Lactoferrin increases sperm membrane functionality of frozen equine semen

During cryopreservation, sperm was submitted to an increase in reactive oxygen species generation. This work aimed to improve the quality of frozen equine sperm after the addition of antioxidants lactoferrin (Lf) and catalase (Cat) to a freezing extender. Semen from six stallions was frozen with the extenders: F1) control, INRA 82 freezing extender, F2) F1 + 500 μg/ml Lf and F3) F1 + 200 IU/ml Cat. After thawing, sperm motility parameters, membrane functionality and integrity, and acrosome integrity and spontaneous acrosome‐reacted sperm were evaluated with a computer‐assisted sperm analysis, a hypoosmotic swelling test and epifluorescent microscopy, respectively. Nitrite, hydroperoxide and iron concentrations of frozen semen were measured with spectrophotometry. The percentage of functional membrane sperm treated with Lf was higher (50.7% ± 11.6%) compared to that of the control (37.6% ± 15.6%), while the iron (61.4 ± 11.6 vs 73.3 ± 13.8 mg/dl) and nitrite concentrations (16.3 ± 7.1 vs 25.9 ± 4.2 μM/μg protein) were lower, respectively (p < .05). Thus, it can be suggested that Lf protect stallion spermatozoon during freezing as it has increased the percentage of sperm with functional membrane and decreased the lipid oxidant agents.     

Dynamics of Moraxella bovis infection and humoral immune response to bovine herpes virus type 1 during a natural outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in beef calves

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is an acute disease caused by Moraxella bovis (Mb). Several factors may predispose animals to an IBK outbreak; one commonly observed is infection with bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1). The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of BHV-1 virus infection and its relation with clinical cases of IBK in weaned calves from a beef herd with a high prevalence of lesions caused by Mb. Sampling was carried out in six stages and included conjunctival swabs for isolating Mb as well as blood samples for identifying antibodies specific for BHV-1. A score for IBK lesions after observing each eye was determined. The findings of this study showed a high prevalence of BHV-1 virus infection (100% of animals were infected at the end of the trial); 67% of animals were culture-positive for Mb, but low rates of clinical IBK (19% of calves affected) were detected at the end of the trial. These results suggest that infection with BHV-1 did not predispose these animals to IBK, and that Mb infection produced clinical and subclinical disease in the absence of BHV-1 co-infection.     

Prevalence of malignancy when solitary versus multiple lesions are detected during abdominal ultrasonographic examination of dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum: 31 cases (2003–2008)

Objective – To compare the histopathologic diagnosis in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum when abdominal ultrasonographic examination detects a solitary versus multiple lesions.
Design – Retrospective cross-sectional study.
Setting – Private veterinary hospital.
Animals – Client-owned dogs presented with spontaneous hemoperitoneum between March 1, 2003 and June 1, 2008.
Interventions – Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on presence of a solitary or multiple abdominal ultrasonographic lesions. Prevalences were compared between groups for malignancy and specifically hemangiosarcoma.
Measurements and Main Results – Ten of 31 (32%) dogs had a solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesion and 21 of 31 (68%) had more than 1 lesion. The bleeding tissue was characterized as malignant in 8 of 10 (80%) dogs with solitary lesions and 17 of 21 (81%) dogs with multiple lesions; there was no significant difference ( P =1.0) between groups. In this study no association ( P =0.26) was found between the number of abdominal ultrasonographic lesions observed and subsequent diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma.
Conclusions – Solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesions in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum do not necessarily indicate a lower prevalence of malignancy.     

Chronic hypertrophic pyloric gastropathy in 14 dogs

SUMMARY Ten mate and 4 female dogs with chronic hypertrophic pyloric gastropathy were seen at the Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the period 1982–88. The most commonly affected breeds were the Shihtzu and Maltese. The mean age was 8.2 yr and the mean body weight 6.5 kg. The most common clinical signs were vomiting, weight loss, polydipsia and depression. Hypokalaemia was present in 11 of 12 dogs examined and hypochloraemia in 10 of 11 dogs examined. Five of the six dogs that had blood gases measured were found to have a metabolic alkalosis. Surgery was performed on 13 dogs; pyloromyotomy 7, pyloroplasty 4, gastroduodenostomy 2. There was a recurrence of symptoms in one pyloromyotomy dog, and fatal ulceration and perforation of the cardia occurred in one pyloroplasty case. The remaining 11 dogs had a mean known symptom-free survival time of 20 mo. This study confirms the preponderance of affected males, identifies electrolyte and blood gas disturbances as significant complications of chronic hypertrophic pyloric gastropathy, and suggests that relatively minor surgery (pyloromyotomy) may have a place in the treatment of a selected subgroup of cases.     

Surgical treatment of uterine torsion in a llama (Lama glama)

A multiparous llama was presented because of failure to proceed into the second stage of labor. Clockwise uterine torsion and a live fetus were identified by rectal and vaginal examinations. A cesarean operation was elected because of the prolonged first stage of labor and lack of cervical dilatation. Anesthesia was induced with a 10% guaifenesin solution administered intravenously via a pressurized pump followed by intubation and maintenance with 2% halothane. A ventral midline surgical approach exposed the uterus and the fetus was removed through a uterotomy. The placenta was manually stripped from the myometrial edges of the incision and the margins were oversewn using a continuous interlocking pattern. The uterus was then closed using a continuous Utrecht pattern and the uterus rotated 180 degrees back to its normal anatomical position. The abdomen was closed in 3 layers. Recovery of the llama was uneventful with the male cria able to nurse 6 hours post-operatively. Placental expulsion occurred approximately 48 hours after fetal removal.     

Effect of latex and vinyl examination gloves on canine spermatozoal motility

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether contact with latex or vinyl examination gloves affects canine spermatozoal motility. In experiment 1, semen was collected by digital manipulation from each of 5 dogs, and initial spermatozoal motility was assessed. The ejaculate was divided into 5 equal subsamples of 2 ml each, then randomly assigned to a control group, or treated with a 0.5-cm2 piece of latex or vinyl glove with or without talcum powder. After such exposure, spermatozoal motility was assessed at 1 and 5 minutes. Talcum powder within latex or vinyl glove treatments had no significant effect on spermatozoal motility at either period. Spermatozoal motility in samples did not differ between the control and vinyl glove groups; however, latex glove-treated samples were found to have a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in spermatozoal motility at 1 and 5 minutes. In experiment 2, the effects of latex and vinyl gloves on canine spermatozoal motility during a sham laboratory manipulation was performed. Three ejaculates of approximately 10 ml were collected from each of 5 dogs and randomly assigned, within each dog, to be either a control (no glove exposure) or allowed to briefly contact either a latex or vinyl glove during sample manipulation. Spermatozoal motility was assessed for each sample immediately prior to and at 1 minute after manipulation. Exposure of semen to latex gloves significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased sample spermatozoal motility, whereas vinyl glove exposure had a minimal (P greater than 0.05) effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)