Evaluation of a portable device for assessment of motility in stallion semen

In horse breeding, quality assessment of semen before insemination is often requested. Non‐laboratory‐based techniques for objective analysis of sperm motility are thus of interest. The aim of this study was evaluating a portable device for semen analysis (Ongo sperm test) and its comparison with computer‐assisted semen analysis (CASA). Semen was collected from 10 stallions, diluted to 100, 50 and 25 × 10⁶ sperm/ml and analysed for total (TM) and progressive motility (PM). The final sperm concentration influenced total motility analysed by Ongo (p < 0.05) which was higher at 100 × 10⁶ sperm/ml when compared to 25 × 10⁶ sperm/ml (p < 0.05) but not when compared to 50 × 10⁶ sperm/ml (n.s.). Sperm concentration did not influence total motility when assessed by SpermVision (n.s.). Agreement between methods was evaluated by correlation analysis and Bland–Altman plot. Intra‐assay variation of Ongo was 5.2% ± 3.0 for TM and 6.9% ± 3.4 for PM. Correlation between Ongo and CASA was r = 0.79, 0.88 and 0.83 for 100, 50 and 25 × 10⁶ sperm/ml for TM, and r = 0.87, 0.89 and 0.87 for PM, respectively (all p < 0.001). At the 100 and 25 mio/ml dilutions, the difference between the two systems deviated significantly from 0, while no such bias existed at the 50 mio/ml dilution (TM Ongo 85.0%, CASA 82.3%; PM Ongo 64.1%, CASA 66.1%). The 95% confidence interval was 19.9%, 18.9% and 19.2% ± mean for TM and 20.7%, 17.4% and 20.3% ± mean for 100, 50 and 25 × 10⁶ sperm/ml, respectively. In conclusion, Ongo sperm test sperm motility data were strongly correlated with data obtained by CASA. In addition, at a concentration of 50 × 10⁶ sperm/ml values measured with both systems were close to identical. At this concentration, which is recommended in equine AI, Ongo and CASA can be used interchangeably.     

Detection of cyclodiene insecticide resistance-associated mutations by single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis

Cyclodiene insecticide resistance is associated with replacements of a single amino acid within the putative lining of a δ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride ion channel gene Resistance to dieldrin (Rdl). Only two resistance-associated amino acid replacements have been identified; alanine to serine in Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, Aedes aegypti, and Tribolium castaneum and alanine to glycine as a second allele in D. simulans. Here we report that single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of genomic DNA, amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for exon 7 of the Rdl gene, can be used to genotype strains or individuals of all of these insects. This technique also appears simultaneously to distinguish between D. melanogaster and D. simulans, sibling species only reliably identifiable by examination of male genitalia. The relative advantages of this genotyping technique against other PCR-mediated techniques in monitoring for insecticide resistance are discussed.     

Extended summaries pesticides group symposium natural products as a source for new agricultural chemicals

The following are extended abstracts of six of the papers presented at the above meeting and, as so presented, they are entirely the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pesticide Science.     

The association between fetching for milking and dairy cows'' behaviour at milking, and avoidance of human approach — An on-farm study in herds with automatic milking systems

The present study explores the welfare aspects of involuntary milking in dairy herds with an automatic milking system (AMS) as it focuses on whether fetching of cows for milking may be related to fear/discomfort of the automatic milking unit (AMU) or the milking itself and further, may strain the human–animal relationship. Behavioural data on cow reluctance when entering the AMU, stepping and kicking behaviour during milking and avoidance of humans was collected at 6 two-day visits to 8 Danish commercial AMS herds during a year. The data set for the analysis included one observation per cow of reluctance when entering the AMU and behaviour during milking of a total of 869 cows; 255 cows fetched for milking and 614 non-fetched cows. For 82 of the cows fetched for milking and for 370 of the non-fetched cows the data further included one observation per cow of avoidance towards an approaching unfamiliar human in a test situation. Multivariate analyses by conditional hierarchical log-linear models showed that fetchings were more frequent the first 14 days of lactation (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed no associations between fetching and reluctance at entering the AMU, nor an association to stepping and kicking during milking. However, compared to non-fetched cows, fetched cows were more frequently avoiding the test person in the human approach test (P < 0.001). It is concluded that fetching may strain the human–animal relationship.     

Tracheostomy in cats: 23 cases (1998-2006)

Tracheostomies can be used to provide a patent airway in animals with upper airway obstruction but have been reported to be more difficult to manage in cats than in other animals. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively describe the indications, complications and outcome of cats undergoing tracheostomy. Twenty-three cats underwent tracheostomy for laryngeal mass (n=13), trauma (n=5) and upper airway swelling (n=5). Major and minor complications were recorded in 10 and 17 cats, respectively. Seventeen cats were discharged to home, four cats were euthanased and two cats died in hospital. Complications with stoma healing were reported in one cat. Of seven cats discharged with a permanent tracheostomy, one cat is alive and six cats survived at home for between 2 and 281 days. Although complications are common, temporary tracheostomies can be beneficial for conditions in which the underlying cause can be treated. Despite risk of occlusion, permanent tracheostomies can be effective palliative procedures for cats with severe upper airway disease.