VERTEBRAL HEART SIZE RANGES SPECIFIC FOR WHIPPETS

To assess the influence of breed, breeding lines, and training on heart size, the vertebral heart size (VHS) was evaluated on left-to-right lateral, right-to-left lateral, dorsoventral, and ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs from 44 whippets free from cardiac and pulmonary disease. In lateral views, the VHS was 11.0 +/- 0.5 vertebrae (mean +/- SD) on right-to-left lateral and 11.3 +/- 0.5 vertebrae on left-to-right lateral radiographs, being larger than the 9.7 +/- 0.5 vertebrae proposed by Buchanan (P<0.0001). The VHS on left-to-right lateral views was larger than on right-to-left lateral views (P<0.0001). The VHS was 10.5 +/- 0.6 vertebrae on dorsoventral radiographs and 11.1 +/- 0.6 vertebrae on ventrodorsal radiographs. Both values were larger than the 10.2 +/- 1.5 vertebrae (dorsoventral) (P<0.0082) or 10.2 +/- 0.8 vertebrae (ventrodorsal) (P<0.0001) proposed by Buchanan. In addition, the VHS on ventrodorsal views was larger than on dorsoventral views (P<0.0001). Dogs out of racing pedigree lines had a significantly larger VHS than those out of show pedigree lines, and trained dogs had a significantly larger VHS than nontrained dogs. Because most trained dogs came out of racing pedigree lines, and all nontrained dogs came out of show pedigree lines, however, it is difficult to determine whether the higher VHS for trained dogs is due to genetic influences or training, or both. In conclusion, it is important to take into account the breed and the radiographic view when evaluating heart size in thoracic radiographs of whippets to avoid overinterpretation of cardiac enlargement in these dogs.     

Influence of age and body size on gastrointestinal transit time of radiopaque markers in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare gastric emptying time, small-intestinal transit time (SITT), and orocecal transit time (OCTT) of radiopaque markers in dogs varying in age and body size and to determine whether fecal variables (ie, consistency and moisture content) are related to gastrointestinal tract transit times in dogs. ANIMALS: 24 eight-week-old female puppies, including 6 Miniature Poodles, 6 Standard Schnauzers, 6 Giant Schnauzers, and 6 Great Danes. PROCEDURE: Gastrointestinal tract transit time experiments were performed at 12, 22, 36, and 60 weeks of age. Dogs were fed 30 small radiopaque markers mixed with a meal. Abdominal radiographs were taken. The time at which 50% of the markers had left the stomach (T50) and the time at which the first marker reached the colon were calculated. Fecal moisture content and scoring on the basis of fecal consistency were recorded during the same periods. RESULTS: Puppies had a shorter mean T50 than adults, and mean OCTT decreased significantly only during growth of large-breed dogs. However mean fecal moisture content significantly increased with age, except in Giant Schnauzers. No effect of body size on T50 was found regardless of age, and no difference was observed between OCTT of small- and large-breed adult dogs. The effect of age on the mean SITT was not significant for any breed. However, a strong positive correlation was recorded between body size and fecal moisture content (r2 = 0.77) or fecal scores (r2 = 0.69) in adult dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Age affects T50 in small- and large-breed dogs and OCTT in large-breed dogs. However, body size does not affect T50 or OCTT. A relationship does not exist between gastrointestinal tract transit time and fecal variables in healthy dogs.     

Rate of carbon dioxide production and energy expenditure in fed and food-deprived adult dogs determined by indirect calorimetry and isotopic methods

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate energy expenditure (EE) in dogs by estimating rate of CO2 production (rCO2). ANIMALS: 15 Beagles. PROCEDURE: Food was withheld for 24 hours, and all dogs received an IV infusion of 13C sodium bicarbonate for 8 hours. Breath samples were collected before infusion and at 30-minute intervals from 4 to 8 hours, and 13C enrichment in breath CO2 was measured, using gas chromatography-isotopic ratio mass spectrometry. Food was withheld from 6 dogs, and rCO2 and O2 consumption were measured, using a conventional indirect calorimeter. The CO2 production and O2 consumption were measured by use of indirect calorimetry in 6 other fed dogs that were injected with 2H2O and H2(18)O. Blood samples were collected before tracer injection, 4 hours later, and on days 4, 7, and 11. Deuterium and 18O enrichments in plasma water were determined. RESULTS: Mean rCO2 measured by indirect calorimetry was 516 +/- 34 and 410 +/- 16 micromol/kg(0.75)/min in 6 fed and 6 food-deprived dogs, respectively. The rCO2 calculated from 13C-bicarbonate dilution was 482 +/- 30 micromol/kg(0.75)/min. Mean rCO2 determined by use of the double-labeled water method was 1,036 +/- 46 mmol/kg(0.75)/d. Mean energy expenditure calculated from rCO2 determined by infusion of 13C bicarbonate, indirect calorimetry in fed and food-deprived dogs, and infusion of double-labeled water was 386 +/- 39, 379 +/- 25, 338 +/- 14, and 552 +/- 25 kJ/kg(0.75)/d, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Energy expenditure calculated by indirect calorimetry in unfed dogs can be considered representative of basal metabolic rate.     

