Enzymeimmunoassay of oestrone sulphate concentrations in faeces for non-invasive pregnancy determination in mares

AIM: To determine the suitability of measuring faecal oestrone sulphate (OS) by enzymeimmunoassay as a means of determining pregnancy status in mares bred under New Zealand conditions. METHODS: An antibody-coated microtitre plate-based enzymeimmunoassay was used to determine the concentration of OS in faecal and plasma samples obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant mares. RESULTS: In non-pregnant mares, the mean faecal OS concentration was 34 ng/g, and the value three standard deviations above this was 80 ng/g. None of 427 faecal samples collected from 116 non-pregnant mares over a l-year period had an OS concentration >80 ng/g. Only five samples from three mares had an OS concentration >65 ng/g, the value two standard deviations above the mean non-pregnant value. Analysis of faecal OS concentrations in 532 faecal samples collected from 39 pregnant mares showed that as pregnancy progressed, an increasing proportion of faecal samples had OS concentrations >80 ng/g. None of the mares 150 days or more pregnant had faecal OS concentrations <50 ng/g, and 204/220 samples obtained from these mares had faecal OS concentrations >80 ng/g. Following foaling or foetal death, elevated faecal OS concentrations returned quickly to non-pregnant levels. The mean +/- s.e.m. plasma level of OS in five mares bled daily throughout one oestrous cycle was 1.7 +/- 0.2 ng/ml. Sixty-eight blood samples from pregnant mares bled up to five times between 92 days after mating and foaling all had plasma OS concentrations >30 ng/ml, with 64/68 being >50 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that measuring faecal OS concentrations by enzymeimmunoassay offers a convenient, accurate, non-invasive means of determining pregnancy status in mares from 150 days after mating onwards. Mares with faecal OS concentrations <50 ng/g can be considered not pregnant, while mares with faecal OS concentrations >80 ng/g can be considered pregnant. Those few mares returning a faecal OS concentration between 50 and 80 ng/g should be retested to obtain a conclusive result. Measuring plasma OS concentrations allows pregnancy status to be determined earlier (from 100 days after mating). Moreover, the discrimination between non-pregnant and pregnant levels is greater for OS in plasma than in faeces. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurement of OS concentrations in faeces provides an alternative and non-invasive means of determining pregnancy status in mares from 150 days after mating.     

Opportunistic mycobacterial granuloma in a cat associated with a member of the Mycobacterium terrae complex

An 18-month-old domestic short-haired neutered male cat presented with a nodular dermal thickening on a digit. Biopsy demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation with moderately frequent acid-fast bacilli. A member of theMycobacterium terrae complex was isolated. There was no evidence of systemic involvement. Treatment was initiated with enrofloxacin, rifampicin and clarithromycin. After 2 months there was no longer any clinically apparent dermal thickening. Treatment was continued for a further 3 months using enrofloxacin and rifampicin.     

16alpha-Bromo-epiandrosterone therapy modulates experimental feline immunodeficiency virus viremia: initial enhancement leading to long-term suppression

16alpha-Bromo-epiandrosterone (epiBr), a synthetic derivative of the natural hormone dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA), was evaluated for its effects on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in experimental cats. The rationale for this study was based on the ability of DHEA to significantly reduce the mortality to viral infections in mice. DHEA and epiBr also have demonstrable in vitro anti-viral activity for both HIV-1 and FIV. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies in cats demonstrated that subcutaneously injected epiBr was rapidly absorbed, completely metabolized, and nontoxic. Metabolites were excreted in both urine and feces, with the latter having the most complex pattern of breakdown products. Cats were then divided into four groups; two groups were infected with FIV and two uninfected. Two groups, one infected and one uninfected were treated on 5 consecutive days of weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 with epiBr. The remaining two groups were mock treated with the drug vehicle alone. Treatment started 1 week prior to infection and extended for 4 weeks after infection. Cats were observed for 20 weeks post-FIV infection. Infected cats had identical decreases in blood neutrophil and lymphocyte counts following, regardless of whether they were treated with epiBr or vehicle alone. The CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio was decreased following FIV exposure, but was significantly more decreased for the epiBr treated animals from week 2 post-infection onward. CD4+ T cells were decreased in FIV-infected cats treated with epiBr compared to their untreated cohort, while CD8+ T cells tended to be higher in treated animals. FIV infected cats that were treated with epiBr had over one-log higher virus loads at week 2 post-infection than non-epiBr treated cohorts. In spite of this enhanced initial viremia, the subsequent levels of virus in the blood were significantly lower in epiBr treated versus untreated animals. EpiBr treated cats had significantly higher FIV-p24 antibody responses than control cats receiving vehicle alone, although primary and secondary antibody responses to a T-cell dependent non-FIV antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), were unaffected. EpiBr treatment significantly decreased the expected FIV-induced suppression of IL-12 p40 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) observed at weeks 4, 5, 8, 9 and 16 post-infection, but had no influence on FIV-induced changes in IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, MIP-1alpha and RANTES.     

