Effect of the Medium Replacement Interval on the Viability,Growth and In Vitro Maturation of Isolated Caprine and Ovine Pre‐Antral Follicles

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different medium replacement intervals on the viability, antral cavity formation, growth and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes from caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. Pre‐antral ovarian follicles (≥150 μm) were isolated from the ovarian cortex of goats and sheep and were individually cultured for 24 days using two different medium replacement intervals [2 days (T₁) or 6 days (T₂)]. Follicle development was evaluated on the basis of antral cavity formation, increases in follicular diameter and the presence of healthy cumulus oocyte complexes and fully grown oocytes. For caprine species, results showed a higher percentage (p < 0.05) of viable follicles in T₁ than T₂ from day 6 until the end of the culture. In addition, when comparing both treatments after the same culture duration, the rate of antrum formation was significantly higher in T₁ than in T₂ from day 12 onwards. Yet, in ovines, when both treatments were compared on day 24 of the culture, there were more viable follicles in T₂ than in T₁ (p < 0.05). In the caprine species, percentages of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) acceptable for IVM after 24 days of culture were significantly higher in normal follicles cultured in T₁ (30.0%) than in T₂ (6.7%; p < 0.05). On the other hand, in ovines, at the end of the culture, the percentage of oocytes destined for IVM was higher in T₂ than in T₁ (23.5% vs 2.9%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, under the same conditions, the frequency of medium replacement significantly affected the in vitro development of caprine and ovine pre‐antral follicles. To improve the efficiency of the culture system, the medium must be replaced every 2 and 6 days for goat and sheep pre‐antral follicles, respectively.     

Anovulvar cleft and vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia in a bitch

This report presents the case of a nine-month-old bitch with incomplete occlusion of the skin and mucosa between the anus and dorsal commissure of the vulva. This anomaly, known as anovulvar cleft, was associated with a vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia. Anovulvar cleft is a rare condition in bitches and is caused by incomplete closure of the dorsal urogenital folds. Anovulvar cleft can lead to clitoritis, abrasion, dryness and devitalisation of the smooth exposed mucosa. Surgery can correct the condition. In the present study, surgical resection of the hyperplasic vaginal tissue associated with perineoplasty using an inverted V-shaped incision showed excellent results. An ovariohysterectomy was also performed to prevent recurrence of the vaginal prolapse-hyperplasia.     

氟苯尼考与三甲氧苄啶配伍应用对鸡大肠杆菌病的临床疗效试验

为了测定氟苯尼考与三甲氧苄啶（TMP）联合应用对临床鸡大肠杆菌病的疗效，以临床上对本地区大肠杆菌病有部分疗效的药物为对照组，分感染对照组、恩诺沙星组、氟苯尼考组和氟苯尼考与TMP配伍应用组。经对比治疗，验证氟苯尼考与TMP配伍应用组临床疗效较好，配伍比例为5：1，药物浓度为50μg／mL，即每毫升的药液浓度含氟苯尼考42μg，TMP为8μg。     

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen S Gene is an Effective Carrier Molecule for Developing GnRH DNA Immunocastration Vaccine in Mice

Relatively molecular mass of GnRH antigens is small and hence needs to couple to a large carrier molecule to enhance its immunogenicity. This study investigated whether hepatitis B surface antigen S (HBsAg‐S) gene can be used as an effective carrier molecule for developing GnRH DNA immunocastration vaccine. Two copies of human GnRH gene were fused with HBsAg‐S gene for constructing a recombinant plasmid pVAX‐HBsAg‐S‐2GnRH that coded for 27 kDa target fusion protein. Ten male mice were divided into two equal groups, treatment and control. The vaccine (50 μg/mice) prepared in saline solution was injected into male mice at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the experiment. Vaccine's efficacy was evaluated in terms of GnRH‐specific IgG antibody response, plasma testosterone levels, testicular weight and extent of the testicular tissue damage. The specific anti‐GnRH antibody titre in vaccinated animals was significantly higher than in controls in only 4th week of immunization (p < 0.05). In addition, vaccinated animals showed lower testicular weight than those of the controls (p < 0.05). Spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in vaccinated animals was suppressed. In conclusion, in this study, the engineered plasmid to be used as a GnRH DNA vaccine induced antibody response and suppressed spermatogenesis in mice. This suggests that HBsAg‐S gene can be an effective carrier molecule for developing GnRH DNA immunocastration vaccine when relatively molecular mass of the aimed antigens is small.     

