Comparison of a complement resistance test, a chicken embryo lethality test, and the chicken lethality test for determining virulence of avian Escherichia coli.

Results with four pathogenic avian Escherichia coli isolates and one avirulent isolate in a complement resistance test, a chicken lethality test, and a chicken embryo lethality test were compared. Results of the complement resistance test with these isolates were highly correlated to results of the chicken lethality test of virulence. The chicken embryo test yielded results that were of a medium positive correlation with the chicken lethality results. The results of the complement resistance and chicken embryo lethality tests were highly correlated.     

Effects of dietary iron on performance and mineral utilization in lambs fed a forage-based diet

Twenty-four lambs, averaging 29 kg, were used to determine the effect of supplemental dietary Fe on performance and Cu, P, Zn and Mn utilization. Treatments consisted of supplemental Fe at 0, 300, 600 or 1,200 mg/kg diet as ferrous carbonate. The basal diet contained 154 mg Fe/kg diet and consisted of 90% Coastal bermudagrass pellets, 9.45% group corn, .5% sodium chloride and .05% vitamin mix. Lambs were slaughtered after having ad libitum access to diets for 98 to 121 d. Dietary Fe did not affect lamb gain or feed intake. Supplemental Fe increased Fe concentrations in liver (P less than .01), spleen (P less than .01) and bone (P less than .10), but not in kidney and muscle. Serum Fe concentrations and percentage transferrin saturation in serum were increased (P less than .01) by supplemental Fe at 28 and 84 d, but not at the termination of the study. Plasma Cu was decreased (P less than .01) at 56 d, whereas serum ceruloplasmin activity was reduced (P less than .01) at 28 d in lambs fed 1,200 mg Fe/kg diet compared with lambs fed 600 mg Fe/kg diet. Lower levels of Fe (300 and 600) reduced (P less than .01) ceruloplasmin by 56 d and plasma Cu by 84 d compared with controls. Liver Cu also was decreased (P less than .05) by supplemental Fe. Plasma P was decreased slightly (P less than .10) by 28 d and significantly (P less than .01) at the other sampling dates by supplemental Fe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of dietary boron on immune function in growing beef steers*

Thirty‐six Angus and Angus × Simmental cross steers (initial BW 269.5 ± 22.3 kg) were used to determine the effects of dietary boron (B) on performance and immune function. Steers were fed on one of the three dietary treatments: (i) control (no supplemental B; 7.2 mg B/kg DM), (ii) 5 mg supplemental B/kg DM and (iii) 50 mg supplemental B/kg DM, from sodium borate for 78 days. Supplementation of dietary B had no effect on body weight (BW) gain, feed intake or gain:feed during the study. Jugular blood samples were collected prior to feeding on days 28, 63 and 77 for plasma‐B analysis. Supplementation of dietary B increased (p < 0.001) plasma B‐concentration in a dose‐responsive manner. Furthermore, plasma B‐concentration was correlated (p < 0.001; R² = 0. 95) to daily B‐intake (mg B/day). Jugular blood was also collected, from an equal number of steers from each treatment, on day 42 or 44 for determination of in vitro production of interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α from isolated monocytes and assessment of lymphocyte proliferation. Dietary B did not affect T‐ or B‐lymphocyte proliferation or in vitro cytokine production from monocytes. On day 49 of the study, the humoral immune response was assessed by i.m. injection of a 25% pig red blood cell (PRBC) solution for determination of anti‐PRBC IgG and IgM titre responses. Boron‐supplemented steers had greater (p = 0.035) anti‐PRBC IgG titres than controls on day 7 but not on day 14 or 21 post‐injection. Anti‐PRBC IgM titres did not differ throughout the sampling period. Results from this study indicate that supplemental B had minimal effects on immune function and did not affect performance of growing steers.     

