The current status and outlook for insecticide,acaricide and anthelmintic resistances across the Australian ruminant livestock industries: assessing the threat these resistances pose to the livestock sector

The Australian ruminant livestock industries are faced with the need to control parasitic infectious diseases that can seriously impact the health of animals. However, increasing levels of resistance to insecticides, anthelmintics and acaricides are substantially reducing the ability to control some of these parasites. Here we review the current situation with regard to chemical resistances in parasites across the various sectors of the Australian ruminant livestock industries and assess the level of threat that these resistances pose to the sustainability of these sectors in the short to long terms. We also look at the extent to which testing for resistance occurs across the various industry sectors, and hence how well-informed these sectors are of the extent of chemical resistance. We examine on-farm management practices, breeding of parasite-resistant animals, and non-chemical therapeutics that may act as short to long term means to reduce the current reliance on chemicals for parasite control. Finally, we look at the balance between the prevalence and magnitude of current resistances and the availability and adoption rates of management, breeding and therapeutic alternatives in order to assess the parasite control outlook for the various industry sectors.     

Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in Wiltshire sheep

AIM: To investigate the nature of a neurological disease in Wiltshire sheep.

METHODS: Three affected lambs were examined, humanely killed and necropsied. Selected neurological tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Primary neurological lesions were confined to the cerebellum and were characterised by loss of Purkinje cells and the presence of large hypertrophied dendrites of surviving Purkinje cells. These contained stacks of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. There was hyperplasia and cell swelling of Bergmann glia. Mild Wallerian-type degeneration affected white matter in the cerebellum and spinal cord.

CONCLUSION: The cerebellar lesions were of a degenerative and reactive rather than hypoplastic nature. These, and the history, suggest a genetic cause with putative inheritance as an autosomal recessive trait. Accordingly, the disorder is described as a cerebellar abiotrophy.     

Transfer of Bovine Blastocysts Derived from Short-term In Vitro Culture of Low Quality Morulae Produced In Vivo

The aim of this study was to evaluate if blastocysts arising from in vitro culture of Grade 3 bovine morulae produced in vivo can promote acceptable pregnancy rates when transferred into recipients. Embryos of different stages and qualities were recovered from superovulated Bos taurus and B. indicus donors. Grade 3 morulae were cultured in either Holding Plus® or TCM‐199 (supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum) media for 24 h at 38.5°C. After this culture period, the resulting blastocysts were morphologically classified (Grades 1, 2 and 3) and transferred into recipients previously synchronized with the donors. Non‐cultured Grades 1 and 3 morulae were used as control. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 60 days after embryo transfer and the data were analysed by logistic regression, considering variables, such as embryo quality (Grade), donor breed, culture medium, donor‐recipient synchrony and seasonality. Embryo quality was the only variable, showing significant effect on the pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rates for non‐cultured Grade 1 and 3 morulae, and blastocysts arising from cultured Grade 3 morulae were 58.1% (n = 31), 17.1% (n = 35) and 51.1% (n = 47), respectively (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences between non‐cultured Grade 1 morulae and cultured blastocysts. Pregnancy rates for Grades 1 (65.0%) and 2 (60.0%) were higher than Grade 3 (29.4%) cultured blastocysts (p < 0.05). It was concluded that short‐term in vitro culture is a very convenient method of identifying morphologically low quality morulae with higher chances of continuing development after the transfer into recipients.     

CASE REPORT AND CLINICAL REVIEW: Acute lameness associated with osseous metastasis of a peri-renal carcinoma in a horse

We present a case of aggressive metastatic carcinoma in a horse that was initially presented for shoulder lameness. Although radiography and scintigraphy were useful for localising a lesion in the proximal humerus, subsequent development of non-specific signs of systemic disease prompted further evaluation. Haematology and blood biochemistry, urinalysis and ultrasonography were all instrumental in identifying renal involvement. A diagnosis of a peri-renal mass causing secondary renal failure prompted euthanasia of the horse because of the poor prognosis. Antemortem findings were supported by necropsy, with secondary lesions also identified in the spleen, liver, 8th left rib and proximal humerus. Histological examination yielded a diagnosis of undifferentiated metastatic carcinoma.     

Pregnancy Rates to Fixed Embryo Transfer of Vitrified IVP Bos indicus,Bos taurus or Bos indicus × Bos taurus Embryos

The pregnancy rates obtained after the transfer of cryopreserved in vitro‐produced (IVP) embryos are usually low and/or inconsistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy rates of Holstein, Gyr and Holstein × Gyr cattle after the transfer of vitrified IVP embryos produced with X‐sorted sperm. Seventy‐two Gyr and 703 Holstein females were subjected to ovum pickup (OPU) sessions, followed by in vitro embryo production using semen from sires of the same breeds. Embryos (1636 Holstein, 241 Gyr and 1515 Holstein × Gyr) were exposed to forskolin for 48 h prior to vitrification. The pregnancy rate achieved with Gyr dam and sire was 46.1%, which was similar (p = 0.11) to that of Holstein dam and Gyr sire (40.3%). Crossing Gyr dams with Holstein sires resulted in a pregnancy rate of 38.9% and did not differ (p = 0.58) from the pregnancy rate obtained with the cross between Holstein dams and Gyr sires. The rate obtained with Holstein dam and sire was 32.5%. The average pregnancy rate was 36.6%, and no difference was found in the proportion of female foetuses (88.8%, in average) among breeds (p > 0.05). In conclusion, transfer of cryopreserved X‐sorted embryos represents an interesting choice for dairy cattle. Despite the small differences between pregnancy rates, we highlight the efficiency of this strategy for all of the racial groups studied.