Role of oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha on breeding efficiency in buffaloes

A study was conducted on 40 buffalo-cows, assigned randomly, immediately after calving into three groups: group I (n = 10) injected with saline and taken as control; group II (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha/animal (Lutalyse); group III (n = 15) received 25 mg PGF2 alpha + 25 i.u. oxytocin/animal (Syntocinon), single i.m. dose. Oxytocin and/or PGF2 alpha significantly (P less than 0.01) shortened the interval from calving to first service (38.33 and 31.53 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 91.60 days for controls). The treatment reduced the service period (38.29 and 35.87 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 45.40 days for controls). Concomitantly a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in the open-days post partum was achieved (76.62 and 67.40 days for groups II and III respectively, versus 137.00 days for controls). In addition, the treated buffaloes needed significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer services per conception (1.67 and 1.20 S/C for groups II and III respectively) than the untreated ones (2.70 S/C), besides a substantial improvement (P less than 0.01) in their conception rate either at 60 or 85 days post partum. Significantly improved (P less than 0.05) results were obtained in the oxytocin and PGF2 alpha treated animals, than in those receiving PGF2 alpha alone for all the previous parameters, except for the service period. Buffaloes therefore seemed to respond better to such treatment than dairy cows.     

Changes in hormonal profiles during the estrous cycle in old lactating beef cows

Patterns of concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) during an estrous cycle were compared between 15 lactating beef cows 5 to 7 years of age (young) and 15 cows greater than or equal to 12 years of age (old). Length of estrous cycle did not differ between young and old cows (P = .06). No differences due to age were found for LH. Patterns of concentrations of P4 during the first 15 days of the cycle, of FSH during days 6 through 12 and of E2 during the follicular phase differed with age (P less than .05). An earlier (P less than .025) midcycle elevation of FSH was associated with an earlier rise and greater concentration of E2 (P less than .05) during the follicular phase in old than in young cows. Differences in FSH and P4, although subtle, were consistent with an earlier or more advanced follicular development in old cows, leading to greater secretion of E2 from the preovulatory follicle.     

Effects of dietary cation-anion difference on blood cortisol and ACTH levels in reproducing ewes

Formulation of rations to induce a compensated metabolic acidosis in the post-partum cow has proved a useful strategy for prevention of milk fever. Such acidification improves the ability of the animal to maintain calcium homeostasis by promoting the absorption of calcium from the intestine and mobilization of calcium from the bone. In humans, an acidogenic diet results in mild metabolic acidosis in association with a state of cortisol excess and this increase in plasma cortisol may increase bone catabolism. The objective of our experiment was to induce acidification by anionic salt supplementation and to study the effects of anionic supplementation on plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in sheep. Twenty-seven twin-bearing sheep were assigned to two experimental groups and a control group, depending on dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) (+272.6, -88.9 and +164.5 mEq/kg DM respectively). Sheep assigned to each dietary treatment received their respective rations beginning 6 weeks pre-partum and continuing until 12 days post-partum. Anionic diet induced a non-respiratory systemic acidosis in association with a mild increase in plasma cortisol concentration without changes in plasma ACTH levels. Our data suggest that the mild hypercortisolism observed in sheep fed the anionic diet may not be an effector for bone resorption induced by anionic salts. A mild hypercortisolism of this magnitude may lead to osteoporosis but this might require many years of adrenal hypersecretion while anionic salts are only used during the last weeks of pregnancy.     

Protection studies with a globin-enriched protein fraction of Ostertagia ostertagi

The protective capacity of an adult stage Ostertagia ostertagi globin antigen was tested in four vaccination experiments in cattle. In a preliminary experiment, calves were vaccinated three times intraperitoneally with 250 microg globin in Freund's adjuvant and challenged with a trickled infection of 25,000 infective larvae. In three subsequent field studies, calves were vaccinated twice or three times intramuscularly with 80-100 microg globin in Quil A and challenged with a natural gastrointestinal nematode infection on pasture. Higher globin-specific antibody levels were detected in the vaccinated calves than in the control animals in all vaccine trials. In the preliminary experiment, geometric mean cumulative egg counts in the globin group were reduced by 52% and total worm burdens were reduced by 28%, compared to the controls. In the first field trial cumulative faecal egg counts were reduced by 63% in the vaccinated calves. However, the reduction in faecal egg output in these two experiments was not statistically significant and no reduction in faecal egg counts was observed in the vaccinated animals in the two last field trials. In conclusion, vaccination of calves with O. ostertagi globin resulted in highly variable protection levels after challenge infection.     

站立状态下马近端指(趾)骨近背侧碎片骨折片关节镜摘除术

作者报道站立状态下用关节镜摘除马近端指(趾 )骨近背侧碎片骨折片的技术及应用效果。1　方法将马匹保定于柱栏内 ,通过静脉注射赛拉嗪 ,地托咪定 ,或 2种药联合进行镇静。动脉内注射2 %甲哌卡因进行镇痛 ,并于背侧至球节皮下弧形浸润麻醉。术部覆以无菌创巾 ,蹄部和蹄底应用不透水创巾。关节镜从掌指关节或跖趾关节的背侧关节囊进入 ,摘除碎骨折片。我们对所有纯种赛马的比赛记录均做了统计分析并与已发表的研究报道进行了比较。手术及术后住院治疗时间与全麻术马匹的相应时间进行比较 ,并对全身麻醉后潜在的危险性进行监测。2　结果术期或…     

