Differences in metabolic parameters and gene expression related to osteochondrosis/osteoarthrosis in pigs fed 25-hydroxyvitamin D3

Osteochondrosis/osteoarthrosis (OC/OA) are common terms for various joint pathologies that occur in pigs. Pathologies that may contribute to these disorders have been described, but the primary cause(s) remain unknown. We hypothesised that as OC has some similarities to dyschondroplasia, which involves a failure of growth plate chondrocytes to fully differentiate and hypertrophy, treatment with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-D) might reduce the incidence and/or severity of lesions in pigs, as it does in chickens with dyschondroplasia. Control pigs were fed a commercial diet ad libitum. In the treated group this diet was supplemented with 25-D at 0.1 mg/kg. Ten pigs from each of the control and treated groups were sampled at 7, 12, 16 and 21 weeks. Treatment with 25-D had no effect on the incidence or severity of OC/OA lesions. Cartilage dry weight, total collagen content and proteoglycan content, and plasma levels oftotal calcium, inorganic phosphorous, vitamin C, insuline-like growth factor-I, parathyroid hormone and tumour necrosis factor alpha were unaffected by treatment. In addition, none of these parameters were correlated with the incidence or severity of OC/OA lesions. The mRNA expression levels of 21 out of 23 genes assayed by RT-PCR were unaltered in articular cartilage from OA lesion samples as compared to normal articular cartilage. However, collagen type II was reduced and collagen type X increased in OA lesion and near lesion samples. These results suggest that OA in pigs may share some features of osteoarthritis in other mammalian species.     

Development of Spinitectus inermis (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae), a parasite of eel,Anguilla anguilla,in Europe

The development of the nematode Spinitectus inermis (Zeder, 1800), a parasite of the stomach of eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.) in Europe, was experimentally studied. Mayfly nymphs Caenis macrura, Ecdyonurus dispar, Heptagenia sulphurea, Potamanthus luteus and Seratella ignita from Portugal and the Czech Republic were found to serve as experimental intermediate hosts. After ingestion of the nematode eggs by the mayfly nymphs, the toothed first-stage larvae were released and penetrated into the body cavity of the intermediate host. There they moulted twice (on day 4 and 6 post infection [p.i.] at water temperatures of 20-25 degrees C), attaining the third infective stage. The definitive host, A. anguilla, undoubtedly acquires infection by feeding on mayfly nymphs harbouring infective-stage larvae. In an experimentally infected eel, the fourth-stage larva undergoing the third moult was observed 28 days p.i. at water temperature of 20 degrees C. The larval stages, including moulting forms, are described and illustrated. The prepatent period of S. inermis is estimated to be about two months.     

Brucellosis in Brazil

This paper reviews the epidemiology of bovine, swine, ovine, caprine, and canine brucellosis in Brazil. The zoonotic aspects of Brucella infection in Brazil is also discussed. Emphasis is given to the new program for the control of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes that is likely to provide important insights into the prospects and strategies for controlling brucellosis in developing countries.     

Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus in Brazil by polymerase chain reaction assay

Canine parvovirus (CPV) was first isolated in 1978 in the USA. Analysis of CPV isolates by monoclonal antibodies and restriction enzymes have shown that after the first emergence of CPV (CPV-2) it evolved to give rise to new antigenic types, which were designated CPV type 2a and type 2b. These new types have replaced the original CPV type 2, although the proportions of each of the new antigenic types vary in different countries. In Brazil, CPV-like infections were first observed in 1979, however, there has been no information concerning the antigenic types of CPV prevailing in South America. In this study, we designed a PCR assay to type canine parvovirus strains in fecal samples collected from symptomatic dogs during 1980 through 1986 and 1990 through 1995. Our data showed that the CPV epizootic in Brazil followed the same pattern observed in the USA of emergence of CPV-2 followed by replacement by the variants CPV-2a and 2b. The predominant strain found during 1980 was CPV-2a, which was substantially replaced by CPV-2b from 1990 to 1995.     

Surgical procedure and postoperative management of a perineal urethrostomy in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) with traumatic loss of the distal penis developed a gradually enlarging ventral urethral swelling and progressive dysuria. Endoscopy identified a urethral diverticulum, and endoscopic resection of the diverticulum wall was performed. Postoperative infection caused extensive necrosis of the penis, which necessitated a perineal urethrostomy. Complications of the urethrostomy included urethral obstruction from recurrent urethral stricture. The stricture was managed by regular dilatation using urethral bougies. Because of considerable postoperative swelling, catheterization was required to allow micturition following both the diverticular resection and polyp debulking. A shortened catheter sutured to the skin was tolerated for up to 10 days. Four yr after the urethrostomy, the animal is healthy and asymptomatic with endoscopic examinations performed at 12 mo intervals. This case demonstrates that with appropriate aftercare, perineal urethrostomy is an effective technique in the treatment of chronic distal urethral obstruction in the chimpanzee and probably other primate species.     

