Comparison in gnotobiotic pigs of lesions caused by verotoxigenic and non-verotoxigenic Escherichia coli

To compare the pathogenesis of calf and rabbit strains of E. coli, gnotobiotic pigs were infected with 10(10) colony forming units (cfu) of verotoxigenic strain RDEC-1 or S102-9, or a non-verotoxigenic E. coli (X114/83). Pigs were killed 4 days later, and intestinal tissue was fixed and examined by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Strains S102-9 and RDEC-1 caused diarrhea, attached to enterocytes, and effaced microvilli, confirming that the calf and rabbit strains possessed similar mechanisms of pathogenicity. Non-verotoxigenic strain X114/83 did not cause diarrhea, but in 5/5 piglets it was detected in histological sections adherent to enterocyte surfaces. Exfoliated enterocytes were seen in 4/5. Bacteria attached to enterocytes by "cups" and "pedestals," with effacement of microvilli, were seen by electron microscopy in 1/5 piglets. It was concluded that strain S102-9 appears to be an animal equivalent of human enterohemorrhagic E. coli, that verotoxin is not essential in the pathogenesis of attaching and effacing lesions, and that the lesions induced by S102-9 are more severe in gnotobiotic pigs than in gnotobiotic or conventional calves.     

Accuracy of fetal age estimates using transrectal ultrasonography for predicting calving dates in dairy cows in seasonally calving herds in New Zealand

AIM: To describe the accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography for predicting calving dates in dairy cows under typical New Zealand conditions and to assess potential risk factors for differences between predicted and actual calving dates.

METHODS: Data were collected from 116 seasonally calving herds over 2 years in a retrospective single cohort study. Transrectal ultrasonography was undertaken by experienced veterinarians (n=12) to determine if cows were pregnant, and if so to estimate fetal age. Predicted calving date was calculated by adding 282 days to the estimated conception date. Accuracy was assessed using differences between predicted and actual calving dates for each animal. Potential risk factors for animals calving >10 days before or after their predicted calving date were assessed using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS: The study population comprised 83,104 cows over the 2 years of the study; 75,037 (90.3%) cows calved within 10 days of their predicted calving date, 3,683 (4.4%) calved >10 days earlier, and 4,384 (5.3%) >10 days later, than predicted. Risk factors for calving >10 days before or after the predicted calving date included having >1 artificial insemination (AI) before pregnancy diagnosis (p=0.03), where the cow’s most recent AI was <21 days before the end of the herd’s AI period (p<0.01), and where the diagnosis was made at the second or third herd-visit (p<0.01). The probability of calving being >10 days later than predicted also increased when the fetus was ≥13 weeks old at pregnancy diagnosis (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this study, >90% of cows diagnosed pregnant by veterinarians using transrectal ultrasonography calved within 10 days of the predicted calving date. In herds where herd reproductive performance is high, it would be expected that more cows would conceive to their first AI, and potentially fewer cows would have AI close to the end of the herd’s AI period, which would increase diagnostic accuracy. Where herd managers rely on accurate predicted calving dates they should be informed about realistic expected accuracy. For greatest accuracy, a complete AI history should be made available to the person performing the pregnancy diagnoses and cows at most risk of having inaccurate predicted calving dates should be identified.     

Validation of actigraphy to assess circadian organization and sleep quality in patients with advanced lung cancer

Background

Many previous studies have documented seasonal variation in suicides globally. We re-assessed the seasonal variation of suicides in Finland and tried to relate it to the seasonal variation in daylength and ambient temperature and in the discrepancy between local time and solar time.

Methods

The daily data of all suicides from 1969 to 2003 in Finland (N = 43,393) were available. The calendar year was divided into twelve periods according to the length of daylight and the routinely changing time difference between sun time and official time. The daily mean of suicide mortality was calculated for each of these periods and the 95% confidence intervals of the daily means were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the means. In addition, daily changes in sunshine hours and mean temperature were compared to the daily means of suicide mortality in two locations during these afore mentioned periods.

Results

A significant peak of the daily mean value of suicide mortality occurred in Finland between May 15th and July 25th, a period that lies symmetrically around the solstice. Concerning the suicide mortality among men in the northern location (Oulu), the peak was postponed as compared with the southern location (Helsinki). The daily variation in temperature or in sunshine did not have significant association with suicide mortality in these two locations.

Conclusions

The period with the longest length of the day associated with the increased suicide mortality. Furthermore, since the peak of suicide mortality seems to manifest later during the year in the north, some other physical or biological signals, besides the variation in daylight, may be involved. In order to have novel means for suicide prevention, the assessment of susceptibility to the circadian misalignment might help.     

Distinct Effects of Boar Seminal Plasma Fractions Exhibiting Different Protein Profiles on the Functionality of Highly Diluted Boar Spermatozoa

The aim of this study was to evaluate how different protein profiles of seminal plasma (SP) fractions affect sperm functionality in vitro. Ejaculates from three boars were separated into six fractions. The fractions differed from each other in their sperm content, in their total SP protein content, and their spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II and heparin-binding protein (HBP) concentrations. Spermatozoa were mainly recovered in fraction 2 (sperm-rich fraction, >1800 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/ml), whereas the pre-sperm fraction 1 and the post-sperm fractions 4–6 contained low numbers of spermatozoa (<500 × 10⁶/ml). Except in fraction 2, the total SP protein concentration and the concentration of both, spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II and the HBPs increased with fraction order. Distinct time-dependent effects were observed on motility characteristics and membrane integrity of highly diluted boar spermatozoa upon incubation with a 10% dilution of the SP from each fraction. The highest sperm viability was recorded after exposure for 5 h to fraction 2, followed by fractions 1 and 3. The percentages of motile spermatozoa also differed significantly among fractions after 5 h of incubation. Spermatozoa incubated with SP of fractions 1–3 showed the highest percentage motility. We conclude that different SP fractions exert distinct effects on the functionality of highly diluted boar spermatozoa. Fractions 1–3 appear to promote sperm survival, whereas fractions 4–6 seem to be harmful for preserving the physiological functions of highly diluted boar spermatozoa.     

