Workplace bullying and relationships with health and performance among a sample of New Zealand veterinarians

AIM: To examine the relationships between workplace bullying, destructive leadership and team conflict, and physical health, strain, self-reported performance and intentions to quit among veterinarians in New Zealand, and how these relationships could be moderated by psychological capital and perceived organisational support.

METHODS: Data were collected by means of an online survey, distributed to members of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. Participation was voluntary and all responses were anonymous and confidential. Scores for the variables measured were based on responses to questions or statements with responses categorised on a linear scale. A series of regression analyses were used to assess mediation or moderation by intermediate variables on the relationships between predictor variables and dependent variables.

RESULTS: Completed surveys were provided by 197 veterinarians, of which 32 (16.2%) had been bullied at work, i.e. they had experienced two or more negative acts at least weekly over the previous 6 months, and nine (4.6%) had experienced cyber-bullying. Mean scores for workplace bullying were higher for female than male respondents, and for non-managers than managers (p<0.01). Scores for workplace bullying were positively associated with scores for destructive leadership and team conflict, physical health, strain, and intentions to quit (p<0.001). Workplace bullying and team conflict mediated the relationship between destructive leadership and strain, physical health and intentions to quit. Perceived organisational support moderated the effects of workplace bullying on strain and self-reported job performance (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Relatively high rates of negative behaviour were reported by veterinarians in this study, with 16% of participants meeting an established criterion for having been bullied. The negative effects of destructive leadership on strain, physical health and intentions to quit were mediated by team conflict and workplace bullying. It should be noted that the findings of this study were based on a survey of self-selected participants and the findings may not represent the wider population of New Zealand veterinarians.     

Bilateral Sertoli and Interstitial Cell Tumours in Abdominal Testes of a Goat with Polled Intersex Syndrome (PIS)

An 8‐year‐old, mixed breed, polled goat was presented for evaluation of male‐like behaviour. Clinical findings included clitoromegaly, a heavily muscled neck, pronounced beard, and erect dorsal guard hairs, which are phenotypic characteristics commonly observed in intersex animals. Transrectal ultrasonography revealed the presence of two abdominal masses caudolateral to the uterine horns. Serum concentration of estradiol was elevated. Genetic evaluation was compatible with polled intersex syndrome defined by an XX karyotype without a Y chromosome or SRY gene. Based on gross and histologic evaluation, the abdominal masses were determined to be intra‐abdominal testes, each of which was effaced by Sertoli cell and interstitial (Leydig) cell tumours. The Sertoli cell tumours (SCTs) represented two unique histologic patterns. Regardless of pattern, neoplastic Sertoli cells were consistently lipid laden and positive for vimentin. Interstitial cell tumours (ICTs) were negative for vimentin. Clinical and histopathologic findings suggest that prolonged exposure to steroids secreted by neoplastic Sertoli cells contributed to virilization. In addition, results from immunohistochemistry indicated that vimentin may be a valuable immunodiagnostic tool for differentiation between interstitial and Sertoli cell tumours in goats.     

Dynamics of GHRH in third-ventricle cerebrospinal fluid of cattle: Relationship with serum concentrations of GH and responses to appetite-regulating peptides

Objectives were to (1) characterize the relationship of third-ventricle (IIIV) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) with concentrations of GH in the peripheral circulation; and (2) assess the influence of acute administration of appetite-regulating peptides leptin (anti-orexigenic) and neuropeptide Y (NPY; orexigenic) on the release of GHRH. Six mature beef cows fitted with IIIV and jugular vein cannulae were treated intracerebroventricularly with saline, and leptin (600 μg) and NPY (500 μg) in saline, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Third-ventricle CSF and blood were collected 10 min before and continued 220 min after treatments. Mean concentrations of GHRH and frequency of pulses after treatments were 2.2 ± 0.13 ng/mL and 1.2 ± 0.15 pulses/220 min, respectively. These measures were not influenced by treatments. Concentrations of GHRH in CSF were weakly correlated (r = 0.15; P < 0.03) with serum concentrations of GH; however, 58% of the GH pulses were preceded by a pulse of GHRH and 90% of the GHRH pulses occurred within 20 min preceding a pulse of GH. Leptin tended (P < 0.10) to suppress GH area under the curve (AUC) compared to saline. Concomitantly, NPY tended (P < 0.10) to increase GH AUC, which appeared to be a consequence of increased (P < 0.05) pulse amplitude. Infusion of NPY also increased (P < 0.05) AUC of GHRH relative to saline. No differences were detected among treatments in serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I or its AUC. Sampling CSF from the IIIV appears to be a viable procedure for assessing hypothalamic release of GHRH coincident with anterior pituitary gland secretion of GH in cattle. These data also demonstrate the differential responsiveness of the GH axis to appetite-regulating peptides.     

