An epidemiological study of Fasciola hepatica in the Netherlands

Summary

Transmission of F.hepatica under natural conditions was analysed in a three year programme. The variables used were the indirect haemagglutination (IHA) technique, worm establishment in tracer lambs and the population dynamics, infection rate and shedding pattern of Lymnaea truncatula.

It is concluded that fluke eggs, infected snails and metacercariae on herbage can survive the winter in the Netherlands. Metacercarial availability was positively correlated to the amount of rainfall in the grazing period. The role of developed eggs that survive the winter is important, because this results in earlier infections in the herd.

The use of the serological diagnosis method IHA is important to detect F. hepatica infection in an early stage. Use of cellophane paper on floats is a useful method for determining the shedding pattern of cercariae from L. truncatula. It is concluded that collection of metacercariae on cellophane floats, inventarization of L. truncatula and its infection level are useful tools for the prediction of liverfluke infections.     

无角美利奴亲本母羊生产性能与血液生化指标的相关性

对８７只无角美利奴亲本母羊的生产性能及其血液生化指标进行了测试分析，试验结果表明，毛长，毛密，体重与其血清无机磷，血清钙磷乘积，血清总蛋白，血清白蛋白、胆固醇、黄疽指数呈极显著正相关；与血清钠、胡萝卜素，ａ２球蛋白呈显著正相关；而与血清磨香草酚浊度呈极显著负相关；与硫酸锌浊度、血清谷草转氨酶活力呈显著负相关；与其年龄呈显著负相关。     

乳制品中类固醇激素类化合物检测研究进展

类固醇激素又称甾体激素,是一种亲脂性的小分子物质,常作为促生长剂被违法添加,用于畜牧业和养殖业。乳制品中残留激素可通过食物链进入人体并产生一系列健康危害。乳制品中类固醇激素的残留在国内外已成为兽药残留问题关注的重点。我国在乳制品中的类固醇激素含量限制方面已颁布相关法规。本文综述类固醇激素的结构、分类及功能,以及乳制品中类固醇激素限量标准、检测方法、含量及健康风险研究进展,旨在为乳制品中的类固醇激素研究提供借鉴和参考。     

盐化秸秆加精料日粮对绵羊生产性能和消化的影响

本文报道了添加精料对饲喂盐化玉米秸秆的晋中绵羊生产性能、日粮消化的影响。处理组比对照组明显提高了绵羊的日增重、采食量和饲料转化率 (P <0 0 1 )。随着精料水平的提高 ,日粮粗纤维表观消化率下降 (P <0 0 5) ,干物质、有机物和粗蛋白质表观消化率提高 (P <0 0 5) ;肝脏中有关矿物质元素含量、血中酶活性在一定精料范围内提高 (P <0 0 5)。本研究范围内精料添加量为 32 5g/日·只时 ,饲喂效果最好     

Comparison of perioperative racemic methadone, levo-methadone and dextromoramide in cats using indicators of post-operative pain

OBJECTIVE: To compare three opioid agonist drugs for perioperative analgesia in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blind, controlled, randomised trial. ANIMALS: Ninety client-owned cats, weighing 3.1 (2.1-4.5) kg, aged 14.6 (6.0-84.0) months, were studied. METHODS: Seventy-six cats, scheduled for ovariectomy, received either 0.6 mg kg(-1) racemic methadone, 0.3 mg kg(-1) levo-methadone, 0.05 mg kg(-1) dextromoramide or a saline placebo IM. Behaviour and body position were assessed and scored 20 minutes later by a single 'blinded' observer. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with halothane. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), Fe'CO2 and SpO2 were recorded during anaesthesia. Post-operatively, pain was categorised as absent, moderate or severe, on the basis of appearance, behaviour and response to palpation of the surgical wound (pain score). Appearance, pain scores and physiological variables were monitored every 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 hours. Differences between time-dependent continuous variables were analysed using mixed models for repeated measurements. Differences in categorical, time-dependent variables were analysed using chi2-tests. Significance was set at p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in appearance after pre-anaesthetic medication. After surgery, there was no association between appearance and pain score with HR or RR. The assessment of pain depended on comparison with the placebo group, by comparing animals' reactions to wound palpation. Sixteen of the 18 cats in the placebo group and 14 of the 19 cats in the dextromoramide group showed signs of moderate-to-severe pain after surgery. In the levo-methadone group (n = 20), one animal showed pain after 60 minutes and two after 120 minutes. One cat in the racemic methadone group (n = 19) showed pain signs and behavioural changes at 60 minutes. Compared to the two methadone groups, 'rescue' analgesia was required more often in cats treated with dextromoramide or saline. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dextromoramide (0.05 mg kg(-1)) was ineffective, while racemic methadone (0.6 mg kg(-1)) and levo-methadone (0.3 mg kg(-1)) provided effective analgesia in cats following ovariectomy, without behavioural, respiratory or cardiovascular side effects.     

