Behavioral and physiological effects of freeze or hot-iron branding on crossbred cattle.

Twenty-seven crossbred calves (1/2 Simmental, 1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Brahman) averaging 257 +/- 11 d of age were either hot-iron-branded (H), freeze-branded (F), or sham-branded (S). Calves were blocked for temperament, weight, and sex and were randomly assigned to day and order in which treatments were applied. To reduce stress from handling at treatment time, each calf was herded through the squeeze chute daily for 5 d before the experiment. Jugular cannulas were inserted in each calf 1 d before application of treatment. Blood samples and heart rate measures were obtained at -5, -3, 0, .5, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after application of the treatments. Mean concentrations of plasma epinephrine (EPI) were higher for H calves at time .5 min than for either S or F calves (P = .10). To account for individual differences, prebranding heart rates and hormone concentrations were subtracted from subsequent samples and were also used to calculate a proportion for each subsequent sample. Analyses of subtracted values found that EPI concentrations were greater for H calves than for either S or F calves (P = .007) at .5 min postbranding. No other differences were found for the subtracted analyses. Analyses of proportion data also revealed that H calves had greater EPI than did either S or F calves (P = .027) at .5 min postbranding. Only three animals vocalized during branding, one H calf and two F calves. Despite the 5-d acclimation period, handling and restraint elevated plasma cortisol concentrations and heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Juvocimenes: potent juvenile hormone mimics from sweet basil

Two compounds with highly potent juvenile hormone activity were isolated and identified from the oil of sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L., Labiatae.     

Variation among stallions in sperm quality after single layer centrifugation

Although single layer centrifugation (SLC) selects robust spermatozoa from stallion semen, the effect of individual variation has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to determine the variation among stallions in the effects of SLC on sperm quality during cooled storage for up to 48 hr. Semen samples from seven stallions (18 ejaculates) were split, with one portion being used for SLC and the other serving as a control (CON). Sperm quality (kinematics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, membrane integrity (MI) and chromatin integrity) were analysed at 0, 24 and 48 hr using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry. Sperm quality was better in SLC than in CON at all timepoints, especially chromatin integrity and MI (p < .0001 for both), and some categories of ROS production (e.g. proportion of live hydrogen peroxide negative spermatozoa, p < .0001), but the degree of improvement varied among stallions and type of ROS (p < .05–p < .0001). Total and progressive motility were also better in SLC samples than in CON at 24 and 48 hr (p < .0001), although the effect on sperm kinematics varied. The interaction of treatment, time and stallion was not significant. In conclusion, sperm quality was better in SLC samples than in CON, although there was considerable individual variation among stallions. The improvement in sperm quality, particularly in chromatin integrity, was clearly beneficial, and therefore the use of this technique would be warranted for all stallion semen samples.     

AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs & cats

Pain management in dogs and cats has undergone a dramatic evolution in the past decade. Current approaches focus on anticipation and prevention of pain, as well as both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management techniques. The veterinary team plays an essential role in educating pet owners about recognizing and managing pain in their pets.     

Treatment of severe immune-mediated thrombocytopenia with human IV immunoglobulin in 5 dogs

