Clinical and subclinical mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania: risk, intervention and knowledge transfer

In a cross-sectional study of 400 randomly selected smallholder dairy farms in the Tanga and Iringa regions of Tanzania, 14.2% (95% confidence interval (CI)=11.6-17.3) of cows had developed clinical mastitis during the previous year. The point prevalence of subclinical mastitis, defined as a quarter positive by the California Mastitis Test (CMT) or by bacteriological culture, was 46.2% (95% CI=43.6-48.8) and 24.3% (95% CI=22.2-26.6), respectively. In a longitudinal disease study in Iringa, the incidence of clinical mastitis was 31.7 cases per 100 cow-years. A randomised intervention trial indicated that intramammary antibiotics significantly reduced the proportion of bacteriologically positive quarters in the short-term (14 days post-infusion) but teat dipping had no detectable effect on bacteriological infection and CMT positive quarters. Other risk and protective factors were identified from both the cross-sectional and longitudinal included animals with Boran breeding (odds ratio (OR)=3.40, 95% CI=1.00-11.57, P<0.05 for clinical mastitis, and OR=3.51, 95% CI=1.29-9.55, P<0.01 for a CMT positive quarter), while the practice of residual calf suckling was protective for a bacteriologically positive quarter (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.48-0.81, P相似文献   

Common helminth infections of donkeys and their control in temperate regions

Roundworms and flatworms that affect donkeys can cause disease. All common helminth parasites that affect horses also infect donkeys, so animals that co‐graze can act as a source of infection for either species. Of the gastrointestinal nematodes, those belonging to the cyathostomin (small strongyle) group are the most problematic in UK donkeys. Most grazing animals are exposed to these parasites and some animals will be infected all of their lives. Control is threatened by anthelmintic resistance: resistance to all 3 available anthelmintic classes has now been recorded in UK donkeys. The lungworm, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, is also problematical, particularly when donkeys co‐graze with horses. Mature horses are not permissive hosts to the full life cycle of this parasite, but develop clinical signs on infection. In contrast, donkeys are permissive hosts without displaying overt clinical signs and act as a source of infection to co‐grazing horses. Donkeys are also susceptible to the fluke, Fasciola hepatica. This flatworm can be transmitted, via snails and the environment, from ruminants. As with cyathostomins, anthelmintic resistance is increasing in fluke populations in the UK. A number of the anthelmintic products available for horses do not have a licence for use in donkeys, and this complicates the design of parasite control programmes. As no new equine anthelmintic classes appear to be near market, it is important that the efficacy of currently effective drugs is maintained. It is important that strategies are used that attempt to preserve anthelmintic efficacy. These strategies should be based on the concept that the proportion of worms in a population not exposed to anthelmintic at each treatment act as a source of ‘refugia’. The latter is an important factor in the rate at which resistance develops. Thus, it is imperative that parasite control programmes take into account the need to balance therapy to control helminth‐associated disease with the requirement to preserve anthelmintic effectiveness.     

Injection of the insertion of the deep digital flexor tendon in horses using radiographic guidance

Insertional tendinopathies of the DDFT have been reported both as the sole lesion and as part of a multifocal lesion (Dyson et al. 2003). Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging allow specific diagnosis of deep digital flexor tendon lesions within the hoof capsule; however, direct intralesional treatment of such lesions is difficult because of the hoof's rigid structure. A technique designed to mimic intralesional injection of insertional tendinopathies of the DDFT in the standing horse using radiographic guidance was assessed. Radiographic and contrast CT imaging and sectioning of the limbs confirmed accurate injection in all cases although inadvertant administration of injectate into adjacent structures was also evident.     

Enhanced cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are associated with ovine high and low cortisol responsiveness to acute endotoxin challenge

Inbred rodent studies have demonstrated that cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are exacerbated in stress-susceptible, and attenuated in stress-resistant strains of mice. This physiological response was, in part, mediated by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during the acute restraint stress. A study was conducted to examine whether or not cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are also associated with variable cortisol responsiveness to inflammatory stress in an outbred ovine population. High (H), medium (M), and low (L) cortisol responsive sheep were identified from a population of 110 females based on their estimated breeding values for cortisol concentration measured 4 h post-systemic challenge with Escherichia coli endotoxin (400 ng kg(-1)). Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), and Candida albicans cellular antigen (CAA) were measured in these variable cortisol-responding sheep, in addition to serum interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgG concentrations. When compared to the M cortisol responders, both H and L cortisol responders had significantly greater cutaneous swelling during the elicitation phase in response to DNCB (P < 0.05) and CAA (P < 0.05); a similar but not significant trend was observed during the PHA challenge. The primary, but not the secondary, IgG response to OVA was significantly lower in the H and L cortisol responders when compared to the M cortisol responders. Differences in serum IL-6 or IFN-gamma concentration were not observed across variable cortisol-responsive groups. Together, these results demonstrate that cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are enhanced in outbred H and L cortisol-responding sheep, independent of systemic modulation by IL-6 and IFN-gamma.     

