Evaluation of early fetal losses on four equine farms in central Kentucky: 73 cases (2001)

OBJECTIVE: To determine features of an early fetal loss (EFL) syndrome and evaluate potential risk factors for EFL in Thoroughbred broodmares on 4 farms in central Kentucky. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 288 pregnant broodmares. PROCEDURE: Year-2001 breeding records for 288 Thoroughbred broodmares were examined. Early fetal loss was defined as loss of a fetus that was viable at > or = 40 days of gestation but was subsequently lost by 5 months of gestation. RESULTS: Overall 2001 EFL rate was 25% (73/288), median gestational age at time of fetal loss was 77 days, and median date of loss was May 7. Mares on 1 farm had significantly fewer fetal losses (5%) than mares on the other 3 farms (26 to 35%). Fetal losses were higher for maiden (42%) and barren (42%) mares than for foaling mares (18%). Fetal losses were greater in young than in older mares. Effects of broodmare farm, mare age, and reproductive status were all significant. Fetal losses were not associated with sire used for mating or stud farm. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Greatest risk for EFL occurred during the period from late April to May (ie, in mares bred during February through March). Higher incidence of EFL in maiden and barren mares and lower incidence of EFL on 1 farm suggest management or environmental influences may have affected outcome. Risk factors that should be investigated include environmental differences among farms and differences in management procedures used for lactating versus nonlactating mares.     

Effect of background serum lithium concentrations on the accuracy of lithium dilution cardiac output determination in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of increasing serum lithium concentrations on lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) determination and to determine the ability to predict the serum lithium concentration from the cumulative lithium chloride dosage. ANIMALS: 10 dogs (7 males, 3 females). PROCEDURE: Cardiac output (CO) was determined in anesthetized dogs by measuring LiDCO and thermodilution cardiac output (TDCO). The effect of the serum lithium concentration on LiDCO was assessed by observing the agreement between TDCO and LiDCO at various serum lithium concentrations. Also, cumulative lithium chloride dosage was compared with the corresponding serum lithium concentrations. RESULTS: 44 paired observations were used. The linear regression analysis for the effect of the serum lithium concentration on the agreement between TDCO and LiDCO revealed a slope of -1.530 (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.388 to -0.671) and a y-intercept of 0.011 (r2 = 0.235). The linear regression analysis for the effect of the cumulative lithium chloride dosage on the serum lithium concentration revealed a slope of 2.291 (95% CI, 2.153 to 2.429) and a y-intercept of 0.008 (r2 = 0.969). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The LiDCO measurement increased slightly as the serum lithium concentration increased. This error was not clinically relevant and was minimal at a serum lithium concentration of 0.1 mmol/L and modest at a concentration of 0.4 mmol/L. The serum lithium concentration can be reliably predicted from the cumulative lithium dosage if lithium chloride is administered often within a short period.     

Serum concentrations of keratan sulfate,osteocalcin, and pyridinoline crosslinks after oral administration of glucosamine to standardbred horses during race training

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of orally administered glucosamine on concentrations of markers of bone and cartilage metabolism in Standardbred horses during race training. ANIMALS: Twenty 16- to 20-month-old Standardbreds beginning race training. PROCEDURE: Horses were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One group received glucosamine hydrochloride (4 g, PO, q 12 h), and the second (control) group received glucose (4 g, PO, q 12 h). Serum samples were obtained prior to onset of the study (baseline) and at regular intervals for 48 weeks for determination of concentrations of keratan sulfate (KS), osteocalcin (OC), and pyridinoline crosslinks (PYD). RESULTS: Osteocalcin concentrations changed significantly with time; mean serum concentrations were significantly higher than baseline values for samples obtained at 24 to 48 weeks after onset of the study. Although a significant effect of time was observed for mean concentration of KS, concentrations did not differ significantly from baseline values at any time during the study when groups were analyzed separately. However, pooled analysis revealed significant increases of mean serum KS concentration at weeks 24 and 30. Significant changes in serum PYD concentrations were not detected. Oral administration of glucosamine did not significantly affect serum concentrations of any of the markers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased serum OC in clinically normal Standardbreds during race training may reflect bone formation that accompanies adaptive remodeling of the appendicular skeleton. For these experimental conditions, glucosamine did not appear to exert a detectable influence on serum concentrations of these 3 markers of connective tissue metabolism.     