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids with or without other immunotherapy are the initial treatment of choice for dogs with severe immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT). The majority of treated dogs will have improvements in platelet counts within 5 to 7 days of starting therapy, but complications from hemorrhage often occur before a response is seen. Human IV immunoglobulin (hIVIG) blocks Fc receptors on mononuclear phagocytic cells in dogs; it is used in people with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to describe adverse effects and benefit of hIVIG in addition to conventional immunosuppressive therapy in dogs with severe IMT. ANIMALS: Five client-owned dogs with severe primary IMT. METHODS: Case series. The hospital database was searched for dogs with primary IMT treated with hIVIG. RESULTS: No adverse effects were noted during or after hIVIG infusion in any treated dog. Over a 6-month follow-up, all dogs were clinically normal when using conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Human IVIG was administered 3 days after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy in 4 dogs, and, after 2 days, in 1 dog. In all dogs, the mean platelet counts pre- and 24 hours post-hIVIG infusion (0.28-0.76 g/kg) were 2,500/pL and 50,600/microL (62,750/microL for the 4 responders), respectively. One dog failed to respond as promptly to hIVIG (0.34 g/kg), and the platelet count increased to 66,000/microL after 9 days of immunosuppressive therapy. The mean duration of hospitalization post-hIVIG in all 5 dogs was 1.8 days (12 hours for responders), and the mean total length of hospitalization was 4.6 days (3.5 days for responders). Active hemorrhage resolved and no packed red blood cell transfusions were required after hIVIG infusion for responders. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Human IVIG was well tolerated and appeared to be associated with rapid platelet count recovery and amelioration of clinical signs in most dogs with IMT.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for the Recovery of Carotenoids from Guava’s Pulp and Waste Powders

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - In this work, lycopene- and β-carotene-rich extracts were obtained from guava’s pulp and waste powders using maceration (ME), ultrasonic bath (BUAE,...     

Some effects of oral doses of oxytetracycline on growth,survival and disease in Penaeus aztecus

Two size groups of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) were fed a formulated feed containing 0, 100, 1 000 or 5 000 mg of oxytetracycline/kg of feed. Growth and survival were measured after a 3-week drug consumption period. The shrimp were then inoculated with Vibrio alginolyticus, and survival was monitored during the following 24 h.At all three concentrations of oxytetracycline, small shrimp (mean initial wet weight 143.4 mg) consumed approximately one-third the amount of feed consumed by those fed the control diet with no oxytetracycline, yet growth was more rapid with diets containing 100 and 1 000 mg of oxytetracycline/kg of food than with the control diet. Larger shrimp (mean initial wet weight 458.1 mg) receiving oxytetracycline consumed about one-fourth the feed consumed by those on the oxytetracycline-free diet. Some growth inhibition was apparent in these shrimp at all oxytetracycline concentrations. Maximum drug consumption rate, based on actual feed intake, was approximately 1 300 mg oxytetracycline per kg body weight per day for small shrimp, but only 370 mg per kg body weight per day for larger shrimp.All shrimp fed 0, 100 or 1 000 mg of oxytetracycline/kg of feed died within 24 h following inoculation with a standard dose (70% light transmission at 520–540 nm) of Vibrio alginolyticus. All the small shrimp and 70% of the large shrimp fed at the 5 000-mg drug level died, but death generally took place later in the 24-h period than with those fed at the lower drug concentrations. All shrimp fed 5 000 mg oxytetracycline/kg of feed and inoculated with a 1 : 100 dilution of the standard dose of Vibrio alginolyticus survived. All small shrimp and 90% of the large shrimp survived injection of sterile saline.     

Starch characterization and ethanol production of sorghum

This study aimed to characterize and compare the chemical structures, physical properties, and enzymatic hydrolysis rates of five sorghum starches (6B73, 6C21, 6C69, 7R34, and X789) with that of corn starch (B73). Sorghum kernels consisted of 68.7-70.6% starch, more than the B73 corn (67.4%). Sorghum starches displayed higher gelatinization temperatures (66.6-67.4 °C), greater gelatinization enthalpy changes (13.0-14.0 J/g), and greater percentages of retrogradation (60.7-69.1%), but slower enzymatic hydrolysis rates (83.8-87.8% at 48 h) than the B73 corn starch (61.7 °C, 10.1 J/g, 51.5%, and 88.5%, respectively). These differences could result from the sorghum amylopectins consisting of fewer short branch chains (DP 6-12) (12.8-14.0%) than the corn amylopectin (15.0%). The sorghum starches showed greater peak and breakdown viscosities but lower setback viscosities than the B73 corn starch, resulting from the lower amylose content of the sorghum starches. After 96 h of fermentation, most ground sorghums exhibited lower ethanol yields (30.5-31.8%) than the ground B73 corn (31.8%).