Cytoarchitecture, morphology, and lumbosacral spinal cord projections of the red nucleus in cattle

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the morphology, cytoarchitecture, and lumbosacral spinal cord projections of the red nucleus (RN) in cattle. ANIMALS: 8 healthy Friesian male calves. PROCEDURES: Anesthetized calves underwent a dorsal laminectomy at L5. Eight bilateral injections (lateral to the midline) of the neuronal retrograde fluorescent tracer fast blue (FB) were administered into the exposed lumbosacral portion of the spinal cord. A postsurgical calf survival time of 38 to 55 days was used. Following euthanasia, the midbrain and the L5-S2 spinal cord segments were removed. Nissl's method of staining was applied on paraffin-embedded and frozen sections of the midbrain. RESULTS: The mean length of the RN from the caudal to cranial end ranged from 6,680 to 8,640 microm. The magnocellular and parvicellular components of the RN were intermixed throughout the nucleus, but the former predominate at the caudal portion of the nucleus and the latter at the cranial portion with a gradual transitional zone. The FB-labeled neurons were found along the entire craniocaudal extension of the nucleus, mainly in its ventrolateral part. The number of FB-labeled neurons was determined in 4 calves, ranging from 191 to 1,469 (mean, 465). The mean cross-sectional area of the FB-labeled neurons was approximately 1,680 microm2. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cattle, small, medium, and large RN neurons, located along the entire craniocaudal extension of the RN, contribute to the rubrospinal tract reaching the L6-S1 spinal cord segments. Thus, in cattle, as has been shown in cats, the RN parvicellular population also projects to the spinal cord.     

Development of a real time PCR for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis directly from genital swabs and discrimination from Taylorella asinigenitalis

A discriminatory real time PCR for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM), and the related species T. asinigenitalis was developed for the direct examination of genital swabs. The 112bp amplicons produced from the two species were discriminated from each other using TaqMan probes labelled with different fluorophores. The TaqMan PCR was shown to be specific for the 16S ribosomal DNA of the two species of taylorella and did not cross-hybridise with the 16S ribosomal DNA of other bacteria tested. Direct amplification from genital swabs was shown to be equally sensitive to that of culture methods. Prevalence in a sample set from The Netherlands was shown to be equivalent to that demonstrated by culture. A companion real time PCR that amplified a fragment of the 16S rDNA gene of equine commensal bacteria was developed to ensure bacterial DNA was extracted from swab material supplied for testing. The use of a rapid and reliable real time PCR for the organism causing CEM should aid the control of this disease.     

Accuracy of an oscillometric blood pressure monitor during phenylephrine-induced hypertension in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To examine the agreement between direct arterial blood pressure measurements obtained from 2 arteries and indirect blood pressure measurements obtained with an oscillometric blood pressure monitor (OBPM) during normotension and phenylephrine-induced hypertension in dogs. ANIMALS: 16 male Beagles. PROCEDURES: In anesthetized dogs, arterial catheters were placed in the lingual and dorsal pedal arteries for measurement of arterial blood pressure. A blood pressure cuff was placed on either the dog's fore- or hind limb and connected to an OBPM. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures (SAP, DAP, and MAP, respectively) were recorded from both arteries and the OBPM every 5 minutes for 30 minutes (baseline), during a 30-minute period in which dogs received a phenylephrine infusion IV to induce hypertension, and for 30 minutes after discontinuation of the infusion. Mean differences in blood pressure values and confidence intervals were calculated to compare the indirect and direct measurement techniques. RESULTS: In dogs, oscillometry underestimated SAP during normotension, and the difference between oscillometric and direct measurements increased during hypertension. Oscillometry underestimated DAP, but the difference between oscillometric and direct measurements decreased during hypertension. There was close agreement among techniques for MAP determinations. Biases between direct measurements and OPBM blood pressure values measured from dogs' forelimbs or hind limbs were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In normotensive dogs, oscillometric measurements of MAP and SAP agreed more closely with direct arterial pressure measurements than oscillometric estimates of DAP. Oscillometric measurement of MAP was accurate during both normotension and hypertension in dogs.     

Identification of Facklamia sourekii from a lactating cow

A gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccus was isolated from a lactating cow with hematuria and urodynia in Japan. The isolate was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Facklamia sourekii. The biochemical and culture characteristics of the isolate were well consistent with those of F. sourekii type strain. Since all F. sourekii strains reported so far were isolated from human clinical specimens, this is the first reported case of F. sourekii isolated from veterinary clinical specimen.     

