Pyometra and unilateral uterine horn torsion in a sheep

A 13‐year‐old Romanov sheep presented for evaluation of vaginal discharge, depression and anorexia. Blood work demonstrated mature neutrophilia and marked hyperlactatemia. Transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound revealed echogenic fluid (pus) within the uterus. Purulent uterine fluid culture yield Escherichia coli. A diagnosis of pyometra was made. After medical treatment without clinical improvement, an exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a 360‐degree uterine left horn torsion was identified with the pyometra and multiple corpora lutea on both ovaries. Ovariohysterectomy was performed and the ewe recovered uneventfully.     

Detection of hepatitis E virus RNA in saliva for diagnosis of acute infection

Diagnosis of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is established by detection of anti‐HEV IgM antibodies by ELISA or by amplification of serum viral RNA. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic value of testing HEV RNA in saliva to identify patients with acute HEV infection. Prospective proof‐of‐concept study including patients with acute hepatitis. Whole blood and neat saliva samples were obtained from all patients. Saliva samples were processed and analysed for HEV RNA by RT‐PCR within 2 hr after collection. A total of 34 patients with acute hepatitis and 12 healthy donors were included in the study. HEV RNA in serum was confirmed by RT‐PCR in eight of these patients (23.5%; 95% CI: 12.2%–40.2%). HEV was isolated in the saliva of eight of 34 patients (23.5%; 95% CI: 12.2%–40.2%). All patients with HEV RNA amplified in saliva had detectable HEV RNA in serum. HEV was isolated neither in the saliva of any of the 26 patients without detectable HEV RNA in serum nor in healthy donors. Our study suggests that acute HEV infection could be diagnosed by assessing viral load in saliva.     

Soil compaction effects on water status of ponderosa pine assessed through 13C/12C composition

Soil compaction is a side effect of forest reestablishment practices resulting from use of heavy equipment and site preparation. Soil compaction often alters soil properties resulting in changes in plant-available water. The use of pressure chamber methods to assess plant water stress has two drawbacks: (1) the measurements are not integrative; and (2) the method is difficult to apply extensively to establish seasonal soil water status. We evaluated leaf carbon isotopic composition (delta13C) as a means of assessing effects of soil compaction on water status and growth of young ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) stands across a range of soil textures. Leaf delta13C in cellulose and whole foliar tissue were highly correlated. Leaf delta13C in both whole tissue and cellulose (holocellulose) was up to 1.0 per thousand lower in trees growing in non-compacted (NC) loam or clay soils than in compacted (SC) loam or clay soils. Soil compaction had the opposite effect on leaf delta13C in trees growing on sandy loam soil, indicating that compaction increased water availability in this soil type. Tree growth response to compaction also varied with soil texture, with no effect, a negative effect and a positive effect as a result of compaction of loam, clay and sandy loam soils, respectively. There was a significant correlation between 13C signature and tree growth along the range of soil textures. Leaf delta13C trends were correlated with midday stem water potentials. We conclude that leaf delta13C can be used to measure retrospective water status and to assess the impact of site preparation on tree growth. The advantage of the leaf delta13C approach is that it provides an integrative assessment of past water status in different aged leaves.     

Endometrial Expression of IFNAR‐1 and Oxytocin Receptor (OTR) is not Improved by Prostaglandin Analogues when Compared to Progestagens in Ewes

The objective of this study was to investigate differences on the endometrial immunoexpression of type I IFN receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) during the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep, when oestrus is synchronized with either prostaglandin analogues (group PG) or conventional progestagens (group P). Plasma progesterone was measured from day 0 to 21 post‐coitus (pc) (day 0 = day of oestrus). Immunohistochemistry was performed in samples of uterine horns from pregnant sheep on days 9pc, 13pc, 15pc, 17pc and 21pc to locate IFNAR1 and OTR expression in different endometrial compartments. Mean levels of plasma progesterone were different between treatments, obtaining higher levels in the PG group than in the P group (p < 0.05). Comparing days of pregnancy, IFNAR1 protein expression was different in the luminal epithelium (LE) (p < 0.05), while OTR was different in the LE and in the superficial glandular epithelium (SG) (p < 0.05). Temporal variation on the expression of both proteins from day 9pc to 21pc has been evidenced. IFNAR1 and OTR expression did not show significant differences between treatments. However, the response observed in the endometrium was highly inconsistent when prostaglandin analogues were used. Therefore, the protocol based on prostaglandin analogues still needs to be optimized before being considered as a better alternative to progestagens for oestrous synchronization in sheep.     

