MINERALIZED ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN A CAT

In radiographs of a domestic short haired cat of unknown age, mineralization was identified in the pulmonary parenchyma, peripheral pulmonary vessels, the aortic outflow tract, aortic valve, celiac artery, cranial mesenteric artery, and the internal and external iliac arteries. The diffuse arterial mineralization was characterized histopathologically as arteriosclerosis. This is the first report of mineralized arteriosclerosis in a cat with corresponding radiographic signs. The arteriosclerosis is thought to be due to systemic hypertension but a definitive cause for the profound mineralization was not found. Causes of soft tissue mineralization are reviewed.     

不同光周期下ISA褐蛋鸡松果腺GnRH—ⅠmRNA表达的变化

采用分子生物学方法研究了不同光周期处理的ISA褐蛋鸡松果腺GnRH-Ⅰ mRNA表达的变化.77日龄ISA褐蛋鸡60只,随机分成长光和短光组,正式试验期67 d.人工拉光,短光组日固定8 h,长光组第1周8.5 h,以后每周增加0.5 h.以短光组见第1枚卵结束试验(143日龄).分别于105和136日龄每组随机各取6只蛋鸡采样(长光组约10%开产).结果表明:短光组鸡群见蛋日龄较长光组延后12 d,136日龄育成体重极显著低于长光组(P<0.01).105日龄长光组GnRH-Ⅰ mRNA表达的丰度高于短光组,但差异不显著(P>0.05);136日龄长光组GnRH-Ⅰ mRNA表达的丰度显著低于短光组(P<0.05).随着日龄的增加,长光组GnRH-Ⅰ mRNA表达丰度显著降低(P<0.05),而短光组的表达丰度逐渐上升但差异不显著(P<0.05).由此得出,短光组的GnRH-Ⅰ mRNA表达峰值及性成熟均较长光组延后出现.     

Dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in cats

The dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous (IV) buprenorphine were evaluated in cats. Thermal (TT) and mechanical threshold (MT) devices were used for nociceptive stimulation. After baseline threshold recordings, buprenorphine was administered IV (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg; B1, B2 and B4, respectively) in a randomised, blinded and cross-over study. Data were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05) using 95% confidence intervals (CI). TT increased 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.2 ± 2.7 °C), 2, 3 and 4 h after B1; 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.1 ± 3.9 °C) and 2 h after B2, and 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.4 ± 3.3 °C), 2, 3, 6 and 8 h after B4. MT increased 15 and 45 min after B2 (260 ± 171 mmHg), and 30 (209 ± 116 mmHg) and 45 min and 1 and 2 h after B4. At 45 min, MT values were significantly higher after B2 compared to B1 (P < 0.05). With MT, B2 and B4 produced more antinociception and longer duration of action than B1, respectively. No dose response to thermal stimulation was detected.     

Uterine immune reaction and reproductive performance of sows inseminated with extended semen and infused with pooled whole dead semen

