Fenbendazole treatment of pregnant bitches to reduce prenatal and lactogenic infections of Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum in pups

A granulated formulation of fenbendazole was tested in a total of 23 treated and control, pregnant, parasite-free Beagle bitches experimentally infected with Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum. The drug was administered to each treated bitch once daily in canned dog food at a dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight. Each of 2 treatment regimens tested was initiated on the 40th day of pregnancy. One regimen involved daily treatment continuing through the 14th postpartum day, and it resulted in 89% fewer ascarids and 99% fewer hookworms in pups born to medicated bitches, as compared with pups born to unmedicated controls. The other regimen of treatment, which was stopped on the day of parturition, was less effective in reducing ascarid and hookworm burdens (64% and 88% reductions, respectively). Three to 5 bitches from each of the treatment and control groups were allowed to whelp a 2nd litter without further treatment or further exposure to parasite infections. Hookworm burdens in 2nd-litter pups born of bitches that had initially received fenbendazole through the 14th postpartum day were significantly lower (P < 0.01; 85% reduction), when compared with the 2nd-litter control pups. All other parasite burdens were not significantly different. It was concluded that granulated fenbendazole is effective in reducing burdens of Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis in newborn pups when the bitch is treated during the last third of pregnancy, especially when treatment (50 mg/kg/day) extends from the 40th day of pregnancy through the 14th postpartum day.     

Differentiation of strains of bean common mosaic virus

Pathogenicity and symptom expression of seventeen described isolates of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and five previously unreported isolates were compared on many bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). From these cultivars, a standard set of differentials were assigned to nine groups with different disease reactions. The twenty-two virus isolates comprised seven strain (pathotype) groups, three of which were divided into two subgroups each. To promote international standardization in BCMV research, recommendations are given for test conditions and procedures, criteria for strain differentiation, and maintenance of differential cultivars and virus strains.Samenvatting Zeventien beschreven stammen van het bonerolmozaïekvirus en vijf niet geïdentificeerde isolaten (Tabel 1) werden bestudeerd op een uitgebreide reeks van toetsrassen. De meeste van deze toetsrassen waren in de literatuur als zodanig vermeld, maar door de desbetreffende onderzoekers waren vaak verschillende series toetsrassen gebruikt, hetgeen de onderlinge vergelijking van de stammen bemoeilijkte.De bedoeling van dit onderzoek was: vergelijking en indeling van de virusstammen, samenstelling van een standaard-toetsrassenserie en het ontwerpen en beschrijven van werden zowel in Wageningen als in Prosser, Washington, USA, uitgevoerd met dezelfde virusisolaten en dezelfde zaadmonsters van de toetsrassen.De toetsrassen konden op grond van hun differentiële reacties na inoculatie met de virusstammen worden ingedeeld in negen groepen. De rassen binnen een groep hebben hetzelfde resistentiespectrum t.o.v. een standaardserie virusstammen. Uit elke groep werden op grond van hun geschiktheid (duidelijkheid en reproduceerbaarheid van de symptomen) één of meer vertegenwoordigers gekozen, waaruit een standaardserie van toetsrassen werd samengesteld (Tabel 2).De 22 stammen en isolaten werden op grond van hun pathogeniteitsspectrum t.o.v. de standaardserie van toetsrassen ingedeeld in tien groepen en subgroepen (Tabel 1). De stammen en isolaten binnen een groep of subgroep hebben eenzelfde pathogeniteitsspectrum (Tabellen 4 en 6) en worden op grond daarvan als identiek beschouwd. De differentiële reacties tussen de rassen van de standaardserie en de virusstammen en-isolaten zijn vermeld in de Tabellen 3 en 5. Voorgesteld wordt om de naam van de eerstbeschreven stam van iedere groep te handhaven en de andere stammen in een groep of subgroep op te vatten als isolaten daarvan.De toetsmethodiek wordt uitvoerig beschreven om standaardisatie van de stammenidentificatie te bevorderen. Ter verklaring van de in de literatuur gevonden tegenstrijdigheden in de differentiële reactie van de toetsrassen wordt een negental mogelijke oorzaken genoemd, o.a. het gebruik van planten van toetsrassen die reeds vanuit zaad met een onbekende stam waren besmet en het gebruik van onzuivere virusstammen (mengisolaten).De auteurs stellen zich verantwoordelijk voor het distribueren (op aanvraag) van kleine zaadhoeveelheden van de toetsrassen en, op beperkte schaal, van in zaad aanwezige zuivere virusstammen aan onderzoekers die betrokken zijn bij de identificatie van de stammen van dit virus. Bovendien zal zaad van de standaardserie van toetsrassen worden gedeponeerd in het National Seed Storage Laboratory te Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, terwijl de virusstammen (in zaad) in bewaring worden gegeven bij de American Type Culture Collection te Rockville, Maryland, USA, waar ze beschikbaar zullen blijven voor verder onderzoek.     

Flow Cytometry Identification of X- and Y-Chromosome-Bearing Goat Spermatozoa

Flow cytometric sorting technology was used to measure the difference in DNA content between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bucks. Spermatozoa were analysed by flow cytometry to characterize X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm populations and to quantify the DNA difference between them. Two symmetrical, overlapping and clearly separated peaks, corresponding to X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa, were detected. The difference in fluorescence intensity between the peaks was 4.4 +/- 0.03% without any significant inter- or intra-animal variations. Therefore, the identification and selection of high-purity samples of sperm populations for sex sorting is easier in bucks compared with other domestic species.     

Effect of bovine seminal plasma on bovine endometrial epithelial cells in culture

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of seminal plasma (SP) from bulls of known fertility on bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEEC) in culture. The bEEC from passage 5, approximately 5.0–13 × 10⁵ cells per flask, were challenged with SP from bulls of high or low fertility (n = 3 and 2, respectively) or PBS (control), at 1% (75 μl) or 4% (300 μl) and were incubated for 72 hr (n = 13 per challenge). Total cell number and viability of bEEC after challenge with 1% SP from either high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (75H or 75L, respectively) did not differ from controls. In contrast, challenge with 4% of SP from high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (300H or 300L) negatively affected bEEC cell number and viability. Challenge with 300 L had a greater adverse effect than 300H. These results suggest that the negative effect of bovine SP on bEEC is both dose‐dependent and fertility‐dependent.     

Sectional notes

American Journal of Potato Research -     

Mental health in the veterinary profession: an individual or organisational focus?

The veterinary profession is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians, with attrition recognised as a substantial contributor. Research has also indicated increased levels of mental ill health and alarming suicide rates in practitioners. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of eleven modifiable workplace factors on mental health outcomes, job appreciation and intention to leave the veterinary profession. The second aim was to ascertain whether workplace factors influence mental health outcomes after controlling for individual resilience. An online survey was completed by 73 practising Australian veterinarians. Unfavourable workplace factors correlated with adverse outcomes including depression, stress, reduced job appreciation and increased likelihood of leaving both the role and the profession. Workplace factors remained linked with the outcomes of job appreciation, depression and stress whilst controlling for practitioner resilience. Job appreciation was a significant predictor of intention to leave both the current role and the profession. Via multiple linear regression, two categories were identified as associated with improved psychological outcomes and job appreciation. These were workplace factors that represent breaks from workload and control or decision latitude in the workplace. Whilst resilience represents a key area for intervention, workplace factors potentially represent an easier-to-modify area for intervention.