A vitamin e response in a young dog

Extract

This subject will be covered in three sections, first, a brief history of how the idea of using trained dogs to help the blind was conceived, then the present-day methods of training guide dogs, and, finally, how the blind person is trained with their guide dog to work together as a team.     

Potentiated trimethoprim for the therapy of calf scours

Abstract

Extract

Trimethoprim became generally available 3 years ago, following its original discovery as a unique antibacterial agent for combating diseases of both man and animals (Hitchings and Bushby, 1961 Hitchings, G. H. and Bushby, S. R. M. 5-Benzyl-2, 4-diaminopyrimidines a new class of systemic anti-bacterial agents. 5th Int. Congr. Biochem. Moscow. pp.165–165.  [Google Scholar]; Pugsley et al., 1969 Pugsley, D. G., Mwanje, L., Pearson, C and Blowers, R. 1969. Use of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in tropical Africa: Typhoid fever; Salmonella typhi carriage and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Postgrad, med. J., 45: 95–99. Nov. 1969, Suppl. [Google Scholar]; McGuinness, 1969 McGuinness, B. W. 1969. A combination of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in upper respiratory infection. Postgrad, med. J., 45: 99–101. Nov. 1969, Suppl. [Google Scholar]; McCaig, 1970 McCaig, J. 1970. A clinical trial using trimethoprim-sulphadiazine in dogs and cats. Vet. Rec., 87: 265–265.  [Google Scholar]; Barnett and Bushby, 1970 Barnett, Margaret and Bushby, S. R. M. 1970. Trimethoprim and the sulphonamides. Vet. Rec., 87: 43–51.  [Google Scholar]; Rehm and White, 1970 Rehm, W. F. and White, G. 1970. A field trial with trimethoprim and sulphadoxine in bacterial diseases of cattle and pigs. Vet. Rec., 87: 39–42.  [Google Scholar]; Craig 1972 Craig, G. R. 1972. The place of potentiated trimethoprim in the therapy of diseases of the skin in dogs and cats. J. small Anim. Pract., 13: 65–70.  [Google Scholar]).     

Experimental tuberculosis in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

This study was designed to investigate experimental Mycobacterium bovis infection of red deer (Cervus elaphus). Three intravenously inoculated deer (dose 10µg–1000µg) developed miliary tuberculosis of the lungs and all died within 28 days of being infected. No clinical illnesses were observed in four subcutaneously (dose 1 uµg–100uµg) and three intratracheally (dose lµg–100µg) inoculated deer. At the conclusion of the experiment six weeks post inoculation, these seven animals reacted to 2 mg/ml of bovine purified protein derivative. The principal lesions in the intravenously inoculated deer were in the lungs which had multiple foci of necrosis containing very large numbers of acid fast bacilli. A gradation of changes was seen in the subcutaneously inoculated deer. The animal receiving the 1µg dose only had lesions at the injection site and the draining prescapular lymph node. Deer receiving higher doses also had histopathological changes in the lungs and liver. Microscopic changes in the intratracheally infected animals were restricted to the thoracic cavity. The ability of the deer to control infection was related to the route of inoculation.     

Relationship between latency of brainstem auditory‐evoked potentials and head size in dogs

Summary

Cranium and brainstem dimensions were measured in 32 postmortem dog heads. Positive correlations were found between cranium length (CL) and brainstem length (BL) (r=0.87), between cranium width (CW) and brainstem width (BW) (r=0.83), and between cranium distance (CD = CL CW/2) and brainstem distance (BD = BL+BW/2) (r=0.91). Positive correlation coefficients were also found between CL and CW (r=0.90), and between BL and BW (r=0.85). It was concluded that head size accurately reflected brainstem size. A least squares estimation of the brainstem distance (BD) from CL and CW values was BD = 10.9 + 0.16 (CL CW/2) (BD, CL and CW in mm).

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and cranium dimensions were measured in 43 dogs (86 ears) with different head size, body size, sex and age. Wave form, absolute and interpeak latencies and correlation coefficients, relating latencies to cranium dimensions and body weight, were analysed CL, CW, and CD were positively correlated with body weight (r=0.93, 0.70 and 0.93, respectively), and CL, CW, and CD were correlated with age (r=0.33, 0.52 and 0.40, respectively). BAEPs consisted of five distinct positive peaks (I to V). Secondary positive peaks following peaks I and II were seen in 60% (I') and 90% (II') of the recordings. Late waves were recorded in 90% (VI), 50% (VII), and 25% (VIII) of the recordings. Latencies increased with decreasing stimulus intensity level (from 90 dB to 10 dB hearing level, HL),especially for peaks I, II, V, and the I‐V interpeak interval Absolute and interpeak latencies were positively correlated with cranium distance and body weight. Correlation coefficients increased as wave latencies increased At 90 dB HL, the highest correlation coefficients, relating cranium distance to peak V and the I‐V interpeak latency, were 0.55 and 0.53 (P < 0.00001), respectively. Regression analysis showed that each 1 cm increase in cranium distance was accompanied by an increase of 0.006 ms in the latency of wave I, 0.03 ms for wave III, 0.05 ms for wave V, and 0.05 ms for the I‐V interpeak interval Regression analysis showed that an increase of 1 kg in body weight was accompanied by an increase of 0.001 ms in the latency of wave I, 0.005 ms for wave III, 0.011 ms for wave V, and 0.01 ms for the I‐V interpeak interval. It is concluded that head size, which accurately reflects brain size, is a relevant source (25%) of intersubject variance of BAEP latencies in the dog.     

