Changes in taurine levels in response to repeated administration of the β2-agonist salbutamol in lambs

Repeated oral administration of salbutamol to lambs for 28 days was found to decrease levels of taurine significantly in the serum and heart, and the mean excretion of taurine into urine was significantly less than in controls. Serum urea, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein were also significantly reduced. Consistent with these changes, fat content in muscle was reduced, whereas protein content was not significantly changed. Body weight was not significantly changed by salbutamol treatment but heart and kidney weights (relative to body weight) were significantly increased. Salbutamol excretion in urine was relatively constant and residues were detected in certain organs and tissues, notably liver, bile and kidney. Changes in urinary and serum taurine level may reflect subtle changes in protein metabolism not detectable as changes in body weight or gross protein content.     

Weight and measurement data on tortoises (Testudo graeca and Testudo hermanni) and their relationship to health

Normal bodyweight and carapace lengths for two species of tortoise are presented and a comparison made with changes in bodyweight in sick tortoises. Using these parameters veterinary surgeons will have guidelines for assessing the degree of debility in a tortoise of any age or size. A number of examples are given.     

In situ hybridization for the detection and localization of swine Chlamydia trachomatis

Gnotobiotic piglets were inoculated intralaryngeally with swine Chlamydia trachomatis strain R33 or orally with swine C. trachmatis strain R27. Archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from piglets euthanatized 4-7 days postinoculation were examined by in situ hybridization for C. trachomatis nucleic acid using a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes that targeted specific ribosomal RNA or omp1 mRNA molecules of the swine C. trachomatis strains. Positive hybridization signals were detected in bronchial epithelial cells, bronchiolar epithelial cells, pneumocytes, alveolar and interstitial macrophages, and jejunal and ileal enterocytes. Chlamydia-infected cells had a strong signal that was confined to the intracytoplasmic inclusions. Positive hybridization signals were not detected in tissue sections from an uninfected control piglet or in C. psittaci-infected sheep placenta. The morphology of host cells was preserved despite the relatively high temperature required in parts of the incubation procedure. The data indicate that in situ hybridization can be used to detect swine C. trachomatis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens.     

Comparison of haemodynamic changes during two surgical methods for neutering female dogs

The aim was to investigate if intraoperative registrations of blood pressure and heart rate could be used to estimate surgical trauma. In a prospective clinical trial, registrations in eight dogs neutered by laparoscopic ovariectomy (LOE) were compared with eight dogs subjected to open ovariohysterectomy (OHE). For comparisons phases were used: phase zero = steady state after induction of anaesthesia; phase one = opening of abdomen; phase two = severing of ovarian pedicles; and, phase three = abdominal closure. During LOE, mean systolic blood pressure increased by 7 mm Hg (p = 0.05) and 15 mm Hg (p = 0.01) from phase zero to phase one and two, respectively, and during OHE by 3 mm Hg (ns) and 29 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), respectively. The increase from phase one to phase two differed between groups (p = 0.03). Heart rate did not change. Frequent intraoperative measurements of blood pressure appear a promising method for evaluating surgical trauma.     

The effect of parturition on the blood picture of sheep

Parturition in sheep was associated with significant increases in the packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red cell counts. Subsequently these values gradually declined, attaining prepartum levels by the seventh day post partum. Blood leucocyte counts were also elevated at parturition and this was associated with marked neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia and mild eosinopenia. These changes were gradually reversed thereafter, with normal values being attained by the fourteenth day post partum.     

Influence of dietary protein and sex on walking ability and bone parameters of broilers

1. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein on the walking ability and bone parameters of broilers reared under summer temperatures which ranged from 26 to 32C(+/-2C). 2. Three different dietary protein combinations were used. The diets (per kg) were: low protein with 205 g crude protein and 12.94 MJ ME, 184 g crude protein and 12.75 MJ ME; medium protein with 219 g crude protein and 12.99 MJ ME, 201 g crude protein and 12.87 MJ ME; and high protein with 238 g crude protein and 12.99 MJ ME, 216 g crude protein and 12.96 MJ ME from 0 to 4 and 4 to 7 weeks of age, respectively. Body weights of birds were recorded and birds' walking ability (gait scoring) were scored for each bird, according to 3 categories (completely normal to immobile, at 4 and 7 weeks). Tibia parameters and tibia plateau angles were also determined at 7 weeks. 3. Birds fed on the low protein were lighter than those fed on the medium or high protein diets. At 7 weeks, birds with poor walking ability weighed 149 g less than birds with no walking difficulty. 4. Bone parameters were not affected by dietary protein, sex or gait score. There was a significantly positive correlation between bone strength and radiographic density. Bone strength was also significantly correlated with bone weight and length.     

Pathogenesis of Trypanosoma (brucei) evansi in small East African goats

Trypanosoma evansi is the cause of surra, a camel disease which is the most important single cause of economic losses in camel rearing areas. Sheep and goats herded with camels are the most likely hosts for T evansi. Upon intravenous infections goats developed erratic parasitaemia, lost weight and their packed cell volume dropped significantly (P<0–001). Trypanosomes were demonstrated by direct microscopy in extravascular locations such as synovial, peritoneal and cerebrospinal fluids and also in lymph by subinoculations into mice. The carcases were emaciated and pale. Histologically there was lymphatic tissue hyperplasia, muscular atrophy and nephrotic changes. Two animals had necrotic foci in the liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, spleen and lungs and also bronchopneumonia. Histologically there was depopulation of lymphocytes in lymphatic tissues, destruction of hepatocytes in the liver with infiltration by inflammatory cells in the liver, lymph nodes, spleen and the kidneys.     

Serotyping and virulence genes detection in Escherichia coli isolated from fertile and infertile eggs, dead-in-shell embryos, and chickens with yolk sac infection

Escherichia coli is a common avian pathogen mainly associated with extraintestinal infections such as yolk sac infection (YSI). The aim of this study was to determine the serotypes and the presence of some virulence genes of E. coli strains isolated from different samples in a vertically integrated poultry operation in Mexico. Two hundred sixty-seven E. coli isolates from different samples were serotyped using rabbit serum against the 175 somatic (O) and 56 flagellar (H) antigens of the typing schema. Virulence genes were determined by colony blot hybridization, using DNA probes for st, eae, agg1, agg2, bfp, lt, cdt, slt, and ipaH diarrhea-associated virulence factors. The serogroup of 85% of the strains was determined; O19 (12%), 084 (9%), 08 (6%), and 078 (5%) were the most common. Using the complete antigenic formula (O and H), O19:NM (n = 31) was the serotype most frequently isolated from dead-in-shell embryos and in broilers that had died on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh days after hatch. One hundred ten strains (41.2%) hybridized with one or more of the used probes. Of these, ipaH (72%), eae (30%), and cdt (27%) were the most common. Considering the origin of the respective isolates, 40% of the broiler farm strains were positive for at least one probe. Results show that some avian E. coli strains isolated in Mexico are included in avian pathogenic E. coli serotypes not previously reported, suggesting that they could be specific for this geographic area. The wide distribution of the ipaH gene among nonmotile strains suggests that this invasiveness trait could be important in YSI pathogenesis. On the other hand, some other genes could contribute to E. coli virulence during YSI.