Post-Partum Involution of the Canine Uterus – Gross Anatomical and Histological Features

We aimed to study the normal puerperium in the bitch. Ovariohysterectomy was performed in nine bitches, each at a different day after normal whelping; their genital tract was subject to gross anatomical examination, as well as to histological examination and electron microscopy scanning. Corpora albicans were evenly distributed in the left and right ovaries and placental sites were evenly distributed among left and right uterine horns. Placental sites were initially of dark green to grey colour, later becoming dark brown; their length and height progressively decreased. Height of the myometrium and diameter of the uterine glands progressively decreased. Trophoblast-like cells were consistently observed at the placental sites and on the surface of the interplacental areas, at all time points where hysterectomy had been performed. It is suggested that involution of the canine genital tract can last up to 3 months and is slow. Continuous (up to D84 post-partum) presence of prominent placental sites should be considered a normal feature of canine uterine post-partum involution.     

Production responses to internal parasite control in dairy cattle

A significant increase in milk production, averaging 164 litres per cow per lactation (a 4.8% increase), was seen after cows infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, paramphistomes and Fasciola hepatica were treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics. Three hundred and ninety pairs of cows from eight herds with year-round calving were studied. One cow in each matched pair was given 7.5 mg/kg fenbendazole, 7.5 mg/kg levamisole hydrochloride and 15 mg/kg oxyclozanide in March, May and August of one year; the other cow in the pair received no anthelmintic. The number of nematode and trematode eggs was significantly decreased in the faeces of treated cows.     

Plasma Inhibin Levels in Relation to Steroids and Gonadotrophins during Oestrous Cycle in Buffalo

The study was conducted on six Murrah buffalo synchronized and induced to oestrus. An indwelling catheter was placed in the jugular vein of each buffalo 4 days before the expected onset of the oestrus following the induced oestrus and blood samples were collected at 8 h intervals from each animal throughout the oestrous cycle. Plasma immunoreactive inhibin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17β and progesterone were estimated by radioimmunoassay to study the variations in the peripheral levels of these hormones and their inter-relationships in order to elucidate the feedback systems controlling them during the oestrous cycle of buffalo. Plasma inhibin levels ranged between 391.25 and 631.97 pg/ml during various phases of the oestrous cycle and were found to be higher than reported in cows. Peak LH and FSH levels during oestrus were 38.40 ± 9.21 and 24.04 ± 4.75 ng/ml, respectively and estradiol-17β and progesterone were 19.50 ± 5.51 pg/ml and 0.61 ± 0.25 ng/ml, respectively. The mean plasma inhibin concentration on the day of oestrus was 562.5 ± 18.9 pg/ml. Levels of FSH in the plasma showed three mid-cycle elevations which corresponded to comparatively lower inhibin and elevated estradiol-17β levels during the same period. From this observation it was deduced that both inhibin and estradiol-17β have a feed-back regulatory effect on FSH secretion in buffalo.     

Follicular Dynamics and Oestrous Detection in Thai Postpartum Swamp Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

This study characterized follicular activity and oestrous behaviour from 5 to 9 days post‐calving up to the 4th ovulation postpartum (pp) in 16 multiparous (range 2–7 parities) Thai swamp buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis), aged 4–12 years and weighing from 432 to 676 kg. Ovarian follicular activity was examined by transrectal ultrasonography (TUS) every morning. Oestrous detection was performed twice daily by direct personal observation of behaviour and for presence of clear cervical mucus discharge and indirectly by video camera recording during 21 h/day. A follicular wave‐like pattern was present before the 1st ovulation leading to short oestrous cycles. Growth rates and maximum diameters of the ovulatory follicles did not differ between the 1st and 4th ovulations. However, growth rate for non‐ovulatory dominant follicles (DF) before the 1st ovulation was lower than for the ovulatory follicle (p < 0.05). In addition, the diameter of all ovulatory follicles (14.3 ± 0.46 mm, n = 39) was significantly larger (p < 0.01) than those of the preceding last but one non‐ovulatory DF (10.8 ± 0.20 mm, n = 5), but similar to the last preceding non‐ovulatory DF diameter (12.92 ± 0.96 mm, n = 14). Short oestrous cycles were most common between the 1st and 2nd ovulations (93.75%, 15/16 cows, 10.2 ± 0.38 days) decreasing in prevalence thereafter (50%, 3/6 buffaloes, 12.0 ± 1.53 days). Oestrous signs were relatively vague around the 1st ovulation pp to become more easily detectable thereafter. This study suggests that properly fed swamp buffaloes could be mated successfully within 2 months pp, at their 2nd spontaneous ovulation, provided oestrous detection is at least performed daily at 06:00–08:00 hour.     

