Boar Taint is Related to Endocrine and Anatomical Changes at Puberty but not to Aggressive Behaviour in Entire Male Pigs

This study aimed to describe the association between incidence of boar taint and pubertal changes in gonadal hormones, size of reproductive organs and aggressive behaviour in entire male pigs. In total, 111 entire male pigs were included in the study. Sampling was performed first at 90 kg live weight (LW) and, then, at 115 kg LW. Variables measured were skatole and androstenone levels in plasma and fat, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma, free oestrone in fat, weight of testes and length of bulbourethral glands. Aggressive interactions between pigs were registered when a limited amount of feed was provided to the pigs prior to routine feeding. The number of initiated interactions (attacks) and the difference between number of initiated and received interactions (relative attacks) were calculated for each pig. Multivariate analysis revealed that gonadal hormones and reproductive organ size influenced prevalence of boar taint, accounting for 30% of the variation in skatole levels in fat and for 37% of the variation in androstenone levels in fat. These relations were independent of aggression levels in entire male pigs. Skatole levels were influenced by the levels of oestrone sulphate in plasma and free oestrone in fat, but not levels of plasma testosterone. Pigs with testes weight below 565 g and a bulbourethral gland length <90 mm did not produce high amounts of skatole; therefore, these values can be used as a threshold level to detect pig carcasses with low skatole levels. High androstenone levels could not be predicted by measuring reproductive organ sizes. More research is required to develop a rapid and accurate method for the analysis of carcasses of entire male pigs.     

Appraisal of the Australian Veterinary Prescribing Guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery in dogs and cats

The Australian Veterinary Prescribing Guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery on dogs and cats are evidence‐based guidelines for veterinary practitioners. Validation of these guidelines is necessary to ensure quality and implementability. Two validated tools, used for medical guideline appraisal, were chosen to assess the guidelines. The terminology from the GuideLine Implementability Appraisal (GLIA) and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation version 2 (AGREE II) were adapted for use by veterinarians. A two‐phase evaluation approach was conducted. In the first phase of the evaluation, the GLIA tool was used by two specialist veterinary surgeons in clinical practice. The results of this phase were then used to modify the guidelines. In the second phase, the AGREE II tool was used by 6 general practitioners and 6 specialists to appraise the guidelines. In phase 1, the specialist surgeons either agreed or strongly agreed that the guidelines were executable, decidable, valid and novel, and that the guidelines would fit within the process of care. The surgeons were neutral on flexibility and measurability. Additional clarity around one common surgical procedure was added to the guidelines, after which the surgeons agreed that the guidelines were sufficiently flexible. In phase 2, 12 veterinarians completed the assessment using the AGREE II tool. In all sections the scaled domain score was greater than 70%. The overall quality of the guidelines was given a global scaled score of 76%. This assessment has demonstrated that the guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis for companion animal surgery are valid and appear implementable.     

CIDR和PMSG诱导东北梅花鹿同期发情的初步研究

应用阴道内孕酮释放装置 (CIDR)结合不同来源和不同剂量的PMSG处理 ,观察东北梅花鹿同期发情效果。 2 6只试验鹿分成 5组 ,将CIDR放置母鹿阴道内 15d后取出 ,肌注不同剂量 (10 0～ 5 0 0IU)孕马血清促性腺激素 ,放入带试情布的公鹿试情 ,持续观察 72h。结果表明 ,取出CIDR后试验鹿在 (33.3± 7.0 )h发情。其中含 10 0IUPMSG的“Folligon”处理的试验鹿同期发情率达 10 0 % ;国产PMSG处理的梅花鹿随着PMSG剂量的增加 ,发情率有增加的趋势 ,但各组间差异不显著 (χ2 检验P >0 .0 5 )。同时 ,不同剂量的PMSG处理没有显著影响CIDR取出后至发情时的平均时间长度。     

Kontrolle der luteolytischen Wirkung eines neuen Prostaglandin F2α-Analogs bei der Behandlung von Stuten mit Anostrie and Dyszyklie unter fortlaufender Bestimmung des Progesteronspiegels im Plasma

