Serological changes observed in horses infected with Anoplocephala perfoliata after treatment with praziquantel and natural reinfection

The serological changes in two groups of horses known to be harbouring Anoplocephala perfoliata were studied; 12 were treated with 1.5 mg/kg praziquantel and 200 microg/kg ivermectin, and 14 were treated with 200 microg/kg ivermectin. Serological and faecal analyses were carried out on each animal at intervals for 758 days. The titres of antibodies specific for A perfoliata decreased from the day of treatment to day 28 in both groups, and continued to decrease in the group treated with praziquantel and ivermectin, with the first significant decrease from the other group at day 121. From day 151 to day 295 the first significant increase in antibody levels in the group treated with both drugs was observed; no A perfoliata eggs were detected in the faeces of these animals until day 295 when five of the 10 were positive.     

Lomustine for treatment of mast cell tumors in cats: 38 cases (1999-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical activity and toxic effects of lomustine when used to treat cats with mast cell tumors (MCTs). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 38 cats with measurable, histologically or cytologically confirmed MCTs treated with lomustine at a dosage > or = 50 mg/m(2). PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed to determine response to treatment and evidence of drug toxicoses. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate remission duration. RESULTS: 26 cats had cutaneous MCTs, 7 had MCTs of the mesenteric lymph nodes, 2 had gastrointestinal tract MCTs, 2 had hepatic MCTs, and 1 had MCTs involving multiple organs. Targeted lomustine dosage was 50 mg/m(2) in 22 cats and 60 mg/m(2) in 16 cats. Median administered dosage of lomustine was 56 mg/m(2) (range, 48 to 65 mg/m(2)), and median number of doses administered was 2 (range, 1 to 12). Seven cats had a complete response and 12 had a partial response, for an overall response rate of 50%. Median response duration was 168 days (range, 25 to 727 days). The most common toxicoses were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that lomustine had activity against MCTs in cats and was well tolerated. Further, findings suggested that treatment with lomustine should be considered for cats with MCTs for which local treatment is not an option.     

E-cadherin expression in canine cutaneous histiocytomas

Canine cutaneous histiocytoma is a common skin tumour of Langerhans cell origin. Langerhans cells are members of the dendritic cell family of antigen-presenting cells and are located in the epidermis. They are unique among the dendritic cell lineage in that they express high levels of the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. The expression of E-cadherin by the neoplastic Langerhans cells in 37 dogs with cutaneous histiocytoma was studied by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. In all the cases, these cells expressed E-cadherin, whereas the infiltrating lymphocytes did not.     

评价植酸酶的活性首先应了解所用的测定方法

在进行植酸酶活性的化学分析时存在着许多可影响分析结果的因素,这些因素并不会以一种并行和同步的方式影响所有的植酸酶。因此,要正确评价植酸酶活性首先应了解所采用的分析方法。     

The effect of dietary supplementation with 9-cis:12-trans and 10-trans:12-cis conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for nine months on serum cholesterol, lymphocyte proliferation and polymorphonuclear cells function in Beagle dogs

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), 9-cis:11-trans and 10-trans:12-cis, have been shown to be able to modify some immune cells parameters and plasma lipids in a variety of experiment models. Since lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) have a large spectrum functions in the immune response, the knowledge in this field has to be expanded. Beagle dogs were fed a control diet or a CLA supplemented diet for nine months. Blood was collected for biochemical analysis and lymphocyte and PMNC isolation. PMNC were assayed for lysosome content, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production. A lymphocyte proliferation capacity assay was done. The CLA fed dogs had a 34% reduction in total cholesterol (P < 0.05), 28% in LDL (P < 0.05) and 28% non-HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05). Neither of the PMNC parameters evaluated demonstrated significant alteration. Lymphocytes from CLA group increased by 45% their mitotic capacity (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that CLA can successfully modify the lipid profile of dogs (monogastrics) when fed at reasonable levels, but did not significantly alter inflammatory function as would generally predicted. Further, we had some indication that CLA modulated T cell responsiveness.     

