Perivascular wall tumour presenting as pastern mass in a Standardbred gelding

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for a mass on the palmaromedial right front pastern which was accompanied by progressively worsening lameness. The mass was firm to palpation and covered by normal skin. Ultrasonographically, a smooth encapsulated mass was present, medial to the flexor tendons and palmar to the neurovascular bundle. Because of a poor prognosis for future athletic performance without surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention and economic constraints preventing further diagnostics and treatment, the horse was euthanised. Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be a perivascular wall tumour, the first record of such a neoplasia in the horse.     

Effect of presence of rumen protozoa on degradation of cell wall constituents in gastrointestinal tract of cattle

The cell wall constituents of feces from three faunated and three defaunated (without ruminal ciliate protozoa) cattle fed on a Sudangrass hay and concentrate mixture (8:5) were analyzed. There was little difference in digestibility of dry matter between the faunated and defaunated cattle. Analysis of the fecal sugar residues revealed that the digestibilities of arabinose and galactose, derived from pectic and hemicellulosic substances located within the compound middle lamella, were higher in the defaunated cattle than the faunated cattle (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibilities of glucose and xylose, derived mainly from cellulose and xylan, were unchanged by the removal of protozoa. The digestibility of lignin was not different between the faunated and defaunated cattle, but those of mannose and p‐coumaric acid were lower in the defaunated than in the faunated animals (P < 0.05). The ratio of primary cell wall to secondary cell wall in fecal plant materials was lower for the defaunated than for the faunated cattle. The results in this study suggested that the defaunation enhanced the microbial degradation of the thin cell walls, but depressed the degradation of developed cell walls.     

Evaluation using hoof wall strain gauges of a therapeutic shoe and a hoof cast with a heel wedge as potential supportive therapy for horses with laminitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate using strain gauges, a hoof cast with heel wedge, and a therapeutic shoe with unsupported toe for their effectiveness in redistribution of load from the dorsal hoof wall. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty forelimb specimens. METHODS: Rosette strain gauges were placed on the dorsal and lateral hoof wall of 20 normal shaped hooves. Limbs were loaded vertically using a tensile testing machine with a 1 Hz sinusoidally cycling load up to 3000 N during 15 seconds. Mean values of principal strain and direction at 2500 N load were calculated for 3 experimental conditions (unshod, therapeutic shoe with unsupported toe, and hoof cast with heel elevation) and tested by ANOVA (P<.05). RESULTS: Vertical limb loading in an unshod hoof leads to a biaxial compression of the dorsal wall with high longitudinal compression (epsilon2 = -1515 microm/m). Principal strain at the dorsal wall (epsilon2) was decreased by 23% with the therapeutic shoe and by 59% with the hoof cast. On the lateral hoof wall principal strain was unchanged with the shoe, but increased by 34% with the cast. CONCLUSIONS: Strain measurements indicate unloading of the dorsal hoof wall by both methods with the cast being more effective than the shoe. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The hoof cast with wedge offers substantial unloading of the dorsal wall, but increases load on the quarter. Therefore a hoof cast would likely be most helpful in acute laminitis when palmar structures can still bear load. The therapeutic shoe offers rehabilitation and regrowth of the dorsal wall without increased load on the quarter wall.     

家蚕微孢子虫单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

用家蚕微孢子虫(Nosema bombycis)总蛋白为抗原,采用长程免疫法免疫BALB/c小鼠,取4次免疫后的脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞用PEG-1500进行细胞融合,第1次融合率为13.3%,第2次融合率为55.4%。建立间接酶联免疫吸附测定法(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA),用于检测杂交瘤细胞上清中的单克隆抗体。初检阳性率分别为4.68%和5.26%。经3次亚克隆筛选获得了2株能稳定分泌抗家蚕微孢子虫的单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,命名为2G10和2B10。间接免疫荧光试验(indirect immunofluorescence test,IFAT)和Western-bloting分析证实所获得的单克隆抗体是特异针对家蚕微孢子虫蛋白的,将在孢子孢壁蛋白的研究中发挥重要作用。     

