The Influence of a Particle Separation Technology on the Generation of Airborne Particles from Different Roughages and Bedding Materials Used for Horses

Four different types of bedding materials (wheat straw, wood shavings, hemp shives, flax shives) and two roughages (hay, haylage) were treated using an air-driven particle separation technology. The airborne particle and mold generation of both treated and untreated samples were then analyzed under standardized laboratory conditions. In addition, samples of all the treated materials were stored for 8 weeks either in a pressed or incoherent form and then analyzed again for their ability to generate airborne particles. The airborne particle concentrations were detected online with the gravimetrically measuring analyzer tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) 1400a that was equipped successively with different inlets to measure the particle fractions PM₂₀, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 (PM = Particulate matter). The particle separation resulted in a reduction in the airborne particle (PM₂₀) generation in all materials: hay 49.16 to 22.79 mg/m³ (53.6%), haylage 28.57 to 25.04 mg/m³ (12.3%), wood shavings 141.68 to 15.04 mg/m³ (89.4%), wheat straw 143.08 to 22.97 mg/m³ (83.9%), flax 135.11 to 53.31 mg/m³ (60.5%), and hemp 63.67 to 17.64 mg/m³ (72.3%). The 8-week storage of the treated materials as compressed materials led to a renewed significant increase in the airborne particle (PM₁₀) concentration in the haylage (+29.9%), wheat straw (+104.0%), wood shavings (+40.4%), and hemp shives (+30.7%). Storage of the incoherent materials caused a significant increase in these particles only in the wheat straw (+44.2%). The separation treatment reduced the mold production by 92.4% in the wood shavings, 88.0% in the wheat straw, and 85.8% in the hay.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram of sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E

The objective of this study was to evaluate neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram in sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. Twenty male Corriedale sheep were utilised and distributed into four experimental groups each with five animals infected with larvae: G1‐ supplemented with sodium selenite, 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) given intramuscularly (IM); G2‐ supplemented with sodium selenite and vitamin E, 0.2 mg/kg bw and 2000 IU per animal, respectively, both IM; G3‐ supplemented with vitamin E, 2000 IU per animal IM; G4‐ not supplemented. A haemogram and the number of parasite eggs were determined in samples of blood and faeces, respectively, on days zero (T0), 20 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays were performed on heparinized blood samples taken on days zero, 30 and 60. A lower total leucocyte count was detected in G1 in relation to G4 at T4. Lymphocytes were reduced in G1 in relation to G3 and G4 at T3. In both non‐stimulated (NBT‐NS) and stimulated (NBT‐S) dye reduction assays, there was reduced activity at 60 days, in relation to other times in the groups treated with selenium (G1 and G2). On the basis of results obtained, we conclude that supplementation with selenium provides better antioxidant protection to neutrophils.     

Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoprotein and Progesterone Concentrations during Pregnancy Failure in Bedouin Goat from the Southwest of Algeria

Thirteen female Bedouin goats living in arid land of Algeria Sahara desert were used in this study. These goats were pregnant but they sustained an abortion because of unidentified causes. None of the goats showed any signs of general disease. Plasma concentrations of caprine pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins (cPAGs) and progesterone (P4) were determined during pregnancy using radioimmunoassay. The cPAGs concentration was undetectable (<0.8 ng/ml) throughout the first 2 weeks of gestation. From week 3 after mating, cPAGs concentration was detectable with significant individual variations (p < 0.05) reaching a maximum secretion (436.1 ng/ml). Throughout gestation, cPAGs concentration remained relatively constant but decreased few days before abortion, on an average of 9.2 ± 1.2 days (n = 11), except for two females where the concentrations decreased later (1–2 days before abortion). One or two peaks of cPAGs concentrations (in 4/13 and in 9/13 females, respectively) have been measured few weeks before abortion (77–124 days after mating), when a decline of cPAGs was detected. The P4 concentration increased after mating, and was high from the first week till the end of pregnancy. The P4 concentration (9.1 ± 0.9 ng/ml) decreased rapidly (<0.5 ng/ml) after 4 ± 0.7 days (n = 6) or 9.4 ± 1.6 days (n = 7) before abortion. A positive relationship (p < 0.01) was found between P4 and cPAGs concentrations during gestation. Results indicate that cPAGs and P4 measurements can be used for monitoring gestation and for abortion prediction.     

