Penicillin therapy of spontaneous streptococcal meningitis in pigs

Oral prophylactic medication with either procaine penicillin G or a mixture of chlortetracycline, sulphadimidine and procaine penicillin G reduced the incidence of streptococcal meningitis in a herd of pigs with a high recorded prevalence of the disease, but to a significant extent (P less than 0.01) only in those pigs receiving procaine penicillin G. Subsequent studies showed that after oral administration of procaine penicillin G, benzylpenicillin was detectable in plasma only at very low concentration and similar results were obtained using the potassium salt of penicillin G. However, phenoxymethyl penicillin administered orally provided high plasma concentrations of this drug. A further investigation demonstrated that despite the low plasma concentrations of penicillin after oral administration of the procaine salt, gastrointestinal and urinary concentrations of the drug were relatively high for up to five hours.     

Partial characterization of phagocytic activity in neutrophils of the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus

Though the armadillo is important as a research model in leprosy studies, the activity of armadillo's neutrophils is an aspect of little research. The aim of this study was carried out to partially characterize the chemotaxis, endocytosis and bacteriocidal ability of the neutrophils found in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Results showed that the chemotactic activity of the neutrophils, evaluated by the movement of the neutrophils through a nitrocellulose membrane (5 microm) in response to a chemo-attractive substance, was greater towards the armadillo serum (5.16+/-1.35 migration index, p<0.05) than towards the formil methionyl leucil phenylalanine (fMLP, 1.43+/-0.18 migration index) or human serum (0.56+/-0.18 migration index). Regarding endocytic capacity of the neutrophils and the monocytes against Escherichia coli was evaluated by a flow cytometry and using opsonized and non-opsonized E. coli-FITC at the following incubation times: 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min. The largest percentage of endocytosis by the neutrophils was 92.32+/-0.12% with opsonized bacteria and 77.73+/-14.33% with non-opsonized bacteria at 10 min incubation time, while the largest percentage of endocytosis by monocytes was 89.94+/-1.40% with opsonized bacteria and 73.07+/-15.6% with non-opsonized bacteria at 20 min incubation time. Evaluation of the bacteriocidal capacity of neutrophils using the methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium salts (MTT) reduction color-measurement assay showed an 89.0+/-10% mortality rate of non-opsonized E. coli and 89.0+10% of opsonized E. coli. In conclusion, the armadillo neutrophils show a good phagocytosis and bacteriocidal activity; however, a deficiency in the migration towards the fMLP was observed. This deficiency could be a cause so that the armadillo neutrophils do not respond quickly to invading microorganism.     

The occurrence of and organisms concerned with bovine mycotic abortion in some counties of Ireland

Bovine mycotic abortion in some counties of the Irish provinces of Leinster and Ulster was estimated at 1–2% of all abortions for which a causal agent was identified in the years from 1969 to 1978. The organism most commonly isolated from diseased specimens wasAspergillus fumigatus, followed byAbsidia corymbifera. There was no relationship between the incidence of the disease in any year and the rainfall or number of raindays during the previous summer. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the occurrence of the disease in the United Kingdom.     

Dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate improves calcium absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during peak production

1. The advantage of supplemental sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) on eggshell quality in laying hens changes with age. Besides increasing calcium (Ca) secretion in the eggshell gland, it may improve Ca absorption in the intestine or kidney.

2. Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 384), 25 weeks of age, were allocated to two treatment groups in two experiments, each of which included 4 replicates of 24 hens. Hens were fed a basal diet (control) or the basal diet containing 3 g NaHCO₃ g/kg for 50 or 20 weeks in Experiment 1 or 2, respectively. A 24-h continuous lighting regimen was used to allow hens to consume the dietary supplements during the period of active eggshell formation.

3. In Experiment 1, particularly from 25 to 50 weeks of age, and in Experiment 2, NaHCO₃ supplementation favoured hen-d egg production at the expense of lower egg weight. The increased eggshell thickness should have nothing to do with the additional eggshell formation, because of the unchanged egg mass and daily eggshell calcification.

4. At 35 weeks of age in both experiments, NaHCO₃ supplementation increased duodenal expression of calbindin-d28k (CaBP-D28k) protein, contributing to higher Ca retention and balance.

5. From 50 to 75 weeks of age in Experiment 1, the hens had little response to NaHCO₃ supplementation and showed a negative trend on eggshell thickness and strength.

6. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with 3 g NaHCO₃ g/kg improves Ca absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during the peak but not late production period, with the introduction of continuous lighting.

     

Sexual performance of rams as determined by maturation and sexual experience

The purpose of this study was to compare the sexual performance of rams that differed in age (maturation) and sexual experience. Twenty-four ram lambs (8 mo of age) and 21 rams (20 mo of age) were individually exposed to four females in hormonally induced estrus for 30 min on five occasions, 7 d apart. Half (12) the ram lambs and nine of the yearlings were sexually naive at the start of testing (had been denied access to females since weaning); the remaining males were sexually experienced. The sexual performance of the virgin rams was poorer during the initial exposure to females than in subsequent tests, whereas the sexual behavior of the sexually experienced males did not change over the days of testing. Sexually naive ram lambs and rams exhibited an improvement in sexual performance between Tests 1 and 2; during Test 3 to 5 the sexual performance (ejaculations per test) of sexually naive and experienced rams was similar. The only effects of age (maturation) on sexual performance during the last three test days were a higher frequency of mounts without ejaculation plus mount attempts (P less than .03) and a greater number of mount interactions per ejaculation (P less than .02) by ram lambs. In conclusion, one or two relatively brief exposures to estrous females can bring the sexual performance of virgin rams up to levels comparable to that of experienced males. Also, ram lambs in good condition exhibit acceptable levels of sexual performance.     

