Prevalence and distribution of Trypanosoma evansi in camels in Somaliland

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The prevalence and distribution of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) infection on camels in Somaliland were studied using the card agglutination test (CATT/T....     

Efficacy of Intravenous Administration of Combined Acid Suppressants in Healthy Dogs

Background

Short‐term intravenous co‐administration of famotidine and pantoprazole is used by some veterinarians to treat gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill dogs. However, clinical studies have not evaluated the efficacy of combination acid suppressant treatment in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To compare the effect of intravenous co‐administration of famotidine and pantoprazole to monotherapy with pantoprazole on intragastric pH in dogs. We hypothesized that single agent pantoprazole would be more effective than combination with famotidine.

Animals

Twelve healthy adult colony dogs.

Methods

Randomized, 2‐way crossover design. All dogs received placebo (0.9% saline) for 24 hours followed by 1.0 mg/kg IV q12h pantoprazole or combination treatment with famotidine and pantoprazole for 3 consecutive days. Intragastric pH monitoring was used to continuously record intragastric pH for 96 hours beginning on day 0 of treatment. Mean percentage time (MPT) that intragastric pH was ≥3 and ≥4 were compared between groups using ANOVA with a posthoc Tukey‐Kramer test (α = 0.017).

Results

The MPT ± standard deviation intragastric pH was greater than ≥3 and 4 were 79 ± 17% and 68 ± 17% for pantoprazole and 74 ± 19% and 64 ± 23% for combination treatment, respectively. There were no significant differences in MPT intragastric pH was ≥3 and 4 between groups. Pantoprazole administered alone achieved pH goals established for humans with acid‐related disorders.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

These results suggest that short‐term combination treatment with famotidine and pantoprazole is not superior to pantoprazole alone for increasing intragastric pH in dogs.     

Forms of Reproductive Disorders in Cattle and Buffaloes in Middle Egypt

The objective of this study was to investigate the common forms of reproductive disorders and trends of fertility in cattle and buffaloes in Middle Egypt, and investigate nutritional deficiencies or imbalances as a cause of infertility. During the period from 2003 to 2006 a total of 4276 animals (2755 cattle and 1521 buffaloes) were examined, during winter and summer at three districts of Middle Egypt. Based on the owner complains, animals were categorized as anestrum, repeat breeder and those for pregnancy diagnosis. Feedstuffs of these districts were assessed for nutrient and mineral contents. Animals were examined by rectal palpation and by transrectal ultrasonography. The results showed that, ovarian inactivity was the most common cause of anestrum, whereas endometritis was the main frequent finding of repeat breeding. District, season and year affected the incidences of infertility. The pregnancy rate remained constant (cattle) or increased (buffaloes) from 2003 to 2006. The incidence of ovarian inactivity in both species decreased over the same period. In winter, the commonly used feedstuffs would be adequate to supply the animals with needs, but in summer, rations seem to be deficient in many essential nutrients. In conclusion, ovarian inactivity is the main cause of infertility in cattle and buffaloes in Middle Egypt. There is a link between poor nutrition in summer and the high incidence of ovarian inactivity. Fertility trends during the past few years are encouraging.     

Pharmacokinetics of single-dose intravenous or intramuscular administration of gentamicin in roosters

Healthy mature roosters (n = 10) were given gentamicin (5 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and, 30 days later, another dose IM. Serum concentrations of gentamicin were determined over 60 hours after each drug dosing, using a radioimmunoassay. Using nonlinear least-square regression methods, the combined data of IV and IM treatments were best fitted by a 2-compartment open model. The mean distribution phase half-life was 0.203 +/- 0.075 hours (mean +/- SD) and the terminal half-life was 3.38 +/- 0.62 hours. The volume of the central compartment was 0.0993 +/- 0.0097 L/kg, volume of distribution at steady state was 0.209 +/- 0.013 L/kg, and the total body clearance was 46.5 +/- 7.9 ml/h/kg. Intramuscular absorption was rapid, with a half-life for absorption of 0.281 +/- 0.081 hours. The extent of IM absorption was 95 +/- 18%. Maximal serum concentration of 20.68 +/- 2.10 micrograms/ml was detected at 0.62 +/- 0.18 hours after the dose. Kinetic calculations predicted that IM injection of gentamicin at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, q 12 h, and 1.5 mg/kg, q 8 h, would provide average steady-state serum concentrations of 6.82 and 3.83 micrograms/ml, with minimal steady-state serum concentrations of 1.54 and 1.50 micrograms/ml and maximal steady-state serum concentrations of 18.34 and 7.70 micrograms/ml, respectively.     

