Efficient surveillance of pig populations using oral fluids

Currently virus surveillance in swine herds is constrained by the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of sampling methods. The objective of this study was to assess the value of using oral fluids collected by barn personnel as a method of surveillance based on PCR testing. Approximately 12,150 pigs in 10 wean-to-finish barns on 10 farms were monitored for the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus (IAV), and Torque teno virus genogroups 1 (TTV1) and 2 (TTV2) by sampling oral fluid specimens. Oral fluid samples were collected from 6 pens at each site starting at the time of pig placement (～3 weeks of age) and continuing thereafter at 2-week intervals for a period of 18 weeks. Data were analyzed both on a pen basis and barn basis. Overall, 508 (85%) samples were positive for PCV2, 73 (12%) for PRRSV, 46 (8%) for IAV, 483 (81%) for TTV2, and 155 (26%) for TTV1 during the study period. The estimated arithmetic means of the quantitative PCR-positive oral fluids for PCV2, PRRSV, and IAV were 1×10(4.62), 1×10(4.97), and 1×10(5.49)per ml. With a single exception, all barns were positive for PCV2 and TTV2 at every sampling point in the study. Virus detection varied among barns, particularly for IAV and PRRSV. The pen level, cumulative distribution of agent combinations between all 10 barns were statistically different. The most commonly observed patterns were PCV2+TTV2 (239 pen samples, 40%), PCV2+TTV1+TTV2 (88 pen samples, 15%), and PCV2 alone (66 pen samples, 11%). This "proof-of-concept" project showed that a variety of viruses could be detected either intermittently or continuously in pig populations and demonstrated that barn herd virus status is highly variable, even among barns in the same production system. Oral fluid sampling is a promising approach for increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of virus surveillance in swine herds.     

Perceptions of parks and urban derelict land by landscape planners and residents

As urban green spaces are important for residential satisfaction, human preferences are a key criterion in their design. However, preferences may vary between landscape planners and residents, which may result in differences between residents’ demands and the actual design. With urban derelict land becoming an important part of the urban green infrastructure, information about the perception and acceptance by residents compared to formal urban parks is important for their planning and design. It was thus examined how different types of urban green spaces are perceived by landscape planners and residents. Criteria for the classification of green spaces used by both participant groups were compared, as were the criteria that influenced preference.Participants sorted and rated photographs of parks and urban derelict land in two different tasks. Hierarchical cluster analyses and multidimensional scaling analyses were used to characterize the participants’ perceptual space. By conducting multiple regression analyses the resulting perceptual dimensions were related to preference.The identified perceptual criteria used to distinguish green spaces were degree of canopy closure, artificiality vs. naturalness, prospect, physical accessibility, and beauty. For residents, the degree of canopy closure was the most important criterion for classification; for landscape planners, it was artificiality. Preferences varied between groups: whereas landscape planners preferred rather natural areas with low accessibility and high species richness, the residents showed a greater preference for formal parks.As a practical implication, the study suggests that residents generally accept urban derelict land as recreational areas if a minimum of maintenance and accessibility is provided. When designing green spaces, landscape planners may consider these differences in their preferences compared to residents.     

Bioefficacy of L-lysine sulfate compared with feed-grade L-lysine-HCl in young pigs

A pig growth assay was conducted to determine the relative biological value (RBV) of lysine from L-lysine sulfate compared with feed-grade L-lysine HCl. One hundred nursery pigs with an average initial BW of 9.5 +/- 1.5 kg were blocked by BW and gender and allotted randomly to five dietary treatments in five replicates of four pigs per pen. A corn-peanut meal diet containing 0.6% total lysine (as-fed basis) was supplemented with two levels (0.1 and 0.2%) of lysine from L-lysine-HCl or L-lysine sulfate. The RBV of L-lysine sulfate was determined using multiple regression slope-ratio methodology, with ADG and G:F as the response criteria. At the tested levels, linear responses for gain and G:F were obtained from increments of lysine from the two lysine sources. When ADG was regressed on supplemental lysine intake, the RBV of lysine in L-lysine sulfate was 99% of the RBV of lysine in L-lysine HCl. When G:F was regressed on supplemental lysine intake, the RBV of lysine in L-lysine sulfate was 97% of the RBV of lysine in L-lysine-HCl. The t-test analysis revealed that the RBV of lysine in L-lysine sulfate was not significantly different from the RBV of lysine in L-lysine HCl, which was assumed to be 100% bioavailable. In conclusion, L-lysine sulfate can replace L-lysine HCl in diets for growing swine.     

