Effect of colostrum intake on plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid and glucoregulatory hormone patterns in the neonatal pig

The effect of colostrum on endocrine and metabolic factors affecting glucose homeostasis was evaluated in 60 neonatal pigs that were fasted, fed (nursed ad libitum) or limit-fed colostrum (25% ad libitum, 4-hr interval feeding). Plasma acquired at birth (t0), and after 10, 20 and 30 hr (t10, t20 and t30, respectively) was analyzed for glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and the glucoregulatory hormones--insulin, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone and catecholamines. The concentration of glucose and NEFA was similar among treatment groups at birth and increased in proportion to the quantity of colostrum consumed. Pigs fed ad libitum achieved and maintained a higher (greater than or equal to 40%; P less than .01) glucose concentration when compared to fasted neonates. Limit-fed counterparts also achieved and maintained higher levels, with glucose concentration being approximately 20% higher throughout (P less than .05). Fed pigs maintained NEFA concentrations which were approximately 2.5-fold to 4-fold greater than that of fasted pigs (P less than .05). Likewise, limit-fed pigs tended (P = .19) to have elevated NEFA concentrations and a lower (P less than .05) insulin:glucagon molar ratio. An inverse relationship was observed between colostrum intake and plasma concentrations of cortisol and growth hormone. Concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine tended (P greater than .10) to be elevated in fed pigs, relative to those of fasted counterparts. Provision of even limited quantities of colostrum is therefore beneficial to the glucoregulatory response in newborn pigs.     

Comparison of bovine and human platelet deformability, using micropipette elastimetry

We evaluated the deformability of bovine platelets and contrasted the effects of pharmacologic and thermal perturbations on cytoskeletal structure of human and bovine platelets. Platelets were aspirated into micropipettes (0.7 to 0.8 micron in diameter) by stepwise increments in tension. The resulting lengths of the cell extensions were recorded. The cell extensions aspirated from bovine platelets were shorter than the extensions drawn from human platelets. Disassembly of the circumferential microtubule coil allowed human platelets to pass through the pipette, but the same treatments only slightly increased the deformability of bovine platelets. Alteration of the actin filament cytoskeleton caused increased mechanical fragility of human platelets. In contrast, even the combined use of microtubule and actin filament-disrupting agents only modestly increased the deformability of bovine platelets and did not cause premature fragmentation of the cells. Unusual cytoskeletal structure, absence of an open canalicular system, and disparity in granule size may all contribute to the variance in deformability between the platelets of the 2 species. Reduced cell deformability may impair bovine platelet surface interactions by diminishing the ease of cell spreading and formation of areas of contact between the platelet and other cell surfaces.     

The effect of energy concentration and source on the use of feed protein and NPN in lambs. 3. Allantoin excretion and microbial protein synthesis

In an N balance experiment with male crossbreeding lambs at an age of 3 ... 4 months four different rations were given differing in energy concentration (high greater than 700 EFU cattle/kg DM and low less than 650 EFU cattle/kg DM) and in the energy source (sugar, starch or crude fibre) with crude protein intake being almost equal. The rations contained 2% urea. Microbial protein synthesis in the rumen was assessed according to ROTH and KIRCHGESSNER (1978) (1), RYS et al. (1975) (2) and BICKEL-BAUMANN and LANDIS (1986) (3) on the basis of allantoin excretion in urine. The highest ruminal protein synthesis quotas were 868 ... 921 mg protein N per kg LW0.75 in (2). In (3) 723 ... 766 mg protein N/kg LW0.75 were synthesized. From the 15N labelling of the supplemented urea and the excreted allantoin it could be calculated that 26 ... 40% of the microbial protein resulted from the urea-N of the ration. Despite a high crude protein content of the ration of between 16 and 17% in the DM and a relation of NPN: pure protein of 0.95 the utilization of the NPN in the ration was relatively high but slightly lower than the utilization of pure protein. The variants with higher energy concentration showed as a tendency higher allantoin excretion in spite of slightly lower dry matter intake and a slightly higher NPN utilization than the variants with lower energy concentration.     

Structural and metabolic integrity of sheep external intercostal muscle during extended culture

The objectives of this study were to examine the structural and metabolic integrity of isolated sheep external intercostal muscle bundles following variable lengths of preincubation (0 to 192 h). Samples of intact external intercostal muscle (10 to 15 g), with tendons attached, were prepared from growing wethers and maintained at their resting lengths during preincubation for 0 to 192 h. Protein synthesis (PS), protein degradation (PD), acetate oxidation and ultrastructural integrity of muscle samples were examined at 0 to 192 h, 0 to 96 h, 0 to 48 h and 0 to 96 h following isolation, respectively. Additionally, the effects of variable fetal calf serum (FCS) concentrations (0 to 20%; w/v) on PS and PD and acetate oxidation were examined. Rate of PS increased as preincubation time increased to 192 h; however, most of this increase was due to the proliferation of fibroblasts on the surface of the muscle sample. Addition of cytosine arabinoside to the incubation media prevented the fibroblast-dependent increase in PS; however, it did not entirely prevent the preincubation time-dependent increase in PS. Rate of PD increased greatly upon preincubation. The nitrogen balance of incubated muscles was negative at all times examined. Acetate oxidation was maintained through 12 h of preincubation and thereafter declined. Relatively normal myofibrillar structure was maintained through 48 h of preincubation; however, loss of mitochondrial integrity and dissolution of Z-disks at 48 h and at 96 h of preincubation were evident. Isolated tissues were able to respond to FCS concentration in medium following 48 h of preincubation.     

