Versuche mit einem Prostaglandinanalog zur Zyklussynchronisation beim Rind unter hormonanalytischer und klinischer Kontrolle

1. Durch intramuskulare Injektion von 0,5 mg des Prostaglandinanalogs ICI 80 996 beim Rind während der Gelbkörperphase des Zyklus kann nach 15–24 Stunden ein Abfall der Progesteronwerte unter 1 ng/ml Blutplasma und damit eine nachhaltige Luteolyse erreicht werden. Die sich anschließende Brunst ist ovulatorisch und feral. Das Präparat wird ohne Nebenwirkungen vertragen. 2. Durch zweimalige Injektion (d. h. je 1 mal 0,5 mg i. m.) im Abstand von 11 Tagen kann dieser Luteolyseeffekt zu Brunstsynchronisationen herangezogen werden; dabei ist eine Zykluskontrolle oder Brunstbeobachtung nicht erforderlich. 3. in 8 Feldversuchen konnte bei 213 Tieren ein Synchronisationserfolg von 90,6 % und, nach KB in der 1. induzierten Brunst, ein Konzeptionsergebnis von 54,7 % (bzw. von 60,1 %, wenn man die Auswertung auf die erfolgreich synchronisierten Tiere beschränkt) erzielt werden. Die KB bei 119 nicht behandelten Kontrolltieren, die in 5 dieser 8 Versuche zur Verfugung standen, war zu 60,3 % erfolgreich. 4. In einem Problembestand konnte die Fertilitätslage durch das biotechnische Vorgehen der Prostaglandinanwendung unmittelbar nicht verbessert werden 5. Die palpatorischen Ovarbefunde zum Zeitpunkt der KB ergaben, daß Tiere mit aprungbereiten Follikeln'zu 65 %, mit kleinen, nicht reifen Follikeln zu 50,8 % und mit bereitsgesprungenen Follikeln zu 15,8 % konzipierten. 6. Die bei einem Teil der Versuche eingesetzte zusdtzliche Behandlung mit 1,0 bzw. 1,5 mg des Gonadotropin-Releasinghormons (LRH-Hoechst 471) i. m. zum Zeitpunkt der Besamung zeigte bezüglich des Konzeptionsergebnisses eine positive Tendenz.     

Multispecies and multiple anthelmintic resistance on cattle nematodes in a farm in Argentina: the beginning of high resistance?

There are very few resistance records on cattle nematodes. South American successive records have been increasing rapidly since the year 2000. In Argentina, increasing dissatisfaction based on the exclusive use of macrocyclic lactones has prompted the use of benzimidazoles in the Pampean region. The studied farm is located in the Argentina humid Pampas and had apparently poor results after anthelmintic treatments. Evaluation of resistance was firstly based on faecal egg reduction after treatment in November 2001 and June 2002 and was complemented with worm counts obtained by necropsy in June 2002. The study reports that the reduction of faecal egg excretion after benzimidazole (reduction 31-79%) or ivermectin treatments (76-97%) in November 2001 was insufficient and these poor results were confirmed in June 2002 (benzimidazoles (65-89%) and ivermectin (47-77%)). Several methods for evaluating faecal egg count reduction were performed and yielded different results. A new method based on the estimated faecal egg counts (corrected from the initial faecal egg counts and animal type using a general linear model) was used and gave higher flexibility in the interpretation of putative resistance to anthelmintics. From necropsy results, it could be concluded that Cooperia oncophora was resistant to avermectins and benzimidazoles and that Cooperia punctata, Ostertagia ostertagi and Haemonchus placei were resistant to benzimidazoles. This case of multispecies and multidrug resistance is probably not unique and could reflect the emergence of resistances in Argentina. This emergence is probably due to the intensive use of anthelmintics, the absence of refugia, and the frequent circulation of infected cattle.     