Effects of preoperative administration of carprofen on renal function and hemostasis in dogs undergoing surgery for fracture repair

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of preoperative administration of carprofen on renal function and hemostasis in dogs undergoing general anesthesia for fracture repair. ANIMALS: 26 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was induced with levomethadone, diazepam, and propofol and maintained by administration of isoflurane in oxygen-nitrous oxide. Carprofen (4 mg/kg, SC) was administered 1 hour before induction to 13 dogs (group 1) and after extubation to the other 13 dogs (group 2). All dogs also received carprofen (4 mg/kg, SC, q 24 h) for the first 4 days after surgery. Renal function (glomerular filtration rate [GFR], urinary protein-to-urinary creatinine ratio [UP:UC], and results of urinalysis and biochemical analysis of plasma), hemostatic variables (bleeding time, platelet aggregation, prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], and platelet count), and Hct were assessed before and at various time points after surgery. RESULTS: Analysis of results for renal function tests, most of the hemostatic and plasma biochemical variables, and Hct did not reveal significant differences between treatment groups. Values for GFR, UP:UC, PT, APTT, and platelet aggregation were outside reference ranges in many dogs before surgery and during the first 6 hours after surgery. In most dogs, these trauma-induced pathologic changes returned to within reference ranges during the 4-day period after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen did not cause clinically relevant adverse effects in dogs anesthetized for fracture repair after 5 days of treatment, even when it was administered before surgery or given to patients with trauma-induced alterations in renal function or hemostasis.     

Measurement of the elastic properties of the cancellous bone in the femoral head of the dog

The degenerative wear and pathologic damage of the joints are reasons for total endoprotheses in man as well as in dogs. The main problem is the aseptic loosening of the protheses. By usig the finite-element-method, the total endoprothesis is designed with new features, with the purpose of preventing loosening and being better adapted to load transmission. In order to simulate the femur of the dog for the numerical analysis, a material law is developed. By taking into account the anisotropy and the local density of the cancellous bone in the femoral head, the young's modules are experimentally determined. The measurements are performed by ultrasonic methods on femoral heads of euthanised dogs. The results show planar isotropic cancellous bone.     

Low flow anaesthesia with isoflurane in the dog

The aim of the present study was to compare the safety of two low flow (LF) regimes [fresh gas flow (FGF) 20 ml/kg/min (group 2) and 14 ml/kg/min (group 3)] with the high flow (HF) technique (FGF 50 ml/kg/min; group 1) of isoflurane anaesthesia. Data were gathered from ninety dogs assigned for surgery under general anaesthesia with an expected duration of 75 minutes or longer. All dogs had an anaesthetic induction with 0,6 mg/kg I-methadone (maximum 25 mg) and 1 mg/kg diazepam (maximum 25 mg) i.v. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in a mixture of 50% O2 and 50% N2O as carrier gases, with controlled ventilation. The Monitoring included electrocardiogramm, body temperature, the temperature of in- and exspired gases, arterial oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure as well as a continuous monitoring of inhaled and exhaled gas concentrations (O2, N2O, CO2, isoflurane). The consumption of isoflurane and carrier gases as well as the recovery times were evaluated for the three groups. The inspired oxygen concentrations always ranged above the minimum value of 30 Vol.-% during low flow anaesthesia. The arterial oxygen saturation ranged between 92-98%, the end tidal concentration of CO2 between 35 and 45 mmHg. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were within normal limits. Recovery time was significantly shorter after LF than after HF anaesthesia. The highest decrease in body temperature occurred in the HF group 1 because of a significantly lower anaesthetic gas temperature. Despite this, LF anaesthesia resulted in a reduced consumption of carrier gases and volatiles. In conclusion, low flow anaesthesia with isoflurane is a safe technique and offers substantial economic advantages over high flow techniques and is moreover better tolerated by the patients.     

