Observations of the periodontal ligament and cementum in cats with dental resorptive lesions

The etiology of feline dental resorptive lesions is unknown, but some evidence suggests that interactions between components of the periodontium may be initiating factors in the development of these lesions. In the present study, 22 clinically normal teeth were harvested from 7 cats. The teeth and periodontium were radiographed and examined histologically. In addition, 14 of the 22 teeth were examined histometrically. Two teeth were histologically normal with an open apical foramen and two were normal with a closed apical foramen. Histological evidence of periodontal ligament degeneration without cementum resorption was observed in 8 teeth, and varying degrees of cementum resorption were observed in 10 teeth. Mandibular molar and premolar teeth had distal drift, and mandibular canine teeth had mesial drift. Alterations in the periodontal ligament may represent a preclinical stage of dental resorption.     

In vitro sensitivity of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis to antifungal therapeutics

Chytridiomycosis, a skin disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has caused amphibian declines worldwide. Amphibians can be treated by percutaneous application of antimicrobials, but knowledge of in vitro susceptibility is lacking. Using a modified broth microdilution method, we describe the in vitro sensitivity of two Australian isolates of B. dendrobatidis to six antimicrobial agents. Growth inhibition was observed, by measurement of optical density, with all agents. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (µg/ml; isolate 1/2) were – voriconazole 0.016/0.008; itraconazole 0.032/0.016; terbinafine 0.063/0.063; fluconazole 0.31/0.31; chloramphenicol 12.5/12.5; amphotericin B 12.5/6.25. Killing effects on zoospores were assessed by observing motility. Amphotericin B and terbinafine killed zoospores within 5 and 30 min depending on concentration, but other antimicrobials were not effective at the highest concentrations tested (100 µg/ml). This knowledge will help in drug selection and treatment optimization. As terbinafine was potent and has rapid effects, study of its pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy is recommended.     

Genetic parameters for calving ease and survival at birth in Angus field data.

Calving performance records from the American Angus Herd Improvement Registry files were used to estimate variance components for calving ease and survival to 24 h. Genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects were estimated by using a sire-maternal grandsire model. Data included two independent samples of 19 and 34 herds with complete calving information. Maternal variance for calving ease was much larger than the variance for the direct effect of the sire. Maternal heritability for calving ease was .27 and .20 in the two samples of herds, respectively. Heritabilities for direct effects were .21 and .07. The genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects were -.93 and -.80. There was little genetic variation in survival at birth. Parameter estimates were within the allowable parameter space in the sample of 19 herds. Heritability for the direct effect of the sire on survival was .04. Maternal heritability was .09, and the direct-maternal correlation was -.85.     

On estimating non‐additive genetic parameters in chickens 1

1. Several economically important traits in two Leghorn populations (over 9000 birds) were examined for additive and non‐additive components of genetic variance and sex‐linked effects. Data were analysed by two different statistical models based on least‐squares procedures.

2. Six different covariances were first calculated between relatives; i.e., full‐sibs, 3/4‐sisters, half‐sisters, dam‐daughters, grandam‐granddaughters and aunt‐nieces.

3. From the covariances, weighted least‐squares equations were used to obtain estimates of variance components for additive genetic, dominance, maternal and sex‐linkage effects.

4. The estimates of non‐additive components were highly variable but generally small compared with the additive genetic estimates.

5. In general this study suggests that for most traits, with the possible exception of rate of egg production, there is relatively little non‐additive genetic variation.

6. The consequences of possible negative correlations between additive effects and maternal effects are considered as they might apply to egg production in poultry.     

Scrotal circumference,bodyweight and semen characteristics in growing dairy-breed natural-service bulls in Tasmania,Australia

Aims: To provide herd managers with a set of decision rules allowing them to predict the likelihood that a juvenile bull is ready for Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE), or breeding, if bodyweight and scrotal circumference are known.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study following two groups of young pasture-fed Holstein and Jersey bulls from northwest Tasmania, Australia. Individual scrotal circumference, bodyweight and semen characteristics were recorded at 6–8 weekly intervals, from 6–18 months of age. Classification and regression tree analyses were used to predict the probability that a bull had ≥70% normal sperm morphology based on scrotal circumference and bodyweight measurements.

