Efficacy of training in theriogenology as determined by a survey of veterinarians

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether veterinarians perceive that theriogenology training at veterinary medical schools in North America and the Caribbean is adequate for achievement of theriogenology skills commonly used in private practice. PROCEDURES: A survey was mailed to members of the veterinary medical associations of Alabama, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington. With regard to reproductive procedures in bovine, equine, porcine, small ruminant, camelid, and small animal species, veterinarians (predominantly practitioners) were asked to rate the importance of that procedure in their job and to assess their own degree of competency in that procedure at the time of their graduation from veterinary school. RESULTS: Procedures considered most valuable in practice were those that represent basic theriogenology education and training, such as transrectal palpation of cows and mares and interpretation of vaginal cytologic specimens in bitches. Dystocia management was a high priority in all species. Correlations between rankings for value in practice and competency at graduation were good, varying from 0.75 in cattle and 0.78 in horses to 0.98 in dogs and 1.0 in cats, small ruminants, and pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these data suggests that appropriate theriogenology procedures are being taught in veterinary medical schools but perhaps not to the extent required to achieve adequate competency immediately at graduation. Issues requiring further investigation include the effect of tracking in the veterinary curriculum on theriogenology training, methods by which more students could receive greater practical exposure during theriogenology training, and the apparent relative lack of theriogenology training (including contraception) in small animals and exotic animals.     

Availability of theriogenology training at North American and Caribbean veterinary colleges

A survey of the veterinary colleges in North America and the Caribbean was undertaken to determine the extent of availability of theriogenology training. Didactic training in at least one species was required at all schools that responded to the survey. Laboratory experience in at least one species was required by 75.0% and clinical theriogenology experience in at least one species by 72.7%. The mean number of board-certified or board-eligible theriogenology faculty did not vary between 1995 and 2005, but there was a decrease in the number of such faculty at 57.2% of the schools that responded to the survey.     

Trifluralin effects on carrot callus tissue

The effect of trifluralin on the growth, oxygen uptake, and adenosine phosphates level of carrot (Daucus carota L.) callus tissue was determined over a period of 18 days after subculture. The herbicide (10^?4 and 10^?5M) reduced fresh weight gain significantly; the reduction was less with lower trifluralin concentrations. Dry weight accumulation was not inhibited until after Day 6 of the test period and thereafter was reduced by all concentrations tested. Oxygen consumption was inhibited by trifluralin (10^?4 and 10^?5M) throughout the test period. Concentrations of 10^?6.10^?7, and 10^?8M produced variable effects. The response profile of O₂ consumption in the presence of dinitrophenol was different from that of trifluralin. Analysis of adenosine phosphates level gave no clear response trend. Energy charge values of 0.7 to 0.85 were obtained for untreated tissue. Trifluralin had no effect on energy charge until Day 9 (10^?4M) and after Day 15 (all concentrations).     

Influence of some biologically active compounds on microbial activity and on the availability of plant nutrients in soils. II. Nitrapyrin,dazomet, 2-chlorobenzamide and tributyl-3-chlorobenzylammonium bromide

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6-trichloromethylpyridine), the soil partial sterilant dazomet (tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione), the quaternary ammonium growth retardant tributyl-3-chlorobenzylammonium bromide, and the pre-emergent herbicide 2-chlorobenzamide on total microbial activity and available plant nutrient content of an acid and an alkaline soil during an incubation period of 6 weeks under aerobic conditions has been studied in comparison with untreated soils. The compounds were incorporated with the soils at normal application rates. At intervals determinations were made of carbon dioxide liberated, the content of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen and of some available plant nutrient mineral elements. All four compounds were found to influence these quantities. Nitrapyrin increased carbon dioxide production throughout and dazomet did so after initial depression. 2-Chlorobenzamide and the growth retardant reduced carbon dioxide liberation especially in the early stage of incubation. All the compounds retarded nitrification in both soils; an increase in ammonium nitrogen resulted in treated soils except in the alkaline soil containing the growth retardent, where ammonification was also reduced. A reduction in the content of available mineral nutrient elements was usually found suggesting interference with the biological oxidation of these elements to less available forms. However, available manganese was increased by dazomet, as were available iron and manganese by the growth retardent and 2-chlorobenzamide.     

Control of potato late blight using controlled-release granules containing ofurace

In an attempt to reduce or eliminate the need for spraying to control potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, investigations were made on the use of controlled-release granules containing the systemic fungicide ofurace. The granules when mixed with sand and buried in soil released the fungitoxicant for about 100 days. When the granules were applied in furrows at planting, protection of potato plants (cv. Maris Bard), assessed by inoculation of detached leaflets with P. infestans, lasted for between 85 and 100 days. Application of the granules when the plants were earthed up 48 days after planting did not result in better late-season protection, possibly due to poorer uptake of the fungitoxicant by the plants at this time. Chemical analysis of leaves from plants that had received in-furrow treatment indicated that ofurace at 0.2–0.5 μg g^?1 fresh weight was needed to confer protection from late blight.     

Treatment of Canine Appendicular Osteosarcoma Using Cobalt 60 Radiation and Intraarterial Cisplatin

Twelve dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma were treated with 24–40 Gy of cobalt 60 radiation and two doses of intraarterial cisplatin. Improvement in limb function occurred in four dogs, and three dogs, which had only mild initial lameness, had no worsening of their lameness post-treatment. In nine dogs in which local control was evaluable, eight had local failure, with the median (95% CI) duration of local control being 5.9 (4.6, 6.7) months. Two dogs had metastatic disease before therapy, and an additional nine dogs had metastatic disease at a median time of 6.4 months. Pathologic fracture was present in four dogs; two fractures occurred before treatment and two were documented at the time of tumor recurrence. Median (95% CI) survival time for all 12 dogs was 4.9 (3.4, 6.8) months. Excluding the two dogs with preexisting metastatic disease, median survival time was 6.7 months. Three dogs survived longer than 1 year. This mode of therapy was well tolerated and may be considered an alternative to amputation or limb-sparing surgical procedures in selected dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.     

The hexosamine and uronic acid contents of the matrix of shells of eggs from pullets fed on diets of different manganese content

Three experiments are reported concerning the effect of the manganese content of the diet on the acid mucopolysaccharide content of egg shell matrix. In the first experiment hexosamine was taken as an index of acid mucopolysaccharide, but in experiments 2 and 3 uronic acid was determined instead.

It was found that a low‐Mn diet depressed the hexosamine and uronic acid content of the matrix of eggs sampled at the start of lay. However, eggs from low‐Mn fed pullets after three months of lay showed a significant increase in matrix uronic acid.

Other characteristics of shells from low‐Mn fed pullets taken at the start of lay were a low weight of shell per unit area and a high weight of matrix per unit area, which led to an abnormally high proportion of matrix to mineral in the shell.

As a model for normal shell development eggs were extracted from the uterus at an early and late stage of shell formation. Although these uterine shells resembled the poor shells from the low‐Mn diet from the point of view of poor shell thickness and low matrix uronic acid content, the proportion of matrix to mineral in shell was similar to that of the fully‐formed shells and not as high as in shells from low‐Mn fed birds. This last observation led to the conclusion that low‐Mn shells were not unfinished products arising from a premature expulsion from the oviduct.