Inhalt 15 Stuten mit Anöstrie bzw. Dyszyklie wurden unter Kontrolle ihres Plasmaprogesteronspiegels mit einem Prostaglandinanalog (Hoe 837 V; 0,1 mg/ml) behandelt. Die Progesteronwerte lagen vor der Behandlung zwischen 1,6 ng/ml and 13,6 ng/ml. Eine ausreichende Luteolyse lieβ sich bei 14 Stu ten mit einer einzigen intramuskulären Injektion von 3,3 ml induzieren. Die Marke von 1 ng/ml war bei 9 Stuten schon am ersten and bei weiteren 5 Stuten am zweiten Tag nach der PG-Injektion erreicht. Die während der Rosse gemessenen Progesteronwerte entsprachen weitgehend den von anderen Autoren bestimmten. Dauer and Verlauf der Rosse waren wie bei nicht behandelten Stuten. 2–7 Tage nach Rossebeginn bzw. zwischen dem 5. and 12. Tag nach der PG-Behandlung stiegen die Progesteronwerte wieder über 1 ng/ml. In der Lutealphase erreichten sie bei den tragend gewordenen Stuten schnell einen Spitzenwert um 8 ng/ml (x?). Die Verlaufskurven zeigten groβe individuelle Unterschiede hinsichtlich des Progesteronniveaus. Bei Stuten mit späterer Fruchtresorption wurde zwischen dem 5./6. bis 13./14. Tag ein deutliches Progesterondefizit erkennbar. Von 2 Stuten, die in der induzierten Rosse nicht konzipierten, hatte die eine einen verkürzten, die andere einen spontan verlängerten Diöstrus. Die Frühkonzeptionsrate betrug 84,6 %. Nachkontrollen ergaben, daβ 61,5 % der behandelten Stuten tragend wurden. Pro Trächtigkeit waren durchschnittlich 1,6 Sprünge erforderlich. Contents Control of the luteolytic effect of a new prostaglandin F₂α-analogue during the treatment of anestrous and dyscyclic mares under continual measurement of the progesterone level in the blood plasma. 15 mares in clinical anestrus and dyscyclia were treated with the prostaglandin F₂α-analogue (Hoe 837 V; 0,1 mg/ml) under control of the plasma progesterone level. Before treatment the plasma progesterone values ranged between 1.6 ng/ml and 13.6 ng/ml. A satisfactory luteoly tic response was obtained with a single intramusculary dose of 3.3 ml in 14 mares. 24–48 h after the PG-injection progesterone declined to baseline levels of 1 ng/ml. The mares came to estrus 1–2 days after falling of progesterone < 1 ng/ml or 1–6 days after the PG-injection. Progesterone values measured in the estrus-period were like those determined from other authors. Duration and performance of estrus were as in untreated mares. 2–7 days from the onset of estrus and between five to twelve days after treatment, the progesterone levels again arose >1 ng/ml. In the lutealphase in pregnant mares they reached a peak of 8 ng/ml (x?) quickly. The progesterone courses showed great individual difference in their basal levels. In mares undergoing embryonic resorption a progesterone deficiency is seen in the early lutealphase between the 5.16. day and 13.114. day. From the two mares which did not conceive in the induced estrus one had a shortened and another a prolonged diestrus. The conception rate for early pregnancy was 84.6 %, and still 61.5 % for late pregnancy. In the average for each pregnancy 1.6 copulations were needed.     

Compression of Ice to 210 Gigapascals: Infrared Evidence for a Symmetric Hydrogen-Bonded Phase

Protonated and deuterated ices (H2O and D2O) compressed to a maximum pressure of 210 gigapascals at 85 to 300 kelvin exhibit a phase transition at 60 gigapascals in H2O ice (70 gigapascals in D2O ice) on the basis of their infrared reflectance spectra determined with synchrotron radiation. The transition is characterized by soft-mode behavior of the nu3 O-H or O-D stretch below the transition, followed by a hardening (positive pressure shift) above it. This behavior is interpreted as the transformation of ice phase VII to a structure with symmetric hydrogen bonds. The spectroscopic features of the phase persisted to the maximum pressures (210 gigapascals) of the measurements, although changes in vibrational mode coupling were observed at 150 to 160 gigapascals.