Implications of simian retroviruses for captive primate population management and the occupational safety of primate handlers.

Nonhuman primates can be naturally infected with a plethora of viruses with zoonotic potential, including retroviruses. These simian viruses present risks to both captive nonhuman primate populations and persons exposed to nonhuman primates. Simian retroviruses, including simian immunodeficiency virus, simian type D retrovirus, simian T-lymphotropic virus, and gibbon ape leukemia virus, have been shown to cause clinical disease in nonhuman primates. In contrast, simian foamy virus, a retrovirus that is highly prevalent in most nonhuman primates, has not been associated with clinical disease in naturally infected primates. Although it has been shown that human retrovirus infections with human T-lymphotropic virus and human immunodeficiency virus originated through multiple independent introductions of simian retroviruses into human populations that then spread globally, little is known about the frequency of such zoonotic events. In this article, exogenous simian retroviruses are reviewed as a concern for zoo and wildlife veterinarians, primate handlers, other persons in direct contact with nonhuman primates, and other nonhuman primates in a collection. The health implications for individual animals as well as managed populations in zoos and research institutions are discussed, the cross-species transmission and zoonotic disease potential of simian retroviruses are described, and suggestions for working safely with nonhuman primates are provided.     

The incidence and significance of excess acupuncture channel imbalance in the equine sport horse purchase examination, 1999–2004

Prepurchase examinations are commonly used in the evaluation of sport horses. No data have been published concerning the use of traditional Chinese veterinary medical (TCVM) channel palpation with respect to the musculoskeletal status of sport horses for sale. The objective of the study is to summarize the results of channel evaluation when integrated with a Western examination in a series of prepurchase examinations. The prepurchase examination records of 235 sport horses were reviewed. The examined horses were presented as serviceable for the intended use. The examinations were performed by a single observer. The TCVM palpation examination and Western examinations, which often included radiography, infrared thermometry, diagnostic ultrasound, fiberoptic endoscopy, and diagnostic blood screens, were used to further evaluate the musculoskeletal system. The data were used to define the relationship between soundness, lameness, channel imbalance, and sale outcome. Over 6 years, 235 horses were examined. One hundred fifty-six (66%) were sound at their working gaits, and 79 (34%) had observable lameness. Two thirds of lame horses had palpable channel imbalance. Only a quarter of sound horses presented with palpable channel imbalance. Sound horses with no channel imbalance, that is, level channels, were most frequently sold, and lame horses with channel imbalance most frequently were not sold. Significantly more sound horses with level channels were sold as compared with sale outcome of sound horses with unbalanced channels. In conclusion, the TCVM channel examination is a useful component in the integrated prepurchase examination of sport horses.     

Effects of deficit irrigation strategies on cluster microclimate for improving fruit composition of Moscatel field-grown grapevines

The grapevine plays a very important role in the economic, social and cultural sectors of many regions; however vineyards are often grown in regions under stressful conditions and thus they are vulnerable to climate change. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation on vine water relations, vegetative growth, plant microclimate, berry composition and yield components, compared to conventional deficit irrigation (DI, 50% ETc), full irrigation (FI, 100% of ETc) and non-irrigated vines (NI). The study was undertaken in mature ‘Moscatel’ grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in Pegões, South of Portugal. Compared to the other irrigated treatments, PRD vines showed a better microclimate at the cluster zone with higher incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Within the more open canopies of NI and PRD treatments, berry temperatures were higher than those of denser ones (DI and FI). Compared to the conventional irrigation technique the better microclimate observed in PRD vines was a consequence of a reduction in vine growth, where lower values of leaf layer number, leaf area, canopy wideness, water shoots and shoot weight were observed. In PRD vines we observed a tendency to a development of a deeper root system, while DI and FI showed a more homogeneous root distribution throughout the different soil layers. PRD showed an improvement in berry quality with higher values of flavour precursors, and total phenols concentration without any significant yield reduction compared to DI and FI.     

A linear programming assessment of the profit from strategies to reduce the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

We used a linear programming model to estimate the financial returns to a Staphylococcus aureus testing and control program over a 1-year period for a 100-cow herd, with a 8636-kg rolling-herd average. Six tests, which vary in sensitivity from 0.80 to 0.98 and specificity of 0.99, were examined in simulated herds with 10, 20 and 30% prevalence of S. aureus infection. Sensitivity of these results to a range of assumptions regarding rolling-herd average, milk price, somatic cell-count premium, and cost and cure rate of dry treatment were examined to determine the profits from the program. The profits of a control program are most dependent upon prevalence, cell-count premium, and cost of dry treatment. In our simulation for a 100-cow herd, a testing and control program appears to cost less than US$10 per cow per year, and pays for itself within 1 yr, except under the lowest prevalence and most-adverse conditions (low yield, high cost of dry treatment, or low SCC premium).