Effect of replacing soybean protein with protein from porcupine joint vetch (Aeschynomene histrix BRA 9690) and stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis Composite) leaf meal on growth performance of native (Moo Lath) Lao pigs

The effect of replacing soybean crude protein (CP) with legume leaf meal (LLM) CP on feed intake, growth performance and carcass traits was studied in native female Moo Lath Lao pigs. The diets comprised one traditional diet (T) without soybean meal, one control diet (C) with soybean meal and six diets iso-nitrogenous with diet C in which soybean protein was replaced (33, 66 and 100 % of CP) with LLM CP from porcupine joint vetch (PLM) or Stylosanthes (SLM). Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Replacing soybean CP with LLM CP reduced (P?<?0.05) intake of dry matter (DMI), CP (CPI), metabolisable energy (MEI), final body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), but had no effect (P?>?0.05) on feed conversion ratio (FCR). Increasing the replacement rate of soybean CP with LLM CP had a negative linear effect (P?<?0.001) on DMI, CPI, MEI, final BW and ADG, and on all carcass traits except lean meat percentage. There were no differences in dressing percentage or organ weight and length between treatments. Supplementing diet T with soybean meal resulted in higher (P?<?0.05) DMI, CPI and MEI, lower (P?<?0.05) FCR, and higher (P?<?0.05) final BW and ADG. Slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, eye muscle thickness, back fat, fat in carcass and lean meat were lower (P?<?0.05) with diet T than diet C. In conclusion, LLM from stylo and porcupine joint vetch can be used as a CP source to partially replace soybean meal CP in the diet of growing native female Moo Lath Lao pigs.     

Blood parameters in Swedish dairy herds with high or low incidence of displaced abomasum or ketosis

Sixty dairy herds were studied to investigate the association between long-term incidence of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis and body condition score and blood profiles, including parameters estimating energy metabolism and hepatic lipidosis in the periparturient period and early lactation. Blood samples were taken around parturition and in early lactation from cows without apparent clinical symptoms of metabolic disorders. A difference in metabolism between high and low incidence herds was shown post-partum by a lower metabolic index (the revised Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, RQUICKI), and tendencies for higher concentrations of glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acids in the high incidence herds. High incidence herds had more cows and produced on average 1400kg energy-corrected milk per cow per year more than the low incidence herds. No differences were found in parameters reflecting liver cell damage. In the first 3weeks post-partum the RQUICKI was a more sensitive marker of herds with a high incidence of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis than any of the individual parameters, but further research is needed before practical applications of the RQUICKI can be foreseen.     

Assessment of cardiac troponin I and C-reactive protein concentrations associated with anesthetic protocols using sevoflurane or a combination of fentanyl, midazolam, and sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo report serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in dogs anesthetized for elective surgery using two anesthetic protocols.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsTwenty client-owned dogs presenting for elective ovariohysterectomy or castration.MethodsThe dogs were randomized into two groups. All dogs were premedicated with glycopyrrolate (0.011 mg kg^?1) and hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg^?1) IM approximately 30 minutes prior to induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia in dogs in group 1 was induced with propofol (6 mg kg^?1) IV to effect and in dogs in group 2 with diazepam (0.2 mg kg^?1) IV followed by etomidate (2 mg kg^?1) IV to effect. For maintenance of anesthesia, group 1 received sevoflurane (adjustable vaporizer setting 0.5–4%) and group 2 received a combination of fentanyl (0.8 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) and midazolam (8.0 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) IV plus sevoflurane (adjustable vaporizer setting 0.5–4%) to maintain anesthesia. Serum cTnI and CRP concentrations were measured at baseline and 6, 18, and 24 hours post-anesthetic induction. Biochemical analysis was performed at baseline. Lactate was obtained at baseline and 6 hours post-anesthetic induction. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were measured intra-operatively.ResultsBaseline serum cTnI and CRP concentrations were comparable between groups. A significant difference in serum cTnI or CRP concentrations was not detected post-operatively between groups at any time point. Serum CRP concentrations were significantly increased post-anesthetic induction in both groups, which was attributed to surgical trauma.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThere was no significant difference in serum cTnI and CRP concentrations between anesthetic protocols. Further investigation in a larger number of dogs is necessary to confirm the current findings.     

