Randomized field trial comparing the efficacy of florfenicol and oxytetracycline in a natural outbreak of calf pneumonia using lung reaeration as a cure criterion

BackgroundRespiratory infections are the main indication for antimicrobial use in calves. Optimal treatment duration currently is unknown, but shorter duration would likely decrease selection for antimicrobial resistance.Hypothesis/ObjectivesDetermine differences in cure rate and healing time between animals treated with florfenicol and oxytetracycline in a natural outbreak of respiratory disease using reaeration observed on thoracic ultrasound examination as healing criterion.AnimalsCommercial farm housing 130, 3 to 9 month old Belgian blue beef calves.MethodsRandomized clinical trial during an outbreak of respiratory disease. Metaphylactic treatment was initiated, randomly treating animals with either florfenicol or oxytetracycline. Ultrasonographic follow‐up was done the first day and every other day for a 14‐day period. At the individual animal level, treatment was discontinued when reaeration of the lungs occurred. Differences in cure rate and healing time were determined.ResultsOf the 130 animals studied, 67.7% developed a lung consolidation ≥0.5 cm. The mean ultrasonographic healing time was 2.5 days in the florfenicol group compared to 3.1 days in the oxytetracycline group (P = .04). After single treatment, 80.6% and 60.3% had no consolidations in the florfenicol and oxytetracycline groups, respectively (P = .01). A Mycoplasma bovis strain was genetically and phenotypically determined to be susceptible to both antimicrobials.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceUltrasonographic lung reaeration shows potential as a cure criterion to rationalize antimicrobial use for outbreaks of pneumonia. In our study, florfenicol resulted in a faster cure and higher reduction in antimicrobial usage than did oxytetracycline.     

水稻负压混流干燥室结构优化设计与试验

针对水稻竖箱式干燥过程中气流分布不均匀、干燥效率与干后品质同步性差等问题,基于不可逆热力学理论和负压原理,建立了水稻竖箱式干燥室的负压干燥特性解析模型.并结合混流干燥工艺,设计了一种变径开孔式角状管用于改善竖箱式干燥室角状管内风量分配关系,用于进一步提高水稻干燥均匀性.基于Fluent软件分别在空载和满载状态下,对干燥...     

Effect of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation on the Mammary Tissue Development and Serum Hormone Level of Saanen Dairy Goat

The study was aimed to analyze the effect of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the mammary gland development and serum hormone level of Saanen dairy goat.16 healthy goats with 2 months old and similar body weight were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The BMSCs which was amplified to the P6 generation was injected to the goat via jugular vein,and the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline. Feeding and management of the two groups were the same. Blood samples were collected monthly,and mammary gland tissue samples were collected at 3,5 and 7 months old. Frozen sections of mammary gland tissue was prepared, the ducts and acinus numbers were observed and recorded. The results showed that after transplantation of BMSCs,at 5 and 7 months old,the ducts and acinus number of goat in experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).At 5,7,8 and 9 months old,the serum E₂ level of goat in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05);At 5 to 9 months old,the serum P level in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).At 7 to 9 months old,the serum PRL and INS levels in experimental group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05);At 8 and 9 months old,the serum levels of GnRH level in experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05).The serum LEP,CRH and ACTH levels were higher than that of the control group at the whole test process,but the difference was not significant (P>0.05).In conclusion, injection of BMSCs could increase the duct and acinus number of dairy goat mammary,improve the hormone level in serum,and promote mammary gland development.     

Effect of VRTN gene polymorphisms on Duroc pig production and carcass traits,and their genetic relationships

The thoracic vertebral number is associated with body length and carcass traits, and represents one of the most important traits in the pig industry. Recent studies have shown that vertnin (VRTN) gene is associated with variations in the vertebral number in commercial European pigs. However, the genetic relationships and effect of this VRTN gene in pig production and carcass traits remain uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the genetic relationships among traits such as vertebral numbers, carcass weight and length‐related traits, and meat production traits, and the effect of VRTN gene polymorphisms on these traits in a Duroc purebred population selected for its meat production traits. Highly positive genetic correlations were obtained between the thoracic vertebral numbers and length‐related traits (0.56 to 0.84), whereas low correlations were obtained with production traits and carcass weight (?0.16 to 0.05). VRTN gene polymorphisms indicated that the number of thoracic vertebrae and length‐related traits were significantly associated with the VRTN genotype, but had no significant effect on production traits and carcass weight. The results indicate that VRTN gene may be used as an effective selection marker to obtain pigs with high thoracic vertebral numbers and length‐related traits, without adversely affecting meat production traits.     

Purulent dacryocystitis (nasolacrimal duct drainage) secondary to periapical tooth root infection in a donkey

Periapical tooth disease in the equid has been extensively described. Rostral cheek tooth abscessation usually leads to external facial swelling, and in some cases, nasal drainage. Periapical infection of the caudal cheek teeth usually results in maxillary empyema and sinusitis. This case report describes a donkey with periapical tooth root infection of the left 3rd maxillary premolar (207) diagnosed with computed tomography, which drained exclusively into the adjacent/collateral nasolacrimal duct.     