Membrane markers of the immune cells in swine: an update

Besides their breeding value, swine are increasingly used as biomedical models. As reported in three international swine clusters of differentiation (CD) workshops and in the animal homologue section of the last workshop for the determination of human leukocyte differentiation antigens (HLDA 8), characterisation of leukocyte surface antigens by monoclonal antibodies and other molecular studies have determined the cell lineages and blood leukocyte subsets implicated in the immune response, including cell adhesion molecules involved in cell trafficking. This review focusses on the current state of knowledge of porcine leukocyte differentiation and major histocompatibility complex (SLA) molecules. Examples of porcine particularities such as the double-positive T lymphocytes with the phenotype CD(4+)CD8(low) and CD(4-)CD8(low) alphabeta T cell subsets and the persistence of SLA class II after T-lymphocyte activation are illustrated, as well as the shared characteristics of the Artiodactyla group, such as the high proportion of gammadelta TcR (T cell receptor) T cells in blood and other lymphoid tissues. Furthermore, discrepancies between swine and humans, such as CD16 expression on dendritic cells and CD11b (wCD11R1) tissue distribution are outlined. The rapidly growing information should facilitate manipulation of the swine immune system towards improving disease control, and open new avenues for biomedical research using the pig as a model.     

USE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC MYELOGRAPHY FOR ASSESSMENT OF SPINAL TUMORAL CALCINOSIS IN A DOG

Spinal tumoral calcinosis is reported in a Berner sennenhund puppy. The condition was manifested clinically as a non-ambulatory tetraparesis associated with neck pain. On survey radiographs there was a focal calcified mass at the atlantoaxial articulation. Computed tomography and computed tomographic myelography gave additional information on the extent of the mass and on the degree of spinal cord compression. The mass was removed surgically and the dog made a complete recovery.     

Les conditions ecologiques et l'interet fourrager des patures a Digitaria decumbens Stent var. pangola aux Antilles françaises

Résumé Dans cette étude, l'auteur passe successivement en revue l'origine et l'introduction aux Antilles françaises duDigitaria decumbens Stent ditpangola, native d'Afrique du Sud, importée de PortoRico en Mars 1949 à la Guadeloupe à la Station d'Amélioration des Plantes du Centre de Recherches Agronomiques des Antilles, sur le Domaine de Duclos, à Petit-Bourg (Guadeloupe), puis de là à la Martinique, à Marie-Galante, etc ...Les conditions écologiques et l'intérêt fourrager sont ensuite examinés dans le cadre des Antilles françaises. Le comportement de cette plante à l'égard du facteur micro-climatique est indiqué avec quelques détails: température comprise entre 20 et 30 degrés Centigrades (68 à 86 °F), avec une moyenne de 25° C (77 °F); précipitations annuelles de 1000 mm. à 4000 mm, avec une biologie optimale de 2500 mm sur 140 jours, une altitude de 0 à 500 m (optimale à 120 m). L'insolation, fonction des heures de lever et de coucher du soleil est prise en considération.L'adaptation à l'égard du facteur édaphique est précisée: amplitude large vis-à-vis de la composition chimique, la structure physique et la constitution biologique du milieu: plante euryonique (P_H de 4,3 à 8,6).Les conditions sociologiques et agronomiques des pâtures à pangola: association en mélange fourrager avec une ou plusieurs Légumineuses, fertilisation avec N,P,K, et Ca, formes à apporter et doses; quotientCa/P; carences, conditions de propagation, aptitude à la colonisation et la repousse sous la dent du bétail, comportement sanitaire, sont ensuite définis, permettant de conclure à l'intérêt exceptionnel de cette Graminée si difficile à suppléer éventuellement aux Antilles françaises.

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Summary The author reports on origin and introduction ofDigitaria decumbens Stent var.pangola on the French Antilles. This plant is growing in South Africa, and was imported from Porto-Rico via Guadeloupe (Station for Plant Breeding) to Martinique in March 1949. Ecological conditions and qualification as forage plant in the area of the French Antilles have been studied. The reaction of these plants to microclimatic conditions is shown by the following statements: Required temperature between 20 to 30 °C (68 – 86° F), yearly precipitations 1000 to 4000 mm — with a biological optimum of 2 500 mm during a period of 140 days — at a height of 0 to 500 m (optimal at 120 m). Insolation in correspondence with sunrise and sunset has also been considered.The edaphical conditions for the plant were precised. The wide range of the chemical conditions of the soil, the physical structure, and the biological properties of the environment apply to an euryonical plant (pH of 4,3 to 8,6).The following sociological and agricultural properties of thepangola are to ascertain:The socialization in forage mixtures with one or more leguminous plants; kind and amount of fertilization with N,P,K, and Ca; the quotient Ca/P; deficiences, propagation; adaptation to cultivation and recovery of growth after grazing by cattle. This will allow a conclusion on the suitability of this graminee as forage plant on the French Antilles.

