Serum-haptoglobin concentration in Danish slaughter pigs of different health status

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 617 finishing pigs aged 10–25 weeks in 11 commercial herds of different health statuses as defined by the Danish monitoring program for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) herds. A standard clinical examination was performed and a blood sample was obtained from each pig for determination of haptoglobin concentration in serum.

Pigs aged 10–14, 15–19 and 20–25 weeks in conventional herds had higher haptoglobin concentrations than high-health SPF (SPF-x) pigs of the same age. There was no significant difference between SPF-x pigs of different ages. Conventional pigs aged 15–19 and 20–25 weeks had higher haptoglobin concentrations than conventional pigs aged 10–14 weeks. Herd influenced the haptoglobin concentration. Lame pigs and pigs with tail or ear bite had elevated haptoglobin concentrations. No significant effect of respiratory symptoms or umbilical hernia was found.     

Reduced Activity of Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase in the Serum of Cows with Ketosis and Left Displacement of the Abomasum

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was evaluated in sera from cows with ketosis and in some with left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) that occurred during early lactation. The enzyme activities of 652±214 U (mean±SD) in cows with ketosis (n = 6) and 683±110 U in those with LDA (n = 5) were significantly (p<0.01) decreased compared to those in healthy normal cows (994±65 U, n = 8). Serum concentrations of free cholesterol, cholesteryl esters (CE) and phospholipids were similarly decreased in the two diseases. Cows whose LCAT activity and CE concentration were lower than the normal values were detected while in the non-lactating stage, and some of these cows had ketosis after parturition. It is suggested that evaluation of the LCAT activity and of the CE concentration during the non-lactating stage would be useful in detecting cows that are susceptible to postparturient disorders such as ketosis.     

奶牛隐性乳房炎概况及防控措施研究

隐性乳房炎是奶牛中常见的、高患病率的疾病。该疾病没有明显的临床症状,隐蔽性高,易被忽视。病牛外观正常,其乳汁眼观无异常,但乳汁的化学性质、成分已产生一定变化,含有大量病原微生物,营养降低,食用后威胁人类健康。因此,本文对奶牛隐性乳房炎进行概述,阐述其危害和成因,介绍该病检测方法,提出防治技术,对提升奶牛场的经济效益具有重要意义。     

Thyroxine in blood plasma related to plasma levels of acetoacetate and glucose in ketotic and healthy cows

Plasma samples were taken before morning feeding twice weekly for the first 3 months post partum from 28 individually fed cows, of which 8 developed clinical ketosis. Feed rations consisted of grass silage ad libitum and concentrates. The high incidence of ketosis may be accounted for mainly by substandard amounts of feed energy, and by variations in the quality of the grass silage. The following sources of post-partum thyroxine variation were found to be statistically significant (p less than 0.001): The individual cow, the individual pre-calving thyroxine level, metabolic status estimated by plasma levels of acetoacetate or glucose, and elapsed time from partus. The post-partum decrease in thyroxine was greater in cows which developed ketosis (55%) than at the corresponding stage of lactation in those which remained moderately ketonaemic (33%). Extensive overlapping of ranges nevertheless indicates that the apparent hypothyroidism of ketosis is of limited importance for the etiology of the disease. Susceptibility to ketosis was not related to the thyroxine levels observed before partus or after recovery from the disease, in the third month of lactation. Evidence was obtained of a common glucose threshold of about 3.6 mmol/l, below which decreasing sugar levels were accompanied by progressive increments in acetoacetate and decreases in thyroxine. Above the threshold level, the average level of the hormone increased from the first to the third month of lactation in spite of a poor correlation to glucose.     

Field study of dairy cows with reduced appetite in early lactation: clinical examinations, blood and rumen fluid analyses

The study included 125 cows with reduced appetite and with clinical signs interpreted by the owner as indicating bovine ketosis 6 to 75 days postpartum. Almost all of the cows were given concentrates 2 to 3 times daily. With a practitioners view to treatment and prophylaxis the cows were divided into 5 diagnostic groups on the basis of thorough clinical examination, milk ketotest, decreased protozoal activity and concentrations, increased methylene blue reduction time, and increased liver parameters: ketosis (n = 32), indigestion (n = 26), combined ketosis and indigestion (n = 29), liver disease combined with ketosis, indigestion, or both (n = 15), and no specific diagnosis (n = 17). Three cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis and 3 with abomasal displacement were not grouped. Nonparametric methods were used when groups were compared. Aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and total bilirubin were elevated in the group with liver disease. Free fatty acids were significantly elevated in cows with ketosis, compared with cows with indigestion. Activity and concentrations of large and small protozoas were reduced, and methylene blue reduction time was increased in cows with indigestion. The rumen fluid pH was the same for groups of cows with and without indigestion. Prolonged reduced appetite before examination could have led to misclassification. Without careful interpretation of the milk ketotest, many cases with additional diagnoses would have been reported as primary ketosis. Thorough clinical examination together with feasible rumen fluid examination and economically reasonable blood biochemistry did not uncover the reason(s) for reduced appetite in 14% of the cows. More powerful diagnostic methods are needed.     

Outbreak of equine coronavirus infection among riding horses in Tokyo,Japan

In 2020, an outbreak of equine coronavirus (ECoV) infection occurred among 41 horses at a riding stable in Tokyo, Japan. This stable had 16 Thoroughbreds and 25 horses of other breeds, including Andalusians, ponies and miniature horses. Fifteen horses (37 %) showed mild clinical signs such as fever, lethargy, anorexia and diarrhoea, and they recovered within 3 days of onset. A virus neutralization test showed that all 41 horses were infected with ECoV, signifying that 26 horses (63 %) were subclinical. The results suggest that subclinical horses played an important role as spreaders. A genome sequence analysis revealed that the lengths from genes p4.7 to p12.7 or NS2 in ECoV differed from those of ECoVs detected previously, suggesting that this outbreak was caused by a virus different from those that caused previous outbreaks among draughthorses in Japan. Among 30 horses that tested positive by real-time RT-PCR, ECoV shedding periods of non-Thoroughbreds were significantly longer than those of Thoroughbreds. The difference in shedding periods may indicate that some breeds excrete ECoV longer than other breeds and can contribute to the spread of ECoV.     

乳酮症试纸条对奶牛酮病检测的使用效果评价分析

本文通过随机选择40头奶牛,采用乳酮症试纸条和尿酮症试纸条分别对酮病的诊断效果进行比较研究。结果表明,乳酮症试纸条与尿酮症试纸条对奶牛酮病的诊断效果无差异,均能够较好地快速检测出酮症。通过对乳汁中的酮体含量直接测定发现,直接法测定乳汁中的β-羟基丁酸平均含量完全落在乳酮症试纸条所规定的判定标准范围之内。此试验表明乳酮症试纸条能够较好地帮助奶牛场进行酮病的诊断,且使用较为方便,具有较强的推广使用前景。     

仔猪散发亚临床猪瘟及其抗体效价分析

黑龙江某养猪户仔猪零星发病死亡,经PCR诊断为亚临床猪瘟。采集了60头母猪血,采用间接ELISA试剂盒检测60头母猪猪瘟免疫抗体水平。结果表明,该户母猪猪瘟免疫抗体水平较低,免疫抗体合格率仅为3.3%。因此,母猪免疫失败是导致仔猪散发猪瘟的主要原因。