Preliminary investigation into the prevalence of mucormycosis in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in three catchments in north-west Tasmania

Objective To investigate the distribution and prevalence of mucormycosis in platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from the Inglis, Emu and Black-Detention catchment areas in north-west Tasmania. Procedure A field study was performed and resulted in the examination of 44 wild platypuses; in addition, one dead platypus and two live platypuses were examined after they were independently submitted to a local veterinary clinic. Results No cases of mucormycosis were conclusively diagnosed. One platypus with signs consistent with those previously described in cases of mucormycosis was captured in the Emu River catchment. However, laboratory tests did not provide a definitive diagnosis for the lesion. Two platypuses from the Inglis catchment area had signs very similar to those previously described in cases of mucormycosis, but laboratory tests found Corynebacterium ulcerans to be the likely cause of the cutaneous ulcers on one of these platypuses and an unidentified fungal agent to be the cause of a cutaneous nodule in the other. Conclusions These findings do not prove that mucormycosis is absent from the populations studied. However, they may indicate that the prevalence of disease is low. The possibility that Mucor amphibiorum is present in a subclinical form in platypuses, or infecting another reservoir, is not excluded. The findings also suggest that caution should be exercised when diagnosing mucormycosis based on clinical findings alone and raise the possibility that some cases may have been incorrectly diagnosed.     

Effect of boron supplementation of pig diets on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary B on the production of cytokines following an endotoxin challenge. In both experiments, pigs were obtained from litters generated from sows fed low-B (control) or B-supplemented (5 mg/ kg, as-fed basis) diets. In Exp. 1 and 2, 28 and 35 pigs, respectively (21 d old), remained with their littermates throughout a 49-d nursery phase and were fed either a control or B-supplemented diet. In Exp. 1, 12 pigs per treatment were moved to individual pens at the completion of the nursery phase and fed their respective experimental diet. On d 99 of the study, pigs were injected with 150 microg of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to evaluate a local inflammatory response. Pigs receiving the B-supplemented diet had a decreased (P < 0.01) inflammatory response following PHA injection. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from six pigs per treatment on d 103 and cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to determine the effect of dietary B on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production from monocytes. Isolated monocytes from pigs that received the B-supplemented diet had a numerically greater (P = 0.23) production of TNF-alpha. In Exp. 2, pigs were group housed with their littermates following the nursery phase for 43 d, after which 10 pigs per treatment were moved to individual pens. In Exp. 1 and 2, pigs were assigned randomly within dietary treatment to receive either an i.m. injection of saline or LPS on d 117 and d 109, respectively. The dose of LPS in Exp. 1 and 2 was 100 and 25 microg of LPS/kg of BW, respectively. In Exp. 1, serum TNF-alpha was increased (P < 0.01) at 2 h and tended to be increased (P < 0.11) at 6 and 24 h after injection by dietary B; however, only numerical trends existed for a B-induced increase in TNF-alpha in Exp. 2. Serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was increased (P < 0.01) at 6 h and tended to be increased (P < 0.08) at 24 h after injection in Exp. 1. In Exp. 2, dietary B also numerically increased IFN-alpha. These data indicate that dietary B supplementation increased the production of cytokines following a stress, which indicates a role of B in the immune system; however, these data do not explain the reduction in localized inflammation following an antigen challenge in pigs.     

Effect of breed (Angus vs Simmental) on immune function and response to a disease challenge in stressed steers and preweaned calves

