Effect of Breeding Activity on the Microflora of the External Genitalia and in the Semen of Stallions,and the Relationship Between Micro‐organisms on the Skin and on the External Genitalia

A possible role of breeding activities in the composition of the microbial population in stallions' external genitalia (EG) and the relationship between micro‐organisms colonizing the skin of the abdomen and the ones colonizing the EG have not been studied. In experiment 1, EG microbiological samples were collected from 41 stallions used for both natural cover and semen collection (BST) and from 18 non‐breeding stallions (NBST). A higher (p < 0.05) frequency of isolation of potentially pathogenic species was found for BST. Age did not influence number of micro‐organism species isolated both in BST and NBST. In experiment 2, the microbial content of the EG and semen was compared in 23 BST. Most micro‐organisms isolated from the EG were present in semen, albeit with a numerically lower prevalence. In 7 stallions, six microbial species isolated from semen were absent from the EG cultures, suggesting contamination by the operator. In experiment 3, a numerically higher number of micro‐organism species was isolated from the EG of 31 stallions, than from their skin of the ventral abdomen in contact with the penis or from the skin of the thorax. With the sole exception of Escherichia coli, potentially pathogenic bacteria were only isolated from the EG but not from the skin. Results suggest that breeding activity increased the number of species colonizing the EG; most species isolated from the EG were also found in semen even if with a lower frequency, and additional semen contamination seemed to occur during its manipulation. Many micro‐organism species of the skin were also isolated from the penis, but independently of being or not in contact with the penis, skin did not seem to provide an adequate environment for the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria that were isolated from EG, with the sole exception for E. coli.     

Prevalence of Bovine Dermatophilosis in a Tropical Highland Region of Ethiopia

A study was made of bovine dermatophilosis on 540 animals at a high altitude (2400–2500 m above sea level) in Ethiopia. Eighty-two (15.4%) of the animals were affected by the disease which was more prevalent in local animals than was previously assumed. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the prevalence among different age groups. However, the difference in the prevalence of the disease between males and females was not significant (p>0.05). Associated risk factors included the relatively high average annual rainfall and humidity, tick infestation (76%) and management, related to the mixed crop-livestock production system. The possible impact of the disease on Ethiopian agriculture is indicated.     

Fine structure of the canal neuromasts of the lateral line system in the adult zebrafish

The mechanosensory lateral line system of fish is responsible for several functions such as balance, hearing, and orientation in water flow and is formed by neuromast receptor organs distributed on head, trunk and tail. Superficial and canal neuromasts can be distinguished for localization and morphological differences. Several information is present regarding the superficial neuromasts of zebrafish and other teleosts especially during larval and juvenile stages, while not as numerous data are so far available about the ultrastructural characteristics of the canal neuromasts in adult zebrafish. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate by transmission electron microscopy the ultrastructural aspects of cells present in the canal neuromasts. Besides the typical cellular aspects of the neuromast, different cellular types of hair cells were observed that could be identified as developing hair cells during the physiological turnover. The knowledge of the observed cellular types of the canal neuromasts and their origin could give a contribution to studies carried out on adult zebrafish used as model in neurological and non‐neurological damages, such as deafness and vestibular disorders.     

Nature of early reproductive failure caused by bovine viral diarrhea virus

A 2-part study was undertaken to determine the effect of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus on fertilization and early development of embryos. In experiment 1, 10 seronegative cows were superovulated and artificially inseminated twice during estrus. After the second insemination, 5 of the cows received intrauterine infusion of BVD virus suspension. The other 5 cows received suspending medium only and served as controls. All 10 cows were slaughtered on day 3, and ova and embryos were collected for morphologic evaluation. A total of 49 and 52 ova and embryos were collected from the control and virus-treated cows, respectively. Among the ova and embryos collected from control cows, 81.6% were fertilized, whereas only 52% were fertilized in the virus-treated group. The statistically significant difference (P less than 0.01) indicated that the virus interferes with fertilization. In experiment 2, the protocol was identical except for slaughter on day 13. Seventy-nine ova and embryos were collected from the 6 control cows, and the 6 virus-treated cows yielded 59 ova and embryos. Of the total ova and embryos recovered on day 13, 88.6% and 50.8% were hatched and developing normally in the control and virus-treated groups, respectively. The difference was highly significant (P less than 0.001). Unfertilized ova and degenerating embryos could not be differentiated on the basis of morphologic appearance. The nearly identical percentages of unfertilized ova in experiment 1 and unhatched ova and embryos in experiment 2 strongly suggested that fertilization failure is the principal manifestation of the observed adverse effect of BVD virus infection.     

