Protection of laying hens against infectious bronchitis with inactivated emulsion vaccines

Commercially-reared laying chickens were challenged at 31 weeks of age with a virulent infectious bronchitis (IB) virus. They showed a sharp drop in egg production, despite having been vaccinated at four and eight weeks old with live attenuated IB vaccines to a recommended schedule. In contrast, similar birds that had been further immunised at point-of-lay with inactivated oil emulsion IB vaccine, or with a combined IB/Newcastle disease (ND) emulsion vaccine, showed no detectable fall in egg production after the same challenge. Unvaccinated susceptible specific pathogen-free birds challenged at the same time stopped laying almost completely. In the birds revaccinated with emulsion vaccine, measurement of haemagglutination inhibition antibody levels to IB showed their geometric mean titres to be raised from less than 5 log2 at the time of vaccination to over 10 log2 four weeks later. Their antibody levels did not rise further followining the IB challenge whereas in the birds that had not been revaccinated antibody rises to nearly 10 log2 were detected after the same challenge. For pullets vaccinated earlier with live IB vaccine, revaccination with inactivated IB or IB/ND oil emulsion vaccine at point-of-lay provides a safe and effective way of protecting their egg production against IB infection.     

Chemical restraint of peccaries with tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine or tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol

Objective To evaluate the use of a combination of tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine (TZX) in collared and white‐lipped peccaries and to compare its efficacy as an anesthetic technique with that of tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol (TZB). Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Seven white‐lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) (four females and three males) and four collared peccaries (Tayasu tajacu) (two males and two females). Methods Animal immobilization was attempted with TZX and TZB (IM) on two different occasions. Heart and respiratory rates (HR, RR), rectal temperature (RT), sedation, muscle relaxation, posture, auditory response and analgesia were evaluated every 15 minutes during immobilization. Induction, anesthesia, standing and walking time were determined after drug administration. Results Doses for white‐lipped peccaries were 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 (mean ± SD) of TZ and 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 of X, and 1.46 ± 0.09 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.14 ± 0.008 mg kg^?1 of B; doses for collared peccaries were 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of X and 1.68 ± 0.02 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.17 ± 0.002 mg kg^?1 of B. In white‐lipped peccaries, both drug combinations provided a smooth induction and good immobilization for more than an hour. Anesthesia and standing times were significantly longer in animals given TZB, whereas walking time was significantly longer in animals given TZX. A significant decrease in HR was observed with both treatments. Respiratory rate decreased significantly with TZX, but the rate remained higher than with TZB. Induction and recovery quality in white‐lipped peccaries was better with TZB than with TZX. Neither protocol provided adequate immobilization in collared peccaries. Conclusion and clinical relevance At the doses described, TZB is effective in providing a long period of immobilization, whereas TZX is adequate for short to medium immobilization in white‐lipped peccaries. Neither drug combination was effective in collared peccaries at the doses given.     

Effects of postoperative rehabilitation on limb function after cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of early postoperative rehabilitation on limb function in dogs after surgery for ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL). DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 51 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs weighing between 20 and 40 kg (44 to 88 lb) that had RCCL and medial meniscal injury were studied. After removal of the RCCL and complete medial meniscectomy, the stifle joint was stabilized by use of a lateral retinacular stabilization technique. Twenty-five dogs were included in a postoperative rehabilitation group, and 26 dogs were included in an exercise-restricted group. Limb function (peak vertical force [PVF] and vertical impulse [VI]) was determined before surgery and 6 months after surgery, using force platform gait analysis. RESULTS: Prior to surgery, mean PVF and VI in affected limbs were similar between groups. Six months after surgery, PVF and VI were significantly increased in dogs of both groups. However, PVF and VI in dogs in the rehabilitation group were significantly greater than those of dogs in the exercise-restricted group. At this time, differences in limb function (as measured by PVF and VI) between the repaired and normal limbs were not evident in dogs in the rehabilitation group. Conversely, limb function in the repaired limb of dogs in the exercise-restricted group was still significantly less than that of the normal limb. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dogs that have surgery for RCCL and a torn medial meniscus benefit from postoperative rehabilitation; rehabilitation should be considered part of the postoperative management of these patients.     

Trends in overweight by socio-economic status in Vietnam: 1992 to 2002

OBJECTIVE: To explore socio-economic factors associated with rising rates of overweight among Vietnamese adults. DESIGN: The study was based on three national surveys of socio-economic factors and health conducted over a 10-year period. The studies were: the Vietnamese Living Standard Survey 1992-1993 (11 982 participants); the Vietnamese Living Standard Survey 1997-1998 (15 975 participants); and the Vietnamese National Health Survey 2001-2002 (94 656 participants). SUBJECTS: Male and female adults >18 years old were stratified by gender, age group, area of residence, occupation, education and relative food expenditures. Overweight was defined using body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg m(-2). RESULTS: Overweight rates in Vietnam more than doubled between 1992 and 2002 (from 2.0 to 5.7%). Significant increases were observed for men and women, in urban and rural areas, and for all age groups. In univariate analyses, both age and higher socio-economic status were associated with higher rates of overweight. Using the most recent survey, urban populations were more likely to be overweight than rural ones (odds ratio (OR) = 1.79), white-collar workers were more likely to be overweight than manual labourers (OR = 1.95) and persons in the top level of food expenditures were more likely to be overweight than persons in the bottom level (OR = 4.96) after adjustment for other factors. Education was inversely associated with overweight after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSION: Economic growth and improved standard of living are associated with higher rates of overweight in nations in early stages of economic development. In Vietnam, higher rates of overweight were observed among the higher income and occupation groups.     