Results: Overall 1,661 scrotal circumference and bodyweight measurements were obtained, and 518 semen samples from 356 bulls were assessed for sperm morphology, from 16 examination sessions that took place between 29 May 2015 and 17 August 2016. Classification and regression tree analyses generated a decision tree for Holstein bulls with four node endpoints, and for Jersey bulls with three node endpoints. Diagnostic test performance showed that for Holstein bulls, using the node endpoints of scrotal circumference ≥27?cm and bodyweight ≥349?kg, 98% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 10.4; 95% CI?=?2.7–41), and using the node endpoints of scrotal circumference ≥27?cm and bodyweight between 282–349?kg, 89% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 1.6; 95% CI?=?0.9–2.6). For Jersey bulls, using the node endpoints of bodyweight ≥259?kg and scrotal circumference ≥29?cm, 88% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 3.4; 95% CI?=?1.6–7.0).

Conclusions: This study provides a set of relatively simple decision rules based on bodyweight and scrotal circumference measurements that allows herd managers to assess the likelihood that juvenile bulls are ready for BBSE or breeding.

Abbreviations: BBSE: Bull breeding soundness evaluation; BRT: Boosted regression tree     

Pathogenesis of reproductive failure induced by Trypanosoma vivax in experimentally infected pregnant ewes

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of experimental infection by Trypanosoma vivax in different stages of pregnancy, determining the pathogenesis of reproductive failure, and confirming transplacental transmission. We used 12 pregnant ewes distributed into four experimental groups: G1, was formed by three ewes infected with T. vivax in the first third of pregnancy (30 days); G2 comprised three infected ewes in the final third of pregnancy (100 days); G3 and G4 were composed of three non-infected ewes with the same gestational period, respectively. Each ewe of G1 and G2 was inoculated with 1.25 × 10⁵ tripomastigotes. Clinical examination, determination of parasitemia, serum biochemistry (albumin, total protein, glucose, cholesterol, and urea), packed cell volume (PCV), serum progesterone, and pathological examination were performed. Placenta, amniotic fluid, blood and tissues from the fetuses and stillbirths were submitted to PCR. Two ewes of G1 (Ewe 1 and 3) presented severe infection and died in the 34^th and 35^th days post-infection (dpi), respectively; but both fetuses were recovered during necropsy. In G2, Ewe 5 aborted two fetuses on the 130^th day (30 dpi) of pregnancy; and Ewe 6 aborted one fetus in the 140^th day (40 dpi) of gestation. Ewes 2 and 4 delivered two weak lambs that died five days after birth. Factors possibly involved with the reproductive failure included high parasitemia, fever, low PCV, body score, serum glucose, total protein, cholesterol, and progesterone. Hepatitis, pericarditis, and encephalitis were observed in the aborted fetuses. The presence of T. vivax DNA in the placenta, amniotic fluid, blood, and tissues from the fetuses confirms the transplacental transmission of the parasite. Histological lesion in the fetuses and placenta also suggest the involvement of the parasite in the etiopathogenesis of reproductive failure in ewes.     

Mastitis severity induced by two Streptococcus uberis strains is reflected by the mammary immune response in vitro

Streptococcus uberis is the most common environmental mastitis pathogen causing udder inflammations of different severities in dairy cows. The aim of the study was to investigate if the different clinical outcome of mastitis induced by different strains of S. uberis can be reflected in the mammary immune response. Mammary epithelial cells and somatic milk cells were treated with heat inactivated and living S. uberis of strain A and strain B in vitro. Strain A was repeatedly isolated from a chronically infected quarter during 8 months, and persisted in the quarter despite antibiotic treatment. Strain B caused an acute clinical mastitis and was not further isolated after a single antibiotic treatment. Treatment with Strain B induced a more pronounced increase of mRNA-expression of various immune factors (interleukin-8, interleukin-1beta, RANTES, and lactoferrin) in mammary epithelial cells than strain A. In contrast to mammary epithelial cells the response of removed somatic milk cells showed no differences between the stimulation with two S. uberis strains. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression was not differently induced by the two strains. In conclusion, the characteristics of different severities of mastitis that are induced by different S. uberis strains in vivo can also be reflected at the level of the immune response of the mammary gland in vitro.     