A COMPARISON OF DIATRIZOATE* AND IOXAGLATE† FOR POSITIVE CONTRAST SHOULDER ARTHROGRAPHY IN DOGS

In six experimental dogs, arthrographic quality and synovial inflammatory response with shoulder arthrography comparing meglumine-sodium diatrizoate (Urovison) and the monoacidic dimer, meglumine-sodium ioxaglate (Hexabrix) was evaluated. In our study initial films were of equally high diagnostic quality for both contrast media, but delayed films significantly favored ioxaglate for diagnostic quality. The rise in white blood cells in synovial fluid samples collected 24 hours after the arthrographic procedure was significantly lower after the use of ioxaglate. Histologic examination performed 14 days after the intra-articular injection revealed no drug related lesions.     

Cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine,with or without MK-467, following intravenous administration in cats

Objective

To characterize the cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine, with or without MK-467, following intravenous (IV) administration in cats.

TB diagnosis in non-human primates: comparison of two interferon-gamma assays and the skin test for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

To examine the effect of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rbIFN-gamma) on cattle persistently infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV), BLV-infected cattle were inoculated intraperitoneally with IFN-gamma. All cattle were febrile after inoculation with IFN-gamma and then recovered within 48 h. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were decreased for 2-3 days and then their numbers were recovered. The number of gammadelta T cells increased after the fever. In contrast, the number of IgM+ lymphocytes remained low for about 1 week. Moreover, the numbers of syncytia produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes decreased and remained low compared to that before IFN-gamma administration. These results suggest that IFN-gamma induces the up-regulation of gammadelta T cells, decreases the number of IgM+ lymphocytes and suppresses the growth of BLV in BLV-infected cattle in vivo.     

Associations between use of electric cow-trainers and clinical diseases, reproductive performance and culling in Swedish dairy cattle

The aims of this follow-up study were: (a) to evaluate the role of ECT technology as a risk factor for several diseases; and (b) to determine if the effects of these diseases on cows' reproductive performance and as risk factors for culling are influenced by exposure to ECTs. Diseases considered were retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, cystic ovaries, silent heat, milk fever, clinical mastitis, and foot and leg problems. We used historical and contemporary controls (with control herds selected to match the experimental herds for size and location). Data consisted of 10264 Swedish Red and White (SRB) and 5461 Swedish Friesian (SLB) lactation records in 150 herds of which 33 used cow-trainers. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of parity and exposure to electric cow-trainers on the risks of diseases and the effects of diseases and exposure to electric cow-trainers on risk of culling. The least-squares procedure was used to estimate the effects of diseases on reproductive performance.

The dominant effects associated with use of electric cow-trainers were an increased risk for silent heat, clinical mastitis, ketosis and culling relative to cows in herds not using cow-trainers. Diseases had negative effects on reproductive performance and the effects were larger for cows in herds using cow-trainers. In herds using electric cow-trainers, the largest increase in the interval from first service to conception (58 days) was caused by the occurrences of silent heat, cystic ovaries and the combination of two or more diseases. Retained placenta, metritis, cystic ovaries, clinical mastitis and a combination of two or more diseases increased the risk of culling about two times relative to healthy primiparous cows with the increase being greater for cows in herds using cow-trainers. Silent heat did not increase risk of culling in control groups, but was the largest risk factor for culling in the exposed group. We concluded that exposure to electric cow-trainers increased the incidence risk of silent heat, clinical mastitis, and ketosis and changed silent heat from a neutral disease with respect to culling to a major risk factor. Finally, exposure to cow-trainers increased the general negative effect of diseases on the cows' reproductive performance and risk for culling.     

Nutritional support for patients

A good intake of fluids and essential nutrients in the first fourteen days is of vital importance to recuperating animals. Moreover, it is important to encourage cats and dogs to eat after illness or surgery, in order to promote optimal functioning of the gut and the immune system. Enteral nutrition is to be preferred to nasogastric feeding or parenteral nutrition. In the first stage of recovery, during the first 24 to 48 hours, it is important to feed the gut' with nutrients, and thereafter, in the second stage of recovery (after day 3), the calorie intake can be increased. Timely nutritional support with nutraceuticals, such as arginine, glutamine, taurine, long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotic fibres, can considerably shorten the recovery period of cats and dogs after illness or surgery