Preputial foreign body in a bull

A preputial foreign body caused severe preputial swelling and depression in a 4-year-old Shorthorn bull. Disruption of the preputial epithelium by the foreign body resulted in abscess formation lateral to the prepuce. A patent urethral fistula, probably a complication of prior fibropapilloma excisional surgery, was also detected on the distal portion of the glans penis. Foreign body removal, antimicrobial administration, and warm hydrotherapy resolved the swelling and abscess. Electroejaculation was used to extend the penis and to minimize preputial adhesions. Breeding soundness examinations were used to evaluate breeding potential.     

The relationship between the microtitration serum agglutination and complement fixation tests in bovine brucellosis serology

The relationship between antibody titres in the microtitration serum agglutination test and the complement fixation test in bovine brucellosis is described. For low and high MSAT values there is good agreement between the 2 tests. This is not the case for MSAT values between 54 and 338 IU/ml. For practical reasons, results falling into this category cannot all be repeated. Repetitions are so structured that less than 4% of the tests need to be repeated. If the level of repetitions should show an increase above 4%, it is assumed that technical or human error has occurred.     

Regional limb perfusion for antibiotic treatment of experimentally induced septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis was induced in one antebrachiocarpal joint of seven horses by the intra-articular injection of 1 mL Staphylococcus aureus suspension containing a mean of 10(5) colony-forming units. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, four horses were treated by regional perfusion with 1 g of gentamicin sulfate, and three horses received 2.2 mg/kg gentamicin sulfate intravenously (IV) every 6 hours. Synovial fluid was collected for culture and cytology at regular intervals, and the synovial membranes were collected for culture and histologic examination at euthanasia 24 hours after the first treatment. Gentamicin concentration in the septic synovial fluid after three successful perfusions was 221.2 +/- 71.4 (SD) micrograms/mL; after gentamicin IV, it was 7.6 +/- 1.6 (SD) micrograms/mL. The mean leukocyte count in the inoculated joints decreased significantly by hour 24 in the successfully perfused joints. Terminal bacterial cultures of synovial fluid and synovial membranes were negative in two horses with successfully perfused joints. S. aureus was isolated from the infected joints in all three horses treated with gentamicin IV.     

Fire management on Imperata grasslands as part of agroforestry development in Indonesia

Fire is an important factor in the Imperata grassland ecosystem. It prevents or slows down the natural succession to shrubs and/or secondary forest vegetation and is a major threat to (agro)forestry options for Imperata grassland rehabilitation. Forest fires can also be a primary cause of the extension of Imperata grasslands. In this review an attempt is made to integrate biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of the causation of fires in a conceptual model. Fire effects on vegetation are examined. The management options at the level of a farmer, a village community and a national government are analyzed.     

Bioavailability of two ibuprofen oral paste formulations in fed or nonfed ponies.

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was studied in healthy Shetland ponies. Ibuprofen was administered IV, as a suspension, and as a solid solution oral paste to ponies from which food was withheld. The suspension paste was also administered to ponies that received hay and water ad libitum. Both formulations had an absolute bioavailability of about 80%. Bioavailability was not influenced by feeding.     

The use of high-energy electrons to depilate the breech of sheep

The use of high-energy electrons for permanently depilating areas of sheep skin was evaluated. The most effective dose of electrons for depilation was 17.5Gy. Histological changes in skin treated at this dose were examined in one sheep over 18 months and in 5 sheep over 89 d. Effects of treatment on bodyweight gains and fleece growth were examined by comparing the productivity of a further 5 sheep treated on the breech with high-energy electrons, with that of conventionally mulesed sheep (n = 5) and untreated controls (n = 5). Electron treatment resulted in immediate death of cells in the germinative region of the wool follicle bulbs. Within 10 d of treatment the treated areas were completely depilated. Wool follicle shafts in the treated areas regressed rapidly towards the epidermis and remained quiescent for the whole trial (89 d). A sheep treated 18 months previously has remained largely depilated, although a few sparse fibres are present. Epidermal acanthosis and orthokeratosis were present at 26 d after treatment. The thickened stratum corneum then sloughed off, but the epidermis remained acanthotic for the entire trial. Sweat glands and most sebaceous glands were destroyed by the treatment and were replaced by fibrotic, avascular tissue in the dermis. In all other respects the external appearance of the electron-treated breech was similar to that of mulesed sheep. There were no apparent side-effects of treatment. Neither mulesing nor electron treatment altered weight gains or fleece growth rates.     

