Tissue indicators of element status in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolts: effect of fasting

Two groups of Atlantic salmon post-smolts previously fed diets either unsupplemented or supplemented with Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn were fasted for 6 weeks in order to study the reliability of tissue indicators of element status during fasting. The fish were weighed at 2-week intervals and samples of whole fish liver, vertebrae, serum and eyes were taken for analyses of elements by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Body weight, per cent dry matter, condition factor and haematocrit values decreased during the fasting period. The concentration of elements in whole body remained constant, indicating that whole body is a stable indicator of element status during fasting. Other tissues seemed to be more sensitive (i.e. hepatic Fe concentration and vertebrae Zn and Mn concentrations). The serum concentrations of the elements generally decreased during fasting, especially for P and Zn. Element concentrations in whole body and most tissues during fasting were generally more dependent upon initial element status than on the fasting itself.
Care should be taken in drawing conclusions about the element status of fish based solely upon the examination of serum concentrations, and more than one tissue indicator should be used in the establishment of the element status of fish.     

Efficacy of avermectin B1 given orally against equine intestinal strongyles and Onchocera microfilaria

Three groups of horses and ponies (N = 13, 13 and 12) were treated with ivermectin paste (0.2 mg/kg p.o.), avermectin B1 solution (0.2 mg/kg p.o.), or fenbendazole suspension (10 mg/kg via nasogastric tube). The avermectin B1 was a 1% solution in a propylene glycolglycerol formal base. Faecal strongyle egg counts were performed before, and 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 d, after treatment. Full-thickness skin biopsies from the neck, pectoral and umbilical regions were examined for Onchocera microfilaria before treatment, and again 14 and 70 d later. Ivermectin therapy produced a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in mean strongyle egg counts 14, 28, 42 and 56 d after treatment. Avermectin B1 therapy resulted in significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in mean strongyle egg counts 14, 28 and 42 d after treatment. All horses given ivermectin or avermectin B1 had zero strongyle egg counts 14 and 28 d after treatment. Fenbendazole failed to significantly decrease strongyle egg counts. Both ivermectin and avermectin B1 resulted in zero microfilaria counts in all horses 14 d after treatment. On day 70 the percentage decrease in microfilaria counts were 100% and 99.6% respectively. Fenbendazole failed to significantly decrease microfilaria counts. The oral administration of this formulation of avermectin B1 appeared to be highly efficacious against intestinal strongyles and Onchocera microfilaria. The duration of anti-strongyle activity was, however, significantly (P less than 0.01) shorter than that of ivermectin paste.     

Mitral valve prolapse in 3-year-old healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. An echocardiographic study.

Clinical studies have shown that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) have a high prevalence of mitral valvular insufficiency (MVI). Echocardiography has the potential to disclose early valvular changes, and the present prospective study was designed to investigate the occurrence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in young CKCS without heart murmurs, and to correlate the degree of MVP with the clinical status of the dogs by including CKCS with MVI as well. The study was based on blinded evaluations of echocardiographic recordings of mitral valves from 34 CKCS and 30 control dogs. Thirteen (87%) of 15 three-year-old CKCS without heart murmurs had MVP (2 total and 11 partial), as compared with 1 (7%) of 15 three-year-old normal Beagle dogs (P < 0.0001), and none of 15 three-year-old normal Medium Size Poodles (P < 0.0001). Of 19 CKCS with MVI, MVP was found in 84% of the entire group and in 100% of dogs with pulmonary congestion or edema. The occurrence of total MVP tended to be higher in the group with MVI (47%, 9/19), when compared with the younger CKCS without heart murmurs (13%, 2/15, P = 0.06). MVP was positively associated with excessive heart rate variability (P = 0.003). The radius of curvature of the anterior mitral valve leaflet in systole was significantly reduced in dogs with MVP when compared with those without (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study shows that CKCS at an early age have a high occurrence of MVP. This suggests: 1) A genetic predisposition of CKCS to MVP; and 2) That MVP is a pathogenetic factor in the development of mitral valvular insufficiency. Follow up studies may add further support to these proposals, and clarify whether echocardiography may be an aid in selecting CKCS for future breeding.     

Prevalence of Giardia in symptomatic dogs and cats throughout the United States as determined by the IDEXX SNAP Giardia test

National prevalence of Giardia infection in dogs and cats presenting to clinics with vomiting and/or diarrhea was examined using the IDEXX SNAP Giardia test kit. Veterinary practices across the United States were sent an invitation to participate in the survey and asked to use the test on fecal samples from the target population. The survey requested that the clinics report the results of 20 or more tests. A total of 21,092 results were reported, comprised of 16,114 dogs and 4,978 cats. Analysis of the data (excluding the handful of results reported from Puerto Rico) showed a Giardia prevalence of 15.6% among dogs tested, and 10.8% among cats. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Regional categorization into Northeast, Southeast, West, and Midwest drew out significant (p < 0.001) differences in prevalence in most cases for dogs; the differences were not significant for cats. These differences and other variables are currently being examined with this and additional data sets. We conclude on the basis of the SNAP test diagnostic that Giardia is a common enteric agent among dogs and cats with gastrointestinal signs.     

Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii, Dirofilaria immitis, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) infections in pet cats in Bangkok and vicinities, Thailand

The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections was examined using serum or plasma samples from 746 pet cats collected between May and July 2009 from clinics and hospitals located in and around Bangkok, Thailand. The samples were tested for heartworm, FIV, and FeLV using a commercial ELISA. Of the 746 samples, 4.6% (34/746) were positive for heartworm antigen, 24.5% (183/746) had circulating FeLV antigen, and 20.1% (150/746) had antibodies against FIV. In addition, the first 348 submitted samples were tested for T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25); 10.1% (35/348) were seropositive. Of the 348 cats sampled for all four pathogens, 11, 10, and 1 were positive for T. gondii antibodies and FIV antibodies, FeLV antigen, or D. immitis antigen, respectively. Of the 35 T. gondii-seropositive cats, 42.9% (15/35) were co-infected with at least one of the other three pathogens. The presence of antibodies to FIV was significantly associated with both age and gender, while FeLV antigen presence was only associated with age. In the case of FIV, males were twice as likely to be infected as females, and cats over 10 years of age were 13.5 times more likely to be infected than cats less than 1 year of age. FeLV antigen was more common in younger cats, with cats over 10 years of age being 10 times less likely to be FeLV positive than cats under 1 year of age. This is the first survey for these four pathogens affecting feline health in Thailand.     

Trace element status of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. fed a fish-meal based diet with or without supplementation of zinc, iron, manganese and copper from first feeding

Growth, haemoglobin and element status were compared in Atlantic salmon fed a practical fish-meal based diet, unsupplemented or supplemented with a mixture of the elements zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) from first feeding (weight 0.20 g). The diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish from weeks 1–20 and to duplicates from weeks 21–34. The basal diet (Diet 1) was not supplemented and contained 67 mg Zn, 106 mg Fe, 4.7 mg Mn and 3.7 mg Cu kg^–1. Diet 2 was supplemented with 68 mg Zn, 34 mg Fe, 13 mg Mn and 3.5 mg Cu kg^–1. Iron was not added to Diet 3.
Mean weight and mortality did not differ among the groups at any sampling point. Whole-body Zn and Mn responded to dietary concentration at all sampling points. Plasma and vertebrae Zn concentrations responded significantly to dietary Zn concentration. There were no effects with Fe. The Fe status of the fish, assessed by whole-body and liver Fe concentrations, was low in all groups. No effect of supplementation was found for Cu and no accurate judgement either of status or requirement could be made from the present results.
It is concluded that supplementing fish-meal based start feeds for Atlantic salmon with Zn, Mn and Fe is appropriate, while further studies are needed for the evaluation of Cu supplementation. The supplementation levels used in the present experiment appeared to meet the requirements for Zn and Mn, while the supplemented level of Fe appeared to be too low. Deleting Fe from the element mixture did not significantly affect Fe status or that of Zn, Mn and Cu.
There was an accumulation of Zn and Fe with growth. Cu remained constant and there was a trend towards reduced Mn in the fish given the unsupplemented diet.     

Supplementing copper to a fish meal based diet fed to Atlantic salmon parr affects liver copper and selenium concentrations

The present experiment was conducted to study growth and tissue responses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fed a fish meal based diet supplemented with copper (Cu). The findings of the experiment were used to evaluate the need for dietary Cu supplementation. Atlantic salmon parr, initially weighing ≊ 7.5 g, were randomly distributed among 10 tanks, with 300 fish in each tank. Duplicate groups of fish were fed a fish meal based diet containing 3.5 mg Cu kg⁻¹, or this diet supplemented with 5, 10, 50 or 100 mg Cu kg⁻¹ (as CuSO₄*5 H₂O) for 12 weeks. Growth was recorded and blood haemoglobin measured. The Cu concentrations in whole body, liver, serum and selected muscle samples were measured, as was liver selenium (Se) concentration.
There were no difference in growth among the dietary treatments. There were, however, significant differences among the dietary groups in liver Cu and Se concentrations. The fish fed the diet supplemented with 5 mg Cu kg⁻¹ had increased liver Cu concentration compared with the other groups. Similar trends were found for serum Cu concentration and whole-body Cu concentration, but these effects were not significant. Liver Cu and Se concentrations were positively correlated and liver Se concentrations were inversely correlated to dietary Cu concentration, confirming an interaction between these two elements in salmon.
There may be a positive effect of a modest Cu supplementation level, and we suggest that a small amount of Cu (5–10 mg kg⁻¹) should be added to fish meal based diets.     

Surgical resection of a dysgerminoma in a mare

A mare was referred for further evaluation of a mass found in the left caudal abdomen during a routine postpartum reproductive palpation. The mare was clinically normal with no history of health problems. Ultrasonographic examination of the mass confirmed its presence, but the origin of the mass could not be accurately determined. Routine haematology and serum biochemistry results were within normal limits. The mare was initially treated conservatively with antibiotics, but the mass continued to increase in size, so it was surgically excised. The mass involved the left ovary. The mare showed transient abdominal pain after surgery, but developed no other complications and was in foal 7 months later. On histology, the mass was diagnosed as a dysgerminoma, a rare ovarian tumour of germ cell origin.