Prevalence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in naturally occurring cases of poult enteritis-mortality syndrome

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) previously were identified in poult enteritis-mortality syndrome (PEMS)-affected turkeys and associated as a cause of this disease. In the present study, the prevalence of EPEC in PEMS-affected turkeys was examined retrospectively with archived tissues and intestinal contents collected from 12 PEMS-affected turkey flocks in 1998. Formalin-fixed intestinal tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy for attaching and effacing (AE) lesions characteristic of EPEC, and frozen (-75 C) intestinal contents were examined for presence of EPEC. Escherichia coli isolates were characterized on the basis of epithelial cell attachment, fluorescent actin staining (FAS) test, and presence of E. coli attaching/effacing (EAE), shigalike toxin (SLT) type I, SLT II, and bundle-forming pilus (BFP) genes by polymerase chain reaction procedures. EPEC isolates were examined for pathogenicity and ability to induce AE lesions in experimentally inoculated young turkeys. AE lesions were identified by light microscopy in Giemsa-stained intestines from 7 of 12 PEMS-affected turkey flocks. Lesions consisted of bacterial microcolonies attached to epithelial surfaces with epithelial degeneration at sites of attachment and inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria. Electron microscopy confirmed the identity of AE lesions in six of seven flocks determined to have AE lesions by light microscopy. EPEC were identified in 4 of 12 flocks on the basis of the presence of EAE genes a nd absence of SLT I and SLT II genes; all isolates lacked BFP genes. EPEC isolates produced AE lesions and variable mortality in turkeys coinfected with turkey coronavirus. In total, EPEC were associated with 10 of 12 (83%) naturally occurring PEMS cases on the basis of identification of AE lesions and/or EPEC isolates. These findings provide additional evidence suggesting a possible role for EPEC in the pathogenesis of PEMS.     

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection in a cat

A domestic shorthair cat was presented for lethargy and ataxia. Clinical findings included an abdominal mass, lumbosacral pain, ataxia. Aspirates from the liver and lymph nodes revealed intracellular, negative-staining rods. Treatment for presumptive mycobacterium infection was unsuccessful and the cat was euthanized. Disseminated Mycobacterium avium was confirmed on culture.     

Grass silage versus maize silage effects on retail packaged beef quality

The effects of three preslaughter diets on heifer beef quality were investigated. Heifers (n = 45) were divided into three groups and fed for ad libitum consumption either maize silage, grass silage, or a 50:50 mixture of maize silage and grass silage. Meat quality was determined by measuring color, lipid oxidation, alpha-tocopherol levels, and fatty acid composition. Beef from the maize silage group had poorest color stability (P < 0.05), whereas beef from the grass silage diet had best (P < 0.05) color stability. The visual panel least preferred the maize silage group after 2 or more days of display, and lipid oxidation was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in this group compared to the 50:50 maize:grass silage and grass silage groups. There was a significant (P < 0.001) difference in the alpha-tocopherol levels detected in the meat from the three dietary groups. Alpha-tocopherol levels increased in the order: maize silage < 50:50 maize:grass silage < grass silage, at levels of 2.08, 2.95, and 3.84 microg/g meat, respectively. Fatty acid analysis indicated 18:3 was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in the maize silage-fed group than in the maize:grass silage and grass silage groups. However, 18:3 was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the grass silage group than in the other two groups. There were no significant differences in all other fatty acids among the three dietary groups. It was concluded that beef from grass silage-fed animals had better overall quality in terms of color, lipid oxidation, and alpha-tocopherol levels than beef from maize silage fed animals.     

