Plasma and Pulmonary Fluid Endothelin in Horses with Seasonal Recurrent Airway Obstruction

Background: Summer pasture-associated recurrent airway obstruction (SPA-RAO), a seasonal airway obstructive disease of horses, is characterized by clinical exacerbation after exposure to pasture during warm months of the year. Endothelin (ET)-1, potent bronchoconstrictor, mitogen, secretagogue, and proinflammatory mediator, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and equine heaves.
Hypothesis: Immunoreactive ET-1 concentrations increase during clinical exacerbation and return to basal values during periods of disease remission.
Animals: Twelve horses, 6 affected with SPA-RAO and 6 nonaffected.
Methods: Prospective, observational study. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), arterial and venous plasma samples, and clinical variables were obtained from affected horses during clinical exacerbation and remission. Samples and data of nonaffected horses were collected during the summer and winter on dates similar to affected horses. Immunoreactive ET-1 was determined using a commercial ELISA.
Results: The median and range ET-1 concentrations (pg/ml) in arterial (1.3, 0.7–1.8) and venous (1.3, 1.2–1.7) plasma and in BALF (0.3, 0.2–0.4), and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) (25.5, 21–50) were greater in affected horses during clinical exacerbation compared with remission ( P < .01). The concentrations of immunoreactive ET-1 were greater in affected horses during clinical exacerbation compared with nonaffected horses ( P < .05).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: During clinical exacerbation of SPA-RAO, ET-1 is increased in circulation and pulmonary secretions. Intervention with ET receptor antagonists should provide further information on the role of ET-1 in SPA-RAO.     

Distribution De Quelques Espèces De Cercopithecidae En Relation Avec Les Zones De Végétation De L’Afrique

The reproductive physiology of the impala was studied in the Kruger National Park. The data concerning the hypophysial hormones, the androgenic hormones and ovarian histology are discussed in relation to the behaviour of the animal.

It was found that the male animal shows the most profound behavioural changes which occur during the mating season. These changes are induced by an increase of interstitial cell-stimulating hormone which leads to an increase in androgenic hormone. The female shows relatively few behavioural changes during the mating season, the only change being at the time of oestrus.

On the basis of the data presented and information reported for domestic animals, it is postulated that the behaviour of the male impala plays an important role in determining the breeding season.     

Protection by iron salts against sporidesmin intoxication in sheep

A number of iron compounds have been shown to protect sheep against the harmful effects of the facial eczema toxin, sporidesmin. Various salts were found to be effective; the oxidation state of the metal was not important although water-solubility did appear to be a prerequisite for prophylactic activity. The effect of iron salts was additive with that of zinc, and it is suggested that the protective action of these compounds results from their ability to inhibit the absorption of copper, consistent with the previously-proposed freeradical mechanism for sporidesmin toxicity.     

BoLA在牛抗病育种中的研究进展

BoLA基因同牛多种疾病和生产性状相联系,因此如何利用BoLA基因进行牛抗病育种是育种学家关心的问题,作者综述了BoLA基因同牛一些疾病的关系,并对BoLA基因进行牛抗病育种的现状及发展方向作了探讨。     

A multicentric retrospective study of serum/plasma urea and creatinine concentrations in dogs using univariate and multivariate decision rules to evaluate diagnostic efficiency

BACKGROUND: Urea and creatinine are the most frequently used indirect markers in plasma and serum of glomerular filtration rate in dogs. Both have been shown to lack sensitivity but their diagnostic efficiency for the diagnosis of kidney disease has been minimally investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the influence of possible factors of variation on both analytes and to determine whether specific decision rules should be drawn up for subpopulations of dogs. METHODS: The results of urea and creatinine measurements, breed, sex, age, and health status (healthy, renal disease, or nonrenal disease) of 3822 dogs were collected from the archives of 5 veterinary clinics. Data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate decision rules with and without adjustment. RESULTS: There were significant effects and interactions of almost all of the sources of variation. Slight improvements in diagnostic efficiency were obtained by adjusting the decision rules to these sources of variations. Univariate decision rules gave approximately the same diagnostic efficiency for urea and creatinine concentrations, with sensitivity and specificity in the range of 70% and 90%, respectively, using the upper limit of the reference interval as the threshold value. Multivariate decision rules provided only minor improvements in diagnostic efficiency. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous measurement of both urea and creatinine is of limited diagnostic value over the analysis of a single variable. Creatinine is the preferred analyte as it is affected by fewer extrarenal factors of variation.     

Radiographic aspects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racing horses

Abnormal pulmonary radiopacities were identified in 13 racing horses in which a diagnosis of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) had been confirmed. The lesions were in the caudal lung lobe in all horses; seven were on the right and three on the left, and the laterality for three could not be determined. In ten horses the opacities, which were large and peripherally located, obliterated the thoracophrenic angle. They merged with the silhouette of the diaphragm and had a circular or ovoid surface directed toward the hilum. The intensity of opacification of the consolidated areas varied, and they often were not sharply marginated. Dorsal displacement of the pulmonary arteries was noted in the region of the radiopacity in seven horses. Varying volumes of pleural effusion were observed in nine horses. Serial radiographic examinations were performed in seven horses. The pulmonary radiopacities cleared within ten days in two horses. In the remaining five horses, gradual resolution, characterized by a reduction in lesion size with improved margination, occurred during several months. The central region of the radiopaque lesion commonly had a patchy appearance, suggesting cavitation. Normal pulmonary vascular and interstitial markings were evident following complete resolution of these lesions. The cause of these abnormal pulmonary opacities has not been determined. Pathologic-radiologic correlations will be required to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of EIPH in the racing horse.     

不同纯化浓缩方法制备的新城疫疫苗对SPF鸡免疫效果的研究

为研究利用不同纯化浓缩方法制备的新城疫疫苗对SPF鸡免疫效果的影响,试验取经过纯化浓缩的新城疫抗原制备的疫苗、经离心未经浓缩的抗原制备成的疫苗和经浓缩未离心的抗原制备成的疫苗分别免疫30日龄SPF鸡,免疫后分别在第7d、14 d、21 d、28 d、35 d、45 d、70 d、90 d采集血清检测新城疫抗体水平。结果表明,经浓缩纯化后抗原制备的疫苗与其他两组抗原制备的疫苗相比,物理外观性状基本相同,浓缩纯化后抗原制备的疫苗其单位抗原含量更高、杂质更少,抗体水平更高,统计数据显示差异显著。因此研究得出,浓缩倍数(即抗原含量)越高,抗体水平越高,持续的时间也越长。