Growth and abortion of flower buds in gynoecious cucumber plants in relation to temperature

The growth of flower buds in a gynoecious cucumber cultivar was studied at 15, 21 and 27°C. Competition between buds in the same node was measured as the ratio of the growth rates of individual buds. This competition was stronger at 21 and 27 than at 15°C. At 15°C, at least 3 buds were about equally strong; at 21°C, 2 buds developed fast and suppressed the other buds; at 27°C, the first bud which developed suppressed all other buds. When plants were transferred from one temperature to another, the growth-rate ratio between buds in older nodes was maintained. In nodes formed in the new temperature regime, the growth-rate ratio was determined by the new temperature.     

Comparison of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.

Serologic diagnosis of ovine contagious agalactia (Mycoplasma agalactiae) with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Agence Fran?aise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA) may produce a few false-positive (FP) and false-negative (FN) results. When the prevalence of disease is low, these erroneous results may generate problems for eradication schemes. To prevent this, 2 commercial ELISAs were compared with the AFSSA ELISA. Flocks of known status were selected and classified into 4 categories: true positive (TP), FP, true negative (TN), and FN; 20 sheep per flock were submitted for blood sampling. A flock was considered positive when at least 1 out of 20 sera was positive or 2 sera were doubtful. In the flock, the diagnostic sensitivity of the 3 kits was very good (100%), and the diagnostic specificity showed an improvement from 46% (AFSSA test) to 88% and 92% (commercial tests). Considering individual animals, very few positive ewes were detected within TN or FP flocks; the proportion of positive ewes varied greatly from one kit to another (48% to 82%) within TP flocks. The kinetics of antibody response in sheep experimentally infected with various field strains of M. agalactiae were quite similar with all 3 ELISAs. The agreement between the 3 tests, assessed using the kappa value, varied from moderate to good (respective values of 0.56, 0.61, and 0.86). The 2 commercial ELISAs showed better performances, probably because of a superior analytical sensitivity, and are a good alternative for the serodiagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.     

Anthelmintic efficacy of flubendazole paste against nematodes and cestodes in dogs and cats

Small dogs and cats, naturally infected with nematodes and cestodes, were used in a critical test under laboratory conditions to determine the palatability and efficacy of flubendazole as a past formulation. Subsequently, a control test in dogs was conducted under field conditions. A 4.4% past formulation was given at a dosage of 22 mg/kg of body weight once a day for 2 or 3 consecutive days. In a critical test in dogs, the efficacy against Toxocara canis was 97.4% after a 2-day administration and 100% after 3 days. Toxascaris leonina seemed to be the most susceptible worm species, since either 2 or 3 treatments were 100% active. The efficacy against Uncinaria stenocephala was 97.5% after 2 treatments; the same dose level for 3 days improved the efficacy to 100%. The efficacy was 100% for the removal of Trichuris vulpis after a daily dosage for 2 days and 96.7% after 3 days. One of 2 dogs infected with Taenia pisiformis was cleared of the infection after a 2-day treatment, and 3 of 4 dogs were cleared after a 3-day regimen. All cats were cleared of Toxocara cati after 2 or 3 days of treatment. One of 2 cats infected with Hydatigera taeniaeformis was cleared of the infection after a 2-day treatment; a 3-day treatment in 7 cats was 100% effective. The results in the laboratory test in dogs were confirmed under field conditions by a control test, based on the reduction of eggs per gram of feces count after treatment. The paste formulation was well accepted by all dogs and cats without any side effects.     

Veterinary herd health and production service on dairy farms IV. Index list on calf rearing and cow culling

The Herd Health and Production Service program for use in veterinary dairy practice is comprised of a basic and a flexible system. The basic system is a uniform system of data recording, standard veterinary activities and problem detection. In problem detection 4 index lists play a key role. The 4 comprise of the parameters or index figures that are relevant in monitoring the efficiency of milk production, calf rearing and cow replacement. Data on milk production, health status and reproduction of both individual animals and the herd are collected by the farmer and the veterinarian and transformed into index figures.This paper introduces index list “3”, with index figures for the monitoring of calf rearing and cow culling as parts of a herd health program. The development, implementation and significance of the index figures are presented. The index figures serve to detect unsatisfactory farm situations or problems in calf rearing and in cow culling. They trigger further investigation and aid the solution to and prevention of problems. Relationships with farm parameters mentioned in other index lists are also considered. Objectives and reference values where applicable are provided.