Efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid for the curative treatment of blowfly strikes in sheep

SUMMARY A jetting fluid containing 7.5% w/v ivermectin, which was diluted to 0.03 mg/mL in water and applied using a standard hand jetting technique, was assessed for its efficacy in treating blowfly strikes on Merino sheep. Strikes were induced on sheep held under insectary conditions using laboratory-reared Lucilia cuprina. All struck sheep jetted at 28,48 or 72 hours after exposure to flies were successfully treated. All 1st, 2nd and early 3rd instar larvae were killed within 24 hours of treatment.     

Ultrasonographic monitoring of artificially stimulated ejaculation in three rhinoceros species (Ceratotherium simum, Diceros bicornis, Rhinoceros unicornus).

Manual massage of the penis and rectal electroejaculation methods have been minimally effective for collecting semen from the rhinoceros. These two methods for stimulating ejaculation were evaluated by rectal ultrasonography. One individual each of three rhinoceros species (Ceratotherium simum simum, Rhinoceros unicornis and Diceros bicornis) was stimulated by manual massage of the penis and two black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) were electroejaculated. On ultrasonography, neither manual massage nor rectal electroejaculation affected the accessory glands. The pelvic urethra remained empty during manual massage of unconditioned animals; however, this area was filled before commencement of massage of conditioned animals. The pelvic urethra also filled during electroejaculation. Semen accumulated in the pelvic urethra during pauses between electrical stimulations and was moved distally into the penile urethra by rectal and penile massage. The volumes of seminal fluid recovered from electroejaculation in this study exceeded previously reported attempts. This study demonstrated the potential of transrectal imaging for improving the recovery of semen by these methods.     

The elephants of Zoba Gash Barka, Eritrea: part 4. Cholelithiasis in a wild African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

A 4.0-kg cholelith was found within the abdominal cavity of a dead wild African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Eritrea. Analysis of this cholelith by histochemistry, electron microscopy, electrospray mass spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed it was composed of bile alcohols but no calcium, bilirubin, or cholesterol. Bacteria were also found in the cholelith. Similar, but smaller, bile stones have been identified previously in other wild African elephants and an excavated mammoth (Mammuthus columbi). Choleliths have been reported only once in a captive Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Elephants, along with hyraxes (Procavia capensis) and manatees (Trichechus manatus), are unique among mammals in producing only bile alcohols and no bile acids, which may predispose them to cholelithiasis, particularly in association with bacterial infection. Dietary factors may also play an important role in cholelith formation.     

The efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid for control of blowfly strike on sheep under field conditions

SUMMARY Seventeen trials involving 5737 sheep were conducted to test the efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid (30 ppm in water) for the control of blowfly strike when applied to sheep either by standard hand jetting or through an automatic jetting race. Sheep were observed for up to 14 weeks after treatment and all strikes recorded. The level of fly challenge varied between trials, resulting in strike rates in untreated sheep ranging between 0 and 94%. At 12 weeks after treatment there were 93% fewer strikes in hand jetted sheep and 84% fewer strikes in machine jetted sheep when compared with untreated sheep. At this time point there was a 90%, 86% and 93% reduction in poll, body and breech strikes, respectively, when hand jetting was used, whereas machine jetting reduced poll, body, breech and pizzle strikes by 84%, 81%, 79% and 100%, respectively.     

Studies on preweaning piglet diarrhoea

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to determine the cause and risk factors Involved in preweaning piglet diarrhoea. Faecal samples from 2380 diarrhoeic piglets, 5 to 30 days of age, were examined for enteropathogens. Isospora suls oocysts were detected in 53.8% of samples, Escherichia coll in 18.2% and rotavirus in 16.9%. I suis had the widest distribution, being present on 70.9% of 151 piggeries. The onset of diarrhoea occurred mainly between 7 and 14 days (77.5%), peaking at 10 days. Records of 4086 litters from two intensive piggeries were analysed and showed no seasonal variation or effect of sow parity on the incidence of piglet diarrhoea. I suis was the most common enteropathogen associated with diarrhoea in piglets from 5 days of age until weaning.     

Stage 4 sleep: influence of time course variables

Age, length of prior wakefulness, length of time asleep, and a circadian influence all affect stage 4 sleep. The amount of stage 4 sleep decreases as subject's age increases and as time asleep increases. Longer periods of wakefulness before sleep result in greater amounts of stage 4 sleep in the first 3 hours of sleep. Sleep periods that begin at times other than the regular onset time tend to produce less stage 4 sleep; this decrease suggests a circadian effect.     

An Experimental Model to Study Resistance Index and Systolic/Diastolic Ratio of Uterine Arteries in Adverse Canine Pregnancy Outcome

The aim of this study was to describe the changes in the resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio ( S / D ) of the uterine arteries during mid-pregnancy abortion induction in the dog. Sixteen 30–35 day pregnant bitches were randomly assigned to either a pharmacological protocol to interrupt gestation (n = 8) or were used as untreated control group (n = 8). Doppler assessments of uterine arteries blood flow were carried out before the initiation of the protocol and then every other day up to abortion (treated group) or parturition (control group). All treated bitches aborted 6 ± 1.2 days after initiation of the treatment (while none of the non-treated bitches aborted). Pre-treatment RI and S / D did not differ between groups (p > 0.2) while average post-treatment indexes were (mean ± SD): 0.62 ± 0.1 vs 0.53 ± 0.1 (p < 0.01) and 2.96 ± 0.9 vs 2.23 ± 0.3 (p = 0.01), for the treated and non-treated group respectively. Correlations between days to abortion and RI or S / D were 0.75 (p < 0.01) and 0.79 (p < 0.01) and, −0.78 (p < 0.01) and −0.73 (p < 0.01) for the treated and non-treated groups respectively. In the treated group, correlations between serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations and RI and S / D were −0.76 (p < 0.01) and −0.59 (p < 0.01) respectively. It is concluded that, during induction of abortion, RI and S / D of uterine arteries progressively increased while P₄ decreased.