Comparison between analgesic effects of buprenorphine, carprofen, and buprenorphine with carprofen for canine ovariohysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic effects of buprenorphine, carprofen, and their combination in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized blinded clinical study. ANIMALS: 60 dogs. METHODS: Treatments were buprenorphine 0.02 mg kg(-1), intramuscularly (IM) (group B); carprofen 4 mg kg(-1), subcutaneously (SC) (group C); or a combination of both (group CB). Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. A Dynamic Interactive Visual Analog Scale (DIVAS, 0-100 mm) and the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (GCMPS, 0-24) were used to evaluate comfort and sedation at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after extubation. Rescue analgesia was provided with buprenorphine (0.02 mg kg(-1)). Wound swelling measurements (WM) and a visual inflammation score (VIS) of the incision were made after surgery and 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours later. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Group C required more propofol (5.0 +/- 1.4 mg kg(-1)) compared with B (3.3 +/- 1.1 mg kg(-1)) and CB (3.2 +/- 0.7 mg kg(-1)); respectively, p = 0.0002 and 0.0001. Rescue analgesia was required in nine dogs. B had a higher GCMPS and DIVAS III score at 6 hours (2.6 +/- 2.5) and (23 +/- 22.5 mm) compared with C (1.0 +/- 1.3, 6 +/- 7.3 mm) and CB (1.5 +/- 1.4, 8 +/- 10.7 mm); respectively, p = 0.02 and 0.006. Group C had a lower sedation score at 2 hours (43 +/- 23.6 mm) compared with B (68 +/- 32.1 mm) and BC (69 +/- 22.1 mm); respectively, p = 0.03 and 0.004. Group B had a higher WM score at 2 hours (3 +/- 0.8 mm) compared with C (2 +/- 0.6 mm) p = 0.01 and at 6 hours (3 +/- 1 mm) compared with C (2 +/- 0.8 mm) and CB (2 +/- 0.8 mm); respectively, p = 0.01 and 0.008. VIS was not different between groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: All treatments provided satisfactory analgesia for the first 6 hours and at 24 hours. C and CB pain score and WS were superior to B at 6 hours. No superior analgesic effect was noted when the drugs were combined.     

Gastrointestinal parasite egg excretion in young calves in periurban livestock production in Mali

To acquire the information needed to improve parasite control in periurban cattle production in Mali, repeated sampling of faeces of 694 calves kept around Bamako was done in 2003/2004. The effects of season, age, breed, management type, parasite control and presence of sheep on egg and oocyst counts were determined. A Bayesian model was used with a negative binomial distribution and herd and individual effects, to account for the clustering of calves in herds and the repeated sampling. Interviews were conducted to report the current control strategies. We found eggs of Strongyloides papillosus (Age class 0-1 month: prevalence 39%, 2-3 months: 59%, 5-6 months: 42%), strongyles (14%, 24%, 36%), coccidian oocysts (37%, 68%, 64%) and at low prevalence eggs of Toxocara vitulorum, Moniezia sp., Trichuris sp. and Paramphistomum sp. Season and age effects occurred. Reported utilisation of parasite control was high (92%) but monthly recorded use was significantly lower (61%).     

Unique cytologic and histologic features of a suspected cutaneous xanthoma in a dog

A 4‐year‐old spayed female American Staffordshire Terrier presented to the U‐Vet Animal Hospital, Werribee, Australia, with a cutaneous mass that had been slowly growing over 12 months. Cytologic evaluation showed cohesive to individualized, vacuolated spindled cells often arranged in a perivascular pattern. The mass was completely excised, and the histopathologic examination demonstrated sheets of vacuolated spindled to round cells expanding the full thickness of the dermis. The cells demonstrated both Iba1 and CD18 antibody binding, leading to an initial interpretation of histiocytic sarcoma. Given the discordance with the clinical presentation, further immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. The cells demonstrated strong CD204 antibody binding and did not bind E‐cadherin antibody, consistent with a dermal macrophage origin. Ki‐67 antibody binding was regionally variable from <5% to 25%, with more regions that had low Ki‐67 expression. A fasted serum biochemistry panel revealed hypertriglyceridemia and persistent hypercholesterolemia. Based on clinical, microscopic, biochemical, and IHC results, the final interpretation was an indolent dermal histiocytic proliferation of macrophage origin, with a preference for cutaneous xanthoma or reactive dermal fibrohistiocytoma.     

Dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide level and xylanase supplementation influence performance,egg quality and nutrient utilization in laying hens fed wheat-based diets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide (sNSP) content and xylanase supplementation on production performance, egg quality parameters, and nutrient digestibility in Hy-line Brown layers from 25 to 32 wk of age. A total of 144 Hy-line Brown laying hens (25 wk of age) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 wheat-based dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 36 replicates of individual hens per treatment. The diets were formulated to contain either a high or low sNSP level (at 13.3 or 10.8 g/kg) and were supplemented with either 0 or 12,000 BXU/kg exogenous xylanase. Birds were fed these treatment diets for an 8-wk period, and hen production performance, including daily egg production, average egg weight, daily egg mass, feed conversion ratio and proportion of dirty and abnormal eggs were measured at bird age 25 to 28 wk and 29 to 32 wk. An interaction between sNSP content of the diet and xylanase supplementation was observed on daily egg production from 25 to 28 wk of age (P = 0.018); birds fed the high sNSP diet without xylanase had lower egg production than those fed any other treatment. An interaction between the 2 dietary factors was also observed on hen weight gain at 29 to 32 wk of age (P = 0.014), with birds fed the low sNSP diet with 12,000 BXU/kg xylanase presenting greater weight gain compared to those fed the high sNSP diet with 12,000 BXU/kg xylanase. Feed intake at 29 to 32 wk of age was reduced by xylanase supplementation (P = 0.047). Xylanase supplementation also increased yolk colour score at both 28 and 32 wk of age, and decreased yolk weight at 32 wk of age (P = 0.014, 0.037 and 0.013, respectively). Birds fed the low sNSP diet presented lower protein digestibility (P = 0.024) than those fed the high sNSP diet. Additionally, birds fed high sNSP presented higher shell reflectivity at both 28 and 32 wk of age (P = 0.05 and 0.036, respectively). The influence of duration of feeding the treatment diets on egg quality was also determined. It was observed that egg weight, yolk weight and yolk colour score consistently increased over time, regardless of experimental treatment effects. In contrast, Haugh Unit and albumen height significantly decreased throughout the study period in all treatments, although this was less pronounced in hens fed the treatment with high sNSP and no supplemental xylanase. A reduction in shell breaking strength over time was observed only in hens fed the treatments without xylanase addition, and shell thickness was improved over time only in birds fed the low sNSP diet with xylanase. The impacts of the dietary treatments were largely inconsistent in this study, so a solid conclusion cannot be drawn. However, these findings do indicate that dietary NSP level influences layer production performance, and thus should be considered when formulating laying hen diets. It also proved that further research is warranted into how to optimize the benefits of xylanase application in laying hens.     

Evaluating critical factors to the economic feasibility of semi-intensive pig rearing in western Kenya

The purpose of this research is to assess how season, ADG, opportunity costs of farm-grown feeds, pig weight, and butcher price variation impact the economic potential of semi-intensive pig rearing. We developed a unique algorithm that emulates least-cost pig feeding and used it to assess the impact of the aforementioned factors on farmers’ maximum revenue and profit potential when pigs are sold to local butchers in western Kenya. When considered as independent factors influencing feed costs to grow a pig to a market weight of 30 kg, variation in ADG, opportunity cost of feed, and weaning season resulted in feed cost differences of up to 982, 947, and 379 Kenyan shillings (KES), respectively. The variation in revenues attributable to butcher or butcher negotiation and seasonal variance of butcher prices for a 30 kg pig was 744 and 225 KES, respectively. Feed items most commonly chosen for least-cost feed rations were small dried fish, cooked ground maize, whole maize, millet, cassava foliage, sweet potato vines, bone meal, avocado, and mango. Smallholder farmers who can feed pigs to reach higher ADG have lower opportunity costs of feeds and/or who effectively bargain with butchers can benefit from semi-intensive pig rearing. Farmers without access to at least some zero-cost feeds and farmers with opportunity costs of feeds exceeding 50 % of the market price will not earn positive returns from semi-intensive pig rearing.     

Estimating land and conservation management costs: The first step in designing a stewardship program for the Northern Territory

Stewardship programs providing financial incentives for conservation on private lands are increasingly common. We estimate the potential costs of a stewardship program in the Daly River catchment, Northern Territory, which would underwrite the cost difference between routine land management and the additional requirements of conservation management on grazing properties. Based on survey responses from landholders, we first assess the current costs of land management in the catchment and use regression to identify key drivers of spatial variation in both routine land management costs and conservation-oriented management costs. We define conservation-oriented management costs as the costs required to meet objectives for both routine property management and conservation. We then estimate the additional costs of conservation management over and above routine land management at an average of $1.99 per ha. We conclude that, if the most cost-effective properties are targeted, an annual budget of $1 million would support stewardship agreements covering 90% of the catchment’s area. Much of the cost-effectiveness of stewardship payments would come from the significant economies of scale in managing large pastoral properties and leveraging the costs of routine land management already met by landholders.     

Observation of backward pulse propagation through a medium with a negative group velocity

The nature of pulse propagation through a material with a negative value of the group velocity has been mysterious, as simple models seem to predict that pulses will propagate "backward" through such a material. Using an erbium-doped optical fiber and measuring the time evolution of the pulse intensity at many points within the fiber, we demonstrate that the peak of the pulse does propagate backward inside the fiber, even though the energy flow is always in the forward direction.     

Squamous cell carcinoma and suspect peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a 10-year-old Paint horse

A round mass 4 cm in diameter was present on the proximal rostro-lateral border of the right pinna of a 10-year-old, gelded, Paint horse. A preliminary histopathological diagnosis of a potential squamous cell carcinoma and peripheral nerve sheath tumor was made, and the lesion was resected at the base of the lateral edge of the ear.     

CALLAS理念中的种子质量

我们认识到,要对种子进行处理,并不是只用来进行种子的培育,也不是去买种子、卖种子,我们就是从种子公司那边拿来种子,来处理它,按照客户的想法去做,然后把种子交给他们.