Pre-breeding Ovaro–Uterine Ultrasonography and its Relationship with First Service Pregnancy Rate in Seasonal-Calving Dairy Herds

The objectives of the study were to characterize an ultrasound reproductive tract scoring (URTS) system to assess suitability for breeding in dairy cows, to describe the prevalence of these scores in commercial dairy herds and to examine their relationship with subsequent fertility. Ultrasound examinations (7797) were performed on 5751 Holstein–Friesian cows prior to breeding in 62 seasonally calving herds over 2 years. Data recorded from images of both ovaries and the uterus were combined into a six point scoring system and the prevalence of cows with cystic ovarian follicles and uterine abscesses and adhesions was recorded separately. The prevalence of ovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (score 1), or had mild (2) or moderate endometritis (3) was 62.5%, 21.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The prevalence of anovulatory cows with moderate endometritis (4), ovulatory cows with pyometra (5) and anovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (6) was 3.3%, 2.2% and 8.1%, respectively. The interval between calving and examination differed between cows with each of the scores 1, 2, 5 and 6 (61, 46, 53 and 50 days, respectively, p < 0.05) but not between cows with scores 3 and 4 (37 and 35 days, respectively). Ovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (score 1) had a higher likelihood of pregnancy to first service than ovulatory or anovulatory cows which had not completed uterine involution (p ≤ 0.10). The prevalence of cows with cystic ovarian follicles or abscesses or adhesions of the reproductive tract was 3.9% and 1.2%, respectively. In conclusion, 29% and 11% of cows in seasonally calving and breeding dairy herds had not completed uterine involution or were anovulatory prior to the mating start date, respectively. Both conditions, detected using a URTS system, significantly reduced first service pregnancy rate in these pasture-based dairy herds.     

Persistence of ivermectin in plasma and faeces following administration of a sustained-release bolus to cattle

Six calves (weight 210 to 230 kg) were dosed with an intra-ruminal slow-release bolus prepared to deliver ivermectin at a low daily dosage for 135 days. Ivermectin concentrations in jugular blood 160 days post-treatment were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detection. Ivermectin plasma concentrations increased gradually to achieve the steady-state concentration (20 ng ml(-1)) at approximately four days post-treatment, which was maintained for 120 days. The ivermectin peak plasma concentration (28.5 ng ml(-1)) was attained at 15 days post-administration of the bolus. The faecal ivermectin concentration rose to a maximal concentration of 4.1 microg g(-1) at four days post-treatment, dropping to a steady-state concentration of around 1.18 microg g(-1) which was maintained up to 120 days post-treatment. Ivermectin was detected in both plasma (0.05 ng ml(-1)) and faeces (2.67 ng g(-1)) up to 160 days. The high levels of ivermectin recovered in faeces indicate that a large proportion of the dose released by the bolus (80 to 90 per cent) is excreted in faeces.     

Some Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Eprinomectin in Goats following Pour-on Administration

Some pharmacokinetic parameters of eprinomectin were determined in goats following topical application at a dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg. The plasma concentration versus time data for the drug were analysed using a one-compartment model. The maximum plasma concentration of 5.60±1.01 ng/ml occurred 2.55 days after administration. The area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) was 72.31±11.15 ng day/ml and the mean residence time (MRT) was 9.42±0.43 days. Thus, the systemic availability of eprinomectin to goats was significantly lower than that for cows. The low concentration of eprinomectin in the plasma of goats suggests that the pour-on dose of 0.5 mg/kg would be less effective in this species than in cows. Further relevant information about the optimal dosage and residues in the milk of dairy goats is needed before eprinomectin should be used in this species.     

Influence of the route of administration on efficacy and tissue distribution of ivermectin in goat

The tissue concentration and efficacy of ivermectin after per os and subcutaneous administration were compared in goats experimentally infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis (ivermectin-susceptible strain, INRA). Infected goats (n = 24) were treated per os (n = 9) or subcutaneously (n = 9) with ivermectin, 0.2 mg/kg, or kept as not treated controls. The faecal egg counts and small intestine worm counts were determined. Ivermectin concentration was measured in the plasma, gastrointestinal tract, lung, skin or hair, liver and adipose tissues at 0, 2, 7 and 17 days post-treatment. The efficacy of ivermectin against T. colubriformis infection in goat was 98.7 and 99.9% for subcutaneous and oral administration, respectively. Ivermectin concentration declined with time and only residual concentration was measured at 17 days post-treatment in plasma and gastrointestinal tract. Ivermectin concentration was higher after subcutaneous compared to per os injection in most of the tissue examined. In skin, hair and subcutaneous adipose tissue ivermectin persisted at significant concentrations 17 days post-treatment for both routes of administration. In our experimental conditions, ivermectin provides similar efficacy against T. colubriformis after subcutaneous or per os administration in goat. However, the lower ivermectin levels in tissues after per os administration suggest that the lasting of efficacy may be shortened after per os compared to subcutaneous administration especially in animals with poor body condition in pasture where re-infection occurs quickly after anthelmintic treatment.     

Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoprotein Secretion in North Moroccan Goats

The plasma profile of pregnancy‐associated glycoprotein (PAG) and its relationship with fetal number were studied in 14 North Moroccan goats using a semi‐heterologous radioimmunoassay (RIA). Peripheral blood was collected every day during the first month of pregnancy, afterward the blood samples were collected trice a week. The PAG were first detected at day 20 of pregnancy, their levels increase to week 8 of gestation then decrease slightly until parturition. Statistical differences between goats carrying one or two foetuses are observed from week 5 of pregnancy until parturition. Factorial Discriminant Analysis provides mathematical models for the discrimination between the litter size using the PAG level and the week of pregnancy. Using only one blood sample per week, high sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy (74%, 88% and 81%) were obtained using these models. It is concluded that the PAG RIA is an effective tool for early diagnosis of pregnancy and for discrimination between the litter sizes in North Moroccan goats.     

Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation on the European Eel Sperm Viability and Spermatozoa Morphology

The main objective of the present work was to study the effect of cryopreservation of European eel sperm both on the sperm viability and the spermatozoa head morphology. Spermatozoa morphology was evaluated with computer-assisted morphology analysis after collection in fresh samples, after adding the freezing medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide as cryoprotectant and, finally, after the cryopreservation process and thawing. Cell viability was assessed, in both fresh and thawed samples, by Hoechst 33258 staining. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to determine the percentage of motile cells and to measure motility parameters in sperm samples. A significant decrease of head perimeter (12.56%) and area (17.90%) was detected from spermatozoa in fresh to thawed samples, indicating that cells do not recover the original size after the cryopreservation process. CASA was used to measure the percentage of motile cells (51.9%) and spermatozoa motility parameters such as curvilinear, straight line and angular path velocities, as well as beating cross frequency. This technique was employed in the fresh sperm samples but proteins present at the freezing medium (L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine) made impossible to use this last technique in thawed samples. When sperm viability was assessed by Hoechst staining, a significant decrease of approximately 15% (73.10 vs 58.26%) of alive spermatozoa was registered from fresh to thawed samples. The percentage of motile cells measured by CASA in fresh samples (51.9%) was lower than the percentage of alive cells determined by Hoechst stainning, suggesting the existence of different batches of spermatozoa in different stages of development, even during the eight to tenth weeks of treatment, when the highest sperm quality was found.     

谷子新品种朝谷11号特征特性及高产栽培技术

朝谷 1 1号由辽宁省水土保持研究所选育 ,于1 997年经辽宁省品种审定委员会审定通过。1 998年被列为省重点农技推广项目 ,计划在 1 998～ 2 0 0 0年在辽宁省朝阳市、阜新市、葫芦岛市的 8县 2区及赤峰市的宁城县推广 6.7万ｈｍ2 。1　朝谷 11号主要特征特性1 .1　农艺性状朝谷 1 1号的叶片、成株茎均为绿色 ,苗期生长快 ,株型紧凑整齐 ,株高 1 65ｃｍ左右 ,穗长 2 3～ 2 5ｃｍ ,单穗粒重 1 4～ 1 6ｇ ,籽粒圆形、黄色 ,出谷率 83%～ 84%,谷草比 1∶1 .3。1 .2　生育期及抗性朝谷 1 1号为中早熟品种 ,生育期 1 0 4～ 1 1 4ｄ ,4月下旬至 5月…     

NEAR's flyby of 253 mathilde: images of a C asteroid

On 27 June 1997, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft flew within 1212 kilometers of asteroid 253 Mathilde. Mathilde is an irregular, heavily cratered body measuring 66 kilometers by 48 kilometers by 46 kilometers. The asteroid's surface is dark (estimated albedo between 0.035 and 0.050) and similar in color to some CM carbonaceous chondrites. No albedo or color variations were detected. The volume derived from the images and the mass from Doppler tracking of the spacecraft yield a mean density of 1.3 +/- 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter, about half that of CM chondrites, indicating a porous interior structure.