Changes in lipoprotein metabolism and body composition in chickens in response to divergent selection for plasma very low density lipoprotein concentration

1. Plasma lipoprotein metabolism and body composition in lines of chicken selected for high- and low-plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were compared to the commercial broiler (meat-type) line from which they were derived. 2. Selection for low-plasma VLDL concentration for 10 generations has reduced the rate of VLDL secretion by at least 50% in males whereas selection for high-VLDL concentration has increased the rate of VLDL secretion over 2-fold. 3. Body fat content was highly correlated with rate of secretion of plasma triglyceride-rich (TGR) lipoproteins (r = 0.88 over the three lines). However, extrapolation of the data suggests that birds secreting no TGR-lipoproteins into the plasma would still have substantial amounts of body fat. 4. Selection for high VLDL has increased the proportion of circulating VLDL-triglyceride taken up by the abdominal fat pad by over 2-fold but there was no difference between high- and low-VLDL lines in the proportion of VLDL-triglyceride taken up by tissues and oxidised to [14C]-carbon dioxide. 5. The results confirm the importance of plasma lipoprotein metabolism in determining body composition in the chicken but suggest there are limits to further reduction in body fat content by manipulation of plasma lipoprotein metabolism.     

Effects of posture and accumulated airway secretions on tracheal mucociliary transport in the horse

Tracheal mucociliary clearance was determined in horses by measuring the rostrad transport of the radiopharmaceutical ^99mtechnetium-sulphur colloid following deposition on the tracheal epithelium by intratracheal injection. The effects of head position (head elevated to normal standing position vs head lowered) and of accumulated purulent secretions on tracheal mucociliary clearance were evaluated for the first time in the horse. In normal horses tracheal mucociliary clearance was greatly accelerated by lowering the head so that the cranial trachea was lower than the caudal trachea. Horses confined with their heads elevated for 24 hours developed an accumulation of purulent airway secretions (and associated increased numbers of bacteria) in the lower respiratory tract and showed a decrease in tracheal mucociliary clearance when compared with their previously measured rate when the lower airway contained only normal secretions. These findings have implications for management practices where horses are prevented from lowering their heads, such as transportation and cross-tying, which may therefore contribute to lower respiratory tract disease in horses.     

Salmonella infection in the African elephant and the black rhinoceros

Summary Salmonellosis in two captive African elephants and a black rhinoceros is described. Necropsy findings and characters of the salmonellae isolated are outlined. Possible sources of infection are discussed and on the basis of their findings, the authors make recommendations for the care of newly captured wild animals.

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Sumario Se describe Salmonelosis en dos elefantes Africanos en cautiverio y en un rinoceronte negro. Se delinean los hallazgos de necropsia y los caracteres de las Salmonelas aisladas. Se discuten las posibles fuentes de infection y sobre la base de sus hallazgos, los autores hacen recomendaciones para el cuidado de animales salvajes recientemente capturados.

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Résumé On décrit l'infection salmonellique chez deux éléphants africains en captivité et chez un rhinocéros noir. Les signes nécropsiques et les caractères desSalmonella isolées sont rapportés. Les auteurs, après avoir discuté des sources possibles d'infection et en se basant sur leurs observations, font des recommandations au sujet des précautions à prendre pour les animaux sauvages récemment capturés.

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On secondment from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Veterinary Investigation Centre, Norwich, U.K.     

Past temperatures directly from the greenland ice sheet

A Monte Carlo inverse method has been used on the temperature profiles measured down through the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) borehole, at the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and the Dye 3 borehole 865 kilometers farther south. The result is a 50, 000-year-long temperature history at GRIP and a 7000-year history at Dye 3. The Last Glacial Maximum, the Climatic Optimum, the Medieval Warmth, the Little Ice Age, and a warm period at 1930 A.D. are resolved from the GRIP reconstruction with the amplitudes -23 kelvin, +2.5 kelvin, +1 kelvin, -1 kelvin, and +0.5 kelvin, respectively. The Dye 3 temperature is similar to the GRIP history but has an amplitude 1.5 times larger, indicating higher climatic variability there. The calculated terrestrial heat flow density from the GRIP inversion is 51.3 milliwatts per square meter.     

