The detection of obligate anaerobic bacteria in udder secretions of dry cattle with mastitis during summer: a comparison between gas-liquid chromatography and bacteriological culturing methods

Udder secretions sampled during the summer in 1984 and 1985 from mastitic quarters of 51 non-lactating cattle, mainly heifers less than 2 years of age, were examined bacteriologically for the presence of (facultative) aerobic and obligate anaerobic bacteria (OAB) and by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) in order to detect volatile fatty acids (VFA), metabolic end-products of OAB. Forty-nine samples yielded positive cultures and in 20 cases these were mixtures of (facultative) aerobes and OAB. Only two specimens appeared to be sterile and from one specimen only were OAB cultured. Corynebacterium pyogenes was isolated from 35% of the cases and Peptococcus indolicus and Fusobacterium necrophorum from 31 and 22%, respectively. In most specimens (19/21) which yielded OAB after culturing, VFA (C3-C6) could be detected by GLC. Detection of VFA in summer mastitis secretions appeared to be a useful technique to evaluate the importance and association of OAB with summer mastitis. Because samples can be easily collected and stored at -20 degrees C, this is especially advantageous in situations where adequate facilities for the isolation of OAB are not readily available.     

Biochemical markers of bone metabolism in growing thoroughbreds: a longitudinal study

This study describes longitudinal changes in serum levels of biochemical markers of bone cell activity in a group of 24 thoroughbred foals from birth to 18 months of age. The markers of bone formation included the type I collagen carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), the bone-specific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and osteocalcin (OC). Levels of the cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), a marker of bone resorption, and the N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (PNIIIP), a marker of soft tissue turnover, were also measured. Levels of all markers fell significantly between birth and 18 months of age (70-80 per cent); this decrease being most marked between 0 and 6 months. However, a transient increase in levels of the markers then occurred between 6 and 14 months of age. The timing of this increase was specific for each parameter. ICTP and OC concentrations increased between October and December. PICP concentrations increased between December and April whereas the increase in PIIINP was coincident with the peak in weight gain between April and June. Changes in BAP concentration were less distinct at this time. Season was shown to have significant effects on the biochemical markers independent from the effect of age. Concentrations of all markers decreased with increasing body weight and at any given age heavier horses had lower marker levels. These results show that biochemical markers of bone cell activity and soft tissue turnover follow characteristic patterns of change in growing thoroughbreds influenced by age, season and bodyweight. The demonstration that the reference ranges for the biochemical markers change from month to month means that single samples from individuals are of little value for monitoring bone cell activity in growing thoroughbreds.     

Lectin histochemical investigations of the distal gut of chicks with special emphasis on the follicle-associated epithelium

Carbohydrates on epithelial cell surfaces play an important role as attachment sites for different microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. To obtain more information about the distribution of carbohydrates on the luminal surface along the intestine, lectin histochemical studies on different gut segments of chicks of different age groups were carried out using a panel of 13 lectins with specificities for Man, Glc, Gal, GalNAc, GlcNAc or GlcNAc oligosaccharides and Sia. Furthermore, we tried to find out whether previously reported specificities of certain lectins for M cells (membranous or multifold cells) in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) can be observed also on M cells of the intestine. As a result we were able to demonstrate binding of all lectins employed in these studies in all investigated gut segments. In some cases, the application of the same lectin led to varying staining intensities of the same histological structures in different age-groups (e.g. staining of the brush border with WGA, LEA, MAA or Conarva) or different gut segments (e.g. staining of goblet cells with CMA II, LEA and MPA). Hence, terminal carbohydrate residues of glycoconjugates on the intestinal epithelium vary depending on age and organ site. As glycoconjugates can act as attachment sites for microorganisms, these differences in the distribution of sugar residues may be one explanation for the site-specificity of certain pathogens. Furthermore, the binding of lectins to the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of the BF differs from that to the FAE of the intestine again stressing the site specificity of lectin binding. Thus, up to now no universal M-cell marker along the chicken intestine exists.     

Screening for neonatal isohemolytic anemia in calves

Anti-erythrocytic immunoglobulins in serum and colostrum of 124 anaplasmosis-vaccinated cows were detected with a saline agglutination test. Positive results were correlated with the occurrence of neonatal isohemolytic anemia (NIA) in calves and were used to predict the occurrence of NIA. The disease was prevented by withholding colostrum from calves with a high potential for NIA.     

Effects of water exchange protocols on water quality,sedimentation rate and production performance of Penaeus monodon in earthen ponds

This study was carried out in farmers' fields to quantify the total water and consumptive water use in grow‐out culture of Penaeus monodon under recommended package of practice with two different water management protocols: T₁, with no water exchange and T₂, with regulated water exchange. Treatment‐wise estimated total water use, was 2.09 and 2.43 ha‐m 122 day^?1, while the computed consumptive water use index (m³ kg^?1 biomass) was 5.35 and 6.02 in T₁ and T₂ respectively. Lower rates of water exchange (T₂) showed significantly improved (P < 0.05) crop performance in terms of performance index (19.75 ± 0.75), production‐size index (74.1 ± 3.4), survival rate (80.13 ± 1.7%) and productivity (2.44 ± 0.08 t) over the zero water exchange. The shrimp pond water quality suitability index (WQSI) infers that regulated water exchange (T₂) improved the overall suitability of water quality for shrimp culture. WQSI up to 90 days of culture ranged between 7.5–9.0 in T₂, needs little management while in the last month of rearing, it was good with moderate management requirements. Treatment‐wise sediment load ranged between 50.4–56.3 m³ t^?1 shrimp biomass. High intensity of water exchange and low apparent feed conversion ratio influenced in lowering the sedimentation rate. Regulated water exchange protocol (T₂) performed well (higher net total water productivity and net consumptive water productivity) against no water exchange (T₁). A higher OV:CC ratio (ratio of the output value to the cost of cultivation) indicated that T₂ had a distinct edge over the T₁ protocol.     

Automated identification of sugar beet diseases using smartphones

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) poses a high economic risk to sugar beet production due to its potential to greatly reduce yield and quality. For successful integrated management of CLS, rapid and accurate identification of the disease is essential. Diagnosis on the basis of typical visual symptoms is often compromised by the inability to differentiate CLS symptoms from similar symptoms caused by other foliar pathogens of varying significance, or from abiotic stress. An automated detection and classification of CLS and other leaf diseases, enabling a reliable basis for decisions in disease control, would be an alternative to visual as well as molecular and serological methods. This paper presents an algorithm based on a RGB‐image database captured with smartphone cameras for the identification of sugar beet leaf diseases. This tool combines image acquisition and segmentation on the smartphone and advanced image data processing on a server, based on texture features using colour, intensity and gradient values. The diseases are classified using a support vector machine with radial basis function kernel. The algorithm is suitable for binary‐class and multi‐class classification approaches, i.e. the separation between diseased and non‐diseased, and the differentiation among leaf diseases and non‐infected tissue. The classification accuracy for the differentiation of CLS, ramularia leaf spot, phoma leaf spot, beet rust and bacterial blight was 82%, better than that of sugar beet experts classifying diseases from images. However, the technology has not been tested by practitioners. This tool can be adapted to other crops and their diseases and may contribute to improved decision‐making in integrated disease control.     

Feed additives in whole milk fattening. Effect on production and health of fattening calves

In two fattening trials, each time 64 male calves of Simmental x Red Holstein cross breeds were used to investigate the influence of different commercial feed additives containing at the same time antimicrobial agents, minerals and vitamins on growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion and health condition. Calves whose milk diets were supplemented had, depending on products used, higher growth rates (9 to 28%) and better feed conversion rates (2 to 12%) compared to control calves which were fed only whole milk. This improved performance is primarily due to higher feed intakes. It is questionable how much the minerals and vitamins in addition to antimicrobial agents contributed to the improvement. The additional mineral supply caused after 8 weeks a statistically significant higher haemoglobin content, serum magnesium and glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes compared to the exclusive whole milk feeding. Calves which were fed no additives refused feed intake more often as a result of disease incidence and required veterinary treatment more frequently.     

Milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a tool to investigate ovarian cyclicity of water buffaloes in relation to body condition score and milk production

Background

Application of assisted reproductive technologies in buffaloes is limited to some extent by farmers’ inability to detect oestrus because of its poor expression. The present study aimed at investigating reliability of a milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the ovarian cyclicity during post partum, oestrus and post-breeding periods in water buffaloes.

