Predictors of employer satisfaction: technical and non-technical skills

Employers of 2007-2009 graduates from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine were asked to respond to a survey regarding their overall satisfaction with their new employees as well as their new employees' preparation in several technical and non-technical skill areas. Seventy-five responses contained complete data and were used in the analysis. Four technical skill areas (data collection, data interpretation, planning, and taking action) and five non-technical skill areas (interpersonal skills, ability to deal with legal issues, business skills, making referrals, and problem solving) were identified. All of the skill area subscales listed above had appropriate reliability (Cronbach's alpha>0.70) and were positively and significantly correlated with overall employer satisfaction. Results of two simultaneous regression analyses indicated that of the four technical skill areas, taking action is the most salient predictor of employer satisfaction. Of the five non-technical skill areas, interpersonal skills, business skills, making referrals, and problem solving were the most important skills in predicting employer satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that all technical skills explained 25% of the variation in employer satisfaction; non-technical skills explained an additional 42% of the variation in employer satisfaction.     

Biological control of goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis by Duddingtonia flagrans in a semi-arid region of the northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to test a pellet formulation in a sodium alginate matrix of Duddingtonia flagrans in the biological control of goat gastrointestinal helminths kept in a native pasture in a semi-arid region of Paraíba state, northeastern Brazil. An area of 2.4 ha was divided into three paddocks, where groups of seven goats ware formed. Each group received the following treatments during the months of March to August 2011: D. flagrans group, received 3g of pellets containing D. flagrans (AC001) for each 10 kg/l.w., twice a week; Moxidectin 0.2% group, received 0.2mg/kg of Moxidectin 0.2% orally, every 30 days; Control group, received 3g of pellets without fungi per 10 kg/l.w., twice a week. Each month, a tracer goat was placed in each group for 30 days and then sacrificed and necropsied. The D. flagrans group showed a greater reduction in EPG, increased weight gain, higher rates of packed cell volume and lower parasitic load burden in the tracer goats compared to Moxidectin 0.2% and Control groups. D. flagrans was efficient in controlling goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis in a semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil.     

Detection of paramyxoviruses in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on the Brazilian tropical coast

Aquatic migratory birds are a major vectors by which influenza viruses and paramyxoviruses are spread in nature. Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are usually present on the southern shores of South America and can swim as far as the southern coast of Brazil in winter. In 2008, however, several Magellanic penguins were observed on the northeastern coast of Brazil. Paramyxoviruses were isolated from Magellanic penguins on the Espírito Santo state coast, approximately 4000 km from their breeding colonies, although influenza viruses were not detected. Among the paramyxoviruses, five Avulavirus isolates belonging to serotype APMV-2 and the serotype APMV-10, which was proposed by Miller et al. (2010), were identified. These results highlight the risks associated with the spread of paramyxoviruses between natural to non-natural habitats by birds exhibiting unusual migration patterns, and they document for the first time the presence of the APMV-2 and APMV-10 serotypes on penguins in Brazil. The local avifauna may become infected with these viruses through close contact between migratory and resident birds. Continued surveillance of virus incidence in these migratory populations of penguins is necessary to detect and prevent the potential risks associated with these unusual migration patterns.     

The relationship between herd level disease incidence and a return over feed index in Ontario dairy herds

The objective of the current research was to examine the association of herd level disease incidence with the return over feed (ROF) (milk income minus feed cost) herd profit index offered through Canwest Dairy Herd Improvement. The lactational incidence risks (LIR) for displaced abomasum, retained placenta, clinical mastitis, milk fever, clinical ketosis, and lameness submitted by producers (n = 48) were similar to previous reports. However, there was no negative association of clinical disease LIR's with ROE Subclinical ketosis and subclinical mastitis cumulative incidence were determined during the early postpartum period by using a cow-side test for betahydroxybutyrate in milk and the California Mastitis Test, respectively. Subclinical mastitis was not associated with ROE However, a unit increase in the cumulative incidence of subclinical ketosis was associated with a decrease of dollars 0.015/cow/day in the ROE The results highlight the economic significance that subclinical ketosis may have in Ontario dairy herds.     

Prevalence of antibodies to serotypes of Bluetongue virus and Anaplasma marginale in Montana feeder cattle: 2002-2003

In a serologic survey of Montana-source weaned calves and yearling cattle, the apparent prevalence of antibodies to Bluetongue virus was 0.68% and 1.26% in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and to Anaplasma marginale at a positive cutoff at 30% inhibition it was 1.82% and 1.35% in 2002 and 2003, and at a positive cutoff at 42% inhibition it was 0.76% and 0.55% in 2002 and 2003, respectively, suggesting that the risk of importing infected animals was very low.     

Monensin might protect Ontario, Canada dairy cows from paratuberculosis milk-ELISA positivity

Our objective was to define the role of monensin sodium in protecting cows from being milk-ELISA positive for paratuberculosis in Ontario, Canada dairy herds. In total, 4933 dairy cows from 94 herds were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Forty-four of the enrolled herds were selected purposively by their herd veterinarian and another 50 herds were randomly selected from a local milk production-recording agency. A herd-management survey was completed on each farm during the months of May through August 2003. During this same time-period, composite milk samples were collected from all lactating cows and tested with a milk-ELISA for antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. Analyses were stratified according to the paratuberculosis history of the herds. In the 48 herds in which paratuberculosis had not been diagnosed before, the use of calf hutches and monensin in milking cows were both associated with reduced odds of a cow testing positive (OR = 0.19 and 0.21, respectively). In the 46 herds with a prior history of paratuberculosis, feeding monensin to the breeding-age heifers was associated with decreased odds of a cow testing positive (OR = 0.54). Monensin use might be associated with milk-ELISA positivity, but its impact on the transmission of paratuberculosis remains unknown.     