Coxiella burnetii: Serological reactions and bacterial shedding in primiparous dairy cows in an endemically infected herd—impact on milk yield and fertility

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is the causative agent of Q fever both in humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to investigate seropositivity and bacterial shedding in heifers and primiparous cows in an endemically infected herd and to assess the effects on post‐partum diseases, fertility and milk production. At the age of 9 months, 96 Holstein heifers were included. Sampling was performed reproduction‐orientated: at the beginning of the study, at detection of first pregnancy, 3 weeks before expected calving date (blood serum), at parturition and after 21, 42, 100 and 150 days in milk (DIM) (blood serum, vaginal swabs and milk). Serum samples were investigated by a commercial ELISA for the presence of specific antibodies and vaginal swabs and milk samples by PCR to detect C. burnetii DNA. Individual animal data (calving ease, stillbirth, retained foetal membranes, puerperal metritis, endometritis after 42 DIM, presence of corpus luteum after 42 DIM, interval calving‐first service, interval calving‐conception, number of inseminations until 150 DIM, proportion of pregnant cows until 100 and 150 DIM, proportion of pregnant cows after first service and data of the dairy herd improvement test) were documented. All heifers were seronegative at the age of 9 months and 3 weeks before the expected calving date. Subsequently, the proportion of seropositive animals and the antibody score increased significantly towards 42 and 100 DIM, respectively. Vaginal C. burnetii shedding was highest at parturition (30.9%), while the most positive milk samples were detected after 100 DIM (15.3%). Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and shedding had no impact on parameters of reproduction. However, milk fat yield was declined in puerperal vaginal shedders and cows which seroconverted during their first 42 DIM, respectively.     

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a dog

A 2-year-old male intact Belgian Malinois was presented for exercise intolerance. A grade III/VI left basilar systolic murmur was detected. Echocardiography revealed moderate right atrial and ventricular dilation and increased pulmonic outflow velocity. Thoracic radiographs showed right heart enlargement and a dilated caudal vena cava. In addition, on the left lateral projection, an enlarged aberrant right cranial pulmonary lobar vein was suspected to be diverging ventrally from the course of the right cranial lobar bronchus and inserting more ventrally than normal in the region of the right atrium. A left-to-right pulmonary vascular shunt was suspected, and the patient underwent further diagnostics under general anesthesia. An agitated saline study was positive, suggestive of a concurrent right to left shunt. A right heart catheterization was performed. Angiography was inconclusive. Oximetry testing revealed an increase in oxygen saturation within the right atrium at the level of the caudal cava supportive of a left-to-right shunt in this region. Computed tomography angiography revealed a large single pulmonary vein that anomalously entered into the caudolateral aspect of the right atrium (left-to-right shunt) and was suspicious for a small arteriovenous malformation between the right caudal pulmonary artery and the right pulmonary vein returning to the left atrium (right to left shunt). The patient was diagnosed with a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection and a possible arteriovenous malformation.     

Competitive and allelopathic interference between soybean crop and annual wormwood (Artemisia annua L.) under field conditions