Genetic association between different criteria to define sexual precocious heifers with growth,carcass, reproductive and feed efficiency indicator traits in Nellore cattle using genomic information

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for different precocious calving criteria and their relationship with reproductive, growth, carcass and feed efficiency in Nellore cattle using the single‐step genomic BLUP. The reproductive traits used were probability of precocious calving (PPC) at 24 (PPC24), 26 (PPC26), 28 (PPC28) and 30 (PPC30) months of age, stayability (STAY) and scrotal circumference at 455 days of age (SC455). Growth traits such as weights at 240 (W240) and 455 (W455) days of age and adult weight (AW) were used. Rib eye area (REA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), rump fat thickness (RFT) and residual feed intake (RFI) were included in the analyses. The estimation of genetic parameters was performed using a bi‐trait threshold model including genomic information in a single‐step approach. Heritability for PPC traits was moderate to high (0.29–0.56) with highest estimates for PPC24 (0.56) and PPC26 (0.50). Genetic correlation estimates between PPC and STAY weakened as a function of calving age. Correlation with SC455, growth and carcass traits were low (0.25–0.31; ?0.22 to 0.04; ?0.09 to 0.18, respectively), the same occurs with RFI (?0.09 to 0.08), this suggests independence between female sexual precocity and feed efficiency traits. The results of this study encourage the use of PPC traits in Nellore cattle because the selection for such trait would not have a negative impact on reproductive, growth, carcass and feed efficiency indicator traits. Stayability for sexual precocious heifers (PPC24 and PPC26) must be redefined to avoid incorrectly phenotype assignment.     

COMBINED USE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND CONTRAST ENHANCED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TO EVALUATE ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS IN TWO DOGS

The imaging findings in two miniature schnauzers with acute necrotizing pancreatitis are described. Both dogs were treated previously for diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy were observed in both dogs at presentation. Laboratory evaluations supportive of pancreatitis included left shift, abnormally high serum amylase and lipase activities, hypocalcemia, and abnormally high serum activities of liver enzymes. Sonographically, both dogs had diffusely enlarged hypoechoic pancreatic tissue with anechoic foci compatible with necrosis, abscessation, phlegmon, and pseudocysts formation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) findings in both dogs were compatible with pancreatic necrosis. Dog 1 was managed medically for 11 days. Follow-up CT scan in this dog disclosed decreased pancreatic size and increased contrast enhancement compatible with partial resolution of pancreatitis.     

Genetic differences in oestrous signs and oestrogen metabolism‐related genes between Chinese Mi and European Landrace‐Large White pigs

Oestrous signs affect timely mating and reproductive efficiency in swine breeding herds. To study the genetic difference of oestrous signs between Chinese and European pigs, 100 Landrace‐Large White (LLW) cross gilts and 50 Chinese Mi gilts were assessed for oestrous signs and the concentrations of serum estradiol‐17β and progesterone were determined. The genotype of 39 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 11 oestrogen metabolism and function‐related genes was determined by Sequenom iPLEX platform. Compared with LLW gilts, Mi gilts had longer time of standing reflex (p < .001), higher scores of vulva reddening (p = .001) and greater serum estradiol‐17β concentration (p < .01). Gilts with greater serum estradiol‐17β concentrations also had greater (p < .05) scores for oestrous signs. Genetic polymorphisms of nine genes in oestrogen metabolism pathways had significant differences (p < .05) between LLW and Mi gilts. There were three and six haploblocks of SNPs in LLW and Mi, respectively. Compared with LLW, the distribution of haplotypes was more centralized in Mi pigs. Genetic polymorphisms of oestrogen metabolism‐related genes have considerable differences between Chinese Mi and European LLW pigs. Because of the important roles of oestrogen during the oestrus, some genes of oestrogen metabolism pathway could be considered as candidate genes for oestrous signs.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced liver disease in horses: an early diagnosis

Nine adult horses were fed alfalfa hay cubes containing approximately 10% Senecio vulgaris until all horses had consumed approximately the same amount of toxic components of S vulgaris, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). The amount of PA consumed was determined by the amount that induced clinical signs of PA toxicosis in 3 horses. The 6 other horses were given similar amounts per kilogram of body weight. An initial decrease of feed intake was observed when horses' diets were changed from alfalfa cubes to alfalfa/Senecio cubes, and feed intake was decreased further over 89 to 98 days. From 50 to 159 days, body weight decreased in all horses. Liver disease was induced in all 9 horses after they ate an average of 233 +/- 9.2 mg of PA/kg of body weight. Eight horses died or were euthanatized. Treatment with branched chain amino acids had no effect on mortality, but appeared to reduce neurologic problems. Clinical signs of PA-induced liver disease included ataxia, head pressing, and decreased feed intake. Other clinical signs of toxicosis were observed individual horses, but did not develop in most horses. Megalocytic hepatopathy developed. Liver abnormalities proceeded as PA was consumed and were severe in 8 of 9 horses before clinical signs of toxicosis appeared. Sulfobromophthalein sodium clearance did not decrease until PA-induced liver disease was advanced. Bile acid (BA) concentrations increased to greater than or equal to 50 mumol/L, in the 8 horses that died. One horse had hepatopathy and increased BA concentration, but survived. In this horse, BA concentration peaked at 33 mumol/L and then decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)