Efficacy of oral famotidine and 2 omeprazole formulations for the control of intragastric pH in dogs

Background: Little is known about the efficacy of commonly used acid suppressants on intragastric pH in dogs. Objective: To compare the effect of oral famotidine, 2 formulations of omeprazole, and placebo on intragastric pH in dogs with a catheter‐free, continuous pH monitoring system. Animals: Six healthy adult mixed‐breed colony dogs. Methods: Utilizing a randomized, 4‐way cross over, open‐label study, dogs were administered famotidine PO (1.0–1.3 mg/kg q12h), omeprazole tablet (1.5–2.6 mg/kg q24h), omeprazole reformulated paste (RP) (Gastrogard, 1.5–2.6 mg/kg q24h), and placebo for 7 days followed by a 10‐day washout period. Radiotelemetric pH capsules were placed with gastroscopy assistance to continuously record intragastric pH for 4 days (days 4–7 of dosing). The percentage of time that intragastric pH was ≥3 and ≥4 was compared among treatment groups using repeated measures of analysis of variance. Tukey's Studentized range test was used to determine which groups were different with α= 0.05. Results: Mean ± SD percent time intragastric pH was ≥3 and ≥4 was 22 ± 8% and 14 ± 6% for famotidine, 63 ± 14% and 52 ± 17% for omeprazole tablet, 54 ± 17% and 44 ± 18% for omeprazole RP, and 6 ± 6% and 5 ± 5% for placebo. Both omeprazole formulations significantly increased intragastric pH compared with famotidine and placebo, but omeprazole tablet and RP was not significantly different from each other. Conclusion: Oral omeprazole tablet and RP provide superior gastric acid suppression to famotidine, and should therefore be considered more effective for the treatment of acid related disorders in dogs.     

薰衣草精油替代饲用抗生素对肉仔鸡生产性能和胴体品质的影响

[目的]研究日粮中添加薰衣草精油替代饲用抗生素对肉仔鸡生产性能及胴体品质的影响.[方法]将300只1日龄AA肉仔鸡随机分成4个处理组(每组设3个重复,每个重复25只),对照组饲喂基础日粮加抗生素,试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组日粮为基础日粮,分别添加薰衣草精油0.4、0.8、1.2(0～2周)和0.2、0.4和0.6 mL/kg(3 ～6周).[结果]日粮中添加薰衣草精油与添加抗生素比较,对肉仔鸡的平均日增重、料重比、死淘率和胴体品质等生产性能指标的影响不显著(P＞0.05);除了试验组Ⅲ的腿肌率与抗生素组相比有显著降低外(P＜0.05),其它胴体品质指标与抗生素组相比无显著性差异(P＞0.05).试验组的平均死淘率(0.86;)低于抗生素组的死淘率(3.1;);试验组Ⅰ比抗生素组日增重提高了1.87; (P ＞0.05),料重比降低了0.53; (P ＞0.05).[结论]从肉仔鸡41 d末重、料重比、死淘率等指标综合评定来看,用薰衣草精油替代肉仔鸡饲用抗生素是可行的,0～2周和3～6周日粮中分别添加薰衣草精油0.4和0.2 mL/kg的效果较好.     

Egg yolk fatty acid profile of avian species – influence on human nutrition

Lipids are an important nutritional component of the avian egg. A review of the literature was completed to determine the fatty acid compositions in egg yolk from some avian species. Additionally, the nutritional influence of lipid and lipoprotein content on the plasma of male participants during 30‐day feeding was discussed. The ostrich eggs had the highest unsaturated fatty acid and the lowest cholesterol content in relation to other avian species. Ostrich had a higher proportion of 18:3n‐3 (p < 0.01) compared with other species. Chicken yolk numerically contained much higher levels of 22:6n‐3 than those found in turkeys, quails and geese, but the amount of 22:6n‐3 in ostrich egg was lower by comparison with other species (p < 0.01). After the storage of eggs at the room temperature, there was a notable loss of vitamin E (vitE) in the yolks of all species and this decrease was marginal (p < 0.01) in ostrich compared with other species. There were significant (p < 0.05) increases in plasma low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) level in all male subjects. Plasma high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) level decreased (p < 0.05) only in men who were fed chicken or ostrich eggs daily. Consumption of different species’ eggs had no influence on the total male plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. LDL‐C:HDL‐C ratio increased (p < 0.05) after goose and turkey egg consumption. Consumption of one egg/month by healthy human subjects had no effect on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride. The LDL‐C:HDL‐C ratio (which is a strong predictor of coronary heart disease risk) increased, although non‐significantly, by consuming chicken, quail and ostrich eggs.     

谈谈学分制下如何做好学生党建工作

全面推行学分制是高校教学改革的深化, 是教育和教学改革的一个发展阶段。但由于学分制所带来的思想教育、学生党建等新情况、新问题, 应值得所有教育者认真思考和研究的。本文围绕学分制实行后给学生党建工作带来的“四难”以及如何应对提出了一些理论和实践的思考。