Physiological reactions of three breeds of goats to cold,heat and high altitude

A total of 36 goats of the breeds Gemsfarbige Gebirgsziege (G), Saanen (S) and Toggenburger (T) were exposed for periods of 4 hours to the following climatic conditions: normal (20°C, 50% RH); cold (?5°C); heat (40°C, 30% RH) and high altitude (4000 m, 20°C, 50% RH).In the cold the animals were just able to maintain normal core temperature. Skin temperatures on the flank decreased by 3–5°C, those on the ear and the shank by 20–21°C. Respiratory rate and blood-pH decreased. The elevation in heart rate (18 beats/min) and cold shivering were indicative of a rise in heat production.In the heat, rectal temperature increased but attained a plateau at 40.7°C. Respiratory rate rose from 26 to 261 breaths/min, producing a slight respiratory alcolosis with a rise in blood-pH of 0.036 units. Heart rate augmented by 15 beats/min.At high altitude rectal temperature declined by 0.2°C, which was attributed to the quiet behaviour of the goats. There were increases in haemoglobin (+0.83 g/100 ml), haematocrit (+2.5 vol.%), erythrocyte number (+0.78 mill./mm³) and specific gravity of the blood (+0.002). The increases were considered to reflect discharge of blood from reservoirs, since they occurred within 4 hours. A rise in pH, unaccompanied by a rise in respiratory rate, pointed to an increase in tidal volume.There were suggestions of breed differences. The T-breed appeared to be relatively cold tolerant owing to the high thermal insulation of their hair coat, and also relatively heat tolerant, possibly due to their low heat production, as evidenced indirectly by their low normal heart rate (87 compared with 95 beats/min in the other two breeds).     

Calcospherite-like bodies and caseous necrosis in tracheal mucus from a dog with tuberculosis

A 3-year-old Wirehaired Fox Terrier was presented to the University Veterinary Hospital, University College Dublin, for evaluation of chronic cough of 8-months duration. Bronchoscopy showed a severely dilated collapsed left principal bronchus filled with highly viscous white mucus. Cytologically, globular lipid-like material and round concentrically laminated crystalline structures were evident within the proteinaceous mucus. These findings resembled the calcospherites and granular caseous debris often observed in human tuberculous patients. A Ziehl-Neelsen-stained cytocentrifuged preparation of material obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage revealed a few acid-fast rods within macrophages, suggestive of tuberculosis. At necropsy, granulomas with caseous necrosis were present in the lung parenchyma, bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes, liver, pancreas, and mesentery. Granulomas were adherent to both kidney capsules and to the diaphragm. Histologically, there was evidence of mild calcification within caseous granulomas, which was confirmed by von Kossa's stain. Using Ziehl-Neelsen stain, acid-fast rods were identified within granulomas; bacterial culture was positive for Mycobacterium bovis. The cytologic findings in this case have not been reported previously in dogs and demonstrate a possible correlation between tuberculosis and calcospherite-like bodies with caseous, globular material in bronchial mucus, similar to that described in human patients.     

Cross-sectional survey in pig breeding farms in Hesse, Germany: seroprevalence and risk factors of infections with Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora caninum in sows

A cross-sectional survey was performed to estimate the prevalences of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii (ELISA, IFAT), Sarcocystis spp. (ELISA, using S. miescheriana as antigen) and Neospora caninum (ELISA, immunoblotting) in sows from breeding farms in southern Hesse, Germany. A total of 2041 plasma samples of sows from 94 randomly selected farms was examined. Data on farm profiles, husbandry management and sows were collected by a questionnaire and exploratively analysed. For T. gondii the ELISA results agreed well with the results obtained by IFAT (kappa=0.71). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected by ELISA in 19% of the sows. Sixty-nine percent of the farms had at least one seropositive sow, and a within-farm seroprevalence of >or=50% was observed in 14% of all farms. The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was positively correlated with the age of sows. The within-herd seroprevalence was significantly higher in farms with reproductive disorders than in those without such problems. On the farm level, the farm type 'piglet production' (versus 'pedigree breeding' or 'farrow-to-finish') was the only risk factor associated with the presence of T. gondii-seropositive sows. Antibodies to Sarcocystis spp. were found in 29% of the sows. Seventy-two percent of the farms harboured at least one seropositive sow, and a within-farm seroprevalence of >or=50% was detected in 23% of all farms. The seroprevalence increased significantly with the age of sows. On the farm level, only the farm type 'piglet production' (versus 'pedigree breeding') and the replacement of sows by purchasing (versus raising on the own farm) were identified as risk factors for seropositivity. Antibodies to N. caninum were detected in one sow using both the screening ELISA and the confirmatory immunoblotting technique. This may indicate the first natural N. caninum infection in pigs.     

