Effect of dietary inclusion of spray‐dried porcine plasma on performance,some physiological and immunological response of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella sofia

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of spray‐dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in broiler chickens under Salmonella sofia disease challenge. The experiment comprised five starter diets: positive control (no supplement), diet supplemented with in‐feed antibiotics (IFA; salinomycin 0.05% + zinc bacitracin 0.033%) and diets supplemented with SDPP at 10 or 20 g/kg diet. All four of these groups were challenged with S. sofia, while a fifth group was unchallenged and used as the negative control. The experimental diets were fed to 14 days; then, the birds were switched to commercial‐type grower and finisher diets. Oral inoculation of the challenged groups with S. sofia occurred on day 8, 10 and 12. Body weight was significantly higher in the birds fed diets containing IFA and SDPP than in the challenged control group, but it was only significant in starter and grower phases. In general, there was an improvement in the weights of the immune‐related organs, but it was only significant for the weight of the bursa of SDPP‐fed birds at 13 days. At day 13, blood potassium content was lower and the concentrations of IgG and IgM tended to be lower in the birds fed on low‐SDPP starter diets than those of the other groups. There were significant differences in the concentration of lactic acid in the ileum and acetic acid, formic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid in the caeca. Inclusion of SDPP to the starter diets of broiler chicks had positive effects on broiler performance, immunity and gut health during exposure to highly pathogenic conditions.     

Comparison of sampling sites and detection methods for Haemophilus parasuis

Objective To improve the isolation rate and identification procedures for Haemophilus parasuis from pig tissues. Design Thirteen sampling sites and up to three methods were used to confirm the presence of H. parasuis in pigs after experimental challenge. Procedure Colostrum‐deprived, naturally farrowed pigs were challenged intratracheally with H parasuis serovar 12 or 4. Samples taken during necropsy were either inoculated onto culture plates, processed directly for PCR or enriched prior to being processed for PCR. The recovery of H parasuis from different sampling sites and using different sampling methods was compared for each serovar. Results H parasuis was recovered from several sample sites for all serovar 12 challenged pigs, while the trachea was the only positive site for all pigs following serovar 4 challenge. The method of solid medium culture of swabs, and confirmation of the identity of cultured bacteria by PCR, resulted in 38% and 14% more positive results on a site basis for serovars 12 and 4, retrospectively, than direct PCR on the swabs. This difference was significant in the serovar 12 challenge. Conclusion Conventional culture proved to be more effective in detecting H parasuis than direct PCR or PCR on enrichment broths. For subacute (serovar 4) infections, the most successful sites for culture or direct PCR were pleural fluid, peritoneal fibrin and fluid, lung and pericardial fluid. For acute (serovar 12) infections, the best sites were lung, heart blood, affected joints and brain. The methodologies and key sampling sites identified in this study will enable improved isolation of H parasuis and aid the diagnosis of Glässer's disease.     

Inheritance, mode of inheritance, and candidate genes for primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is caused by inappropriate secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by autonomously functioning neoplastic or hyperplastic parathyroid "chief" cells. Keeshonden are thought to be over-represented in studies on canine PHPT, but no proof of heritability or mode of inheritance has been published. The canine disease clinically resembles human familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP). HYPOTHESIS: Primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden is genetically transmitted and is caused by a mutation in 1 of 4 genes implicated in human FIHP: MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET. ANIMALS: Pedigrees consisting of 1647 Keeshonden were created including 219 Keeshonden with known PHPT phenotypes (69 positive). DNA samples were obtained from 176 of the 219 Keeshonden (34 positive). METHODS: Heritability and mode of inheritance were determined by segregation analysis. Canine homologs to the human genes were identified. Exons and surrounding intron regions were sequenced and scanned for sense-altering polymorphisms or polymorphisms that segregated with the disease. Messenger RNA from a parathyroid tumor of an affected Keeshond was analyzed for polymorphisms and splice alterations. RESULTS: PHPT follows an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance in Keeshonden with possible age-dependent penetrance. No polymorphisms identified in the genes analyzed were associated with a change in predicted protein or in hypothesized splice sites. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: PHPT is an autosomal dominant, genetically transmitted disease in Keeshonden. Once the mutation locus is identified, genetic testing should quickly decrease the incidence of PHPT in this breed. It is unlikely that mutations in MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET cause PHPT in Keeshonden.     

