The survival of platypus in captivity: a reappraisal with recommendations for veterinary management and future research

SUMMARY: Data are presented on the duration of survival of platypus held in the collections of the 5 Australian zoos displaying the species over the period 1987–1991. Of 10 living platypus, five had survived for 7 or more years. Similarly, of 10 captive animals that died during the period, six had survived for 6 or more years. Five purpose-caught animals were integrated into captive collections over the period; all of these were alive at the end of 1991. The high survival of captive platypus documented in this study contrasts with the conclusion of Whittington (1991) that the duration of survival of platypus in captivity is generally short. This primarily reflects differences in the nature of the two sets of data: Whittington's analysis was based on incomplete records dating back to 1934, and also categorised as managed in captivity those wild platypus that died at zoos while under veterinary care. A series of recommendations on current captive management issues includes the need for improved veterinary knowledge of platypus.     

Evaluation of a regimen using a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (CIDR) and PMSG as a treatment for post partum anoestrus in dairy cattle

Anoestrous dairy cows in seasonally calving herds in the Macalister Irrigation District of Gippsland, Victoria were treated at the start of the mating period with a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (CIDR). The CIDR was inserted for 7 days and 400 IU of PMSG was injected intramuscularly at removal. There was no clinically useful difference among cows receiving the CIDR, a placebo and untreated cows in the interval from treatment to either first oestrus or conception, the conception rate to first service or percent pregnant by the end of mating. Analyses of data from 2-year-old cows, older cattle, cows calved at least 45 days or cows calved at least 55 days and cows treated 3 weeks after the start of mating did not show improved reproductive performance following treatment with the CIDR.     

Diarrhoea in Merino ewes during winter: association with trichostrongylid larvae

SUMMARY A study on 3 farms, each having a preventive strategy for the control of nematode infections, determined the risk factors associated with diarrhoea among Merino ewes in winter. Comparisons were made among groups of mated and unmated ewes with and without treatment with controlled-release capsules containing albendazole. Diarrhoea was assessed from the accumulations of faeces around the breech (dag score) and related to worm egg counts, total worm counts and histopathological findings. The overall prevalence of severe dag in ewes not treated with a capsule was 26% (221/844). In comparison, only 2.7% of treated ewes had severe dag. The adjusted odds ratio on each farm indicated that untreated ewes were between 12 and 16 times more likely to be affected with severe dag than ewes treated with a capsule. The effect of lactation was significant on only one farm whereas initial body weight had no significant effect. There was no significant association between worm egg counts and the occurrence of severe dag. There were significantly more eosinophils in the small intestine of ewes affected with severe dag compared with unaffected ewes. There were no significant differences in mast cell and globule leucocyte numbers between affected and unaffected ewes. This study provides strong evidence that the main cause of diarrhoea among Merino ewes grazing winter and early spring pastures is the ingestion of trichostrongylid larvae even by sheep that have a well-developed protective immune response to these parasites. New strategies for the control of nematode infections are needed to prevent diarrhoea and dag formation in adult sheep.     

Inbreeding and the inheritance of fertility in the thoroughbred mareLa consanguinité et l'hérédite de la fertilité chez la jument de pur sangInzucht und vererblichkeit der fruchtbarkeit bei voliblutstuten

The reproductive efficiency of the thoroughbred mare in Britain and Ireland is low Weatherby's General Stud Book shows an average annual foaling rate of 67%. The primary aim of this study was to measure the extent to which the poor foaling rate was attributable to inbreeding. Coefficients of inbreeding were calculated and lifetime reproductive histories were assembled for 6550 mares at stud in Britain and Ireland in the early 1960s. The average degree of inbreeding for the five most recent generations was found to be only 0.01, there was little variation among animals in amount of inbreeding, and the mating of sibs or parents and offspring was rare. Coefficients of total inbreeding were calculated for a group of 60 mares. For the 21.5 recorded generations from the foundation of the breed in the seventeenth century to 1964 the average degree of inbreeding was 0.125. There was considerable variation among estimates for different animals, but this was mainly attributable to sampling within pedigrees.Each mare's lifetime reproductive performance was summarised as the proportion of her successful years at stud, adjusted for the decline in fertility with age, scaled to have an average of 1.0, and transformed to stabilise variance. An analysis of variance of the resulting fertility measures was carried out. Recent inbreeding was not an important source of variation in fertility since the mating of close relatives was rare.Although lower fertility was associated with inbreeding, the effect was not statistically significant. The largest source of variation in fertility was the number of years at stud and there were significant differences among year of birth groups. In addition, there were significant differences among groups of paternal half sibs, and the heritability of fertility was estimated as 0.077 ± 0.030. Over the recorded history of the breed it is probable that selection, both natural and artificial, has counteracted any effect of inbreeding on fertility.     

In vitro effects and in vivo efficacy of a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in cats with lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia

OBJECTIVE: To determine cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo efficacy of firocoxib (ML-1,785,713) in cats. ANIMALS: 5 healthy male and 14 healthy female domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURE: Selectivity of firocoxib for inhibiting COX-2 was determined by comparing the potency for inhibiting COX-1 with that of COX-2 in feline blood. Pharmacokinetic properties were determined after i.v. (2 mg/kg) and oral (3 mg/kg) administration in male cats. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in female cats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyrexia with administration of firocoxib 1 or 14 hours before LPS challenge. RESULTS: Blood concentrations resulting in 50% inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity in vitro were 75 +/- 2 microM and 0.13 +/- 0.03 microM, respectively, and selectivity for inhibiting COX-2 relative to COX-1 was 58. Firocoxib had moderate to high oral bioavailability (54% to 70%), low plasma clearance (4.7 to 5.8 mL/min/kg), and an elimination half-life of 8.7 to 12.2 hours. Firocoxib at doses from 0.75 to 3 mg/kg was efficacious in attenuating fever when administered to cats 1 or 14 hours before LPS challenge. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Firocoxib is a potent COX-2 inhibitor and is the only selective COX-2 inhibitor described for use in cats to date. It is effective in attenuating febrile responses in cats when administered 14 hours before LPS challenge, suggesting it would be suitable for once-a-day dosing. Because selective COX-2 inhibitors have an improved therapeutic index relative to nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in humans, firocoxib has the potential to be a safe, effective anti-inflammatory agent for cats.