Effects of maternal selenium supply and plane of nutrition during gestation on passive transfer of immunity and health in neonatal lambs

To investigate the influence of maternal Se supply and plane of nutrition on lamb morbidity, mortality, and passive transfer of IgG, pregnant ewe lambs were used in 2 experiments with 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangements. Supplementation of Se began at breeding and was either adequate Se (ASe, 9.5 μg/kg of BW) or high Se (HSe, 81.8 μg/kg of BW) in Exp. 1 or ASe (11.5 μg/kg of BW) or HSe (77.0 μg/kg of BW) in Exp. 2. On d 50 or 40 of gestation for Exp. 1 or 2, respectively, ewes were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 nutritional planes: 60% (RES), 100% (control, CON), or 140% (HI) of NRC requirements. This resulted in the following treatments: ASe-RES, ASe-CON, ASe-HI, HSe-RES, HSe-CON, and HSe-HI. Upon parturition, lambs were separated from their dams and serum samples obtained. Lambs were fed artificial colostrum for the first 20 h and then placed on milk replacer and grain pellets until completion of the study (Exp. 1, 57 d; Exp. 2, 21 d). Twenty-four hours after parturition, lamb serum samples were collected for IgG analysis. All lambs were reared similarly and morbidity and mortality assessed. Main effects were considered significant when P ≤ 0.05. In Exp. 1, there was a Se × plane of nutrition interaction (P ≤ 0.01) for lamb morbidity from birth to weaning and for 24-h IgG concentration. Lambs from ASe-RES and HSe-HI ewes were treated more frequently (P < 0.01) for respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, and lambs from HSe-HI ewes had the smallest (P < 0.01) 24-h serum IgG concentration. In Exp. 1, lambs from HI ewes also had the greatest (P < 0.01) mortality rates from birth to weaning compared with lambs from CON and RES ewes. In Exp. 2, there was an effect (P < 0.01) of maternal plane of nutrition with lambs from RES ewes having increased 24-h IgG compared with lambs from CON and HI ewes. There was no effect of maternal Se supplementation on lamb 24-h IgG in Exp. 2; however, there was a Se × plane of nutrition interaction (P < 0.01) for morbidity. From birth to 21 d of age, lambs from ASe-CON ewes had fewer (P < 0.01) treatment days compared with lambs from any of the other treatment groups. There also tended (P = 0.08) to be an effect of maternal Se supplementation on lamb mortality with increased mortality observed in lambs from HSe ewes. Results from the studies show a restricted maternal plane of nutrition can increase lamb serum IgG concentration. Selenium results were not consistent between the 2 experiments and may be due to differences in maternal Se.     

Left hepatic vein attenuation for treatment of patent ductus venosus in a dog

Patent ductus venosus was identified in a young dog. Surgical attenuation of the anomalous vessel was performed by partial ligation of the left hepatic vein. Clinical signs resolved after surgery, and laboratory values returned to normal. Jejunal venous portography, performed 8 weeks after surgery, revealed complete occlusion of the patent ductus venosus, with normal portal vasculature to the right and central divisions of the liver. Atrophy of the left hepatic division resulted.     

Feline Perineal Urethrostomy: A Review of Past and Present Literature

Urethral obstruction is a potentially fatal condition and in cases of recurrent obstruction or an identified cause that is refractory to medical management, a urethrostomy may be performed for definitive treatment. Perineal urethrostomy is the surgical creation of a permanent stoma in the wider pelvic urethra via anastomosis to the perineal skin. Diagnosis of the underlying cause of obstruction, proper perioperative treatment, and an understanding of the anatomy and surgical technique, are imperative to the success of this procedure. This review intends to highlight these aspects, as well as the common complications and expected prognosis to aid decision making in the management of these cases.     

Binding of host glycosaminoglycans and milk proteins: possible role in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus uberis mastitis

The role of indirect binding of host proteins through glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on adherence and internalization of Streptococcus uberis to bovine mammary epithelial cells was evaluated. Preincubation of S. uberis with GAGs followed by incubation with fetal bovine serum (FBS), bovine milk or milk proteins resulted in greater adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into mammary epithelial cells than observed in untreated controls. Highest values were detected, when final incubation was done with milk. Greater adherence to and internalization into mammary epithelial cells were observed when heparin sulfate (HEP) and milk were used compared with any other GAG and FBS. When individual milk proteins were used, greatest adherence and internalization were observed when S. uberis strains were pretreated with HEP followed by treatment with beta-casein. The findings of this study illustrate a pathogenic strategy of S. uberis that may occur during the very early stages of infection.     

