Effects of gonadotropin treatment on ovarian follicle growth and granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts

This experiment was conducted to compare the ability of USDA porcine FSH-B-1 (pFSH), USDA porcine LH-B-1 (pLH), and pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to grow large follicles and induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. Twenty-four gilts (164 d old) received one of four treatments by i.m. injection: 1) saline once, n = 8; 2) pFSH (8 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 5; 3) pLH (2 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 6; or 4) PMSG (15 IU/kg BW, once), n = 5. At slaughter, 72 h after the first injection, the ovaries to saline-treated gilts contained an average of 104 surface antral follicles 1 to 3 mm in diameter. compared to treatment with saline, pFSH increased (P less than .05) the number of follicles 46%, whereas pLH or PMSG decreased (P less than .05) the number by 70 and 84%, respectively. Compared with saline, treatment with PMSG or pLH induced growth of large follicles (7 to 9 mm) (10.8 and 4.8 follicles/gilt, respectively), increased plasma estrogen, increased granulosal cell aromatase activity, and decreased plasma FSH by 51 and 69%; treatment with pFSH had no significant effect on these traits. Results indicate that injected pFSH did not cause growth of large follicles or induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. In contrast, LH initiated growth and increased granulosal cell aromatase activity in a small number of follicles and accelerated atresia among the remaining follicles.     

Use of ELISA for detection of immunoglobulins G and M that recognize Salmonella dublin lipopolysaccharide for prediction of carrier status in cattle

Immunoglobulin reactions to Salmonella dublin in serum and milk from 4 groups of lactating cows were measured by an indirect ELISA. The groups consisted of (1) cows that were natural carriers of S dublin in the mammary gland, (2) experimentally infected cows that did not become carriers, (3) cows inoculated with a commercial S dublin bacterin, and (4) cows used as S dublin-negative controls. Milk and serum samples were obtained at monthly intervals. Models for predicting carrier status were developed by use of stepwise logistic regression. Independent variables consisted of serum and milk IgG and IgM titers to S dublin lipopolysaccharide and a ratio of IgG to IgM. The utility of a single sample vs multiple samples obtained at 1-month or 2-month intervals was tested by comparison of goodness-of-fit chi 2 P values for 8 models predicting carrier status. Immunoglobulin reactions specific to S dublin were a significant predictor of carrier status (P less than 0.001). Serum IgG titers specific for S dublin were the most important variable for predicting carrier status. Two serum IgG titers to S dublin obtained 2 months apart was a better predictor of carrier status than measurement of the IgG:IgM ratio from a single serum sample. Immunoglobulin recognizing S dublin epitopes also were detected in milk samples. In milk, performing 2 ELISA 60 days apart to determine IgG and IgM reactions to S dublin appeared to be useful for the prediction of carrier status, but was not as accurate as models for serum immunoglobulin reactions.     

Comparison of the complement-fixation and agar gel immunodiffusion tests for diagnosis of subclinical bovine paratuberculosis

The performance of the serum complement fixation (CF) test was compared with that of a serum agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test on 74 subclinically infected and 154 uninfected cattle in 6 commercial midwestern dairy herds with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection and on 30 cattle in a herd that was free of infection. Infection status of cattle within herds was established by performance of a series of 3 or more fecal cultures and of ileocecal lymph node cultures of culled cattle. In cattle with subclinical infection detected by culturing, the sensitivity estimates of the CF and AGID tests were 10.8% (3.6% SE) and 18.9% (4.5% SE), respectively. In the cattle classified as disease free, the specificity estimates of the CF and AGID tests were 97.4% (1.3% SE) and 99.4% (0.6% SE), respectively. Neither set of estimates was significantly different. Negative test results obtained with the use of either test in apparently normal cattle from suspect herds should be interpreted with caution because both tests suffer from low sensitivities in subclinically infected animals. However, the AGID test may be more useful in regulatory situations in which the CF test is currently used because the AGID test is easier to perform and to interpret.     

