Osteomyelitis secondary to trauma involving the proximal end of the radius in horses: five cases (1987-2001)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic abnormalities in and treatment and outcome of horses with trauma-induced osteomyelitis of the proximal aspect of the radius. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 5 horses. PROCEDURE: Data collected from the medical records included signalment; history; horse use; degree of lameness; radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic findings; treatment; and outcome. RESULTS: Duration of lameness prior to referral ranged from 14 to 60 days. Mean severity of lameness was grade 3 of 5, and all horses had a single limb affected. All horses had signs of pain during elbow joint manipulation and digital palpation over the lateral aspect of the proximal end of the radius. Radiographic lesions consisted of periosteal proliferation, osteolysis, and subchondral bone lysis. Scintigraphy in 3 horses revealed intense pharmaceutical uptake diffusely involving the proximal end of the radius. Two horses had sepsis of the elbow joint. All horses were treated with antimicrobials long-term; 1 horse was also treated by local perfusion of the radial medullary cavity through an indwelling cannulated screw. At follow-up, all horses had returned to their previous function. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that osteomyelitis of the proximal end of the radius can result from a traumatic injury to the antebrachium. Because lesions may be an extension of septic arthritis, a thorough examination of the wound area and elbow joint is recommended. Prolonged systemic antimicrobial treatment can result in a successful outcome.     

Using remote sensing to predict outbreaks of Oestrus ovis in Namibia

The Directorate of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development of Namibia issues warnings to farmers in the south of the country about the likelihood of infestation of small-stock by the nasal bot fly, Oestrus ovis. Farmers can then treat their stock at the most appropriate time. The O. ovis puparia develop at shallow depths in the soil and the timing of emergence is directly dependent on climatic conditions, specifically the number of degree-days above a particular threshold soil temperature. Based on temperature measurements from only a few stations scattered throughout the country, the veterinary department warnings lack precision in space and time. This paper presents an attempt to support the programme of warnings with accumulated temperature information from Meteosat satellite images, in order to strengthen predictions of the time of emergence in specific places, and to improve the precision and reliability of warnings given to farmers.     

Report on the analyses of mAb reactive with porcine CD8 for the second international swine CD workshop

Based on an analysis of their reactivity with porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), only three of the 57 mAbs assigned to the T cell/activation marker group were grouped into cluster T9 along with the two wCD8 workshop standard mAbs 76-2-11 (CD8a) and 11/295/33 (CD8b). Their placement was verified through the use of two-color cytofluorometry which established that all three mAbs (STH101, #090; UCP1H12-2, #139; and PG164A, #051) bind exclusively to CD8⁺ cells. Moreover, like the CD8 standard mAbs, these three mAbs reacted with two proteins with a MW of 33 and 35 kDa from lymphocyte lysates and were, thus, given the wCD8 designation. Because the mAb STH101 inhibited the binding of mAb 76-2-11 but not of 11/295/33, it was given the wCD8a designation. The reactivity of the other two new mAbs in the T9 cluster with the various subsets of CD8⁺ lymphocytes were distinct from that of the other members in this cluster including the standards. Although the characteristic porcine CD8 staining pattern consisting of CD8^low and CD8^high cells was obtained with the mAb UCP1H12-2, a wider gap between the fluorescence intensity of the CD8^low and CD8^high lymphocytes was observed. In contrast, the mAb PG164A, not only exclusively reacted with CD4⁻/CD8^high lymphocytes, but it also failed to recognize CD4/CD8 double positive lymphocytes. It was concluded that this mAb is specific for a previously unrecognized CD8 epitope, and was, thus, given the wCD8c designation. A very similar reactivity pattern to that of PG164A was observed for two other mAbs (STH106, #094; and SwNL554.1, #009). Although these two mAbs were not originally positioned in the T cell subgroup because of their reactivity and their ability to inhibit the binding of PG164A, they were given the wCD8c designation. Overall, five new wCD8 mAbs were identified. Although the molecular basis for the differences in PBL recognition by these mAbs is not yet understood, they will be important in defining the role of CD8⁺ lymphocyte subsets in health and disease.     

The effects of two analgesic regimes on behavior after abdominal surgery in Steller sea lions

This study examined the effects of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment protocols on the behavioral responses of juvenile Steller sea lions after abdominal surgery. Sea lions were randomly assigned to one of two treatments designed to control post-operative pain. The flunixin group (n=6) received flunixin meglumine (1mg/kg) administered as a single intramuscular (IM) injection before extubation from surgery. The carprofen group (n=5) received carprofen (4.4 mg/kg) as an IM injection before extubation, then orally at 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Seven behaviors related to post-operative pain were monitored by observers, blinded to treatment, for a total of 10 days (3 days pre-, day of surgery, and 6 days post-surgery). All seven behaviors changed after surgery regardless of NSAID treatment, two of which returned to baseline within 6 days of surgery. Only one behavior was mildly affected by analgesic treatment: sea lions in the carprofen group tended to spend less time lying down in Days 1-3 following surgery (i.e., the days which they received oral carprofen). These results suggested that neither treatment, at the dose administered, was effective in controlling pain in the days following this surgery.     

