An outbreak of infectious chicken anemia in fattening chickens in Switzerland]

An outbreak of infectious anaemia in 46 broiler flocks due to chicken anaemia agent (CAA) is described. The vertically acquired infection led to increased mortality (3.6-19.8%) in 16 to 24 day-old broiler chickens. At necropsy severe atrophy of thymus and anaemia with pale bone marrow was observed. The histologic findings were depletion of cortical thymocytes and of hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The CAA was isolated from 15 of 35 examined broiler flocks.     

Flow cytometric analysis of T cell response in mice infected with Cowdria ruminantium.

A 3-fold increase in the numbers of Lyt-2+ T cells in the circulating blood of mice infected and re-infected with the Welgevonden stock of Cowdria ruminantium, as determined by flow cytometry, is supportive evidence that immunity in heartwater is cell-mediated. The rise in Lyt-2+ cells only after re-infection of the mice is further evidence that the development of immunity in heartwater is dependent on the unhindered and adequate replication of C. ruminantium.     

Seasonality of cattle feed sources in Pabna,Bangladesh

Summary Cattle feed sources were studied at village level in Pabna district, Bangladesh. A large quantity of feed was offered. In the monsoon the average amount of DM fed to a mature animal of 210kg was 7·1kg d⁻¹, consisting of about equal amounts of straw, weeds and leaves. In winter animals grazed for an average of 3·7hd⁻¹ and were supplemented with 3·9kgDMd⁻¹ (two-thirds straw). In summer they were offered 5·4kgDMd⁻¹ (one-third straw and two-thirds weeds and leaves) and they grazed for 0·5hd⁻¹. The major limiting constraint on cattle production is the quality of the feed offered, particularly in the monsoon period when animals cannot graze. In future, feed quality will become even more of a problem because grazing lands are gradually disappearing.

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Resumen Se estudiaron las fuentes de alimentos para el ganado a nivel de villorrio en el distrito de Pabna, Bangladesh. Se ofreció gran cantidad de alimento. En la época de monsones, la cantidad promedio de materia seca (MS) suministrada a un animal maduro de 210kg fue 7·1kgd⁻¹, la que consistió en cantidades iguales de paja, malezas y hojas. En invierno los animales pastorearon un promedio de 3·7hd⁻¹ y fueron suplementados con 3·9kgMSd⁻¹ (dos tercios paja). En verano se ofrecieron 5·4kgMSd⁻¹ (un tercio paja y dos tercios malezas y hojas), pastoreando los animales 0·5hd⁻¹. La mayor limitante encontrada, fue la calidad del alimento ofrecido, particularmente en la época de monsones, cuando los animales no pueden pastorear. En el futuro, la calidad del alimento empeorará, ya que las pasturas están desapareciendo gradualmente.

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Résumé Les disponibilités alimentaires du bétail ont été étudiées dans le district de Pabna (Bangladesh), au sein d'un village. Une grande quantité de nourriture fut offerte. Lors de la mousson, la quantité moyenne de matière sèche présentée à un adulte de 210kg était de 7,1kg/j, consistant en proportion à peu près équivalente de paille, mauvaises herbes et feuilles. En hiver, les animaux paturaient en moyenne 3,7kg/j et recevaient un supplément de 3,9kg/j de matières sèchs (deux tiers de paille). En été, on leur a distribué 5,4kg/j de matières sèches (un tiers de pailles, deux tiers de mauvaises herbes et de feuilles) et ils paturaient pendant une demi-heure (0,5h/j). Le facteur majeur limitant réside dans la qualité nutritive offerte, particulièrement pendant la mousson, période où les animaux ne peuvent pas paturer. La qualité de l'alimentation risque de devenir encore plus problématique du fait de la disparition progressive des paturages.

     

An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum.

An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum produced lesions in the pigs similar to those caused by M tuberculosis, M bovis and M avium, with caseation in the lymph nodes of the head and in the jejunal lymph nodes. Bacteriological examination of the dysgonic mycobacteria isolated showed that they were M africanum I. The intradermal tuberculin test was very reliable in pigs, differentiating between mammalian and avian reactions, and the results of the test were in accordance with the lesions found at meat inspection. No clinical signs were observed during the outbreak, and the infection was neither serious nor progressive. There were no lesions in the tuberculin-positive cattle. The source of the infection remains unknown.     

