Specific and non‐specific immunity of piglets from sows fed diets containing specific fatty acids in field conditions

The transfer of passive immunity from sows to piglets is important and it is the first immune protection of the new born piglet. Improving sows immunity by adding immuno‐stimulating product in sows diet can positively affect colostrum composition and transfer of immune molecules to piglets. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the benefit of a different solution, made of specific fatty acids from marine origin that have been used in human medicine for decades, for sows and piglets. Two trials were conducted in commercial farm, involving 240 sows at different periods of the year. Sows were divided in a control group, without supplementation, and a test group, supplemented with the feed additive from the 90th day of gestation to weaning. Sows body condition, piglets viability and growth were recorded. Milk immunoglobulin content was measured, as well as Aujeszky antibodies in sows and piglets blood as marker of specific immunity, and blood bactericidal activity, complement activity and lysozyme as markers of non specific immunity. No effect of the product was observed on piglets zootechnical criteria and specific immunity parameters but significant improvement of piglet non specific immunity, was observed. No difference was observed neither in the piglets blood PRRSV and PCV2 antibodies and viruses nor in Aujeszky antibodies. Blood complement activity seems to be an accurate indicator of immuno‐stimulating additive efficiency. Giving alkyl‐glycerol fatty acids to sows in late gestation and lactation can improve the passive immunity transfer to piglets.     

Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in a 5-year-old Tinker gelding

A 5-year old Tinker gelding was referred to the Department of Equine Sciences with a left eye uveitis and fever. At presentation the horse showed a mild lethargy, fever and decreased vision of the left eye. Rectal examination revealed an enlarged left kidney, with a hard and an irregular surface. The cranial mesentery artery had an enlarged and irregular aspect. Blood analysis showed anaemia, leucocytosis, increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and a hyperproteinemia. Urine analysis repeatedly showed a marked proteinuria and an increased gammaGT/creatinine ratio. The amount of abdominal fluid was slightly increased. However, the aspect, amount of cells and protein were normal. In the following two days the fever persisted and the horse showed anorexia and severe neurological signs. The horse was euthanized with permission of the owner. Post mortem examination showed a generalized parasitic infestation of Halicephalobus gingivalis in the uvea of the left eye, the kidneys and the central nerve system.     

Prenatal Development of the Human Epicardiac Ganglia

The aim of this study was to determine the developmental anatomy of intrinsic cardiac ganglia with respect to epicardiac ganglionated nerve plexus in the human fetuses at different gestation stages. Twenty fetal hearts were investigated applying a technique of histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase to visualize the epicardiac neural ganglionated plexus with its subsequent examinations on total (non-sectioned) hearts. Most epicardiac ganglia embodied multilayered neurons and were oval in shape, but some ganglia involved neurons lying in one layer or had the irregular appearance because of their extensions along inter-ganglionic nerves. The mean ganglion area of fetuses at gestation stages of 15–40 weeks was 0.03 ± 0.008 mm². The largest epicardiac ganglia, reaching in area 0.4 mm², were concentrated on the dorsal surface of both atria. The particular fused or "dual" ganglia were identified at the gestation stages of 23–40 weeks, but they composed only 2.3 ± 0.7% of all found epicardiac ganglia. A direct positive correlation was determined between the fetal age and the ganglion area (mm²) as well as between the fetal age and the number of inter-ganglionic nerves. The revealed appearance of epicardiac ganglia in the human fetuses at 15–40 weeks of gestation confirms their prenatal development and presumable intrinsic remodelling.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of parenterally administered doramectin in cattle

Plasma concentrations of doramectin in 40 cattle dosed by subcutaneous (sc) or intramuscular (i.m.) injection (200 μg/kg) were compared to assess the bioequivalence of the two routes of administration. Peak concentration ( C _max), and areas under the concentration curve ( AUC_0– ) were determined from plasma concentrations. Animals treated by the sc route showed a mean AUC_0– of 457 ± 66 ng±day/mL (± SD) and a mean C _max of 27.8 ± 7.9 ng/mL. Results from the i.m. treatment group showed a mean AUC _0– of 475 ± 82 ng-day/mL and a mean C _max of 33.1 ± 9.0 ng/mL Absorption constants ( k _a) determined by modelling were 0.542 ± 0.336 day^-1after sc administration and 0.710 ± 0.357 day^-1after i.m. administration. The 90% confidence limits on the difference between mean AUC _0– values for the sc and i.m. groups fell within 20% of the mean value for the subcutaneous group. C _max was somewhat greater for the i.m. route. The 90% confidence limits on the difference in mean In ( T _max+1) also fell within 20% of the mean sc value. Based on this analysis, bioequivalence of the sc and i.m. formulation has been established.     