Protein and fat utilization in lactating sows: I. Effects on milk production and body composition

In order to provide data with which to challenge a model of metabolism of lactating sows, we conducted a study to determine milk production and body and mammary composition in sows consuming a range of energy and amino acid intakes and nursing 11 to 12 pigs. Sows (2nd through 4th parity) consumed the same ration during gestation and consumed 6.1 kg/d (as-fed) for a 20 d lactation. Litter size was standardized at 12 pigs within 3 d of farrowing. Diets were formulated to provide three different amounts of protein intake and two different amounts of fat intake. Protein intakes of sows in high (HP), medium (MP), and low protein (LP) treatment groups were 863, 767, and 678 g/d with 59, 53, and 47 g/d lysine at two levels of fat intake, 117 (LF) and 410 g/d (HF). Number of pigs weaned per litter was 11.4 +/- 0.5 and milk production and litter weight gain was less (P < 0.01) in the last week of lactation for sows consuming the least protein. Medium and low protein intakes increased (P < 0.05) loss of body lean and protein. Change in carcass protein during lactation was -1.4, -3.0, -2.2, -1.2, -1.9 and -2.1 kg (SD 2.6) for sows fed HPLF, MPLF, LPLF, HPHF, MPHF, and LPHF. Body fat (carcass and visceral) change was 0.4, -3.7, -4.1, -0.3, 3.4, and -1.3 kg (SD 6.6) in HPLF, MPLF, LPLF, HPHF, MPHF, and LPHF groups. Total amount of mammary parenchyma increased more (P < 0.05) in sows fed a higher fat diet. These data are consistent with general knowledge of changes in body composition in lactation of sows. However, changes in body protein and fat were correlated across treatments and different from that reported for sows nursing smaller litters. These data help our quantitative understanding of nutrient flux in sows nursing large litters and allow a severe challenge of existing models of metabolism in sows.     

Heterosis and recombination effects on pig reproductive traits

The objective was to estimate breed, heterosis, and recombination effects on pig reproductive traits in two different four-breed composite populations. Breeds included Yorkshire, Landrace, Large White, and Chester White in Exp. 1 and Duroc, Hampshire, Pietrain, and Spot in Exp. 2. Data were recorded on purebred pigs, two-breed cross pigs, and pigs from generations F1 through F6, where F1 pigs were the first generation of a four-breed cross. Litter traits were considered a trait of the gilt. There were 868 first parity litters in Exp. 1 and 865 in Exp. 2. Direct heterosis significantly increased sow weight at 110 d of gestation and litter weight at 14 and 28 d (weaning) in both experiments. Direct heterosis significantly increased number of nipples, weight at puberty, lactation weight loss, litter size, and litter birth weight in Exp. 2. Gestation length in Exp. 1 and age at puberty in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2 were significantly decreased by direct heterosis. Maternal heterosis significantly increased age at puberty in Exp. 2 and decreased sow weight at 110 d of gestation in Exp. 1. Recombination significantly increased sow weight at 110 d of gestation and tended to increase total number born and litter birth weight in Exp. 1. Recombination significantly decreased age at puberty in Exp. 2. Litter heterosis significantly increased number of pigs at 14 and 28 d; litter weights at birth, 14, and 28 d; and tended to increase lactation weight loss in Exp. 1. Litter heterosis decreased litter size in Exp. 2. Maternal heterosis and recombination effects had a sampling correlation of -0.97 in Exp. 1 and -0.91 in Exp. 2 for number of fully formed pigs. Therefore, maternal heterosis and recombination effects were summed, and their net effect was tested. This net effect tended to increase number of nipples, lactation weight loss, and litter birth weight and significantly increased number of fully formed pigs in Exp. 1. Direct, maternal, and litter heterosis and recombination effects significantly influenced reproductive traits.