Are mycotoxins in food a health hazard?

The effects of mycotoxins are well known since antiquity. Modern trace analysis show the wide prevalence of mycotoxins in the food chain. Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin), zearalenone, fumonisins (FB1, FB2) and ochratoxin A are the most important mycotoxins world wide. Foods of plant origin are normally contaminated more frequently and in higher concentrations than food of animal origin. The mean concentrations of mycotoxins analysed in European foods can be assed as low. This may be one reason why acute poisonings are rare incidences and why the limits of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) levels are exceeded only very seldom; however the population group "infant" exceed the preliminary TDI-level for trichothecenes. The consequences of a chronic intake of low amounts of mykotoxins is hardly to assess. A participation of the aflatoxins in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer is considered as certain. Other coherence between the dietary intake of mycotoxins and specific clinical symptoms of man are not convincingly shown till now.     

Diet modulates proteinuria in heterozygous female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy

Young adult heterozygous (carrier) female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN) have glomerular proteinuria but are otherwise healthy. Because data regarding dietary influences on the magnitude of proteinuria in dogs with spontaneous glomerular disease are not available, 12 such dogs were studied in a double crossover experiment intended to determine effects of altering dietary protein intake for up to 6 weeks. Dogs were blocked by urine protein : creatinine ratio (UPC) and randomly assigned to receive 2 diets: high protein (34.6% dry matter [DM], HP) or low protein (14.1% DM, LP) fed in HP-LP-HP or LP-HP-LP sequence. Food intake was measured daily, body weight (BW) was measured twice weekly, and UPC, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus, albumin, and protein concentrations were measured at 2-week intervals. Nutrient digestibility was measured during the third treatment period. Diet had a significant effect (P < .0001) on all measured variables except plasma phosphorus (P > .5), but unintended differences in digestibility of protein and energy (P < or = .01) prevented assignment of the diet effect exclusively to protein. Proteinuria was greater (UPC 4.7 +/- 2.2 versus 1.8 +/- 1.1, P < .0001) when the HP diet was fed, but the LP diet did not maintain starting BW or plasma albumin concentration within the normal reference range. Diet greatly affects the magnitude of proteinuria in XLHN carrier females. Dietary protein restriction can reduce proteinuria in dogs with glomerular disease, but BW and blood protein concentrations may not be maintained if the restriction is too severe.     

The occurrence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Bavaria

Brain samples of 849 free-ranging ruminants (654 roe deer, 189 red deer and 6 chamois) from Bavaria were examined for TSE. In this respect, detections of PrPres were carried out by ELISA technique (BioRad) and immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody (mAb) L42. Validation experiments of the ELISA technique for the detection of prionprotein from free-ranging ruminants showed that the examination of brains of wild ruminants lead to lower extinctions than that of bovine brain samples. Due to the fact that brain samples of 2 known CWD positive wapitis showed definite positive results, all samples were analysed by this test. There were no indications on the occurrence of TSE in any of the sample. In addition, immunohistochemical investigations of 10% of all samples did not show PrPres. Due to the large number of samples, the prevalence of TSE in Bavaria can be quoted under 0.5% for roe deer and under 1.5% for red deer with a certainty of 95%.