Evaluation of three strip tests for measuring electrolytes in mares' pre-partum mammary secretions and for predicting parturition

Three strip test kits which measure calcium and/or magnesium in mares' mammary secretions were compared and assessed for their accuracy in:- 1) measuring these electrolytes compared to standard laboratory measurements, and 2) predicting the time of parturition. Daily samples of mammary secretions were obtained pre-partum from 35 Thoroughbred mares and allocated a score. Measurement of mammary secretion calcium and/or magnesium by the strip tests and laboratory methods correlated significantly (P less than 0.001). The results obtained for prediction of parturition were analysed by two methods. Method i) indicated that the majority of mares had a maximum score on the day of birth. However, the second method of analysis included all prepartum scores and this demonstrated that maximum scores occurred on more occasions prior to the day of birth than on the day of birth itself. The number of nights spent attending mares, and the percentage of occasions when foaling was missed, were also calculated for given strip test scores. The results indicate that the test kits are not particularly accurate in predicting time of parturition although they are a reliable means of measuring mammary secretion calcium and/or magnesium. It is suggested that the test kits may be more helpful by indicating when it is not necessary to attend mares at night.     

Ultrastructure of sarcocysts from water buffalo in India

The ultrastructure of sarcocysts of macro- and microscopic species of Sarcocystis was compared from naturally infected water buffalo from India. Grossly visible sarcocysts had walls consisting of cauliflower-like villar protrusions, typical of S. fusiformis. The sarcocyst wall of the microscopic species of Sarcocystis was 6.4 microns thick and consisted of tightly packed conical villar protrusions that were 9.6 microns long and 3.7 microns wide at the base. At approximately 3 microns above the base, the distal two-thirds of the villar protrusion became conical shaped and was bent laterally at an angle of 45 degrees to the sarcocyst surface. The granular layer beneath the villar protrusions was 0.9 microns thick. In S. levinei the granular layer was 1.9 microns thick, the villar protrusions were narrow and it had a highly undulating primary cyst wall. Whether the microscopic S. levinei-like sarcocysts of Indian and Malaysian water buffalo are distinct species of Sarcocystis will require further investigation.     

P‐33 Poxvirus infection in two cats

A 3‐year‐old Burmese cat was presented with a history of nonresolving crusted and papular lesions of the face and prior treatment with prednisolone. Skin biopsies revealed typical pox lesions with hyperplasia and ulceration of the epidermis and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the epidermal cells. In the upper dermis there was prominent diffuse mast cell infiltration and mild neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation. Rare cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were also present in swollen endothelial cells of dermal venules, which showed no other degenerative changes. Histological diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopic evidence of pox virus particles in inclusion bodies of epidermal cells. The lesions resolved within 6 weeks with systemic antibiotic therapy and supportive care. A 2‐year‐old domestic short‐haired cat was presented with multiple disseminated papular and ulcerative pox lesions with central eschar over the entire body. Histologically, large epidermal inclusion bodies (up to 6 μm in diameter) were present. Widespread haemorrhage and vascular wall necrosis was visible in the dermis and subcutis. Some subcutaneous vessels showed neutrophilic vasculitis. In addition to diffuse dermal neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation, a lymphohistiocytic panniculitis was also present. The cat died as a result of massive haemorrhage and lymphedema, despite supportive care. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Modifying the response to defoliation during vegetative growth in CERES-Maize

CERES-Maize (Vl. 0) predicted no grain yield when 100% defoliation occurred during vegetative growth. This result conflicted with field observations where 100% defoliation early in the vegetative stage did not materially reduce grain yield. CERES-Maize was modified to realistically predict yields when defoliation greater than 50% occurred during vegetative growth by taking into account stem (stem proper and sheath) photosynthesis and translocation of dry matter from the stem to the developing leaves. With these modifications, predictions from CERES-Maize were in good agreement with field measurements when defoliation occurred both early and later in the vegetative stage. This modified version of CERES-Maize can be the basis of a decision support system for defoliating pests of corn where yields can be evaluated under different management strategies and climate scenarios.     

Response of the lactating and postweaning sow to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Clinical and endocrinological responses to administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (LH-RH-A) during the lactation period and postweaning in the sow were investigated. Plasma LH concentrations in lactating sows rose immediately after administration of LH-RH-A. However, in postweaning sows the increase of LH level was more slowly. Three of 5 postweaning sows came into estrus and ovulated after LH-RH-A treatment. One sow exhibited a distinct LH response, but her ovaries remained quiescent. The remaining one with feeble estrus for a short period became cystic ovaries. Thus, LH response to GnRH in the sow seems to be higher during early lactation than at 2 days postweaning.     

