Prevalence of dental disorders in 483 horses and ponies

Prevalence of dental disorders in 483 horses and ponies Five equine veterinarians working at three equine referral hospitals examined the oral cavity of 483 horses and ponies prior to surgery, to gain information about the prevalence of common dental disorders in the horse. A thorough examination, using hands/fingers, a full-mouth speculum, a dental mirror and a good light source, is essential to detect such disorders. Many horses examined needed dental attention even though there were no problems with mastication or riding. The most detected abnormalities were sharp enamel points on the buccal side of the upper arcade and the lingual side of the lower arcade, and hooks at 106/206 and 311/411. Regular dental care would improve the condition and welfare of horses.     

家禽生物安全的评价及其有效性的启示

生物安全在使家禽生产可持续性与经济可行性中有着无可替代的的作用。但同时,在某个养殖场或系统中,生物安全的做法可能完全取决于最基层员工的选择。这个难题表明,我们需要建立一种方法来进行生物安全程序的质量评价,以确保必要措施的贯彻落实。本文从生物安全的实施方法、达成目标、面对对象、防控范围、评估结构组成及采用工具等方面对家禽生物安全进行概述,并指出了对家禽生物安全进行评价的的重要性。     

Individual differences and repeatability of post-prandial changes of plasma-free amino acids in young horses

Few data are available on post-prandial changes of plasma amino acids (AAs) in horses and on the repeatability and the individual variance on different sampling days. The objective of the present study was to measure pre- and post-prandial concentrations of plasma AA in 10 yearling horses. Blood samples were taken on days 1 and 40 of the study before feeding of hay, oats and soya meal and over an 8 h post-prandial period in 2-h intervals. The plasma AAs were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography after ortho-phthalaldehyde derivatization. Mean fasting concentrations of the AAs were not significantly influenced by the individuum and sampling day. Repeatability of the fasting AA levels in the individual horses on two different sampling days was only found for histidine, 3-methylhistidine, methionine, tryptophan and taurine. While the absolute post-prandial AA concentrations differed between sampling days, the relative changes were comparable. All AA concentrations except 3-methylhistidine increased after feeding by 13% to more than 200% of their fasting values if the combined data of both days were analysed. Four hours after feeding the concentrations of arginine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine and threonine, decreased more than 20%. Histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, glutamine, glycine, tyrosine and taurine concentrations decreased by less than 20%. Concentrations of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ornithine, serine and citrulline remained elevated. Most AA approached the fasting concentrations at 8 h, only glycine increased between 6 and 8 h after meal and 3-methyl-histidine concentrations were constant throughout the entire period. In conclusion, the pre-prandial plasma AA in horses appeared less influenced by individuum or sampling day than post-prandial plasma AA concentrations. Therefore, plasma AA concentrations should be interpreted only under well-defined conditions, especially regarding the feeding regimen.     

Diagnosis and successful treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii in a domestic ferret

A domestic ferret was presented for episodic regurgitation. Cytologic examination and culture of an enlarged submandibular lymph node revealed Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii (serotype A). The ferret was successfully treated with itraconazole. This is the first documented case of Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii in a ferret in the United States.     

Extrahepatic biliary atresia in a border collie

Progressive lameness and leg pain were the predominant clinical signs in a 17-week-old male border collie presented for examination. On clinical investigation, extrahepatic cholestasis in association with rickets due to inadequate vitamin D resorption was diagnosed. The dog was treated parenterally with vitamin D and a cholecystoduodenostomy was performed. At 25 days postsurgery the lameness had resolved and bone structure was radiographically normal. However, at six weeks postsurgery, the dog's condition deteriorated rapidly and euthanasia was finally performed at eight weeks postsurgery. At postmortem examination, Toxocara canis nematodes were found to have invaded the biliary system via the anastomosis between the gallbladder and duodenum, causing biliary and hepatic toxocariasis. The cause of the primary extrahepatic cholestasis was atresia of the common bile duct at the hepatic end. The liver tissue showed microscopic lesions of chronic extrahepatic cholestasis as well as acute inflammation associated with the nematode invasion. There was no postmortem evidence of bone lesions. Extrahepatic biliary atresia is extremely rare in animals and has not been described before in dogs. In contrast, it represents the most common cause of congenital cholestasis in children, occurring in approximately one per 10,000 to 15,000 live births.     

Type and frequency of contacts between Belgian pig herds

Knowledge of the frequency of direct and indirect contacts between pig herds is a requirement for understanding the potential between-herd transmission of pathogens. Our aim was to investigate the different contacts between Belgian pig herds. We obtained data by conducting a postal survey on 421 pig herds in August 2005 and by analysis of available information on livestock movements in the national identification-and-registration database (18-months period in 2004-2006). Direct contacts included transports of pigs by onto-farm, off-farm and between-farm movements. Indirect contacts included vehicles entering the herd and visitors entering the stables. The median number of direct contacts per herd made by onto-farm movements was 0.2/month (Q1: 0; Q3: 0.5). About 1.2% of herds had > or = 3 onto-farm movements/month. We used a zero-inflated negative-binomial regression model to describe differences in the number of onto-farm movements according to herd size and herd type. Piglet multipliers followed by finishing herds were predicted to have the most onto-farm movements. Farrow-to-finishing herds made less movements compared to breeding herds. A median of 3997 between-farm movements/month was made in Belgium; these mainly concerned piglets. The median number of origin herds during an 8-month period for between-farm movements was 4 (Q1: 2; Q3: 8). For a typical 1-month period, we constructed directed graphs of between-farm piglet and replacement stock movements, illustrating potential receivers and distributors of infection. Of these between-farm movements, many were made over a short distance (median straight-line distance 19 km (Q1: 8; Q3: 36)). The median number of vehicles entering a herd and visitors entering the stables was 8/month (Q1: 6; Q3: 13) and 3/month (Q1: 2; Q3: 6) respectively. The number of indirect contacts by vehicles and persons were associated with herd size (Spearman's r: 0.7 and 0.2), herd type and other factors. Skewness of both direct and indirect contacts, illustrated that there was a wide variety in contact structure between pig herds in Belgium. Infection control might benefit by accounting for this variation in contacts and by targeting 'high-risk' herds in case of animal-disease emergencies.     

新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞体外培养体系的建立

利用微量液体组织块贴壁法原代培养分离新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞,进行常规传代培养、冷冻和复苏;通过接触抑制和解除抑制研究该类细胞的增殖潜力,免疫荧光进行鉴定;并通过脂质体介导对分离到的新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞分别进行EGFP-N1和DsRed-N1基因转染。结果成功分离到新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞,体外可以大量传代和冷冻,目前已经传至50代以上,生长良好;冷冻复苏和接触抑制解除后仍可以正常培养和传代;细胞免疫荧光检测,波形蛋白表达阳性,角形蛋白表达阴性;转染48h后荧光显微镜下可以观察到绿色荧光和红色荧光,表明瞬时转染新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞可以获得成功,其中转染DsRed-N1基因的新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞已经传至60代以上。结果表明,本试验成功建立了新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞的体外培养体系,在体外能稳定培养和传代,并可以成功获得转基因的新生广西巴马小型猪肾成纤维细胞。     

绿头鸭鸭疫巴氏杆菌病的诊断与防治

鸭疫巴氏杆菌病又称鸭传染性浆膜炎,俗称摇头瘟,是目前危害鸭的一种重要接触性传染病。本病在世界养鸭国家和地区均有发生,呈地方性流行,此病传染快,死亡率高,在我国广大农村的鸭群中时有发生,造成一定经济损失。