Communicating with special populations: children and older adults.

Veterinary professionals must meet the growing expectations of a diverse range of clients to sustain success in veterinary medicine. Few veterinarians, however, receive comprehensive skills training for communicating effectively with clients, particularly among special populations, such as children and older adults. An increasing number of veterinary professionals have recognized a need to master requisite skills for effectively interacting with pet-owning families. This article highlights the importance of the human-animal bond for children and older adults, addresses issues of pet loss, and provides suggestions for meeting the communication needs of both populations.     

Impact of Exogenous ACTH During Pro-Oestrus on Endocrine Profile and Oestrous Cycle Characteristics in Sows

Sows housed in freely moving groups have elevated cortisol levels until the rank order is established, which takes place within approximately 48 h. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of repeated administration of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; Synacthen Depot), during the follicular phase (pro-oestrus) on oestrus, ovulation and endocrine parameters. Four multiparous sows were used. Follicular growth and ovulation were recorded by ultrasonography. The first oestrous cycle after weaning was used as control cycle. Onset of oestrus in the sow occurs 3-4 days after the time when plasma progesterone reaches a concentration of 8 nmol/l. The progesterone profile in the control cycle of the individual sow was used for estimation when the ACTH injections should start. In the third pro-oestrus ACTH (2.5 microg/kg) was given via an indwelling catheter every 2 h for 48 h. The sows were euthanased 4-6 days after onset of the third oestrus and the ovaries were examined. Cortisol levels were elevated during the treatment period (p < 0.05). The second cycle, in which the sows were injected with ACTH, was prolonged with 2.5 days compared with the control cycle (p < 0.05). The oestradiol pattern during oestrus was similar in the control and the treatment cycle in ovulating sows. Three sows had ovulated (fresh corpora lutea), but the ovaries contained additionally one or several luteinized follicles/cysts. In conclusion, ACTH administration during pro-oestrus caused a prolongation of the oestrous cycle and a disturbed follicular development.     

Effects of Exogenous ACTH during Oestrus on Early Embryo Development and Oviductal Transport in the Sow

This study was conducted to assess the effects of ACTH injections on the early development of embryos and their transportation to the uterus. Fifteen sows were monitored for ovulation using transrectal ultrasonography during the first two oestrous periods after weaning. The sows were randomly divided into a control group (C group, n = 8) and an ACTH-treated group (ACTH group, n = 7), and were all surgically fitted with intra-jugular catheters. From the onset of the second standing oestrus after weaning, the sows were injected (NaCl/synthetic ACTH) every 4 h. Blood samples were collected immediately before and 45 min after each injection. All sows were inseminated once 10-33 h before ovulation in their second oestrus after weaning. At 48 (n = 4) or 60 (n = 11) h after ovulation during their second oestrus, the sows were killed and the embryos retrieved from the oviduct and uterus. The embryos were counted and compared with the number of corpora lutea, cleavage rate was noted and, finally, the embryos were prepared for confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. There was no difference between the groups regarding cleavage rate, the cytoskeleton, or the number of active nucleoli. However, the ACTH group had significantly (p < 0.05) fewer ova/embryos retrieved (51%) than the C group (81%), and there was a tendency towards faster transportation to the uterus in the ACTH group, possibly because of high progesterone concentrations during treatment. To conclude, administration of ACTH every 4 h from onset of oestrus to 48 h caused significant loss of oocytes or embryos, and possibly faster transportation through the oviduct.     

Immunisation against East Coast fever by the infection and treatment method: evaluation of the use of ice baths for field delivery and appraisal of an acid formulation of long-acting tetracycline

Immunisation by the infection and treatment method using the Katete strain is currently the most efficient prophylactic technique to control East Coast fever (ECF) in the endemic areas of the Eastern Province of Zambia. The maintenance of the cold chain in liquid nitrogen up to the time of inoculation and the cost of the reference long-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycin LA, Pfizer) are the main drawbacks of the method. The work presented in this paper aims at reducing the cost of immunisation against ECF by using an ice bath for the field delivery and a cheaper long-acting oxytetracycline formulation as chemotherapeutic agent. In experimental conditions, the results from 40 calves immunised after various periods of storage on ice ranging from 4 to 32 h indicate that deferred immunisation performed with a stabilate kept on ice for up to 6h after thawing has an efficiency of 90%. Moreover, sporozoites kept on ice were still surviving 32 h after thawing. In a field trial, 91 calves were inoculated with a stabilate kept for 3.5-5.5 h after thawing and dilution whereas 86 calves were immunised using the standard method. Clinical and parasitological reactions to immunisation were monitored as well as the seroconversion. In the field trial, the deferred immunisation was more efficient than the standard method. The acid formulation of oxytetracycline that was tested was found as suitable as the reference alkaline formulation for the chemotherapeutic control of the Katete strain in ECF immunisation. One indoor trial was carried out on 10 animals and a field trial involved 93 calves.     