Rainfall Interception by Singleleaf Piñon and Utah Juniper: Implications for Stand-Level Effective Precipitation

The expansion of piñon and juniper trees into sagebrush steppe and the infilling of historic woodlands has caused a reduction in the cover and density of the understory vegetation. Water is the limiting factor in these systems; therefore, quantifying redistribution of water resources by tree species is critical to understanding the dynamics of these formerly sagebrush-dominated rangelands. Tree canopy interception may have a significant role in reducing the amount of rainfall that reaches the ground beneath the tree, thereby reducing the amount of available soil moisture. We measured canopy interception of rainfall by singleleaf piñon (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.] Little) across a gradient of storm sizes. Simulated rainfall was used to quantify interception and effective precipitation during 130 rainfall events ranging in size from 2.2 to 25.9 mm hr^? 1 on 19 trees of each species. Effective precipitation was defined as the sum of throughfall and stemflow beneath tree canopies. Canopy interception averaged 44.6% (± 27.0%) with no significant difference between the two species. Tree allometrics including height, diameter at breast height, stump diameter, canopy area, live crown height, and width were measured and used as predictor variables. The best fit predictive model of effective precipitation under canopy was described by stump diameter and gross precipitation (R² = 0.744, P < 0.0001). An alternative management model based on canopy area and gross precipitation predicted effective precipitation with similar accuracy (R² = 0.741, P < 0.0001). Canopy area can be derived from various remote sensing techniques, allowing these results to be extrapolated to larger spatial scales to quantify the effect of increasing tree canopy cover on rainfall interception loss and potential implications for the water budget.     

Type 2 diabetes mellitus with pancreatic β cell dysfunction in 3 horses confirmed with minimal model analysis

Reasons for performing study: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is diagnosed rarely in equine practice although it may be under‐recognised. A greater awareness of the condition and therapeutic considerations would be to the benefit of such cases presenting in practice. More investigation into the pharmacological management of these cases is needed. Objectives: Three cases of diabetes mellitus were investigated using a specific test for insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β cell function in order to define accurately and characterise the existence of T2DM in all 3 subjects. Methods: The insulin‐modified frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test was performed in each case and the data so obtained were subject to minimal model analysis of insulin‐glucose dynamics. Cases were then monitored following treatment using a combination of dietary modification, metformin, glibenclamide and pergolide. Results: Marked insulin resistance was identified in each case and, furthermore, severe pancreatic β cell dysfunction was present therefore classifying each case as end stage T2DM. Treatment was nevertheless associated with restoration of normoglycaemia in all cases. Conclusions: T2DM in horses may be more common than generally considered. In some cases individuals may respond to therapy aimed at restoring insulin sensitivity and pancreatic function. Drugs used in other species for the treatment of T2DM have not yet been adequately tested in horses. Potential relevance: T2DM should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in mature to elderly horses and ponies suffering from weight loss, polydipsia and polyuria. Clinicians should be encouraged to offer treatment and management advice when such cases are encountered.     

Pharmacodynamics of amoxicillin against Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) correlation in sheep

Silicone-made tissue cages were implanted in sheep. Blood serum (SBS) and tissue cage fluid (TCF) samples were collected after amoxicillin intravenous and intramuscular administrations, at the dose of 15 mg/kg. Amoxicillin pharmacodynamics were studied in an artificial culture medium, SBS and TCF with use of a Mannheimia haemolytica and a Pasteurella multocida strain. A concentration-independent antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin was confirmed for levels higher than 0.79–1.75 × MIC. This result favored the use of the percentage of the 24 h dosing interval during which drug levels remain above MIC as the appropriate pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index. The subsequent correlation revealed that intravenous administration could be considered effective against “deep” infections caused by bacteria with MICs < 1 μg/mL or “shallow” infections caused by bacteria with MICs < 0.1 μg/mL. Intramuscular administration could be safely considered effective against both “deep” and “shallow” infections when the MICs of the targeted pathogens are lower than 1 μg/mL.     

Neutrophil adherence,phagocytic-nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and chemiluminescence in canine whole blood

Methods for measuring neutrophil adherence, phagocytic-nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity and chemiluminescence were applied to canine whole blood as means for routine assessment of neutrophil functions. The phagocytic-NBT reduction test appeared to be useful for monitoring the NBT reducing activity of phagocytic cells associated with phagocytic functions. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid suppressed both the adherence and the phagocytic-NBT reducing activity of neutrophils. Increased phagocytic-NBT reduction and an enhanced chemiluminescence response were observed in dogs with neutrophilia. These methods provide a rapid and practical screening procedure for measuring selected phagocytic functions in canine whole blood.