Effects of a high-protein, low-energy diet in finishing lambs: 1. Feed intake, estimated nutrient uptake, and levels of plasma metabolites and metabolic hormones

Patterns of tissue mobilisation in ruminants are ill-understood. This hinders nutritional management to mitigate the effects of energy deprivation on protein mass, and nutritional regimens designed to change body composition. An experiment was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the effects of a low-energy high-protein diet in growing lambs. Three diets (CON = concentrate diet ad libitum, STR = straw ad libitum, SFM = straw ad libitum plus 150 g/d fish meal) were fed to growing white-face lambs. Analysis of feed intake and metabolite data provided evidence that greater available N did not have a synergistic effect on intake of low quality forage. Metabolite and hormone profiles of lambs in negative energy balance, supplemented with duodenally available protein, revealed that SFM animals did not respond with an accelerated rate of fat mobilization or maintain protein mass due to available N. This was particularly evident from the leptin profiles, which indicated higher circulating leptin levels for SFM compared to STR animals. Further, the data revealed that in sheep fed below requirements for maintenance, leptin levels did not correspond with acute ME intake, whereas the opposite was true for well-fed animals. Conversely, the response of the GH/IGF-1 axis to high protein–energy ratio (PER) diets was indicative of effects not explained by the difference in energy provided by the two experimental diets.

These results contrast with observations from intra-gastric infusion experiments testing similar PERs and previous conventional feeding trials and provide evidence of: (1) specific differences associated with PER in lambs fed via intra-gastric infusion vs. a conventional feeding approach, and (2) lack of usefulness of high PER diets in the post hoc modification of body composition of growing lambs. While positive N balance is known to occur in ruminants in negative energy balance, the determinants of relative proportions of muscle and adipose tissue catabolised under energy deprivation remain unknown.     

Postnatal function of the somatotrophic axis in pigs born naturally or by Caesarian section

This study was designed to determine what effects the birth process would have on development of the somatotrophic axis in neonatal pigs. Eight crossbred sows were selected (n = 4 natural birth and n = 4 Caesarian section) for the present study. Blood and tissue samples from 38 pigs were collected at birth. Twenty pigs were maintained with natural birth sows until sacrificed for blood and tissue collection at 2 wk of age. Gestational age at birth did not differ (P > 0.16) between natural birth and C-section pigs. Average daily gain (ADG) from birth until 2 wk of age was reduced (P < 0.0001) by 39.3% in the C-section pigs as compared to the natural birth pigs. Serum growth hormone (GH) did not differ (P > 0.86) at birth, but was greater (P < 0.024) at 2 wk in C-section pigs. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was greater at birth (P < 0. 0025) and at 2 wk of age (P < 0.035) in the natural birth pigs. Serum concentration of IGF-2 did not differ at birth (P > 0.8) but was greater (P < 0.043) in natural birth pigs at 2 wk of age. Pituitary content of GH mRNA and GH-releasing hormone receptor mRNA did not differ (P > 0.90) between groups regardless of age; however, expression of both mRNAs declined (P < 0.0003) from birth until 2 wk of age. There tended to be a birth type X age interaction (P < 0. 082) for liver IGF-1 mRNA such that C-section pigs had a greater expression at 2 wk of age. Liver IGF-1 mRNA expression increased (P < 0.0001) in both groups from birth to 2 wk of age. Liver expression of GH receptor mRNA was greater in C-section pigs at birth (P < 0. 04) and 2 wk of age (P < 0.03). These data provide evidence that the natural birth process affects postnatal development and/or function of the somatotrophic axis in the neonatal pig.     

Effects of Gonadotropins on In Vitro Maturation and of Electrical Stimulation on Parthenogenesis of Canine Oocytes

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gonadotropins on in vitro maturation (IVM) and electrical stimulation on the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. In experiment I, cumulus oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries at a random phase of the oestrus cycle and cultured on maturation medium treated with hCG or eCG for 48 or 72 h. There were no significant differences in the effects on the metaphase II (MII) rate between the hCG and eCG treatment groups over 48 h (5.4% vs 5.5%). The MII rate in the co-treatment group of hCG and eCG for 48 h was higher than in each hormone treated group (15.5%, p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the parthenogenetic effect on oocyte development, at various electrical field strengths (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 kV/cm DC) for 60 or 80 μs with a single DC pulse after IVM on the co-treatment of hCG and eCG, was examined. The rate of pronuclear formation (37.1%) in electrical activation at 1.5 kV/60 μs without cytochalasin B (CB) was higher than that of oocytes activated in the other groups (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe the cleavage stages. Also, CB did not influence parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. The results showed that the pronucleus formation rate, indicative of the parthenogenesis start point, could be increased by electrical stimulation. Therefore, these results can provide important data for the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes and suggest the probability of parthenogenesis in canines.     