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Zusammenfassung Der Autor berichtet über Ursprung und Einführung vonDigitaria decumbens Stent var.pangola auf den französischen Antillen. Diese Pflanze ist in Süd-Afrika beheimatet, wurde im März 1949 von Porto-Rico über Guadeloupe (Station für Pflanzenzüchtung) nach Martinique eingeführt. Ökologische Voraussetzungen und Eignung als Futterpflanze im Bereich der französischen Antillen wurden geprüft. Das Verhalten dieser Pflanze gegenüber mikroklimatischen Bedingungen wird durch folgende Angaben belegt: Erwünschte Temperaturen zwischen 20 bis 30 °C (68 – 86 °F), jährliche Niederschläge 1.000 bis 4.000 mm — mit einem biologischen Optimum von 2.500 mm während einer Zeit von 140 Tagen — bei einer Höhenlage von 0 bis 500 m (optimal bei 120 m). Sonneneinstrahlung in Abhängigkeit von Sonnenaufgang und Sonnenuntergang wurde ebenfalls in die Betrachtung einbezogen.Die edaphischen Bedingungen für die Pflanze wurden präzisiert. Die weite Spanne hinsichtlich der chemischen Bodenbeschaffenheit, der physikalischen Struktur und der biologischen Eigenschaften des Milieus deutet auf eine euryonische Pflanze (pH von 4,3 bis 8,6) hin.Folgende soziologischen und landwirtschaftlichen Kriterien der Pangola-Weide sind zu ermitteln:Vergesellschaftung im Futtergemisch mit einer oder mehreren Leguminosen; Art und Menge der zu verabfolgenden Düngung mit N,P,K und Ca; der Quotient Ca/P; Mangelerscheinungen, Vermehrung, Anpassung an Kultivierung und an Nachwachsen als Folge von Verbiß nach Beweidung durch Großvieh, sanitäres Verhalten. Dadurch soll ein Schluß über die Eignung dieser Graminee als Futterpflanze auf den französischen Antillen gezogen werden.

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Congrès International de la Recherche Agronomique.Surinam. Nov.–Déc. 1963.     

A model of the spread of the bovine viral-diarrhoea virus within a dairy herd

Wet BVDSim (a stochastic simulation model) was developed to study the dynamics of the spread of the bovine viral-diarrhoea virus (BVDV) within a dairy herd. This model took into account herd-management factors (common in several countries), which influence BVDV spread. BVDSim was designed as a discrete-entity and discrete-event simulation model. It relied on two processes defined at the individual-animal level, with interactions. The first process was a semi-Markov process and modelled the herd structure and dynamics (demography, herd management). The second process was a Markov process and modelled horizontal and vertical virus transmission. Because the horizontal transmission occurs by contacts (nose-to-nose) and indirectly, transmission varied with the separation of animals into subgroups. Vertical transmission resulted in birth of persistently infected (PI) calves. Other possible consequences of a BVDV infection during the pregnancy period were considered (pregnancy loss, immunity of calves). The outcomes of infection were modelled according to the stage of pregnancy at time of infection. BVDV pregnancy loss was followed either by culling or by a new artificial insemination depending on the modelled farmer’s decision. Consistency of the herd dynamics in the absence of any BVDV infection was verified. To explore the model behaviour, the virus spread was simulated over 10 years after the introduction of a near-calving PI heifer into a susceptible 38 cow herd. Different dynamics of the virus spread were simulated, from early clearance to persistence of the virus 10 years after its introduction. Sensitivity of the model to the uncertainty on transmission coefficient was analysed. Qualitative validation consisted in comparing the bulk-milk ELISA results over time in a sample of herds detected with a new infection with the ones derived from simulations.     

Resistance Evaluation of Some Chinese Leading Rice Maintainer, Restorer lines and Their Hybrids to Magnaporthe grisea

Six isolates of Magnaporthe grisea were selected to inoculate on 10 Chinese leading maintainer lines (B-lines), 14 restorer lines (R-lines) and their F1 hybrid plants. In the tested rice materials, R-lines were proved to be more resistant to blast than B-lines. The resistance frequency of about 25% F1 hybrid plants was less than their parents. In addition, 26 isolates of M. grisea collected from different rice growing areas of China were inoculated on 13 new improved hybrid rice combinations. The resistance frequencies of 5 improved hybrids were better than those of the controls and leading varieties in rice production of China.