Efficacy of monensin sodium for the reduction of fecal shedding of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in infected dairy cattle

Reducing the quantity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) being shed by cows with Johne's disease should decrease the risk of spread of this disease to young stock. Previous work has suggested that monensin sodium decreases the pathologic lesions associated with Johne's disease, but the impact on shedding of viable MAP remains unknown. After serologic screening of 32 dairy herds in southwestern Ontario, 228 cows from 13 of these herds were enrolled into a randomized clinical trial. Fecal culture and PCR were used to identify 114 cows as potential fecal shedders, while another 114 cows were enrolled as ELISA negative, herd and parity matched controls. All cows were randomized to receive either a monensin controlled release capsule (CRC) or a placebo capsule. Serial fecal and blood samples were collected for fecal culture and serum ELISA testing over a 98-day period. On day 98 of the study, treatments were switched for all cows continuing in the trial. These remaining cows were followed for another 98 days with a similar sampling protocol. Mixed effect models were used to measure the impact of treatment on the number of colony forming units identified on fecal cultures over time. During the first 98 days of the study, cows treated with a monensin CRC were found to shed 3.4 cfu per tube less than placebo treated cows (P = 0.05). The serum ELISA S/P ratio was reduced by 1.39 units in cows given monensin (P = 0.06). However, treatment with monensin did not reduce the odds of testing positive on serology. Only the cows shedding MAP on day 0 were found to have a reduced odds of testing positive on fecal culture when treated with monensin (OR = 0.27; P = 0.03). Monensin sodium administered to infected animals at 335 mg/day marginally reduced fecal shedding of MAP in mature dairy cattle, but the biological significance of this reduction is unknown.     

Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the equine adenosine A3 receptor

The aim of this study was to establish a heterologous expression system for the equine adenosine A(3) receptor (eA(3)-R) in an effort to ascertain its pharmacologic profile. Initially, radioligand binding assays identified clones expressing the eA(3)-R in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) based on the specific binding of [(125)I]AB-MECA. Subsequently, adenylate cyclase assays were utilized to demonstrate functional coupling of the eA(3)-R to the G-protein/adenylate cyclase system. Equilibrium competition binding assays were then performed using selective and non-selective A(3) agonists and antagonists. Results from these experiments revealed a rank order of agonist potency to be IB-MECA > NECA > CGS21680, and an antagonist potency of MRS1220 > ZM241385 > 8-p-sulphophenyltheophylline; these rank orders were in agreement with that of other mammalian A(3)-R's. Lastly, NF-kappaB reporter gene assays revealed an IB-MECA concentration-dependent inhibition of TNFalpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activity. These results indicate that the heterologously expressed eA(3)-R is functional, has a pharmacological profile similar to that of other mammalian A(3) receptors, and its activation has an inhibitory effect on a key regulatory pathway in the inflammatory response. Thus, the eA(3)-R may serve as a pharmacological target in the treatment of equine inflammatory disease.     

Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the equine adenosine A2A receptor: a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of equine endotoxemia

The aim of the current study was to clone the equine adenosine A(2A) receptor gene and to establish a heterologous expression system to ascertain its pharmacologic profile via radioligand binding and functional assays. An eA(2A)-R expression construct was generated by ligation of the eA(2A) cDNA into the pcDNA3.1 expression vector, and stably transfected into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK). Binding assays identified those clones expressing the eA(2A)-R, and equilibrium saturation isotherm experiments were utilized to determine dissociation constants (K(D)), and receptor densities (B(max)) of selected clones. Equilibrium competition binding revealed a rank order of agonist potency of ATL > CV-1808 > NECA > 2-CADO > CGS21680, and a rank order of antagonist potency as ZM241385 > 8-phenyltheophylline > p-sulfophenyltheophylline > caffeine. Furthermore, adenylate cyclase assays using selective A(2A)-R agonists revealed that the eA(2A)-R functionally coupled to Galpha(s) as indicated by an increase in intracellular [(3)H]cAMP upon receptor activation. Finally, NF-kappaB reporter gene assays revealed a CGS21680 concentration-dependent inhibition of NF-kappaB activity. These results indicate that the heterologously expressed eA(2A)-R has a pharmacological profile similar to that of other mammalian A(2A) receptors and thus can be utilized for further characterization of the eA(2A)-R to ascertain whether it can serve as a suitable pharmacological target for equine inflammatory disease.     

鸡腺胃型传支的疾病模型确定Ⅱ.组织病理学的变化规律

用IBV腺胃型致病株（野毒株）人工接种1日龄雏鸡，同时，对鸡群人为地施以不同的应激因素，如降低温度、饥饿、不良通风和高饲养密度，使鸡感染发病。攻毒后每日观察两组鸡群的临床表现，并定期随机剖检，采集心、肝、肺、肾、腺胃、肠前段、肠道中段和后段等，固定于10%的中性福尔马林液中，石蜡切片，苏木素-伊红染色，显微镜下观察各组织器官的病理组织学变化。结果表明：攻毒后3-4日开始出现病理组织学变化，8-9日最为明显。主要组织病理学变化为腺胃炎和间质性肾炎，肺脏、肠道和肝脏也有一些变化，其他脏器的变化不太明显。