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of infusing whole dead semen (WDS) after AI with diluted commercial semen on uterine inflammatory reaction and embryonic survival rate in gilts. Sixty Yorkshire-Landrace gilts were assigned at their second estrus to one of the following AI treatments: 1) commercial semen adjusted to 1 x 10(9) sperm cells (S1) per dose, followed by an infusion of 80 mL of WDS (S1-WDS); 2) S1 followed by an infusion of 80 mL of Beltsville Thawing Solution (S1-BTS); 3) commercial semen adjusted to 3 x 10(9) sperm cells (S3) per dose, followed by an infusion of 80 mL of BTS (S3-BTS); and 4) a negative control group, in which gilts received two infusions of 80 mL of BTS (BTS). Two days after the first AI, eight gilts from Groups 1, 2, and 4 were slaughtered and reproductive tracts were collected. One horn was cut open longitudinally along the antimesometrial aspect and endometrial samples were taken and immediately frozen for analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance for inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. The other horn was flushed with 20 mL of PBS, and the contents of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined by ELISA. On d 25 after AI, gilts from Groups 1, 2, and 3 were slaughtered and their reproductive tracts were collected to evaluate the number of fetuses and corpora lutea. On d 2 after the first AI, only TGF-beta1 was detected in the flush of all gilts, and no difference was observed between S1-WDS, S1-BTS, and BTS gilts. Endometrial levels of IFN-gamma and interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA were marked in all gilts, but they were not affected by the AI treatments, whereas the mRNA abundances for IL-1 and IL-2 were negligible. Infusions of WDS or BTS after a fertile AI did not affect IGF-I, IGF-I receptor, or IGF-II mRNA levels compared with gilts infused with BTS only, whereas the mRNA abundance for the IGF-II receptor was decreased (P < 0.05) in WDS-infused gilts. In gilts inseminated with S1 doses, infusion of WDS did not affect the number of live embryos. Although infusions of WDS did not affect the mRNA level and secretion of the cytokines measured and did not improve embryonic survival rates, further studies are needed to better understand the influence of semen composition on the uterine response after mating.     

Fleas of elephant shrews (Mammalia, Macroscelididae) and a new host and locality record for Macroscelidopsylla albertyni De Meillon & Marcus, 1958 (Siphonaptera, Chimaeropsyllidae)

Fleas collected from the elephant shrews Elephantulus edwardii (A. Smith, 1839) in the Western Cape Province, Elephantulus myurus Thomas & Schwann, 1906 in Free State Province, and an Elephantulus of undetermined species in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa are recorded in this paper. Five flea species were recovered of which Demeillonia granti (Rothschild, 1904) was the most numerous and prevalent. It was followed by Macroscelidopsylla albertyni De Meillon & Marcus, 1958, collected only from E. edwardii. Both this elephant shrew and the locality are new records for M. albertyni. Chiastopsylla octavii (Rothschild, 1904), Listropsylla agrippinae (Rothschild, 1904), and a female flea of the Ctenocephalides felis group were accidental infestations. The sex ratio of D. granti was 0.86 on both male and female elephant shrews, while that of M. albertyni on E. edwardii was 0.83.     

Effect of salinomycin level on nutrient digestibility and ruminal characteristics of sheep and feedlot performance of cattle

A sheep digestion trial and two feedlot trials with cattle were conducted to study effects of an ionophore, salinomycin, on nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism and cattle performance. In trial 1, addition of salinomycin at 5.5, 11 or 22 ppm to 60% concentrate diets fed to ruminal-cannulated rams had no effect (P greater than .05) on apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) or starch in comparison with control diets. Apparent nitrogen (N) digestibility was increased (P less than .05) in animals fed salinomycin. Salinomycin did not affect total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in the rumen, but resulted in a linear (P less than .05) increase in molar proportion of propionate and a linear (P less than .05) decrease in molar proportions of acetate and butyrate and in acetate:propionate ratios. Shifts in VFA proportions were fully expressed within 4 d after salinomycin was added to the diet. In trial 2, salinomycin was added at 5.5, 11, 22 or 33 ppm to 85% concentrate diets fed to finishing steers. Salinomycin level had a quadratic effect (P less than .05) on daily weight gain and resulted in a quadratic (P less than .05) decrease in feed intake with a resultant average improvement of 10.3% in feed efficiency. Salinomycin (5.5, 11, 16.5 or 22 ppm) and monensin (22 ppm) were added to 90% concentrate diets in trial 3 and produced increased rates of gain without affecting feed intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Diseases diagnosed in broiler chicken flocks in Victoria, Australia, 1977 to 1984

During the period July 1977 to June 1984, specimens from 1402 broiler chicken flocks were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute, Victoria, Australia for investigation of morbidity, mortality and, or, poor performance. A total of 19,450 post mortem examinations, as well as numerous ancillary tests, were performed. The findings on these flocks are presented and the consequences of some particular diseases noted.     

