Group A rotavirus excretion patterns in naturally infected pigs

Cross-sectional and cohort studies were conducted in a piggery to investigate the excretion pattern of group A rotavirus in pigs. The cross-sectional survey revealed that 47 (9 per cent) of 521 pigs sampled were excreting rotavirus in the faeces. No rotavirus antigen was detected in the faeces of pigs either less than one week or over two months old. The prevalence of infection increased with age over the sucking period, and was greatest at five weeks old. Diarrhoea was observed in only eight (17 per cent) of the pigs excreting rotavirus. Sixteen piglets from four litters were selected and faecal samples collected daily from each animal from birth to two months old. All the piglets excreted group A rotavirus and the range of ages at which they first became infected was between 13 and 39 days. The average duration of excretion in individual piglets was 7.4 days. Ten of 13 sucking piglets which excreted rotavirus developed diarrhoea soon after it was first detected.     

Transfer of maternal antibody against group A rotavirus from sows to piglets and serological responses following natural infection

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of antirotaviral antibody in sera and faeces from pigs and used to study the dynamics of antirotaviral antibody responses in three cohorts of pigs. Piglets acquired antirotaviral antibody by sucking their dams soon after birth. Antirotaviral antibodies of IgA and IgG classes were detected in both colostrum and milk of all sows tested but IgM class antibodies were not. The antibody levels in colostrum were eight to 32 times higher than those in milk which was collected 18 days post partum. The levels of antibody in piglets' sera were comparable to those in colostrum but declined quickly to low levels by one month old. Maternal antibody was also detected in the faeces of piglets up to 18 days old. Natural rotavirus infection occurred in each of these cohorts when the geometric mean ELISA titres of maternal antibody in their sera declined to 1/1600 (by days 21, 25 and 30 for cohorts 1, 2 and 3, respectively). However, a positive correlation was not obtained between the levels of antirotaviral antibody and protection in individual litters within each of the cohort groups. In each of the cohorts, rotavirus infection usually occurred in one or two piglets first and then spread to other piglets in the same cohort. It is therefore suggested that maternally derived antibody is protective against rotavirus infection in piglets only for the first one or two weeks. Following natural infection with rotavirus, increases in serum antibodies were detected in two of the three cohorts by 20 to 30 days after the average time of onset of faecal shedding of virus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

RADIOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION OF THE RUMINANT UPPER URINARY TRACT BY A DOUBLE CONTRAST TECHNIQUE

The ruminant urinary tract is normally obscured by abdominal viscera, which hampers rediographic investigation by conventional urographic methods. A double contrast technique that uses pneumoperitoneum in conjunction with excretory urography is described. Bolus and infusion urographic techniques were used in sheep and calves. Only the infusion technique was used in cows. The radiographic anatomy of the upper urinary tract in these animals is described. Visualization of the nephrogram and collecting system varied, depending on the method of excretory urography used.     

Alterations in Carbohydrate Metabolism in Canine Lymphoma

Following an overnight fast, blood samples were obtained from 14 dogs with previously untreated lymphoma before and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes following an intravenous challenge with 500 mg/kg dextrose. Samples were assayed for glucose, lactate, and insulin concentrations and compared statistically with ten control dogs of similar weight and age undergoing an identical dextrose challenge. Dogs with lymphoma had similar glucose tolerance curves when compared with controls. Lactate concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) at baseline and all time periods of the glucose tolerance test in dogs with lymphoma when compared with controls. Rise in lactate concentrations over baseline levels in the first 30 minutes of the glucose tolerance test were significantly higher in dogs with lymphoma (P = 0.011). Insulin concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) at baseline and at the 5-, 45-, 60-, and 90-minute time periods of the glucose tolerance test in dogs with lymphoma. Rise in insulin concentrations over baseline in the first 5 minutes of the glucose tolerance test were also significantly greater in dogs with lymphoma (P = 0.021). These results indicate carbohydrate metabolism is altered in dogs with lymphoma. Many of these alterations parallel those observed in human patients suffering from cancer cachexia making canine lymphoma a potential model for further study of the pathogenesis and therapy of cancer cachexia.     

Serum IgE concentration and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racing quarter horses

Using an ELISA test with specific equine antisera, resting and post-exercise serumIgE concentrations were determined in 20 horses exhibiting varying degrees of exercise- induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), and in 10 horses identified endoscopically as non-bleeders.

Significantly higher serum IgE concentrations (P<0.01) were present in horses which bled profusely than in those which bled mildly or not at all. Reductions in serum IgE concentrations were evident following exercise in most horses and, even though these reductions were not statistically significant, this suggested the possibility that circulating IgE had become bound to basophils or to bronchial mast cells as a result of the exercise.     