Injection of neuropeptide Y into the third cerebroventricle differentially influences pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone and growth hormone in ovariectomized cows.

Hypothalamic neurons that control the luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) axes are localized in regions that also express neuropeptide Y (NPY). Increased hypothalamic expression of NPY due to diet restriction has been associated with suppressed secretion of LH and enhanced secretion of GH in numerous species. However, these physiological relationships have not been described in cattle. Thus, two studies were conducted to characterize these relationships using ovariectomized (Experiment 1) or ovariectomized estrogen-implanted (Experiment 2) cows. In Experiment 1, four well-nourished, ovariectomized cows received third cerebroventricular (TCV) injections of 50 and 500 micrograms of NPY in a split-plot design. Venous blood was collected at 10-min intervals from -4 hr (pre-injection control period) to +4 hr (postinjection treatment period) relative to TCV injection. NPY suppressed (P < or = 0.04) tonic secretion of LH irrespective of dose and tended to stimulate (P < or = 0.10) an increase in tonic secretion of GH. In Experiment 2, six ovariectomized cows that were well nourished and implanted with estradiol received TCV injections of 0, 50, or 500 micrograms of NPY in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin Square. Both doses of NPY suppressed (P < 0.06) mean concentration of LH relative to the 0-microgram dose. The 50-microgram dose of NPY tended (P < 0.10) to increase the amplitude of GH pulses. In conclusion, TCV injection of NPY suppressed pituitary secretion of LH and simultaneously tended to increase pituitary secretion of GH.     

Effects of lasalocid on circulating concentrations of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I and reproductive performance of postpartum Brahman cows

Objectives were to determine effects of lasalocid on reproductive performance and serum concentrations of leptin and IGF-I, and to correlate concentrations of leptin and IGF-I with reproductive performance of beef cows. Forty-one purebred, multiparous Brahman cows were blocked to control (C; n = 20) or lasalocid (L; n = 21) treatments by BW, BCS, and predicted calving date. Treatment began 21 d before expected calving. Cows were each fed 1.4 kg daily of an 11:1 corn:soybean meal supplement, with the L group receiving 200 mg of lasalocid/cow daily. Cows and calves were weighed, and cow BCS was assessed at calving and at 28-d intervals thereafter. Blood samples were collected weekly precalving, at parturition, and twice weekly thereafter. Sterile marker bulls were maintained with cows for estrous detection. Six days after estrus, ovaries were evaluated for corpus luteum formation, and blood samples from d 6, 7, and 8 after estrus were collected. Serum samples were assayed for progesterone (P4), IGF-I, and leptin concentration. Progesterone concentrations > 1 ng/mL were considered indicative of a functional corpus luteum. Treatment ended after completion of a normal estrous cycle, and cows removed from treatment were placed with a fertile bull equipped with a chinball marker. There were no treatment differences in calving date, calf sex, cow BW, BCS, calf BW, calf ADG, or in serum concentrations of P4, IGF-I, or leptin. Prepartum cow ADG was increased (P < 0.01) in L cows and tended (P < 0.011) to be increased from calving to d 56 after calving in L cows. Postpartum interval (PPI) was not affected by treatment; however, a greater percentage (P < 0.05) of L cows conceived by 90 d after calving (43% L vs. 15% C). First-service conception rate tended (P < 0.08) to be greater in L vs. C cows (68 vs. 40%), but pregnancy rate was not different (P < 0.12; 86% for L vs. 65% for C). There were no treatment differences (P > 0.18) for serum IGF-I concentrations. At calving, leptin was positively correlated with IGF-I (P < 0.04; r = 0.32), BCS (P < 0.06; r = 0.29), and cow BW (P < 0.02; r = 0.36), and was negatively correlated with PPI (P < 0.06; r = -0.29). These results provide evidence that feeding an ionophore before calving and during the postpartum period may increase the number of cows that rebreed to maintain a yearly calving interval. Cows with higher concentrations of leptin postpartum may exhibit shorter PPI.