In vitro susceptibility of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to organic acids and essential oil components

The antibacterial potential of organic acids and essential oil components against Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, the causative pathogen of swine dysentery, was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 15 compounds were determined at pH 7.2 and pH 6.0, using a broth microdilution assay. In addition, possible synergism was determined. MIC values for the three tested strains were similar. For organic acids, MIC values at pH 6.0 were lower than at pH 7.2. B. hyodysenteriae was most sensitive to cinnamaldehyde and lauric acid, with MIC values <1.5 mM. Most antibacterial effects of binary combinations were additive, however, for thymol and carvacrol, synergism could be observed. In vitro results demonstrate the antibacterial action of certain essential oil components and organic acids against B. hyodysenteriae.     

Association between weight change during initial chemotherapy and clinical outcome in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

The majority of the known prognostic factors in dogs with lymphoma have been evaluated before treatment commences or at the time of diagnosis. Prognostic factors evaluated during the initial phase of treatment are less described but may provide important clinical information. In this retrospective study, 82 canine lymphoma patients were categorized according to the weight change between diagnosis and after 5 weeks of chemotherapy. Dogs that gained greater than 5% or lost greater than 5% of initial body weight were categorized as increased‐ or decreased‐weight groups, respectively. Those in which weight changed less than 5% were categorized as the maintained‐weight group. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) in the increased‐weight group, maintained‐weight group and decreased‐weight group was 226, 256 and 129 days, respectively. The decreased‐weight group had significantly shorter PFS than the increased and maintained groups (P = .023, P = .003, respectively). The median survival time (ST) in the increased‐weight group, maintained‐weight group and decreased‐weight group was 320, 339 and 222 days, respectively. There was no significant difference in ST among the three groups (P = .128). In Cox‐regression results, weight change group and initial body weight were significant risk factors associated to PFS (P = .007, P = .001, respectively) while only patient's initial body weight was a significant risk factor to ST (P = .013). In conclusion, evaluation of initial body weight and weight changes over time can provide valuable information regarding PFS and ST in dogs with multicentric lymphoma.     

Nanosize of zinc oxide and the effects on zinc digestibility,growth performances,immune response and serum parameters of weanling piglets

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of nanosize zinc on zinc digestibility, growth performances, immune response and serum parameters of weanling piglets. Ninety‐six LYD weanling piglets were assigned to control, zinc oxide (ZnO), organic‐Zn (Zn‐methionine) and nanosize ZnO (nano‐Zn) groups with four replicates. The zinc was at the 120 mg/kg level in the treatment group's diet, while the control group's was 80 mg/kg Zn. The experiment results indicated that the nano‐Zn and organic‐Zn groups had significantly higher Zn digestibility compared to the ZnO and control groups. For the immune response traits, the IgG level and goat red blood cells (GRBC) antibody titer were nano‐Zn and organic‐Zn>ZnO>control; in the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) challenge test result, nano‐Zn>organic‐Zn>ZnO>control; in regard to the γ‐globulin level, nano‐Zn and organic‐Zn>ZnO and control, with significant difference between groups. In the serum parameters aspect, serum Zn concentration in nano‐Zn and organic‐Zn groups were higher than in the ZnO and control groups, serum growth hormone concentration was increased in the nano‐Zn group than in the other groups. In conclusion, nanosize zinc oxide for dietary supplementation can increase zinc digestibility, serum growth hormone levels and carbonic anhydrase activity and enhance the immune response of weanling piglets.     

First report of Thrips setosus in Belgium

The Japanese flower thrips, Thrips setosus, is a polyphagous insect which in Europe has mainly been observed on hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.). The first report of T. setosus in the EPPO region was in the Netherlands (2014). Since then it has been observed in four other countries inside the EPPO region: Germany (2015), the United Kingdom (2016), France (2016) and Croatia (2016). Its dispersal is most likely to be related to trade. Because of its polyphagous nature, there is a risk of spread to other economically important crops. Therefore, T. setosus was included in the national survey project ‘STATREGO’, during which the status of several invasive plant pests and diseases in Belgium was determined.     

Effects of chromium nicotinate on performance, carcase characteristics and blood chemistry of growing turkeys

1. The objective of this trial was to study the effects of chromium nicotinate (Cr) supplementation on the performance, carcase characteristics and blood constituents of 9 to 22 week-old male turkeys. 2. Fifty-four 8-week-old male turkeys weighing 2.9 +/- 0.28 kg were allocated at random into 9 groups with 3 dietary treatments and 3 replicates. The dietary treatment was different dietary concentrations of chromium in the basal diet, to provide 0 (control), 1 or 3 mg/kg. The feeding trial lasted for 14 weeks. 3. Results showed that 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly improved weight gain and food intake at 9 to 18 weeks of age but did not significantly influence performance at 19 to 22 week of age. The breast and thigh muscle were significantly increased in birds receiving 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation but were decreased by 3 mg/kg of supplementation. 4. Dietary chromium supplementation did not significantly influence other serum constituents, including insulin, HDL, VLDL+LDL, HDL-C, VLDL-C+LDL-C, total protein, albumin, and gamma-globulin at 18 and 22 weeks of age. 5. The serum triacylglycerol (TG) and uric acid contents were significantly increased, while glycerol and alpha-globulin were significantly reduced by 3 mg/kg chromium supplementation. However, 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly reduced serum cholesterol and glycerol at 18-weeks old. At 22 weeks of age, 1 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly increased serum glucose and decreased the uric acid concentration whereas 3 mg/kg chromium supplementation significantly increased the creatinine concentration and decreased beta-globulin concentration.     

