Facial eczema management protocols used on dairy farms in the North Island of New Zealand and associated concentrations of zinc in serum

AIMS: To describe and evaluate the current practices used to manage and prevent facial eczema (FE) in North Island dairy herds, and determine the within-herd prevalence of cows with elevated activities of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and with concentrations of Zn in serum <18?μmol/L.

METHODS: Between January and May 2014, 105 herd managers from throughout the North Island of New Zealand were invited to participate in the study when regional spore counts for Pithomyces chartarum started to rise towards 30,000 spores/g pasture. Managers selected 10 representative cattle that were weighed and blood-sampled by the herd veterinarian. Blood samples were analysed for concentrations of Zn in serum and GGT activity. Pasture samples were also collected and submitted for spore count estimation. Finally a survey of farm management practices relating to prevention of FE was completed by the herd manager. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to determine associations between herd-level and cow-level explanatory variables and the probability of a cow having a concentration of Zn in serum <18?µmol/L.

RESULTS: Of the 1,071 cows tested, 79 (7.3 (95% CI=5.8–9.0)%) had GGT activity in serum >300?IU/L, and 35/106 (33 (95% CI=24.2–42.8)%) herds had ≥1 of the 10 cows sampled with GGT activity >300?IU/L. Of the 911 cows that were being treated with Zn, concentrations of Zn were between 18–35?μmol/L in 398 (43.6 (95% CI=40.4–46.9)%) cows, were >35?μmol/L in 32 (3.5 (95% CI=2.4–4.1)%) cows, and <18?μmol/L in 479 (52.6 (95% CI=49.3–55.9)%) cows. After adjusting for the confounding effect of region, the odds of a cow having concentrations of Zn in serum <18?μmol/L were 5.5 (95% CI=1.1–29) times greater for cows supplemented with zinc in water compared with those supplemented by drenching. Of the 105 herd managers, 103 (98%) stated that they had access to regional spore count data, but only 35/105 (33%) reported that they measured spore counts on their own farm. Overall, 98/105 (93%) managers reported that they had some form of FE management programme in place. Fungicides were used on their own or in combination with zinc treatments in 10 herds, ZnSO₄ in water troughs was used in 68 herds, oral drenching with ZnO in nine herds, and ZnO supplied in-feed in 26 herds. Estimated daily dose rates of zinc were less than that required to treat a 400?kg cow on 42/68 farms that administered ZnSO₄ in the water or ZnO as a drench.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that FE management on dairy farms in the North Island of New Zealand could be substantially improved. It is likely that improved FE management would occur if herd managers were provided with more feedback on the success (or otherwise) of their FE management programmes.     

The influence of lime and nitrogen fertilisers on spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum in pasture

AIMS: To determine whether the application of lime or nitrogen to pasture affected the spore counts of Pithomyces chartarum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lime application studies were undertaken on a spring-calving, pasture-based, commercial dairy farm near Te Awamutu, New Zealand. On 6 November 2012, five randomly selected paddocks were split into three equal sections. In two of the sections, lime was applied at either 1.5 or 2.5?t/ha, and the central section was left as an untreated control. Each section was sampled for spore counting weekly from 16 January to 15 May 2013.

Starting in January 2013, five other randomly selected paddocks were monitored for spore counts. On 20 March 2013 the average spore counts in three paddocks were >100,000 spores/g of pasture. These paddocks were then divided into three equal sections and lime was applied as described above. Spore counting in each section continued weekly until 15 May 2013.

The nitrogen application study was carried out on three commercial dairy farms near Te Awamutu, New Zealand. Two randomly selected paddocks on each farm were divided into three equal sections and, on 20 December 2012, nitrogen in the form of urea was applied at either 50 or 80?kg urea/ha to two of the sections; the central section remained as an untreated control. Each section was sampled for spore counting weekly from 16 January to 15 May 2013.

RESULTS: Following pre-summer lime application, treatment at 1.5 or 2.5?t/ha did not affect spore counts over time compared with the control section (p>0.26). Similarly following autumn lime application, treatment at 1.5 or 2.5?t/ha did not affect spore counts over time compared with the control section (p>0.11). Following nitrogen application median spore counts remained <20,000 spores/g pasture throughout the trial period and there was no effect of treatment on spore counts over time (p>0.49).

CONCLUSION: This study found that application of lime before the risk period for facial eczema, in November, application of lime after a spore count rise, in March, or urea application in December did not affect changes in number of spores produced by P. chartarum.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study does not support previous suggestions that fertilising pasture with lime or urea could alter the spore counts of P. chartarum. Fertiliser use does not provide an alternative to, or support, conventional methods of facial eczema control such as zinc prophylaxis or treatment of pasture with fungicides.     

加快石漠化地区草地植被恢复促进喀斯特地区生态环境建设

石漠化问题加剧了喀斯特地区的水土流失和旱涝等自然灾害,进一步加深了该地区贫困程度,越来越成为制约社会、经济和生态全面发展的桎梏.恢复喀斯特地区草地植被是解决喀斯特地区石漠化问题的根本出路和保护生态环境的最后屏障,可以在快速有效地减少水土流失的同时短期内大幅度增加农民收入,实现可持续发展.恢复石漠化地区草地植被,要在保护和合理利用现有草地资源的基础上, 与种植优质牧草、发展草地畜牧业相结合, 与推广沼气技术相结合, 与生态旅游相结合.要拓宽投融资渠道, 增加资金投入.     

