Evaluation of a score designed to predict sepsis in foals

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of a published score designed to predict sepsis in foals in a clinical setting and to evaluate the association of clinical and clinicopathological variables with sepsis. Design: Observational study. Retrospective for data from 1998. Prospective in 1999–2001. Setting: Foal intensive care unit of a university hospital. Animals: Client‐owned foals of less than 10 days of age, presenting from 1998 to 2001. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Data from the history and physical examination, together with admission hematology, biochemistry and arterial blood gas analysis were used to generate the published sepsis scores. The same data were investigated for their statistical relationship with sepsis. The presence or absence of sepsis was determined from blood culture, culture of sites of suspected local infection, clinical course and/or post‐mortem examination. The modified sepsis score was calculated for 168 foals, which were classified as septic (86), non‐septic (45) or not possible to classify (37). The modified sepsis score correctly predicted sepsis in 58 out of 86 foals and non‐sepsis in 34 out of 45 foals, resulting in a sensitivity of 67%, a specificity of 76%, a positive predictive value of 84% and a negative predictive value of 55%. Abnormal neutrophil cytology, an immunoglobulin concentration of less than 400 mg/dl, and low blood glucose concentration had the strongest association with sepsis. Conclusions: The low negative predictive value of the sepsis score limited its clinical utility. The sepsis score should not be used to define sepsis in clinical studies, unless previously validated in the study center.     

Inotropes and vasopressors in adults and foals.

Successful treatment with inotropes and vasopressors depends on an understanding of the interplay of flow, pressure, and resistance in the cardiovascular system and an appreciation of the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to inadequate tissue perfusion. Any treatment strategy is necessarily a compromise between the requirements of different vascular beds.Furthermore. the underlying hemodynamic derangements can change rapidly. Therefore. inotropes and vasopressors should be titrated to measures of improved hemodynamic status, and the treatments should be frequently reviewed.     

利用核心种质发挥及评价花生抗黄曲霉资源

黄曲霉菌极大地限制全世界的花生生产和产业发展,且生产上抗性品种较少,我国花生育种和生产中的抗性资源缺乏,迫切需要发掘抗黄曲霉菌种质。本研究以中国花生核心种质561份和ICRISAT微核心种质155份,鉴定了黄曲霉侵染和产毒抗性,发掘出抗黄曲霉侵染和产毒种质各8份,包括具优良农艺性状的抗黄曲霉产毒种质51002-6。鉴定结果表明,ICRISAT花生微核心种质中抗黄曲霉侵染和产毒种质的频率高于中国花生核心种质;普通型花生资源中抗黄曲霉侵染种质的频率较高,龙生型资源中抗黄曲霉产毒种质的频率较高。根据SSR分析,鉴定出与生产上推广应用的优良品种中花5号、中花6号、中花12和远杂9102遗传距离较远的抗黄曲霉产毒种质ICG12625和抗侵染种质ICG4750,拓宽了我国花生品种改良的遗传基础。根据抗病基因产物的NBS类型保守域设计简并引物对抗黄曲霉种质的DNA进行PCR扩增、克隆、测序和分析,获得了1条RGA片段。     

Causes of disease and death from birth to 12 months of age in the Thoroughbred horse in Ireland

A retrospective study was carried out to investigate the causes of disease and death in a population of foals in Ireland during their first 12 months post partum. Foaling and veterinary records from 343 foals on four farms born between January 1, 2004 and May 30, 2008 were reviewed. Among 343 foals, 22 did not survive to 12 months of age. Over the five-year period, the incidence of stillbirth was 1.5% (5/343), mortality 5% (17/338) and overall morbidity was 88.5% (299/338). Morbidity was calculated to include all new conditions brought to the attention of the attending veterinary surgeon, no matter how minor. Of foals born alive: congenital abnormalities were the most common cause of death (35.3% 6/17 foals) followed by musculoskeletal trauma (5/17, 29.4%). Of 711 separate incidents of disease, 46.5% (331/711) were due to an infectious process, 25% (178/711) due to non-infectious musculoskeletal issues; and 14.9% (106/711) related to non-infectious gastrointestinal problems. Respiratory infection was the single most common disease accounting for 27.8% (178/711) of all disease incidents in this population. Findings from this study provide information regarding the causes and incidence of death and disease in the young Irish Thoroughbred population.     

Pest management of social insects in urban settings

ABSTRACT

Pest management of social insects in urban environments is a growing global concern, given the problems that these pests generate and the growth of urban areas worldwide. In this special issue, we present studies on the management and control of ants, wasps and termites from different areas. Also, we report a global overview on the approaches and efficiency of the different methods used to manage and control them. Current advances on the management of urban social insect pests are promising, yet many challenges remain. We expect that this special issue contributes to shed light on these crucial topics, and brings attention to this challenging and growing problem.     

Effect of dietary phosphorus on selenium retention in postweaning swine

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Se and P levels on Se retention in postweaning swine. A 20% protein corn-soybean meal diet at two dietary Se levels (.3 and 5.0 ppm) and four total P levels (.50, .70, .90, 1.10%) were fed. Supplemental Se was provided from sodium selenite with inorganic P from dicalcium phosphate. In Exp. I, 151 pigs weaned at 4 wk of age were allotted by sex, litter and weight and fed their treatment diets for 28 d after a 7-d adjustment to a basal diet. Dietary Se level had no effect on performance measurements. As dietary P level increased, there was an increase in daily gain, feed intake and a decrease in feed to gain ratio. Dietary P resulted in similar plasma, longissimus muscle and kidney tissue Se values within each dietary Se level, while liver Se declined as dietary P level increased. Dietary P level had no effect on plasma, heart or liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. In Exp. II, 32 barrows, after being fed their diets for a 28-d period, were placed in individual metabolism crates where a balance trial was conducted. Dietary P level reduced absolute and percentage Se retention, particularly at dietary P levels of .90 and 1.10%. Phosphorus retention was not affected by dietary Se. Neither dietary P nor Se level had any effect on N retention. These results suggest an effect of dietary P level on Se retention and liver Se, particularly at dietary P levels above the pig's P requirement, while the effect is minimal at or below the pig's P requirement.     

A technique for assessing the effects of olfaction on feed preference in lactating Holstein cows

Our objective was to develop a method for assessing the effects of olfaction on feed preference. Two multiparous lactating Holstein cows were offered a totally mixed ration consisting of corn silage, alfalfa haylage, and a ground corn and soybean meal-based concentrate mixture (25:25:50 on a DM basis) for their ad libitum consumption in four consecutive 2.5-h periods daily for 5 d. An apparatus was developed that allowed odorants to be distributed at a set rate over two feeding containers with limited possibility of odor carryover. Four odorants and a control (no odorant) were compared against each other. All possible comparisons were conducted on the left and right feeding sides to avoid potential lateral-preference effects. Rank values of 0 or .5 were assigned to each odorant based on the percentage of total feed consumed in a period. A test of overall equality based on the sums of squares of ranks was used to determine whether odors affected preference. The limited results indicated that inhalation of odorants did not affect preference. Rank values were doubled for several odorants when compared with others, which suggested that the sample size limited experimental sensitivity. To attain reasonable power, we estimated that at least six cows were needed per study. Large effects of odorants on feed preference would have been required to reach statistical significance in this trial; however, the method provides a practical technique for testing the effects of olfaction on feed preference in cattle when the suggested number of cows is used.