Hemodynamic evaluation of the right portal vein in healthy dogs of different body weights

Background

Doppler ultrasonography is an important tool for evaluating hepatic portal hemodynamics. However, no study in dogs of different body weights, in the range encountered in routine clinical veterinary practice, has been reported. It can be difficult to obtain an ideal insonation angle when evaluating the main portal vein, so evaluation of the right portal vein branch has been described in humans as an alternative. The aim of this study was to analyze, through Doppler ultrasonography, the hemodynamics in the right portal vein branch in dogs of different body weights.

Methods

Thirty normal dogs were divided in three groups by weight, in order to establish normal values for mean velocity, flow volume and portal congestion index of the right portal vein branch by means of Doppler ultrasonography.

Results

In all dogs ideal insonation angles were obtained for the right portal vein branch. The average velocity was similar in the three groups, but the portal congestion index and the flow volume differed, showing that the weight of the dog can influence these values.

Conclusion

Doppler ultrasonography for the evaluation of flow in the right branch of the portal vein could be a viable alternative, or complement, to examining the main vessel segment. This is especially so in those animals in which an ideal insonation angle for examination of the main portal vein is hard to obtain. In addition, the weight of the dog must be considered for the correct evaluation of the portal system hemodynamics, particularly for portal blood flow and the congestion index.     

Factors limiting traditional household duck production in Bangladesh

A cross sectional survey of duck production was carried out in 2002 on 771 traditional, semiscavenging household duck farms on the coastal Island of Hatia. We determined the socioeconomic characteristics of duck farmers and their management systems, identified the factors associated with egg production, and measured the level of selected duck diseases and current preventive strategies. Household family size varied from 1 to 14 individuals and women were the main caretakers of ducks. Around 34% of keepers were illiterate. Most duck products (eggs and meat; 85%) were sold at the local market. Duck houses were poorly ventilated and a variety of bedding materials were used. Feed was available in nearby scavenging areas; however, additional feed was frequently supplied by farmers. Almost all farmers (96%) ranked the rainy season as the best time for rearing ducks due to greater feed availability. The annual egg production was 79 eggs per layer with a weight of 48 g and a hatchability rate of 87%. Egg production varied by zone (p < 0.05). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 0.5 times lower in educated farmers (p = 0.001). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 2.5 times more likely in ducks that attained sexual maturity at >22 weeks (p<0.001). Most farmers ranked duck plague as the most important disease, followed by duck cholera, botulism, and duck viral hepatitis. Preventive vaccination was sporadic and used by few farmers (28%). There are significant opportunities for improved duck production on the Island of Hatia and in Bangladesh generally.     

Prognosis for presumed feline vaccine-associated sarcoma after excision: 61 cases (1986-1996)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate time to first recurrence (TFR) and overall survival in cats with presumed vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) treated with excision. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 61 cats with presumed VAS. PROCEDURE: Medical records of cats that received excision as the only initial treatment for presumed VAS were reviewed to evaluate prognosis. Overall survival curves and TFR were determined. RESULTS: Median TFR was 94 days. Median TFR for tumors treated with excision performed at a referral institution (274 days) was significantly longer than that for tumors excised by a referring veterinarian (66 days). Radical first excision yielded significantly longer median TFR (325 days) than did marginal first excision (79 days). Cats with tumors located on the limbs had longer median TFR (325 days) than cats with tumors located in other sites (66 days). Median overall survival time was 576 days. Significant differences in survival times between groups were not detected. Few cats (13.8%) receiving only surgical treatment had long-term (> 2 years) survival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Radical first excision of presumed VAS is essential for extended TFR. Current recommendations for vaccination of the distal portions of the extremities are appropriate, because this practice permits radical excision of tumors (amputation) that develop at vaccination sites; however, surgery alone is seldom curative.     

