Effects of Superovulation with oFSH and Norgestomet/GnRH‐Controlled Release of the LH Surge on Hormone Concentrations,and Yield of Oocytes and Embryos at Specific Developmental Stages

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new superovulation procedure with oFSH after temporary suppression of the endogenous LH surge by norgestomet followed by administration of GnRH, to collect bovine oocytes and embryos at specific developmental stages. Since 1999, our research group applies this superovulation procedure with controlled release of the endogenous LH surge. The objective of this study is to verify if this procedure is reliable for collection of oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development and if it produces a sufficient number of both oocytes and embryos of good quality. This procedure was validated regarding to hormonal characteristics, superovulatory response and both oocyte and embryo yield at different times of in vivo development. The results demonstrate that the procedure used to control the occurrence of the pre‐ovulatory LH surge was effective in 92% of the animals (n = 238) and even in 99% of the animals the oocytes and embryos were collected at the intended stage of development. The superovulatory response and both oocyte, embryo yield and quality were similar to the average yield in Europe reported by Association Européenne de transfert embryonnaire (AETE). In conclusion, this superovulation procedure provides a valid tool to collect oocytes and embryos at specific time points of development.     

Ca2+ Cascade and Meiotic Resumption of the Caprine Primary Oocyte

In this study, we investigated the fluctuations of concentration of intracytoplasmic free Ca(2+) during in vitro maturation of caprine primary oocytes and its role in meiotic resumption. Oocytes that were extracted from caprine ovaries were cultured and allowed to mature in vitro to determine their developmental stages including germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), metaphase of the first meiotic division (MI) and metaphase of the second meiotic division (MII). Intracytoplasmic free Ca(2+) turnovers of caprine oocytes at these different developmental stages were measured using the calcium fluorescent probe Fura-2/AM (C(44)H(47)N(3)O(24)) to investigate the dynamics of cytosolic free Ca(2+) during in vitro maturation of oocytes and the role of Ca(2+) in inducing the initiation of meiotic resumption of oocytes. Moreover, the oocytes were cultured in Ca(2+) culture medium and Ca(2+)-free culture medium to examine the effect of extracellular Ca(2+) on the oocyte maturation. The results indicated that Ca(2+) concentrations at GV, GVBD, MI and MII stages were 78.06, 147.41, 126.97 and 97.73 nmol/l, respectively, and that 86.30% of oocytes remained at the GV stage and no oocyte developed to MII in Ca(2+)-free culture medium, and 1.1% of oocytes stayed at the GV stage and 83.5% of oocytes developed to MII in Ca(2+) culture medium. These results suggest that the occurrence of GVBD and cell cycle progression to MI and MII stages are closely related to Ca(2+), and that extracellular Ca(2+) performs a specific function for the initiation of meiotic resumption in caprine oocytes.     

Dermatophilus-like infection in beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, from the St. Lawrence estuary

Six beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) found dead on the shores of the St. Lawrence estuary had multiple slightly depressed greyish round areas randomly distributed over the whole body. Histologically, the surface of these areas was covered with a thick layer of Dermatophilus -like organisms which invaded the stratum corneum. The underlying stratum spinosum had marked spongiosis and vacuolar degeneration. Minimal neutrophilic infiltration was present within the underlying dermal papillae. To the authors' knowledge, dermatophilosis in cetaceans has not been reported previously.     

Minimal inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Forty-five isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents using a microdilution method for the minimal inhibitory concentration determinations. These results confirmed the high prevalence of A. pleuropneumoniae strains resistant to antibiotics as reported earlier using the disc diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer method). While 36% of the isolates were resistant to the penicillins, 47% were resistant to chloramphenicol and 68% were resistant to tetracycline. Minimal inhibitory concentrations for the resistant isolates were approximately 32 times higher than those for the susceptible isolates to the above antibacterial agents. The isolates were in general weakly susceptible or resistant to spectinomycin, lincomycin, tiamulin and spiramycin whereas most of them were susceptible to gentamicin, trimethoprim and erythromycin. The susceptibility pattern was similar throughout the 1980 to 1984 period. The 14 serotype 5 isolates were more resistant to tetracycline but less resistant to chloramphenicol and the penicillins than the 28 serotype 1 isolates.     

Congenital hyperostosis in piglets: a consequence of a disorganization of the perichondrial ossification groove of Ranvier.

The combination of histopathological and microradiographic examination and fluorescence microscopy was used to study the pathophysiology of the thick leg syndrome of the piglet. The genesis and evolution of the lesions in radioulnar hyperostosis may be the result of an initial lesion situated at the anchorage site of the periosteum to the epiphysis at the level of the perichondrial ossification groove of Ranvier. In this way, a true separation appears, which in turn could be the cause of the fine supernumerary trabeculae of woven bone. The sequence of appearance of the lesions is discussed.     

The effects of Arctotheca calendula (capeweed) on digestive function of sheep

The effects of Arctotheca calendula (capeweed) on digestive function in the rumen, caecum and colon of sheep were studied. Three groups of 2-year-old Merino wethers were compared: 13 grazing capeweed-free pasture for 23 days; 8 fed 700 g of lucerne hay daily for 18 days, and 13 fed 6 kg of freshly cut capeweed (dry matter 11.3%) daily for 7 days. Capeweed did not cause diarrhoea and based on measurements of products of fermentation in the rumen, the plants were as nutritious as pasture containing grasses and clovers. The main disadvantage of capeweed in this single feeding trial was that sheep eating it lost body weight due to their inability, or lack of incentive, to consume enough dry matter.