Gastrointestinal and body growth in colostrum-deprived piglets in response to whey, casein or soy protein diets

Cow's milk stimulates growth in neonates and supplementation with specific milk proteins may benefit immuno-compromized neonates exhibiting poor growth. We investigated the effects of specific milk proteins (casein and whey) and plant protein (hydrolysed soy) on body and organ growth and bone mineralization in colostrum-deprived newborn pigs. Six days after birth, both casein and whey increased body and small intestinal weight relative to soy protein. Villus morphology and epithelial permeability were similar among groups. Casein significantly increased bone mineralization, while whey stimulated soft tissue growth (internal organs, muscle and fat). The differential effects of casein and whey proteins in the early postnatal period show that specific milk proteins rapidly affect whole body and gut development, even in a state of impaired growth induced by artificial feeding of colostrum-deprived pigs.     

Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoprotein and Progesterone Concentrations during Pregnancy Failure in Bedouin Goat from the Southwest of Algeria

Thirteen female Bedouin goats living in arid land of Algeria Sahara desert were used in this study. These goats were pregnant but they sustained an abortion because of unidentified causes. None of the goats showed any signs of general disease. Plasma concentrations of caprine pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins (cPAGs) and progesterone (P4) were determined during pregnancy using radioimmunoassay. The cPAGs concentration was undetectable (<0.8 ng/ml) throughout the first 2 weeks of gestation. From week 3 after mating, cPAGs concentration was detectable with significant individual variations (p < 0.05) reaching a maximum secretion (436.1 ng/ml). Throughout gestation, cPAGs concentration remained relatively constant but decreased few days before abortion, on an average of 9.2 ± 1.2 days (n = 11), except for two females where the concentrations decreased later (1–2 days before abortion). One or two peaks of cPAGs concentrations (in 4/13 and in 9/13 females, respectively) have been measured few weeks before abortion (77–124 days after mating), when a decline of cPAGs was detected. The P4 concentration increased after mating, and was high from the first week till the end of pregnancy. The P4 concentration (9.1 ± 0.9 ng/ml) decreased rapidly (<0.5 ng/ml) after 4 ± 0.7 days (n = 6) or 9.4 ± 1.6 days (n = 7) before abortion. A positive relationship (p < 0.01) was found between P4 and cPAGs concentrations during gestation. Results indicate that cPAGs and P4 measurements can be used for monitoring gestation and for abortion prediction.     

Pine branch of Araucaria angustifolia in horse bronchi: A series of four cases

Horses at pasture are susceptible to the aspiration of foreign bodies. In Curitiba, southern Brazil, four horses of different breeds and ages were examined with regards to a persistent cough that lasted for several months, fetid breath, and no fever. The animals were referred for bronchoscopic examination performed under sedation and tracheobronchial topical anaesthesia. Bronchoscopies in all four horses revealed a pine branch of the species Araucaria angustifolia, native to southern Brazil, in the lumen of a third to fifth generation bronchus. Complete removal of the branch was possible in one case using a polypectomy loop inserted through the biopsy channel of the bronchoscope. In two cases, partial removal was possible. In one case the branch was adhered to the swollen mucosa and could not be extracted; this animal is being kept at pasture with intermittent antibiotic treatment as necessary. In conclusion, foreign bodies consisting of pine branches in the tracheobronchial tree of horses may be more common than currently recognised, as Araucaria genus is present in other countries and should be suspected in horses with chronic coughing associated with fetid breath and a history of reoccurrence following symptomatic treatments.     

Assessment of diclofenac LC50 reference values in juvenile and embryonic stages of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The aim of the study was to compare the acute toxicity of diclofenac to juvenile and embryonic stages of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Acute toxicity tests were performed on the aquarium fish Danio rerio, which is one of the model organisms most commonly used in toxicity testing. The tests were performed using a semi-static method according to OECD guideline No. 203 (Fish, acute toxicity test). Embryo toxicity tests were performed in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) in compliance with OECD No. 212 methodology (Fish, short-term toxicity test on embryo and sac-fry stages). The results were subjected to a probit analysis using the EKO-TOX 5.2 programme to determine 96hLC50 and 144hLC50 (median lethal concentration, 50% mortality after a 96 h or 144 h interval, respectively) values of diclofenac. The statistical significance of the difference between LC50 values in juvenile and embryonic stages of Danio rerio was tested using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test implemented in the Unistat 5.1 programme. The LC50 mean value of diclofenac was 166.6 +/- 9.8 mg/L in juvenile Danio rerio, and 6.11 +/- 2.48 mg/L in embryonic stages of Danio rerio. The study demonstrated a statistically higher sensitivity to diclofenac (P < 0.05) in embryonic stages compared to the juvenile fish.     