Two experiments were conducted with feeder steer calves and preweaned calves to determine the effects of breed on immune response. In Exp. 1, newly weaned Angus (n = 24) and Simmental (n = 24) steer calves were blocked by weight within breed and randomly assigned to 12 pens with four calves per pen. The basal diet consisted of 87% corn silage (DM basis) and 13% of a soybean meal-mineral-vitamin supplement. Steers were allowed ad libitum access to feed throughout the study. On d 2 following weaning, calves received an intranasal inoculation of infectious bovine rhinotraecheitis virus (IBRV; 2.7 x 10(8) CCID50). Rectal temperatures in response to the IBRV were higher (P < .05) in Angus calves. On d 9, calves were injected i.m. with 10 mL of a 25% pig red blood cell (PRBC) suspension. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) and IgM titers against PRBC were higher (P < .05) for the Angus calves. Breed did affect cell-mediated immune response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In Exp. 2, preweaned (16 Angus and 16 Simmental) calves were selected based on breed, body weight, and sex. On 0 d, all selected calves were injected i.m. with 10 mL of a 25% PRBC suspension. Total Ig and IgG titers against PRBC were higher (P < .05) for Angus calves. On d 28, lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood obtained from eight calves per breed. Peripheral lymphocytes from the Angus calves had a greater (P < .07) blastogenic response to 6.25 microg/mL of PHA than lymphocytes from Simmental calves. Results indicate that the immune response of Angus and Simmental calves may differ.     

Effect of zinc source (zinc oxide vs zinc proteinate) and level on performance,carcass characteristics,and immune response of growing and finishing steers

Sixty Angus and Angus x Hereford steers (246 kg initial BW) were used to determine the effects of Zn level and source on performance, immune response, and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing steers. Treatments consisted of 1) control (no supplemental Zn), 2) ZnO, 3) Zn proteinate-A (ZnProt-A, 10% Zn), and 4) ZnProt-B (15% Zn). Treatments 2, 3, and 4 supplied 25 mg of supplemental Zn/kg diet. Steers were individually fed a corn silage-based diet during the 84-d growing phase and a high corn diet during the finishing phase. Cell-mediated and humoral immune response measurements were obtained between d 67 and 74 of the growing phase. Equal number of steers per treatment were slaughtered after receiving the finishing diets for 84 or 112 d. Performance and carcass measurements were similar in steers fed the two ZnProt sources. Zinc supplementation, regardless of source, increased (P < 0.05) ADG during the growing phase. In the finishing phase, ADG (P = 0.10) and gain/feed (P = 0.07) tended to be higher for steers fed ZnProt compared with those supplemented with ZnO. Gain and feed efficiency were similar for control and ZnO-supplemented steers during the finishing phase. Steers fed ZnProt had heavier (P < 0.05) hot carcass weights and slightly higher (P < 0.05) dressing percentages than those in the control or ZnO treatments. Quality grade, yield grade, marbling, and backfat were increased by Zn supplementation, but were not affected by Zn source. In vitro response of lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation and in vivo swelling response following intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin were not affected by Zn level or source. Humoral immune response following vaccination with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis also was not affected by treatment. Soluble concentrations of Zn in ruminal fluid were higher (P < 0.05) in steers fed ZnProt compared to ZnO steers. Results indicate that ZnProt may improve performance of finishing steers above that observed with inorganic Zn supplementation.     

Constant rate infusion of ketamine reduces minimal alveolar concentration of isoflurane in alpacas

Ketamine is a rapid acting, potent, nonspecific, noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist commonly used for inducing general anesthesia and for providing post-operative pain management and may possibly lessen the need for other potentially harmful or contraindicated analgesics in camelids, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prior to determining the effectiveness of CRI ketamine for analgesia, a safe, sub-anesthetic dose was established that did not produce untoward side effects, sedation or alter normal behavior. Six healthy male alpacas (40–90 kg) were used for the trial and each acted as its own control. Each alpaca was randomly assigned to receive ketamine at 20 and 40 μg kg^–1 minute^–1 in 500 mL saline. A blinded observer recorded heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature hourly, and behavior for 8 hours. There was a 72-hour washout period between each dosing regime. An equal volume saline CRI without ketamine was used as a control. Each alpaca was allowed a one-week washout prior to being anesthetized with isoflurane using mask induction. After achieving a stable plane of anesthesia, the MAC value for isoflurane was determined. Ketamine was infused at 40 μg kg^–1pre-existing pain is unknown, but for elective procedures, preemptive analgesia using ketamine CRI in alpacas may be beneficial.