Papillary muscle measurements in cats with normal echocardiograms and cats with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy

BACKGROUND: Papillary muscle hypertrophy can occur in conjunction with, or as the only indication of, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or other diseases that result in left ventricular concentric hypertrophy (LVCH). Assessment of papillary muscle size is usually subjective because objective measures have not been reported. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that papillary muscle dimensions are different between normal cats and cats with LVCH. ANIMALS: Echocardiograms from 44 normal cats and 40 cats with LVCH were included in the study. METHODS: All measurements were taken from the right parasternal short-axis view at the level of the papillary muscles at end-diastole. Three methods were used to assess papillary muscle size: the area subtraction method, the direct area trace method, and the diameter method. Measurements were compared between cat groups and method comparisons were made among methods for area determination. RESULTS: Cats with LVCH were older and had significantly greater left ventricular septal and free wall thicknesses and larger left atrial measurements than normal cats (P < .0006). Papillary muscle measurements were significantly greater by all measurement methods in cats with LVCH than in cats with normal echocardiograms (P < .0001). The area subtraction method and direct area trace method showed moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Papillary muscle measurements were larger for LVCH cats than normal cats; however, some overlap was present. The establishment of these objective measures adds to the echocardiographic examination of cats.     

Day-to-Day variation of the urine protein: creatinine ratio in female dogs with stable glomerular proteinuria caused by X-linked hereditary nephropathy

BACKGROUND: Interpretation of serial urine protein:creatinine (UPC) values is confounded by a lack of data regarding random biologic variation of UPC values in dogs with stable glomerular proteinuria. HYPOTHESIS: That there is minimal day-to-day variability in the UPC of dogs with unchanging proteinuria and the number of measurements needed to reliably estimate UPC varies with the magnitude of proteinuria. ANIMALS: Forty-eight heterozygous (carrier) female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN) causing stable proteinuria. METHODS: Urine samples were obtained daily by cystocentesis for 3 consecutive days on 183 occasions (549 samples). The UPC was measured for each sample with a single dry-film chemistry auto-analyzer. Data were analyzed retrospectively by a power of the mean model because the variance of UPC values within the 3-day evaluation periods increased as the magnitude of proteinuria increased. RESULTS: To demonstrate a significant difference (P < .05) between serial values in these proteinuric dogs, the UPC must change by at least 35% at high UPC values (near 12) and 80% at low UPC values (near 0.5). One measurement is adequate to reliably estimate the UPC when UPC <4, but 2-5 determinations are necessary at higher UPC values. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These guidelines for interpretation of serial UPC values in female dogs with XLHN may also be helpful for interpretation of UPC values in dogs with other glomerulopathies.     

Plethysmographic comparison of breathing pattern in heaves (recurrent airway obstruction) versus experimental bronchoconstriction or hyperpnea in horses

BACKGROUND: Horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) are described as exhibiting "increased abdominal effort," but it is unknown whether this translates to an effective contribution to ventilation. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that heaves is characterized by asynchrony between rib cage and abdominal motions, and that the abdominal component is the major contributor to ventilation. ANIMALS: The rib cage versus abdominal motion in naturally occurring heaves (n = 15) was compared to controls at rest (n = 7) and during hyperpnea because of lobeline treatment, and the effects of histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in controls (n = 10). METHODS: Flow patterns, phase angle (theta) between the rib and abdominal compartments, abdominal (Vabd) contribution to tidal volume (VT), and lung mechanics were measured. RESULTS: Findings unique to the heaves group included the loss of biphasic expiratory flow, severely increased theta with the abdomen consistently lagging behind the rib cage, and a reduced contribution of the abdomen to ventilation. A subgroup of heaves (n = 5) with abdominal paradox showed a significant (P < .05) reduction in tidal volume, and increased respiratory rate. Bronchodilation reduced theta in heaves (P = .06), but theta remained significantly higher after bronchodilation than found in controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: We conclude that breathing pattern in horses with heaves is characterized by severe rib cage/abdominal asynchrony, with the rib cage motion in synchrony with flow, therefore dominating ventilation. In a subset of heaves, the abdominal compartment (diaphragm, abdominal muscles) was completely out of synchrony with flow ("abdominal paradox") despite the clinical appearance of "increased abdominal effort."