Effect of meniscal release on rate of subsequent meniscal tears and owner-assessed outcome in dogs with cruciate disease treated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare rates of meniscal tears after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) among 3 groups of dogs based on treatment method: arthrotomy with meniscal release (openR), arthrotomy without meniscal release (openNR), arthroscopy without meniscal release (scopeNR), and compare long term owner-assessed outcomes for the same groups. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Stifles (n=254) of dogs that had TPLO. METHODS: The three groups were compared for significant (P<.05) differences in rate of subsequent tears using a chi(2) test. Odds ratios for likelihood of subsequent meniscal tears were determined. Data for signalment, outcome, time to peak function, and time to subsequent tear were compared for significant differences using ANOVA, t-test, or rank sum test. RESULTS: Subsequent meniscal tears were diagnosed in 16 cases (6.3%). Of dogs with subsequent meniscal tears, 9 had openNR, 4 had openR, and 3 had scopeNR; the proportion of subsequent meniscal tears was significantly different (P=.035) among groups. Odds ratio indicated that subsequent meniscal tear was 3.8 times more likely to occur for openNR than openR or scopeNR. No significant differences among groups were noted for measures of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Meniscal release did not reduce the rate of subsequent meniscal tears when compared with cases treated arthroscopically or when compared with all cases combined, but may be advantageous when meniscal pathology cannot be comprehensively assessed in the cranial cruciate deficient stifle. Meniscal release had no effects on owner-assessed outcome as determined in this study. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The low rates of subsequent meniscal tears in conjunction with the relatively high and equivocal levels of owner-assessed outcome and time to peak function for all 3 treatment groups suggest that any of these surgical management strategies can be considered acceptable. We suggest that a meniscal release be performed when complete and thorough exploration of the joint and meniscus cannot be, or are not, performed.     

气象因素对种公牛精液品质的影响

种公牛精液品质受着遗传、营养、管理、采精操作、气象等多因素的影响。精液品质属于遗传力较低的繁殖性状,例如:年产精剂量的遗传力只有0.06。因此,种公牛精液品质的变化主要是环境条件的作用。在诸多的环境因素中,气象就是一组不可忽视的因子。为了提高种公牛的精液品质,我们对黑龙江省家畜繁育指导站近百头黑白花种     

The effect of ingredients in dry dog foods on the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs

Using dry dog food label information, the hypothesis was tested that the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) increases with an increasing number of soy and cereal ingredients and a decreasing number of animal-protein ingredients among the first four ingredients. A nested case-control study was conducted with 85 GDV cases and 194 controls consuming a single brand and variety of dry food. Neither an increasing number of animal-protein ingredients (P=0.79) nor an increasing number of soy and cereal ingredients (P=0.83) among the first four ingredients significantly influenced GDV risk. An unexpected finding was that dry foods containing an oil or fat ingredient (e.g., sunflower oil, animal fat) among the first four ingredients were associated with a significant (P=0.01), 2.4-fold increased risk of GDV. These findings suggest that the feeding of dry dog foods that list oils or fats among the first four label ingredients predispose a high-risk dog to GDV.     

Ovarian activity and pregnancy in the Siberian tiger, Panthera tigris altaica, assessed by fecal gonadal steroid hormones analyses

Feces were collected from two female and one male Siberian tigers, Panthera tigris altaica. Steroid hormones were extracted from lyophilized feces and quantified by enzyme immunoassay. The fecal contents of estradiol-17beta (E(2)) and testosterone in the females and male, respectively, changed markedly throughout the year. The fecal E(2) contents of females Nos. 179 and 238 increased at 26.4 +/- 8.0 and 28.0 +/- 14.2 day intervals, respectively. However, the fecal contents of progesterone (P(4)) in the female kept alone did not change. In contrast, the other female, which was kept with a male, had increased fecal P(4) contents after copulation. The fecal progesterone levels of the pregnant female remained high during her 106-day pregnancy.     

A novel mutation of the CLCN1 gene associated with myotonia hereditaria in an Australian cattle dog

BACKGROUND: Heritable myotonia is a genetic muscle disorder characterized by slow relaxation of skeletal muscles. The main clinical signs are skeletal muscle stiffness, especially after vigorous contraction, and muscle hypertrophy. Muscle stiffness may be enhanced by inactivity, and often is relieved by exercise. Myotonia can be inherited in an autosomal dominant or recessive manner (Thomsen- or Becker-type myotonia, respectively). In mice, goats, Miniature Schnauzer dogs, and most affected humans, the disorder is caused by mutations in CLCN1, which encodes the skeletal muscle voltage-gated chloride channel, Cl1C-1. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that an Australian Cattle Dog with generalized muscle stiffness and hypertrophy examined at the Ontario Veterinary College would have a mutation in the CLCN1 gene. ANIMALS: A pure-bred Australian Cattle Dog from Ontario, Canada, was used. METHODS: Based on clinical signs and electromyographic test results, a diagnosis of myotonia hereditaria was made, and a muscle biopsy was collected for genetic analysis. RESULTS: Sequence data obtained from the affected dog confirmed that it was homozygous for a single base insertion in the CLCN1 coding sequence. This mutation would result in a truncated ClC-1 protein being expressed, which, based on molecular evidence from other studies, would result in functionally compromised chloride conduction in the skeletal muscles of the animal. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this report describes the Ist case of myotonia in an Australian Cattle Dog and represents the 1st non-Schnauzer canine myotonia to be genetically characterized. In addition, we developed a polymerase chain reaction-based genetic screen to detect heterozygotes with this mutation in the at-large Australian Cattle Dog population.