Excision of the distal sesamoid bone for treatment of infection of the digit in a heifer.

An 8-month-old Holstein heifer was evaluated for right hind limb lameness of 3 weeks' duration. Diagnoses were osteomyelitis and fracture of the distal sesamoid bone, septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint, and osteomyelitis of the third phalanx. After excision of a section of tissue from the plantar aspect of the digit and partial section of the deep digital flexor tendon, the distal sesamoid bone was excised. The third phalanx was curetted, and the surgical wound was lavaged. Twenty months after surgery, the heifer was fully weightbearing on the affected digit. Surgical exploration of the digit should be considered an alternative to claw amputation in cattle that have severe digital infections.     

Multiplication of Xanthomonas campestris pvs secalis and translucens in host and non-host plants (rye and barley) and development of water soaking1

Multiplication of the rye-specific and barley-specific pathovars secalis and translucens, respectively, of Xanthomonas campestris (earlier named Xanthomonas translucens f. sp. cerealis) was determined in two rye and two barley cultivars. Fresh bacterial cultures were suspended in boiled tap water, adjusted to about 3 × 10⁷ cfu ml^?1 and infiltrated into the mesophyll of young leaves. In the compatible combinations, a generation time of 1.7–2.1 h was determined. Significantly higher multiplication rates than in incompatible combinations were not observed before 3 or 4 days after inoculation. At this time, the first small water-soaked areas appeared. Bacteria multiplied up to the seventh day after inoculation, reaching a maximum of at least 10⁹ cells per cm², the same time at which the water-soaked areas had reached their maximum size. Thus, the rate of bacterial multiplication paralleled with the development of the water-soaked areas. In the incompatible combinations, nearly the same generation times were detected during the exponential growth phase. However, water-soaked areas did not appear, and the final bacterial concentration ranged from 1:1000 to 1:100 of that determined in compatible combinations. A distinct early lag phase, characterized by a decrease of the bacterial population down to 1:100 of the starting concentration, was detected in all cases.     

Effect of milk sampling techniques on milk composition, bacterial contamination, viability and functions of resident cells in milk.

Three different milk sampling techniques were evaluated during milk sampling: a direct aseptic collection from the udder through a sterile cannula was used as the reference technique, compared with either a manual or a mechanical sampling method. In this study 30 high-yielding Holstein-Friesian dairy cows at different stages of lactation and free of udder infection were used. For each milk sample, the influence of milk sampling techniques was determined for the following parameters: somatic cell count, milk composition, bacterial contamination, viability, in vitro phagocytosis and overall killing of Staphylococcus aureus Newbould 305, and cellular chemiluminescence. Because milk sampling occurred throughout lactation, the differences between early, mid- and late lactation were estimated. It was concluded that bacterial contamination was not significantly different in manual milking samples and the reference technique; bacterial contamination was, however, significantly (P < 0.001) higher in machine milking samples than in the reference technique. Among the different sampling techniques, no significant effects on SCC, milk composition, viability and functions of the cells isolated from milk were observed. It was found that viability, intracellular killing and cellular chemiluminescence of milk PMN were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in early lactation compared to mid-lactation. Phagocytosis was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in early lactation compared to mid- and late lactation, and no significant differences were observed between mid- and late lactation. From this study, it can be concluded that despite a higher bacterial contamination obtained with the mechanical sampling method, the 3 milk sampling techniques described in this study can be used for the evaluation of milk cell functions.     

Association between Chlamydia psittaci seropositivity and abortion in Italian dairy cows.

Although the seroprevalence of Chlamydia psittaci is widespread in Italian dairy herds, its role in inducing genital disorders has not been elucidated. We therefore set up a case-control study to compare seroprevalence to C. psittaci in an aborted-cow population and in a randomly selected control group in the province of Parma (the Po Valley of northern Italy). The true seroprevalence (45%) in aborted cows was significantly higher than that in the control group (24%) (adjusted odds ratio=2.53).