Sodium distribution in the bovine brain

Fatal sodium intoxication can occur in many species, including cattle, and postmortem confirmation often includes brain sodium concentration determination. Published information regarding brain sodium distribution in cattle was not found in a literature review. Our study was designed to determine whether sodium is uniformly distributed throughout the bovine brain. Eight whole bovine brains were collected from adult cattle with no neurologic signs or history suggestive of sodium intoxication, and with a non-neurologic cause of death diagnosed on gross examination. Brains were divided mid-sagittally. One hemisphere of each brain was homogenized. Subsamples were obtained from the remaining hemisphere (rostral, caudal, and dorsal cerebral cortices; brainstem, thalamus, and cerebellum). Sodium concentrations of regions and homogenates were measured by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with a pairwise post-test to compare mean sodium concentration of each region to mean homogenate sodium concentration. Brain sodium was not uniformly distributed; sodium concentrations in different regions of the same brain varied somewhat unpredictably. Homogenization of an entire brain hemisphere appears to be the ideal method of sample preparation to ensure accurate brain sodium concentration measurement in adult cattle.     

Welfare assessment in intensive and semi-intensive dairy cattle management system in Sicily

The present study aimed to compare the welfare of dairy cows kept in two traditional husbandry systems (semi-intensive and intensive farming) in south-eastern Sicily. A total of 18 dairy farms (nine semi-intensive and nine intensive) were evaluated with a multicriteria system adapted for Sicilian conditions and obtained simplifying the model of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Values of welfare measures, collected by inspections of the farms (general well-being indicators, ventilation system, resting areas [cubicles or bedding], flooring, milking parlours and waiting area, manger and watering equipment), and those of health categories (cases of abortions, hypocalcemia, displacement of abomasum, acidosis/ketosis, enteritis, hoof problems, and mastitis) obtained through the farm records, were compared using Mann–Whitney and Chi-squared tests, respectively. Data showed significant differences (p ≤ .05) about the variables related to welfare categories such as housing ventilation system, resting area, manger, and water equipment that were better in the semi-intensive system than the intensive system. No significant differences were observed about the variables related to health indicators. The results demonstrated that in Sicily the semi-intensive farm is better than the intensive to satisfy the conditions of animal welfare.     

Comparison between two approaches for the transversus abdominis plane block in canine cadavers

ObjectiveTo compare the dye distribution following either two lateral abdominal or one lateral abdominal and one subcostal ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) injections of a clinically relevant volume of dye solution in dogs.Study designRandomized cadaveric study.AnimalsA total of eight canine cadavers.MethodsOn one side of each cadaver, two TAP injections were performed on the lateral aspect of the abdomen (approach LL), caudal to the last rib and cranial to the iliac crest. On the contralateral hemiabdomen, one subcostal (caudal to the costal arch) and one lateral abdominal injection (between last rib and iliac crest), were performed (approach SL). Side allocation was randomly determined. A spinal needle was introduced in-plane to the transducer for each injection of methylene blue (0.25 mL kg^?1). All cadavers were dissected to assess dye distribution and number of stained target nerves.ResultsAll injections were performed in the TAP. The proportion of target nerve staining was 53.5% versus 80.4% with approaches LL and SL, respectively (p = 0.005). Approach LL stained the first lumbar (L1) spinal nerve in 100% of injections and ninth thoracic (T9), T10, T11, T12, T13 and L2 were stained in 0%, 0%, 37.5%, 62.5%, 87.5% and 87.5% of injections, respectively. Approach SL stained T11, L1 and L2 in 100% of injections and T9, T10, T12 and T13 were stained in 37.5%, 87.5%, 75% and 62.5% of injections, respectively. Approach SL resulted in greater staining of nerves cranial to T12 compared with approach LL. The two approaches were equivalent in staining nerves caudal to T12.Conclusions and clinical relevanceApproach SL provided a broader distribution of the injected solution than approach LL, which may result in a larger blocked area in live animals undergoing celiotomy.     

Host genotype and amoxicillin administration affect the incidence of diarrhoea and faecal microbiota of weaned piglets during a natural multiresistant ETEC infection

