Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing for detection of ovine herpesvirus 2 in American bison (Bison bison).

Serum samples were collected at slaughter from 226 24-30-month-old ranch-raised, clinically normal American bison (Bison bison) bulls from North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, and Manitoba to assess the presence of antibodies to ovine herpesvirus 2 (OHV-2). Antibodies to OHV-2 were detected by competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 10 of 226 (4.40%) samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of sera positive for OHV-2 DNA demonstrated a 238 kilobase fragment. The nucleotide sequence of the PCR-positive samples in comparison to the reported OHV-2 nucleotide sequence resulted in a homology range of 82.8-95.4%.     

The Effect of Carbohydrate Composition and Concentration on Anther Culture Response in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Culture medium composition is critical for the successful induction of microspore division in vitro. The present experiments have focused on a relatively neglected area of cell and tissue culture research, namely the carbohydrate component used in the medium. Three spring barley genotypes were cultured on a medium which was modified by replacing sucrose with the following carbohydrates (6 % w/v): maltose, fructose, malt extract, galactose and a glucose (3 % w/v)/fructose (3 % w/v) mixture. Both maltose and malt extract were superior to sucrose in their capacity to induce green plantlet differentiation from microspores. The concentrations of both sucrose and maltose were also varied. Overall the response of anthers on maltose based media was higher than on sucrose based media. Furthermore, a concentration of maltose m the range 6—12 % w/v produced a higher frequency of green plants than a low concentration (1—3 % w/v). The effect of maltose based media on germplasm of direct relevance to barley breeders was also tested. The cultivar ‘Blenheim’ was shown to be very responsive and this genetic factor was transmitted to the F₁ hybrid. The frequency of haploid to diploid regenerants was not consistent over genotypes, but in general there were more haploid than diploid regenerants. The implications of these results for barley breeding are discussed.     

Pharmacokinetics of chlortetracycline in the turkey: evaluation of biliary secretion

The pharmacokinetics of chlortetracycline (CTC) in plasma and bile after intravenous administration in turkeys was ascertained. After a dose of CTC (0.9 mg/kg) was administered IV, 8.5% of the dose appeared in the bile in 4 hours. The peak bile/plasma concentration ratio for CTC was 254 at 2 hours. The bile/plasma concentration ratio was greater than 1 from 10 to 240 minutes after CTC administration.     

Evaluation of an outbreak of West Nile virus infection in horses: 569 cases (2002)

OBJECTIVE: To characterize an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in horses in North Dakota in 2002, evaluate vaccine effectiveness, and determine horse characteristics and clinical signs associated with infection. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 569 horses. PROCEDURE: Data were obtained from veterinary laboratory records, and a questionnaire was mailed to veterinarians of affected horses. RESULTS: Affected horses were defined as horses with typical clinical signs and seroconversion or positive results of virus isolation; affected horses were detected in 52 of the 53 counties and concentrated in the eastern and northeastern regions of the state. Among affected horses, 27% (n = 152) were vaccinated against WNV, 54% (309) were not, and 19% (108) had unknown vaccination status; 61 % (345) recovered, 22% (126) died, and 17% (98) had unknown outcome. The odds of death among nonvaccinated horses were 3 and 16 times the odds among horses that received only 1 or 2 doses of vaccine and horses that were vaccinated according to manufacturer's recommendations, respectively. Horses with recumbency, caudal paresis, and age > 5 years had higher odds of death, whereas horses with incoordination had lower odds of death, compared with affected horses without these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Vaccination appears to have beneficial effects regarding infection and death caused by WNV.     

Effects of weaning on somatotrophic gene expression and circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-2 in pigs

