Characterization of endotoxin from the rumen bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii.

Phenol-water extraction of Megasphaera elsdenii, a predominant gram-negative coccus in rumens of cattle fed high-grain diets, yielded material that exhibited typical characteristics of endotoxin. The extract was lethal to mice and to chicken embryos, caused biphasic fever in rabbits, leukopenia in mice, and local and generalized Shwartzman reactions; and induced tolerance to the lethal effect of the endotoxin in mice. The material contained carbohydrate, protein, lipid, phosphorus, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, but no nucleic acid. The beta-hydroxymyristic acid was absent. Results imply that M elsdenii endotoxin has many biological and chemical characteristics common to enterobacterial endotoxin. However, the median lethal doses in mice and in chicken embryos, and minimal dose required to elicit a local Shwartzman reaction, indicate that M elsdenii endotoxin's potency is low, which may explain why the large gram-negative bacterial population in the rumen of cattle is generally innocuous.     

Fertility in buffaloes after oestrus synchronisation with cloprostenol and fixed time insemination.

Fifty-seven cycling buffalo cows of the river type were treated with two doses of 0.5 mg cloprostenol intramuscularly given 11 days apart. Each animal was inseminated twice at 72 and 96 hours after the second injection of cloprostenol. The first service conception rate diagnosed by rectal palpation at 90 days was 38.6 per cent. At the time of insemination the cervix was easily penetrable on both days in only 39 (68.4 per cent) of the animals. They were inseminated at or beyond the internal cervical os, while the others were inseminated in the cervical canal. There was a marked difference in conception rate between those receiving deep inseminations (48.7 per cent) and the others (16.7 per cent). In relation to the interval from calving to insemination the conception rates for those which had calved 60 to 90, 90 to 120 and 120 to 150 days earlier were 16.6, 36.4 and 55.5 per cent respectively. The use of cloprostenol treatment and fixed-time insemination is a useful method of overcoming the problem of oestrus detection in buffaloes. Acceptable levels of fertility can be obtained in those animals which have a sufficiently relaxed cervix to permit semen deposition at the internal os, provided the interval from calving to insemination is more than 90 days.     

Factors affecting dystocia and offspring vigour in different sheep genotypes

Birth difficulty and poor lamb vigour are significant causes of perinatal lamb mortality. In this study we investigated whether sheep breeds differing in appearance, muscularity and selection history also had differences in dystocia and lamb vigour, and considered some of the factors that may contribute to the variation in these traits. Data were collected at birth from a total of 3252 lambs of two terminal sire breeds selected for lean growth (Suffolk [S], n = 500 and Texel [T], n = 1207), from a Hill breed (Scottish Blackface [B], n = 610), which has been mainly selected for hardiness, and a crossbred (Mule × T [M], n = 935) representing a maternal line. For each lamb the degree of assistance at delivery, lamb presentation, amount of assistance to achieve successful sucking, sex, litter size and birth weight were recorded. T lambs required the most, and B and M lambs the least assistance at birth, S lambs were intermediate (% lambs assisted: T = 55.7, S = 30.7, B = 22.7, M = 24.9, P < 0.001). T and S lambs were equally likely to be malpresented at birth (29% of births) and more likely to be malpresented than B or M lambs (20%; P < 0.001). In T and S breeds lambs requiring veterinary assistance at delivery were mainly heavy and singleton lambs, whereas in B and M breeds these were exclusively low birth weight lambs in multiple litters. Although heavier lambs needed greater birth assistance, T lambs were lighter than S and M lambs, but heavier than B lambs (birth weight (kg): S = 4.66, M = 4.56, T = 4.32, B = 3.67, P < 0.001). S lambs were more likely to require assistance with sucking than other breeds, and T lambs also required more assistance than B or M lambs (% lambs assisted to suck: S = 56.0, T = 31.6, M = 19.8, B = 18.4, P < 0.001). Heavier lambs were more likely to suck unaided than lighter lambs (P < 0.001). The data suggest that the two terminal sire breeds, selected narrowly for greater productivity (muscle growth and conformation), are more likely to experience birth difficulty and poorer lamb vigour than the breed selected for hardiness, or the cross breed. Whether these effects arise as a consequence of genetic selection (e.g. for specific lamb conformation), or as a result of management practices to achieve selection goals (e.g. increased intervention at lambing) is unknown. Specific actions to improve birth difficulty and lamb vigour, such as including these traits in the selection index, would be beneficial in improving the welfare of ewes and lambs of the terminal sire breeds.     