Survey of Toxoplasma antibodies among sheep in western United States

A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies among breeding ewes and among lambs slaughtered for food in western United States. Each serum was tested by the indirect hemaglutination method, using microtiter technique. Agglutination (greater than or equal to 2 +) at the 1:64 dilution was considered to be a positive reaction. Of 2,164 ewes from 18 flocks tested in California, 523 (24%) were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii, with prevalence rates among flocks ranging from 4 to 51%. In 9 of those flocks, 1,495 ewes were stratified by whether ewes had lambed or were barren. On an overall basis, the antibody prevalence was similar (about 25%) in both groups, but there was a significant difference (P less than 0.05) in 1 flock in which 30% of the nursing ewes were seropositive, compared with 21% of the barren ewes. Of 1,056 market lambs from 19 lots tested, 85 (8%) were seropositive. The antibody prevalence in lambs tested at slaughter in California, by state of origin, were: Oregon, 11/51 (22%); Nevada, 32/159 (20%); Idaho, 12/147 (5%), and California, 30/699 (4%).     

Treatment of fractured antebrachial bones in both thoracic extremities in toy breed dogs by application of reconstruction plates

Stabilization of fractures at distal third of antebrachial bones in toy breed dogs is often connected with bone healing complications, including delayed union or non-union. In the present study 9 toy breed dogs with fractures at distal third of the epiphysis of two antebrachial bones were treated. Each dog had fractured both thoracic limbs. In all the dogs, internal stabilization was applied using the 1 mm, 4 or 5 -hole reconstructive mini plates. In three dogs mini plates were applied in treatment of non-union of antebrachial bones. In each case radius bone was stabilized only. X-ray examination performed in all the dogs 10 weeks postoperatively showed complete adhesion of treated bones. It was found that application of reconstructive mini plates in treatment of simultaneous fractures of distal shaft of both antebrachial bones is effective therapeutic method.     

Early development of immune system in pigs

Prenatal and early postnatal immune system development has been studied in minipigs. First leukocytes were observed in the yolk sac and fetal liver (FL) on the 17th day of gestation, the majority of them being SWC3(+). The colonization of the thymus (TH) with leukocytes was observed 21 days later. Two waves of fetal TH colonization with pro-T cells were deduced from the frequency of thymocyte subsets. Thymic B cells and immunoglobulin-secreting cells (Ig-SC) were studied by flow cytometry and ELISPOT, respectively. When the total numbers of fetal Ig-SC were compared, the TH was identified as the main source of natural antibodies and the only site of IgA and IgG synthesis. In germ-free animals, the TH also represented the major site of IgG and IgA production and the number of Ig-SC was not influenced by colonization with microflora. FL and bone marrow were identified as primary B lymphopoietic sites. The phenotype of B precursors was characterized and pre-B II cells were shown to be the dominant mononuclear fraction between DG50 and DG105. In the periphery, relative proportions of lymphocyte subsets were determined. Studies in gnotobiotic piglets have revealed that the appearance of CD4(+)CD8(+) T cells and CD2(-) B cells is absolutely dependent on the contact of immune system with live viruses and bacteria, respectively.     

Genetic parameter estimates of yearling live animal ultrasonic measurements in Brangus cattle

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for real-time ultrasound measurements of longissimus muscle area (LMA), 12th rib backfat thickness (FT), percent intramuscular fat (IMF), and yearling weight (YW) for 1,299 yearling Brangus bulls and heifers. A single ultrasound technician performed all measurements. The number of observations was 1,298, 1,298, 1,215, and 1,170 for LMA, FT, IMF, and YW, respectively. Genetic parameters were estimated for each trait using single- and multiple-trait derivative-free restricted maximal likelihood. Fixed effects were contemporary group (defined as same sex, same age within six months, and same environment), and days of age as a covariate. Correlations were estimated from two-trait models. Heritabilities for LMA, FT, IMF, and YW were 0.31, 0.26, 0.16, and 0.53, respectively. Genetic correlations between LMA and FT, LMA and IMF, LMA and YW, FT and IMF, FT and YW, and IMF and YW were 0.09, 0.25, 0.44, 0.36, 0.42, and 0.31, respectively. Yearling live animal ultrasonic measurements can be used as a selection tool in breeding cattle for the improvement of carcass traits.