Identification of bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 in yaks (Bos poephagus grunniens) in the Himalayan region

Since cattle are widely infected by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in India, we searched for pestivirus infection in yaks. Of 71 pure and crossbred yaks from Himalayan region, pestivirus antigen was detected by Ag-ELISA in three animals. Pestivirus in leukocyte and cell culture isolated virus samples originating from positive yaks was also confirmed by RT-PCR using panpestivirus specific primers selected from 5'-untranslated region (5' UTR). The 5' UTR, N(pro) and E2 regions were sequenced and used for genetic typing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that pestiviruses detected in three Himalayan yaks were similar genetically, belonging to BVDV-1. Antigenic characterisation of yak pestivirus also confirmed the typing as BVDV-1. This is the first report on the identification of BVDV type 1 in yaks.     

Pharmacokinetics of topically applied ciprofloxacin in tears of mesocephalic and brachycephalic dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ophthalmic ciprofloxacin in the tear film of normal mesocephalic and brachycephalic dogs. ANIMALS STUDIED: Twenty mesocephalic dogs and 15 brachycephalic dogs. PROCEDURES: Thirty-five microliters of ciprofloxacin were placed on the cornea of both eyes of each dog. Five brachycephalic dogs were used twice. A tear-test strip placed in the ventral cul de sac for 30 s was used to obtain samples. The tear film of each eye was sampled once at eight time-points post administration, resulting in five samples at each time-point. Samples were evaluated using high performance liquid chromatography. Data from the two skull types were compared using the unpaired two-tailed t-test. RESULTS: The mean concentration of ciprofloxacin in the tears of mesocephalic dogs was 192.8 +/- 269.97, 140.6 +/- 91.06, 56.60 +/- 28.47, 13.6 +/- 6.3, 43.25 +/- 59.71, 16.6 +/- 10.62, 15.6 +/- 13.16 and 6.25 +/- 9.84 microg/g at 5, 10, 15, 30 min and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h, respectively. The mean concentration of ciprofloxacin in the tears of brachycephalic dogs was 272.6 +/- 106.21, 144.4 +/- 142.32, 131.2 +/- 147.07, 75 +/- 80.07, 40.8 +/- 30.35, 35 +/- 21.98, 52.75 +/- 51.87 and 8.6 +/- 12.10 microg/g at 5, 10, 15, 30 min and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h, respectively. There was no statistical difference in tear concentration at any time-point between skull types. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of ciprofloxacin resulted in a mean tear concentration of ciprofloxacin that remained above the MIC(90) levels for most pathogenic bacteria for 6 h in normal mesocephalic and brachycephalic dogs.     

Prospective medical evaluation of 7 dogs presented with fly biting

Fly biting describes a syndrome in which dogs appear to be watching something and then snapping at it. Medical work-up of fly biting in dogs has never been reported. The aims of this case series were to characterize fly biting and perform a complete medical evaluation of dogs displaying fly biting.     

Biochemical evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes in canine skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: To perform respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays on canine skeletal muscle biopsy specimens and establish reference range values of skeletal muscle enzyme activities for dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained from 24 dogs (8 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact females) ranging from 15 months to 6 years of age. PROCEDURE: Mean values of citrate synthase, cytochrome-c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, and NADH dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase activities were established by use of 6 standard spectrophotometric assays for respiratory chain enzyme analysis. RESULTS: Compared with published data for skeletal muscle enzyme activities in humans, skeletal muscle enzyme activities in dogs were 2- to 4-fold higher. Additionally, citrate synthase activity, a marker for mitochondrial volume, was positively correlated with age in dogs, suggesting that mitochondrial volume increases with age, although no apparent change in respiratory chain enzymatic activity with an increase in age was found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Reference range values for skeletal muscle enzyme activities of dogs are needed to accurately interpret results of respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays. During investigation of metabolic myopathies, if skeletal muscle biopsy specimens are evaluated for respiratory chain enzyme kinetics, they should be performed and evaluated in concert with skeletal muscle biopsy specimens from clinically normal animals of the same species.     

Estimation of genetic parameters among reproductive and growth traits in yearling heifers

Growth and reproductive data were obtained on 779 beef heifers at the San Juan Basin Research Center, Hesperus, Co. Genetic parameters were estimated for age of puberty (AOP), age of first calving (AOC), julian day of first calving (DOC), julian day of second calving (DOSC), birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and average daily gain from weaning to yearling and to cycling weights. The least squares model included birth year, age of dam and breed as fixed effects, sire/breed as a random variable, and day of birth and percent inbreeding as covariates. Day of birth was not included in the analyses of AOC, DOC or DOSC. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability were: AOP, .10 +/- .17; AOC, .01 +/- .12; DOC, .09 +/- .13 and DOSC, .36 +/- .18. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were generally favorable, but genetic correlations were variable with large standard errors. Inbreeding had a detrimental effect on reproductive traits, and a seasonal effect was present for AOP.