Zu Prekler’s „rationellem Baldwirth“

Ohne Zusammenfassung f. f?chf. Dberforftmeifter. f. bahr. Regierungs- und Forftrath von Mürzburg. f. preuk. Dberforftmeifter aus Breslau. f. f?chf. Dberforftmeifter. f. bahr. Regierungs- und Forftrath von Augsburg. f. bahr. Regierungs- und Forftrath aus Regensburg. Dberj?germeifter von Braunfchweig. f. bahr. Regierungs- und Forftrath aus München. f. f?chf. Dberf?rfter. f. f?chf. Dberforftmeifter. f. f?chf. Dberforftrath. herz. braunfchweig. Forftmeifter von Blanfenburg. Direftor der fürftlich Cfterhazh’fchen Herrfchaft Spoly Parsto. fürftl. fondershauf. Dberfortmeifter. f. bahr. Redierf?rfter don Schmarzenbach. f. preuk. Dberf?rfter. f. f. Forftrath aus Brekburg. f. preuk. Dberf?rfter von Altruppin. f. hann?v. Forftmeifter von Rienburg. Forftmeifter in preuk. Schleften. f. preuk. Dberforftmeifter von Berlin. herz. aftenburg. Dberfortmeifter. f. preuk. Dberf?rfter. f. f?chf. Dberf?rfter. f. ruff. Forftfomiff?r aus Marfchau. f. preuk. Forftinfpeftor. f. f?chf. Forftinfpeftor. grokh. meimar. Forftinfpeftor von Martfuhl. f. mürttb. Dberf?rfter und Brofeffor aus Hohenheim. f. hannov. Forftmeifter aus Hammeln. Dberforftmeifter aus Sotha. herz. altenburg. Dberf?rfter aus Hummelshain. herz. altenburg. Revierf?rfter aus Milchwig. herz. altenburg. geheimer Finanzrath und Dberforftmeifter. herz. altenb. Dberforftmeifter aus Hummelshain. grokh. f?chf. geheimer Dberforftrath aus Qifenach. herz. naffau. Dberforftrath aus Miesbaden. grokh. heff. Dberforftfefret?r aus Darmftadt. f. f?chf. Dberforftmeifter.     

Evaluation of corn fiber, cottonseed hulls, oat hulls and soybean hulls as roughage sources for ruminants

An in situ trial (randomized complete block design) using cows, and a site and extent of digestion trial (Latin square design) using sheep were conducted to study the potential of corn fiber (CF), cottonseed hulls (CSH), oat hulls (OH) and soybean hulls (SH) as roughage sources for ruminants. Two feedlot trials with steers and one with lambs (completely randomized design with factorial arrangements of treatments) were conducted to study the potential of CF and SH as energy supplements relative to corn. In situ rate of ruminal dry matter (DM) disappearance (3 to 36 h) and extent of DM disappearance (36 h) indicated that CF and SH were more fermentable in the rumen compared with OH or CSH, with SH being the most fermentable. Total tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were above 70% for sheep fed CF and SH diets, and were 50% or less for sheep fed OH and CSH diets. A ranking of by-products in terms of nutritive value followed the trend: CF greater than SH greater than OH greater than CSH. Lamb feedlot trial data showed that CF was of similar nutritive value to corn and of higher nutritive value than SH at the 50% level of supplementation. Corn-fed lambs responded better than CF- or SH-fed lambs at the 70% level of supplementation. Data from steer feedlot trials showed that CF was of similar quality to corn and of higher quality than SH. Dramatic differences exist in by-product feed utilization by ruminants. All by-products tested appeared to have some usefulness as dietary components.