Use of a spectrum model and satellite cloud data in the simulation of wheat stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) dispersal across the Tasman Sea in 1980

Long distance dispersal of plant pathogens has been simulated using different approaches. Models to predict dispersal of airborne spores often use simplified methods to estimate solar radiation in order to estimate mortality of spores. We incorporated a spectrum model into a Lagrangian approach to simulate dispersal of wheat stripe rust from Australia to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea. To estimate cloud cover conditions, satellite data were also used in our study. The combination of a spectrum model and satellite cloud data made it easy to identify sites at which viable spores were deposited. In our study, 0.6% of deposition near New Zealand followed exposure to UV radiation less than our mortality threshold (0.9 MJ m⁻²). Model spores of wheat stripe rust arrived at sites within 40 km from Otama, New Zealand, where wheat stripe rust was first reported in November 1980. It appeared that the uredospores were transported under an overcast cloud condition, which would increase the chance of successful infection on host crops. Further studies on the relationship between solar UV radiation and mortality of pathogen uredospores would facilitate the use of the spectrum model and satellite data to predict dispersal of airborne spores.     

Deposition of aerially applied tebufenozide (RH5992) on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and its control of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.])

A field trial was conducted in 1994 to determine the foliar deposit of tebufenozide (RH5992), applied aerially, and its efficacy against spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.). A commercial 240 g litre^-1 formulation of the insecticide (Mimic 240LV) was mixed with water, dyed with a tracer dye (Rhodamine WT) and sprayed with a light fixed-wing aircraft. Six application strategies were tested. Five used 70 g AI ha^-1 in a spray volume of 1 or 2 litre^-1 ha^-1 with single or double applications; the sixth was an unsprayed control. Results show that the spectra of the spray applications were, with one exception, fairly uniform. Volume and number median diameters ranged from 100 to 130 μm and 27 to 72 μm, respectively. Mean number of drops cm^-2 on Kromekote cards were <2·0 for strategies where either 1 or 2 litre ha^-1 were sprayed. Nevertheless no one strategy produced droplet densities that were significantly different (P<0·05) from the other strategies. Tebufenozide recovered from foliage averaged 2·5 to 5·9 μg g foliage^-1 when 1 litre ha^-1 was sprayed and 5·8 to 6·8 μg g foliage^-1 after 2 litre ha^-1 were sprayed. When a single application was the strategy used, the mean number of droplets cm^-2 and μg tebufenozide g foliage^-1 ranged from 1·2 to 1·4 and 2·5 to 5·9, respectively. With double applications, the same response parameters ranged from 0·3 to 1·9 and 2·5 to 6·8, respectively. Budworm population reductions (%) and the number of larvae that survived tebufenozide treatments were significantly different (P<0·05) from the controls. After strategies that used 1 litre spray ha^-1, mean percentage population reductions ranged from 61·4 to 93·6 whereas populations were reduced by 85·6 to 98·3% when 2 litre ha^-1 were sprayed. After double applications the mean percentage population reductions ranged from 93·6 to 98·3, but single application strategies resulted in mean reductions of 61 to 86%. Mean population reductions in the controls were 61%. The mean number of larvae per branch that survived spray strategies of 1 litre ha^-1 ranged from 1·3 to 7·4, and from 0·4 to 1·3 when 2 litre ha^-1 was the spray volume. In the controls an average of 10·2 larvae survived. With one exception, mean percentage defoliation in the treated areas was also significantly less (P<0·05) than that in the control. Mean defoliation in trees sprayed at 1 litre spray ha^-1 ranged from 40 to 62·8% whereas those treated at 2 litre ha^-1 had mean defoliation levels from 31·5 to 62·8%. In contrast, average defoliation in the controls was 92·1%. When a single application was the spray strategy, mean defoliation ranged from 31·5 to 62·8%. These data imply that a double application of tebufenozide at 70 g in 2 litre ha^-1 was the most efficacious strategy. However, analyses of the data also show that the primary influence on deposits and defoliation was interactions between number of applications and spray. Nevertheless the two independent variables acted without significant interactions when influencing percentage reductions of spruce budworm populations. © 1998 SCI     

Evidence that active transmission of porcine cysticercosis occurs in Venezuela

There is a paucity of quantitative data on the status of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuela, information which is essential for understanding the level of disease transmission. This study was, therefore, conducted in a typical small rural community in Yaracuy State, Venezuela, where previous cases of human Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis had been reported and where the free-ranging pig management practices and the lack of rudimentary sanitary facilities indicated an obvious risk for transmission of the disease. Serum samples from 52 village pigs were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anti-cysticercal antibodies (Ab-ELISA), using T. solium cyst fluid as the antigen and the HP10, monoclonal antibody-based, antigen trapping ELISA for parasite antigen (HP10 Ag-ELISA). Significantly, a high proportion of the animals (65.4% for the Ab-ELISA and 42.3% for the HP10 Ag-ELISA) were sero-positive. Five of the pigs, which were selected on that basis of positive tongue palpation, were killed for autopsy, and large numbers of viable cysticerci were found in the carcases. This unequivocal documentation of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuelan pigs presents clear evidence that T. solium is actively transmitted in Venezuela. Further detailed studies and implementation of appropriate control measures are therefore indicated.