Quantitative analysis of myelinated axons of commissural fibers in the rat brain

In this study, the myelinated axons of the rostrum, genu, truncus and splenium parts of the corpus callosum and of the anterior, posterior and habenular commissures were counted in the rat brain by using a camera lucida. The numerical densities of these axons were compared with each other by means of quantitative analytical statistical methods. In parts of the corpus callosum, a statistically significant difference was found between the rostrum and genu, rostrum and truncus, rostrum and the splenium, genu and truncus, and the genu and splenium. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the truncus and splenium. When comparing the number of myelinated axons of the anterior, posterior and habenular commissures, statistically significant differences were found between the anterior and posterior commissures, and between the anterior and habenular commissures. No statistically significant difference was found between the posterior and habenular commissures. Small sized myelinated axons were present in all parts of the corpus callosum and in the anterior commissure. However, a heterogeneous distribution of myelinated axons was present in the posterior and habenular commissures.     

Investigations into the role of the thyrohyoid muscles in the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate during exercise so that management of this condition could be enhanced. HYPOTHESIS: That the thyrohyoid muscles play an important role in the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship and that dysfunction of these muscles leads to dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during exercise. METHODS: Ten horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill under 4 different treatment conditions: control conditions (n = 10), after resection of thyrohyoid muscles (TH, n = 10), after sham-treatment (n = 5), or after restoration of function of the thyrohyoid muscles with surgical sutures (prosthesis-treatment, n = 6). During trials, the following determinations were made: videoendoscopy of the upper airway, gait frequency and pharyngeal and tracheal static pressures. RESULTS: None of the 10 horses developed DDSP during 2 separate treadmill-exercise trials under the control conditions. Seven of the 10 horses developed DDSP after resection of the TH muscles, 4 of 5 of these horses still experienced DDSP after sham-treatment, but 5 of 6 horses no longer experienced DDSP at exercise after the prosthesis-treatment. There were significant anomalies in airway pressures, respiratory frequency, and occurrence of DDSP in both the TH resection and sham-treatment conditions compared to control conditions. In contrast, no statistical differences were noted in any of the parameters measured between the prosthesis-treatment and control conditions. CONCLUSIONS: That the function of the TH muscles is important to the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship and plays a role in the pathophysiology of exercise-induced DDSP. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Management of horses with DDSP could be enhanced by restoring the function of the TH muscles.     

A retrospective case-control study of horse falls in the sport of horse trials and three-day eventing

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Serious injuries to horses and riders in horse trials (HT) and three-day events (3DE) are usually associated with falls of horses, which invariably involve falls of the riders. Many potential causes for these falls have been discussed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the risk factors for horse falls on the cross-country phase of horse trials and three-day events. METHODS: Using retrospective data, significant risk factors identified with unvariable analysis (P value <0.2) were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Significant risk factors (P value <0.05) were included in the final model. RESULTS: It was revealed that a number of course, obstacle and rider variables were significantly and independently associated with the risk of falling. Falling was associated with obstacles sited downhill (Odds ratio [OR] 8.41) and with obstacles with ditches in front (OR = 5.77). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between course variables and the risk of falling was characterised and showed a significantly increased risk with increasing numbers of jumps on the course and for jumping efforts later in the course. In contrast, after allowing for the total number of obstacles on the course, an increase in the total number of jumping efforts appeared to have a protective effect. A later cross-country start time was associated with a decreased risk of a horse fall. Amateur event riders were approximately 20 times more likely to fall than professional riders. POTENTIAL CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has identified a number of risk factors associated with horse falls and highlights areas that can be altered to improve safety in cross-country competitions.     

Differences in polymorphonucleocyte function and local inflammatory response between horses and ponies

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Wound healing proceeds faster in ponies than in horses and complications during healing, such as wound infection, occur less frequently in ponies. Earlier studies suggested that this difference might be related to differences in the initial post traumatic inflammatory response. HYPOTHESIS: That polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function and profiles of humoral factors in local inflammatory processes are different in horses and ponies. METHODS: PMNs were isolated from venous blood of horses and ponies. Chemotaxis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined. Tissue cages were implanted in limbs and necks of horses and ponies and injected with carrageenan and, 3 weeks later, with LPS. In sequential samples of inflammatory exudate, the numbers of macrophages and PMNs and the production of PGE2, TNFalpha, IL-1, IL-6 and chemoattractants were determined. RESULTS: In vitro ROS production of PMNs was significantly higher in ponies than in horses, whereas in vitro PMN chemotaxis was significantly lower in ponies. In the tissue cages for both stimuli, the production of IL-1 and chemoattractants was significantly higher in ponies than in horses and remained so towards the end of the observation period in ponies. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a higher production of various inflammatory mediators by pony leucocytes. Despite the lower in vitro chemotaxis of pony PMNs, this higher in vivo production resulted in a stronger initial inflammatory response in ponies, as has been reported in studies on wound healing, through the attraction of leucocytes and triggering of the production of other cytokines. A stronger initial inflammation may promote healing by more rapid elemination of contaminants and earlier transition to repair. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modulation of the initial inflammatory response might therefore be a valid option for therapeutic intervention in cases of problematic wound healing. Further, the intraspecies differences in leucocyte function may have an impact on many fields in equine medicine.     

