Free Microvascular Transplantation of the Trapezius Musculocutaneous Flap in Dogs

A musculocutaneous flap based on the prescapular branch of the superficial cervical artery and including the cervical part of the trapezius muscle and overlying skin was transplanted over a defect created on the medial side of the contralateral tibia in four dogs by using microvascular technique. The donor and recipient sites in three dogs were examined clinically for 21 days, after which they were examined angiographically and histologically. All dogs were free of lameness by hour 48. Seromas formed at the donor site between days 7 and 15. One vascular pedicle was traumatized at hour 40, and the dog was euthanatized. Three flaps survived with minimal necrosis. Edema of the flaps was severe from days 5 to 11. Angiograms showed complete perfusion of the flaps, and survival was confirmed histologically. Esthetic appearance and function were good in one dog at month 7.     

Comparison of Five Radioimmunoassay Systems for PAG Measurement: Ability to Detect Early Pregnancy in Cows

This study was conducted to describe the minimum detection limit, reproducibility, accuracy, specificity and parallelism of different pregnancy-associated glycoprotein radioimmunoassay (PAG-RIA) systems: RIA-497, RIA-706, RIA-780, RIA-809 and RIA-Pool. Their ability to distinguish between non-pregnant and pregnant females at day 30 after artificial insemination (AI) was investigated. The antisera were raised in rabbits against different PAG preparations. All RIA systems proved to be sensitive, repeatable and accurate for measuring PAG concentrations. The dilutions of plasma samples taken at an early stage of pregnancy were found to be parallel to the standard curves. No cross-reaction was observed with different carbohydrates, either with Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) or human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). The concentrations of PAG in pregnant females at day 30 after AI were shown to be higher with the use of antisera R#706, R#780, R#809 and Pool when compared with antiserum R#497. All the RIA systems gave 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values. On the other hand, the use of antisera R#780 and R#809 resulted in lower specificity and positive predictive values. The present study clearly shows that the ability of PAG-RIA systems to diagnose pregnancy specifically at day 30 after AI can be improved by using a combination of antisera raised against different forms of PAG.     

Porcine Luteal Function in Relation to IGF-1 Levels Following Ovulation During Lactation or After Weaning

Contents This study presents relationships between peripheral progesterone and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations during the early luteal phase in sows. Data were derived from three experiments, one with primiparous weaned sows (n = 21) and two with multiparous sows that either ovulated during lactation (n = 23) or after weaning (n = 12). The sows that ovulated during lactation did so due to an intermittent suckling regime (inhibition of suckling for 12 h each day from day 14 of lactation) or due to treatment with PG600. IGF-1 concentrations varied considerably among experiments, and were the lowest in the multiparous sows, regardless of whether they were weaned or lactating: 68 ± 5 and 85 ± 8 ng/ml in the two experiments with multiparous sows vs 188 ± 15 ng/ml in the primiparous sows. Progesterone concentrations were lowest for the lactating sows. Overall, the increase in progesterone during the early luteal phase was strongly correlated with IGF-1 concentrations (r = 0.7). However, the correlation was low in multiparous lactating sows (r = 0.28; p < 0.10) and nonsignificant in multiparous weaned sows (r = 0). The weaned multiparous sows had IGF-1 levels comparable to lactating multiparous sows, but higher progesterone levels. In conclusion, these data show a positive relationship between peripheral IGF-1 and progesterone concentrations in vivo during the early luteal phase. In lactating sows, IGF-1 concentrations are probably a limiting factor for progesterone secretion, although other factors may be involved.     

Gamma Interferon Production and Plasma Concentrations of Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoproteins 1 and 2 in Gestating Dairy Cows Naturally Infected With Neospora caninum