Atomic-scale desorption through electronic and vibrational excitation mechanisms

The scanning tunneling microscope has been used to desorb hydrogen from hydrogen-terminated silicon (100) surfaces. As a result of control of the dose of incident electrons, a countable number of desorption sites can be created and the yield and cross section are thereby obtained. Two distinct desorption mechanisms are observed: (i) direct electronic excitation of the Si-H bond by field-emitted electrons and (ii) an atomic resolution mechanism that involves multiple-vibrational excitation by tunneling electrons at low applied voltages. This vibrational heating effect offers significant potential for controlling surface reactions involving adsorbed individual atoms and molecules.     

Comparative evaluation of metallic skin staples or polypropylene sutures for primary closure of teat wounds in sheep

ABSTRACT

Aims

To compare stainless steel staples and polypropylene suture material for primary closure of wounds after teat amputation in ewes and to assess progress of healing in the presence or absence of intramammary infection (IMI).     

A three‐dimensional alginate system for in vitro culture of cumulus‐denuded feline oocytes

In the case of high valuable individuals with very precious genetic material, widening the genetic pool including gametes with poor morphological characteristics, as cumulus‐denuded oocytes (CDOs), could be an option. To improve the in vitro culture of low‐competence feline CDOs, an enriched three‐dimensional (3D) system in association with competent cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) was developed. For this purpose, domestic cat CDOs were cultured with or without companion COCs in the 3D barium alginate microcapsules. The overall viability and the meiotic progression of feline CDOs cocultured with COCs or cultured separately in 3D or in 2D (traditional microdrops) system were compared. The 3D system was able to support viability and meiotic resumption of the feline oocytes, as well as the 2D microdrops. In 3D microcapsules, the presence of COCs resulted in a higher viability of CDOs (91.1%, p < .05), than that obtained without COCs or in 2D microdrops (71.2% and 67.3%, respectively), but the percentages of meiotic resumption were similar of those of CDOs cultured separately (55.4% vs. 40.4%, p > .05). It is notable that the presence of CDOs seemed to enhance the meiotic progression of the associated COCs. In conclusion, the 3D barium alginate microcapsules are a suitable system for feline oocytes in vitro culture, but more specific enriched conditions should be developed to improve the CDOs full competence in vitro.     

Congenital Abnormality of the Vagina Complicated by Haemato‐Pyocolpos in a 1‐Year Labrador Retriever

A 1‐year‐old female Labrador retriever was referred with a few days history of haematic‐like vulvar discharge. Physical examination, vaginal inspection and palpation did not reveal any remarkable finding. Transabdominal ultrasound showed echogenic fluid accumulation in the vagina suggesting haemato‐pyocolpos. An exploratory laparotomy was performed: a well‐delimited ectasic vagina was identified. Ovariohysterectomy and partial vaginectomy and vaginoplasty were performed to spay the bitch and to remove the ectasic vagina. Post‐operative recovery and 12‐month follow‐up were uneventful. Clinical, morphological and histological findings were consistent with a congenital abnormality of the muscular layer of the vagina complicated by haemato‐pyocolpos. The disorganization of the vaginal tunica muscularis may have acted as locus minoris resistentiae in the vaginal wall. The organ was dilated and atonic due to the gradual accumulation of physiological fluids complicated by an overgrowth of genital bacteria. This congenital disorder has to be taken into account as differential diagnosis of haemato‐pyocolpos with vaginal discharge in young bitches.     

Molecular diagnostics for the sigatoka disease complex of banana

ABSTRACT The Sigatoka disease complex of banana involves three related ascomycetous fungi, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, M. musicola, and M. eumusae. The exact distribution of these three species and their disease epidemiology remain unclear, because their symptoms and life cycles are rather similar. Disease diagnosis in the Mycosphaerella complex of banana is based on the presence of host symptoms and fungal fruiting structures, which hamper preventive management strategies. In the present study, we have developed rapid and robust species-specific molecular-based diagnostic tools for detection and quantification of M. fijiensis, M. musicola, and M. eumusae. Conventional species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were developed based on the actin gene that detected DNA at as little as 100, 1, and 10 pg/mul from M. fijiensis, M. musicola, and M. eumusae, respectively. Furthermore, TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR assays were developed based on the beta-tubulin gene and detected quantities of DNA as low as 1 pg/mul for each Mycosphaerella sp. from pure cultures and DNA at 1.6 pg/mul per milligram of dry leaf tissue for M. fijiensis that was validated using naturally infected banana leaves.