The effect of topical pimecrolimus on keratoconjunctivitis sicca and chronic superficial keratitis in dogs: results from an exploratory study

OBJECTIVE: Pimecrolimus is an ascomycin derivative that interferes selectively with the activation of T cells and mast cells and inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines. This study evaluated the efficacy of an experimental ophthalmic formulation of pimecrolimus in treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and chronic superficial keratitis (CSK) in dogs. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURES: Eight dogs with KCS and six with CSK were included. The dogs were of various breeds, suffered from chronic conditions, and had been pretreated unsuccessfully. The affected eyes were treated with 1 drop of an experimental, corn oil-based pimecrolimus 1% formulation three times a day. Parameters evaluated included Schirmer tear test (STT), ocular discharge, conjunctival inflammation, corneal inflammatory cell infiltrate and scarring, and comfort level. RESULTS: The effect of pimecrolimus 1% was pronounced (increase in STT values to higher than 4 mm/min, no signs of inflammation) or moderate (increase in STT values of 3-4 mm/min, mild signs of corneal/conjunctival inflammation) in a total of 6/8 animals with KCS. In 4/6 animals with CSK, the effect was either pronounced (total regression of fibrovascular infiltration into the cornea, no corneal scarring) or moderate (distinct regression of pannus, mild corneal scarring). The response to treatment was unsatisfactory in four of 14 animals. CONCLUSION: Results of this exploratory study suggest that topical 1% pimecrolimus may be a new effective treatment for keratoconjunctivitis sicca and chronic superficial keratitis in dogs.     

Potential and limits of acylcyclohexanediones for the control of blossom blight in apple and pear caused by Erwinia amylovora

Growth-regulating acylcyclohexanediones such as prohexadione-calcium and trinexapac-ethyl have been shown to be effective in controlling fire blight infections on shoots. Since blossoms represent the primary site of infection for the fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora , trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-calcium were evaluated for their ability to reduce fire blight infection on apple and pear flowers. Field experiments and experiments under controlled conditions were conducted on apple flowers for 4 years. A reduction of up to 50% of blossom blight was observed in treated plants. In addition, treatment with trinexapac-ethyl reduced up to the 77% the percentage of fireblight-affected flowers from which disease progressed into shoots. On pear, numbers of flower infections were reduced by a quarter and flower infections leading to diseased shoots was reduced by up to 50%. Mechanisms underlying diseased reduction following treatment with the two acylcyclohexanediones was studied using a confocal laser scanning microscope combined with a gpf -labelled strain of E. amylovora . These non-invasive techniques demonstrated bacterial migration was reduced by up to 60 and 66% in apple and pear xylem, respectively.     

Equine odontogenic tumors: Clinical presentation,CT findings,and outcome in 11 horses

Odontogenic tumors present as locally invasive, slow growing, firm swellings on the face. They are rare in all species and are characterized histologically by the degree of differentiation and dental tissue of origin. Radiographic appearance is not pathognomonic for these lesions. Computed tomographic (CT) examination allows exact determination of tumor extension and aggressiveness. The objectives of this retrospective, case series study were to describe the clinical presentation, CT characteristics, and outcome in horses with histologically confirmed odontogenic tumors, and to identify imaging features suggestive of individual types of tumors. Four ameloblastomas, two ameloblastic carcinomas, three ameloblastic fibromas, and two complex odontomas were included. All but one complex odontoma presented as a single mass. All tumors were associated with maxillary or mandibular bone expansion, alveolar and cortical bone lysis, and cortical bone thinning. The majority also had cortical bone thickening and periosteal proliferation. All tumors contained some degree of mineral attenuation, although only the complex odontomas contained enamel attenuation allowing differentiation from other types of odontogenic tumors in this study. Ameloblastomas were found to have variable CT characteristics likely due to the sub‐groups of ameloblastomas. Both ameloblastic carcinomas contained a mixture of mineralized and soft tissue attenuating material whereas ameloblastic fibromas were mainly composed of soft tissue attenuating material. Computed tomographic characteristics of odontogenic tumors generally indicate that they are expansile, aggressive tumors and can occur in a wide range of ages. Further investigation is needed to elucidate differences between each type of equine odontogenic tumor.