In vitro inhibition of Citrobacter freundii, a red-leg syndrome associated pathogen in raniculture, by indigenous Lactococcus lactis CRL 1584

Red-leg syndrome (RLS) is one of the main infectious diseases that cause economic losses in Lithobates catesbeianus hatcheries, Citrobacter freundii being an etiological agent. Treatment or prevention with therapeutics or chemicals results in modifications of the indigenous microbiota, development of antibiotic resistance, presence of their residues in food and enhancement of production costs. Thus, probiotics could be used as an alternative therapy. Lactic acid bacteria are part of the indigenous microbiota of healthy frogs and can prevent pathogen colonization by different mechanisms, including the production of antagonistic substances. In this work, the evaluation and characterization of the inhibition of C. freundii CFb by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CRL 1584, a potentially probiotic candidate, were carried out. This strain produced lactic acid, H(2)O(2) and bacteriocin in static and shaken conditions and inhibited pathogen growth in associative cultures, with an earlier inhibition under agitated conditions. The elimination of each of the antimicrobial metabolites partially abolished the inhibition of the pathogen, suggesting that the inhibitory effect could be attributed to a combined action of the three antagonistic molecules. Electron microphotographs revealed the damage caused by L. lactis CRL 1584 supernatants to C. freundii cells. The addition of pure lactic acid, H(2)O(2) and bacteriocin to the culture media showed that each metabolite caused different morphological modifications in C. freundii, in agreement with the effect on viable cell counts. The results support the possibility that L. lactis CRL 1584 might be considered as a probiotic to be used in the prevention of RLS in raniculture.     

A progressive axonopathy of Boxer dogs affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems

Five Boxer dogs with a new neurological disease are described. There is a progressive ataxia and weakness, initially in the hind-legs but later involving forelegs. The onset of signs is usually around 6 months of age although an older dog was affected. Proprioceptive function, muscle tone and tendon reflexes are diminished or absent while pedal reflexes and pain sensation are preserved. Muscle atrophy is minimal. The peripheral nerves are depleted in myelinated fibres. Nerve roots and, to a lesser extent, peripheral nerves show demyelination/remyelination changes and in the cervical ventral roots in particular, regenerative clusters are present. Forelimb muscles show evidence of re-innervation. In the CNS numerous swollen axons are present. The dorsolateral and ventral columns of the spinal cord are affected throughout their length. In the brain a number of nuclei and tracts, particularly in the lower brain stem, are affected and the superior olives are severely involved. The cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter appear normal. Various portions of the auditory and optic pathways are affected pathologically as are a number of cranial nerves. The axonal swellings contain a number of organelles including smooth endoplasmic reticulum, disordered neurofilaments, vesicles and mitochondria. The disease may be specific to Boxer dogs and may be inherited.     

Effects of transforming growth factor-α on parathyroid hormone- and parathyroid hormone-related protein- mediated bone resorption and adenylate cyclase stimulation in vitro

The effects of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) were determined on the ability of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) to stimulate bone resorption and adenylate cyclase in vitro. Bovine PTH-(1-34) and human PTHrP-(1-34) were equipotent in their ability to stimulate bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvaria with maximal stimulation (2.9 and 2.8-fold increases in 45Ca release, respectively) at a concentration of 10 nM. Combinations of TGF alpha with bPTH-(1-34) or hPTHrP-(1-34) had additive effects on their ability to stimulate bone resorption when submaximal concentrations of the agonists were used. There was no evidence of synergism between TGF alpha bPTH-(1-34) or hPTHrP-(1-34) in their ability to stimulate bone resorption in vitro, nor was TGF alpha able to increase bone resorption induced by maximal concentrations of bPTH-(1-34) or hPTHrP-(1-34). TGF alpha potentiated the effects of either bPTH-(1-34) or hPTHrP-(1-34) on the stimulation of adenylate cyclase in osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells. These data indicate that TGF alpha has additive effects with submaximal concentrations of PTH or PTHrP on their ability to stimulate bone resorption which may be important in the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.