The influence of intramammary antibiotic treatment, presence of bacteria, stage of lactation and parity in dairy goats as measured by the California Milk Cell Test and somatic cell counts

The California Milk Cell Test (CMCT) and somatic cell counts (SCC) on their own were not reliable methods in the identification of subclinical mastitis in the dairy goats studied and should be accompanied by microbiological tests. However, CMCT and SCC were indicators of irritation of the udder parenchyma. In healthy goats Spectrazol Milking Cow (Schering-Plough AH) caused the least and Curaclox LC (Norbrook (ARK AH)) the most irritation of parenchyma after intramammary treatment. The effects of Rilexine 200 LC (Logos Agvet (Virbac)) were intermediate. There was a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) in the mean log SCC between treated and control groups for goats treated with Curaclox LC and Rilexine 200 LC but no significant difference was present in the mean log SCC of treatment and control groups for goats treated with Spectrazol Milking Cow at the 07:00 and at 19:00 samplings. The CMCT was an indicator of the level of SCC in goat milk. The CMCT was more useful in confirming the absence of infection, rather than in diagnosing mastitis.     

AN APPLICATION OF IMAGE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGE ANALYSIS

An estimate of the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue at differing positions around the body was required in a study examining body composition. To eliminate human error associated with the manual placement of markers for measurements and to facilitate the collection of data from a large number of animals and image slices, automation of the process was desirable. The open-source and free image analysis program ImageJ was used. A macro procedure was created that provided the required functionality. The macro performs a number of basic image processing procedures. These include an initial process designed to remove the scanning table from the image and to center the animal in the image. This is followed by placement of a vertical line segment from the mid point of the upper border of the image to the image center. Measurements are made between automatically detected outer and inner boundaries of subcutaneous adipose tissue along this line segment. This process was repeated as the image was rotated (with the line position remaining unchanged) so that measurements around the complete circumference were obtained. Additionally, an image was created showing all detected boundary points so that sites of measurement could be checked by visual inspection. This paper provides a detailed account of this macro, illustrates the effect of its components on the image, and the applicability of standard image processing techniques to veterinary imaging.     

Effect of previous locoweed (Astragalus and Oxytropis species) intoxication on conditioned taste aversions in horses and sheep

Locoweed species (Astragalus and Oxytropis spp.) are a serious toxic plant problem for grazing livestock. Horses and sheep have been conditioned to avoid eating locoweed using the aversive agent LiCl. The objective of this study was to determine if previous locoweed intoxication affects food aversion learning in horses and sheep. Horses and sheep were divided into 3 treatment groups: control (not fed locoweed and not averted to a novel feed); locoweed-novel feed averted (fed locoweed and averted to a novel feed); and averted (not fed locoweed and averted to a novel feed). Animals in the locoweed-novel feed averted groups were fed locoweed during 2 periods of 21 and 14 d, respectively, with each feeding period followed by a 14-d recovery period. Animals were averted to a novel test feed at the end of the first locoweed-feeding period, and periodically evaluated for the strength and persistence of the aversion. During the first recovery period, locoweed-novel feed averted horses ate less (9.5% of amount offered) of the test feed than did control horses (99.8%) and did not generally differ from averted horses (0%). During recovery period 2, locoweed-novel feed averted horses (4.3%) differed (P = 0.001) in consumption (% of offered) of the test feed from controls (100%) and the averted group (0%). Locoweed-novel feed averted sheep differed (P = 0.001) from controls (14.4 vs. 99.5%, respectively, during recovery period 1), whereas locoweed-novel feed averted sheep did not differ (P > 0.50) from averted sheep (0.6%). During the second recovery period, control sheep (100%) differed (P < 0.05) from averted (0%) and locoweed-novel feed averted (12.2%) groups. Two intoxicated sheep (locoweed-novel feed averted) partially extinguished the aversion during the first recovery period, but an additional dose of LiCl restored the aversion. Two of 3 intoxicated horses had strong aversions that persisted without extinction; 1 horse in the locoweed-novel feed averted group had a weaker aversion. These findings suggest that horses and sheep previously intoxicated by locoweeds can form strong and persistent aversions to a novel feed, but in some animals, those aversions may not be as strong as in animals that were never intoxicated.     

Effect of system of feeding and watering on performance of lactating sows

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of ad libitum access to feed and water and the option to mix feed and water, all in the same feeder, on the performance of multiparous lactating sows. Feed and water were made available to sows using a self-fed wet/dry (SFWD) or a hand-fed (HF) feed-water system. In the SFWD system, feed and water were dropped into a common trough area of the feeder. The sow determined when and how much of each was dropped. With feed falling onto the flat area of the bottom of the SFWD feeder trough and water falling into the shallow bowl area, and with the 2 areas seamlessly connected, the sow also determined the wetness of the feed consumed. In the HF system, sows were given dry feed twice daily in a J-shaped feeder that was independent of the sow's water source. Sows (n = 114) were assigned to treatments based on parity and genotype. Total feed disappearance per sow during lactation (20 +/- 0.2 d) was greater (P < 0.01) with the SFWD system than with the HF system (120 vs. 110 +/- 4.1 kg, respectively). The SFWD sows had greater (P < 0.01) BW gains during lactation than HF sows (6.2 vs. 0.6 +/- 1.85 kg, respectively). Backfat depth change during lactation did not differ (P = 0.37) between treatments. Likewise, percentage of sows displaying estrus by d 11 post-weaning did not differ (P = 0.51). Piglet weaning BW was greater (P < 0.01) with the SFWD system than with the HF system (6.63 vs. 6.12 +/- 0.22 kg, respectively). Sow average daily water intake and total feed wastage during lactation did not differ (P > 0.66) between treatments. However, sows with the SFWD system wasted less water (P < 0.01) than those with the HF system (15 vs. 232 +/- 12 L, respectively). From a commercial swine production perspective, the difference in waste water volume would result in a significant variation in costs associated with manure storage and distribution. In conclusion, use of a SFWD feed-water system in lactation, which provides sows choices of when to eat, how much to eat, and if dry feed should be mixed with water during consumption, enhances sow appetite, improves litter growth performance, and wastes less water than a HF feed-water system.     