Reduced Amylose Effects on Bread and White Salted Noodle Quality

Amylose content in wheat endosperm is controlled by three Wx loci, and the proportion of amylose decreases with successive accumulation of Wx null alleles at the three loci. The proportion of amylose is believed to influence end‐use quality of bread and Asian noodles. The objectives of this study were to determine influence of the allelic difference at Wx‐B1 locus on bread quality, bread firmness, and white salted noodle texture in a spring wheat cross segregating for the Wx‐B1 locus and in a set of advanced spring wheat breeding lines differing in allelic state at the Wx‐ B1 locus. In addition, we examined the relationship between amylose content and flour swelling properties on bread and noodle traits. Fifty‐four recombinant inbred lines of hard white spring wheat plus parents were grown in replicated trials in two years, and 31 cultivars and breeding lines of hard spring wheat were grown in two locations. Bread and white salted noodles were processed from these trials. The presence of the Wx‐B1 null allele reduced amylose content by 2.4% in a recombinant inbred population and 4.3% in a survey of advanced breeding lines and cultivars compared with the normal. The reduced amylose was accompanied by an average increase in flour swelling power (FSP) for the Wx‐B1 null group of 0.8 g/g for the cross progeny and 2.3 g/g for the cultivar survey group. The Wx‐B1 allelic difference did not affect flour protein in cross progeny where the allelic difference was not confounded with genetic background. Bread from the Wx‐B1 null groups on average had increased loaf volume and was softer than the normal group for the cross progeny and cultivar survey group. The Wx‐B1 allelic difference altered white salted noodle texture, most notably noodle springiness and cohesiveness where the Wx‐B1 null groups was more springy and more cohesive than the normal groups for both sets of genetic materials. Flour protein was more highly related to loaf volume than were FSP or amylose. Both flour protein and FSP were positively related to noodle textural traits, but especially noodle springiness and cohesiveness.     

Concentration of three toxic metals in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) of biloxi and pascagoula,Mississippi estuaries

Concentrations of three toxic trace metals, Hg, Pb, and Cd in the commercial oyster Crassostrea virginica were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Oysters were collected from the Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, Mississippi area. Mercury concentrations were low and appeared to be natural background levels. Lead content of the Mississippi oysters compared favorably with levels in Atlantic Coast oysters, but Cd in Atlantic Coast oysters was approximately 6.7 times greater than in the local specimens. There was no definite relation between oyster size and Pb, Hg or Cd content.     

Radioactivity and chemical characteristics of Alberta phosphogypsum

Gypsum based by-products of phosphate fertilizer production, termed phosphogypsum (PG), are stockpiled at numerous locations worldwide. Although dominated by gypsum, PG contains accessory minerals, trace elements, and radionuclides. This study was conducted to characterize the composition and pore water chemistry of PG samples from a plant site in southern Alberta, Canada. Pore water chemistry was studied by equilibrating PG with deionized water for 80 days; the aqueous phase was then analyzed for dissolved constituents. The PG samples had pH levels of 4.0 or lower and contained gypsum and minor amounts of quartz, phosphate rock and sodium feldspar. The PG was elevated in total content of Ag, Au, Ca, Cd, P, S, Se, Sr, U and some of the light rare earth elements and Y relative to shale. Average ²²⁶Ra activity, determined by the radon emanation method, was 890 Bq kg^?1. Activity of ²¹²Pb, in equilibrium with ²²⁸Th, was 5.8 Bq kg^?1. Pore water concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, NO₃ ^?-N, Se, SO₄ ^2?-S, and Zn exceeded drinking water standards in some PG samples. Although closer to flue gas desulfurization sludge in mineralogy, the pore water chemistry of PG is more like that of some fly ashes.     

Nutritional plane and selenium supply during gestation affect yield and nutrient composition of colostrum and milk in primiparous ewes

