Effects of maternally-derived antibodies on serologic responses to vaccination in kittens

The optimal vaccination protocol to induce immunity in kittens with maternal antibodies is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of maternally-derived antibody (MDA) on serologic responses to vaccination in kittens. Vaccination with a modified live virus (MLV) product was more effective than an inactivated (IA) product at inducing protective antibody titers (PAT) against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). IA vaccination against feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) was more effective in the presence of low MDA than high MDA. Among kittens with low MDA, MLV vaccination against FCV was more effective than IA vaccination. A total of 15%, 44% and 4% of kittens had insufficient titers against FPV, FHV and FCV, respectively, at 17 weeks of age. Serologic response to vaccination of kittens varies based on vaccination type and MDA level. In most situations, MLV vaccination should be utilized and protocols continued beyond 14 weeks of age to optimize response by all kittens.     

Low-density silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) polyculture does not prevent cyanobacterial off-flavours in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) were co‐cultured with channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) in 0.4 ha earthen ponds to determine the impacts of carp grazing on pond phytoplankton communities and cyanobacterial off‐flavours in catfish. Carp were stocked at densities of 0, 75, or 250 fish ha^?1 in seven replicate ponds per treatment. The mean chlorophyll a concentrations (a measure of phytoplankton standing crop) steadily increased in all treatments from about 100 μg L^?1 in April to more than 400 μg L^?1 by mid‐October. Silver carp had no affect (P>0.1) on chlorophyll a concentrations across all sampling dates (April though October) or for sampling dates late in the growing season (August–October) when the prevalence of cyanobacterial off‐flavours among catfish populations is usually greatest. Silver carp did not eliminate odour‐producing cyanobacteria from pond phytoplankton communities: on sampling dates in September and October, three to six ponds in all treatments contained populations of the odour‐producing cyanobacteria Oscillatoria perornata, Anabaena spp., or both. Failure of silver carp to eliminate odour‐producing cyanobacteria resulted in a relatively high incidence in all treatments of ponds with off‐flavoured catfish. On sampling dates in September and October, catfish in three to five ponds in each treatment were tainted with either musty (2‐methylisoborneol) or earthy (geosmin) off‐flavours. The presence of silver carp had no obvious effect on off‐flavour intensity: on each sampling date, at least three ponds in each treatment contained catfish described as distinctly to extremely off‐flavored. Apparently, hypertrophic conditions in catfish ponds overwhelm the effect of silver carp grazing at the low carp densities used in this study.     

Oral administration of neomycin to chickens experimentally infected with Salmonella typhimurium.

Groups of healthy chickens with a light experimental Salmonella typhimurium infection were fed on a diet containing 225 g per ton (1016 kg) of neomycin for two days. This brought about only a slight reduction in the incidence of chickens that were excreting S typhimurium in their faeces. Examination of caecal contents two days after the cessation of treatment revealed the neomycin had not had any effect in eliminating infection. In one experiment, the neomycin administration resulted in the emergence of enormous populations of Escherichia coli in the alimentary tract of treated chickens that possessed multiple antibiotic resistance of the transmissible type. For these reasons the practice of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing neomycin immediately before slaughter should be actively discouraged.     

Alkalinity and Hardness: Critical but Elusive Concepts in Aquaculture

Total alkalinity and total hardness are familiar variables in aquatic animal production. Aquaculturists—both scientists and practitioners alike—have some understanding of the two variables and of methods for adjusting their concentrations. The chemistry and the biological effects of alkalinity and hardness, however, are more complex than generally realized or depicted in the aquaculture literature. Moreover, the discussions of alkalinity and hardness—alkalinity in particular—found in water chemistry texts are presented in a rigorous manner and without explanation of how the two variables relate to aquaculture. This review provides a thorough but less rigorous discussion of alkalinity and hardness specifically oriented toward aquaculture. Alkalinity and hardness are defined, their sources identified, and analytical methods explained. This is followed by a discussion of the roles of the two variables in aquaculture, including their relationships with carbon dioxide, pH, atmospheric pollution, ammonia, and other inorganic nitrogen compounds, phytoplankton communities, trace metals, animal physiology, and clay turbidity. Liming and other practices to manage alkalinity and hardness are explained. Changes in alkalinity and hardness concentrations that occur over time in aquaculture systems are discussed. Emphasis is placed on interactions among alkalinity, hardness, water quality, and aquacultural production.     

