Udder health and female fertility traits are favourably correlated and support each other in multi-trait evaluations

Genetic parameters were estimated for protein yield (PY), clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell score, number of inseminations (NI) and days from calving to first insemination (CFI) in first‐parity Swedish Red cows by series of tri‐variate linear animal models. The heritability of PY was moderate (0.34 ± 0.004), and the heritabilities of the functional traits were all low (0.014 ± 0.001–0.14 ± 0.004). The genetic correlation between CM and CFI (0.38 ± 0.05) was stronger than the correlation between CM and NI (0.05 ± 0.06), perhaps because CM and CFI usually are observed in early lactation when the cow is likely to be in negative energy balance, whereas NI generally is recorded when the cow is not in negative energy balance any more. The genetic correlation between NI and CFI was very close to zero (?0.002 ± 0.05), indicating that these two fertility traits have different genetic backgrounds. All genetic correlations between PY and the functional traits were moderate and unfavourable, ranging from 0.22 ± 0.02 to 0.47 ± 0.03. In addition, the effect of including genetic and phenotypic correlations between the trait groups milk production, udder health and female fertility on the accuracy of the selection index was quantified for a heifer, a cow and a proven bull. The difference between the accuracy obtained by multi‐trait and single‐trait evaluations was largest for the cow (0.012) and small for the heifer and the bull (0.006 and 0.004) because the phenotype of the cow for one trait could assist in predicting the Mendelian sampling term for a correlated trait.     

Variations of serum vitamin E, cholesterol, and total serum lipid concentrations in horses during a 72-hour period

Fluctuations of serum vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), cholesterol, and total lipids were monitored in 12 horses at 3-hour intervals for 72 hours. Mean coefficients of variation were 12, 5, and 15%, respectively. Statistical analyses were used to conclude that instrumentation error was accountable for only a small portion of the vitamin E variation. Results indicated that a single serum sample assay is an unsatisfactory indicator of vitamin E status in horses. These data have clinical application in the evaluation of horses suspected to be affected with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. The large variance of serum total lipids and the lack of correlation of it with serum vitamin E over time preclude the use of vitamin E/serum total lipids ratio in assessing vitamin E status.     

Clinical biochemical values of llamas: reference values

Fifteen clinical biochemical measurements were done on serum from 64 clinically healthy adult llamas (26 males and 38 females). Values for several of these tests were different from those reported for llamas and from reference values for other domesticated ruminants. Comparison of values between males and females revealed significant differences for several tests. Clinical biochemical values reported in the present study can serve as reference values for adult llamas.     

Antibodies against equine herpesvirus 1 in the cerebrospinal fluid in the horse

Neutralizing antibodies against equine herpesvirus 1 were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 16 horses and ponies from a closed herd both before and after vaccination with modified live equine herpesvirus 1. These titers were also measured in 22 neurologically normal and 15 neurologically abnormal horses at a teaching hospital. Animals from the closed herd had prevaccination serum titers up to 1:8 and postvaccination serum titers up to 1:128. Horses from the teaching hospital had serum titers up to 1:64. Cerebrospinal fluid titers were not detected in the vaccinated horses or the neurologically normal horses but a low titer (1:8) was noted in one neurologically abnormal horse. This titer probably resulted from hemorrhage into the cerebrospinal fluid following trauma.     

Experimental lead toxicosis in swine

Thirty pigs, weighing 17 to 24 kg, were exposed to lead or sodium acetate orally or intraperitoneally (IP) 6 days each week for 13 weeks. These pigs were extremely tolerant of lead. Only mild clinical signs of lead toxicosis were observed in orally lead-exposed pigs despite blood lead concentrations of up to 290 micrograms/dl. Four IP lead-exposed pigs died, but eight other IP lead-exposed pigs survived the exposure period despite blood lead concentrations up to 14,300 micrograms/dl. Lead exposure caused marked decreases in blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activities of all pigs and moderate decreases of blood hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit percentages, mean corpuscular volumes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, and mean corpuscular hemoglobins in IP lead-exposed, but not in orally lead-exposed pigs. Basophilic stippling was observed in erythrocytes of lead-exposed pigs, but not in those of control pigs.     