Genetic (co)variances and breeding value estimation of Gompertz growth curve parameters in Finnish Yorkshire boars, gilts and barrows.

This paper's objectives were to estimate the genetic (co)variance components of the Gompertz growth curve parameters and to evaluate the relationship of estimated breeding values (EBV) based on average daily gain (ADG) and Gompertz growth curves. Finnish Yorkshire central test station performance data was obtained from the Faba Breeding (Vantaa, Finland). The final data set included 121,488 weight records from 10,111 pigs. Heritability estimates for the Gompertz growth parameters mature weight (alpha), logarithm of mature weight to birth weight ratio (beta) and maturation rate (kappa) were 0.44, 0.55 and 0.31, respectively. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations between the growth curve parameters were high and mainly negative. The only positive relationship was found between alpha and beta. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients between EBV for ADG and daily gain calculated from Gompertz growth curves were 0.79. The Spearman rank correlation between the sire EBV for ADG and Gompertz growth curve parameter-based ADG for all sires with at least 15 progeny was 0.86. Growth curves differ significantly between individuals and this information could be utilized for selection purposes when improving growth rate in pigs.     

Effects of cereals and/or protein supplement extrusion on diet utilisation and performance of intensively reared cattle

The effect of extruding the cereal and/or the protein supplement of a compound feed on its nutritive value and on the performance of intensively reared male calves was studied. The compound feed was formulated with 0.65 of a cereal blend (60:40 maize:barley), 0.25 of a protein blend (1/3:1/3:1/3 raw soybeans:peas:lupins), and 0.08 of urea to contain 0.17 of crude protein. It was tested without extruding (NE) and with the cereal blend (CE), the protein blend (PE) or both (CPE) extruded. Another non-extruded compound feed with mainly soybean meal as the protein supplement (NE-SBM) also was studied. The five experimental compound feeds together with barley straw were offered ad libitum to 50 male Friesian calves (112 kg initial live weight) for 13 weeks, recording individual feed intake and live weight gain. Crude protein (CP) solubility and in vitro and in situ CP degradation of experimental compounds, and in vitro gas production kinetics, in vivo digestibility and urinary allantoin excretion of diets were determined. Cereal extrusion promoted a greater gas production at all incubation times (p < 0.001), associated to the increase in starch gelatinisation. PE and NE-SBM compounds showed lower in vitro (p < 0.01) and in situ (p < 0.001) CP degradability than the other feeds. Ingredient extrusion did not affect apparent DM, OM and CP digestibilities, but diet CPE showed a lower NDF digestibility (p < 0.05) than the others (0.293 vs. 0.420, 0.387, 0.390 and 0.407 with CPE vs. NE, CE, PE and NE-SBM, respectively). The apparent EE digestibility increased (p = 0.053) with the inclusion of extruded ingredients, (0.799, 0.749 and 0.794 vs. 0.719 and 0.702 with CE, PE and CPE vs. NE and NE-SBM, respectively). Daily allantoin excretion was lower (p < 0.01) in calves receiving the CPE diet than in those receiving the NE, PE and NE-SBM diets. Treatments did not affect the average daily gains (1.61 ± 0.022 kg d^− 1), however calves on the CPE diet showed a lower (p < 0.01) concentrate and total conversion ratios than those fed NE, PE and NE-SBM (2.60 vs. 2.79, 2.85 and 2.98 kg concentrate DM kg^− 1 daily gain and 2.93 vs. 3.09, 3.13 and 3.26 kg total DM kg^− 1 daily gain, respectively). The CE diet resulted in numerically higher (p > 0.05) concentrate and total DM conversion ratios (2.72 and 3.02) than CPE and lower (p < 0.05) than NE-SBM. Improvement in feed conversion ratio after extrusion would be related to a better starch utilisation and not to changes in microbial or dietary protein flow to the duodenum, although a better utilisation of fat energy cannot be disregarded.