The effect of a porcine-derived small intestinal submucosa product on wounds with exposed bone in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a porcine-derived small intestinal submucosa product (PSIS) on healing time, epithelialization, angiogenesis, contraction, and inflammation of wounds with exposed bone on the distal aspect of the limbs of dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, experimental study. ANIMAL POPULATION: 10 young adult, purpose-bred, male Beagles. METHODS: Small wounds with exposed bone were created on the lateral aspect of metatarsal V and the medial aspect of metatarsal II on both hindlimbs. Three sheets of PSIS were sutured into the wounds of the treated limb, and the other limb served as a control. On day 10, punch biopsies of the medial metatarsal wounds were collected and were evaluated microscopically after routine hematoxylin and eosin and phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) staining. The lateral metatarsal wounds were evaluated by planimetry and laser Doppler perfusion imaging on days 7, 14, and 21. Time until complete wound healing was also recorded. The level of significance was set at P < or =.05 for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: Laser Doppler perfusion measurements were significantly higher in control wounds on day 7, but no differences were noted on days 14 and 21. No significant differences in planimetric values, histopathologic appearance, or time until complete wound healing were noted among treated and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: No objective differences in healing were noted between control wounds and wounds treated with PSIS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There appears to be no contraindication to the use of PSIS on clean wounds with exposed bone on the distal limbs of dogs. However, our objective data provides no evidence that this product affects epithelialization, contraction, or time to complete healing in wounds with exposed bone.     

Herd characteristics and management practices associated with bulk-tank somatic cell counts in herds in official Dairy Herd Improvement Association programs in Ohio

OBJECTIVE: To identify herd characteristics and management practices associated with bulk-tank somatic cell counts (BTSCC) in dairy herds in Ohio enrolled in official Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) programs. SAMPLE POPULATION: 186 dairies in Ohio. PROCEDURE: All herds in official DHIA programs in 9 counties were asked to participate. Extensive information regarding herd characteristics and management practices was obtained, using a standardized questionnaire. Bulk-tank milk samples were requested from all participating herds for bacterial culture. Official DHIA test-day records for January 1997 were obtained from all herds enrolled in official DHIA programs in the 9 counties. Potential associations were identified, using multivariable ANOVA. RESULTS: Participation was 186 of 479 (39%) herds. Streptococcus agalactiae and Mycoplasma spp were not isolated from bulk-tank milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 64 of 172 (37%) of the herds. The BTSCC were inversely associated with peak daily milk production, postmilking teat disinfection, percentage of eligible cows in the herd detected in estrus, and directly related to the extent to which BTSCC was perceived as a herd problem during the preceding 2 years. Type of housing for nonlactating cows and product used for treatment of nonlactating cows also were significantly associated with BTSCC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Consideration of herd characteristics and implementation of management practices associated with BTSCC could result in increased milk yield and production of milk with lower BTSCC.     

含莫纳可林K红曲降低鸡蛋胆固醇效果的研究

48只68周龄的海兰褐蛋鸡分成三组，按0.5％和10％比例分别添加含0．4％莫纳可林K红曲于各组日粮内，饲喂22d，观测其对鸡蛋胆固醇变化的影响。结果表明，投药后5—6d，10％添加组和5％添加组蛋黄胆固醇开始下降；15—22d的胆固醇含量与1～5d相比，10％添加组和5％添加组分别下降了9．02％和5．10％，而对照组升高了5．22％。     

Omasal Anatomy in New Zealand Red and Fallow Deer: An Exploratory Multivariate Analysis

We measured the weight and volume of omasae, and the number, weight and area of omasal laminae from wild fallow (Cervus dama), and wild and farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) whose diet, as indicated by rumen content, was known. A multivariate analysis yielded two principal components, interpreted as indices of overall omasal size and laminar leafiness. The second component showed significantly greater variance in wild red deer than in farmed red or wild fallow deer. Deer feeding on a mixed diet of browse and grasses may have greater variability of omasal form than those feeding on grass alone. A relationship is derived by which the laminar area can be estimated from counts of laminae in different size classes.     

Survival in Dogs with Nasal Adenocarcinoma: 64 Cases (1981–1995)

Case records of 64 dogs with nasal adenocarcinoma were reviewed. The effects of age, gender, tumor stage, presence of metastatic lesions, and treatment method on survival time were examined. Surgery groups included rhinotomy (n = 9), transnasal curettage (n = 29), and no surgery (n = 26). Chemotherapy groups included fluorouracil-cyclophosphamide combination therapy (n = 15), mitoxantrone (n = 7), and no chemotherapy (n = 42). Fifty-three dogs received fractionated cobalt 60 radiation therapy. Surgical procedure, chemotherapy group, and stage of primary tumor were not significantly associated with survival time ( P > .05). Dogs that received radiation therapy had a significantly longer median survival time (424 days) than dogs that did not (126 days) ( P = .0001). The presence of either regional lymph node or pulmonary metastasis was associated with significantly shorter median survival time (109 days) when compared to dogs without metastases (393 days) ( P = .0125). When only dogs that had received radiation therapy were considered, neither surgical treatment nor chemotherapy group was associated with significant changes in median survival time. An alternate staging system emphasizing the presence or absence of metastases is proposed. Key words: Chemotherapy; Metastasis; Radiotherapy.