Kinetics and role of antibodies against intimin β in colostrum and in serum from goat kids and longitudinal study of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli in goat kids

The presence of antibodies to the intimin β-binding region (Int280-β) of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) in serum from 20 goat kids from 2 herds, as well as in goat colostrum, was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the onset and subsequent pattern of shedding of AEEC from the same goat kids over a 6-mo period was investigated. All the colostrum and serum samples tested contained antibodies against Int280-β. The association between the antibody titer and the isolation of AEEC suggests that antibodies to intimin β do not prevent colonization of the intestine by AEEC in goat kids. The AEEC were generally shed only transiently. Most AEEC isolated from the kids belonged to serogroup O26. Three isolates belonged to serogroup O157. These data show that goat kids may be a reservoir of AEEC that are potentially pathogenic for humans.     

Associations between yearling body measurements and career racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses

Yearling morphometric measurements and variables related to career racing performance were collected on 260 Thoroughbreds to determine correlations between and among these traits. Morphometric measurements were adjusted to 365 days based on interpolation from adjacent age points and included wither and hip height, body length, distal limb length, cannon circumference, heartgirth circumference, and chest width. Measures of career racing ability included total earnings, win percentage, and Standard Starts Index (SSI). Wither height and hip height were favorably correlated with lifetime earnings, SSI, and win percentage. Body length and heartgirth were positively correlated with SSI and win percentage. Leg traits were not correlated with any performance parameters. Horses that had placed in or won a stakes race tended to be taller at the wither and hip as yearlings. Horses categorized as preferring turf tended to be taller at the wither and hip at 365 days than those that preferred to run on dirt. No significant difference in yearling morphometric measurements between sprinters and routers was detected. In addition to phenotype and pedigree information, morphometric measurements taken in the yearling year may allow for more accurate estimation of future performance in the Thoroughbred racehorse.     

A sero-epidemiological survey of blood parasites in cattle in the north-eastern Free State, South Africa

A survey to determine the incidence of parasites in cattle (n = 386) was conducted in the north eastern Free State between August 1999 and July 2000. Giemsa-stained blood smears were negative for blood parasites. A total of 94% of the cattle were sero-positive for Babesia bigemina by indirect fluorescent antibody test while 87% were sero-positive for Anaplasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The observation of negative blood smears but high incidence of positive serological results for Anaplasma and Babesia for the same group of cattle indicates that this area is endemic for these diseases but with a stable disease situation. All the animals were sero-negative for B. bovis and this is probably because the tick vector (Boophilus microplus) which transmits the disease is not present in the Free State Province. Two tick species belonging to the family ixodidae were found on cattle, namely Boophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. In the present study significant differences in seasonal burdens of B. decoloratus occurred, with the highest infestations recorded from February to June. The presence of R. evertsi evertsi throughout the year without any or with small fluctuations in winter months was observed, with a peak from February to May.     

Antigenicity of cortical bone allografts in dogs and effect of ethylene oxide-sterilization.

The aims of the present study were to determine the antigenicity of cortical bone allografts and the effect of ethylene oxide-sterilization (EO-sterilization). Cortical bone allografts from one donor dog were implanted in a muscle pouch in four groups of four dogs each. The grafts were either fresh, EO-sterilized, demineralized or demineralized and EO-sterilized. The immune response against the grafts was determined by measuring the antibody response against surface antigens of donor cells and by the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Dogs receiving EO-sterilized grafts or bone matrix did not demonstrate an immune response. Only two of the four dogs with fresh cortical bone grafts showed a very weak immune response. This suggests a priming of the host by the fresh bone grafts. However, implanting skin grafts from the donor dog subdermally, in one dog of each of the groups, four months after implanting the bone grafts did not induce a secondary immune response. Macroscopic and histologic examination of the bone grafts five months after their implantation consistently revealed graft resorption (activity of osteoclasts) and vascularization of the fresh bone grafts, but not of EO-sterilized fresh grafts. For most EO-sterilized grafts, a strong inflammatory reaction was present in the tissues surrounding the graft and this was not apparent around the non-sterilized grafts. The absence of resorption and the presence of the inflammation seemed to be unwanted effects of the EO-sterilization. The EO-sterilisation did not affect osteoinduction since osteocytes were observed in the EO-sterilized demineralized grafts. Results indicate that cortical bone allografts used in the present study are very weak antigens and that the EO-sterilization procedure used has no effect on osteoinduction, but decreases bone resorption.     