Paediatric HUS Cases Related to the Consumption of Raw Milk Sold by Vending Machines in Italy: Quantitative Risk Assessment Based on Escherichia coli O157 Official Controls over 7 years

A quantitative risk assessment (RA) was developed to estimate haemolytic‐uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in paediatric population associated with the consumption of raw milk sold in vending machines in Italy. The historical national evolution of raw milk consumption phenomenon since 2008, when consumer interest started to grow, and after 7 years of marketing adjustment, is outlined. Exposure assessment was based on the official Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) microbiological records of raw milk samples from vending machines monitored by the regional Veterinary Authorities from 2008 to 2014, microbial growth during storage, consumption frequency of raw milk, serving size, consumption preference and age of consumers. The differential risk considered milk handled under regulation conditions (4°C throughout all phases) and the worst time–temperature field handling conditions detected. In case of boiling milk before consumption, we assumed that the risk of HUS is fixed at zero. The model estimates clearly show that the public health significance of HUS cases due to raw milk STEC contamination depends on the current variability surrounding the risk profile of the food and the consumer behaviour has more impact than milk storage scenario. The estimated HUS cases predicted by our model are roughly in line with the effective STEC O157‐associated HUS cases notified in Italy only when the proportion of consumers not boiling milk before consumption is assumed to be 1%. Raw milk consumption remains a source of E. coli O157:H7 for humans, but its overall relevance is likely to have subsided and significant caution should be exerted for temporal, geographical and consumers behaviour analysis. Health education programmes and regulatory actions are required to educate people, primarily children, on other STEC sources.     

Effects of dietary tryptophan and stocking density on the performance,meat quality,and metabolic status of broilers

Background

Highly automated cage-rearing systems are becoming increasingly popular in China. However, a high stocking density can cause oxidative stress and decrease broiler performance. The tryptophan (TRP) derivative 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT) has been shown to preserve membrane fluidity in birds suffering from oxidative stress. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary TRP supplementation on performance, breast meat quality and oxidative stress in broilers reared in cages with a high or low stocking density.

Methods

Female Arbor Acres broilers (25-d-old, n = 144) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments. The birds were fed a diet based on corn, soybean meal, cottonseed meal and corn gluten meal containing either 0.18 or 0.27% TRP and were housed with stocking densities of 11 or 15.4 birds/m² in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment. Broiler performance was evaluated from d 25 to 42. Eight birds from each treatment were slaughtered on d 42 and plasma and breast muscle samples were collected to measure biochemical indices.

Results

A higher stocking density tended to be associated with reduced weight gain (P < 0.10), and significantly increased plasma glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity (P < 0.001). Increased dietary TRP significantly reduced the activities of lactic dehydrogenase and GPT while increasing total cholesterol in the plasma (P < 0.01), reducing drip loss of breast muscle (P < 0.10) and improving feed efficiency (P < 0.10).

Conclusions

An increase in dietary TRP, 1.5-fold higher than the standard supplementation level, can alleviate oxidative stress as well as improve welfare and feed efficiency in broilers reared in cages with a high stocking density.     

Evaluation of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam: Pig production management and pig performances

This study investigated the productive adaptability of pig breeds under different smallholder production conditions in Vietnam, comparing an indigenous with a Vietnamese improved breed. Fieldwork was conducted in four villages with different remoteness in North Vietnam from 2001 to 2002, in 64 households keeping the improved Mong Cai or indigenous Ban as sow breeds and progeny for fattening. Four visits per farm yielded 234 structured interviews. Reproductive performances were derived from 135 litters. Individual weights of pigs (n = 755) were obtained. Data were analysed by regression, linear and generalised linear, especially loglinear models.

Two distinct pig production systems were identified, that differed in remoteness, market access, resource availability, distribution of pig breeds and pig production intensity. Higher performances of 1.4 and 1.5 litters year^− 1, 8.4 and 8.4 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 66.6 and 93.0 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 136 and 177 g day^− 1 ADG were found in two villages near town with semi-intensive production conditions and a high rate of improved Mong Cai sows and MC and LW × MC offspring in the observed population. Lower performances of 1.1 and 1.1 litters year^− 1, 4.6 and 5.5 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 20.5 and 30.9 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 66 and 85 g day^− 1 ADG were observed in parallel to higher incidences of indigenous Ban pigs away from town under extensive conditions. Total live weight offtake per household per year was higher near town and in one village distant to town. MC and LW × MC remained even under demand-driven conditions below the performance potential reported for improved genotypes. Under resource-driven conditions with a saving-oriented production pattern, the higher-yielding but more demanding Mong Cai might not be an efficient production alternative as a further performance reduction can be assumed. A considerable live weight output was observed under resource-driven conditions and with a higher percentage of crossbred LW × Ban offspring in the population, possibly representing a promising production alternative. Factors influencing the performance expression of pigs, and the suitability of different methods for the assessment of performance parameters on-farm are discussed.     

Association of racing performance with specific abnormal radiographic findings in Thoroughbred yearlings sold in Texas

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the association between presence of abnormal radiographic findings attributed to orthopedic disorders of development (ARF) with subsequent performance among yearlings in Texas. The study population was 348 yearlings offered for sale at the Texas Summer Yearling Sale during 2002 and 2003 for which presale radiographs of limbs were available for review. Radiographs of yearlings were reviewed and presence of ARF were recorded. Additionally, the following data were recorded for each horse: identifiers [name of dam, name of sire, hip number, and name (when available)], year of sale, state of birth, and sales price. Subsequent performance data were obtained for each horse at the conclusion of their 2^nd and 3^rd years of life. Results indicated that no ARF was significantly associated with performance outcomes. Lesions of the proximal dorsal aspect of the sagittal ridge of the 3^rd metacarpus/metatarsus resulted in significantly lower sales prices than either horses without this ARF or horses without any ARF. In conclusion, multiple radiographic abnormalities of Thoroughbred yearlings were not associated with reduced performance during the first 2 years of the racing careers of horses studied. Presence of some abnormalities, however, may be associated with reduced sales price.