Methods

Progesterone concentrations were measured by an ELISA in milk of 23 postpartum buffaloes in relation to oestrus, pregnancy, body condition score (BCS) and milk production. Two milk samples were taken at 10 days intervals, every month starting from day 30 and continued to day 150 post partum. BCS and milk production were recorded during sample collection. Milk samples from bred buffaloes were collected at Day 0 (day of breeding), Days 10–12 and Days 22–24. Defatted milk was preserved at −80°C until analysis. Pregnancy was confirmed by palpation per rectum on Days 70–90.

Results

Seventeen buffaloes had 47 ovulatory cycles, one to four in each, 13 were detected in oestrus once (28 % oestrus detection rate). Progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/ml in one of the two 10-day-interval milk samples reflected ovulation and corpus luteum formation. The intervals between calving to first luteal activity and to first detected oestrus varied from 41 to 123 days (n = 17) and 83 to 135 (n = 13) days, respectively. Eight buffaloes were bred in the course of the study and seven were found pregnant. These buffaloes had a progesterone profile of low (<1 ng/ml), high (≥ 1 ng/ml) and high (≥ 1 ng/ml) on Day 0, Days 10–12 and Days 22–24, respectively. Buffaloes cycling later in the postpartum period had fewer missed oestruses (P < 0.05). Buffaloes with a superior BCS had a shorter calving to oestrus interval and produced more milk (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Milk progesterone ELISA is a reliable tool for monitoring ovarian cyclicity and good BCS may be an indicator of resuming cyclicity in water buffalo.     

Swinepox--skin disease with sporadic occurrence

Swinepox virus infection results in an acute, mild or subclinical course and is characterised by typical poxvirus skin lesions in affected pigs. Additionally, sporadic vertical swinepox virus transmission leads to congenital generalised infection and subsequent abortion or stillbirth. The present report describes the occurrence of epidermal efflorescences in two piglets after intrauterine natural suipoxvirus infection. No clinical abnormalities of the gilt and littermates as well as in other pigs from this herd were present. One of the affected piglets was stillborn and submitted for necropsy, the other animal was alive at birth, but died 3 days later. Histologically, a proliferative to ulcerative dermatitis with epithelial ballooning degeneration and characteristic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies was observed. The pathomorphological and histopathological suspected diagnosis of a poxvirus infection was confirmed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, the agent was identified as suipoxvirus by polymerase chain reaction. As demonstrated here, obvious skin lesions in suipoxvirus infection leads to a suspected diagnosis in newborn piglets on macroscopic examination. However, further post mortem examinations, including electron microscopy as well as molecular techniques are essential for the identification of the aetiology and the exclusion of differential diagnoses. Because the disease only affected two pigs there was only a small economic loss. A valid diagnostic plays an important role in advising farmers and for herd health monitoring.     

Effect of maternal immunity on the immune response to oral vaccination against rabies in young foxes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effect of maternal antibodies on immune response to oral vaccination against rabies in young foxes. ANIMALS: 250 cubs from 48 vixens. PROCEDURE: Sera were obtained from cubs of 36 vaccinated (maternally vaccinated [MV+]) and 12 nonvaccinated (MV-) vixens between 23 and 71 days of age and tested for neutralizing antibodies. Seventy-one MV+ cubs and 33 MV-cubs were vaccinated orally with modified-live virus vaccine SAD B19. Geometric mean titer (GMT) was determined in these cubs approximately 21, 39, and 57 days after vaccination. In a subsequent experiment, 10 vaccinated MV+ cubs, 6 vaccinated MV- cubs, and 6 control cubs were challenge inoculated with virulent rabies virus approximately 100 days after vaccination. RESULTS: Serum GMT of nonvaccinated MV cubs (0.23 U/ml) was significantly greater than that of non-vaccinated MV- cubs (0.15 U/ml). The GMT of vaccinated MV+ cubs 21, 39, and 57 days after vaccination were 2.85, 2.11, and 0.79 U/ml, respectively, and were significantly less than those of vaccinated MV- cubs (12.19, 6.76, and 4.02 U/ml, respectively). All challenge-inoculated cubs with GMT < 0.5 U/ml succumbed to rabies. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Partially impaired immune response in cubs < 8 weeks old from vaccinated vixens causes insufficient protection against rabies. Inhibition of the immune response persists longer than the period during which maternal antibodies are detectable. Thus, oral vaccination campaigns for young foxes in areas where vaccination has been performed need to be reconsidered.