The objectives were to investigate effects of nutritional plane and Se supply during gestation on yield and nutrient composition of colostrum and milk in first parity ewes. Rambouillet ewe lambs (n = 84, age = 240 ± 17 d, BW = 52.1 ± 6.2 kg) were allocated to 6 treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial array. Factors included Se [adequate Se (ASe, 11.5 μg/kg of BW) or high Se (HSe, 77.0 μg/kg of BW)] initiated at breeding, and nutritional plane [60 (RES), 100 (CON), or 140% (HIH) of requirements] initiated at d 40 of gestation. Ewes were fed individually from d 40, and lambs were removed at parturition. Colostrum was milked from all ewes at 3 h postpartum, and one-half of the ewes (n = 42) were transitioned to a common diet meeting lactation requirements and mechanically milked for 20 d. Colostrum yield was greater (P = 0.02) for HSe ewes than ASe, whereas CON had greater (P < 0.05) colostrum yield than RES and HIH. Colostrum Se (%) was greater (P < 0.01) for HSe than ASe. Colostrum from ewes fed HSe had less (P = 0.03) butterfat (%), but greater (P ≤ 0.05) total butterfat, solids-not-fat, lactose, protein, milk urea N, and Se than ASe. Colostrum from HIH ewes had greater (P ≤ 0.02) solids-not-fat (%) than RES, whereas RES had greater (P ≤ 0.04) butterfat (%) than CON and HIH. Colostrum from ewes fed the CON diet had greater (P = 0.01) total butterfat than HIH. Total solids-not-fat, lactose, and protein were greater (P < 0.05) in colostrum from CON than RES and HIH. Ewes fed HSe had greater (P < 0.01) milk yield (g/d and mL/d) than ASe, and CON and HIH had greater (P < 0.01) yield than RES. Milk protein (%) was greater (P ≤ 0.01) in RES compared with CON or HIH. Ewes fed HSe had greater (P < 0.01) milk Se (μg/g and mg/d) than ASe on each sampling day. Milk from CON and HIH ewes had greater (P < 0.01) total solids-not-fat, lactose, protein, and milk urea N than RES. Total Se was greater (P = 0.02) in milk from ewes fed the CON diet compared with RES. Somatic cell count and total somatic cells were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in milk from CON than RES. A cubic effect of day (P ≥ 0.01) was observed for milk yield (g and mL). Butterfat, solids-not-fat, lactose, milk urea N, and Se concentration responded quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) to day. Protein (%), total butterfat, and total Se, and somatic cells (cells/mL and cells/d) decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with day. Results indicate that gestational nutrition affects colostrum and milk yield and nutrient content, even when lactational nutrient requirements are met.     

Vaccination of dairy cows with recombinant Streptococcus uberis adhesion molecule induces antibodies that reduce adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into bovine mammary epithelial cells

Streptococcus uberis is an important environmental mastitis pathogen that causes subclinical and clinical mastitis in lactating and nonlactating cows and heifers throughout the world. Previous work from our laboratory suggests that S. uberis adhesion molecule (SUAM) is involved in S. uberis pathogenesis and may be an excellent target for vaccine development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibody response of cattle vaccinated with recombinant SUAM (rSUAM). Uninfected primiparous dairy cows (n=30) in late lactation were divided randomly into three groups of 10 cows each: control, 200 μg rSUAM, and 400 μg rSUAM. Cows in groups vaccinated with 200 μg and 400 μg rSUAM received an emulsion containing adjuvant, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and affinity purified rSUAM. Cows in the control group received an emulsion containing adjuvant and PBS. Cows were vaccinated subcutaneously in the neck region at drying off (D-0), 28 d after drying off (D+28) and within 7 d after calving. Serum was collected at D-0, D+28, at calving (C-0), calving vaccination (CV), and during early lactation (CV+14). Serum antibody responses were measured by an ELISA against rSUAM. Following the first vaccination a significant increase in anti-rSUAM antibodies was detected at D+28 in cows from groups vaccinated with 200 μg and 400 μg rSUAM when compared to the control group. This increase in anti-rSUAM antibodies continued following the second immunization at D+28; reaching the highest levels in the post-parturient sampling period (C0), after which antibodies appeared to plateau. S. uberis UT888 pretreated with several dilutions of heat-inactivated serum from cows vaccinated with rSUAM, affinity purified antibodies against rSUAM, and to a 17 amino acid long peptide from the N terminus of SUAM (pep-SUAM) were co-cultured with bovine mammary epithelial cells and adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into epithelial cells was measured. Compared to untreated controls, opsonization of two strains of S. uberis with sera from cows vaccinated with rSUAM, with affinity purified rSUAM antibodies, or with affinity purified pep-SUAM antibodies significantly reduced adherence to and internalization of this pathogen into bovine mammary epithelial cells. In conclusion, subcutaneous vaccination of dairy cows with rSUAM during physiological transitions of the mammary gland either from or to a state of active milk synthesis induced antibodies in serum and milk and these antibodies reduced adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into mammary epithelial cells under in vitro conditions. SUAM appears to be an excellent candidate for vaccine development.