Feeding and drinking behavior of mares and foals with free access to pasture and water

The feeding and drinking behavior of 11 mares and 15 foals living on pasture with free access to water was recorded during 2,340 15-min focal samples taken over 2 yr. Lactating mares on pasture spent about 70% of the day feeding. Foals began feeding on their first day of life. As they grew older, they spent progressively more time feeding, but still spent only 47 +/- 6% of the time feeding by 21 wk of age. Foals fed primarily during the early morning and evening. While grass formed the major proportion of the diet of both foals and mares, they also ate clay, humus, feces, bark, leaves and twigs. Almost all feeding by foals was done while their mothers were feeding. Movement to water sources was frequently, but not invariably, carried out by an entire herd. Frequency (P = .005) but not duration (P greater than .05) of drinking bouts by mares increased as the temperature increased. Frequency was greatest at 30 to 35 C, at which temperature mares drank once every 1.8 h. Frequency of drinking varied with the time of day (P less than .01), being rarest during the early morning (0500 to 0900 h eastern daylight time) and most frequent during the afternoon (1300 to 1700 h). Drinking by foals was very rare. The youngest age at which a foal was observed to drink was 3 wk, and 8 of 15 foals were never observed to drink before weaning.     

Utilization by sheep of whole shelled corn impregnated with urea, calcium, potassium and sulfur

Twenty-eight growing wether lambs (33.9 kg), adapted to urea for 40 d, were used in a metabolism study to determine if urea impregnation of corn could improve urea utilization. The following diets were compared: 1) whole shelled corn alone, 2) whole shelled corn impregnated with urea, calcium (Ca) as CaCl2, potassium (K) as KC2H3O2, and sulfur (S) as Na2S2O3 X 5H2O, 3) whole shelled corn fed with a dry supplement containing urea, Ca, K and S and 4) whole shelled corn fed with a dry supplement containing soybean meal, Ca and K. Additions were made to provide diets containing 12% crude protein, .37% Ca and .50% K. A 10:1 N (from urea) to S ratio, dry basis was used in urea-containing diets. Corn (90% dry matter) in diet 2 was impregnated by spraying 1.1 liters of an aqueous solution containing the above salts per 10 kg of corn dry matter. After mixing for 10 min in a horizontal mixer, the corn was dried in a laboratory grain drying bin with ambient laboratory air for 48 h. Lambs were fed 350 g of the respective diets plus 35 g orchardgrass hay twice daily during a 20-d metabolism trial. On the last day of the trial, ruminal fluid samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h postfeeding and jugular blood was obtained at 0 and 6 h postfeeding. Nitrogen-supplemented diets resulted in increased (P less than .01) absorption and retention of N. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and NFE tended to be greater in lambs fed impregnated corn than in lambs fed the other diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Induction of diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis, in domestic ruminants with cultures of indigenous and exotic isolates of Diplodia maydis

Diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis, principally of cattle, which is characterized by ataxia, paresis and paralysis, was induced in 13 cattle, 16 sheep and 3 goats, by dosing them with Diplodia maydis [= D. zeae (Schw.) Lév.] cultured on sterilized maize seeds. The results of these experiments confirmed the findings of earlier workers that diplodiosis is a mycotoxicosis caused by D. maydis. The intoxication was induced with cultures of South African isolates of D. maydis obtained from local maize, one of which was associated with a suspected field outbreak, and with cultures of isolates from maize imported from the United States of America and Argentina. Other findings emerging from the experiments were, inter alia, that cultures incubated for less than 8 weeks were seemingly non-toxic, that there was little individual variation in response of cattle to cultures of the different toxic isolates or batches of the isolates, that apparent relapses of clinical signs can occur several weeks after dosing had ceased and that a small percentage of animals can show permanent locomotory disturbance. Light microscopical examination revealed no lesions in acutely affected animals, but an extensive laminar subcortical status spongiosis was evident in the cerebrum and cerebellum of a sheep that had been long paralysed and a steer that had permanent locomotory disturbance.