Intraabdominal torsion of a neoplastic testicle and prostatic cyst in a cryptorchid dog

The present report describes a case of a nine-year old male bilaterally cryptorchid boxer presented with testicular torsion and concurrent prostatic cyst. Clinical signs included anorexia, locomotor difficulty and apathy. Abdominal palpation revealed the presence of a hard and painful mass in caudal abdomen. Ultrasonographic findings were compatible with testicular torsion and prostatic cyst, confirmed at surgery. Bilateral orchiectomy and omentalisation were performed. Histopathological examination of the torsed testicle revealed alterations consistent with seminoma.     

鸭传染性浆膜炎的防治措施

鸭传染性浆膜炎是侵害雏鸭的一种慢性或急性败血性传染病，病原体为鸭疫里默氏杆菌，已经为危害养鸭业的主要传染病。采取免疫接种、鸭舍消毒、治疗等，控制鸭传染性浆膜炎的发生。     

The effects of anesthesia with a combination of intramuscular xylazine-diazepam-ketamine on heart rate, respiratory rate and cloacal temperature in roosters

ObjectiveTo examine the anesthetic effects of a xylazine-diazepam-ketamine (XDK) combination in roosters.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsSix healthy white Leghorn roosters weighing 2.03 ± 0.08 kg.MethodsEach rooster was pre-medicated with xylazine (3 mg kg⁻¹, IM) and after 15 minutes anesthesia was induced with a diazepam (4 mg kg⁻¹) and ketamine (25 mg kg⁻¹) combination injected into the pectoral muscles. Heart and respiratory rates were recorded before anesthesia and every 15 minutes after induction for 165 minutes. Cloacal temperature was measured before and 15 minutes after pre-medication and every 75 minutes thereafter during anesthesia. Quality of induction and recovery were scored subjectively; duration of loss of righting reflex, abolition of response to a painful stimulus and palpebral reflex were also recorded.ResultsIntramuscular injection of xylazine smoothly induced loss of the righting reflex within 3–4 minutes. Loss of response to a painful stimulus occurred at 13.1 ± 2.9 minutes (mean ± SD) after the administration of the D-K combination, and lasted for 63.0 ± 5.3 minutes. Roosters anesthetized with this combination had a significant decrease in heart and respiratory rates and cloacal temperature. The recovery period lasted for up to 4 hours (227.5 ± 15.4 minutes). Quality of recovery was satisfactory for four roosters but excitation was noted in two birds.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe XDK combination was a useful anesthetic technique for typhlectomy in roosters. Nevertheless this drug combination should be used with caution and cardiopulmonary parameters monitored carefully. Under the conditions of this experiment it was associated with a decreased cloacal temperature and prolonged recoveries.     

Fibrin–alginate hydrogel supports steroidogenesis,in vitro maturation of oocytes and parthenotes production from caprine preantral follicles cultured in group

This study aimed to establish a culture system that improves the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles. In a first experiment, follicles were encapsulated as a single unit per bead and cultured singly or in groups or with five follicles in the same alginate (ALG) bead for 18 days. In a subsequent experiment, the “five follicles per bead” design was chosen to culture in ALG, fibrin–alginate (FA) or hyaluronate (HA) for 18 days. In a third experiment, we chose the five follicles per bead in FA to culture for 30 days. The culture set‐up of five follicles per ALG bead increased antrum formation and follicle diameter compared to the other culture designs (p < .05). Moreover, under this condition, 44.44% of the oocytes from in vitro cultured preantral follicles reached meiotic resumption. A significant increase of follicle diameter occurred in attachment system and FA (p < .05), but the ALG condition reached the highest among all groups on day 18 (p < .05). Follicles encapsulated in matrix produced more estradiol and progesterone than attachment system (p < .05). The expression of MMP‐9 mRNA was higher in FA than in other groups (p < .05) and similar to antral follicles from in vivo control (p > .05). Only FA group resulted in oocytes matured. After 30 days, oocytes from preantral follicles in vitro grown in FA developed to eight‐cell parthenotes. In conclusion, a culture system using FA supported the development of caprine preantral follicles cultured in group and included in the same bead of hydrogel, improving the oocyte maturation and producing parthenotes.