A packed-bed filtration system for collection of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxons

Information on the distribution and abundance of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxons in natural systems is limited because direct and accurate sampling methods for this life stage have not been developed. Existing methods are based on indirect measures of triactinomyxon densities and are therefore confounded. Direct estimation of triactinomyxon concentrations would more exactly pinpoint the ambient infection risk to wild fish and allow evaluation of management strategies designed to mitigate the effects of the disease. We developed a mobile packed-bed filtration system that quickly, accurately, and precisely collects, concentrates, and quantifies triactinomyxons. The system includes pumping, prefiltration, two rounds of packed-bed filtration, and centrifugation. Laboratory tests of the completed system using known quantities of triactinomyxons resulted in a mean recovery rate of 91% with a minimum detectable concentration of triactinomyxons of 0.04/L. We subsequently field-tested the system at a site known to be positive for the parasite and recovered triactinomyxons at densities of 0.7-1.4/L. The packed-bed filtration system has the potential to quickly determine the temporal and spatial variation in infection risk and to test the efficacy of various management strategies.     

Granulocyte and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors as therapy in human and veterinary medicine

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSFs) are endogenous cytokines that regulate granulocyte colonies and play a major role in the stimulation of granulopoiesis (neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils) and in the regulation of microbicidal functions. There are numerous pathological conditions in which neutrophils are decreased, the most common being neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy, which increases the risk of serious microbial infections developing with the potential for high morbidity and mortality. New methods in molecular biology have led to the identification and cloning of CSF genes and biopharmaceutical production. Since then, CSFs have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy, for mobilising haematopoietic cell precursors, and for other neutropenia-related pathologies. This review focuses on the use of CSFs within both human and veterinary medicine. Clinical applications, pharmacology, tolerability and the potential role of these factors in veterinary medicine are considered.     

Biofilms and their relevance to veterinary medicine

Bacteria are renowned for their ability to tolerate and adapt to a wide range of adverse environmental conditions. The primary mechanism that facilitates these adaptations is thought to be the capacity to form and maintain biofilms. Within a biofilm, bacteria become attached to a surface where they exist in complex communities which are able to interact with each other through intracellular communication and thus rapidly adapt to changing environments. The organisms within biofilms are notorious for their resistance towards the host immune response and antibacterial agents compared to their free-living planktonic counterparts. Consequently, biofilms are of significant importance to both clinical and veterinary science. However, although bacterial infections are widely reported in animals their association with biofilms is rarely discussed. The aim of this review is to look at the characteristics of biofilm infections in humans and to relate this knowledge to veterinary science in order to assess their relevance in this area.     

Changes in plasma renin activity and renal immunohistochemically demonstrated renin in carbadox treated pigs

Carbadox is known to induce toxic effects on the adrenal cortex, resulting in hypoaldosteronism. To study the involvement of carbadox on the renin-angiotensin system, weaned piglets of five weeks old received feed supplemented with 0 (control group), 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm carbadox. After four weeks the 100 and 150 ppm groups had significantly higher plasma renin activity levels than the control group and after nine weeks plasma renin activity levels of all treated groups were significantly higher than the control group. Five and 10 weeks after carbadox administration, three and two pigs, respectively, of all groups were necropsied and the kidneys were screened for immunohistochemically demonstrated renin. All dosed pigs demonstrated an increase of immunoreactive renin, which was dose- and time-related. From these results it is concluded that carbadox induces activation of the renin-angiotensin system, secondary to the suppressing effect on mineralocorticoid secretion and that these changes may be responsible for part of the clinical picture.     

Etiologic studies on late-term swine abortions

One hundred thirty-eight swine abortions were studied in detail in an effort to identify an etiologic agent. A viral agent was implicated in 7 cases. Bacteria were isolated in less than half of the examined cases: however, in 61% of the cases, motile, filamentous organisms were observed in tissues and fluids. Although swine sera from farms experiencing reproductive problems had a high reactor rate to Leptospira bratislava antigen, electron microscopy of the observed organism revealed a wall-free prokaryote morphologically typical of the class Mollicutes.     

Observations on the treatment of necrobacillosis in wallabies

Clinical experience of 73 cases of necrobacillosis in red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) over a 6-year period is reviewed. Diagnostic methods and the medical and surgical treatment options are detailed. It is suggested that survival curves are necessary to assess the outcome of treatment.