Supplementation of laying-hen feed with palm tocos and algae astaxanthin for egg yolk nutrient enrichment

Adding supplements to hen feed can increase egg nutritional value. Astaxanthin, tocotrienols, and tocopherols are potent antioxidants that provide health benefits to humans. We hypothesized that the addition of these nutrients to hen feed would result in an increased nutrient content in egg yolk with minimum changes in functional properties. Laying hens (Hy-Line W-36 breed) were fed four diets with different supplementation levels of palm toco concentrate and algae biomass containing astaxanthin for 8 weeks. Egg yolks were analyzed for physical, chemical, and functional properties. The feed with the highest nutrient concentration was also studied for stability of these antioxidants using the Arrhenius approach. No significant differences were observed in functional properties except for emulsification capacity and sensory characteristics among eggs from different diet treatments. Changes in egg yolk color reached the maximum values at day 8. Incorporation of tocopherols and tocotrienols increased until day 8, astaxanthin incorporation increased until day 10, and all decreased thereafter. Feed nutrients resulted in a dose-response relationship of these compounds in the egg yolk. The transfer efficiency ranged from 0 to 9.9% for tocotrienols and tocopherols and from 7.6 to 14.9% for astaxanthin at their peak values. Results of the Arrhenius accelerated stability study showed significant differences in the shelf life of various nutrients, and these results can be used to properly formulate and store the feed materials.     

Early weaning and postweaning nutritional management affect feedlot performance of angus x simmental heifers and the relationship of 12th rib fat and marbling score to feed efficiency

Early-weaned Angus x Simmental heifers were used to evaluate the effects of postweaning nutritional management on feedlot performance, carcass merit, and the relationship of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat deposition to the feed efficiency among heifers fed for a high-quality market. Sixteen heifers were weaned at 73+/-5.5 d of age and grazed on endophyte-infected tall fescue for 18 mo before entering the feedlot (early-weaned-P). Eighty heifers from the following year's calf crop were weaned at 71+/-5.5 d of age and allowed either ad libitum access to a 25% concentrate diet (early-weaned-25C) or limit-fed a 90% concentrate diet (early-weaned-90C) to achieve a similar ADG. Following a 119-d growing period, 16 early-weaned-90C and 16 early-weaned-25C calves were paired based on BW and growth rate and individually fed during the finishing period along with the early-weaned-P heifers. Ultrasound measurements of s.c. and i.m. fat were recorded at approximately 60-d intervals throughout the finishing period. Feed efficiency was regressed against s.c. and i.m. fat, and i.m. fat was regressed on s.c. fat. Despite a similar ADG, early-weaned-90C calves gained more efficiently (P < or = 0.05) in the feedlot than early-weaned-25C calves. Heifers finished as yearlings tended (P < or = 0.10) to gain faster but gained less efficiently (P < or = 0.01) than early-weaned-90C heifers finished as calves. The rate of s.c. and i.m. fat deposition was similar between early-weaned-90C and early-weaned-25C heifer calves. The calves were grouped together for comparison to yearlings. Feed efficiency decreased quadratically (P < or = 0.01) as s.c. fat cover increased. The rate at which feed efficiency decreased relative to increasing s.c. fat cover was similar regardless of age at feedlot entry. However, heifers finished as calves gained more efficiently (P < or = 0.01) than yearlings at any given fat thickness. Feed efficiency decreased linearly (P < or = 0.01) as i.m. fat increased among heifers finished as calves. Additionally, heifers finished as calves deposited i.m. fat at a faster rate relative to s.c. fat (P < or = 0.01) than yearlings. These data suggest that heifers finished as calves produce high-quality carcasses with less s.c. fat cover while gaining more efficiently than heifers finished as yearlings.     

Changing rainfall patterns and farmers’ adaptation through soil water management practices in semi-arid eastern Kenya

There is limited documentation of soil and water management technologies that enhance adaptation to climate change in drylands of Kenya. Rainfall patterns were analyzed in the semi-arid Machakos and Makueni counties of eastern Kenya using historical data. A total of forty-three smallholder farmers implementing soil water management practices were sampled, and an estimate of the seasonal water budget for current crop and livestock production systems computed. Analysis of rainfall amounts and distribution shows increasing variability, with the average annual total amounts decreasing over the past 50 years. Furthermore, the number of rainy days within the March-April-May season that can support crop growth is gradually decreasing. These decreases are however not significant at P < 0.05. There were more seasons with low rainfall amounts compared to those with high rainfall amounts. All these subject the smallholder crop and livestock production system to limited soil moisture. Farmers address the risk by harnessing and utilizing green (rainfall stored in soil) and blue (rainfall collected into storage tanks) water technologies. The study found that farmers in these semi-arid counties practice fifteen diverse soil and water management interventions on their farms. The most popular practices are cut-off drains, retention ditches, terracing, run-off harvesting, and agroforestry. The estimated seasonal water budget indicates the need for integrated soil and water management interventions to address the crop and livestock production constraints.     

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase—a Graminicide Target Site

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase catalyses the first committed step in fatty acid (and acyl lipid) formation. The enzyme has been shown to exert a high degree of flux control for lipid biosynthesis in leaves and, therefore, it is not surprising that chemicals which can inhibit it effectively are successful herbicides. These chemicals belong mainly to the cyclohexanedione and aryloxyphenoxypropionate classes and are graminicides. The reason for the selectivity of these herbicides towards grasses lies in the nature of the target site, acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Recent advances in our knowledge of acetyl-CoA carboxylases from sensitive and resistant plants has revealed some important facts. Dicotyledons, which are resistant, have a multi-enzyme complex type of carboxylase in their chloroplasts while grasses have a multifunctional protein. Both divisions of plants have two isoforms of the enzyme, the second being in the cytosol. Detailed study of multifunctional forms of acetyl-CoA carboxylases, which have different sensitivities to herbicides, suggests that herbicide resistance is correlated with cooperativity of herbicide binding to the native dimeric form of the carboxylase. © 1997 SCI.