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the aetiological agent of postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) in piglets. The SNPs located on the Mucine 4 (MUC4) and Fucosyltransferase 1 (FUT1) genes have been associated with the susceptibility to ETEC F4 and ETEC F18, respectively. The interplay between the MUC4 and FUT1 genotypes to ETEC infection and the use of amoxicillin in modifying the intestinal microbiota during a natural infection by multiresistant ETEC strains have never been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the MUC4 and FUT1 genotypes and the administration of amoxicillin through different routes on the presence of diarrhoea and the faecal microbiota composition in piglets naturally infected with ETEC. Seventy-one piglets were divided into three groups: two groups differing by amoxicillin administration routes—parenteral (P) or oral (O) and a control group without antibiotics (C). Faecal scores, body weight, presence of ETEC F4 and F18 were investigated 4 days after the arrival in the facility (T0), at the end of the amoxicillin administration (T1) and after the withdrawal period (T2). The faecal bacteria composition was assessed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. We described that MUC4 and FUT1 genotypes were associated with the presence of ETEC F4 and ETEC F18. The faecal microbiota was influenced by the MUC4 genotypes at T0. We found the oral administration to be associated with the presence of diarrhoea at T1 and T2. Furthermore, the exposure to amoxicillin resulted in significant alterations of the faecal microbiota. Overall, MUC4 and FUT1 were confirmed as genetic markers for the susceptibility to ETEC infections in pigs. Moreover, our data highlight that group amoxicillin treatment may produce adverse outcomes on pig health in course of multiresistant ETEC infection. Therefore, alternative control measures able to maintain a healthy faecal microbiota in weaners are recommended.     

Developing vaccines to control protozoan parasites in ruminants: dead or alive?

Protozoan parasites are among some of the most successful organisms worldwide, being able to live and multiply within a very wide range of hosts. The diseases caused by these parasites cause significant production losses in the livestock sector involving reproductive failure, impaired weight gain, contaminated meat, reduced milk yields and in severe cases, loss of the animal. In addition, some protozoan parasites affecting livestock such as Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum may also be transmitted to humans where they can cause serious disease. Data derived from experimental models of infection in ruminant species enables the study of the interactions between parasite and host. How the parasite initiates infection, becomes established and multiplies within the host and the critical pathways that may lead to a disease outcome are all important to enable the rational design of appropriate intervention strategies. Once the parasites invade the hosts they induce both innate and adaptive immune responses and the induction and function of these immune responses are critical in determining the outcome of the infection. Vaccines offer green solutions to control disease as they are sustainable, reducing reliance on pharmacological drugs and pesticides. The use of vaccines has multiple benefits such as improving animal health and welfare by controlling animal infections and infestations; improving public health by controlling zoonoses and food borne pathogens in animals; solving problems associated with resistance to acaricides, antibiotics and anthelmintics; keeping animals and the environment free of chemical residues and maintaining biodiversity. All of these attributes should lead to improved sustainability of animal production and economic benefit. Using different protozoan parasitic diseases as examples this paper will discuss various approaches used to develop vaccines to protect against disease in livestock and discuss the relative merits of using live versus killed vaccine preparations. A range of different vaccination targets and strategies will be discussed to help protect against: acute disease, congenital infection and abortion, persistence of zoonotic pathogens in tissues of food animals and passive transfer of immunity to neonates.     

Physical, Hematological, and Biochemical Responses to Acute Intense Exercise in Polo Horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters after acute intense exercise in polo horses playing in an outdoor international competition. The game consisted of four periods (chukkas) and each period consisted a playing time of 7 minutes. Two matches were played everyday for a week. A total of 12 horses were examined. Each “high-goal” polo horse played one chukka a day for 4 days. Horses were clinically examined the day before the games started and then daily during the 4 days of their participation in the games. During these days, physical examination was performed and blood sample was collected at rest (T0), immediately (T1) after exercise, and after 30 minutes of exercise (T2). Blood samples were analyzed for total cell counts and for determination of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase, lactate, total proteins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus , and cortisol. Data were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance. Exercise caused significant dehydration (P < .01), mucous membranes congestion, increased heart rate (P < .001), and capillary refill time (P < .001). It also caused increased value of the following parameters: hematocrit (P < .001), red blood cells (P < .001), hemoglobin (P < .001), white blood cells (P < .05), lymphocyte (P < .001), total proteins (P < .001), creatine kinase (P < .05), LDH (P < .01), lactate (P < .001), and cortisol (P < .01), and a decrease in the platelet count (P < .001), calcium (P < .01), phosphorus (P < .001), and magnesium (P < .001). All parameters returned within or near the reference range by 30 minutes postexercise. On the basis of these observations, data were considered indicative of a good response to an acute intense exercise. Moreover statistical results obtained were typical of a mixed aerobic/anaerobic metabolic pathway that is prevailing in this sport.     

Differential expression of microRNA-206 in skeletal muscle of female Piedmontese and Friesian cattle

The double-muscle phenotype is an inherited condition in Piedmontese cattle traced to a point mutation in the myostatin gene. To investigate the potential role of muscle-specific miRNAs in determining muscle development in cattle, this study examined the patterns of expression of microRNAs (miRNA-1) and miRNA-206 in Piedmontese and Friesian cattle according to phenotype and sex. There were no significant differences in miRNA-1 expression between different muscle phenotypes, sexes or breeds, whereas there was significantly higher expression of miRNA-206 in female Piedmontese compared with female Friesian cattle.