Viral antibodies in bovine fetuses in Argentina

In order to establish the prevalence of viral infections of the bovine fetus in Argentina, a serological survey for antibodies against viral agents currently affecting cattle in this country was conducted. Antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine leukaemia virus (BLV), bovine rotavirus (BRV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) were investigated in a total of 315 fetal serum samples. Conventional techniques were used: indirect immunofluorescence (FMDV, BHV-1, BVDv and BCV), radial immunodiffusion (BLV), ELISA (BRV) and haemagglutination inhibition (PI-3). Antibodies against BHV-1, BVDV and PI-3 were detected in samples from fetuses in the second and third trimester of gestation, with a prevalence of 1·21 per cent (two of 165), 2·03 per cent (four of 197) and 5·08 per cent (nine of 177), respectively. Either antibodies or non-antibody factors able to bind to BRV and Bcv antigens were detected with a prevalence of 2·44 per cent (five of 205) and 4·54 per cent (five of 110), respectively. In addition, 14·68 per cent of non-specific inhibitors of PI-3 mediated haemagglutination were found. No seropositives against FMDV and BLV were detected.     

An Epidemiologic and Economic Study of Respiratory Diseases in Two Conventional Danish Swine Herds. II: Associations Between Lesions Present at Slaughter and Mean Daily Gains During Specific Intervals of the Growth Period

A total of 578 slaughter pigs from 2 Danish conventional farrow-to-finish operations (Herds a and B) were followed from an age of 14 days to slaughter. Pigs were weighed at 3 weeks intervals and at slaughter and extended post mortem examination of the plucks was done. Regression models with second and third order interaction terms demonstrated that Mycoplasma-like pneumonia, complicated pneumonia, anterio-ventral pleuritis, pericarditis, fissures and atrophic rhinitis, separately and through interactions with other lesions, significantly reduced mean daily gains during specific intervals of the growth period in 2 conventional swine herds. It is likely that the periods of reduced growth reflect the times when the diseases were in the acute and early recovery stages. Maximum estimated reductions in daily gains associated with the combined lesions were 82 grams and 283 grams during the interval 120-140 days in Herds A and B, respectively. Although dorso-caudal pleuritis and parietal pleuritis had minor negative effects during 2 intervals neither had a significant adverse effect on total growth rate in either herd (Paisley et al. 1993). R² values for the regression models were less than 0.27 showing that the lesions present at slaughter explained less than 27% of the variation in herd mean daily gains during any interval.     

Continuous feed medication with nitroscanate for the removal of Hymenolepis nana in naturally infected mice and rats.

In this study, the effects of nitroscanate were investigated in naturally acquired Hymenolepis nana infections in rats and mice. The natural infection was determined by centrifugal flotation technique of faeces. The infected rats and mice were divided into two treatment and two control groups (N = 10). Nitroscanate at the dose of 50 mg/kg per day was given in the diet for 4 days. The rats and mice of treatment groups were necropsied on 7th day after the last treatment together with those of control groups. Following necrospsy, in the treatment group a geometric mean of 1.07 Hymenolepis nana were recovered out of ten mice, compared with 8.14 in the control group. In the rat treatment group no Hymenolepis nana were found in ten rats, while the control group showed a geometric mean of 6.23. Nitroscanate was found to be effective 100% and 86.8% at the treatment of H. nana infection in rats and mice respectively.     

Immunohistochemical localization of matrix proteins in the femoral joint cartilage of growing commercial pigs.

The immunocytochemical localization of several matrix macromolecules, including collagen type II and proteoglycans, in the distal femoral articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex of 15 commercial pigs between the age of 6 and 18 weeks was studied. Early osteochondrotic lesions, i.e., chondronecrosis in the resting region of the growth cartilage, as well as extensions of necrotic cartilage into the subchondral bone, were present in all animals, except those 6 weeks old. A battery of antibodies were used for identification of macromolecules in the matrix at different stages of the disease. Chondrocyte involvement in the process could be studied by identifying the sequence of alterations in matrix macromolecules as the lesion developed. The immunostaining for aggrecan (large aggregating proteoglycans), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, fibronectin, collagen type II, fibromodulin, and biglycan was more prominent in the areas of chondronecrosis, extending into the subchondral bone, than in the normal resting region. This altered pattern of matrix macromolecules resembled that of the matrix of the proliferative chondrocytes and suggests that the chondrocyte maturation had stopped in the proliferative zone. The matrix in the areas of chondronecrosis in the resting region resembled that in the normal resting region. Thus the chondronecrosis appears to have preceded alterations of the matrix composition. The antibody reactivity pattern was, however, altered in the matrix of the clustered chondrocytes in areas of chondronecrosis. Staining in these regions suggested a more prominent appearance of fibronectin and collagen type II than in the normal matrix of the resting region. These changes are suggestive of attempt to repair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ochratoxigenic moulds and ochratoxin A in forages and grain feeds.

