The role of apoptosis in immunosuppression of dogs with demodicosis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of apoptosis in peripheral blood leukocytes of dogs with demodicosis. A total of 26 dogs suffering from demodicosis, and positive for Demodex canis mites by skin scraping, participated in the study, 13 with localized demodicosis (LD) and 13 with generalized demodicosis (GD). A further 13 clinically healthy dogs, all of whom were negative for mites upon skin scraping, were used as controls. The dogs with GD revealed significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) percentage of leukocytes with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) and depolarized mitochondrial membrane potentials (ΔΨm) as compared with the dogs with LD and healthy controls. These dogs also revealed significantly lower values (P ≤ 0.0001) of hematological parameters viz. hemoglobin, total erythrocytes count total leukocytes count, lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) percentages of leukocytes with externalization of PS and depolarized ΔΨm were also found in dogs with LD as compared with the healthy controls. These dogs also revealed significantly lower values of Hb (P ≤ 0.0001), TEC (P=0.025), TLC (P ≤ 0.0001), lymphocytes (P=0.008), monocytes (P ≤ 0.0001) and neutrophils (P=0.03). It is concluded that premature apoptosis of PBL may be implicated in the immunosuppression of the dogs with demodicosis.     

GROSS AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION OF LOW‐FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN THE STIFLE OF ASYMPTOMATIC HORSES

With the recent introduction of a 0.25T rotating MRI system, clinical evaluation of the equine stifle joint is now possible in the average equine athlete. A recent publication described common abnormalities of horses with stifle lameness detected with a low‐field MRI system; however, postmortem corroboration of the lesions detected was not possible. Therefore, our objective was to compare postmortem findings with low‐field MRI findings in equine cadaver stifle joints. Ten fresh cadaver stifle joints from horses without clinical signs of stifle disease were evaluated using low‐field MRI, gross dissection, and histopathology. In eight stifles, either the lateral or medial cranial meniscotibial ligament had an irregular shape, fiber separation, or moderate abnormal signal intensity (SI) on all sequences. In five stifles, the medial femoral condyle had articular cartilage fibrillation with or without an osteochondral defect over the weight bearing surface of the medial femoral condyle. All stifles had abnormal SI on all sequences within the patellar ligaments that corresponded with adipose tissue infiltrating between the collagen bundles. Other abnormalities identified included articular cartilage fibrillation of the tibial condyles in three stifles, and articular cartilage fibrillation with chondral defects in the patella in three stifles. All abnormalities detected with low‐field MRI were corroborated by gross dissection. Findings from the current study supported the use of low‐field MRI for detection of stifle joint lesions in horses and demonstrated that some stifle joint pathologies may be subclinical in horses.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of urinary bladder in normal,fern fed and enzootic bovine haematuria-affected cattle

A total of 19 adult hill cattle of both sexes were subjected to trans-rectal ultrasound scanning of urinary bladder to evaluate bladder wall thickness and the presence of space-occupying lesions. The animals were divided into four groups. Eight apparently healthy hill cattle maintained under standard ration served as control (group I) and the remaining II animals were divided into three groups (II, III and IV). Group II animals (n = 8) were fed with different type of ferns which were further divided into subgroups II-P, -D and -B and fed with Polystichum squarrosom (n = 2). Dryopteris juxtaposita (n = 2) and Pteridium aquilinum (n = 4) ferns, respectively. The one animal in group III was a natural case of enzootic bovine haematuria (EBH) and the two animals in group IV were natural cases of microscopic EBH fed with Polystichum squarrosum fern. In group I animals, the average bladder wall thickness was 1.45 mm. The delineation of the bladder wall was uniformly smooth and the echo pattern of the bladder was homogeneously black, which was suggestive of clear urine content. In group II (P, D and B) the average bladder wall thickness of the six animals was 1.87 mm and the sonographic features were within normal limit when compared with controls. In two of the animals of group II-B, the bladder wall was apparently thick (4.36 mm) and there was no intraluminal mass except at one or two focal elevated points. Animals of groups III and IV showed the average bladder wall thickness of 4.86 mm and were characterized by the presence of irregular sessile masses extending into the bladder lumen. The homogeneous anechoic area was reduced centrally due to the presence of a hypoechoic soft tissue mass all around the bladder wall. Post-sonographic urinalysis, biopsy and necropsy of selected cases further confirmed the sonographic findings.     

Studies on immunocompetence status in two turkey varieties in India

(1) Two hundred and twenty-seven adult turkeys of both sexes, of two varieties (104 Black and 123 White) were used to evaluate their immunocompetence status and body weights. (2) Response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) (humoral immunity) was measured by Haemagglutination (HA) test 5 days post immunisation (dpi) and expressed as log2 values. Mercaptoethanol resistant (MER) antibodies representing IgG were determined by Mercaptoethanol HA test and Mercaptoethanol sensitive (MES) antibodies, representing IgM as the difference in total HA titre and IgG. Serum lysozyme concentrations were estimated by 'Lysoplate assay' and expressed in log2 values. (3) Least squares analysis of variance revealed that the White variety had higher adult body weight (4.788 +/- 0.040 kg) than the Black (3.774 +/- 0.044 kg). Sexual dimorphism was apparent and meals were heavier than females in both varieties. The interaction effect of variety and sex on body weight was also significant. (4) Least squares means for immunological traits, namely, total anti-SRBC antibodies, MER, MES titres and serum lysozyme were 7.161 +/- 0.189, 0.801 +/- 0.071, 6.362 +/- 0.160 and 1.766 +/- 0.043 microg/ml, respectively. The Black variety had a higher MES antibody titre than the White. (5) Sex had an effect on all the immunological traits except on MER titres. Females generally had higher anti-SRBC, MER and MES titres and serum lysozyme. The variety x sex interaction effect was significant for MES titres and serum lysozyme. White males had the lowest MES titres.     