MQ—600型气流辅助式喷杆弥雾机风机设计与试验

设计了用于MQ—600型气流辅助式喷杆弥雾机的轴流风机。根据气流辅助式喷杆弥雾机喷施作物冠层的末速度原则,确定风机的风量、风压和出流速度等参数;以此作为风机设计的依据,设计计算了轴流风机的比转数、轮毂比、外径、叶片各截面气流全压分布等关键参数,进行了风机叶片选型、叶片各截面处弦长和叶片数量计算。并对风机驱动系统进行了设计。根据设计结果加工了物理样机,并对其性能进行了试验研究,试验结果表明,风机转速1473r/min时,风助风筒出口风速32.1m/s, 出口风下方0.5m处风速8.6m/s,风机性能满足使用要求。     

Changes in the skeletal dimensions of the digits of the thoracic limb of Holstein cows after maturation

The 12 left digits of the thoracic limb of Holstein female cows were obtained from a slaughterhouse, and 13 linear measurements of skeletal specimens of the digits of the thoracic limb were used in this study. Bivariate plots, regressions and correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships between osteometric data and age, and between osteometric data and body size. The geometric mean (GM) of the metacarpal size was used as a proxy of body weight. The results of the regression analysis demonstrated that the length and the width of the distal phalanx were significantly correlated with age, whereas those of other bones were not. In addition, the correlations of the distal phalanx tended to be higher with age than with the GM of the metacarpal size, and their skeletal measurements tended to be longer in older animals than in younger animals. These findings suggest that the distal phalanx is slightly elongated and enlarged in its solear aspect with increasing age in skeletally mature cows. Moreover, although the side difference in the distal phalanx between the lateral and medial digits did not increase significantly with age, the solear aspect of the distal phalanx tended to be rougher, and deformation of the flexor tubercle tended to be more pronounced in the medial digit compared with the lateral digit. Therefore, in the distal phalanx of the front feet, the skeletal deformation with age and asymmetrical bone development might be related to the pathogenesis of claw horn lesions, as in the hind feet.     

COMPARISON BETWEEN CRANIAL THORACIC INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATIONS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS AND OTHER LARGE BREED DOGS

Cranial thoracic intervertebral disc herniations have been reported to be rare in dogs due to the presence of the intercapital ligament, however some studies have proposed they may not be uncommon in German Shepherd dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare cranial thoracic intervertebral disc herniations in German Shepherd dogs and other large breed dogs (control group). Medical records at the Ontario Veterinary College were searched for German Shepherd dogs and other large breed dogs that had magnetic resonance imaging studies including the T1‐T9 region. For each dog and each disc space from T1‐T9, three variables (compression, disc degeneration, and herniation) were recorded and graded based on review of sagittal T2‐weighted images. Twenty‐three German Shepherd dogs and 47 other large breed dogs met inclusion criteria. The German Shepherd dog group had higher scores than the control group for compression (P = 0.0099) and herniation (P < 0.001), but not disc degeneration (P = 0.97). In the German Shepherd dog group, intervertebral discs T2‐T3 and T4‐T5 had an increased risk for compression and T3‐T4 had an increased risk for compression and herniation. Findings from this study indicated that German Shepherd dogs may be more likely than other large breed dogs to have spinal cord compression due to cranial thoracic disc herniations. Imaging of the cranial thoracic spine, including T2‐T3, is recommended for German Shepherd dogs with T3‐L3 neurological signs.     

Bilateral parotid duct transposition for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in a Connemara stallion

A 7‐year‐old Connemara stallion was presented with a 4 month history of blepharospasm, recurrent corneal ulcerations, mucopurulent ocular discharge, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in both eyes unresponsive to medical therapy. Ophthalmic examination revealed lackluster corneas, axial corneal scarring and pigmentation with associated neovascularization, and absolute KCS in both eyes. Computed tomography scan and endoscopic evaluation of the upper airway and guttural pouches revealed no structural abnormalities to indicate neurogenic KCS. The stallion was diagnosed with immune‐mediated dacryoadenitis as all other causes of KCS were excluded. Parotid duct transposition (PDT) was performed in the right eye followed by PDT in the left eye 4 weeks later. The right PDT was functional 2 years post‐operatively with significant improvement in ocular comfort and reduced corneal fibrosis and neovascularization. The left PDT developed a salivary‐cutaneous fistula over the left masseter muscle post‐operatively due to avascular necrosis of the distal parotid duct (PD). Surgical reconstruction of the PDT using an expanded‐polytetrafluoroethylene (e‐PTFE) tube graft, an e‐PTFE tube graft to autogenous caudal auricular vein graft, and an autogenous saphenous vein graft were all unsuccessful. Tear production in the left eye improved at 1 year post‐surgery as a result of long term lacrostimulant therapy, and a permanent PD‐cutaneous fistula was performed on the left PD at the level of the ventral mandible. Bilateral PDT in the horse is effective in resolving clinical signs associated with KCS; however, morbidity associated with avascular necrosis of the transposed PD may be significant and can result in surgical failure.