Evaluation of the Cortisol‐to‐ACTH Ratio in Dogs with Hypoadrenocorticism,Dogs with Diseases Mimicking Hypoadrenocorticism and in Healthy Dogs

Background

The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test is the gold standard for diagnosing hypoadrenocorticism (HA) in dogs. However, problems with the availability of synthetic ACTH (tetracosactrin/cosyntropin) and increased costs have prompted the need for alternative methods.

Objectives

To prospectively evaluate the cortisol‐to‐ACTH ratio (CAR) as a screening test for diagnosing canine HA.

Animals

Twenty three dogs with newly diagnosed HA; 79 dogs with diseases mimicking HA; 30 healthy dogs.

Methods

Plasma ACTH and baseline cortisol concentrations were measured before IV administration of 5 μg/kg ACTH in all dogs. CAR was calculated and the diagnostic performance of ACTH, baseline cortisol, CAR and sodium‐to‐potassium ratios (SPRs) was assessed based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves calculating the area under the ROC curve.

Results

The CAR was significantly lower in dogs with HA compared to that in healthy dogs and in those with diseases mimicking HA (P < .0001). There was an overlap between HA dogs and those with HA mimicking diseases, but CAR still was the best parameter for diagnosing HA (ROC AUC 0.998), followed by the ACTH concentration (ROC AUC 0.97), baseline cortisol concentration (ROC AUC 0.96), and SPR (ROC AUC 0.86). With a CAR of >0.01 the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Calculation of the CAR is a useful screening test for diagnosing primary HA. As a consequence of the observed overlap between the groups, however, misdiagnosis cannot be completely excluded. Moreover, additional studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of CAR in more dogs with secondary HA.     

Fractures of the rostral portion of the mandible and maxilla in horses: 89 cases (1979-1997).

OBJECTIVE: To compare fracture locations, repair methods, complications, and outcomes of horses with fractures of the rostral portions of the mandible and maxilla. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 89 horses with fractures of the rostral portions of the mandible and maxilla. PROCEDURE: Medical records and radiographs were reviewed. Fractures were categorized by fracture location and stability. Postoperative complications and long-term outcome were determined by clinical examination and telephone interviews with horse owners. RESULTS: 4 fracture types were recognized. Fractures involving just the alveolar plate (33%) and those involving the alveolar plate and the body of the bone (32%) were most common and were often repaired by interdental wiring. Unilateral fractures of the mandible (11%) were managed without surgery if stable. Unstable fractures were repaired with wires, a U-shaped bar (U-bar), or a bone plate. Bilateral fractures (24%) were often repaired with orthopedic wires in foals or with a U-bar, acrylic splint, wires, or bone plate in adult horses. In 2 horses, bilateral fractures were managed conservatively. Short-term complications developed in 24 of 89 (27%) horses. Soft tissue infections and wire loosening or failure were the most common short-term and long-term complications. Wire replacement was not required in any horses after release from hospital. Persistent draining tracts were most often associated with bone sequestration. Long-term functional and cosmetic outcomes were favorable for all fracture types and repair methods. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although complications in horses with fractures of the mandible and maxilla are common, long-term prognoses for functional and cosmetic outcome are favorable.     

Impact of heavy metals on the degradative capabilities of soil bacterial communities

The degradative capabilities of six heavy-metal-affected and six unaffected bacterial communities from Canadian and German soils were determined by enumerating colony-forming units on 20 specific media. Each of these contained an aromatic substrate as the sole source of C and energy. Comparisons of plate counts revealed that heavy metal stress caused a decrease in the eveness of the distribution of the 20 degradative capabilities This suggests that in heavy-metal-affected bacterial communities, relatively rare degradative capabilities, irrespective of their nature, are even rarer than in unaffected communities, while the reverse is true for more common capabilities. The results are discussed with respect to the ease with which aromatic substrates can serve as C and energy sources.     

不同乳酸菌发酵乳对高血脂症大鼠肠道菌群的影响

试验旨在探究不同乳酸菌发酵乳对高血脂模型大鼠血脂与肠道菌群的调节作用。将体重为(120±10)g的 40 只 SD 雄性大鼠随机分为空白对照组(C 组)、高脂模型组(M 组)、L. rhamnosus LV108 发酵乳组(LV组)及混合乳酸菌(LV108 发酵乳∶grx08 发酵乳∶grx12 发酵乳=2∶1∶1)发酵乳组(H 组),每组 10 只,建模后干预(1 mL/100 g,1×108 CFU/mL)4 周,测定大鼠血脂及大鼠粪样细菌 16S rDNA 的 V3-V4 区,并对大鼠肠道微生物和血清血脂水平的相关性进行分析。结果表明:LV 组和 H 组大鼠血清中甘油三酯、总胆固醇及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著降低,体重增长被抑制;LV 组和 H 组中大鼠肠道菌群的丰度及多样性显著提高,且 H 组大鼠肠道菌群的丰度高于 LV 组(P<0.05);LV 组和 H 组大鼠粪便中 Lactobacillus spp.、S24-7 spp 和 Treponema spp.等菌属显著升高,Peptostreptococcus spp.、Clostridium spp.、Turicibacter spp、Escherichia spp.及 Desulfovibrio spp.等菌属显著降低。结果提示,L. rhamnosus LV108发酵乳及混合乳酸菌发酵乳均能改善大鼠血脂水平并恢复大鼠肠道菌群的多样性及菌群构成。