Comparison of single strains of four serotypes of Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A in experimental pneumonia of sheep

Single strains of serotypes A1, A2, A7 and A9 of Pasteurella haemolytica were separately used in combination with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae to reproduce pneumonia. Macroscopically and microscopically the pneumonias associated with individual serotypes were similar and it is concluded that serotypes of P haemolytica isolated with low frequency in field disease may be equally virulent to common serotypes.     

Pesticide degradation in a 'biobed' composting substrate

Pesticides play an important role in the success of modern farming and food production. However, the release of pesticides to the environment arising from non-approved use, poor practice, illegal operations or misuse is increasingly recognised as contributing to water contamination. Biobeds appear to offer a cost-effective method for treating pesticide-contaminated waste. This study was performed to determine whether biobeds can degrade relatively complex pesticide mixtures when applied repeatedly. A pesticide mixture containing isoproturon, pendimethalin, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, epoxiconazole and dimethoate was incubated in biomix and topsoil at concentrations to simulate pesticide disposal. Although the data suggest that interactions between pesticides are possible, the effects were of less significance in biomix than in topsoil. The same mixture was applied on three occasions at 30-day intervals. Degradation was significantly quicker in biomix than in topsoil. The rate of degradation, however, decreased with each additional treatment, possibly due to the toxicity of the pesticide mixture to the microbial community. Incubations with chlorothalonil and pendimethalin carried out in sterile and non-sterile biomix indicated that degradation, rather than irreversible adsorption to the matrix, was the main mechanism responsible for the reduction in recovered residues. Results from these experiments suggest that biobeds offer a viable means of treating pesticide waste.     

能否根除猪蛔虫感染

猪蛔虫是大型圆虫,常见寄生于世界各地的家猪。随着养猪生产逐渐成为集约化方式,大多数蠕虫感染都会消失,但却留下蛔虫成为集约化养猪业中最后的、也是最顽固的寄生虫(Nansen和Roep-storff,1999)。就是因为这样,SPF(无特定病原体)计划就普遍都没有将蠕虫包括在内(Niemeyer,1996;Suls,2002)。     

Osteomyelitis associated with Penicillium verruculosum in a German shepherd dog

Penicillium verruculosum, a saprophytic fungus isolated occasionally from soil, has not been reported previously as a cause of systemic disease in man or animals. This article describes a case of polyostotic osteomyelitis associated with P verruculosum in a previously healthy, young adult German shepherd dog. In this case predisposing factors could not be determined but it is suspected that some German shepherd dogs possess a defect in phagocytic cell function which allows widespread infection with filamentous fungi.     

Crop protection services in Southern Africa

Despite the considerable progress made in different farming systems in Southern Africa, effective crop protection services remain a major constraint in their agricultural production systems. Factors responsible for these limitations include the following: the low government priorities still accorded crop protection services; the scarcity or complete lack of trained experienced professional and technical crop protection personnel; the fact that techniques for pest and disease control either are not available to small-scale farmers, or, where available, are not appropriate to the local situation; the inadequacy or lack of cooperation and communication between scientists, extension workers and farmers. A rigorous research, extension and training programme with an efficient infrastructure is advocated. In order to set priorities for appropriate integrated pest management (IPM), a standardized survey of pests of important food crops as well as losses suffered by small-scale farmers in each country of the region is imperative. The crop protection services can also be strengthened through the establishment of a Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) Crop Protection Collaborative Network to coordinate crop protection activities, as described below.     

Validation of the Nova CRT8 for the measurement of ionized magnesium in feline serum

Background: Evaluation of serum magnesium (Mg) concentration is becoming important in human and veterinary critical care medicine. An ion‐selective electrode can measure the physiologically active ionized fraction. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate an ion‐specific electrode analyzer and assay for measuring ionized Mg in feline serum and to determine a reference interval for this analyte in cats. Methods: Venous blood samples were collected anaerobically from clinically healthy cats, and the serum was used to validate the analyzer and assay. This included investigating the stability of samples stored at different temperatures, intra‐ and interassay precision, linearity, analytical sensitivity, and potential interferences from bilirubin, lipemia, hemoglobin, or serum separator tubes. A reference interval was calculated. Results: Serum samples evaluated for ionized Mg concentrations can be stored at 20°C for ≤24 hours, at 4°C for ≤72 hours, and at ?20°C for ≤4 weeks, when samples are minimally exposed to air. Intra‐ and interassay precisions had coefficients of variation (CVs) of 1.23% and 2.02%, respectively. There was good linearity using serum (r= .998; y=?0.0057 + 1.0256x) and manufacturer‐supplied aqueous solutions and quality control materials (r= .999; y= 0.0110 + 0.9213x). Apparent analytical sensitivity was at least 0.015 mmol/L. Mean recovery was good for ionized Mg in samples with ≤1+ icterus (104%), 4+ lipemia (99.3%) and 1–4+ hemolysis (98.6%). There was no significant difference (P= .52) in ionized Mg concentrations in serum collected in tubes containing no additives compared with serum collected in glass separator tubes. The serum ionized Mg reference interval was 0.47–0.63 mmol/L (n = 40). Conclusions: The Nova CRT8 analyzer and assay provide a precise and reliable method of measuring ionized Mg concentration in feline serum. Strict adherence to sampling techniques, handling, and storage are necessary for reliable results.     

