Follicle Growth and Oocyte Developmental Competence in Cows With Liver Damage

Follicle growth, oocyte quality or oocyte growing environment (follicular fluid) were evaluated in cows with severe liver damage (haemorrhage, telangiectasis, cholangitis and abscess) that were visually diagnosed at the slaughterhouse. Holstein cows aged 40–90 months with either a healthy liver (HL cow) or damaged liver (DL cow) were selected as donors. Follicle development kinetics was evaluated by counting the follicles at various developmental stages. In addition, the biochemical characteristics of the follicular fluids, developmental competence of preantral follicles cultured for 16 days in vitro and the ability of oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage 8 days after fertilization were examined. DL cows had fewer secondary follicles than HL cows, and the correlation between the number of secondary follicles and the number of primary follicles differed among DL and HL cows. The follicular fluid of DL cows contained significantly lower levels of albumin and a higher total protein content than that of HL cows. Oocyte nuclear maturation assessed at 5, 16 and 21 h after beginning of culture was slower in DL cows than in HL cows, although the final maturation rates did not differ. The rate of polyspermic fertilization was significantly higher and the proportion of cleavage at 48 h after insemination and blastulation lower in DL cows compared with HL cows. When preantral follicles were cultured in vitro, the rate of follicles with normal morphology was lower in DL cows than in HL cows. These findings suggest that the kinetics of folliculogenesis differ among DL and HL cows and the developmental ability of preantral follicles and oocytes is lower in DL cows than in HL cows.     

Expression of the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) and A2 (HMGA2) genes in canine lymphoma: analysis of 23 cases and comparison to control cases

Overexpression of high mobility group A (HMGA) genes was described as a prognostic marker in different human malignancies, but its role in canine haematopoietic malignancies was unknown so far. The objective of this study was to analyse HMGA1 and HMGA2 gene expression in lymph nodes of canine lymphoma patients. The expression of HMGA1 and HMGA2 was analysed in lymph node samples of 23 dogs with lymphoma and three control dogs using relative quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR. Relative quantity of HMGA1 was significantly higher in dogs with lymphoma compared with reference samples. HMGA2 expression did not differ between lymphoma and control dogs. With the exception of immunophenotype, comparison of disease parameters did not display any differences in HMGA1 and HMGA2 expression. The present findings indicate a role of HMGA genes in canine lymphoma. This study represents the basis for future veterinary and comparative studies dealing with their diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic values.     

The Relationship Between Body Weight,Body Condition,and Survival in Cats with Heart Failure

Background: Obese people with heart failure have improved survival compared with their normal or underweight counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between body weight or body condition and survival in cats with heart failure. Hypothesis: Body weight and body condition score (BCS) are predictors of survival in cats with heart failure. Animals: One‐hundred and one cats with heart failure (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council Classes II, IIIa, or IIIb) evaluated between March 2007 and June 2009. Methods: Data regarding initial body weight and BCS, subsequent changes in body weight, and treatment were collected from records and compared with survival times. Results: Median initial body weight was 5.1 kg (range, 2.2–9.5 kg). Median BCS was 5 (range, 3–9). Of the 68 cats that were discharged from the hospital, median body weight change was 0.0 kg (range, ?2.6 to +2.3 kg). Survival time for all 101 cats was 93 days (0–811 days). Survival could be predicted using a model combining initial body weight (P= .02), body weight squared (P= .02), and survival to discharge (P < .001) with a resulting global P value for this model of P < .0001. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Cats with the lowest and highest body weights had reduced survival times compared with those with body weights in the intermediate ranges, suggesting a U‐shaped relationship between body weight and survival. Additional research into the effects of body composition could help to determine optimal management of cats with heart failure.     

