Patterns and relationships of plasma calcium, protein and phosphorus during the egg laying cycle of the fowl and the effect of dietary calcium

In 29 domestic hens, four blood samples were collected during the period of egg formation, at time points representing different metabolic stages. Plasma concentrations of total calcium, total phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus and total protein were measured, and the effect of adding oyster shell particles to a standard laying diet was investigated. Analyses of covariance were made and correlations between the plasma characteristics were calculated. The following were significantly correlated: total and inorganic phosphorus, calcium and total phosphorus, and calcium and protein. Each of the four characteristics showed a significant decrease during egg formation. Inorganic phosphorus reached a peak 15 h after ovulation, probably related to medullary bone resorption. Plasma total phosphorus differed significantly between chickens. Addition of oyster shell to the diet did not affect the concentration or the pattern of the plasma characteristics during egg formation and did not reduce calcium mobilisation from medullary bone during shell formation.     

An investigation into the clinical pathological changes and serological response in horses experimentally infected with Babesia equi and Babesia caballi

Serologically negative horses, as determined with the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), were infected with Babesia equi and 60 days later with Babesia caballi. The only clinical signs of disease observed in these animals were a febrile reaction and slight icterus. Haematological changes included a drop in haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration, as well as lowered platelet counts. The serum concentrations of albumin, iron and phosphorus were lowered. Mildly elevated serum bilirubin and fibrinogen concentrations were observed. Antibody titres were determined with the IFA and complement fixation (CF) tests. Antibodies to B. equi were first detected between Days 10-19 and 12-38 with the IFA and CF test, respectively, while the corresponding IFA periods for B. caballi were 6-8 days after infection. The parasitaemia of both B. equi and B. caballi infections never reached the 1% level.     

Enteric infections in veal calves: a longitudinal study on four veal calf units

Forty-five calves on four veal calf units were monitored during the first four weeks after their arrival. Faecal samples were collected on alternate days and screened for the presence of rotaviruses, bovine coronavirus, Cryptosporidium oocysts, K99 positive strains of E. coli and Salmonella spp. Rotaviruses and Cryptosporidium were the most commonly detected agents (78% and 60% respectively of the calves). Bovine coronavirus was detected in the faeces of 18% of the calves, whilst K99 positive E. coli was only found in 2 samples from one calf. Salmonella spp. were not isolated from any of the 646 faecal samples examined. Shedding of rotaviruses occurred in a bimodal pattern beginning in the first week of the survey. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected most frequently in the interval between the two peaks of rotavirus shedding. The presence of rotaviruses or Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces was not strongly associated with scour, nor were combined infections with these agents or the cases of bovine coronavirus infection. The condition of the calves throughout the survey was generally satisfactory.     

Prevention of atrophic rhinitis in piglets by means of intranasal administration of a live non-AR-pathogenic Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine

The effect of intranasal vaccination of piglets with live non-AR-pathogenic Bordetella bronchiseptica (BB-) against Atrophic Rhinitis (AR) was investigated in a preliminary investigation and in a field trial. In the preliminary investigation 2-day-old SPF piglets (n = 13) were vaccinated. Three weeks after vaccination, challenges were carried out by means of a spray with an AR-pathogenic B (BB+) or an AR-pathogenic Pasteurella multocida (PM+) broth-culture. Four weeks later the piglets were necropsied and examined for atrophy of the ventral conchae (AVC). In contrast with the non-vaccinated SPF piglets, the vaccinated piglets showed a strong and significant reduction of AVC, after both BB+ and PM+ challenge. In the field trial three groups were formed by drawing lots: ten litters (82 piglets) were vaccinated; ten litters (92 piglets) formed the control group and 11 litters (104 piglets) were treated with a placebo. The litters were spread over two units. In unit 1 AR and PM+ were demonstrated incidentally, in unit 2, however, persistently. BB+ was isolated equally frequently in both units. Clinical and bacteriological examinations were done in piglets of 3, 6 and 8 weeks of age. Necropsy examinations was carried out in 41 piglets of 8 weeks of age, chosen randomly by drawing lots. In spite of a second vaccination at the age of 3 weeks, BB- was not well established; this was possibly caused by maternal BB antibodies. In the control and placebo groups PM+ was isolated earlier and more frequently than BB+. It appeared that AVC was correlated more strongly with PM+ than with BB+ infection in the field trial. The percentage of piglets with Brachygnathia superior (BS) at the age of 8 weeks indicated the AR situation in the herd. Although a significant reduction of AVC was determined in unit 2, it was not sufficient to indicate that this method of intranasal vaccination is useful in the prevention of AR in practice.     

Dexamethasone and prednisolone in the horse: pharmacokinetics and action on the adrenal gland

Pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone and prednisolone were studied in 6 horses given dexamethasone alcohol (IV or IM) or dexamethasone 21-isonicotinate as a solution IV or IM (50 micrograms/kg of body weight), prednisolone 21-sodium succinate IV or IM (0.6 mg/kg of body weight), or prednisolone acetate IM (0.6 mg/kg of body weight). Plasma concentrations were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method. After dexamethasone alcohol (IV) or dexamethasone 21-isonicotinate (IV), the half-life of elimination was similar (53 minutes) for both formulations. After dexamethasone (alcohol and isonicotinate, IM), concentrations were low or nondetected. After prednisolone 21-sodium succinate (IV), the half-life of elimination (99.5 minutes) was significantly (P less than 0.01) longer than that for dexamethasone. After prednisolone 21-sodium succinate (IM), absorption was rapid and bioavailability was high. After prednisolone acetate (IM), absorption was slow and prednisolone was present in plasma for about 7 days. Due to the nonlinearity of prednisolone kinetics, a bioavailability higher than 100% was obtained. The basal plasma hydrocortisone concentration was approximately 70 ng/ml. After dexamethasone (IV or IM), plasma hydrocortisone values decreased after a 2-hour delay and returned to base line after a 3 to 4 day delay. After prednisolone 21-sodium succinate (IV or IM), plasma hydrocortisone decreased immediately (IV) or rapidly (IM) and returned to base line after a 24-hour delay. After prednisolone acetate (IM), plasma hydrocortisone decreased for up to 21 days.     

