Prevalence and Significance of Parasites of Horses in Some States of Northern Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and significance of parasites of horses in northern Nigeria. Blood and faecal samples were randomly collected from 243 horses from different stables in some states of northern Nigeria for laboratory analyses. Fifty-seven horses (23.5%) were found infected with parasites. The hemoparasites detected, 21 (8.6%), include Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma evansi. The endoparasites encountered, 29 (11.9%) were Strongylus spp., Strongyloides spp., Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, Paragonimus spp. and Dicrocoelium spp., 3 (1.2%) was Eimeria spp. Four horses (1.6%) had mixed infection of hemo- and endoparasites. This preliminary finding shows that parasitism is a problem in the horse stables examined, and calls for proper stable hygiene, routine tick control and regular deworming programme.     

新疆伊犁州小麦条锈菌生理小种鉴定及毒性分析

伊犁州是新疆小麦条锈病重灾区, 对该地区开展小麦条锈菌生理小种监测意义重大?本研究通过对2020年采自新疆伊犁4县的149份小麦条锈菌样品进行生理小种监测, 以期明确该地区小麦条锈菌生理小种组成及毒性情况?结果表明, 共监测到28个生理小种, 其中CYR 33?Su 11-1?Su 11-12?CYR 32及CYR 34出现频率较高, 分别为14.09%, 12.75%, 8.05%, 8.05%和7.38%; 水源11类群为优势类群, 出现频率高达44.30%?对抗条锈病基因Yr1?YrA?Yr3?Yr6?YrSu?Yr9的毒性频率均大于70%, 表明这些基因在伊犁州抗性基本丧失?新疆伊犁州4县小麦条锈菌毒性多样性分析显示, Nei’s 遗传多样性指数为0.34, Shannon 信息指数为0.50, 表明伊犁州条锈菌毒性多样性水平较高, 毒性组成丰富; 小麦条锈菌毒性相似系数在0.92~1.00, 其中伊宁县和巩留县的样品遗传距离最近, 察布查尔县与其他3县样品遗传距离最远?因此, 新疆伊犁州地区抗锈育种应以抗CYR 33和Su 11-1为主, 兼顾抗Su 11-12?CYR 32和贵农22类群中其他类型?另外不同县区应合理进行抗病基因布局, 以期实现小麦条锈病的区域间联合防治?     

Age at first start and racing career of a cohort of Australian Standardbred horses

OBJECTIVE Compare the career profiles of a cohort of Standardbred horses that first raced as 2-year-olds with those that started their racing careers at a later age. METHOD Retrospective analysis of the racing records of all foals born in New South Wales in the 2000 foaling season. RESULTS The career records of 999 horses were analysed. Almost half (43.9%) first raced as 2-year-olds and one-third (33.9%) as 3-year-olds. The median career duration for horses that first raced as 2-year-olds was 2.93 years (interquartile range (IQR) 2.70-3.16), which was significantly greater than the median for horses that first raced at 3, 4 or ≥5 years old (P < 0.001). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, earned significantly more prize money than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). The population median number of career starts was 28.0 (IQR 8-64). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, had significantly more career starts than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study found no evidence suggesting that racing as a 2-year-old had a deleterious effect on a horse's racing career.     

Effects of delayed serum separation and long-term storage on the measurement of thyroid hormones in equine blood samples

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of delaying the separation of serum from the clot and of long-term storage of serum samples on the measurement of thyroid hormones in blood from horses using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The measured concentrations of T3 and T4 were not affected by leaving serum on the clot for as long as 24 hours at room temperatures. Storage of serum for 19 to 22 months at -20 degrees C resulted in significant increases of measured T4, but not T3. These studies support previous work demonstrating that thyroid hormones are resistant to degradation, immunologically stable, and reasonably insensitive to potential problems of routine specimen handling when measured with an immunoassay.     

Survey of equine castration techniques,preferences and outcomes among Australian veterinarians

Objectives

(1) To collect the perceptions of veterinarians performing equine castrations in Australia on techniques, preferences and outcomes, (2) to investigate veterinarian use and experience with the Henderson castrating instrument and (3) to investigate potential associations between demographics, castration methods and techniques, and complications.

Design

Online survey of members of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Special Interest Group, Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA).

Methods

A link to the survey was included in the EVA e‐newsletter and practices on the EVA website were contacted by telephone and follow‐up email. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine associations between ligation and complications. A generalised linear model with a negative binomial family was used to determine associations between count response variables and categorical independent variables.

Results

Responses were obtained from 138 veterinarians (response rate, 13.1%) who performed 5330 castrations over 12 months. Castrations were most commonly performed in the field, on anaesthetised horses, using emasculators, via an open approach and without ligation of the spermatic cord. Estimated complications after use of emasculators were swelling (25%), haemorrhage (5%) and infection (5%). The Henderson instrument was used by approximately 10% of respondents and its use for castration was associated with fewer reports of postoperative swelling compared with emasculators (P = 0.002). Rates of evisceration with the Henderson and emasculator methods were comparable (0.43% and 0.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Castration preferences varied widely among survey participants. Reported complication types and rates were comparable to those reported previously in other countries. Perceptions that the Henderson instrument was associated with less swelling should be investigated further via a prospective controlled investigation.     

Influence of a constant rate infusion of dexmedetomidine on cardiopulmonary function and recovery quality in isoflurane anaesthetized horses

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of a dexmedetomidine constant rate infusion (CRI) in horses anaesthetized with isoflurane.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical study.AnimalsForty adult healthy horses (weight mean 491 ± SD 102 kg) undergoing elective surgery.MethodsAfter sedation [dexmedetomidine, 3.5 μg kg^?1 intravenously (IV)] and induction IV (midazolam 0.06 mg kg^?1, ketamine 2.2 mg kg^?1), anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen/air (FiO₂ 55–60%). Horses were ventilated and dobutamine was administered when hypoventilation [arterial partial pressure of CO₂ > 8.00 kPa (60 mmHg)] and hypotension [arterial pressure 70 mmHg] occurred respectively. During anaesthesia, horses were randomly allocated to receive a CRI of dexmedetomidine (1.75 μg kg^?1 hour^?1) (D) or saline (S). Monitoring included end-tidal isoflurane concentration, cardiopulmonary parameters, and need for dobutamine and additional ketamine. All horses received 0.875 μg kg^?1 dexmedetomidine IV for the recovery period. Age and weight of the horses, duration of anaesthesia, additional ketamine and dobutamine, cardiopulmonary data (anova), recovery scores (Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test), duration of recovery (t-test) and attempts to stand (Mann–Whitney test) were compared between groups. Significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsHeart rate and arterial partial pressure of oxygen were significantly lower in group D compared to group S. An interaction between treatment and time was present for cardiac index, oxygen delivery index and systemic vascular resistance. End-tidal isoflurane concentration and heart rate significantly increased over time. Packed cell volume, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, arterial oxygen content, stroke volume index and systemic vascular resistance significantly decreased over time. Recovery scores were significantly better in group D, with fewer attempts to stand and significantly longer times to sternal position and first attempt to stand.Conclusions and clinical relevance A dexmedetomidine CRI produced limited cardiopulmonary effects, but significantly improved recovery quality.     

多次放血对马血液成分的影响

10匹健康马每月定期放血一次,每次2000mL,连续4次,总放血量8000mL。血样在放血前(0d)和放血后15,30,60,90,120,150d自颈静脉采取。结果表明:放血后15d,血清总蛋白、球蛋白、白蛋白、血清钙显著下降(P<0.01);120d时红细胞数、白细胞数、红细胞压积、白蛋白、血清总蛋白减少,血钾明显减少,红细胞平均血红蛋白量增加。至150d时,各项指标恢复到放血前的水平。     

伊犁河鱼类

1995──1997年对伊犁河（中国境内）进行鱼类和水域生态调查研究,采集鱼类标本7000余尾。经鉴定整理计32种,隶属于6目9科27属。其中土著鱼类仅10种,具有经济价值的5种,随着鱼类的人工移植与驯化,伊犁河的鱼类发生了很大的变化。除已被记载的裸腹鲟、西鲤、东方欧鳊和梭鲈外,这次调查被列入新记录的有：短头、草鱼、鲢、鲫、银鲫、赤梢鱼、贝加尔雅罗、欧鲇,以及小型鱼类：条、中华、麦穗鱼、棒花鱼、北方泥鳅、青、黄鱼、褐栉虎鱼和波氏虎鱼等17种。并研究了伊犁河鱼类的演变和发展趋势。