Assessment of attenuated Salmonella vaccine strains in controlling experimental Salmonella Typhimurium infection in chickens

Salmonella hold considerable promise as vaccine delivery vectors for heterologous antigens in chickens. Such vaccines have the potential additional benefit of also controlling Salmonella infection in immunized birds. As a way of selecting attenuated strains with optimal immunogenic potential as antigen delivery vectors, this study screened 20 novel Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine strains, differing in mutations associated with delayed antigen synthesis and delayed attenuation, for their efficacy in controlling colonization by virulent Salmonella Typhimurium, as well as for their persistence in the intestine and the spleen. Marked differences were observed between strains in these characteristics, which provide the basis for selection for further study as vaccine vectors.     

3D Printing of Rat Salivary Glands: The Submandibular–Sublingual Complex

The morphology and the functionality of the murid glandular complex, composed of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands (SSC), were the object of several studies conducted mainly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using a 4.7 T scanner and a manganese‐based contrast agent, we improved the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the SSC relating to the surrounding anatomical structures allowing to obtain high‐contrast 3D images of the SSC. In the last few years, the large development in resin melting techniques opened the way for printing 3D objects starting from a 3D stack of images. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of the 3D printing technique of soft tissues such as the SSC in the rat with the aim to improve the visualization of the organs. This approach is useful to preserve the real in vivo morphology of the SCC in living animals avoiding the anatomical shape changes due to the lack of relationships with the surrounding organs in case of extraction. It is also harmless, repeatable and can be applied to explore volumetric changes occurring during body growth, excretory duct obstruction, tumorigenesis and regeneration processes. 3D printing allows to obtain a solid object with the same shape of the organ of interest, which can be observed, freely rotated and manipulated. To increase the visibility of the details, it is possible to print the organs with a selected zoom factor, useful as in case of tiny organs in small mammalia. An immediate application of this technique is represented by educational classes.     

Oral and maxillofacial osteosarcoma in dogs: a review

Osteosarcoma in dogs is a heterogeneous disease entity with regard to its histologic, clinical and biologic behaviour. Differences in behaviour are associated with tumour location. Oral and maxillofacial osteosarcomas are typically reported as a component of the broader classifications of axial osteosarcoma or osteosarcoma of flat bones to differentiate them from appendicular osteosarcoma. Similar to human oral and maxillofacial osteosarcoma, in dogs, these also appear to have less aggressive behaviour than appendicular osteosarcoma. Ideally, local control is achieved with wide surgical resection that results in tumour‐free margins. Failure of local control is the most common contributor to poor prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment are reported to have variable outcomes. The aim of this article is to review the literature on oral and maxillofacial osteosarcoma in dogs in comparison to appendicular and axial osteosarcoma. Similarities and differences between oral and maxillofacial osteosarcoma in humans are addressed.     

Effect of bovine colostrum intake on growth,reproductive parameters and survival in red kids

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of frozen Azawak colostrum supplementation on body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), reproductive parameters (mean age at first parturition, fertility, fecundity, prolificacy) and mortality rate among red kids. The study was conducted at the goat farm secondary centre of Maradi in Niger from September 2010 to September 2011. The control animals (n = 20) were left with their mother, while the treatment animals (n = 20) received in addition 50 ml/animal/day of bovine colostrum at birth and 15 ml/animal/day from d2 to d15. Weight was measured weekly from birth to d365. Mortalities were also recorded over the same period. For reproductive parameters, observations began at weaning (d197). Growth rate was higher (p < 0.001) in supplemented animal, and the treatment effects on ADG were observed up to 150 day after the end of supplementation. A similar long‐lasting trend was also observed in relation to the mortality rate (25% for ColG vs. 55% for ConG; p = 0.05). The age at first kidding tended to be lower in the treated group (13.8 ± 0.7 vs. 14.1 ± 0.8 month; p < 0.1). In conclusion, mild bovine colostrum supplementation induces a long‐lasting positive impact on growth rate and to a lower extent on reproduction parameters and survival rate.     

The effect of speed and gradient on hyperextension of the equine carpus

The equine carpus has a well-defined limit to joint extension at approximately 180 degrees . During locomotion however, the carpus hyperextends during stance phase. Hyperextension is resisted by the carpal bones and ligaments, and it has been proposed that large increased hyperextension might relate to potentially damaging stress levels in the carpus. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between peak hyperextension of the carpus (PCE) and speed during locomotion on the level and on an incline. Five Thoroughbred horses were exercised on a treadmill at speeds between 1.8 and 10 m/s at 0% and +7.5% gradients. PCE was obtained using optical motion capture and linear regression used to describe the relationship between PCE and speed on each gradient. PCE increased linearly with speed during locomotion. The rate of increase was greater on a +7.5% gradient. The fit of the regression equations was increased considerably by subtracting standing carpal angle from PCE during locomotion.     

Do hoof cracks represent a superficial hoof-problem?

Fifty-four horses with hoof cracks were referred to the Equine Hospital of the University of Zurich, for treatment. The horses were admitted because of lameness or other symptoms caused by the cracks. Deep or complicated quarter cracks were the most common type of cracks diagnosed. Poor conformation and abnormal hoof shape were the most important causes of hoof crack development, whereas injury to the coronary band was a less frequently encountered cause. Effective treatment of this problem includes corrective shoeing, removing horn from the weight-bearing surface as well as from the crack with a Dremel tool and immobilization of the borders of the crack. However, even with such a therapy, the recurrence rate of hoof cracks was with 20% very high.     