Milk utilisation patterns in the low-input production systems in South Africa

Understanding the utilisation patterns of milk assists in designing appropriate dairy development schemes in rural communities. The objective of the study was to determine milk utilisation patterns in different smallholder farming systems in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the administration of recording sheets to 130 randomly selected households in Alice, Fort Beaufort and Queenstown districts. Amounts of milk produced per household ranged from 9 to 21 l per household per day. Milk consumption/household/day was similar among the three districts. Milk consumption in the early lactation doubled the amount consumed in late lactation (P < 0.05). Milk in the communal areas was largely utilised as fresh or sour milk. Fresh milk was mostly used in tea/coffee or to make porridge for children. Sour milk was consumed with thick boiled maize meal. Fort Beaufort (10.2 ± 1.37 l/day) had the highest sour milk sales whilst Queenstown had the highest fresh milk sales (9.7 ± 5.57 l/day). It was concluded that quantities of milk consumed or sold as fresh or sour were generally low and varied across smallholder farming systems.     

Effect of supplementation of Simada sheep with graded levels of concentrate meal on feed intake,digestibility and body-weight parameters

The experiment consisting of 7 days of digestibility and 90 days of feeding trial was conducted at Wogda (Ethiopia) to determine the effect of supplementation of graded levels of concentrate mix (CM) on feed intake, digestibility, and body weight (BW) change in hay-based feeding of Simada sheep. Twenty-yearling Simada sheep with a mean initial BW of 17.9 ± 0.81 kg (mean ± SD) were used in randomized complete block design arranged into five blocks of four animals. The four dietary treatments that consisted of hay alone (T1), hay +150 g dry matter (DM; T2, low), hay +250 g DM (T3, medium), and hay +350 g DM (T4, high) CM were randomly assigned to each sheep within a block. The CM consisted of wheat bran (WB), noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) meal and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seed meal at the ratio of (2:1:1), respectively. Supplementation with T2 and T3 increased (P < 0.001) total DM and organic matter intake than the control treatment. Overall, supplementation improved (P < 0.001) crude protein intake, digestibility, feed conversion efficiency, BW gain, and profitability compared to the control, whereas sheep on the high than the low and medium level of supplementation performed better in these parameters among the supplemented treatments. From the results of this study, T4 is recommended as the best level of supplementation since it resulted in better nutrient utilization, animal performance, and profitability.     

Risk factors associated with occurrence of nematodes in free range pigs in Busia District,Kenya

Nematode infections are a serious constraint to pig production, especially where free range pig keeping is practiced. This study investigated the epidemiology of nematodes in free range pigs in Busia District, Kenya. Three hundred and six pigs from 135 farms were sampled for faeces that were analysed for nematode eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces using the McMaster technique. The nematode eggs were also identified to genus and species based on morphology. A questionnaire on risk factors was also administered to the pig owners. The overall prevalence and mean nematode EPG were 84.2% and 2,355, respectively. The nematode eggs were identified as those belonging to Oesophagostomum spp. (75%), Strongyloides ransomi (37%), Ascaris suum (18%), Metastrongylus spp. (11%), Trichuris suis (7%) and Physocephalus sexalatus (3%). The prevalence of nematodes was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of rainfall in the division of the pigs' origin (all nematodes except S. ransomi). The prevalence of nematodes was also associated with the age of the pigs. A lower burden of nematodes was associated (p < 0.05) with a history of deworming (A. suum) and the provision of night housing (S. ransomi and Metastrongylus spp.). In conclusion, this study has provided information on nematode infections and the associated risk factors for free range pigs in Busia District, which can be used when implementing integrated control measures.     

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in Beetal goats

Seroprevalence, clinical findings, and lesions of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Beetal goats were recorded during an outbreak. The overall seroprevalence of CCPP was 32.50%. Confirmation of Mycoplasma mycoides in serum was carried out using counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) technique. The highest CIE-positive cases were recorded in the older goats (51.72%) as compared to young ones. Nasal swabs collected from 39 goats showing respiratory signs were found positive for M. mycoides. The most consistent clinical findings were mild to severe cough, purulent nasal secretion, emaciation, dyspnea, increased respiration rate, and pyrexia. Mortality due to CCPP was 9.17%. Consolidation of lungs exhibited the highest frequency (100%), followed by alveolar exudation (90.90%) and pleural adhesion (72.72%). Among the microscopic lesions, septal peribronchiolar fibrosis exhibited the highest frequency (81.81%), followed by fibrinous pleuritis (63.63%) and peribronchiolar cuffing of mononuclear cells (54.54%) in lungs. From these results, it was concluded that CCPP under subtropical conditions has high prevalence in Beetal goats and leads to significant mortality.     

Management of Tibial Fractures Using a Circular External Fixator in Two Calves

Objectives: To report the repair of tibial diaphyseal fractures in 2 calves using a circular external skeletal fixator (CEF). Study Design: Clinical report. Animals: Crossbred calves (n=2; age: 6 months; weight: 55 and 60 kg). Methods: Mid‐diaphyseal tibial fractures were repaired by the use of a 4‐ring CEF (made of aluminum rings with 2 mm K‐wires) alone in 1 calf and in combination with hemicerclage wiring in 1 calf. Results: Both calves had good weight bearing with moderate lameness postoperatively. Fracture healing occurred by day 60 in 1 calf and by day 30 in calf 2. The CEF was well maintained and tolerated by both calves through fracture healing. Joint mobility and limb usage improved gradually after CEF removal. Conclusions: CEF provided a stable fixation of tibial fractures and healing within 60 days and functional recovery within 90 days. Clinical Relevance: CEF can be safely and successfully used for the management of selected tibial fractures in calves.