Crude protein fractions in common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) fresh forage during pod filling

Crude protein (CP) of forages can be separated into fractions of differentiated abilities to provide available amino acids in the lower gut of ruminants. This knowledge is critical to develop feeding systems and to predict animal responses. We have measured during two growing seasons (1996 to 1997 and 1997 to 1998) the CP fractions of common vetch fresh forage with the objective being to assess the influence of maturity on concentration of CP fractions (as a percentage of total CP) and fraction yields. Fraction B2, which represents true protein of intermediate ruminal degradation rate, was the largest single fraction in common vetch forage (about 40% of CP across seasons and maturity stages). Soluble fractions (A plus B1) were less than 50% of total CP while the unavailable fraction C ranged from 4 to 8% of total CP. As a result, the remaining fraction B3 (true protein of very low degradation rate) only represented 2 to 9% of total CP. Concentration and yield of fraction B3 increased (P < 0.05) from flowering to pod-filling. Results showed that undegraded dietary protein represented a small proportion of total CP in common vetch forage. Moving the harvesting stage from flowering to the pod filling phase allowed for greater yield of undegraded dietary protein.     

Prediction of accuracy of estimated Mendelian sampling terms

This study describes a general framework for predicting the accuracy of Mendelian sampling terms when truncation selection is applied on best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) estimated breeding values. A selection index approach is followed. The pseudo‐BLUP index is extended to include terms related to the Mendelian sampling term. Predicted accuracies are compared with those obtained through stochastic computer simulation. Good predictions for the accuracy of the Mendelian sampling term were obtained both at selection time and at convergence of long‐term contributions of selected candidates for a range of heritabilities and population structures. The prediction approach developed provides a key tool for obtaining predictions of genetic response from quadratic optimization that maximizes the rate of genetic progress while restricting the rate of inbreeding.     

Genetic and environmental parameters for racing time at different distances in Brazilian Thoroughbreds

The aim of the present study was to investigate genetic parameters for racing time in Thoroughbred horses racing at distances between 1000 and 1600 m subdivided into 100‐m intervals. The data provided by TURFETOTAL Ltda comprised races that occurred in the Gávea and Cidade Jardim race tracks over a period of 11 years (1992–2002) and consisted of 32 145 races and 238 890 time records. The variance components necessary to obtain the heritability and repeatability estimates of the traits studied were estimated with the MTDFREML program, and animal age at race (3 years old or younger, 4, 5 and older than 5 years), sex (male and female), number of races (1–32 145), and postposition at start (1–11) as fixed effects, and animal and permanent environmental random effects were included in a one‐trait animal model. Males were significantly superior to females at all distances. Excluding the 1100 m distance, animals 4 years of age were significantly faster than the mean of the other ages for all distances analysed. Horses older than 5 years showed a significantly lower performance than the mean of the other ages for all distances analysed, except for the 1100 m. Postpositions one and two did not differ significantly from one another for any of the distances analysed. These two inner positions both together varied from the other positions depending on race length. The components of additive genetic and permanent environmental variance varied in a similar way, tending to decrease with increasing racing distance, and the other temporary environmental variance almost doubled from 1000 to 1600 m. As was the case for the additive genetic and environmental variances, heritability and repeatability estimates tended to decrease with increasing distance, indicating that selection based on racing time will be less successful when the racing distance increases.     

CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN NORMAL CANINE LIVER. EVALUATION OF IMAGING AND SAFETY PARAMETERS

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, a new imaging modality in veterinary medicine, can provide data on tissue perfusion. The objective of this study was to use the ultrasonographic contrast agent SonoVue to evaluate various transit time indices in the normal canine liver, to examine the effect of anesthesia on these parameters, and to evaluate the safety of this agent in dogs. The liver of 11 healthy dogs was studied by ultrasound during an intravenous bolus injection of SonoVue. Each dog underwent the examination twice, first with and later without the use of anesthesia. A time-intensity curve was generated from a selected region of interest within the liver from each scanning session. Ratios derived from peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, up-slope and full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of the curve were calculated from the time-intensity curves, and are reported. There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in peak enhancement, up-slope and FWHM between dogs that were anesthetized and dogs that were not. Time to peak enhancement, however, was significantly shorter when the dogs were anesthetized than when they were nonanesthetized (P < 0.05). There were no biologically significant changes in clinical laboratory findings. This study indicates that contrast-enhanced ultrasound using SonoVue gives reproducible liver perfusion data, and appears to be a safe and well-tolerated agent for use in dogs. When considering normal values, the use of anesthetic drugs has to be considered.     

Health evaluation of free-ranging and captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) in the Gran chaco, Bolivia.

