Chemoprophylaxis of fascioliasis with triclabendazole

In a field experiment, moderate to heavy natural concomitant infections with immature and mature Fasciola hepatica were treated with triclabendazole at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg and an efficiency of 99.8% was achieved. Subsequent treatments of all susceptible farm animals at the same dose rate at intervals of eight to eleven weeks were carried out for 14 months; no patent infections could be detected in sheep and cattle during the whole period. Evidence is presented that pasture contamination with liver fluke was reduced to a negligible level for a further 12 months after the final treatment. It is suggested that, if regular treatments with triclabendazole are given within the pre-patent period of Fasciola hepatica infection for the whole season, the infection can be eradicated or reduced to such a low level that control of the disease could be maintained with less frequent strategic drenching for a considerable period.     

Equine herpesviruses causing respiratory disease

Abstract

Extract

Madam:—I read with interest the letter Fu et al.(3 Fu, Z.F., Robinson, A.J., Dickinson, L.G. and Grimmett, J.B. 1986. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection and vaccination with an inactivated EHV-1 vaccine. N.Z. vet. J., 34: 14–15. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]in which they state that “Preliminary investigations on this stud have indicated that equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1) and type 2 (EHV2) were frequently isolated and might be the initiators of the respiratory disease observed”. Additional evidence that links EHV2 (equine cytomegalovirus or slowly growing equine herpesvirus) to equine respiratory disease will be important. There is some evidence and a very high level of suspicion that recurrent respiratory disease, malaise and poor performance are associated with EHV2 but providing definite evidence has been elusive and tends to be confounded by the fact that EHV2 can be isolated from more than 70% of horses, in some populations at least, but unassociated with recognisable disease.     

A goat mortality study in the southern North Island

A study was undertaken to indicate the importance of different causes of death in goats and to investigate the management factors which influence these problems. Over a 15 month period, 324 dead goats were received from 67 farms in the Horowhenua, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Wellington regions. Although a wide range of diseases was encountered in the study, the major causes of mortality could be divided into 4 groups: problems directly related to management, microbial diseases, nematode parasitism, and trace element related deficiencies and toxicities. The highest proportion of deaths related directly to management problems and included deaths from hypothermia, mismothering, premature birth, ruminal acidosis, pregnancy toxaemia, trauma, and plant and chemical toxicities. In larger flocks, microbial diseases including Pasteurella pneumonia and yersiniosis were major problems. Deaths from nematode parasitism were predominantly observed in goats 12 months of age and older. White muscle disease (selenium/vitamin E deficiency) was the major trace element deficiency causing death in goats.

The influence of factors including age of goat, flock size and management practices on the major causes of death are discussed.     

The amended insulin to glucose ratio and diagnosis of insulinoma in dogs

Amended insulin to glucose ratios were calculated from the concentrations of serum insulin and blood glucose measured concurrently during either a glucagon tolerance test or after feeding in healthy dogs. Values greater than 30 𝛍U/mg which are supportive of a diagnosis of insulinoma were obtained at certain times during the test period. Amended insulin to glucose ratios calculated from serum insulin and blood glucose concentrations obtained during a glucagon tolerance test and an oral glucose tolerance test on a dog with an insulinoma were less than 30 𝛍U/mg, or equivocal, at different times during the test period. This indicates that under some circumstances healthy dogs may have elevated amended insulin to glucose ratios, and dogs with insulinoma may have a normal amended insulin to glucose ratio. Care is essential for interpretation of amended insulin to glucose ratios, and a diagnosis of insulinoma using the ratio must be made in conjunction with appropriate clinical signs of hvnoglvcaemia.     

Chorioptes bovis (Acarina: Psoroptidae) in some camelids from Dutch zoos

Summary

The feet of three two‐humped camels (Camelus bactrianus), one lama (Lama glama) and four alpacas (Lama pacos) from zoos and a circus in the Netherlands were examined for the mange‐mite Choroptes bovis. Mites were found on two of the camels, the lama, and three of the alpacas. On one camel and one alpaca small mange lesions on the feet were present. This is the first report of Chorioptes bovis and chorioptic mange in the two‐humped camel.     