Serially determined plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and results of the oral vitamin E absorption test in clinically normal horses and in horses with degenerative myeloencephalopathy

Plasma alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) values were monitored serially in 9 foals sired by a stallion with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) and in 5 age-matched control foals (sired by a clinically normal stallion) raised in the same environment for the first year of life. Clinical evaluation determined that 8 of the 9 foals sired by the stallion with EDM had neurologic deficits consistent with the disease on one or more occasions during the study period, whereas control foals had normal gait. From 6 weeks to 10 months of age, plasma alpha-tocopherol values in foals with signs of EDM were significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than those in control foals. An oral vitamin E absorption test was performed, and results for 8 of the affected horses and the affected stallion were compared with results for 4 of the monitored control horses and 4 additional control horses. Significant differences were not evident in any of the absorption indices. On the basis of data from this study and supported by reported prophylactic and therapeutic benefits of supplemented vitamin E, low plasma concentration of vitamin E is concluded to be a factor in the development of EDM in the first year of life of hereditarily predisposed foals. It was also concluded that the significantly lower alpha-tocopherol values seen in the foals in this study did not reflect a primary gastrointestinal tract absorption problem.     

IPM Strategies and Their Dilemmas Including an Introduction to www. eurowheat.org

Information about disease management in winter wheat （Triticum aestiva） in eight European countries was collated and analysed by scientists and extension workers within the European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies （ENDURE）. This included information about specific disease thresholds, decision support systems, host varieties, disease prevalence and pathogen virulence. Major differences in disease prevalence and economic importance were observed. Septoria tritici blotch （Mycosphaerella graminicola） was recognized as the most yield reducing disease in countries with intensive wheat production, but also rust diseases （Puccinia striiformis and Puccinia triticina）, powdery mildew （Blumeria graminis） and Fusarium head blight （Fusarium spp.） were seen as serious disease problems. Examples of current integrated pest management （IPM） strategies in different countries have been reported. Disease management and fungicide use patterns showed major differences, with an average input equivalent to 2.3 full dose rates （TFI） in the UK and a TFI of 0.6 in Denmark. These differences are most likely due to a combination of different cropping systems, climatic differences, disease prevalence, and socio-economic factors. The web based information platform www.eurowheat.org was used for dissemination of information and results including information on control thresholds, cultural practices which can influence disease attack, fungicide efficacy, fungicide resistance, and pathogen virulence, which are all elements supporting 1PM for disease control in wheat. The platform is open to all users. The target groups of EuroWheat information are researchers, advisors, breeders, and similar partners dealing with disease management in wheat.     

Cryptosporidiosis – an occupational risk and a disregarded disease in Estonia

Background

Cases of cryptosporidiosis have not been officially reported in Estonia after the year 2000, and the disease appears to be either under-diagnosed or under-reported.

Findings

Based on a human case of cryptosporidiosis contracted during faecal sampling in dairy farms, cattle considered to be sources of infection were analysed for Cryptosporidium spp. by a modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and molecular typing. C. parvum subtype IIaA16G1R1 was detected from the human case and from calves from one of nine farms enrolled in the study providing strong circumstantial evidence of zoonotic transmission from calves to humans.

Conclusion

Cryptosporidiosis presents an occupational risk to people with cattle contact, and may also be a risk to the human population in general. Thus increased public and medical awareness is warranted.     

Climate Change During the Last Deglaciation in Antarctica

Greenland ice core records provide clear evidence of rapid changes in climate in a variety of climate indicators. In this work, rapid climate change events in the Northern and Southern hemispheres are compared on the basis of an examination of changes in atmospheric circulation developed from two ice cores. High-resolution glaciochemical series, covering the period 10,000 to 16,000 years ago, from a central Greenland ice core and a new site in east Antarctica display similar variability. These findings suggest that rapid climate change events occur more frequently in Antarctica than previously demonstrated.     

Reconstruction of Current Flow and Imaging of Current-Limiting Defects in Polycrystalline Superconducting Films

Magneto-optical imaging was used to visualize the inhomogeneous penetration of magnetic flux into polycrystalline TlBa2Ca2Cu3Ox films with high critical current densities, to reconstruct the local two-dimensional supercurrent flow patterns and to correlate inhomogeneities in this flow with the local crystallographic misorientation. The films have almost perfect c-axis alignment and considerable local a- and b-axis texture because the grains tend to form colonies with only slightly misaligned a and b axes. Current flows freely over these low-angle grain boundaries but is strongly reduced at intermittent colony boundaries of high misorientation. The local (<10-micrometer scale) critical current density Jc varies widely, being up to 10 times as great as the transport Jc (scale of approximately 1 millimeter), which itself varies by a factor of about 5 in different sections of the film. The combined experiments show that the magnitude of the transport Jc is largely determined by a few high-angle boundaries.