Dynamics in the membrane organization of the mammalian sperm cell and functionality in fertilization

Summary

The capacitation process of sperm cells involves complex changes in the composition and orientation of molecules at the surface of the sperm cell. Here we focus on the lipid architecture in the sperm plasma membrane and demonstrate that the sperm plasma membrane is not static but is an extremely dynamic structure. Advanced fluoroscopic techniques enabled continuous monitoring of lipid organization in living cells and extremely rapid lipid movements were observed. The orientation of lipids in the sperm plasma membrane changed under capacitative treatments, was found to be sensitive for temperature and also changed upon binding of sperm cells to the zona pellucida. The changes in membrane properties coincided with an activation of protein kinases resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of specific plasma membrane proteins. The detected membrane changes relate to intrinsic membrane properties such as fluidity, permeability, adhesiveness and fusibility. We think that these results may provide a physiological basis for new assays, able to discriminate between functional and non‐physiological sperm cells.     

Perinatal Maternal and Neonatal Behaviour in the Captive Reticulated Giraffe

A captive reticulated giraffe was observed constantly for three weeks prior to, and periodically for 90 days subsequent to, the birth of her calf. Extensive observations were made of the birth sequence, feeding, drinking, sleeping and one instance of an infant distress call, as well as observations of the initiation of maternal behaviour (including licking, nursing, placentophagia, and what appeared to be helping the calf to stand, guiding the calf's movements, and attempts to respond to the calf's distress call).     

Leptospirosis in a lamb

Abstract

Extract

Recently, we reported on outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in newly weaned lambs(1) Vermunt, JJ, West, DM, Cooke, MM, Alley, MR and Collins-Emerson, J. 1994. Observations on three outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in lambs. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 42: 133–6. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. It was suggested that wet environmental conditions played an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in that class of sheep. This communication presents observations on another case of ovine leptospirosis, one that occurred under different circumstances, i.e. different season, age and environmental conditions.     

A comparison of enzymatic and molecular approaches to characterize the cellulolytic microbial ecosystems of the rumen and the cecum

We used RNA probes and enzyme activities to compare the cellulolytic microbial ecosystems of the rumen and the cecum. Four rumen- and cecum-cannulated wethers were fed a diet of barley plus hay (60:40). Digesta samples were collected 1 h before feeding and 3, 6, and 9 h after feeding for measurements on microbial populations, and 1 h before feeding and 3 and 6 h after feeding for digestion measurements, pH, and VFA. Polysaccharidase and glycosidase specific activities of solid-adherent microorganisms were measured respectively by the amount of reducing sugars released from xylan or avicel or p-nitrophenol from the p-nitrophenol derivatives of xylose and glucose. The distribution and amounts of the three main cellulolytic bacterial species (Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens) were determined by dot-blot hybridization using specific 16SrRNA-targeting probes. Enzyme activities were higher in the rumen than in the cecum and before feeding than at 3 h after feeding. The sum of the three cellulolytic bacterial species represented, on average, 4.5% of the total bacterial RNA in the two compartments and did not vary with sampling time. The cellulolytic bacterial community structure was different in the two compartments, with F. succinogenes as the main species in the rumen and R. flavefaciens in the cecum. The lower cellulolytic activity in the cecum than in the rumen could not be ascribed to any difference in the structure of the cellulolytic bacterial community between these two compartments, and other hypotheses related to digestion are proposed.     

CO2-stunning of slaughter pigs: effects on EEG, catecholamines and clinical reflexes

Investigations were carried out on the response of slaughter pigs to CO2 stunning with two different gas concentrations (80 vol%, 90 vol%, 73 s) under practical conditions in a one gondola-dip-lift system. EEG measurements were performed and blood constituents such as catecholamines (adrenaline, nor-adrenaline) and lactate as well as clinical reactions (nasal septum and corneal reflex, heart beats) investigated. Special EEG-electrodes were adapted for the measurement on pigs and a mobile data logger was prepared for the use in the lairage of the slaughter house and in the stunning unit. The CO2 concentrations were measured continuously close to the head of the pigs when transported up and down in the stunning gondola. The results show that the technique is suited to monitor the effects of different CO2 gas concentrations on the EEG of the pigs under practical conditions. There is strong evidence that CO2 concentrations of 80 vol% applied over 70 s as required by law are not sufficient to stun pigs properly. A large part of the animals still showed typical reflexes when leaving the stunning pit. When an atmosphere of 90 vol% CO2 is applied, most animals are already dead before bleeding commences. This may create problems in respect to meat hygiene. The blood analysis revealed very high concentrations of catecholamines after stunning. The values for adrenaline and nor-adrenaline in the sticking blood rose by a factor of about 1000 as compared to the concentrations in blood samples taken in the lairage before stunning. It seems necessary to revise the current legislation on gas stunning and to look in greater detail in the effects of CO2 stunning on the welfare of slaughter pigs.