Annual wormwood interference on soybean crop growth and yield may result from competition and allelopathy, which are modulated by crop management. Allelochemicals released by annual wormwood (e.g. artemisinin) may affect the crop directly or indirectly through the effect on the nitrogen fixing symbiont, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The objectives were (i) to quantify the crop response (i.e. biomass production, nodulation and yield) to weed interference and (ii) to determinate the relative change of competition and allelopathy interferences, when a sublethal dose of herbicide is applied. Two split plot field experiments with three replications were used. The experiment involved a factorial combination of five weed–crop density (soybean/annual wormwood, plants m^?2) levels: D1, pure soybean, 40/0 plants m^?2; D2, 40/2 plants m^?2; D3, 40/4 plants m^?2 and D4, 40/8 plants m^?2, and D5, pure annual wormwood, 0/8 plants m^?2, two activated carbon (allelopathy) levels: C?, with activated carbon (reduced allelopathy) and C+, non activated carbon applied (with allelopathy) and two herbicide levels: H?, untreated and H+, treated with a sub-lethal dose of glyphosate. Activated carbon to adsorb allelochemicals (with and without activated carbon) and glyphosate application (with and no herbicide) were assigned to sub-plots. Increasing weed density did not affect crop biomass at flowering, but changed nodule number and soybean yield with a different pattern depending on carbon and herbicide treatment. Relative crop yield decreased with increasing relative weed biomass. This decrease was particularly drastic when allelopathy was reduced by activated carbon and without herbicide application. The maximum yield losses of 33% in 2006 and 17% in 2007 were observed with the highest weed density (8 plants m^?2). In contrast, without carbon (high allelopathy level), soybean yield remained stable within the explored range of annual wormwood biomass, despite the fact that weed biomass at high densities (D4) was high enough to generate competition. The lack of response to increasing weed density could be related to the indirect effect of allelochemicals interacting with soil microorganisms (i.e. B. japonicum) that positively affected the nodulation (e.g. larger nodules in 2006 and increased nodules biomass due to higher number of roots in 2007 at high densities). With herbicide application, soybean yield of both carbon treatments remained stable when biomass of annual wormwood increased. This research provided strong evidence in support of the existence of positive effect of allelopathic and competitive interactions between annual wormwood and soybean crop under field conditions that may be overridden under herbicide application.     

Partial characterization of phytoplasmas associated with lettuce and wild lettuce phyllodies in Iran

Phytoplasmas associated with lettuce phyllody (LP) and wild lettuce phyllody (WLP) in southern Iran were partially characterized by molecular analyses and host-range studies. Agents of both diseases were transmitted by Neoaliturus fenestratus , a leafhopper colonizing lettuce and wild lettuce, to lettuce, wild lettuce, sowthistle and periwinkle, but not to safflower, sunflower, calendula and sesame. Both phytoplasmas induced bud proliferation, virescence, phyllody and witches' broom in infected plants. Total DNA extracted from infected lettuce and wild lettuce or from vector tissues was subjected to PCR using phytoplasma-specific primer pair P1/P7 or nested PCR using P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2. PCR product of nested PCR (1·2 kbp) was subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RFLP analysis of nested PCR product identified the LP, WLP and N. fenestratus -associated phytoplasmas as members of the pigeon pea witches' broom group, 16SrIX. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence also clustered LP and WLP phytoplasmas with other known members of the 16SrIX group. While no significant differences could be detected between LP and WLP phytoplasmas, both isolates differed from Lebanese wild lettuce phyllody in molecular properties.     

Adenohypophyseal function in bitches treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on canine adenohypophyseal function. Five Beagle bitches were treated with MPA (10mg/kg, every 4 weeks) and their adenohypophyseal function was assessed in a combined adenohypophyseal function test. Four hypophysiotropic hormones (CRH, GHRH, GnRH, and TRH) were administered before and 2, 5, 8, and 11 months after the start of MPA treatment, and blood samples for determination of the plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, GH, IGF-1, LH, FSH, prolactin, alpha-MSH, and TSH were collected at -15, 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 45 min after suprapituitary stimulation. MPA successfully prevented the occurrence of estrus, ovulation, and a subsequent luteal phase. MPA treatment did not affect basal and GnRH-induced plasma LH concentrations. The basal plasma FSH concentration was significantly higher at 2 months after the start of MPA treatment than before or at 5, 8, and 11 months after the start of treatment. The maximal FSH increment and the AUC for FSH after suprapituitary stimulation were significantly higher before treatment than at 5, 8, and 11 months of MPA treatment. Differences in mean basal plasma GH concentrations before and during treatment were not significant, but MPA treatment resulted in significantly elevated basal plasma IGF-1 concentrations at 8 and 11 months. MPA treatment did not affect basal and stimulated plasma ACTH concentrations, with the exception of a decreased AUC for ACTH at 11 months. In contrast, the maximal cortisol increment and the AUC for cortisol after suprapituitary stimulation were significantly lower during MPA treatment than prior to treatment. MPA treatment did not affect basal plasma concentrations of prolactin, TSH, and alpha-MSH, with the exception of slightly increased basal plasma TSH concentrations at 8 months of treatment. MPA treatment did not affect TRH-induced plasma concentrations of prolactin and TSH. In conclusion, the effects of chronic MPA treatment on adenohypophyseal function included increased FSH secretion, unaffected LH secretion, activation of the mammary GH-induced IGF-I secretion, slightly activated TSH secretion, suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, and unaffected secretion of prolactin and alpha-MSH.