Ultrasound-guided modified subcostal transversus abdominis plane block and influence of recumbency position on dye spread in equine cadavers

ObjectiveTo describe and evaluate an ultrasound-guided modified subcostal approach for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in horse cadavers in lateral or dorsal recumbency.Study designProspective, experimental cadaveric study.AnimalsStudy of one preserved foal and eight fresh adult horse cadavers.MethodsThe lateral and ventral abdominal wall of a preserved cadaver was dissected to identify the muscles and nerves. A unilateral standard TAP block technique was performed (60 mL of methylene blue dye–bupivacaine) on a fresh cadaver in right lateral recumbency. A modified subcostal technique was performed on the opposite side using a linear ultrasound transducer and in-plane approach. Injection points (two 30 mL dye) were at the level of the TAP (between the rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis muscles and ventral to the cutaneous trunci muscle) perpendicular to: 1) the mid-point between the xiphoid cartilage and umbilical scar; and 2) at a point between the caudal and middle thirds of the abdomen measured from the first injection point to the umbilical scar. The modified subcostal approach was performed in seven additional cadavers in both hemiabdomens, with three cadavers in lateral and four cadavers in dorsal recumbency. Ultrasound guidance was used with all injections.ResultsThe standard approach stained the sixteenth to eighteenth thoracic nerves (T16–T18). The modified subcostal approach performed in lateral recumbency provided greater spread (T9–T17) than dorsal recumbency (T12–T18) (p = 0.016).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe modified subcostal TAP approach resulted in extensive staining exceeding the standard approach. The nerves stained are consistent with production of ventral abdominal wall anesthesia in horses. Clinical studies are needed to verify these findings.     

The evolution and application of enzymes in the animal feed industry: the role of data interpretation

ABSTRACT

1. Enzymes have been used commercially for nearly 40 years and save significant costs through sparing of expensive nutrients but the mechanism by which this is achieved is still debated.

2. The research focused on non-starch polysaccharidase (NSPase) enzymes is used as an example of where greater progress could have been made if the details of the work had been described more fully and the analysis of the data generated had been broader in scope and more critical.

3. Lack of standardisation of the details presented in the materials and methods has been identified as a significant barrier to meaningful retrospective analysis and thus limits advances in the understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes.

4. The identity of the enzyme employed and its activity is often lacking, and more importantly the purity is rarely disclosed. Contaminant activities which are neither listed nor assayed could play a significant role in the responses observed.

5. The dose optimum of most enzymes is often considerably higher than that employed in most studies. Thus studies claiming synergy between two ‘activities’ should ensure that the response is not related to each enzyme simply augmenting the dose of just one activity in the finished feed. This is a common problem, and coupled with the lack of factorial experiments to justify the presence of each enzyme in a multi-enzyme product, it is not surprising that there is still debate as to whether single or multi-enzymes are best suited poultry rations.

6. The three proposed mechanisms for NSPases (viscosity, cell wall and prebiotic) are discussed, and along with their strengths and weaknesses it is suggested that a re-evaluation of each is needed. Viscosity may have to be re-evaluated as being a function not only of the cereal being fed, but of the age of the animal as well. The cell wall theory as described is poorly modelled in vitro and hence the validity of these data is questioned. The prebiotic theory may need significant modification as it appears that the quantities of oligomers produced are insufficient to generate the additional volatile fatty acids (VFA)’s reported. It is likely that all three mechanisms play a role in the responses observed, but the prebiotic mechanism probably plays by far the most important part in low viscosity diets.

7. Future research would be improved if it considered all potential mechanisms when designing a trial. Significant failings are apparent as a result of adherence to tenets in explanation of the results. Most importantly, it should be emphasised that a hypothesis is there to be tested, not defended.     