Experimental reproduction of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs in Sweden and Denmark with a Swedish isolate of porcine circovirus type 2

An experimental model using 3-day-old snatch-farrowed colostrum-deprived piglets co-infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) is at present one of the best methods to study factors affecting development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). A Swedish isolate of PCV2 (S-PCV2) retrieved in 1993 from a healthy pig has been used in this model to reproduce PMWS in pigs from Northern Ireland. This virus has been present in the Swedish pig population for at least a decade without causing any known PMWS disease problems, despite its potential pathogenicity. The reasons for this are unknown, but could be related to genetics, absence of triggers for PCV2 upregulation (infectious agent and/or management forms) within Swedish pig husbandry. In order to confirm the pathogenicity of S-PCV2, Swedish and Danish pigs were experimentally infected with this isolate according to the established model. Swedish pigs were also infected with a reference isolate of PCV2 (PCV2-1010) to compare the severity of disease caused by the two isolates in Swedish pigs. Both Danish and Swedish pigs developed PMWS after the experimental infection with S-PCV2. Antibodies to PCV2 developed later and reached lower levels in serum from pigs infected with S-PCV2 than in pigs inoculated with PCV2-1010. In general, pigs infected with S-PCV2 showed more severe clinical signs of disease than pigs infected with PCV2-1010, but pigs from all PCV2-inoculated groups displayed gross and histological lesions consistent with PMWS. All pigs inoculated with PPV, alone or in combination with PCV2, displayed interleukin-10 responses in serum while only pigs infected with PPV in combination with PCV2 showed interferon-alpha in serum on repeated occasions. Thus, the pathogenicity of S-PCV2 was confirmed and a role for cytokines in the etiology of PMWS was indicated.     

Evaluation of ovulation rate and ovarian phenotype in puberal heifers from a cattle population selected for increased ovulation rate

Long-term selection for increased ovulation rate (1984 to 2002) has resulted in a unique ovarian phenotype in the MARC Twinner cattle population. Ovulation rate and frequency of bilateral ovulations were examined by rectal palpation in 29,547 estrous cycles for 3,910 heifers (12 to 18 mo of age) in this population. Bilateral ovulations (one corpus lutuem [CL] on each ovary) were of interest because bilateral twin pregnancies result in decreased dystocia and increased calf survival. Ovulation rate increased linearly at a rate of 0.026 CL per year, and it currently averages 1.48 +/- 0.04 CL per estrous cycle. Concurrent with the increase in ovulation rate, the frequency of triplet ovulations increased from 0% to 2.3 +/- 0.8% (P < 0.001). Ovulation rate of both the right and left ovary increased equally at a rate of 0.013 CL per year, and mean ovulation rate of the right ovary remained greater than mean ovulation rate of the left ovary throughout the study (0.66 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.003 CL per estrous cycle; P < 0.001). Although correlations were low, ovulation rate of one ovary was negatively correlated (P < 0.001; r = -0.07) with ovulation rate of the same ovary in the previous estrous cycle, but positively correlated (P < 0.001; r = 0.13) with the contralateral ovary of the previous estrous cycle. The proportion of bilateral ovulations averaged 55.7 +/- 0.7%, a value greater than the predicted 49.5% (P < 0.001). In addition to dystocia and retained placenta, triplet pregnancies increase the incidence of pregnancies gestating fetuses of opposite sexes and subsequent incidence of freemartins; thus, selection pressure on ovulation rate may need to be adjusted in the MARC Twinner population. The proportion of bilateral ovulations in the population is greater than expected, and this may be an economically important trait, which will respond to selection and be beneficial for improving bovine reproductive efficiency. Understanding factors controlling the increased functional activity of the right ovary and bilateral ovulations may provide further insights into the mechanisms controlling follicle selection and methods to improve reproductive management of cattle.