Chaining and Burning Modifies Vegetation Structure,Fuel, and Post-Disturbance Sprouting Capacity

Prescribed fire and/or mechanical methods can be used to modify the quantity, continuity, and/or spatial arrangement of flammable fuel. Yet the consequences of fuel management, both in terms of ecological outcomes and in facilitating improved fire management, often are poorly documented. In the global biodiversity hotspot of southwest Western Australia, chaining and burning is a novel technique for manipulating fuels. Vegetation first is dislodged using a chain, then after a period of curing, burnt. We tested whether combining two disturbance events in this way results in different vegetation structure postfire than only burning, and whether the postfire sprouting capacity of community-dominant Eucalyptus spp. is compromised. Both chained and burnt and only burnt treatments had much less leaf litter and vegetation > 25 cm high than long-unburnt vegetation, indicating a fire management benefit of fuel modification. Chained and burnt strips had a threefold reduction in standing dead vegetation compared to only burnt samples. The stem number of Eucalyptus spp. was reduced by 20% in chained and burnt strips compared to only burnt vegetation, indicating that consecutive disturbances reduce resilience and might render sprouters vulnerable to subsequent disturbances. Balancing the fire management benefits of chaining and burning with the ecological consequences is a significant challenge facing land managers in this fire-prone landscape.     

Successful medical management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse in a ferret

Thoracolumbar disc herniation was diagnosed in a two-year-old ferret using a myelogram followed by a computed tomography scan. The ferret was paraplegic with no control over urination and defecation. Conservative treatment that included cage rest and passive range of motion exercises for three weeks followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy resulted in full recovery two months after the onset of treatment. Although intervertebral disc disease has been reported previously in four ferrets, this is the first report in which a postmyelogram computed tomography was used to demonstrate the herniated disc, and physiotherapy was used as principal treatment modality.     

Electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of irradiated fish containing bone (gilthead sea bream,cod, and swordfish)

Food irradiation is a preservation method that has been approved by the European Union for a limited number of foods or food products and within a limited range of doses. European Community legislation states that all foods or food ingredients treated in this manner and authorized for sale in the European Union must be clearly labeled, and that market-level inspections must be carried out to ensure compliance with this regulation. To improve detection of irradiated foods, we evaluated the efficacy of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy for the identification of seafood that had been subjected to irradiation. Three fish species were tested: gilthead sea bream, cod, and swordfish. For each species, 18 samples of flesh-containing bone were analyzed after either irradiation at 0.5, 1, or 3 kGy or no irradiation (control). Induced radicals in irradiated samples produced distinct ESR signals that allowed differentiation from non-irradiated samples. Within the dose range tested, a linear dose-response relationship was observed (R ² > 0.94). The gilthead sea bream displayed the highest radiosensitivity. The analytical procedure was validated and successfully used for the routine monitoring of locally marketed seafood. The main aims of the study were to develop a reliable tool for the enforcement of the proper labeling of irradiated foods and to obtain preliminary data on compliance with current laws in the Italian market.

     

Responses of sexually-maturing pullets to self-selection feeding under different temperature and lighting regimens

1. Pullets allowed to self-select nutrients from a protein concentrate and either a separate complete diet or cereal-based, energy-rich mixture showed preferences for protein and energy which varied in relation to the time of their onset of lay. 2. The selected protein:metabolisable energy (ME) intake ratio increased from 14 g protein per MJ of ME 2 to 3 weeks before sexual maturity to approximately 19 g protein per MJ of ME at and after sexual maturity. 3. This response to self-selection feeding was consistent with different temperatures, lighting patterns and dietary manipulations. 4. Egg mass output was improved by self-selection feeding at hot (25 degrees to 35 degrees C) temperatures in experiments 1 and 2 and at ambient temperatures in experiment 3. No beneficial response in egg mass from self-selection feeding was observed at cold (6 degrees to 16 degrees C) temperatures in experiment 1. 5. Providing 2 h of additional light during the dark (cool) part of the day, with or without 2 h of darkness in the middle of the extended light (hot) period, had no effect on the egg mass output of pullets at hot (25 degrees to 35 degrees C) temperatures.