Nutritional evaluation of egg byproducts in diets for early-weaned pigs

A total of 272 Cotswold pigs (17 +/- 1 d) were utilized in three experiments to evaluate the nutritive value of spray-dried egg proteins for early-weaned pigs. In all experiments, pigs were stratified by sex and initial BW and then assigned randomly to experimental diets. In Exp. 1, four corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 7% of either spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP), spray-dried technical albumen (SDTA), SDTA stored at 70 degrees C for 3 d (SDTA-ht), or spray-dried whole egg (SDWE) were assigned to five pens each with four pigs for a 3-wk study period. Average daily gain, ADFI, and gain:feed ratio (G:F) were determined. At the end of wk 3, five pigs per treatment were killed to determine ileal AA and energy digestibilities, as well as Enterobacteriaceae counts. Compared with the SDPP diet, ADG and G:F were lower (P < 0.05) for SDTA-, SDTA-ht- and SDWE-containing diets. Apparent ileal digestibilities of cystine, histidine, isoleucine, methionine, and threonine in the SDPP diet were lower (P < 0.05) than in diets containing spray-dried egg products. Ileal digestible energy content did not differ (P > 0.05) in all diets (3.1 to 3.2 Mcal/kg). Enterobacteriaceae counts were lower in the SDTA-ht diet than in either the SDTA or SDWE diets (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, the effect of substituting SDPP with varying levels of SDTA was investigated. Diets were randomly assigned to five pens (except for the 100% SDTA diet, which had four pens), each with four pigs. Average daily gain, ADFI, and G:F decreased linearly as the level of SDTA was increased in the diet (P < 0.05). Replacing SDPP with SDTA at 25 or 50% had no effect on pig performance (P > 0.10). In Exp. 3, phase I diets containing 0, 25, or 50% SDTA in place of SDPP (7% of the diet) were each assigned at random to eight pens each with four pigs for a 14-d period, after which all pigs were switched to a common phase II diet lacking both SDPP and SDTA for another 14 d. Average daily feed intake and ADG did not differ among all diets in phase I and II and overall (d 0 to 28). Pigs fed the diet containing 50% SDTA in phase I had lower (P < 0.05) G:F than those fed the SDPP diet. The results indicate that technical albumen can replace 25 to 50% of SDPP in early-weaned pig diets without compromising performance, and further suggest that heat-treated SDTA may affect intestinal microbial population in pigs.     

Testing for general knowledge of dog owners--requirements for courses and examinations

The expert group of the German Veterinary Chamber has established a frame-work of basic knowledge for education and examination of normal dog owners together with other groups. The most important topics of the theoretical part are: Ethology (social-behaviour, communication dog-human and dog-dog, education, dog-training, learning, psychology, fear, aggression), keeping and caring (prevention, first aid, handling), nutrition and health (diets, vaccination, parasites, diseases), breeding (sexual differences, knowledge about dog-breeds and their needs), dogs in public and family (laws, interaction, obedience, control. The practical part concentrates on the ability of the owner to influence and control his dog, practical handling and the dogs' obedience. Minimum age of owners is 18 years, the dog should be between 18 and 24 months old. The owner has to pass the theoretical exam only once in his/her life, the practical-part has to be repeated with every new dog older than 18 months.     

Theileriosis in a Missouri beef herd caused by Theileria buffeli: case report, herd investigation, ultrastructure, phylogenetic analysis, and experimental transmission

A 6-year-old Simmental cow infected with Theileria buffeli had a clinical disease characterized by theilerial parasitemia, macrocytic normochromic anemia with acanthocytosis and spherocytosis, lymphoid hyperplasia (lymphocytosis, edematous lymphadenomegaly), dysproteinemia, evidence of liver disease, and a low serum antibody titer against T. buffeli. The cow was in a herd in which all cattle originated in Missouri; 22/75 (29%) of cattle had a theilerial parasitemia and 26/75 (35%) had titers to T. buffeli of > or =1:160. Classification of the Missouri bovine organism as T. buffeli was based on DNA sequencing and comparison to sequences for T. buffeli and Theileria sp. type A obtained from GenBank. Intraerythrocytic veils and piroplasms were seen during transmission electron microscopy. The organism was successfully transmitted to two splenectomized calves, which developed mild anemias while parasitemic. Blood from the second calf was used as the source of T. buffeli antigen for an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Theilerial isolates from a Missouri white-tailed deer were also sequenced and resembled Theileria sp. types F and G and were not consistent with the bovine organism.     