Plasma Steroid Variations in Bull Calves Repeatedly Treated with Testosterone,Nortestosterone and Oestradiol Administered Alone or in Combination

The aim of this work was to investigate the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E) as biological markers in response to illegal administration of testosterone, 19-nortestosterone (N) and oestradiol, either alone or in combination. Twenty male Friesian calves (age 13-14 months) were allotted to a control group (n = 5), and five experimental groups (n = 3) each. Each experimental animal was repeatedly injected with one of the following hormonal treatments: E, T, N, T+E and N+E. Circulating DHEA, T, DHT and E were determined by radioimmunoassay. The administration of T alone did not induce any variation in plasma DHEA, T, DHT and E, which were similar to those in the control group. In contrast, DHEA, T and DHT were on average significantly lower in the T+E and N-treated groups (p < 0.01), whereas the administration of N+E resulted in the reduction of plasma T and DHT without any modification of plasma DHEA. The administration of E alone or in combination increased circulating levels of E but did not affect androgen plasma profiles. The results indicate that plasma levels of T do not permit detection of illegal treatments because plasma androgens always remained within the physiological range. Illegal E treatment could be detected in blood samples when they were collected at least every 20 days.     

Fine-needle biopsy of external ear canal masses in the cat: cytologic results and histologic correlations in 27 cases

BACKGROUND: The cytologic diagnosis of ear canal tumors is difficult or impossible by swab alone because cell exfoliation may be poor and neoplastic cells may be masked by associated inflammation. Fine-needle biopsy (FNB) can be used to obtain a higher yield of cells for diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and diagnostic value of FNB and cytologic examination in providing an accurate diagnosis of masses growing in the external ear canal of cats. METHODS: Cytologic specimens from masses in the external ear canal, taken under inhaled, general anesthesia, were classified into 4 groups: 1) ceruminous gland hyperplasia or adenoma, 2) ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma, 3) inflammatory polyps, and 4) other neoplastic and non-neoplastic masses. Cytopathologic diagnoses were compared with the final histopathologic diagnoses, and indices of diagnostic test accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic-odds ratios) were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-seven masses (from 25 cats, including 2 cats affected bilaterally) were included in the study. The results showed good correspondence between cytologic and histologic diagnoses with an overall agreement index (kappa) of .74, a diagnostic odds ratio of 22, and 100% (27/27) agreement in the diagnosis of inflammatory polyps versus neoplasia (both benign and malignant). CONCLUSIONS: FNB cytopathology of external ear masses in the cat was sufficiently accurate for distinguishing inflammatory polyps from neoplasia. For differentiation of benign proliferation and malignant neoplasia, however, histopathologic confirmation is recommended.     

Intraoral diode laser epiglottectomy for treatment of epiglottis chondrosarcoma in a dog

Laryngeal tumours are rare in dogs. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but it is usually palliative in malignant conditions, due to advanced stage of the tumour at the time of diagnosis. In veterinary medicine, little information is available about the use of diode laser in laryngeal oncological surgery. In the case reported here, a dog with an epiglottic chondrosarcoma was successfully treated with diode laser epiglottectomy. The surgical technique and follow up are described.     

In vitro dose–response of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde and interaction of combinations for the antimicrobial activity against the pig gut flora

In vitro simulations of the gastric and small intestinal fermentation with varying doses of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde and binary combinations thereof were carried out to calculate dose–response equations for the antimicrobial effect against the main pig gut flora components. Interaction effects were evaluated following the isobole method. In gastric simulations eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde showed clearly less inhibitory activity towards lactobacilli than carvacrol and thymol, which could also be observed in the small intestinal simulations. The minimum concentration for carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in small intestinal simulations to reduce the number of total anaerobic bacteria compared to control with a probability of 99.7% was 255, 258, 223 and 56 mg/l respectively. This strong activity of trans-cinnamaldehyde was due to its effect against coliform bacteria; a dose of 104 mg/l gave a reduction of 1 log CFU/ml vs. 371, 400 and 565 mg/l for carvacrol, thymol and eugenol respectively. Few combinations demonstrated synergism; most mixtures showed zero interaction or antagonism. Only carvacrol + thymol was slightly synergistic.