Induction of Parturition in the Cow using Cloprostenol and Dexamethasone in Combination

Two experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that induction of parturition in the cow would be more predictable with the simultaneous use of a combination of cloprostenol and dexamethasone than with either hormone used alone.

In experiment I all 19 beef cows treated with 500 μg cloprostenol and 25 mg dexamethasone in combination calved within 72 hours whereas dexamethasone (n = 19) or cloprostenol (n = 16) treatments alone each resulted in two induction failures. In those cows successfully induced, the mean interval from treatment to birth was 34.6 ± 1.4 hours for the cloprostenol plus dexamethasone group, 43.3 ± 2.4 hours for the dexamethasone group and 44.9 ± 2.1 hours for the cloprostenol group. Control cows (n = 15) did not calve during the first 72 hours after treatment with saline. The incidence of retained placenta ranged from 19 to 53% in induced groups whereas placentae were not retained by cows in the control group.

In experiment II all 30 beef cows in the cloprostenol plus dexamethasone group calved within the 72 hour limit, with a mean interval of 39.1 ± 1.0 hours. Twenty-six of 31 cows calved within 72 hours with a mean interval of 51.9 ± 3.4 hours after a single injection of cloprostenol and 29 of 33 cows calved within 72 hours with a mean interval of 52.6 ± 3.3 hours after two injections of cloprostenol, 12 hours apart. Five of 34 control cows calved within 72 hours of time of treatment. The incidence of retained placenta was again high in induced cows. Results indicate that the simultaneous administration of cloprostenol and dexamethasone does constitute a safe, reliable and effective method of inducing parturition in the cow.

     

Utilization of grass silage by growing cattle: effect of a supplement containing ruminally protected amino acids.

Sixteen crossbred steers (278 +/- 4.9 kg) were used to determine the influence of supplemental ruminally protected lysine and methionine on performance of growing cattle fed grass silage. During the 154-d experiment, all steers were allowed ad libitum consumption of a good-quality grass silage during the first 70 d and of a lesser-quality silage during the remaining 84 d of the trial. The steers received a supplement of .5 kg/d of barley with or without a mixture of ruminally protected amino acid (RPAA) containing 8.2 g of lysine and 2.6 g of methionine. Compared with controls, steers supplemented with RPAA showed 16.3% improved (P less than .03) ADG (.92 vs 1.07 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected (P greater than .50) by treatment and averaged 2.03% BW across treatments. Supplementation with RPAA improved feed/gain by 13.6% (7.88 vs 6.81 for control and RPAA treatments, respectively, P less than .01). Plasma levels of methionine, lysine, arginine, and glutamic acid were higher (P less than .05) and of histidine were lower (P less than .001) when RPAA were fed. These results indicate that feeding RPAA can improve the performance of growing steers fed grass silages of varying qualities.     

ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIOSIS

Canine babesiosis is a tick‐borne disease with a worldwide distribution that can involve multiple organs and result in a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Our goal was to describe the sonographic changes occurring in 72 dogs naturally infected with babesiosis. Seven healthy Beagle dogs were used as a control group. The most common finding in all dogs was splenomegaly with a diffuse heterogenic parenchyma and generally reduced echogenicity. Diffuse hypoechoic hepatomegaly and bilaterally increased cortical echogenicity of the renal parenchyma were found more frequently in severe uncomplicated and complicated babesiosis groups. Mean renal resistive index and pulsatility index (PI) values were 0.66/1.35, 0.73/1.91, and 0.71/1.73 for mild uncomplicated, severe uncomplicated, and complicated babesiosis groups, respectively. A markedly increased PI for complicated and severe uncomplicated groups correlated with anemia and severity of renal damage. Ultrasonography can be an adjunct for diagnosis and monitoring canine babesiosis and its systemic complications. The detection of diffuse heterogeneous splenomegaly can support the diagnosis of Babesia infection, because of the high prevalence of this lesion in these patients.     