Encephalitis, proventricular and ventricular myositis, and myenteric ganglioneuritis in an umbrella cockatoo

Myenteric ganglioneuritis and encephalomyelitis were diagnosed in an umbrella cockatoo. The cockatoo exhibited clinical signs that were milder than those associated with this syndrome, such as anorexia, muscle wasting, regurgitation, depression, and changes in fecal consistency. The gross lesions also differed from earlier reports in that only the duodenum and proximal jejunum were grossly dilated. Normally the proventriculus and ventriculus are dilated without visible intestinal changes. The histopathological lesions, however, such as perivascular cuffs in the brain stem and muscular mass of the ventriculus and proventriculus, were similar to earlier reports. A virus was suspected, although transmission and isolation of a virus has not occurred in other reports and was not attempted in this case.     

Biomicroscopy of the tear film: the tear film of the pekingese dog

Polarised light biomicroscopy was used to examine the normal pre-corneal tear film in 21 eyes of 12 pekingese dogs. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of excessive exophthalmos on the pre-corneal tear film in the dog. The majority of the animals were found to have high levels of ocular surface contamination by particulate material and plaques of viscous mucus. Other abnormalities included surface lipid with an abnormal granular (three dogs) or 'curdled' (two dogs) appearance; excessive thinning of the lipid layer of the tear film; and the presence of dark globular structures in two dogs, which were presumed to be abnormal meibomian lipid. Break up of the tear film was observed in one dog. Grossly, a thread of viscous mucus was frequently observed along the margin of the lower eyelid. It is postulated that this thread forms because of the excessively exophthalmic conformation of the breed, which prevents the normal access of effete mucus and entrapped debris to the lower conjunctival fornix. The combination of the above factors in the pekingese is suggested as the mechanism whereby the tear film has a reduced stability, thus enhancing the risk from factors more usually considered to initiate corneal ulceration in the breed. The possible adverse effects of lid splitting for the mass removal of distichiae in exophthalmic dogs is discussed.     

Blood bactericidal assay (Pasteurella haemolytica) comparison of morbidity in marketed feeder calves

An in vitro bactericidal assay that used bovine heparinized blood was investigated for its usefulness in detecting differences in the bactericidal immunity of calves against Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 (Ph1). Greater than 90% of killing occurred within 30 minutes. The substitution of fetal calf serum for autologous calf plasma caused loss of bactericidal activity of the blood. Decomplemented calf serum also was low in bactericidal activity. The blood bactericidal assay appears to be opsonin antibody-dependent and complement-dependent. The coefficient of variation (CV) that can be expected with this assay was established by use of a group of 8 calves; within-day CV maximum was 0.9, and between-day CV maximum was 2.1. The blood bactericidal assay was used to evaluate 30 calves under typical market stress from 4 farms in eastern Tennessee. All calves had decreased bactericidal activity, as they moved into a feedyard in Texas. The bactericidal activity was reduced among sick calves, based on the severity of clinical signs. Morbidity was highest during the first 14 days in the feedlot. During this period, healthy calves had a decreased bactericidal index (BI) of 4 points, and calves with clinical signs of bovine respiratory tract disease for 3 days had a decreased BI of 8 points. The average reduction in the BI of calves with clinical signs of bovine respiratory tract disease for 6 or more days was 14 points.     

Bacterial culture of blood from critically ill dogs and cats: 100 cases (1985-1987)

Of 100 critically ill dogs and cats, 49 (39 dogs, 10 cats) had bacteremia. Gram-negative bacilli were the most common isolates from the bloodstream of dogs with bacteremia (46%), and gram-positive cocci and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 36% and 31% of positive cultures, respectively; 15% of positive cultures were polymicrobial. In cats, gram-negative bacilli (especially Salmonella enteritidis) and anaerobic bacteria were the most common isolates, and 30% of positive cultures were polymicrobial. Gram-positive cocci were not isolated from the blood-stream of cats. Odds ratios, adjusted for the combined effects of disease status (severe vs nonsevere), results of bacterial culture of blood result (positive vs negative), and species (dog vs cat) were calculated for mortality in animals in the study. In animals with bacteremia, severe disease increased the risk of death 11.6-fold, compared with the risk in animals with nonsevere disease. Bacteremia increased mortality 10-fold in animals with severe disease, compared with mortality in animals with severe disease without bacteremia. Animals with severe disease and bacteremia were 15.6 times more likely to die than were those with nonsevere disease and negative culture results. In animals with nonsevere disease, culture results (positive vs negative) were not related significantly to mortality. Disease status (severe vs nonsevere) in animals without bacteremia also was not significantly related to mortality. There was no significant difference in overall mortality in dogs, compared with that in cats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

CLINICAL USE OF 99mTC-MDP SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE EQUINE MANDIBLE AND MAXILLA

^99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) radionuclide imaging examinations were done in four horses having clinical evidence of skull trauma or infection. Radiographs were made of each horse prior to scintigraphy. Four case histories are presented. In each instance, scintigraphy provided complementary information to that obtainable through radiography, which aided in accurately localizing and characterizing the site and extent of abnormalities, and which proved particularly valuable as an aid for therapeutic planning.