Gamma interferon (IFN‐γ) production and cross‐breed pregnancy have been attributed a role in protecting dairy cows infected with Neospora caninum against abortion. Plasma levels of pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins‐1 (PAG‐1) are a marker of placental/foetal well‐being and of PAG‐2 is an abortion risk indicator in chronically N. caninum‐infected animals. The present study examines, in cross‐breed pregnancies, interactions between IFN‐γ production and levels of PAG‐1 and PAG‐2 in non‐aborting naturally Neospora‐infected dairy cows. Data were obtained from 60 pregnant Holstein‐Friesian cows: 44 Neospora‐seropositive and 16 Neospora‐seronegative; 12 became pregnant using Holstein‐Friesian semen and 48 using Limousin semen. Blood samples were collected on Days 40, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 of gestation. Gamma interferon was only detected in the plasma of nine of the 44 Neospora‐seropositive cows, all of them became pregnant using Limousin semen. Through GLM procedures, in cows inseminated with Limousin semen and Neospora‐seropositive cows showing no IFN‐γ production, PAG‐1 concentrations were high and increased throughout gestation compared to the levels detected in cows inseminated with Holstein‐Friesian semen and Neospora‐seropositive cows producing IFN‐γ, respectively. In Neospora‐seronegative cows and in Neospora‐seropositive cows showing no IFN‐γ production, significantly increased PAG‐2 concentrations were observed on gestation Day 120. Our findings indicate that IFN‐γ production correlates negatively and the production of antibodies against N. caninum is uncorrelated with plasma PAG concentrations during gestation in Neospora‐infected dairy cows. Accordingly, IFN‐γ production could be linked to the transplacental migration of tachyzoites, which may cause a reduction in PAG levels.     

Assessment of Levels and Potential Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Water and Selected Fish Species from the Benue-Niger River Confluence,Lokoja, Nigeria

The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in water and selected fish species (Oreochromis nilzinc (oticus and Clarias gariepinus) from Benue-Niger River Confluence, Nigeria were investigated. The water and fish sample digests were quantified using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The study aimed to assess any possible human health risk associated with water and fish consumption from the selected geographical area. The concentration of the metals in the surface water ranged from 0.007 to 0.039, 0.106 to 0.240, 0.092 to 0.0164, 0.682 to 0.878, 0.058 to 0.309, and 0.136 to 1.645 mg/L for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn, respectively, while the concentrations of the metals, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Fe in these fish species ranged from 0.034 to 0.679, 0.500 to 1.75, 0.152 to 0.351, 0.36 to 1.01, 5.32 to 7.41, and 4.25 to 9.17 mg/kg, respectively. Cd, Cr, and Pb levels in fish were higher than the provisional tolerable weekly intake of 7, 1.5, and 25 μg/kg bw, respectively, according to the World Health Organization. Dry season values of the metals in water samples were higher, and sharptooth catfish had higher amounts of the metals. The hazard quotient (HQ) for Cd indicated a possible potential health concern with fish consumption from this area.     

Association of SNP variants of MHC Class II DRB gene with thermo-physiological traits in tropical goats

Host defense in vertebrates depend on many secreted regulatory proteins such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II which provide important regulatory and effector functions of T cells. Gene polymorphism in the second exon of Capra-DRB gene in three major Nigerian goat breeds [West African Dwarf (WAD), Red Sokoto (RS), and Sahel (SH)] was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). Four restriction enzymes, BsaHI, AluI, HaeIII, and SacII, were utilized. The association between the polymorphic sites and some heat tolerance traits were also investigated in a total of 70 WAD, 90 RS, and 50 SH goats. Fourteen different types of alleles identified in the Nigerian goats, four of which were found in the peptide coding region (A57G, Q89R, G104D, and T112I), indicate a high degree of polymorphism at the DRB locus in this species. An obvious excess (P?<?0.01) of non-synonymous substitutions than synonymous (dN/dS) in this locus is a reflection of adaptive evolution and positive selection. The phylogenetic trees revealed largely species-wise clustering in DRB gene. BsaHI, AluI, HaeIII, and SacII genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P?>?0.05), except AluI in RS goats and HaeIII in WAD goats (P?<?0.05). The expected heterozygosity (H), which is a measure of gene diversity in the goat populations, ranged from 0.16 to 0.50. Genotypes AA (BsaHI), GG, GC and CC (AluI) and GG, GA, AA (HaeIII) appeared better in terms of heat tolerance. The heat-tolerant ability of SH and RS goats to the hot and humid tropical environment of Nigeria seemed better than that of the WAD goats. Sex effect (P?<?0.05) was mainly on pulse rate and heat stress index, while there were varying interaction effects on heat tolerance. Variation at the DRB locus may prove to be important in possible selection and breeding for genetic resistance to heat stress in the tropics.