Hierarchically ordered oxides

Porous silica, niobia, and titania with three-dimensional structures patterned over multiple length scales were prepared by combining micromolding, polystyrene sphere templating, and cooperative assembly of inorganic sol-gel species with amphiphilic triblock copolymers. The resulting materials show hierarchical ordering over several discrete and tunable length scales ranging from 10 nanometers to several micrometers. The respective ordered structures can be independently modified by choosing different mold patterns, latex spheres, and block copolymers. The examples presented demonstrate the compositional and structural diversities that are possible with this simple approach.     

Lesions in sheep following administration of a vaccine of a Freund's complete adjuvant nature used in the control of ovine paratuberculosis

CASE HISTORIES: Occurrences of adverse reactions in seven sheep flocks in Australia following vaccination against paratuberculosis where veterinary attention was requested are reviewed. All cases occurred within the 3-year period following commencement of use of a vaccine of a Freund's complete adjuvant nature, at a time when approximately six million doses of vaccine had been administered.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: In the first case, 26/58 (45%) Merino sheep vaccinated as adults had palpable tissue reactions at or near the site of vaccination; enlarged prescapular lymph nodes were palpated in 17 (29%), and nine (16%) sheep had both palpable lesions at the site of vaccination and enlarged prescapular lymph nodes. The reactions included caseous nodules up to 5.5 cm in diameter. In the other cases, fistulating or granulomatous wounds were occasionally found at the recommended site of injection behind the ear, and myiasis was rare. Occurrences of inappropriate choice of injection site were recorded, including injection into the axilla of two Merino rams, and lesions in the tissues of the maxilla and nose of almost 50% of 350 Border Leicester lambs. Four outbreaks of progressive paralysis due to injection into cervical musculature were reported, described as ‘OJD staggers’ by producers.

DIAGNOSIS: Granulomatous cellulitis and lymphadenitis associated with oil droplets typical of ‘oil granulomata’. Injection of vaccine into the dorsal cervical area resulted in progressive paralysis due to myonecrosis and suspected granulomatous leptomeningitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE AND CONCLUSIONS: Although lesions at and near the site of injection are common, adverse reactions to vaccination were rare and included mortality from cervical spinal injection, production losses from injection in the maxilla or axilla or if myiasis resulted, and potential marketing losses if animals or carcasses are discounted as a result of the lesions. Risk factors for adverse reactions included inadequate restraint of sheep, breed of sheep, experience of the operator, poor injection technique, and inappropriate placement of vaccine. Increasing attention to the proper restraint of animals, restricting vaccination to the recommended site behind the ear, careful placement of the vaccine into subcutaneous tissue to avoid drainage of vaccine material into tissues such as the spinal cord, and post-vaccination supervision to address welfare concerns should adverse reactions occur are recommended.     

Thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy in the dog: report of two cases

The benefits and application of thoracoscopy with selective ventilation, as an adjunct to thoracotomy, in facilitating pleural exploration and lung lobectomy in two dogs are presented. Similar thoracoscopic-assisted procedures are commonly used in human patients because there is better exposure and they are technically less demanding than thoracoscopy alone, while causing less postoperative morbidity than conventional thoracotomy. There are no previous reports of thoracoscopic-assisted surgery in the veterinary literature. In the cases described, thoracoscopic-assisted mini-thoracotomy was an effective, minimally-invasive approach for ipsilateral hemithorax exploration and lung lobectomy.     

Hydrops fetalis associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in Dexter calves

The occurrence of severe fetal dystocia due to hydrops fetalis associated with pulmonary aplasia in two male and pulmonary hypoplasia in one female Australian Dexter fetuses from two herds is described. Obstetrical intervention by caesarean section was required for delivery of the fetuses, with mortalities in one dam and the 3 calves. Clinical, pathological and genetic features are tabulated to assist in distinguishing pulmonary hypoplasia-associated hydrops fetalis from the more prevalent disorder of chondrodysplasia in Dexter cattle. Anasarca and complete absence or presence of only rudimentary lung tissue in a large thoracic cavity clearly distinguishes this entity from the lesions of Dexter chondrodysplasia that include severe micromelia and abundant lung tissue in a small thoracic cavity with shortened spine and rib cage. Pedigree information suggested that Dexter hydrops may be transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner.