Effectiveness of administration of phenylbutazone alone or concurrent administration of phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine to alleviate lameness in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of administering multiple doses of phenylbutazone alone or a combination of phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine to alleviate lameness in horses. ANIMALS: 29 adult horses with naturally occurring forelimb and hind limb lameness. PROCEDURES: Lameness evaluations were performed by use of kinematic evaluation while horses were trotting on a treadmill. Lameness evaluations were performed before and 12 hours after administration of 2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment regimens. Phenylbutazone paste was administered at approximately 2.2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 5 days, or phenylbutazone paste was administered at approximately 2.2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 5 days in combination with flunixin meglumine administered at 1.1 mg/kg, IV, every 12 hours for 5 days. RESULTS: Alleviation of lameness was greater after administration of the combination of NSAIDs than after oral administration of phenylbutazone alone. Improvement in horses after a combination of NSAIDs did not completely mask lameness. Five horses did not improve after either NSAID treatment regimen. All posttreatment plasma concentrations of NSAIDs were less than those currently allowed by the United States Equestrian Federation Inc for a single NSAID. One horse administered the combination NSAID regimen died of acute necrotizing colitis during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of a combination of NSAIDs at the dosages and intervals used in the study reported here alleviated the lameness condition more effectively than did oral administration of phenylbutazone alone. This may attract use of combinations of NSAIDs to increase performance despite potential toxic adverse effects.     

Factors associated with low vitamin D status of Australian alpacas

Objective To investigate factors associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas at pasture in southern Australia. Design A 2‐year survey of alpacas from two farms in South Australia and three in Victoria. Blood samples were collected from 20 to 30 alpacas on each farm on five occasions each year. Breed, gender, age and fleece colour of animals were recorded. Method Blood samples were assayed for plasma 2.5‐hydroxycholecalciferol (25‐OH D₃) and plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi). Data sets from 802 animal samples were analysed by multiple regression to determine variables associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas. The relationship between plasma 25‐OH D₃ and plasma Pi was also investigated. Results Vitamin D status was significantly affected by month of sampling, with low values in late winter and high values in summer. Plasma vitamin D concentrations increased with age, were higher in alpacas with light fleeces than in those with dark fleeces and were also higher in the Suri than in the Huacaya breed. Plasma Pi concentrations were generally lower in alpacas with plasma 25‐OH D₃ values < 25 nmol/L. Conclusions Young alpacas with dark fleeces are most at risk from vitamin D insufficiency in late winter in southern Australia. The present study indicates that plasma Pi values are not a reliable indicator of vitamin D status of alpacas as assessed by plasma 25‐OH D₃ concentrations.     

Macroscopic anatomy of the heart of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida)

Anatomical properties of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) heart and associated blood vessels reveal adaptations related to requirements for diving. Seven adult ringed seals were embalmed and dissected to document the gross anatomical features of the heart. Computed tomography images of the thoracic cavity were taken on one seal prior to dissection. The shape and position of the heart is different from the typical carnivore heart. The most notable difference is its dorsoventral flattened appearance with its right and left sides positioned, respectively, within the thoracic cavity. The long axis of the heart is positioned horizontally, parallel to the sternum. The right ventricle is spacious with thin walls which extend caudally to the apex of the heart such that the apex is comprised of both right and left ventricles. The cusps of the left atrioventricular valve of the ringed seal heart resemble an uninterrupted, circular curtain making it challenging to distinguish the divisions into parietal and septal cusps.     

Effects of level and source of dietary selenium on maternal and fetal body weight, visceral organ mass, cellularity estimates, and jejunal vascularity in pregnant ewe lambs

Pregnant Targhee ewe lambs (n = 32; BW = 45.6 +/- 2.2 kg) were allotted randomly to 1 of 4 treatments in a completely randomized design to examine the effects of level and source of dietary Se on maternal and fetal visceral organ mass, cellularity estimates, and maternal jejunal crypt cell proliferation and vascularity. Diets contained (DM basis) either no added Se (control) or supranutritional Se from high-Se wheat at 3.0 ppm Se (SW) or from sodium selenate at 3 (S3) or 15 (S15) ppm Se. Diets were similar in CP (15.5%) and ME (2.68 Mcal/kg of DM) and were fed to meet or exceed requirements. Treatments were initiated at 50 +/- 5 d of gestation. The control, SW, S3, and S15 treatment diets provided 2.5, 75, 75, and 375 microg of Se/kg of BW, respectively. On d 134 +/- 10 of gestation, ewes were necropsied, and tissues were harvested. Contrasts, including control vs. Se treatments (SW, S3, and S15), SW vs. S3, and S3 vs. S15, were used to evaluate differences among Se levels and sources. There were no differences in ewe initial and final BW. Full viscera and liver mass (g/kg of empty BW and g/kg of maternal BW) and maternal liver protein concentration (mg/g) and content (g) were greater (P < 0.04) in Se-treated compared with control ewes. Maternal liver protein concentration was greater (P = 0.01) in SW vs. S3 ewes, and content was greater (P = 0.01) in S15 compared with S3 ewes. Maternal jejunal mucosal DNA concentration (mg/g) was greater (P = 0.08) in SW compared with S3 ewes. Total number of proliferating cells in maternal jejunal mucosa was greater (P = 0.02) in Se-fed compared with control ewes. Capillary number density within maternal jejunal tissue was greater (P = 0.08) in S3 compared with SW ewes. Selenium treatment resulted in reduced fetal heart girth (P = 0.08). Fetal kidney RNA (P = 0.04) and protein concentrations (mg/g; P = 0.03) were greater in Se-treated compared with control ewes. These results indicate that supranutritional dietary Se increases cell numbers in maternal jejunal mucosa through increased crypt cell proliferation. No indications of toxicity were observed in any of the Se treatments.     

