Suspected panosteitis in a camel

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-month-old male Bactrian camel was examined because of a 3-week history of lameness of the left hind limb. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Lameness was initially detected in the left hind limb but resolved and was detected in the right hind limb during treatment. Lameness increased during periods of rapid growth. Radiography revealed multiple small opacities of the medullary cavity of several long bones throughout treatment. Core bone biopsies of lesions in the tibiae revealed lamellar bone with areas of loose connective tissue, osteoblasts in the medullary cavity, and periosteal new bone formation, all which were consistent with panosteitis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Palliative treatment was attempted with epidural and transdermal administration of analgesics. Flunixin meglumine was administered PO, which coincided with an abrupt increase in serum creatinine concentration. Performance of multiple diagnostic bone biopsies led to remission of clinical signs of pain. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Panosteitis should be a differential diagnosis for shifting limb lameness in young camels. Bone biopsies can be useful for diagnosis of panosteitis and possible relief of pain associated with the disease. Bactrian camels may be susceptible to the renal toxicity of flunixin meglumine, especially when dehydrated.     

Percentage of Ubiquitinated Spermatozoa does not Correlate with Fertilizing Capacity of Thawed Bovine Semen

In the spermatozoa of some species, the ubiquitin–proteasome system detects altered proteins and tags them for elimination by the proteasome. In some species' ejaculates, a high proportion of ubiquitinated spermatozoa (i.e. those having ubiquitin bound to the altered or damaged membrane proteins) has been related to infertility. The aim of this study was to assess whether the percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa relates to fertility of dairy bulls and whether ubiquitination increases during protein remodelling that occurs during in vitro spermatic capacitation. Thirty‐two frozen semen straws from four high‐fertility (ReproMax^®) and four normal‐fertility (Normal) Holstein‐Friesian sires were evaluated. Ubiquitinated and capacitated spermatozoa were quantified by sperm ubiquitin tag immunoassay and chlortetracycline stain, respectively. Fertilizing capacity of sires was assessed by in vitro fertilization. No differences were found between Normal and ReproMax^® sires with regard to the observed percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa (42.97 ± 3.69% and 49.68 ± 9.27%, respectively; p > 0.05). Additionally, no differences were found in the percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa as a consequence of spermatic capacitation in either Normal (42.97 ± 3.69% before capacitation vs 44.67 ± 7.5% after; p > 0.05) or ReproMax^® sires (49.68 ± 9.27% before vs 45.05 ± 7.51% after; p > 0.05). The percentage of ubiquitinated spermatozoa in a thawed sperm samples did not correlate with its in vitro fertilizing capacity; thus, this assay does not prove useful to detect in vivo fertility differences between sires. Additionally, protein degradation occurring during remodelling of the spermatozoon plasma membrane during the capacitation process does not seem to involve the ubiquitin–proteasome system.     

Effects of dietary electrolyte balance on the chemistry of blood and urine in lactating sows and sow litter performance

One hundred fifty-three sows (average parity of 2.2) were used to determine the effects of dietary electrolyte balance (calculated as mEq/kg of diet for Na + K - Cl) on sows and their litters during lactation. The sows were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets (1.0% lysine, 1.0% valine, 0.95% Ca, and 0.80% P; as-fed basis) starting on d 109 of gestation and throughout the 21-d lactation experiment. Dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) was 0, 100, 200, 350, and 500 mEq/kg (as-fed basis), well above and below the dEB of 185 mEq/kg found in a simple corn-soybean meal-based lactation diet. To achieve the desired dEB, diets had the following: 1) 1.8% HCl (6 N) and 1.06% CaCl2, 2) 1.0% CaCl2, 3) 0.04% NaHCO3, 4) 1.29% NaHCO3, and 5) 2.54% NaHCO3 (as-fed basis). Increasing dEB increased blood pH (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (linear effect, P < 0.001), HCO3- concentration (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001), and blood base excess (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001). However, increased dEB resulted in lower blood concentrations of K (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.04), Cl (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001), and ionized Ca (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001). Changing dEB did not affect ADFI; water usage, litter weight gain; sow weight change; sow backfat change; percentages of CP, lactose, and fat in the milk; percentage of sows returning to estrus; days to estrus; and number of pigs born alive in the subsequent litter (P = 0.06). However, piglet survivability to d 10 and overall was greatest with the lower dEB treatments (linear effect, P < 0.05). The pH (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.001) and colony forming units of total bacteria (linear effect, P < 0.03) in the urine increased as dEB of the diet was increased. In conclusion, dEB had pronounced effects on the physiological status of sows and decreasing dEB below that in a simple corn-soybean meal-based diet decreased bacterial counts in the urine and increased piglet survivability. However, milk composition, sow and litter weights at weaning, and subsequent rebreeding performance of the sows were not affected by dEB.     

Quantifying patch distribution at multiple spatial scales: Applications to wildlife-habitat models

Multiscale analyses are widely employed for wildlife-habitat studies. In most cases, however, each scale is considered discrete and little emphasis is placed on incorporating or measuring the responses of wildlife to resources across multiple scales. We modeled the responses of three Arctic wildlife species to vegetative resources distributed at two spatial scales: patches and collections of patches aggregated across a regional area. We defined a patch as a single or homogeneous collection of pixels representing 1 of 10 unique vegetation types. We employed a spatial pattern technique, three-term local quadrat variance, to quantify the distribution of patches at a larger regional scale. We used the distance at which the variance for each of 10 vegetation types peaked to define a moving window for calculating the density of patches. When measures of vegetation patch and density were applied to resource selection functions, the most parsimonious models for wolves and grizzly bears included covariates recorded at both scales. Seasonal resource selection by caribou was best described using a model consisting of only regional scale covariates. Our results suggest that for some species and environments simple patch-scale models may not capture the full range of spatial variation in resources to which wildlife may respond. For mobile animals that range across heterogeneous areas we recommend selection models that integrate resources occurring at a number of spatial scales. Patch density is a simple technique for representing such higher-order spatial patterns.     

Factors that affect equine wound repair.

The rate and outcome of wound healing are determined by many factors,some of which are already in effect when the horse is first presented to the veterinarian. A thorough understanding of wound healing principles,coupled with clear client communication, should enable the practitioner to minimize the number of additional factors that may exacerbate the initial situation.     

Quantifying patch distribution at multiple spatial scales: Applications to wildlife-habitat models

Multiscale analyses are widely employed for wildlife-habitat studies. In most cases, however, each scale is considered discrete and little emphasis is placed on incorporating or measuring the responses of wildlife to resources across multiple scales. We modeled the responses of three Arctic wildlife species to vegetative resources distributed at two spatial scales: patches and collections of patches aggregated across a regional area. We defined a patch as a single or homogeneous collection of pixels representing 1 of 10 unique vegetation types. We employed a spatial pattern technique, three-term local quadrat variance, to quantify the distribution of patches at a larger regional scale. We used the distance at which the variance for each of 10 vegetation types peaked to define a moving window for calculating the density of patches. When measures of vegetation patch and density were applied to resource selection functions, the most parsimonious models for wolves and grizzly bears included covariates recorded at both scales. Seasonal resource selection by caribou was best described using a model consisting of only regional scale covariates. Our results suggest that for some species and environments simple patch-scale models may not capture the full range of spatial variation in resources to which wildlife may respond. For mobile animals that range across heterogeneous areas we recommend selection models that integrate resources occurring at a number of spatial scales. Patch density is a simple technique for representing such higher-order spatial patterns.     

水产养殖无人导航明轮船运动仿真与试验

无人导航明轮船依据目前经验公式计算的明轮推力和实际推力偏差较大,不利于控制系统的设计,为此给出明轮驱动力计算方法,建立明轮船水动力仿真模型,并据此进行了正航和回转仿真。为验证模型,在试验艇上安装高精度GPS设备及通信装置,在设定明轮船航速0.4 m/s、左明轮转速60 r/min、右明轮转速40 r/min条件下进行了试验,测量并记录了航行轨迹数据,经GPS设备测量得到的回转直径为3.2 m。仿真和试验结果表明,通过控制明轮可以使明轮船实现正航和回转运动,具有较好的低速机动性和操纵性。     

Effects of age and prosthesis material on in vitro cartilage retention of laryngoplasty prostheses in horses

Cartilage retention strengths of laryngoplasty prostheses were compared in larynges of 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old horses, using doubled polyester and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses. Bilateral laryngoplasties were performed on each of 15 (seven 2-year-old, two 3-year-old, and six 4-year-old) larynges, which were collected at an abbatoir. Prostheses were secured to a mechanical testing machine, and tension causing arytenoid cartilage abduction was applied, until total failure of the cartilage or prosthesis resulted. Tension caused cricoid cartilage failure in 1 specimen, and muscular process cartilage failure in the remainder. There was no significant effect of age, prosthetic material, or side of prosthesis placement on cartilage retention of the prostheses. Additionally, frequency of multiple load-displacement peaks, indicating partial muscular process failure, was not affected by age or prosthetic material variables.     

Seeking Mathematical Strategies in Sperm Function Analysis: Between Scylla and Charybdis?

During the last decades, essential progresses in reproductive biotechnology were achieved, implying development of special spermatological techniques. The major problem was to set up simple, rapid, precise and adequate evaluation methods. The key aspect to be considered in all assays of sperm fertilizing function is capacitation. As not all spermatozoa respond to fertilizing conditions in a similar manner, it seems to be logical to assess samples via their response to these specific conditions. For the spermatological practice, the sensitivity of methodology for assessment and analysis of data with respect to differences in individual response, in heterogeneity of the population, and proper temporal characterization of the response is crucial for the improvement of evaluation procedures. Currently, most used statistical analytical tools in spermatology do not always fulfil these essential sensitivity requirements. We structured our paper concerning different fields of mathematical science (distribution analysis, fractal geometry, functional approximation and differentiation) related to the modern insights in sperm function analysis. The spectrum of methods we are going to review in this paper is restricted to basic ideas to illustrate how the accuracy and sensitivity of sperm evaluation assays may be improved by applying adequate elementary tools of the mathematical analysis.     

Management of equine orthopedic pain.

Pain management is an extremely vital part of equine orthopedic surgery. Providing optimum analgesia for the patient will decrease recovery time, decrease physiologic stress on the animal, and provide maximum comfort during the post-operative period. The major analgesic drug categories and routes covered are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, intra-articular drugs, and epidurals.