Surgical treatment of a mural teat abscess in a cow

A 6-year-old multiparous Holstein cow was admitted for evaluation of progressive milk flow obstruction of one quarter of the udder. Physical examination findings suggested the presence of a mural teat abscess. Ultrasonography substantiated the physical examination findings and delineated the extent of the lesion. Surgical excision of the abscess en bloc yielded satisfactory functional and cosmetic results.     

Investigation of problems associated with intramuscular breast injection of oil-adjuvanted killed vaccines in chickens

Case submissions and a field investigation indicated that oil-adjuvanted killed vaccines may produce long-lived residual lesions in chickens. The lesions typically are yellow opaque cysts along the fascial planes separating the superficial and deep pectoral muscles. Microscopic evaluation shows that most lesions are cysts with thin fibrous capsules, sometimes associated with lymphocytic aggregates and, more rarely, a granulomatous reaction.     

Haematological, biochemical and physiological changes in horses and ponies during the cross country stage of driving trial competitions

The haematological, biochemical and physiological changes associated with the cross-country stage of driving trials were studied in horses and ponies competing in singles, pairs, tandems and teams at five, five-section and two, three-section events. Heart rates were monitored continuously and sometimes exceeded 200 beats/minute. The highest maximum, mean and recovery heart rates were found after the most severe competitions. Rectal temperatures were also highest after the most severe events and in some animals exceeded 41 degrees C. Respiratory rates were very variable. Blood taken five minutes after the cross-country showed a marked increase in haematocrit and a leucocytosis. Total plasma protein concentration increased by about 9 per cent but there was little change in the concentrations of plasma electrolytes. There was a very variable increase in plasma lactate concentration, the increase being related to the severity of the event; plasma lactate concentration occasionally exceeded 10 mmol/litre. Plasma glucose was also increased. The activities of plasma creative kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were only slightly increased after the cross-country stage.     

Epidemiology of feline leukaemia and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in the Czech Republic

Commercial serological sets were used for the examination of 727 cats kept in larger towns of the Czech Republic. FeLV antigen and antibodies to FIV were demonstrated in 96 (13.2%) and 42 (5.8%) of the animals, respectively. Seven (0.96%) animals were positive for both FeLV and FIV. Most of the FeLV and/or FIV positive patients were intact rambling males aged 1-4 years. Chronic gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases were found in 54.2% and 43.8% of the FeLV-positive patients, respectively. Chronic urinary tract diseases and generalized lymphadenopathy were found in 47.6% and 45.2% of the FIV-positive patients, respectively. The results of this first survey in the Czech Republic have shown prevalence values and clinical patterns similar to those reported formerly from other European countries.     

Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between diet, growth rate and the presence of caudal cervical malformation in Doberman puppies. DESIGN: A prospective study of 15 Dobermann puppies from three unrelated litters, aged from 0 to 16 weeks. PROCEDURE: The growth rate in terms of body weight gain and increase in ulna length were measured weekly for all puppies. In addition the nutritional quality of the diets was assessed. Radiographs of the cervical spine were taken at 6 and between 12 and 16 weeks of age and examined for the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. A mixed model for repeated measures data was used to investigate the relationship between the growth rate of the puppies and the fixed effects age, dam, diet, gender and presence of caudal cervical malformation. RESULTS: Five of the puppies had changes consistent with caudal cervical malformation. The diets fed were either balanced or transiently deficient in protein, calcium, phosphorus and/or magnesium. There was no significant association between growth rate and the variables dam, gender and the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. There was no significant association between diet and increase in ulna length, but a trend existed between body weight gain and the feeding of a balanced diet (P = 0.0672). CONCLUSION: Caudal cervical vertebral changes can be detected radiographically as early as 6 weeks of age in some Dobermann puppies. A balanced diet and growth rate are not significant factors in its initial development.