Temperature effect on muscle growth of the axial musculature of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

In order to determine the temperature effect on the axial muscle growth of sea bass, a stock of larvae was subjected to the following incubation and cultivation temperatures, respectively: 15 degrees C/ambient, 15/17 degrees C, 17 degrees C/ambient and 17/17 degrees C. In all groups the cross-sectional area of white and red muscles and the number and average area of the white and red muscle fibres were quantified. Results showed that the embryonic period, pre-larval phase and the end of metamorphosis were accelerated at higher temperatures. During the endogenous feeding period, muscle growth took place by fibrillar hypertrophy, and was not influenced by the temperature. Thereafter (external feeding) muscular hyperplasia began, and growth of all the muscular parameters was favoured by the effect of high incubation and cultivation temperatures, with the latter having higher influence. High incubation temperature had an slight effect on muscle growth and body length, which was only observed from 15 days. Metamorphosis finished at 3 +/- 0.4 cm in all the larvae, but this length was earlier reached at higher temperatures. At 120 days, the largest growth was obtained in the larvae maintained at a higher temperature.     

Plasma glucose-insulin relationship in chicken lines selected for high or low fasting glycaemia

1. Selected Fat or Lean chickens differ in their plasma glucose insulin relationship: in the fed or fasted state, Fat chickens have a lower glycaemia associated with normal or higher insulinaemia, depending upon the difference in glycaemia. 2. Conversely, chickens selected for low fasting glycaemia (LG) are fattier than their counterparts selected for high fasting glycaemia (HG), although the divergence in fat content is lower than in the Fat-Lean model. 3. The plasma glucose insulin relationship has been investigated in males of the HG and LG lines in the F4 and F5 generations. 4. A difference in glycaemia is suggested during embryonic development and was present at hatching and later on in the fasted or the fed state; insulinaemia did not differ. 5. During refeeding after an overnight fast, glycaemia differed between lines (except at intermediate times); cumulative food intake and insulinaemia were similar. 6. During a glucose tolerance test, glucose disposal rate and insulinaemia were rather similar. 7. Exogenous insulin exerted a very similar hypoglycaemic effect in both lines. 8. Other variables (body temperature, plasma concentrations of potassium and alpha NH2-non protein nitrogen) did not differ between HG and LG chickens. 9. In conclusion, HG and LG chickens do not exhibit any differences in glucose disposal rate, insulinaemia (in various nutritional conditions) or sensitivity to exogenous insulin, which contrasts with Fat or Lean chickens and may explain why HG and LG chickens have diverged to a lesser extent in fat content.     

Tenoscopic-assisted treatment of a solitary caudodistal tibial osteochondroma

Solitary osteochondromas are a relatively infrequent cause of lameness in the horse, most commonly occurring in the caudal distal radial metaphysis, with sparse reports in other locations. Their presence adjacent to a synovial sheath frequently results in intra-thecal tendinous laceration and resultant synovial effusion. Surgical excision in combination with arthroscopic debridement of the tendinous pathology offers the best prognosis for soundness. This report details the successful treatment of a caudodistal tibial osteochondroma using a combination of open surgical excision and tarsal sheath tenoscopy.     

Pine branch of Araucaria angustifolia in horse bronchi: A series of four cases

Horses at pasture are susceptible to the aspiration of foreign bodies. In Curitiba, southern Brazil, four horses of different breeds and ages were examined with regards to a persistent cough that lasted for several months, fetid breath, and no fever. The animals were referred for bronchoscopic examination performed under sedation and tracheobronchial topical anaesthesia. Bronchoscopies in all four horses revealed a pine branch of the species Araucaria angustifolia, native to southern Brazil, in the lumen of a third to fifth generation bronchus. Complete removal of the branch was possible in one case using a polypectomy loop inserted through the biopsy channel of the bronchoscope. In two cases, partial removal was possible. In one case the branch was adhered to the swollen mucosa and could not be extracted; this animal is being kept at pasture with intermittent antibiotic treatment as necessary. In conclusion, foreign bodies consisting of pine branches in the tracheobronchial tree of horses may be more common than currently recognised, as Araucaria genus is present in other countries and should be suspected in horses with chronic coughing associated with fetid breath and a history of reoccurrence following symptomatic treatments.