Dose–Response Studies for Pituitary and Testicular Function in Male Dogs Treated with the GnRH Superagonist, Deslorelin

We tested the effect of dose of GnRH superagonist on pituitary and testicular function in a study with four groups of four male dogs. The Controls received blank implants and the other three groups received implants containing 3, 6 or 12 mg deslorelin (d ‐Trp⁶‐Pro⁹‐des‐Gly¹⁰‐GnRH ethylamide). In all deslorelin‐treated groups, there was initially an acute increase in plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone, followed by declines such that both hormones became undetectable after approximately 12 days. There was a dose–response in some of these early aspects of the hormone profiles. With respect to long‐term effects of treatment, the 12‐mg dose had significantly greater effects than the smaller doses for the duration of minimum testicular volume [366 ± 77, mean ± SEM (3 mg), 472 ± 74 (6 mg), and 634 ± 59 (12 mg) days], absence of ejaculate [416 ± 88 (3 mg), 476 ± 83 (6 mg), and 644 ± 67 (12 mg) days], undetectable plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone [367 ± 64 (3 mg), 419 ± 72 (6 mg), and 607 ± 69 (12 mg) days], the delay until complete recovery of LH and testosterone secretion [394 ± 65 (3 mg), 484 ± 72 (6 mg) and 668 ± 47 (12 mg) days], and the delay until testes had regrown to normal volume [408 ± 77 (3 mg), 514 ± 74 (6 mg), 676 ± 59 (12 mg) days]. The time taken to restore full ejaculates was also longest for the 12‐mg dose: 716 ± 67 (12 mg) days vs 440 ± 66 (3 mg) and 538 ± 83 (6 mg) days after implantation. There was no correlation between delay to recovery of normal ejaculate quality and body mass. We conclude that the dose–response relationship with deslorelin implants is not expressed with respect to the degree of suppression of reproduction, but on the maximum duration of suppression and thus to delay until recovery.     

Role of noradrenergic signaling by the nucleus tractus solitarius in mediating opiate reward

Norepinephrine (NE) is widely implicated in opiate withdrawal, but much less is known about its role in opiate-induced locomotion and reward. In mice lacking dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), an enzyme critical for NE synthesis, we found that NE was necessary for morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP; a measure of reward) and locomotion. These deficits were rescued by systemic NE restoration. Viral restoration of DBH expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius, but not in the locus coeruleus, restored CPP for morphine. Morphine-induced locomotion was partially restored by DBH expression in either brain region. These data suggest that NE signaling by the nucleus tractus solitarius is necessary for morphine reward.     

Genotypic diversity in field isolates of Babesia bovis from cattle with babesiosis after vaccination

Objective To determine whether particular genotypes of Babesia bovis were common to field isolates obtained from cattle properties in Queensland where the B bovis vaccine had apparently failed.
Design A comparative study of polymerase chain reaction genotypes in different populations of B bovis .
Procedure Two polymerase chain reaction assays were applied to analyse DNA extracts of B bovis vaccine (K, T and Dixie strains) and 27 field isolates from 24 properties where disease outbreaks had occurred despite the use of the vaccine. To evaluate the stability of the genotypes identified, 11 of the field isolates were inoculated into experimental cattle that had either been previously vaccinated with T strain or not vaccinated.
Results No particular genotype of B bovis was responsible for the problems observed in previously vaccinated herds. None of the isolates had genotypes identical to the vaccine strains used. No geographic trends among the genotypes were observed. Isolates that originated from the same property also had different genotypes. Blood passage of the 11 field isolates in either previously vaccinated or nonvaccinated cattle did not alter the original genotype.
Conclusion No particular genotypes identified by the Bv80 and BvVA1 polymerase chain reaction assays could be associated with vaccine failures.     

Failure of a single postpartum prostaglandin treatment to improve the reproductive performance of dairy cows

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of postpartum prostaglandin treatment on reproduction in 3 seasonal calving dairy herds. Recently calved lactating dairy cows were paired on herd, age, calving date and previous production index. One cow in each of the 196 pairs received a single intramuscular injection of 25 mg of the prostaglandin analogue, dinoprost, between 14 and 28 days after calving. Subsequent reproduction was monitored. Within each herd and overall, there was no significant effect of treatment on the intervals from calving to first service, mating start date to first service, calving to conception, mating start date to conception and first service to conception. Treatment also had no significant effect on 21-day submission and pregnancy rates, on the proportion of each group not pregnant at the end of mating, and on first service pregnancy rates. Responses to treatment did not vary between cows calving within 50 days of mating start date and earlier calving cows or between cows aged less than 5 years and older cows.     

Organochlorine pesticide and PCB contents in otter (Lutra lutra) scats from western Scotland

Organochlorine pesticide residues and PCBs were measured in 113 otter (Lutra lutra) scat samples from 94 sites in the River Clyde catchment, its estuary and neighboring coastal waters in western Scotland. Contents of pesticide residues were generally low. PCB amounts were high in some regions in the study area (geometric mean contents up to 19.5 mg kg^?1 lipid). Potential sources of contamination included industrial areas, a sewage sludge dump and shipping facilities, both naval and commercial. PCBs in tissues were estimated from scats. Analysis of scats provides a useful technique of estimating potential contamination threats to otter populations and can be used to identify biologically significant hot-spots of contamination which may be missed by more familiar surveillance methods.