Assessing the usefulness of B‐mode and colour Doppler sonography,and measurements of circulating progesterone concentrations for determining ovarian responses in superovulated ewes

The main goal of this study was to assess the usefulness of two imaging modalities, namely the B‐mode and colour Doppler sonography, and serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations for determining the ovarian response in superovulated ewes. Twenty‐four sexually mature Santa Inês ewes underwent the superovulatory treatment consisting of eight injections of porcine FSH (total dose of 200 or 133 or 100 mg; n  =  8 ewes/total dose) given at 12‐hr intervals and initiated 48 hr before CIDR ^® (Pfizer Inc., Auckland, New Zealand) removal. Six days after natural mating, the ovaries of all donor ewes were visualized and examined with transrectal ultrasonography and then with videolaparoscopy to identify and enumerate corpora lutea (CL ) and luteinized unovulated follicles (LUF s). Jugular blood samples were collected just prior to ovarian examinations. The total number of CL (r  =  .78 and 0.83, p  <  .0001) and LUF s (r  =  .74 and 0.90, p  <  .0001) enumerated using the B‐mode and colour Doppler ultrasonographic technique, respectively, were correlated with that ascertained by videolaparoscopy. Circulating concentrations of P₄ were related directly to the number of healthy CL (r  =  .73, p  =  .0002) and inversely to the number of prematurely regressing CL (r  = ?.46, p  =  .03), but the accuracy of predicting the number of short‐lived CL with serum P₄ concentrations was very poor. The present results indicate that ultrasonographic imaging and serum P₄ measurements on the day of embryo recovery are useful indicators of total/normal CL numbers and both ultrasonographic techniques can be used to quantify LUF s in superovulated ewes.     

Molecular diagnosis of equid summer sores

Equine cutaneous habronemosis, also known as "summer sores", is a parasitic infection caused by larvae of Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Nematoda, Spirurida) released by dung-inhabiting fly vectors on abraded skin, skin wounds or muco-cutaneous transition sites. Larvae induce a local inflammatory reaction characterised by itching, granulomatous, ulcerated and, often non-healing, lesions. The diagnosis of summer sores may be unreliable mainly because of the limits of clinical and microscopic examination. The applicability of a semi-nested PCR assay developed for the diagnosis of gastric habronemosis has been herein demonstrated for the detection of the cutaneous infection. The potential applicability of this diagnostic tool may have for clinical and epidemiological studies of cutaneous habronemosis in equids is discussed.     

Changes of the metal composition in German white wines through the winemaking process. A study of 63 elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Elemental patterns are often used for the classification or identification of the origin of wines. A prerequisite is that the concentration of the elements is not strongly influenced by the addition of different substances such as yeast and fining products during the winemaking process. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used in this study to determine in total 63 elements (including some nonmetals and the rare earth elements) in five German white wines from five regions of origin. The whole winemaking process was studied, from the must to the ready wine. Microwave acid digestion was used for sample preparation, and indium was added as internal standard for a semiquantitative analysis. Two winemaking processes were compared: with the addition of clarifying agents (bentonites) before and after the fermentation. The concentration of only a few elements such as Li, B, Mg, Ca, Rb, Cs, and Pb seems to be constant throughout the whole winemaking process (changes of <+/-50%) and are independent of the time of addition of the bentonites. When bentonites are added before fermentation, the concentration of other elements, such as V, Co, and Fe, remains constant. If bentonites are added after fermentation, the concentration of some other elements such as Sr, Zn, and Mn is nearly unaffected. These elements are therefore robust elements for origin studies in German white wines.     

Interaction between perceived self-motion and object-motion impairs vehicle guidance

When one is riding in a vehicle, perceptual thresholds for motion of objects are significantly elevated above those determined under corresponding but simulated conditions in the laboratory without concurrent self-motion perception. Authorities on road traffic accidents should thus consider an additional perceptual time of at least 300 milliseconds for detecting critical changes in headway beyond the usual reaction time. Detection times thus corrected consequently lead to an alteration of our conception of safe intervehicle distances in a convoy. This elevation of thresholds for object-motion during self-motion, with its consequences for visual control of vehicle guidance, can be seen as a disadvantageous side effect of an otherwise beneficial space-constancy mechanism, which provides us with a stable world during locomotion.     

Moving visual scenes influence the apparent direction of gravity

When an observer views a wide-angled display rotating around his line of sight, he both feels his body tilted and sees a vertical straight edge tilted opposite to the moving stimulus. Displacement of the perceived vertical increases with stimulus speed to reach a maximum (averaging 15 degrees) at 30 degrees per second.