Effects of dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin on the performance and immune status of weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin (extract of turmeric) can modify piglet immune status and performance immediately after weaning. Piglets (n = 192) were weaned at 29 +/- 0.1 d and allocated to treatment (six replicates of eight pig per treatment) accounting for weight, litter, and gender, using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Factors were diets with or without (as-fed basis) quillaja saponin (750 mg/kg during wk 1, 300 mg/kg during wk 2 to 3) and with or without dietary curcumin (200 mg/kg). Diets were fed ad libitum for 20 d after weaning. Feed intake was measured daily. Piglets were weighed at weaning, d 7, 14, and 20 after weaning. On each of d 6 and 20 after weaning, eight pigs per treatment were sacrificed for blood and tissue collection. Treatment had no effect on piglet growth. The ADFI and G:F were similar for all treatments between d 0 and 14 of the trial. Between d 15 and 20, ADFI and G:F were lower in quillaja-supplemented piglets (ADFI = 621 vs. 572 g/d; G:F = 0.75 vs. 0.85; P < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, interferon-gamma, and C-reactive protein (CRP) did not differ among treatments on d 6 after weaning. On d 20, IgG and CRP were greater (P < 0.05) in saponin-supplemented pigs (IgG = 17.5 vs. 11.4 mg/mL; CRP = 26.98 vs. 12.5 mg/mL). Small intestine villus and crypt measurements did not differ among treatments on either d 6 or 20. Saponin supplementation during the postweaning period seemed to potentiate an immune response in the weaned piglet but had a detrimental effect on the utilization of feed. Dietary curcumin had no influence on any measured aspect of pig performance or immune status.     

Management of Wild Ungulate Populations in Italy: Captive-Breeding,Hybridisation and Genetic Consequences of Translocations

Captive-reproduced stocks of some species of ungulates (Artiodactyla), and particularly the red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the wildboar (Sus scrofa) are more or less extensively translocated in Italy, mainly for local reintroductions or restocking of exploited wild populations. However, captive breeding often involves the reproduction of non-indigenous individuals or the production of artificial hybrids. Consequently, translocations of captive-reproduced ungulates are of concern for the conservation of indigenous populations and gene pools. The impact of translocations should be evaluated within the background of the growing knowledge on population genetic and phylogeographic structure of ungulates. Molecular genetic markers are being used to map geographic genetic diversity, and reconstruct the phylogeographic history of natural populations (i.e., in the roe deer). Molecular makers are also used to detect the consequences of domestication and identify hybrids between wild and domesticated populations (i.e., in the wildboar), or to detect inter-specific hybridisation (i.e., between the red deer and wapiti). Hybridisation of wild and domestic pigs, and diffusion of hybrids in nature is widespread in Italy. Admixture of indigenous and non-indigenous roe deer stocks is also widespread. Therefore, conservation and management of indigenous ungulates calls for careful evaluation of captive-reproduced stocks.     

Relative sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction assays used for detection of feline herpesvirus type 1 DNA in clinical samples and commercial vaccines

OBJECTIVE: To determine relative detection rates and detection limits for 6 published polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays used for detection of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) DNA. SAMPLE POPULATION: 5 vaccines licensed for use in preventing FHV-1-associated disease; 15 conjunctival biopsy specimens collected from cats with keratitis, conjunctivitis, or both; and a plaque-purified field isolate of FHV-1 cultured in vitro. PROCEDURE: Vaccines and clinical samples were assessed for FHV-1 DNA by use of all 6 assays. Detection rates were calculated by assuming that any sample in which FHV-1 DNA was detected was a true-positive result. Detection limits were estimated by use of serial dilutions of DNA extracted from cultured FHV-1 and 1 clinical sample. RESULTS: Testing by use of all 6 assays resulted in detection of FHV-1 DNA in all 5 vaccines. Testing by use of all 6 assays yielded concordant results for 9 of 15 conjunctival biopsy specimens (8 with negative results and 1 with a positive result). Calculated detection rates for clinical samples ranged from 29% to 86%. Assay sensitivity was ranked similarly by use of detection rate or detection limit. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Testing by use of all assays was equally likely to detect vaccine virus. Therefore, a positive PCR result in a cat may reflect vaccine virus rather than wild-type virus. Test sensitivity as assessed by detection limits and detection rates varied greatly. Because FHV-1 can be shed in clinically normal animals, high detection rate will not necessarily correlate with high diagnostic sensitivity.     

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in a binturong (Arctictis binturong).

An adult, female binturong (Arctictis binturong) was examined due to lethargy, inappetence, and an abdominal mass. Diagnostic investigations, including radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, clinical laboratory findings, and a fine-needle aspirate of the mass, were suggestive of a sarcoma with metastasis. Necropsy and histopathologic findings confirmed a widely disseminated sarcomatoid variant of a renal cell carcinoma, likely originating in the left kidney, with metastasis to the right kidney, spleen, pancreas, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes, and lungs. This is the first report of this neoplasm in a binturong and only the second report in the veterinary literature. Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is a rare histologic variant of renal cell carcinoma that is aggressive, commonly metastatic, and associated with a very poor prognosis in humans. Accurate antemortem diagnosis of this tumor may be complicated by its biphasic morphology, which may resemble carcinoma or sarcoma (or both), often necessitating the use of immunohistochemical techniques.