Clinical and topographic magnetic resonance characteristics of suspected brain infarction in 40 dogs

Medical records of 40 dogs presented for evaluation of acute-onset, nonprogressive, intracranial dysfunction by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of brain infarction were reviewed. Location of the brain infarcts was: 11 of 38, telencephalic; 8 of 38, thalamic/midbrain; 18 of 38, cerebellar; and 3 of 38, multifocal. Telencephalic infarcts developed within the territory of the middle cerebral (4/11), rostral cerebral (2/11), and striate (5/11) arteries. Thalamic/midbrain infarcts developed within the territory of perforating arteries of the caudal portion of the thalamus and rostral portion of the brainstem (8/8). All cerebellar infarcts (18/38) were within the territory of the rostral cerebellar artery or one of its branches. All infarcts appeared nonhemorrhagic, with marked contrast enhancement observed in only 3 of 38 dogs, all of which were imaged more than 7 days after the onset of signs of neurologic dysfunction. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences were available from 6 dogs, all imaged within 5 days of the onset of signs of neurologic dysfunction. Suspected infarcts were hyperintense on DWI sequences and were hypointense on the apparent diffusion coefficient map. Telencephalic infarcts caused abnormal mental status, contralateral postural reaction deficit, contralateral nasal hypalgesia, contralateral menace deficit, and ipsilateral circling. Thalamic/midbrain infarcts caused contralateral or ipsilateral postural reaction deficit, contralateral menace deficit, ipsilateral head tilt or turn, nystagmus, ventrolateral strabismus, and anisocoria. Cerebellar infarcts caused ipsilateral asymmetric cerebellar quality ataxia, head tilt, intermittent opisthotonus, nystagmus, and ipsilateral menace deficit with apparent normal vision.     

The art of horseshoeing--between empiricism and science

To correctly shoe a horse requires the farriers to have a good working knowledge of postural anomalies and movement patterns, as well as of the different concepts of horseshoeing and to be able to apply the appropriate technique to every individual horse they shoe. The correct technique for specific problem cases is frequently a subject of debate amongst specialists and many theories would benefit from objective gait analyses. The case study presented examines the influence of different shoeing conditions on selected gait analysis parameters. The measurements were conducted on a Warmblood mare: (A) shod with long toes, (B) properly trimmed without shoes, (C) conventionally shod with rolled toes and finally (D) shod using the 4-point technique. Data on force-, time- and distance parameters were recorded using an instrumented treadmill. First contact and breakover of the hooves were documented using high-speed videography. A long toe resulted in a prolongation of the breakover time and, therefore, in a prolongation of the second half of the stance phase. Additionally, the prolonged stance duration associated with an unaltered force impulse, led to decreased force peaks. It was possible to objectively record differences between the trimmed, unshod foot, the shod long-toe and the shod rolled toe configurations. The differences between the rolled toe and the 4 point shoe however, were minimal. Gait analysis is a technique well suited for objective evaluation of different shoeing techniques under standardised conditions.     

Supplementation of the maternal diet with tomato powder and marigold extract: effects on the antioxidant system of the developing quail

The effects of natural dietary carotenoid supplementation of the maternal diet (tomato powder and marigold extract) on transfer to the egg yolk and on the development of the antioxidant system of the young quail liver in early postnatal life were investigated. Sixty Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were allocated to four treatment groups, each with three replicates consisting of four females and one male each. The quail were fed on one of four different diets for 23 d, each of them based on a low carotenoid, wheat/barley-based control diet. Tomato powder and marigold extract were added at rates of 20 and 2 g/kg to treatments 2 and 3, respectively. Marigold extract and tomato powder were also used in combination in treatment 4 at 2 g marigold + 20 g tomato powder/kg of diet. At 20 weeks of age, 60 eggs from each treatment were collected and placed in an incubator. After hatching, d-old quail from each group were reared (under standard commercial conditions) up to 14 d of age. They were fed on a low-carotenoid commercial diet. After hatch, at 1, 7 and 14 d, the livers of five young quail from each treatment were assessed for total carotenoid concentration and carotenoid profile. Results indicated that lycopene is transferred from the feed to the egg yolk and further to the liver of the developing embryo. Elevated carotenoid concentration in the egg yolk and correspondingly in the liver of newly hatched quail remains significant during first week posthatch. Lutein and lycopene did not affect vitamin E concentration in the egg yolk or liver of the newly hatched quail. A combination of increased concentrations of lycopene and lutein in the egg yolk results in elevated concentrations of coenzyme Q in the liver of the newly hatched quail.     

Transportation of cattle.

Until recent years, relatively little attention has been given to beef cattle transportation management and research in the United States As oulined in this article, it is clear that there are significant physiologic changes occurring in cattle as a result of transport and handling. These physiologic changes encompass, among others, effects on immune system function, disease incidence, and carcass quality. Significant advancements have been made during the past decade in the use of appropriate cattle-handling techniques, facility design,and research promoting our understanding and the attenuation of transport stress. Many issues surrounding livestock transport, such as temperature and ventilation during transit, use of rest stops, pretransit feeding regimens, and incidence of disease transmission via transport vehicles, need further research to enable continued provision of science-based recommendations to the livestock and transportation industries.