Is breakfast consumption related to mental distress and academic performance in adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between mental distress, academic performance and regular breakfast consumption across gender and immigration status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. Two four-page questionnaires were filled in during two school sessions. SETTING: All junior high schools in Oslo, Norway using the classroom as the setting for the study. SUBJECTS: All 10th grade students 15-16 years olds in 2000 and 2001. Of 8316 eligible students, 7343 (88.3%) participated in the study. RESULTS: All immigrant groups, except the Western countries group, are skipping breakfast more often than Norwegian students, and girls more often than boys (27 versus 19%). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for being mentally distressed when eating breakfast seldom/never compared with every day was 3.0 (2.0-4.5) for boys, 1.6 (1.2-2.1) for girls and 1.6 (1.5-2.6) for the immigrant group. The comparable OR for having low school grades was similar for boys and girls, 2.0 (1.3-3.0), and 1.6 (1.5-2.6) for the immigrant groups. CONCLUSIONS: Skipping breakfast is a common feature among 10th grade students. The implications of skipping breakfast on mental distress and academic performance are stronger for boys than girls and stronger for Norwegians compared with immigrants.     

Unilateral shunt formation with thoracic aortic dissection in a whippet

A three‐year‐old neutered male whippet was presented with intermittent, exercise‐induced paraparesis. Femoral pulses were bilaterally absent. Neurologic examination was suggestive of a thoracolumbar myelopathy. Blood pressure measurements revealed hypotension in both pelvic limbs, hypertension in the right thoracic limb and it was immeasurable in the left thoracic limb. Echocardiography was within reference limits. A clear vascular pulsation was palpable on the right ventral abdominal wall. Computed tomographic angiography revealed a dissection of the aortic wall between the left subclavian artery and the brachiocephalic trunk with subsequent thrombus formation. A shunt between the right internal thoracic, cranial and caudal epigastric arteries to preserve blood flow to the pelvic limbs was visualized. Necropsy was declined by the owner. This is the first case report describing the formation of a unilateral vascular shunt following a thoracic aortic occlusion, which presented as exercise‐induced paraparesis .     

Computed Tomography Atlas of the Normal Cranial Canine Abdominal Vasculature Enhanced by Dual‐phase Angiography

This study was performed to provide a detailed atlas of the normal arterial and venous canine vasculature in the cranial abdomen by dual‐phase computed tomographic angiography. Five adult beagles were positioned in dorsal recumbency on a multislice helical CT scanner. An unenhanced survey CT scan from the diaphragm to the pelvic inlet was performed. Bolus‐tracking software was used for the dual‐phase angiogram, and contrast medium was administered in a cephalic vein. The arterial phase was scanned from the mid‐abdomen to the cranial aspect of the diaphragm; the portal phase was scanned a few seconds after the arterial phase in the opposite direction. The DICOM studies from all dogs were analysed. Representative images were selected and anatomic structures labelled. Maximum intensity projections and three‐dimensional images were generated using software techniques. A detailed atlas of the venous and arterial vasculature of the cranial canine abdomen was created with the help of bolus‐tracking dual‐phase computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Practitioners can use this anatomic atlas with its detailed venous and arterial phase CT angiograms of the canine cranial abdomen to compare normal versus abnormal vascular anatomy.     

Sedative and antinociceptive effects of dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine after oral transmucosal or intramuscular administration in cats

ObjectiveTo compare sedation and antinociception after oral transmucosal (OTM) and intramuscular (IM) administration of a dexmedetomidine-buprenorphine combination in healthy adult cats.Study designRandomized, ‘blinded’ crossover study, with 1 month washout between treatments.AnimalsSix healthy neutered female cats, weighing 5.3–7.5 kg.MethodsA combination of dexmedetomidine (40 μg kg^?1) and buprenorphine (20 μg kg^?1) was administered by either the OTM (buccal cavity) or IM (quadriceps muscle) route. Sedation was measured using a numerical rating scale, at baseline and at various time points until 6 hours after treatment. At the same time points, analgesia was scored using a dynamic and interactive visual analogue scale, based on the response to an ear pinch, and by the cat’s response to a mechanical stimulus exerted by a pressure rate onset device. Physiological and adverse effects were recorded, and oral pH measured. Signed rank tests were performed, with significance set at p < 0.05. Data are presented as median and range.ResultsThere were no differences in sedation or antinociception scores between OTM and IM dosing at any of the time points. Nociceptive thresholds increased after both treatments but without significant difference between groups. Buccal pH remained between 8 and 8.5. Salivation was noted after OTM administration (n = 2) and vomiting after both OTM (n = 4), and IM (n = 3) dosing.Conclusions and clinical relevanceIn healthy adult cats, OTM administration of dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine resulted in comparable levels of sedation and antinociception to IM dosing. The OTM administration may offer an alternative route to administer this sedative-analgesic combination in cats.     

Influence of thyroidectomy on reproductive responses of male domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

1. The influence of age at thyroidectomy on reproductive activity of male turkeys was investigated. 2. Thyroidectomy of 53-week-old male domestic turkeys that had been reproductively active for 25 weeks resulted in undetectable plasma thyroxine concentrations, termination of semen production and testicular regression. Daily light-dark treatment was 14L:10D before and after thyroidectomy. 3. Thyroidectomy of 28-week-old, reproductively inactive, males maintained on a daily light-dark cycle of 8L:16D resulted in increased semen volumes following photostimulation with 14L:10D at 32 weeks of age. Semen quality was not affected, while plasma thyroid hormone concentrations were undetectable. The moult and termination of semen production that occurred in response to changing the daily light-dark cycle from 14L:10D to 8L:16D near the end of the study were inhibited by thyroidectomy. 4. The requirement for the thyroid glands in the reproductive processes of male turkeys changes either with age or after an extended period of reproductive activity.