CEREBRAL SINUS VENOGRAPHY IN THE DOG: A NEW TECHNIQUE

A new of performing cerebral sinus venography was developed that opacivies both the ventral and most of the dorsal venous sinus systems. A pediatric angiographic catheter was introduced into the external jugular vein and advanced to the level of the temporal sinus. Iodinated contrast medium was injected manually and radiographs were made. Subtraction radiography was used to visualize vessels field wit contast medium. Venography was simple and relatively non-invasive and was considered safe. The technique was used to confirm occlusion of the transverse venous sinus in healthy dogs that had undergone radical craniectomies.     

An evaluation of three paddlewheel aerators used for emergency aeration of channel catfish ponds

Oxygen transfer rate, power requirement and fuel consumption were determined for three paddlewheel aerators used for emergency aeration of channel catfish ponds. The power requirement of the tractor-powered units was directly related to the diameter of the paddlewheel drum and the paddle immersion depth. Oxygen transfer rates ranged from 6·9 to 41 kg h^?1 and increased linearly with the power requirement. The largest paddlewheel aerator, operated at the maximum paddle depth, produced the highest oxygen transfer rate (41 kg h^?1). Oxygen transfer efficiencies ranged from 1·29 to 1·97 kg kWh^?1.     

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare in captive birds

Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare are primary causes of mycobacteriosis in captive birds throughout the world, but little is known about how they are transmitted. To define the local epidemiology of infection, we strain-typed 70 M. avium subsp. avium and 15 M. intracellulare culture isolates obtained over a 4-year period from captive birds. Typing was performed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR, amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) fragment analyses, and for a subset of isolates, DNA sequencing of a segment of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region. Six strain clusters comprising 43 M. avium subsp. avium, isolates were identified; 42 isolates had unique typing patterns, including all M. intracellulare isolates. Phylo-geographical analyses using RAPD and AFLP fingerprints and animal confinement histories showed no correlation between housing of infected birds and mycobacterial strain-type, except for two animals. The diversity of M. avium subsp. avium and M. intracellulare isolates and minimal evidence for bird-to-bird transmission suggest that environmental reservoirs may be important sources of infection in captivity.     

Chlamydia psittaci: a suspected cause of reproductive loss in three Victorian horses

Chlamydia psittaci was detected by PCR in the lung and equine foetal membranes of two aborted equine foetuses and one weak foal from two different studs in Victoria, Australia. The abortions occurred in September 2019 in two mares sharing a paddock northeast of Melbourne. The weak foal was born in October 2019 in a similar geographical region and died soon after birth despite receiving veterinary care. The detection of C. psittaci DNA in the lung and equine foetal membranes of the aborted or weak foals and the absence of any other factors that are commonly associated with abortion or neonatal death suggest that this pathogen may be the cause of the reproductive loss. The detection of C. psittaci in these cases is consistent with the recent detection of C. psittaci in association with equine abortion in New South Wales. These cases in Victoria show that C. psittaci, and the zoonotic risk it poses, should be considered in association with equine reproductive loss in other areas of Australia.     

Response of body weight and clearance and secretion rates of growth hormone to photoperiod in Holstein heifers

Effects of photoperiod on growth, eating patterns and clearance rate, secretion rate and half-life of growth hormone in serum were assessed in Holstein heifers. Sixty-four prepubertal heifers (avg body wt 102 kg) were blocked by weight into four groups of 16. Within block, each animal was randomly assigned to one of four photoperiod treatments: 16 h of cool-white fluorescent light:8 h dark (CW-16L:8D), CW-8L:16D, CW-6L:8D:2L:8D or 16 h of VitaLite fluorescent light:8D (V-16L:8D). Animals were fed ad libitum a complete mixed diet formulated for heifers to gain approximately .9 kg/d. Average daily body weight gains were .93, .96, .98 and 1.0 kg/d during 112 d of exposure to CW-8L:16D, CW-6L:8D:2L:8D, CW-16L:8D and V-16L:8D, respectively. Heifers exposed to V16L:8D and CW-16L:8D gained more weight (112 and 110 kg; P less than .05 and P less than .08, respectively) than heifers exposed to CW-8L:16D (104 kg). Body weight gain was not different (P greater than .10) between heifers exposed to CW-6L:8D:2L:8D (108 kg) or CW-8L:16D, or between heifers exposed to CW-16L:8D or V-16L:8D. Total number of eating events in 30 h and percentage of total events in the lighted period were 549 and 96% and 523 and 50% in heifers exposed to CW-16L:8D and CW-8L:16D, respectively. Clearance rates (620 vs 636 ml/min), secretion rates (3.0 vs 3.8 micrograms/min) and half lives (17.2 vs 17.9 min) of growth hormone in serum were similar in heifers exposed to CW-16L:8D and CW-8L:16D.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)