The present study evaluated somatotrophic gene expression in liver, muscle and adipose tissue 4 d after weaning, a time point corresponding to greatly reduced serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF-2 in pigs. Two-week-old barrows were either cross-fostered to a sow (SOW, N = 8) or weaned and fed a phase 1 diet containing either 0 or 7% spray-dried plasma (NP, N = 8 and SDP, N = 8; respectively). Piglets were allocated such that two size groups were equivalently represented in each experimental group (small, 3.5–4.3 kg and large, 4.6–5.7 kg). Animals were weighed daily and sacrificed 4 d after weaning for blood and tissue collection. Daily gains of the SOW piglets were significantly greater than those of the weaned pigs for the first 3 d of the experiment (P < 0.0001). Weight gains in the SOW and SDP pigs between d 3 and 4 were equivalently elevated relative to the NP pigs (P < 0.0001). Serum IGF-1 and IGF-2 concentrations were decreased in both NP and SDP compared to SOW (P < 0.0001). Serum IGF-2 levels were significantly lower in small piglets (P = 0.006). A Weaning Group X Size interaction was noted for liver IGF-2 mRNA (P < 0.03), reflecting a higher level of expression in large SOW piglets relative to small SOW piglets. Weaning did not affect IGF-1, IGF-2, or growth hormone (GH) receptor mRNA levels in liver, muscle, or fat (P > 0.05). Liver IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and acid-labile subunit (ALS) mRNA levels also were unaffected by weaning. Small pigs had lower levels of liver ALS (P = 0.0003), muscle IGF-2 (P = 0.02), and muscle GH receptor (P = 0.006) mRNAs. In contrast, adipose tissue IGF-1 and IGF-2 mRNA levels were greatest in the small piglets (P = 0.001 and 0.029, respectively).     

A possible predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy in Huntaway dogs

AIM: To compare the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in New Zealand Huntaway dogs with the prevalence of DCM in other breeds of dog.

METHODS: The necropsy database at Massey University was used to identify cases of DCM diagnosed between January 1999 and March 2006. Dogs were considered to have DCM if echocardiographic, gross necropsy, or histological findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The prevalence in Huntaways was then compared with the prevalence observed in all breeds of dog, as well as the prevalence observed in large breeds of dog.

RESULTS: Twelve dogs were identified with DCM. One was diagnosed using echocardiography, while the other 11 were diagnosed by gross necropsy examination. The gross diagnosis of DCM was confirmed histologically in 6/11 dogs. The prevalence of DCM in Huntaways was significantly higher than the prevalence seen in all breeds of dog (p=0.008), and the prevalence in large breeds of dog (p=0.025). All four Huntaways diagnosed with DCM were male, and had an average age of 4 years. Three dogs presented with symptoms attributable to impaired heart function while one presented with symptoms of chronic renal failure. The duration of clinical symptoms prior to presentation ranged between 1 day and 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Huntaways may be predisposed to the development of DCM. Although the increased prevalence in this breed was significant, only small numbers of affected Huntaways were identified, and additional cases are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Huntaways are the most common working dog in New Zealand. The premature loss of a working dog is expected to have a significant economic impact on farmers. Further investigation of DCM in Huntaways may allow measures to reduce the prevalence in this breed.     

A pilot study to investigate the measurement of immunoglobulin A in Welsh Cob and Welsh Pony foals’ faeces and their dam’s milk

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine if an ELISA for measurement of IgA in equine serum could be used to measure concentrations of IgA in foal faeces and to determine correlations with concentrations in the milk of the dam.

Methods: Faeces from 20 Welsh Cob and Welsh Pony foals and milk from their dams were collected within 12?hours (Day 0) and at 6 days after parturition (Day 6). On Day 6, faeces could not be collected from 2/20 foals, and milk samples could not be collected from 3/20 mares. An equine IgA ELISA validated for serum and plasma was used to measure concentrations of IgA in all samples in triplicate. The precision of the assay for each sample type was determined using modified CV.

Results: IgA was not detectable in 7/20 Day 0 faecal samples and in 2/18 Day 6 faecal samples. For samples with detectable IgA, the mean modified CV was 10.5 (95% CI?=?6.0–15.0)% for Day 0 faecal samples, and was 6.8 (95% CI?=?4.3–9.4)% for Day 6 faecal samples. Median concentrations of IgA in faeces on Day 0 were lower than concentrations on Day 6 (0.7?mg/g vs. 37?mg/g dry matter; p?=?0.003). Concentrations of IgA in milk and faeces on Day 6 were statistically correlated (r?=?0.59; p?=?0.006).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: The IgA ELISA showed acceptable precision when used to estimate concentrations of IgA in foal faeces during the first week of life, but IgA could not be detected in 37% of meconium samples collected on Day 0. This assay may be useful for investigation of the role of maternal milk IgA in the gastrointestinal tract of neonatal foals, but further assessment of both accuracy and precision of the ELISA is required.