Neurologic signs and hyperammonemia in a horse with colic

A 23-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was referred for the evaluation of acute onset of ataxia and depression, and a 2-day history of fever. On physical examination, the gelding was profoundly depressed and 10-12% dehydrated. The horse appeared very unstable, with a wide-based stance in the hind limbs, severe symmetric ataxia in all 4 limbs, and proprioceptive deficits in both hind limbs. Nasogastric intubation produced 4 L of brown, fetid reflux, and rectal examination revealed mild small intestinal and cecal distention. Hematologic abnormalities included neutropenia with toxic change, compatible with acute inflammation and endotoxemia, and prolonged coagulation times. Serum biochemical abnormalities included prerenal azotemia. metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte abnormalities consistent with enteritis. Blood ammonia concentration was markedly increased (406 micromol/L; reference interval 4-49 micromol/L), however, serum bile acids concentration and hepatic enzyme activities were within reference intervals. Histopathologic examination of a liver biopsy revealed no abnormalities and results of tests for several infectious agents were negative. Clinical signs resolved with correction of the dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities and with antibiotic therapy. The horse was diagnosed with hyperammonemic neuropathy associated with gastrointestinal disease. In such cases, hyperammonemia is caused by increased production of ammonia by organisms in the gastrointestinal tract in combination with increased gut permeability that facilitates ammonia absorption.     

诊断桑树黄化型萎缩病的新方法

本文探讨利用瑞氏染色法和旦尼氏染色法诊断桑树黄化型萎缩病的可能性。试验结果表明,用此方法,在病株枝条或主根的横切面上,韧皮部的病原寄生部位被染成兰色或青色,呈阳性反应,健株组织切片的韧皮部则不着色,呈阴性反应。可作为桑黄化型萎缩病病株的实验诊断手段。     

Certification of herds as free of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection: actual pooled faecal results versus certification model predictions

Dutch dairy herds closed for at least 3 years with no history of paratuberculosis were recruited for a study on herd-certification. One hundred dairy herds were tested for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis at 6-month intervals by pooled faecal culture (five individual animal samples per pool) with solid media. Ninety of the herds completed 9 herd tests and 10 herds dropped out of the study for reasons other than a paratuberculosis diagnosis. Of the 90 herds completing the full study, 61% eventually were found to be M. paratuberculosis-infected. The number of infected herds detected decreased with each round of testing. Assuming that all infected herds had been detected by the ninth herd test, the observed percentage of herds that were truly noninfected (P-free) after each round of testing was calculated. The observed P-free was compared to the predicted P-free based on a previously reported herd-certification model. The P-free predicted by the model was significantly different from the observed P-free. When a single assumption in the model was changed and a diagnostic sensitivity of 40–50% was selected, the predicted P-free closely approximated the observed P-free for the 90 Dutch dairy herds studied. The critical assumption that was changed for Version 2.0 of the model was within-herd infection prevalence for infected but test-negative herds after each round of serial testing. Model Version 1.0 had assumed a 50% decrease in within-herd prevalence but Version 2.0 assumed a stable within-herd prevalence. Culture of pooled faecal samples provides a high-sensitive, high-specific, low-cost test for herd-certification programs.     

A Comparative Review of Vitamin E and Associated Equine Disorders

Vitamin E is a primary chain‐breaking antioxidant that prevents cyclic propagation of lipid peroxidation. Across species, vitamin E is essential for normal neuromuscular function by acting as a potent antioxidant, as well as by modulating the expression of certain genes, inhibiting platelet aggregation and stabilizing plasma membranes. This review focuses on vitamin E structure, absorption, metabolism, current equine dietary recommendations, the interplay between antioxidants and exercise, a discussion of the necessity of vitamin E supplementation in the horse above the Nutritional Research Council (NRC) 2007 requirements, and a review of equine diseases that are associated with a vitamin E deficiency. Particular emphasis is placed on the proteins involved in vitamin E absorption, transport, and metabolism as potential candidates for vitamin E‐associated diseases across species.     

Application of participatory epidemiology techniques to investigate Newcastle disease among rural farmers in Zamfara state,Nigeria

Formal systems of inquiry are of limited value when working with rural communities in developing countries. The current research used alternative systems of inquiry and learning that involved applying participatory epidemiology (PE) techniques to collect veterinary information about Newcastle disease (ND) in rural areas. Results indicated that poultry constituted the largest proportion (42.4%) of livestock species kept, and the poultry diseases that local farmers callbingiri, ciwon-sufe,dankanoman-kaji, dangari, andgurdumu are consistent with modern veterinary knowledge of Newcastle disease, respiratory disease, coccidiosis, fowl pox, and ectoparasitism, respectively.Tsuwen zaki (lion's testicle;Cucumuis pustulatus) andgarafuni (balsam pear;Momordica balsamina) are traditional remedies used to prevent Newcastle disease. Local farmers are knowledgeable about common disease that affect their poultry; they have good diagnostic abilities and can recognize clinical signs. There should be improved veterinary outreach to share some of this information via active community participation, and PE should be incorporated into state and national disease surveillance systems.     

凉山草坪病虫害及其防治途径初探

本文在调查研究凉山草坪病虫害的基础上,对草坪的病虫害防治进行了初步探讨和研究,并提出了解决途径.     

Update on the diagnosis of Haemophilus parasuis infection in pigs and novel genotyping methods

Haemophilus parasuis causes Gl?sser's disease as well as a number of other diseases in pigs. The diagnosis of H. parasuis-associated disease is usually established by clinical signs, pathological findings and bacterial isolation but diagnosis is complicated by the existence of non-virulent strains and the early colonisation of the upper respiratory tract of healthy piglets. Moreover, several strains can be found on a farm and even within a single animal so it is important to determine the specific strain that is causing the clinical outbreak. Recently, genotyping methods have been developed with the goal of correlating genotype with the degree of virulence of H. parasuis strains. The association between genotype and virulence in H. parasuis is challenging due to the lack of knowledge of the complete genomic sequence and virulence factors of this bacterium.     

兔病毒性出血症、多杀性巴氏杆菌病、产气荚膜梭菌病(A)型三联灭活疫苗研制

对 5批兔病毒性出血症、多杀性巴氏杆菌病、产气荚膜梭菌病三联灭活疫苗进行了动物试验 ,结果表明该疫苗安全有效。近期效检对兔病毒性出血症的保护率为 1 0 0 % ,对兔多杀性巴氏杆菌病保护率为 92 % ,对产气荚膜梭菌病 (A)型保护率为 88%。在免疫期试验中 ,免疫 6个月后 ,对兔病毒性出血症保护率为 1 0 0 % ,对多杀性巴氏杆菌病的保护率为 79% ,对产气荚膜梭菌病 (A)型的保护率为 88%。在保存期试验中 ,4～ 8℃保存 1年仍有效。