作物生态气候滑移相似离度分析及其应用--以河西走廊酿酒葡萄生态气候适生种植区划为例

作物生态气候滑移相似离度分析方法综合了生物气候滑移相似分析和相似离度分析的优点,使作物生态气候相似分析更为准确。以河西走廊酿酒葡萄生态气候适生种植区划为例对该方法进行了应用验证,发现它能较准确地反映不同酿酒葡萄适生种植区之间热量条件、灌溉条件等的生态气候差异。     

Microbial diversity in the large intestine of pigs born and reared in different environments

Pigs born outdoors and reared on deep litter (straw) have been reported to experience less of a growth check after weaning and have a higher dressing percentage than counterparts born and reared under conventional (indoor) systems. The reason(s) for this difference is/are presently unknown, but differences in the gut environment might contribute to these observations. PCR-DGGE techniques were used in this study to examine microbial diversity and banding patterns in the large intestine of piglets that were reared under different rearing conditions. Six piglets per treatment were euthanised at weaning (21 days) and at 7 days and 21 days after weaning from two extreme treatments [indoor-born: conventionally-raised after weaning (‘Indoor’) or outdoor-born, deep-litter raised after weaning (‘Outdoor’)]. The Shannon diversity index was calculated, and multivariate analysis of banding patterns was performed. Indoor pigs had a more diverse bacterial population at weaning and 21 days after weaning than Outdoor pigs. However at the end of the first week after weaning, outdoor-born and deep-litter pigs had a more diverse microbiota. The Shannon diversity index continued to increase with time after weaning in Outdoor pigs, which did not occur in Indoor pigs. Multivariate analysis of banding patterns showed there was a trend (P = 0.109) for a difference in microbial structure depending on housing type. There was also a significant (P < 0.001) effect of sampling time after weaning and a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between housing and time after weaning.     

The effects of weaning age, diet composition, and categorisation of creep feed intake by piglets on diarrhoea and performance after weaning

This study investigated the effects of weaning age, diet, and classification of piglets as ‘eaters’ or ‘non eaters’ of creep feed in lactation, on production and diarrhoea after weaning. Four antimicrobial-free diets were offered in lactation and for 14 days after weaning: (i) wheat–soy based diet with animal and vegetable (‘mixed’) protein sources (COMM), (ii) heat-processed rice (HPR) with barley hulls and potato starch and mixed protein sources (RBHPS), (iii) HPR with sugar-beet pulp and mixed protein sources (RSBP), and (iv) HPR with mixed protein sources (R). Piglets were individually examined for diarrhoea daily for 14 days after weaning, and antibiotic treatments were individually recorded. Faecal swabs were taken on day 10 after weaning and scored for β-haemolytic Escherichia coli. There were significant main effects of weaning age and diet (both P < 0.001) on daily gain between weaning and 14 days after weaning. Pigs weaned later grew 50 g/day more than pigs weaned earlier, and pigs fed the COMM diet grew slower than pigs fed the rice-based diets. The number of antibiotic treatments was influenced by diet (P < 0.001), with most treatments (2.1) given to pigs fed the diet RBHPS. Faecal score was influenced by a weaning age and diet interaction (P < 0.01). There was no correlation (P > 0.05) between the number of antibiotics treatments and the E. coli score.     

THE CORRELATION OF CANINE PATELLAR LUXATION AND THE ANTEVERSION ANGLE AS MEASURED USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES

Measurements from magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used to examine the anteversion angle (AT-angle) and its influence on the lateromedial or mediolateral luxating forces on the patella. The AT-angle of the femoral neck was measured with the aid of MR imaging in 45 pelvic limbs without patellar instability, in 33 limbs with patellar luxation and in 6 limbs with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. The limbs with medial patellar luxation were divided into three groups based on clinical examination. The mean (range) AT-angle was 7.6 degrees (0 degrees to 24 degrees) in the "normal" group, 8.6 degrees (-10 degrees to 29 degrees) in the group "grade II," and -0.4 degrees in the group "grade III" (-28 degrees to 12 degrees). A mean (range) AT-angle of 4.8 (-4 degrees to 11 degrees) was measured in the pelvic limbs with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Compared to literature that described AT-angles based on radiographs of normal limbs, reduced AT-angles were found in this study due to different lines of measurement of the femoral neck. This study documents that the AT-angle of the femoral neck does not influence patellar instability. This study also demonstrates that MR images can be used to make exact measurements of the canine AT-angle that represent the true anatomy of the femoral neck.