Do non-target species visit feeders and water troughs targeting small game? A study from farmland Spain using camera-trapping

Provision of food and water is a widespread tool implemented around the world for the benefit of game and other wildlife, but factors affecting the use of food and water by non-target species are poorly known. We evaluated visits to feeders and water troughs by non-game species using camera-traps in two separate areas of Spain. Feeders and water troughs were either “protected” (when surrounded by more than 50% of shrubs/forest) or “open” (in the opposite case). A total of 18 948 photos from 5344 camera-trapping days depicted animals, and 75 species were identified. Feeders and water troughs were visited by target species (partridges and lagomorphs, 55.3% of visits) and non-target species (44.7% of visits). Among the latter, corvids were the most common (46.1% of visits), followed by rodents (26.8%), other birds (23.6%, mainly passerines), columbids (1.9%), and other species at minor percentages. The highest proportion of visiting days to feeders and water troughs was from corvids (0.173) followed by other-birds (0.109) and rodents (0.083); the lowest proportion was recorded for columbids (0.016). Use intensity and visit frequency of water troughs tripled that recorded in feeders, and visits to open feeders/troughs were approximately twice those to protected ones. In summary: feeders and water troughs targeting small game species are also used regularly by non-target ones; they should be set close to cover to optimize their use by non-target species that are not competitors of target species (though corvids may visit them); water availability should be prioritized where drought periods are expected.     

Palliation of clinical signs in 48 dogs with nasal carcinomas treated with coarse-fraction radiation therapy

Data from 48 dogs with nasal carcinomas treated with palliative radiation therapy (PRT) were retrospectively reviewed. Factors potentially influencing resolution of clinical signs and survival after PRT were evaluated. Clinical signs completely resolved in 66% of dogs for a median of 120 days. The overall median survival time was 146 days. Duration of response to PRT was shorter in dogs that had clinical signs for <90 days before PRT. Survival times were shorter in dogs that had partial or no resolution of clinical signs after PRT than in dogs that had complete resolution of clinical signs.     

Origin of the neuro‐sensory system: new and expected insights from sponges

The capacity of all cells to respond to stimuli implies the conduction of information at least over short distances. In multicellular organisms, more complex systems of integration and coordination of activities are necessary. In most animals, the processing of information is performed by a nervous system. Among the most basal taxa, sponges are nerveless so that it is traditionally assumed that the integrated neuro‐sensory system originated only once in Eumetazoa, a hypothesis not in agreement with some recent phylogenomic studies. The aim of this review is to show that recent data on sponges might provide clues for understanding the origin of this complex system. First, sponges are able to react to external stimuli, and some of them display spontaneous movement activities. These coordinated behaviors involve nervous system‐like mechanisms, such as action potentials and/or neurotransmitters. Second, genomic analyses show that sponges possess genes orthologous to those involved in the patterning or functioning of the neuro‐sensory system in Eumetazoa. Finally, some of these genes are expressed in specific cells (flask cells, choanocytes). Together with ultrastructural data, this gives rise to challenging hypotheses concerning cell types that might play neuro‐sensory‐like roles in sponges.     

Kinetic Parameters of Changes in Sensory Characteristics of Minimally Processed Rambutan

The aim of this work was to develop kinetic models to describe the sensory changes of minimally processed rambutan. Quality was assessed by a trained panel. The attributes that most decreased were freshness, aroma, and appearance (17–38%), and the defects that were more increased were off-odors and off-flavors (28–67%). Although whole fruit is sensitive to chilling injury, minimally processed rambutan is preserved better at 4.6 °C. Color, sweetness, and off-odor changes were adjusted to first-order kinetic and the other characteristics to zero order. Sourness, aroma, and color have higher activation energies (235–297.4 KJ mol^–1), and these characteristics would change faster if failure in the cold chain occurs.     

Availability and Accumulation of Arsenic in Oilseeds Grown in Contaminated Soils

Arsenic occurs in the earth's crust in various chemical forms as a result of both natural and anthropogenic sources. Soil chemical extractions may help understand As availability, as well as the possibility of As entry into the food chain. Phytoextraction has been proposed as a technology for remediation of As-contaminated soils. The study was carried out to assess the bioavailability of As by extractants and to compare the performance of castor bean and sunflower for As removal from soils. Two soils were contaminated with Na₂HAsO₄.7H₂O adding 35 and 150 mg As dm⁻³ soil. Arsenic availability was assessed using the following extractants: tri-distilled water, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium oxalate + oxalic acid, organic acids mixture, Mehlich-1, and United States Environmental Protection Agency 3051. The roots and shoots of 35-day-old plants were collected and dry matter yield as well as As concentration were determined. The accumulation of As in shoot was also calculated in order to evaluate the plants potential for As phytoextraction. The extractants tested were efficient to assess the concentration of available As in soil. Addition of As to the soils did not cause severe toxicity in plants, although the dose 150 mg As dm⁻³ soil decreased shoot and root yield in both species. Castor bean was less sensitive to As than sunflower, but none of the species had hyperaccumulation characteristics. These species can be used for revegetation of areas contaminated with As up to safe limit of 150 mg As dm⁻³ soil, as proposed by CONAMA for industrial areas in Brazil.