Integrating animal welfare into veterinary education: using an online, interactive course

Veterinarians in the United States and abroad are faced with growing public concern for the welfare of animals, particularly those in production. To prepare veterinarians to exert the leadership expected by the public and industry, steps should be taken to provide instruction in animal welfare at veterinary colleges. The ultimate goal is to offer courses in animal welfare in a consistent manner on a global scale, utilizing existing expertise in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Given the intense curricula of veterinary schools and the scarcity of instructors trained in animal welfare, a nontraditional approach is needed to educate veterinary students in the United States and abroad in animal welfare. Michigan State University (MSU) is developing a graduate-level, online interactive course in animal welfare assessment. The course will approach the topic of animal welfare education from a holistic, multidisciplinary standpoint (encompassing ethics, economics, and behavior) and address issues important to the general public and the international community. The MSU course will draw on renowned international animal welfare experts, allowing students to receive high-quality education that would be difficult in any other circumstance. The course will bridge an important gap in the veterinary curriculum and offer a complete and congruous education in animal welfare to veterinarians worldwide. The MSU course will also serve as a model for collaboration in content assembly and course delivery, by using technology to leverage global expertise in the interests of educational equity. In addition to innovative technology, such as the use of Web-collaboration software to create the course, a variety of media that enable students to interact with the material will also be incorporated throughout the course. Thus, the course will not only utilize the Internet to provide access to high-quality material, but will also require the active participation of the student, which is needed for effective learning.     

Biochemical and Antioxidant Changes in Plasma, Serum, and Erythrocytes of Horses before and after a Jumping Competition

We designed an experiment to determine the concentrations of a marker of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes of horses submitted to jumping competitions. Erythrocytes of exercised horses showed a significant increase in the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species content immediately after exercise (P < .001), which returned to normal levels 24 hours after exercise. Nonprotein sulfhydryl groups and superoxide dismutase activity (EC 1.15.1.1) in erythrocytes were significantly higher 24 hours after exercise, as compared with the resting period and control group (P < .001). Immediately after exercise, horses had increased serum concentrations of uric acid (P < .002) and plasma lactate, as well as increased creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28) activities (P < .001), as compared with resting period and control group. All parameters returned to normal values 24 hours after exercise, except for uric acid serum levels that remained increased (P < .001). We conclude that the oxidative stress in erythrocytes of exercised horses may contribute to tissue damage. In addition, our results showed that horses submitted to a jumping competition showed higher production of free radicals and as a consequence, lipid peroxidation.     

除草剂对土壤微生物生物量和氮矿化的影响

除草剂对土壤微生物生物量和氮矿化有不同的影响效应,这与除草剂类型、除草剂浓度、土壤类型以及包括温度、水分、培养时间等实验条件有关,这些影响效应在土壤肥力和环境保护上的重要性也进行了讨论。     

A review of diagnostic tests for diagnosing failure of transfer of passive immunity in dairy calves in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

The aim of this review is to critically assess the test characteristics and practicality of published data on direct and indirect tests for diagnosing failure of transfer of passive immunity (FPT) in dairy calves in New Zealand, to provide recommendations for veterinary practitioners, and to examine the recommended sample size for assessing herd-level prevalence of FPT and the confidence in the results obtained. The definition of FPT is based on measurement of concentrations of IgG in serum of neonatal calves after colostrum intake. The gold standard method for measurement of concentrations of IgG is radial immunodiffusion. However its cost, requirements for laboratory equipment, and the time taken to obtain results have meant that alternative tests have been developed. The turbidimetric immunoassay and ELISA also directly measure concentrations of IgG. Indirect tests include measurement of concentrations of total proteins (TP) in the laboratory or using a refractometer, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity, and the zinc sulfate turbidity (ZST) test. Of the indirect tests, measurement of concentrations of TP in the laboratory or using a refractometer combine high specificity and sensitivity with a consistent association with concentrations of IgG in calves between 1–7 days of age. Using a refractometer is less accurate than direct measurement in a laboratory, but is still a suitable test if low cost and speed are important. Although GGT activity is strongly associated with concentrations of IgG in serum, the relationship varies with time after birth. Therefore the target thresholds change with time, increasing error compared to the measurement of concentrations of TP in serum. Similarly, factors other than total concentrations of IgG have a significant effect on the association with ZST test, complicating interpretation. Thus, when direct measurement of concentrations of IgG is not feasible, the recommendation is that concentrations of TP in serum should be used as the diagnostic test for diagnosis of FPT, providing calves are not dehydrated. Using a sample size of 12 calves is suitable for estimating whether the herd-level prevalence of FPT is <20% or >20%, if there are no calves or >5 calves diagnosed with FPT, respectively, but is limited in diagnostic confidence when 1–4 calves test positive. Diagnostic interpretation can be significantly improved if tests of FPT are used alongside information on the likely risk of FPT on the tested farm.     

Generalized biomass equations for the main aboveground biomass components of maritime pine across contrasting environments

• Introduction   

In order to predict the biomass of aerial components of maritime pine stands (Pinus pinaster Ait.), generalized allometric equations were developed using data collected from the southern and northern margins of its geographical area.     

Resistance of Triticum dicoccoides to infection with Erysiphe graminis tritici

Summary The reactions of 233 Triticum dicoccoides acessions, collected at 10 sites in Israel and elsewhere, to infection with cultures of Erysiphe graminis tritici, were determined. The reactions indicated that the number of sources of resistance to E. graminis tritici which can be obtained from T. dicoccoides plants growing wild in Israel and elsewhere is almost unlimited. One hundred and fourteen or 49% of the accessions were resistant, and 137 or 59% of the accessions were resistant or moderately resistant to infection with four cultures of E. graminis tritici which possess the virulence genes corresponding to most of the identified resistance genes in wheat. Accessions collected at sites with marginal habitats where T. dicoccoides grows poorly and has lower grain weight, were more susceptible than were accessions collected at sites with an optimal habitat for growth of T. dicoccoides. The results agreed with those in a previous study with Hordeum spontaneum, and indicate that to obtain H. spontaneum or T. dicoccoides accessions with the highest level of resistance to the powdery mildew pathogens, plants should be collected at sites in ecological and geographic regions where those two species occupy optimum habitats and are exposed to the powdery mildew pathogens.     

THE INFLUENCE OF IRON AND ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDES ON THE SWELLING OF Na-MONTMORILLONITE AND THE PERMEABILITY OF A Na-SOIL

Hydroxy Fe and A1 interlayers reduce the swelling of Na-montmorillonite in NaCl solutions. A deposit of sesquioxide round an aggregate or orientated flake of clay restricts swelling until the sesquioxide coating is broken by the swelling pressure of the clay. A1 is more effective than Fe. The effect of sesquioxides on the permeability to NaCl solutions of an alkali soil depends on the control of clay swelling in a manner expected from the above results. A sesquioxide coating round a soil aggregate stabilizes the structure until the coating is broken by the swelling pressure of the clay in the aggregate.