Imaging residue transfer into egg yolks

Prediction models for residue transfer into eggs are being developed. Recent results indicate that the developing egg yolk serves as an important storage depot for chemical residues. The current study was conducted to visualize incorporation and potential compartmentalization of drug residues in developing egg yolks. To this end, the drug magnevist was injected into hens to evaluate drug transfer into either early- or late-developing yolks. High-resolution magnetic resonance images (MRI) of drug residues in eggs were acquired using a 1.5 T Siemens Magnetom clinical scanner. A 10-cm circular surface coil was used for receiving the magnetic resonance signal. The eggs were positioned inside the coil cavity for an improved signal to noise ratio (SNR). Gradient-echo images were used to locate the centers of the eggs and to prescribe the position of the high-resolution image slab. The images were recorded using an inversion time (T1) weighted magnetization-prepared, rapid acquisition, gradient-recalled-echo (MPRAGE) pulse sequence. The sequence parameters used were as follows: repetition time (TR) equals 12 ms, echo time (TE) equals 5 ms, field of view (FOV) equals 200, TI = 10 ms, 1.25-mm slice thickness, and a matrix of 200 x 256. Following dosing, images of drug residues in eggs indicate that drugs can be incorporated and compartmentalized into ring structures within individual developing egg yolks. These results have significant human food safety implications because even after only a single dose, sequestered drug residues may be stored and later released to contaminate eggs for days to weeks after dosing.     

A quantitative summary of nutrition support services in a veterinary teaching hospital

A full-time nutrition support service provided 1,133 consultations in a small animal teaching hospital from July 1986 to June 1988, consisting of 840 dogs, 260 cats, 23 exotic species, and 10 consultations with incomplete information. The dog and cat consultations represented 2.1 and 3.7% of canine and feline admissions, respectively. Consultations involved the determination of nutritional goals which led to recommendations of specific dietary regimens. Most frequent requests were for diet evaluation and diet formulation to meet estimated calorie and protein needs during illness and stress (23%), for specific calorie or nutrient modification given a working diagnosis (23%), and for avoidance of tissue utilization or weight loss (23%). Frequently involved single organ systems were gastrointestinal (16%), liver (12%), kidney (9%), and pancreas (4%), but multiple system involvement was more common (19%). Most frequent diagnostic categories were metabolic disorders (17%), chronic organ failure (17%), and neoplasia (12%). Enteral nutrition was preferred for 98% of consultations. Voluntary consumption was deemed adequate in 81% of consultations, and highly palatable balanced homemade diets and specialty products were recommended in 74% of these. Human hospital liquid enteral products were used in 95% of consultations recommending involuntary feeding, either fed alone, blended with petfoods, or supplemented with modules of protein or fat. The service demonstrated that full-time nutrition support can be utilized effectively in a small animal teaching hospital. Further development of such services will depend on research focused especially on determination of case-specific nutritional goals, patient responses, and cost effectiveness.     

Seasonality of sarcoptic mange in pigs in South Australia

Retrospective analysis of records, from July 1987 to June 1991, of 1140 inspections of slaughtered pigs from 154 swine herds in the Pig Health Monitoring Scheme of South Australia was conducted to evaluate patterns of variation in the prevalence and severity of skin lesions typical of sarcoptic mange. An increase in the severity of sarcoptic mange in winter and spring was observed. There was a substantial reduction in the severity of mange over the period of monitoring. These observations support the role of monitoring at slaughter in the management of endemic disease. They provide some basis for refining control programs for mange to improve cost-effectiveness.     

A cross-sectional study to show Eperythrozoon ovis infection is prevalent in Western Australian sheep farms

A serological survey and risk factor study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Eperythrozoon ovis infection in Western Australian weaner sheep, the prevalence of farms with infected sheep, and to identify factors affecting initiation and maintenance of infection on the farm. The study was conducted on 91 farms, purposively chosen from 41 randomly selected regional shires stratified by sheep number and rainfall zones. Twenty sheep were selected systematically from a mixed-sex flock on each farm and tested for serum antibody to E ovis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Information on putative risk factors was collected using an interview questionnaire. Antibody to E ovis was detected in 4.5% of sheep on 47% of the farms sampled. The prevalence of E ovis infection in sheep was estimated at the 95% confidence level to be between 3.6 and 5.5%, and the prevalence of farms with infected sheep was estimated to be between 37.5 and 56.5%. Most farms with serological evidence of infection occurred in the Great Southern agricultural region (79.5%), south-east of Perth through to Albany (latitude 32 to 34 degrees S, longitude 116 to 120 degrees E), and in the Northern region (12.8%) surrounding Geraldton (latitude 29 degrees S, longitude 114 degrees E). There were significantly more farms (P less than 0.05) with evidence of infection in the Great Southern region compared to the Central region between Geraldton and Perth, and on farms in the region south compared to north of latitude 32 degrees S. None of the putative risk factors examined in the questionnaire were associated with serological evidence of infection on the farm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical nutrition of sheep and goats

Management systems and client goals are integral components of clinical nutrition and vary among and within sheep and goat producers. Evaluation includes client interview and history taking, record examination, forage analyses, animal examination, and occasionally blood or tissue assays. The types of nutritional disorders that are likely to be observed in sheep and goats vary according to the type of management and can be grouped according to feedlot, intensive production, farm flocks, dairy, and browse systems. Examples described include nutritional problems that may be overlooked (water deprivation), widespread (energy imbalance), currently difficult to prevent and treat (selenium deficiency), and reflective of soil-plant-animal complexities (copper-molybdenum balance).     

Inherited progressive spinal myelinopathy in Murray Grey cattle

In a breeding experiment conducted to determine the mode of inheritance of progressive spinal myelinopathy, semen from a Murray Grey bull which had previously sired affected calves was used to inseminate 120 cows. Female progeny were then inseminated with semen from the same bull. Of the 51 calves born, six (11.8%) had spinal cord lesions consistent with progressive spinal myelinopathy. From analysis of pedigrees and the results of the breeding experiment it was concluded that the condition was inherited as an autosomal recessive condition in Murray Grey cattle.     

Successful Treatment for Subinvolution of Placental Sites in the Bitch with Low Oral Doses of Progestagen

Subinvolution of placental sites (SIPS) is the major cause of persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge after parturition in the bitch. Spontaneous remission is common but may take several months, and hence, medical therapy to end the discharge is often requested. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of treatment for SIPS with low oral doses of a progestagen. Nine bitches with SIPS, but otherwise clinically healthy, were found in the computer database of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals. Seven of these bitches were treated with low oral doses of a progestagen (megestrol acetate, 0.1 mg/kg body weight (bw) once daily for the 1st week, then 0.05 mg/kg bw once daily for the 2nd week). The other two bitches were untreated. Treatment results were evaluated by a telephone questionnaire. Progestagen treatment was successful in all of the treated dogs; sanguineous vaginal discharge stopped within the treatment period. One of the two untreated dogs remained symptomatic until the next oestrus, approximately 120 days after parturition, and the other remained symptomatic until 6 weeks before the start of the next pro‐oestrus, 270 days after parturition. No side effects of the progestagen treatment were observed. Subsequent gestations, parturitions and puerperal periods of 5 mated bitches were uneventful. One bitch did not become pregnant after mating. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that oral administration of low doses of progestagen for 2 weeks is effective in stopping persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge in bitches with SIPS, with neither side effects nor reduced subsequent fertility.