Additional diagnostic procedures

This article reviews recent diagnostic procedures that have arisen over the last 10 years. Videoendoscopy of horses on a high-speed treadmill allows observation of some of the changes that take place in a horse's airway during exercise. Measurements of upper airway airflows and transupper airway pressure, the use of an esophageal balloon and a Ventigraph to measure changes in pleural pressure, and pulmonary function testing are new techniques that aid the researcher in understanding the mechanics and pathologic characteristics of airway diseases and help the practitioner in assessing the severity of a problem, measuring response to therapy, and accurately determining a prognosis.     

Participation of H1-receptors in histamine-induced contraction and relaxation of horse coronary artery in vitro.

The mechanisms of histamine-induced contraction and relaxation were investigated in rings isolated from a middle part of the left descending coronary arteries of horses. Intact and endothelium-denuded preparations were compared. Rings of horse coronary arteries contracted in response to histamine in a concentration dependent manner, but some of them relaxed with lower concentrations and contracted with higher concentrations. Removal of the endothelium abolished the relaxation and potentiated the contraction. The pD2 values were 4.70 +/- 0.08 in the rings with intact endothelium and 4.95 +/- 0.08 in endothelium-denuded rings. Histamine-induced contractions in intact and denuded preparations were not affected by an H2-antagonist, cimetidine, but were inhibited by an H1-antagonist, diphenhydramine in non-competitive manner in the rings with endothelium and in competitive manner in denuded rings. After precontraction with PGF2 alpha or norepinephrine, histamine relaxed preparations with intact endothelium (pD2 value, 7.80 +/- 0.11), although histamine-induced relaxations were not observed in denuded preparations. The relaxation was competitively inhibited by diphenhydramine. Relaxing response was significantly attenuated by methylene blue, quinacrine, L-nitro-arginine, gossypol and AA861 but not by indomethacin. These results suggest that the histamine-induced contraction and relaxation in horse coronary arteries are mediated mainly by H1-receptors in the smooth muscle and endothelium, respectively, and H1-receptor activation of endothelial cells may liberate vasodilator substances.     

Deep Freezing of Boar Semen Packaged in Plastic Bags and Straws

For practical reasons, a large volume (i.e. 5 ml) of frozen boar semen per insemination dose is desirable, but successful freezing has not been achieved, since optimal cooling rates have not yet been established. Post-thaw motility and the acrosome intep'ty of semen from four boars frozen with a programmable freezin machine, in mini-(0.25 ml), maxi-(5 ml) plastic straws and in 10 × 5 cm PVC- or Teflon FEP-plastic bags (0.35 – 0.12 mm thick, 5 ml) was studied. The freezing of the semen was monitored using thermocouples placed in the straws and the bags. The freezing curve started from +5°C, at a rate of −3°C/min, to – 6°C, it was held for 1 min at −6°C, and was followed by further drop to −100°C at a rate of −20°C/min, with subsequent storage in LN₂. The bags had a much shorter freezing point plnteau, compared to the maxi-straws. Post-thaw sperm motility was significantly higher when semen was frozen in mini-straws or in bags than in maxi-straws. The freezing procedure did not cause major acrosomal damages, significantly more normal apical ridges being present in the bags and mini-straws than in the maxi-straws. This in vitro evaluation indicates that the freezing method employed is satisfactory for freezing large volumes of boar semen into plastic bags .     

Distributions of extracellular matrix and carbonic anhydrase-III during bovine palatine ridge development.

The present study describes histological alterations and immunohistochemical distributions of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and the carbonic anhydrase isozyme-III (CA-III) during the period of bovine palatine ridge formation. Morphogenesis of bovine palatine ridges was preceded by epidermal placodes and the mesenchymal condensation (MC). During the early stages of less than 44 cm crown rump length (CRL), fibronectin (FN) was distributed densely in the MC. Strong reactions against type I collagen (C-1) were detected outer to the FN positive site. In the stages of more than 44 cm CRL, FN and C-1 were distributed diffusely in subepithelial mesenchyme. Laminin (LN) and type IV collagen were distributed in the epithelial and endothelial basement membranes (BMs) in all of the stages examined, except in the stage of 7 cm CRL, where LN was not detected only in the BM just beneath the epidermal placode. CA-III was detected in basal epithelial cells except for palatine ridge rudiments in the stages of more than 21 cm CRL. It is suggested that the expressions of LN and CA-III might play a role in the spatial determination of rudiments of bovine fetal palatine ridges.