We observed the effect of this live-bait technique on the one hand on released cohorts of reared, irradiated flies, and on the other hand on wild tsetse flies. In both cases, the footbath treatment was associated with a reduction of the apparent fly density probably related to an increased mortality.     

Dairy science and health in the tropics: challenges and opportunities for the next decades

In the next two decades, the world population will increase significantly; the majority in the developing countries located in the tropics of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. To feed such a population, it is necessary to increase the availability of food, particularly high-value animal protein foods produced locally, namely meat and dairy products. Dairy production in tropical regions has a lot of growth potential, but also poses a series of problems, particularly as dairy production systems were developed in temperate countries and in most cases are difficult to implement in the tropics. Drawbacks include hot weather and heat stress, the lack of availability of adequate feeds, poor infrastructure, and cold chain and the competition with cheap imports from temperate countries. This position paper reviews the major drawbacks in dairy production for the five major dairy species: cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, and camel, as well as the future trends in research and development. It also concerns the major trends in reproduction and production systems and health issues as well as environmental concerns, particularly those related to greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical Animal Health and Production now launches a topical collection on Tropical Dairy Science. We aim to publish interesting and significant papers in tropical dairy science. On behalf of the editorial board of the Tropical Animal Health and Production, we would like to invite all authors working in this field to submit their works on this topic to this topical collection in our journal.