Detection and differentiation of re-emerging fowlpox virus (FWPV) strains carrying integrated reticuloendotheliosis virus (FWPV-REV) by real-time PCR

Current strains of fowlpox virus (FWPV) carrying circulating reticuloendotheliosis virus (FWPV-REV) sequence are becoming more pathogenic to poultry. This is evidenced by the fact that vaccination with current available FWPV vaccines provides limited protection against them. To characterize REV insertions in a collection of both older and more recent field isolates, we developed three different types of adjacent oligoprobes and primer sets from specific genomic locations of FWPV and REV: REV-ENV (accession no. K02537, 1382-2260), FWPV-REV integration site (accession no. AF006064, 86-1328), FWPV (accession no. AF198100, 232461-232670), and REV-LTR (accession no. V01204, 305-496). The data indicated that the primers from the REV-ENV region and the TaqMan probes specifically targeted REV-ENV sequences of FWPV-REV strains. Furthermore, the strains were differentiated based on quantitative melting temperature (T(m)) of their amplified products using FRET-based probes. The amplified products were further characterized by sequencing and multiple sequence alignment analysis. The results suggest that integrated REV-ENV sequences are both common and mostly conserved in field isolates. However, the minor variations found within the short-targeted ENV sequence from FWPV-REV strains suggest that these strains could have either undergone periodic point mutational changes or integration with different REV-ENV subtypes.     

Phytoplankton community structure and the drawdown of nutrients and CO2 in the southern ocean

Data from recent oceanographic cruises show that phytoplankton community structure in the Ross Sea is related to mixed layer depth. Diatoms dominate in highly stratified waters, whereas Phaeocystis antarctica assemblages dominate where waters are more deeply mixed. The drawdown of both carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrate per mole of phosphate and the rate of new production by diatoms are much lower than that measured for P. antarctica. Consequently, the capacity of the biological community to draw down atmospheric CO2 and transport it to the deep ocean could diminish dramatically if predicted increases in upper ocean stratification due to climate warming should occur.     

Does access to internet promote innovation? A look at the U.S. broadband industry

Access to the Internet is an essential determinant of innovation, which has received little attention in the literature. This paper emphasizes the role of Internet accessibility in lowering information costs and therefore boosting regional innovation activity. We construct a simple theoretical model to illustrate the positive impact of decreased discovery costs, proxied by the accessibility of the Internet, on innovation. To test this hypothesis, we exploit a county‐level data set in the U.S. and run three types of regression with and without instruments: OLS, negative binomial, and Poisson. Within each method, we employ four levels of download speeds. We find a positive relationship between the access to the Internet and the number of patents filed in that specific county. This effect is particularly strong in the case of access to download speeds of 10 Mbps. Our analysis suggests that access to the Internet lowers information disseminating costs and therefore encourages more patents filed in the county. The results also indicate that access to the Internet matters more than faster Internet speed for innovation. Policy implications for these results suggest that if there were a minimum Internet access initiative, there could potentially be a significant increase in innovation by the U.S.     

Insect midgut structures and molecules as targets of plant‐derived protease inhibitors and lectins

The midgut of insects is involved in digestion, osmoregulation and immunity. Although several defensive strategies are present in this organ, its organization and function may be disturbed by some insecticidal agents, including bioactive proteins like lectins and protease inhibitors (PIs) from plants. PIs interfere with digestion, leading to poor nutrient absorption and decreasing amino acid bioavailability. Intake of PIs can delay development, cause deformities and reduce fertility. Ingestion of PIs may lead to changes in the set of proteases secreted in the insect gut, but this response is often insufficient and results in aggravation of the malnutrition status. Lectins are proteins that are able to interact with glycoconjugates, including those linked to cell surfaces. Their effects on the midgut include disruption of the peritrophic matrix, brush border and secretory cell layer; induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress; interference with nutrient absorption and transport proteins; and damaging effects on symbionts. In addition, lectins can cross the intestinal barrier and reach the hemolymph. The establishment of resistant insect populations due to selective pressure resulting from massive use of a bioactive protein is an actual possibility, but this can be minimized by the multiple mode‐of‐action of these proteins, mainly the lectins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of the Cardiff Bay tidal barrage on the abundance,ecology and behaviour of shelducks Tadorna tadorna

• 1. Closure of the Taff/Ely Estuary by the Cardiff Bay barrage in 1999 resulted in the replacement of intertidal mudflats by a permanent freshwater lake. This led to an 89% reduction in the population of shelducks Tadorna tadorna.
• 2. The birds switched from foraging mainly for Nereis diversicolor and Hydrobia ulvae by scything with the bill as they walked across the mudflats at low tide, to feeding on benthic chironomid midge larvae while swimming in shallow water around the margins of the lake.
• 3. The population decline occurred as a consequence of a decrease in the area available for foraging — from about 1 km² of mudflats to about 0.1 km² of water shallow enough for shelducks to reach the bottom when dabbling, head dipping and upending.
• 4. Contrary to expectation, the amount of time shelducks spent feeding was similar pre‐ and post‐barrage, and their body and plumage condition improved.
• 5. A tidal rhythm in activity persisted, with a reduced amount of feeding at high tide, probably because of the slight rise in water levels that sometimes occurred at this time.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.