An ELISA with Brucella lipopolysaccharide antigen for the diagnosis of B. melitensis infection in sheep and for the evaluation of serological responses following subcutaneous or conjunctival B. melitensis strain Rev 1 vaccination.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with unpurified Brucella melitensis smooth lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS) as antigen was evaluated for the serological diagnosis of B. melitensis infection in sheep in comparison with the Rose Bengal (RB), complement fixation (CF), radial immunodiffusion (RID), microplate agglutination (MA) and rivanol agglutination (RIV) tests. Tests RB and CF detected as positive each of the 77 sera from B. melitensis-infected animals tested, the RID (74), MA (76) and the RIV (72) were less sensitive. However, all tests compared were negative when 77 sera from Brucella-free rams were tested. While subcutaneous Rev 1 vaccination induced high response levels in any of the tests, low level responses were obtained upon conjunctival vaccination, particularly in ELISA and RID tests.     

Advance regeneration and seed banking of woody plants in Ohio pine plantations: Implications for landscape change

Silviculturally-managed pine plantations within southern Ohio are chronically disturbed patches of introduced vegetation distinct from the surrounding matrix of hardwood forest. To determine the successional pathways by which such pine stands might blend back into the hardwood forest matrix under different types of silvicultural management, we determined the current status of hardwood regeneration under 24 pine stands. Stands of Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine) had the highest density of hardwood seedlings and saplings (20,560 stems ha^-1) whereas P. strobus (white pine) stands averaged only 7090 hardwood stems ha^-1; P. resinosa (red pine) stands were intermediate. The most abundant hardwood seedling and sapling species under pine canopies were Acer rubrum and Cornus florida. DCA ordination of the seedling + sapling assemblages clustered most of the P. resinosa and P. strobus stands in the center of the ordination along with a group of species which are common in second-growth forests of the area. P. virginiana stands, in contrast, were scattered throughout the ordination space. Most of the woody species common in second-growth forests of the region were also common in the pine understory. Multiple regression indicated that large plantations with deeper litter, higher soil pH and lower total hardwood density had the greatest abundance of mesic-site species in the understory. This relationship did not hold for P. resinosa stands, however, due to more frequent and intense silvicultural intervention. The seed bank was not an important source of woody seedlings to the understory assemblage under intact pine plantations. The vegetation of 1–4 yr old clear-cut sites was dominated by wind and bird dispersed species which were generally absent from the understory of intact plantations. We conclude these chronically disturbed planted patches will revert to matrix vegetation faster if the disturbance is allowed to end in a gradual manner through stand senescence than if it is abruptly ended by clear-cutting.     

Corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme in the diagnosis of canine hypercorticism

Corticosteroid-induced isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (AP) can easily be demonstrated in canine plasma as a routine procedure because of its greater heat stability at 65 degrees C in comparison with that of other AP-isoenzymes. In this study the accuracy of this test for the diagnosis of hypercorticism was investigated. The AP-65 degrees C test had its highest efficiency when applied to plasma AP levels exceeding 150 units/litre. In a group of 146 dogs, clinically suspected of having hyperadrenocorticism, the test had a sensitivity of 0.92 and a positive predictive value for a positive test result of 0.89. Its lack of specificity (0.44) makes it unsuitable as a diagnostic test. The main application of AP-65 degrees C is in detecting hypercorticism in dogs by routine laboratory measurements, as was demonstrated in 711 dogs, in which a positive predictive value for the presence of hypercorticism of 0.89 was found.     

South African field strains of Haemonchus contortus resistant to the levamisole/morantel group of anthelmintics

A strain of Haemonchus contortus from the Pietermaritzburg district of Natal was found to be resistant to levamisole (geometric mean efficacy 76.5%), morantel (41.9%), the benzimidazoles (oxfendazole: 33.7%) and rafoxanide (82.0%), but apparently fully susceptible to closantel and disophenol. In the case of ivermectin, a mean of 5.2% of the H. contortus was not removed at a dosage of 200 micrograms kg-1 live mass. A second strain of H. contortus, from Amsterdam in the south-eastern Transvaal, showed reduced susceptibility to levamisole (80.8%) and morantel (46.2%), the only 2 drugs tested. This is apparently the first report of resistance to the levamisole/morantel group of anthelmintics in sheep in South Africa.     

Therapeutic efficacy of doxycycline hyclate in experimental Escherichia coli infection in broilers

Treatment of experimentally induced colibacillosis in broilers with doxycycline hyclate through the drinking water was just effective at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight (1000 ppm). The achieved therapeutic effects were similar to those of tetracycline at the same dose and of flumequine at a dose of 19 mg/kg body weight (100 ppm).