The contamination of forages and grain feeds with ochratoxigenic moulds and ochratoxin A was examined. The investigations were carried out over a period of three years in all seasons. Feeds were found to be contaminated with moulds at a high level throughout the three research years. The highest percentage (95 to 100) of contaminated feed samples was noticed during the second year. Total viable counts of moulds established in 1 g of feed samples ranged from 0.5 to 7.8 x 10(6). Penicillium spp. were dominant in mycopopulations isolated from feeds. Ochratoxin-A producing moulds were present permanently. In the summer period of the second research year as much as 94% of the feed samples were contaminated by ochratoxigenic Penicillium species. P. verrucosum var. cyclopium P. verrucosum var. verrucosum, P. commune and P. chrysogenum, i.e. ochratoxin-producing moulds, were the most prevalent Penicillium species throughout the three-year investigation. Ochratoxin A was found in various feeds in all seasons, except in summer of the first research year. Concentrations of the toxin varied from traces to 400 micrograms/kg. It occurred consistently in the same types of feeds (hay, dried alfalfa, fresh alfalfa, concentrate, pelleted sugar beet pulp, corn silage).     

The extraction particles from winter rapeseed with different glucosinolate fractions in swine with regard to the iodine supply. 3. Apparent digestibility of crude nutrients with special regard to the carbohydrate and nitrogen balance]

In two digestibility and N-balance experiments the following solvent extracted meals were examined in a grain (barley and wheat in equal parts) or in a starch diet with four female pigs/group fitted with urethra catheters during the 5 days sampling period: 48% soyabean meal (SBM) (1), 24% conventional rapeseed meal (RSM) (2), 24 (3) or 48% (4) RSM from a newly bred low glucosinolate variety, groups 1 to 4 with grain, 48% low glucosinolate RSM (5) or 48% SBM (6) both with starch. In numeric order of the groups 88, 85, 86, 84, 79 and 89% N were digested. Pigs responded to the additional faecal N excretion from RSM diets by a lower urinary N excretion and thus they reached the N-balance of the animals fed on SBM. In numeric order of the groups 86, 79, 80, 73, 73 and 92% of the organic matter of the solvent extracted meals were digested. In comparison with SBM even 48% RSM in the feed significantly lowered the digestibility of organic matter. Using detergents the additional faecal organic matter excretion of RSM versus SBM could quantified as two third lignin. In the case of 24% RSM in the diet--i.e. 15% of the carbohydrates given--the carbohydrate digestibility is estimated with a high error, that an energetic feed value should not calculated. Investigating 48% SBM or RSM respectively in a grain diet the net energy content was 9.8 MJ (666 Energetic Feed Units, EFU pig) or 8.3 MJ (569 EFU pig)/kg dry matter (DM). Based on the starch diet, however, little relevant for estimation of normal pig diets, there were evaluated 10.6 MJ (720 EFU pig) for SBM and 8.3 MJ (567 EFU pig) net energy/kg DM for RSM.     

Chronic valvular disease in the cavalier King Charles spaniel in Sweden.

The prevalence of chronic valvular disease was studied in 494 cavalier King Charles spaniels with a mean (+/- sd) age of 3.0 +/- 2.7 years. Cardiac murmurs were detected in 65 (13.2 per cent) of the dogs. Among 61 cavalier King Charles spaniels with a mean age of 6.4 +/- 2.8 years, cardiac murmurs were detected in 32 (52 per cent). In both groups of dogs the prevalence of cardiac murmurs was low among dogs younger than three years (1.9 per cent) but increased with age (P < 0.001). The estimated ages at which 50 per cent of the dogs had developed murmurs were 7.5 and 6.2 years, respectively. When 39 of the 61 dogs were re-examined three years later, cardiac murmurs were detected in 28 (72 per cent), and the intensities of the murmurs had generally increased (P < 0.05). Nine (28 per cent) of the dogs which had previously had murmurs had been euthanased for signs of congestive heart failure whereas none of the dogs which had been free of murmurs had died from congestive heart failure. Animal insurance statistics from 1982 to 1990 (1983 excluded) for dogs less than 10 years old showed that claims for veterinary care or death or euthanasia were five times more common in the cavalier King Charles spaniel than in dachshunds (P < 0.001) and eight times more common than the mean for all other insured breeds (P < 0.001).     

Globular periodontal cement dysplasia in a black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)]

A globular periodontal cementous dysplasia in a 18 years old black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is diagnosed by gross pathology, X-ray, and by histological examinations. The findings are discussed.     

Association between equine leucocyte antigens (ELA) and equine sarcoid tumors in the population of Swedish halfbreds and some of their families

The distribution of equine leucocyte antigens (ELA) in Swedish Halfbreds affected by sarcoid tumors was determined and compared with that of control horses of the same breed. ELA-haplotype A3W13 appeared more frequently in affected horses, resulting in a chi 2 value of 4.45 (P = 0.034) for A3 and 9.05 (P = 0.0026) for W13, respectively. The relative risk factor (RR) could be estimated to 2.13 and 3.00 for A3 and W13, respectively. The etiology fraction (EF) was calculated to 28% and 37% for A3 and W13, respectively. Thus, in the population of Swedish Halfbreds approximately 40% (at least) of the disease appeared to be associated with the genetic background of the affected horse. Family studies established that ELA are codominantly expressed and inherited as simple Mendelian traits and that sarcoids among offspring are significantly associated with one of the parental haplotypes (P = 0.00942). This parental haplotype does not always include A3W13. These results confirm and extend previous results from other breeds and strongly suggest the existence of a predisposition for sarcoids among horses, that is due to an autosomal, dominant, ELA-linked gene with incomplete penetrance. In extension, this indicates a multifactorial etiology of equine sarcoids (additional non-MHC gene(s) and/or environmental factors).