Oral eosinophilic granulomas in tigers (Panthera tigris)--a collection of 16 cases.

Oral eosinophilic granulomas were diagnosed in 16 tigers (Panthera tigris). All lesions were located on the hard or soft palate and typically consisted of flat or slightly raised circular ulcers. Histologic features of these lesions were essentially identical to those seen in oral eosinophilic granulomas of domestic cats and dogs. No clinical signs were noted in eight cases, though various degrees of inappetence, excessive salivation, and dysphagia were noted in the other eight tigers. Six cases were not treated. Treatment for the remaining 10 cases centered on corticosteroids and additional treatments included surgical removal, cryotherapy, antibiotics, and chlorpheniramine. Treatment with corticosteroids did appear to be effective in some cases, though lesions would worsen after cessation of therapy and no cases were cured. In addition, three cases developed complications possibly related to this corticosteroid therapy. The etiology of these lesions remains unknown, though an underlying allergic condition is likely.     

Bacterial colonization affects early organ and gastrointestinal growth in the neonate

Enteral nutrition coupled with bacterial colonization has been shown to have major functional and developmental effects during the postnatal period of neonates. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive premature pig model to elucidate the specific developmental impact of initial bacterial colonization on premature neonates by comparing germ-free and conventionally reared pigs. Thirty-eight preterm pigs (93% gestation) were delivered via caesarean section and reared in either germ-free or conventional isolators for 40–48 h. Pigs were fed either infant milk formula or sow's colostrum. Enteral feeding for two days had trophic effects on gastrointestinal weights, particularly for pancreas, stomach and small intestine (SI). The absence of bacteria in formula fed pigs resulted in a mucosa that appeared more robust and had higher weights for both SI and pancreas, compared to conventional formula fed pigs (P < 0.05). Colostrum fed pigs also had markedly increased mucosal SI proportions, lung and spleen weights compared to conventional formula fed pigs. Colostrum fed pigs and germ-free pigs were similar although stomach, pancreas and distal SI weights were highest for germ-free pigs. The results demonstrate that the initial bacterial colonization interacts with diet to modulate the early neonatal organ development, particularly of the GIT.     

Gut growth and glucose tolerance in newborn pigs subjected to prenatal protein restriction and postnatal Glucagon-like Peptides

Fetal protein restriction is potentially associated with organ dysfunctions after birth (e.g. impaired gut growth, glucose tolerance and pancreatic β-cell function). Just after birth, gut growth and maturation is stimulated by enteral food intake, and inhibited by total parenteral nutrition (TPN), in part mediated via differential release of insulino- and intestino-tropic hormones like the Glucagon-Like Peptides 1 and 2 (GLP-1, GLP-2). We hypothesized that short-term co-infusion of GLP-1 and GLP-2 would stimulate pancreatic and intestinal growth in newborn TPN-fed pigs subjected to prenatal protein restriction. Two sows were fed a protein-restricted diet (PR: 8% crude protein during last 50% of gestation) while a third sow was fed a control diet (C: 15% crude protein). PR pigs were killed either at birth (n = 7) or after 3 days TPN with (n = 6) or without (n = 4) intravenous infusion of a mixture of synthetic human GLP-1_7–37 and GLP-2_1–33 (each 50 μg/kg/d). At birth, PR piglets did not show reduced body weight, relative to controls (1.45 vs. 1.50 kg), but significantly reduced weight of the small intestine (18.0 ± 0.6 vs. 21.9 ± 0.5 g/kg, P < 0.001) and a marginally reduced pancreas weight (0.85 ± 0.02 vs. 0.93 ± 0.04 g/kg, P = 0.10). Co-infusion GLP-1 and GLP-2 into PR pigs resulted in increased basal glucose levels (5.3 vs. 4.0 mM), and glucose-stimulated insulin release, but did not have any significant effect on body weight, or weight of internal organs (heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, stomach, colon, liver, intestine, pancreas). We conclude that short-term (3 days) infusion of native GLP-1 and GLP-2 does not stimulate gut growth or glucose tolerance in TPN-fed piglets born from protein-restricted mothers. Moderate maternal protein restriction does however cause significant reduction in intestinal growth in newborn piglets which may decrease the neonatal digestive capacity.