Isolation and biological properties of virulent subpopulations from lentogenic Newcastle disease virus strains

From each of two lentogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains of the type LaSota and Hitchner B1 a virulent subpopulation could be obtained. The two subpopulations were—in comparison to the two parent viruses—more resistant to the lipid solvent chloroform and more stable against thermal degradation. Also, the glycoproteins haemagglutinin and F (fusion) were more stable against thermal inactivation. Electron microscopic observations revealed in terms of size and morphology all of the characteristics of NDV. Both subpopulations possessed, however, the same elution kinetics as their respective parent strains. The intracerebral and intravenous pathogenicity indices as well as the mean death times of the two subpopulations allow to classify these viruses as virulent Newcastle disease viruses.     

Occurrence of systemic hypertension in dogs with acute kidney injury and treatment with amlodipine besylate

Objectives : To describe the occurrence of systemic hypertension in dogs with acute kidney injury and the efficacy of amlodipine besylate for its treatment. Methods : This retrospective study included 52 dogs with acute kidney injury (2007 to 2008) grouped based on the use of amlodipine in their treatment. Systemic blood pressure was measured with an oscillometric device at admission, before, during, and after amlodipine therapy. Results : Occurrence of systolic systemic hypertension (≥160 mmHg) and severe systolic systemic hypertension (≥180 mmHg) was 37% and 15% at admission and increased with hospitalisation to 81% and 62%, respectively. Twenty‐two dogs were treated with amlodipine, at a median daily dosage of 0·38 mg/kg (interquartile range 0·28 to 0·49) divided in one to two applications per day. Amlodipine therapy was associated with a decrease in systolic systemic blood pressure of 24 mmHg (12 to 34) and a correction of severe systemic hypertension in 10 of 11 dogs within 24 hours. Overall, 73% of the dogs survived with a significantly lower proportion of survivors in treated compared to non‐treated dogs (59% versus 83%, respectively, P=0·05). Clinical Significance : Results of this study reveal that systemic hypertension is common in canine acute kidney injury and that treatment with amlodipine is beneficial in reducing systemic hypertension. The potential effect of amlodipine on global outcome requires prospective assessment.     

Application of non-structural protein ELISA kits in nationwide FMD surveillance in pigs to demonstrate virus circulation in Taiwan

Large scale surveillance of FMD non-structural protein (NSP) antibody in pigs was conducted to monitor for FMD virus circulation in Taiwan using Ceditest and UBI NSP ELISA kits after recurrence of FMD in 2009. A total of 53,759 serum samples were collected from pigs in the auction markets in 2009. There were 43 farms with positive FMD NSP reactors to both NSP ELISA tests in the nationwide surveillance. After tracing back, clinical examination and the NSP ELISA testing using both Ceditest and UBI on 14 follow-up serum samples from all the herds with confirmed NSP reactors in 2009, there were 4 farms classified as positive on follow-up testing criteria. In this surveillance, we have demonstrated that the NSP ELISA tests of outbreak farms followed by clinical and serological investigation could be used to detect FMD circulation in the pig population in Taiwan even while the national compulsory vaccination program is ongoing.     

Morphological study of the lingual papillae in the barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak

The morphology of the tongue of the adult barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak, was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The result showed that the tongue of the barking deer was elongated with a rounded apex. Four types of lingual papillae were observed: filiform, fungiform, vallate and large conical papillae. The filiform papillae represented the most numerous types of lingual papillae. The fungiform papillae were distributed among the filiform papillae on the rostral and the body portions of the tongue. Ten to thirteen vallate papillae were distributed on both sides of the lingual prominence among the large conical papillae. Histologically, both the fungiform and vallate papillae contain taste buds in the epithelial layer. The distribution and types of lingual papillae found in the barking deer are similar to those in the other species that belong to the family Cervidae.     

Unilateral granulomatous orchitis in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): a case report

This case report describes orchitis in a stranded adult sexually mature free-living harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Orchitis, with or without epididymitis, is a rare finding in harbour porpoises and has been reported to be associated with infection with Brucella species or fungi. This porpoise was examined as part of an ongoing investigation into causes of death in harbour porpoises stranded on the Dutch coast. At necropsy, the animal was in very poor body condition and the most significant pathological change encountered was unilateral chronic granulomatous orchitis. Histologically, the seminiferous tubules were multifocally severely distended by large numbers of macrophages and fewer neutrophils that often showed central necrosis, with intra- and extracellular rod-shaped bacteria that stained negatively with Gram stain. No acid-fast bacteria, fungal elements, or spirochetes were detected when the lesions were stained with Ziehl-Neelsen, Fite-Faraco, Warthin-Starry, and Periodic acid-Schiff stains. Culture of samples taken from the testis revealed a pure culture of a bacterium of the Alcaligenaceae family. Further analysis by biochemistry, fatty acid profiling, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques identified the bacterium as a Castellaniella species. The association of this bacterium with the observed lesions remains uncertain.