Loss of biological and immunological activity of oxytocin from goat plasma on storage

Storage of plasma at -30 degrees C, with no prior treatment, resulted in significant (P less than 0.01) reductions in the biological and immunological activities of oxytocin after 10 days and further reductions after 20 days. Acidification with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, or snap-freezing in solid carbon dioxide-acetone, before storage afforded some protection against these losses and a combination of both treatments preserved the biological and immunological activities for 20 days despite thawing and refreezing after 10 days.     

Growth and metabolism of murine and bovine embryos in bovine uterine flushing-supplemented culture media.

The aim of this study was to compare the development and metabolic activity of cultured murine and bovine embryos in 2 standard media (HAM F-10 and RPMI) in the presence or absence of bovine uterine flushings. Murine morulae (n = 653) and day 7 bovine embryos (n = 273) were cultured for 18 h or 36 h in either HAM F-10 or RPMI in the presence or absence of bovine uterine flushings. After culture, the development, quality, and metabolic activity (glucose utilization or methionine uptake and incorporation) of embryos was assessed. It was found that HAM F-10 (without uterine flushings) was a more suitable medium than RPMI for optimal development and metabolism of murine and bovine embryos. Poor quality and development, as well as decreased metabolism, were evident after culture of murine embryos in RPMI; in contrast, this medium had no adverse effects on bovine embryos in culture. Supplementation of HAM F-10 with bovine uterine flushings improved the growth of murine embryos and the protein synthesis (as measured by an increased methionine incorporation) for both murine and bovine embryos. However, supplementation with bovine uterine flushings could not overcome deficiencies of an inappropriate medium (RPMI) for murine embryos. Supplementation of a well-defined culture medium with uterine flushings increased metabolism of embryos in culture, and thus might help to increase pregnancy rates after transfer of such embryos to recipient cows.     

Supplementation with sunflower seeds in beef cattle did not impact on oocyte and in vitro embryo production

Supplementation with compounds rich in linoleic acid, including sunflower seed supplementation, promotes increase in conception rates in cows. We aimed to evaluate whether the sunflower seed (linoleic acid source) supplementation in beef donor females alters the plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL, increases the number and quality of oocytes, increases the cleavage rates and determines an improvement in number and quality of in vitro produced blastocysts. Thus, Nelore females were divided into two groups of 15 animals to receive supplementation with or without sunflower seed for 57 days. Females underwent follicular aspiration and the oocytes were subjected to in vitro embryo production. There was no difference (p > .1) between control group and group supplemented with sunflower seed on the number of displayed follicles; number of aspired oocytes; recovery rate; cleavage rate; number of embryos; number of blastocysts; embryos number of grades I and II; plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides; HDL and LDL. Therefore, sunflower seed supplementation in oocyte donors did not increase the number and quality of oocytes, cleavage rates and the number and quality of blastocysts produced in vitro.     

Effect of body condition score and reuse of progesterone‐releasing intravaginal devices on conception rate following timed artificial insemination in Nelore cows

This study had the aim of investigating the efficiency of timed artificial insemination (TAI) through the progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID), used in new condition and for the second and third times in Nelore cows. The effects of device reuse and body condition score (BCS) on the conception rate (CR) were evaluated in 1,122 multiparous Nelore cows (mean BCS of 2.7 ± 0.4), which were randomly distributed into three groups that received new (n = 330), once (n = 439) and twice used (n = 353) PRID. Among the 1,122 females that underwent TAI, 573 became pregnant, thus representing an overall CR of 51.06%. Cows with BCS between 2.75 and 4.0 had greater (p < .0001) CR (69.75%) than cows with BSC of 2.0–2.5 (32.98%). It was observed that the CR through using PRID was 60.00%, 51.71% and 41.93% for new, once and twice used PRID, respectively, with difference between all groups (p < .0001). Under tropical conditions, animals with BCS greater than 2.5 had a higher CR, and the CR decreased proportionally with the number of times that the PRID had been used.     

Successful rehabilitation and release of a powerful owl chick with suspected rodenticide poisoning

The successful rehabilitation and release of raptor chicks can be challenging, especially when the chicks are still in the post-fledging dependency period. Here, we report on a recently fledged powerful owl chick that was held in care for 33 days before being successfully reunited with its parents. We document the steps undertaken during the entire process from collection from the wild to post-release monitoring and recommend clinical procedures for treatment of raptors entering veterinary facilities. Success of this rehabilitation was facilitated by early care and treatment for potential rodenticide poisoning, as well as the integration of citizen scientists monitoring the family unit in the field while the chick was in care and during the post-release period. Given the emerging evidence of widespread rodenticide poisoning in raptors both in Australia and globally, it is critical to suspect all raptors may have been exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides and commence treatment with vitamin K immediately. Routine treatment for rodenticides early increases the probability of successful recovery post-trauma as well as reducing the time in treatment as much as possible.     

Chromobacterium violaceum infection in two dogs

Chromobacterium violaceum is a saprophyte of soil and water in tropical and subtropical environments that is associated with rare but highly fatal infections in animals and humans. Systemic infection was diagnosed in two critically ill dogs from Florida. Fever was absent in both dogs. Both dogs were treated surgically and provided with intensive care, but only one survived. The identification of characteristic, violet-pigmented bacterial colonies on routine microbial cultures should alert microbiologists and clinicians to the likelihood of this dangerous pathogen. Because of the rapidly progressive nature of this infection, empirical antibiotic administration with fluoroquinolones should be employed pending susceptibility testing.