Yeast cell wall and live yeast products and their combination in broiler diets formulated with weekly ingredient variations

A 6‐week broiler study was conducted to evaluate whether subjecting the intestinal microflora of broilers to the effect of weekly variations in feed ingredients could be ameliorated by the inclusion of yeast‐derived feed additives: a yeast cell wall extract (YCW), live yeast culture (LY) or their combination (YCW + LY). Recent changes in ingredient prices have motivated producers to formulate diets not necessarily based primarily on corn and soya bean meal. Intestinal microflora in birds can vary significantly based on the ingredient composition of their diet, and the make‐up of the flora can influence overall bird performance. Within the three nutrient phases of this study, birds were fed either a traditional corn–soya ingredient profile or a variable‐ingredient regimen, which had weekly changes in the ingredient composition. There were consistent ameliorative effects of the yeast treatments in both the corn–soya and the variable‐ingredient groups throughout all 6 weeks, with the YCW + LY combination showing a reduced effect when compared to either product fed alone. The effectiveness of YCW and LY on ameliorating the effects of weekly ingredient variations appeared most effective during the starter and grower phases, but was less significant during the sixth week.     

酵母壁多糖对断奶仔猪肠道挥发性脂肪酸和微生物菌群的影响

本研究旨在探讨饲粮中添加酵母壁多糖对断奶仔猪肠道挥发性脂肪酸和微生物菌群的影响。试验采用单因素试验设计方法,选取180头遗传背景一致、健康状况良好、胎次和体重接近的21日龄断奶仔猪,随机分为4个组,每组5个重复,每个重复9头猪。4个组试验猪分别饲喂对照饲粮(未添加酵母壁多糖)、0.15%酵母壁多糖饲粮、0.30%酵母壁多糖饲粮和0.45%酵母壁多糖饲粮。试验期21 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.15%、0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著提高了仔猪结肠乙酸的含量(P0.05);其中,0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖还显著提高了结肠丙酸、丁酸以及总挥发性脂肪酸的含量(P0.05),且二者之间差异不显著(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.15%、0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖显著降低了盲肠沙门氏菌和大肠杆菌数量(P0.05),且0.30%和0.45%酵母壁多糖组之间差异不显著(P0.05)。由此可知,酵母壁多糖可提高仔猪肠道挥发性脂肪酸含量,并改善肠道微生物菌群结构,根据回归方程预测,酵母壁多糖在仔猪饲粮中的适宜添加水平为0.31%~0.40%。     

Assessment of yeast cell wall as replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets: effects on performance, intestinal histo-morphology and humoral immune responses

The study compared the effects of an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance, microbiology and histo-morphology of the small intestine and humoral immune responses in Ross 308 broilers. The treatments (eight replicates/treatment, n = 12/replicate) were negative control (NC, without AGP), positive control (PC, supplemented with bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 400 mg/kg), Y and YCW (supplemented with yeast and YCW, respectively, 1000 mg/kg). Live weight at 42 days improved (p = 0.086) in the PC, Y and YCW groups. Feed conversion ratio was better (p = 0.039) in the YCW group compared with the other groups. Antibiotic growth promoter in the PC group shortened the villi in duodenum (p = 0.044). Mucosal Escherichia coli number was higher in the PC group (p < 0.001), whereas in the digesta E. coli number was lower (p = 0.001) in the PC, Y and YCW groups in relation to the NC. Mucosal Salmonella populations increased (p = 0.0001) in the PC group, whereas in the digesta, all treatments reduced the Salmonella (p = 0.0001). Following oral challenge with Salmonella pullorum, YCW increased E. coli numbers on the mucosa (p < 0.001) whereas in the digesta the Y group had lower (p < 0.0001) number of E. coli. In the digesta, Salmonella count was lower in the YCW group compared with the other treatments (p < 0.01). Yeast cell wall -treated birds exhibited better (p < 0.05) humoral immune response against Newcastle disease which was far more persistent over time than in any other treatments. It was concluded that the yeast and the yeast cell wall may have effects identical to BMD on performance of broilers and thus may constitute an effective replacement strategy in the dietary regimens for broiler chickens.