The Effect of Glycerol Concentrations on the Post‐thaw In Vitro Characteristics of Cryopreserved Sex‐sorted Boar Spermatozoa

The objective of this study was to optimize protocols for the cryopreservation of sex‐sorted boar spermatozoa. In the experiment 1, we evaluated the effects of a standard boar sperm cryopreservation procedure (3% final glycerol concentration) on the in vitro characteristics of sex‐sorted sperm frozen at low sperm concentrations (20 × 10⁶ sperm/ml; S20 group). Non‐sorted spermatozoa frozen at 1000 × 10⁶ (C1000 group) and 20 × 10⁶ (C20 group) sperm/ml were used as the freezing control groups. In experiment 2, the effects of different final glycerol concentrations (0.16%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0%) on post‐thaw quality of the S20 and C20 groups were evaluated. In both experiments, the samples were evaluated prior to freezing (5°C) and at 30, 90 and 150 min after thawing. Experiment 1 indicated that freezing sperm at low concentrations decreased (p < 0.05) the total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) at 90 and 150 min after thawing regardless of whether the sperm were sorted or not. However, the sperm membrane integrity was not affected at any evaluation step. Inexperiment 2, significant effects on the TM and PM because of increased glycerol concentrations in the S20 and C20 groups were observed only at 90 and 150 min after thawing. The samples frozen in 3% glycerol showed lower (p < 0.05) TM and PM values when compared to those frozen in the presence of 0.5% and 1% glycerol. In both experiments, non‐sorted control samples displayed higher percentages of spermatozoa with damaged DNA than sorted spermatozoa. In conclusion, the optimization of cryopreservation conditions by decreasing the glycerol concentrations can improve post‐thaw motility of sex‐sorted spermatozoa frozen at low concentrations.     

Cefquinome Concentrations in Endometrium after Intrauterine Treatment of Cobactan 4.5%® in Mares and Inflammatory Response of the Endometrium to this Treatment

This study was conducted to measure the concentration of cefquinome in the endometrium of mares after intrauterine treatment and to evaluate associated inflammation. Mares (n = 14) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (i) control (n = 4) were either not treated (n = 2) or received (n = 2) lactated Ringer's intrauterine for 1 or 3 days; (ii) treated mares (n = 10) received intrauterine cefquinome for 1 or 3 days. After at least 10 days had passed following the last treatment and ovulation, mares were given Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and were randomly assigned to an alternate treatment. Endometrial biopsy samples were taken at 2, 8, 24 and 48 h, or at 4, 12 and 36 h, after the last treatment. Biopsy samples were taken at the same time points from control mares (n = 2) and lactated Ringer-treated mares (n = 2). Cefquinome concentrations were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay and inflammation was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections. Concentrations of cefquinome [559 (1 day) and 595 μg/g (3 days) at 2 h, and 403 (1 day) and 370 μg/g (3 days) at 4 h] were similar between treatment groups at 2 and 4 h after treatment (p > 0.05). At 8 h, as well as at 24 and 48 h, concentrations were greater in the 3-day group (17 vs 301 μg/g, 3 vs 80 μg/g and 0.1 vs 0.2 μg/g, respectively) (p < 0.05). No significant differences (p > 0.05) in the inflammatory response at 2–48 h after treatment were found between groups.     

Ataxia and paralysis in cats in Australia associated with exposure to an imported gamma-irradiated commercial dry pet food

Between June 2008 and March 2009, 87 cats in Australia developed symmetrical hindlimb ataxia, paraparesis, tetraparesis, paraplegia or tetraplegia in association with eating an imported, irradiated dry pet food. This communication reports the clinical signs and outcomes of those cats.