Case Report: Sequelae of traumatic reticuloperitonitis in a Friesian dairy cow

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 10-year-old Friesian dairy cow presented with a history of weight loss, decreased milk production and fluid splashing on auscultation of the heart. Previous antibiotic therapy included oxytetracycline, marbofloxacin and penicillin.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Following a failure to respond to treatment, prescribed by the referring veterinarian for respiratory infection and septic arthritis, the cow was referred to Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with suspected pericarditis. Clinical examination identified a predominantly left sided holodiastolic heart murmur with tachycardia and cording of the jugular veins. Cardiac ultrasound showed an enlarged aortic valve with turbulent blood flow and regurgitation, consistent with bacterial endocarditis. Blood culture demonstrated Paenibacillus spp. Due to the severity of the clinical signs and poor prognosis, euthanasia was performed and a post-mortem examination carried out.

DIAGNOSIS: Traumatic reticuloperitonitis with abscessation of the reticulum and rumen wall, which progressed to a bacteraemia and presumptively caused endocarditis, endometritis, septic arthritis, and renal and myocardial infarcts due to emboli from the endocarditis lesions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: New Zealand dairy cattle are at risk of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and due to varying presentations diagnosis can be complicated. Subsequent bacteraemia is common and in this case the novel bacterial species Paenibacillus was implicated as a potential pathogen.     

Genetic analysis of Ankamali pigs of India using microsatellite markers and their comparison with other domesticated Indian pig types

Ankamali pigs, the domesticated native pigs of Kerala province of India were genetically characterized using 23 FAO recommended microsatellite markers and were compared with other native Indian pig types and Large White pigs. Twenty‐six blood samples were collected from genetically unrelated animals from their breeding tract and DNA was isolated by standard procedure of phenol/chloroform. The genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at these 23 microsatellite loci, which were also used earlier to characterize Desi (North Indian) and Gahuri (North‐East Indian) pigs, the other two native domesticated pig types of India. The PCR products were resolved by denaturing urea‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and alleles were visualized after silver nitrate staining. The data were analysed for allele size range, number of alleles, allelic frequencies, heterozygosity and polymorphism information content for each locus. The allele size range varied between 92–108 bp at locus S0026 and 280–296 bp at locus IGF‐1. The total number of alleles varied between five (S0178 and S0386) and 11 (S0355). The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were found to be 0.74 ± 0.09 and 0.83 ± 0.03 respectively. In the neighbour‐joining dendrogram based on D_A genetic distances developed after 1000 bootstraps, the Ankamali pigs did not show genetic closeness either with other native Indian pig types or exotic Large White pigs with high bootstrap values indicating genetic distinctness of Ankamali pigs.     

Clinical trial of efficacy of ivermectin pour‐on against gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in silvopasturing horses

The aim of this study was to assess, by a clinical trial, the efficacy of an ivermectin‐based pour‐on treatment against gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in naturally infected horses using 2 groups of mature indigenous Pura Raza Galega grazing mares. Faecal and blood samples were collected individually over a 21 week period. Faeces were analysed by the coprological flotation, sedimentation and migration techniques. Changes in circulating blood cells were monitored over the study period. The administration of the ivermectin suppressed the eggelimination of ascarids and pinworms throughout the study and no strongyle‐eggs were observed in the treatment group between the 3rd and 10th weeks. The numbers of red cells increased significantly after the anthelmintic therapy, and a statistical reduction in circulating leucocytes was recorded. No side effects were observed. The pour‐on ivermectin formulation was highly successful against gastrointestinal nematodes and appears to be a useful therapeutic routine for large groups of horses.     

Productivity,profitability and sustainability of rain-fed chickpea under inorganic and biofertilization in foothills of north-west Himalayas

A 4-year (2008–2009 to 2011–2012) study was conducted on the effect of mineral phosphorus (P) + sulphur (S) and biofertilizers on rain-fed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at the Punjab Agricultural University’s Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, India. The experiment comprised of five combinations of P and S, viz. control (P₀S₀), no P + 10 kg S ha^?1 (P₀S₁₀), 15 kg P + 10 kg S ha^?1 (P₁₅S₁₀), no P + 20 kg S ha^?1 (P₀S₂₀) and 30 kg P + 20 kg S ha^?1 (P₃₀S₂₀); and three seed inoculation levels, viz. control, Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), were laid out in randomized complete block design. Combined application of P + S resulted in improved growth, nodulation, yield attributes and yield. The increase in seed yield over control due to P + S ranged from 11.8% to 17.7%. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium recorded the highest growth, nodulation, yield attributes and yield of chickpea and was statistically at par with PSB and significantly better than no inoculation. Highest benefit/cost ratio (B:C, 2.19) was obtained in P₃₀S₂₀. In view of environmental pollution and high costs of chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers alone or in combination may help to achieve sustainable and ecological agricultural production.     

Effects of the aqueous extracts of Zygophyllum fabago on the growth of Fusarium oxyosporum f. sp. melonis and Pythium aphanidermatum

In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts from Zygophyllum fabago L. on two plant phytopathogenic fungal species (namely, Fusarium oxyosporum f. sp. melonis and Pythium aphanidermatum) were studied under laboratory conditions. The plant extracts (10% w/v) were prepared by using deionized water and fresh tissues. Dilutions (2, 4, 6, and 8% w/v) were obtained to test their effect on the mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic species. Additionally, the recovery of the fungi after their exposure to the Z. fabago extract was analyzed. The plant extracts inhibited the growth of F. oxyosporum and P. aphanidermatum (the maximum mean inhibition that was recorded with the 10% w/v extracts was 42.9% and 85.3%, respectively). A second series of experiments demonstrated the existence of residual effects in both species. The amount of residual inhibition by the 10% w/v extracts was 28.6% in F. oxyosporum and 53.8% in P. aphanidermatum. A dose–response was clearly observed in P. aphanidermatum, while an increase in extract concentration was not associated with a significantly greater reduction in the growth of F. oxyosporum. These findings give insights into the potential of Z. fabago as a growth inhibitor of F. oxyosporum and P. aphanidermatum, thus suggesting an interesting potential role for this common weed as a source of natural fungicides.     

Antibody isotypes in sera of equine fetuses aborted due to Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona-type kennewicki infection

Leptospira-specific antibody isotypes in sera of late term equine fetuses aborted due to Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona-type kennewicki infection were characterized and compared with those of their dams. IgM was the dominant Leptospira-Specific isotype in both fetuses and mares. However, IgGa was the isotype in highest concentration in petal sera and strong Leptospira-specific IgGa but no IgGb and little or no IgG(T) were detected. In contrast, although IgGb was quantitatively the dominant isotype in mares serum, Leptospira-specific serum IgG in aborting mares was dominated by IgG(T) but also included large amounts of IgGa and IgGb. IgGa and IgGb were quantitatively the dominant isotypes in sera of fetuses and mares, respectively. Affinity purified IgGa from fetuses did not agglutinate leptospires but serum devoid of IgGa did, suggesting that IgM is the principal agglutinating antibody. It is concluded that the equine fetus is deficient in IgGb and IgG(T) synthesis.