Genetic resistance to Salmonella typhimurium in two lines of chickens selected as resistant and sensitive on the basis of heterophil/lymphocyte ratio

1. A study was conducted to test for the validity of the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio as a criterion for selection for resistance to Salmonella typhimurium in chickens. 2. An infective dose of S. typhimurium was given, directly in the crop, to two groups of chicken selected as Resistant (R) and Sensitive (S) on the bases of H/L ratio. The 99% lower confidence limit was used as a borderline; individuals below the limit were considered R and those above S. Many aspects of immune response were compared, namely: H/L ratio, antibody titre, cellular immunity, phagocytic activity, cortisol concentration, bursa and body weight. 3. The R group exceeded the S in all the studied variables of the immune response, indicating the possibility of using the H/L ratio and its confidence limit to select for general resistance. 4. Due to the within-strain variability in resistance, it seems that immunological and genetic studies should take into consideration separation of individuals into R and S before grouping. Failing to do so might lead to erroneous conclusions as a difference may simply be due to the different numbers of R and S included in each group.     

Monthly model for genetic evaluation of laying hens. II. Random regression

1. We investigated the use of monthly production records for genetic evaluation of laying hens, derived from a test day model with random regression in dairy cattle and compared it with other models. 2. Records of 6450 hens, daughters of 180 sires and 1335 dams, were analysed using a model with restricted maximum likelihood (REML): traits considered were monthly and cumulative egg production. Five models were studied: (1) random regression with covariates derived from the regression of Ali and Schaeffer (Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 67: 637-644, 1987) (RRMAS), (2) random regression with covariates derived from quartic polynomial (RRMP4), (3) fixed regression with covariates derived from Ali and Schaeffer (FRM), (4) multiple trait (MTM) and (5) cumulative (CM). 3. The models were compared on the basis of Spearman rank correlations of individual breeding values and sire breeding values estimated from subsets of full-sib split data. The hens (about 10% per generation) which ranked highest on their estimated breeding values from different models were compared phenotypically with their full records. 4. The estimates of heritability resulting from RRMP4 were biased upward from the estimates obtained from MTM, so this model was discarded. The heritabilities for monthly productions from RRMAS and MTM showed a similar pattern. They were high for the 1st month of production, decreased to their lowest value at about month 5 of production and increased again to the end of lay. 5. Spearman rank correlations between animal breeding values estimated by monthly models (RRMAS, FRM and MTM) were high, between 0.91 and 0.98, whereas those between estimates of monthly models and CM were lower, from 0.85 to 0.87. The correlations estimated either from intermittent months of measurements (odd vs even months) or full records were generally high, from 0.93 to 0.99. Information from odd months of production could be sufficient for cost-efficient recording schemes. The RRMAS generally had the highest correlation of sire breeding values between subsets of full-sib records, followed by MTM, RM and CM. Monthly models selected hens with higher productivity than the cumulative model. 6. In conclusion, genetic evaluation based on monthly production may be better than using cumulative production and RRMAS appeared to be the best among the models tested here.     

In vivo and in vitro comparisons of spray-drying and solvent- evaporation preparation of microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for use as an orally administered vaccine for pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae that was prepared by spray drying or solvent evaporation. ANIMALS: Thirty 6-week-old, crossbred, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. PROCEDURE: Pigs were randomly allocated into 5 groups and housed in an SPF facility. Pigs in 2 groups (groups AQ and CAP) were fed M hyopneumoniae enteric-coated vaccine on days 0, 10, and 20. A third group (group IM) received an IM injection of M hyopneumoniae vaccine with aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant on days 0, 10, and 20. The last 2 groups (non-vaccinated-challenged [NV-C] and nonchallenged [NC]) were fed a sham treatment. All 24 pigs in groups AQ, CAFP IM, and NV-C were challenge exposed with 5 ml of a 10% pneumonic lung suspension administered on day 40 via intubation of the trachea. All pigs were slaughtered and the lungs removed and examined for lesions on day 68. RESULTS: In vitro studies indicated that these 2 microencapsulation techniques formed an effective shell and protected mycoplasmal antigen from gastric acid. Results of inoculation and challenge tests indicated that microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae were sufficiently potent to induce an immune response and provide good protection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orally administered microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae vaccines induced an immune response and reduced the severity of lung lesions in challenge-exposed pigs. Results suggest that this novel method can be applied to other antigens, because the spray-drying process yielded an orally administered M hyopneumoniae vaccine that induced a good immune response.     

Trichostrongylid infections in sheep after rainfall during summer in southern Australia

OBJECTIVE: To relate trichostrongylid infections acquired by sheep during summer to prevailing weather conditions. PROCEDURE: Groups of worm-free 'tracer' sheep were put onto pastures, previously contaminated with trichostrongylid eggs, for successive periods of 2 weeks from December to March. After grazing the sheep were housed for 6 weeks. Weekly worm egg counts and worm counts were used to estimate the numbers of worms acquired and related to weather conditions during the grazing period. RESULTS: No worm eggs were detected in the faeces of sheep that grazed at the end of January when only 7 mm of rainfall was recorded. At other times rainfall between 12 and 24 mm occurred and strongyle egg counts were generally either < 50 or > 150 eggs per g (epg). Mean counts of 1,100 Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus adults gave rise to mean counts of about 350 epg whereas about 6,000 Nematodirus spp were associated with mean egg counts of about 200 Nematodirus spp epg. CONCLUSIONS: Rainfall events during summer determine the numbers of trichostrongylid larvae acquired by sheep in summer but further studies are necessary before the implications for strategic control programs in southern Australia can be fully assessed.