Surgery: Comparison of three closure methods and two absorbable suture materials for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions in healthy dogs

Summary

The macroscopic and histological appearance of jejunal antimesenteric incisions approximated with two different absorbable suture materials (monofilament versus multifilament) and three closure techniques (appositional single layer, crushing single layer, and double layer) were compared in healthy dogs at 14 or 28 days, postoperatively. No significant differences between the two suture materials were observed for most of the macroscopic or histological variables. However, the monofilament suture material caused significantly more fibrous tissue reaction in the muscular layer of the jejunum than did the multifilament suture material. Of the three enterotomy closure techniques used in this study, the appositional single‐layer method proved to be the best. The double‐layer closure method caused a significant decrease in the incisional circumference, the relative circumference, and volume of the jejunum, and a significant increase in jejunal wall thickness. Our findings suggest that canine jejunal enterotomy incisions can be closed using an appositional suture pattern with relatively rapidly absorbable monofilament suture material. The use of double‐layer suture patterns for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions should be avoided because the size of the intestinal lumen may be reduced.     

Influence of Routing Treatments on Cows' Visits to an Automatic Milking System,their Time Budget and Other Behaviour

Four cow routing treatments related to fully automatic milking were compared consecutively in one group of 24 Holstein Friesian cows. The objective of the experiment was to investigate how cow traffic towards the automatic milking system (AMS) should be routed and whether a preselection or a waiting area in front of the AMS should be used. The treatments were (1) free routing with selection of cows in the AMS (FREE); (2) free routing with a preselection system in front of the AMS (FREE_SS); (3) free routing with a preselection system and a waiting area in front of the AMS (FREE_WA); and (4) one-way gates resulting in forced routing with preselection and a waiting area in front of the AMS (FORCED_WA). Evaluation of the treatments revealed that FREE may be questionable with regard to the cows' visiting frequency to the AMS and that the use of a waiting area in combination with free routing (FREE_WA) may slow down the passing through the AMS. FORCED_WA may be the best option in relation to the cows' use of the AMS, but this traffic system seems to postpone or even thwart the feeding. The treatment that appears to give the best results is FREE_SS. The type of AMS visit appeared to have a marked influence on the cows' subsequent behaviour. Cows returned to the AMS sooner after non-milking visits and failed attachments (P<0.01). This increases the occupation rate of the AMS and may induce some extra unrest in the herd.     

Measurement of enteric methane from ruminants using a hand-held laser methane detector

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of the proprietary laser methane detector (LMD) in enteric methane monitoring from individual dairy cows and sheep. Three experiments were carried out. First, the relationship between LMD and indirect open-circuit respiration calorimetric chamber measurements was tested. Sensitivity and specificity for cows were 95.4% and 96.5%. For sheep, sensitivity was 93.8% and specificity was 78.7%. Second, the effect of cow's activity on enteric methane emissions was investigated. During drinking and feeding, cows produced significantly more (p<0.001) methane emissions than when idle. Third, effect of different micrometeorological factors on LMD measurements under outdoor grazing conditions was investigated. Wind speed, relative humidity, pressure and wind direction relative to methane point-source had significant effect on methane measurements (p<0.001) under outdoor conditions. With further validation, the LMD has potential to provide reliable estimates from ruminants and hence provide a useful technique for on-farm monitoring and decision support for greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.     

A miniature lighted stylet for fast oral endotracheal intubation in rabbits

Efficient oral endotracheal intubation of laboratory animals is a challenging technique in veterinary research. This study introduces a miniaturized lighted stylet for rabbit intubation. An experiment with repeated measures on two factors was used to assess the feasibility and efficacy of this method. The first factor compared stylet intubation vs. laryngoscopic intubation. The second compared three practitioners, one with prior experience and two without. Success rates on the initial attempt were not statistically different (χ² = 2.46, P = 0.12). The time difference between methods was significant (F = 41.007, P < 0.001), although the effect of practitioners was not (F = 1.038, P = 0.365). The mean ± SD of the intubation time, combining results from the three practitioners, was 20.34 ± 17.15 s for the stylet method and 57.58 ± 64.21 s for the laryngoscopic method. The results of this study demonstrate that lighted stylet intubation is efficient, robust, and independent of practitioner experience.