Acute Insulin-induced Hypoglycaemia does not alter IGF-1 and LH Release in Cyclic Mares

Lactation in the mare is associated with changes in the release of metabolic as well as reproductive hormones. Plasma glucose concentration is constantly reduced in lactating compared with non-lactating mares. Several metabolic signals have been proposed to link nutrition and somatic metabolism with reproductive function. The following experiment was performed to study the effect of acute hypoglycaemia on the release of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in cyclic mares. Different doses of insulin (0.1 and 0.2 IU/kg body weight) were given to induce a decrease in plasma glucose concentration, as existent in lactating mares. All horses treated with insulin developed a hypoglycaemia over a time period of nearly 10 h. The IGF-1 and LH were analysed before and after insulin administration. At no point of time, a significant difference between the two insulin treatments and the control treatment was observed. Therefore, the hypoglycaemic horse is apparently able to provide the brain with sufficient glucose. Short-term hypoglycaemia does not affect the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis, and concentrations of IGF-1 and LH remained stable during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. An acute change in plasma glucose concentration is thus not or at least not the only metabolic signal that links nutrition and somatic metabolism with reproductive function in the horse mare.     

Hepatic myelolipoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a cat

Hepatic myelolipoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed in an 11-year-old, desexed female Persian cat. The cat was initially referred for investigation of tachypnoea and dyspnoea. Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia is a common incidental finding in cats and is usually asymptomatic. Myelolipoma is an extremely rare benign tumour, composed of extramedullary haematopoietic cells and adipose tissue. Myelolipomas are hypothesised to result from metaplastic alteration, rather than a neoplastic process, although this theory cannot be substantiated. The present case is only the fourth report of such an unusual occurrence in cats and displays significant differences to previous reports. Hepatic entrapment and burgeoning of the mass within the pericardial sac resulted in cardiac tamponade and overt signs of right-sided cardiac failure. Surgical intervention was successful and despite concerns regarding the cat's clinical presentation and the gross appearance of the lesion(s), a good long-term outcome is anticipated.     

Pathogenicity of an avian influenza virus serotype H9N2 in chickens

A low pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV) serotype H9N2 affected many commercial flocks in the Middle East in late 1990s and early 2000s. Due to the varying pathogenicity ofAIV H9N2 reported in previous studies, this study was carried out to determine the pathogenicity of a Jordanian isolate of H9N2 in broiler and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Mild tracheal rales were observed in the broilers but not in the SPF birds starting 3 days postinfection (DPI) and until the end of the experiment at 16 DPI. Infected chickens had gross and histologic changes limited to the respiratory system (sinuses, trachea, lungs, and air sacs) characterized by congestion and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. However, the lesions in the broiler chickens were more severe than those in the SPF chicks. Furthermore, the virus caused significant (P = 0.004) reduction (230 g) in average body weight of the infected broiler group compared with the uninfected broiler group. Both broiler and SPF-infected groups seroconverted, and they had a geometric mean titer of 2(8.2) and 2(9.3), respectively, on the hemagglutination inhibition test at 16 DPI. Cloacal virus shedding was not detected by 9 DPI and 15 DPI in broiler and SPF-infected groups, respectively. This study demonstrated the pathogenic nature of the local Jordanian H9N2 isolate and the variation from what it has been reported in other countries of the region. Regional effort should be directed to start an eradication program of this disease because of its pathogenicity for chickens, wide distribution, and possible interference with surveillance for H5N1 serotype.     

Duration of the persistent activity of moxidectin against Haemonchus contortus in sheep

SUMMARY Weaned lambs were infected with Haemonchus contortus 35,28,21,14 and 7 days after treatment with moxidectin at 0.2 mg/kg and 35 and 14 days after treatment with ivermectin at the same dose rate. Worm counts 14 days after infection showed that moxidectin prevented the establishment of over 99% of infective larvae for 28 days and reduced the establishment rate at 35 days by 96%, relative to ivermectin. There was no difference in the protective efficacy of ivermectin at 14 or 35 days. The persistence of moxidectin is likely to provide advantages in nematode control, particularly when used as a strategic early summer treatment or as a pre-lambing treatment to ewes. Implications of the persistent activity of moxidectin for the development of resistance during the decay phase are discussed.     

Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Pythiosis in Draft Horses: Report of 33 Cases in Egypt

A total of 33 draft horses suffering from cutaneous pythiosis were referred to Mansoura Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Egypt, between October 2008 and January 2011. The animals presented ulcerative, granulomatous lesions located at the ventral aspect of the thorax (n = 10), abdomen (n = 14), forelimbs (n = 5), hind limbs (n = 2), and presternal region (n = 1) and at withers (n=1). The animals suffered from ulcerations composed of whitish yellow tissue having numerous draining tracts that discharge serosanguineous or bloody exudates. Initial diagnosis was based on location, gross lesion, and presence of kunkers. Histopathological evaluation revealed an eosinophilic granulomatous reaction associated with intralesional hyphae characteristic of Pythium insidiosum visualized by Gomori methenamine silver stain. The outcome of surgical excision revealed complete cure in 24 cases. Euthanasia was indicated in 9 cases.     

A national serological survey to verify Australia's freedom from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

Objective To provide serological data to support Australia's claim of freedom from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
Design A national serological survey was designed to provide 99% confidence of detecting at least one infected pig herd in Australia, assuming that at least 5% of herds would have been exposed to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and that at least 25% of the 'finisher' pigs in these herds would have antibodies to the virus.
Procedure A two-stage testing regime was used. All samples were tested with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. If assay reactions were found, all samples from the herd were to be tested using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay.
Results Of the 875 samples from 163 herds from all States in Australia, there was some evidence of reactivity in only four samples from four herds on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further testing using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay according to the study protocol demonstrated that the reactions were not due to the presence of specific porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus antibodies in the sera.
Conclusion The results of this study support the view that Australian pigs are free of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.     

Investigation of irrigation performance at the tertiary canal level in the Nile Delta of Egypt

Paddy and Water Environment - One of the objectives of the Irrigation Improvement Project (IIP) in the Nile Delta, Egypt, is to facilitate equitable water distribution and improve on-farm...     

The potential of middle eastern flora as a source of new safe bio-acaricides to control<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus cinnabarinus</Emphasis>, the carmine spider mite

Twenty-nine plant extracts of local species were evaluated for their potential as a source of bioactive ingredients with significant acaricidal activity that could lead to the development of new and safe bio-acaricides. The crude extracts (70% ethanol) of these plants were tested for their acaricidal activity against the carmine spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus in a bioassay under controlled conditions. Mortality, repellency, and the number of eggs laid were measured. Extracts fromEucalyptus camaldulensis andInula viscosa caused more than 25% mortality. Sixteen plant extracts showed significant repellency compared with the control. The six best extracts, resulting in more than 75% repellency, were fromAllium sativum, Capparis spinosa, Cupressus sempervirens, Lupinus pilosus, Rhus coriaria andTamarix aphylla. Extracts from 16 plants were found to cause a significant reduction in the number of eggs laid compared with the control. The greatest reduction was achieved by extracts fromC. spinosa, Cyperus rotundus, E. camaldulensis, L. pilosus, Punica granatum, R. coriaria andT. aphylla. A relatively negative fit was found between the mean number of repelled mites and the number of eggs laid (r=−0.65), which might indicate that most repelled mites were unable to lay eggs before leaving the leaf discs of the bioassay. Our results show that several plant extracts have good potential for acaricidal activity and are worth further investigation. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 16, 2003.     

Assessment of phenotypic and molecular diversity in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm using morpho-biochemical attributes and SSR markers

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Soybean is a high-nutritional crop that provides a sustainable source of dietary protein and edible oil for human consumption and animal diet. In this...