Bolivia has a total of 47 species of Psittacidae, seven of which have been identified in our study site, the semiarid Gran Chaco of the Isoso. One species, the blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva), is frequently captured by local Isose?o Guaraní Indians for exploitation on the national and international market. These birds are often temporarily housed in small villages under unhygienic conditions with poultry and other domestic species. On occasion, these parrots escape back to the wild. Additionally, many of these birds are kept as pets or are used to lure wild. parrots within slingshot range for subsequent capture. In this study, we evaluated the health status, including the level of exposure to selected infectious agents, in the wild-caught captive birds and free-ranging birds. Physical examinations were performed, and blood was collected, from 54 live birds (20 captive and 34 free-ranging). Feces were collected from 15 birds (seven captive and eight free-ranging). Necropsies were also performed on four recently dead wild-caught birds. On serologic testing, no birds were found to have antibodies to avian influenza virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, infectious bronchitis virus, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, Marek's disease virus, paramyxovirus-1, paramyxovirus-2, paramyxovirus-3, polyomavirus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus, or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Positive antibody titers were found for psittacine herpesvirus (8/44, 18.2%), Aspergillus spp. (3/51, 5.9%), and Salmonella pullorum (33/49, 67.3%). All three of the birds that tested antibody positive for Aspergillus spp. were captive, whereas six of the eight and 15 of the 33 birds that tested positive for psittacine herpesvirus and S. pullorum, respectively, were wild.     

Corneal endothelium of the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) by scanning electron microscopy.

The corneal endothelium is essential for the maintenance of the corneal transparency. The aim of this study was to examine the morphology of the endothelial surface and perform morphometric analysis of the normal corneal endothelial cells of the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) using scanning electron microscopy. The present work demonstrates that the corneal endothelium of the Magellanic penguin is similar to those described in other vertebrates.     

Histological alterations to the pancreas and the intestinal tract produced by raw faba bean (Vicia faba L. minor) diets in growing chicks

1. Inclusion of raw faba bean (Vicia faba L., minor) in the diet of growing chickens was shown to affect the performance of the birds and to produce a significant increase in the relative weight of the pancreas. This was attributable to dietary trypsin inhibitors. 2. Trypsin inhibitors also produced degenerative changes in pancreatic acinar cells. These were observed by light and electron microscopy. 3. Progressive cytopathological changes were observed in the intestinal tract. The duodenum, jejunum and ileum were altered, with extensive erosion, shortening and atrophy of microvilli. 4. The results endorsed previous findings obtained using different legume seed lines (Phaseolus spp). Faba bean produced similar local reactions in the pancreas and the intestine. This may be caused by the presence of lectins in the seeds.     

Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) in Spain

Ungulates are involved in the epidemiology of Borreliosis as maintenance hosts for vector tick species. We evaluated the prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in two different populations of southern chamois in Spain. Forty-six sera (40.4%) were positive at titres >/=1 : 64 using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT).     

Chemical restraint of peccaries with tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine or tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol

Objective To evaluate the use of a combination of tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine (TZX) in collared and white‐lipped peccaries and to compare its efficacy as an anesthetic technique with that of tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol (TZB). Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Seven white‐lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) (four females and three males) and four collared peccaries (Tayasu tajacu) (two males and two females). Methods Animal immobilization was attempted with TZX and TZB (IM) on two different occasions. Heart and respiratory rates (HR, RR), rectal temperature (RT), sedation, muscle relaxation, posture, auditory response and analgesia were evaluated every 15 minutes during immobilization. Induction, anesthesia, standing and walking time were determined after drug administration. Results Doses for white‐lipped peccaries were 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 (mean ± SD) of TZ and 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 of X, and 1.46 ± 0.09 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.14 ± 0.008 mg kg^?1 of B; doses for collared peccaries were 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of X and 1.68 ± 0.02 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.17 ± 0.002 mg kg^?1 of B. In white‐lipped peccaries, both drug combinations provided a smooth induction and good immobilization for more than an hour. Anesthesia and standing times were significantly longer in animals given TZB, whereas walking time was significantly longer in animals given TZX. A significant decrease in HR was observed with both treatments. Respiratory rate decreased significantly with TZX, but the rate remained higher than with TZB. Induction and recovery quality in white‐lipped peccaries was better with TZB than with TZX. Neither protocol provided adequate immobilization in collared peccaries. Conclusion and clinical relevance At the doses described, TZB is effective in providing a long period of immobilization, whereas TZX is adequate for short to medium immobilization in white‐lipped peccaries. Neither drug combination was effective in collared peccaries at the doses given.