Method of investigation of the accuracy of four digitally-displaying heart rate meters suitable for use in the exercising horse

The measurement of heart rate during exercise in the horse has been recommended as a means of prescribing work effort, monitoring the changes in aerobic capacity during training and as part of the clinical examination of the performance horse. The accuracy of four heart rate meters (PEH 100, PU 10, HR 14 and HRM-7) was assessed by comparison with heart rate determined by simultaneous telemetry electrocardiography (ECG) using a rapid incremental exercise test on a treadmill. Heart rate displayed by all four meters showed significant correlations with the ECG heart rate, but only two meters (PEH 100 and HRM-7) had correlation coefficients of 0.98 or greater.     

Rearing orphaned wild mammals

This article considers the care and management of orphaned neonates and their rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild.     

Effects of various vaccination protocols on passive and active immunity to Pasteurella haemolytica and Haemophilus somnus in beef calves.

Two field trials were conducted in a beef cow herd in Saskatchewan to determine the effectiveness of a combined Pasteurella haemolytica and Haemophilus somnus vaccine in increasing passively and actively acquired antibodies in beef calves. Vaccination of dams at 4 and/or 7 weeks prepartum was associated with increased antibody titers to P. haemolytica and H. somnus in their serum (P < 0.05), colostrum (P < 0.05), and serum of their calves at 3 days and 1 month of age (P < 0.05). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in antibody titers in the colostrum and serum of calves from single or double vaccinated dams. Calves vaccinated at 1 and 2 months of age in the face of maternal antibodies to P. haemolytica and H. somnus had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibodies to P. haemolytica and H. somnus at 4 and 6 months of age than did unvaccinated calves. Calves vaccinated at 3 and 4 months of age in the face of low levels of preexisting antibodies had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibodies to P. haemolytica at 5 months of age and to H. somnus at 5 and 6 months of age than did unvaccinated calves. Calves vaccinated once at 4 months of age had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibody titers to P. haemolytica and H. somnus at 4.5 months of age than did unvaccinated calves, but this difference was not apparent at 6 months of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence of canine distemper virus infection in skunks negative for antibody against rabies virus

Between January 1981 and October 1985, brain tissue specimens from 192 skunks that were negative for antibodies against rabies virus were obtained from 2 Illinois Public Health laboratories (A and B). Brain lesions were detected microscopically in specimens from 17 of the 91 (18.7%) skunks from laboratory B and in specimens from 30 of the 101 (29.7%) skunks from laboratory A. Lesions in 3 skunks (1 from laboratory A, 2 from B) were caused by cerebral parasitism. Lesions in the remaining 44 skunks were characterized by perivascular, nonsuppurative, mononuclear cell infiltrates and foci of glial cells of differing severity. The similarity of lesions and the finding of inclusions diagnostic of canine distemper virus (CDV) in some skunks indicated that CDV may be the main cause of neurologic disease in nonrabid skunks. Seventeen of 36 (47.2%) skunks evaluated for antibody against CDV, using an unlabeled antibody-enzyme method, were positive for CDV. Findings in skunks from the 2 laboratories indicated similar annual prevalences of brain lesions in 1982, 1983, and 1984. The highest percentage (40.5%) of nonrabid skunks with encephalitis was found in skunks submitted to laboratory B in 1981, which was concurrent with a rabies epizootic among skunks in Illinois in 1981. The number of skunks from both laboratories with CDV infection peaked during winter-spring. Importance of CDV in skunk population dynamics remains to be elucidated; however, infection with CDV appears to be enzootic and occasionally epizootic in skunks. Because enzootic/epizootic CDV may bias rabies surveillance data, caution in interpretation of surveillance data is necessary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vitro lipogenesis in the liver and adipose tissues of the female Aylesbury duck at different ages

The in vitro incorporation of [U — ¹⁴C]‐glucose into total lipids was uniformly high in liver slices from birds aged 2, 4 and 10 weeks. The separate addition of prolactin, oestrogen or insulin in vitro always failed to increase the rate of lipogenesis.

The rate of incorporation of [U — ¹⁴C] glucose in vitro into total lipids of subcutaneous, peritoneal and inguinal adipose tissues decreased with age and was considerably lower than that in the liver. There was no difference between the rates of lipid synthesis in adipose tissues from different sites.

Whereas 75% of the glucose converted into total lipids by the liver was recovered as fatty acids, the proportion was only 9 to 15% for adipose tissues. These results suggest that adipose tissue is not an important site for the synthesis of lipid de novo in the growing duck. Hepatic lipogenesis did not reflect the previously reported changes in the rate of fat deposition during growth in the duck.     

Canine cyclic hematopoiesis: blood gas and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid studies

Cyclic hematopoiesis in gray Collies was first described in 1967. These dogs are anemic in comparison with the healthy littermates, and their erythropoiesis is abnormal. Although the basic disorder appears to be an as yet unidentified abnormality of hematopoietic progenitor cells, an inherent difference in responses to blood gas control mechanisms remains as a possible cause. In a study of these mechanisms in dogs with cyclic hematopoiesis, the P50 and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid concentrations were increased. Differences in pH, PCO2, PO2, and oxygen saturation were not observed.     

Fertility of stallion spermatozoa isolated on albumin gradients

Fertility of stallion semen extended with bovine serum albumin (BSA) sucrose extender or cream-gelatin extender was compared. Pregnancy rates were 95% of 47 mares and 86% of 46 mares inseminated with BSA-sucrose and creamgelatin extended semen, respectively. Foaling rates and cycles per conception were not significantly different between treatment groups.Semen from 5 mature stallions was used in an attempt to isolate a population of highly motile spermatozoa. Immediately following collection, samples were evaluated for motility and forward movement. Seven to 10 ml of semen, extended 1:1 with BSA-sucrose extender, were pipetted onto BSA medium separation columns. After 1 hour incubation at 37°C, the top, middle and bottom layers were separately withdrawn from each separation column and pooled, respectively. A marked decrease (P<.001) was noted in the mean motility of spermatozoa in the top layer (35%) as compared to the mean pre-incubation motility (59%). Spermatozoa from middle and bottom layers were significantly (P<.001) more motile (70.6 and 87%) than those from the top layer and pre-incubation samples. Rate of forward movement (RFM) of spermatozoa in lower fractions was higher (P<.001) than RFM of spermatozoa in the top layer. Concentration of spermatozoa decreased (P<.001) as the concentration of BSA in the medium increased.