Effects of barley yellow dwarf virus on some varieties of Italian, hybrid and perennial ryegrasses and their implication for grass breeders

With the exception of chlorotic streaks in a few plants, a severe strain of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmitted by Rhopalosiplum padi caused no obvious foliar symptoms in 54 varieties of ryegrass when they were defoliated monthly. When defoliation ceased and yellow or red discoloration of the leaf tips was allowed to develop, it was a poor indicator of the seventy of disease effect on yield. Thus, some varieties which developed marked discoloration were less severely damaged than some with little or none While BYDV induced yield significant in some varieties of ryegrass, it increased it significantly in others. In some varieties these BYDV-induced yield increases occurred throughout the year, but in others they occurred in 1 month and were offset by a yield decrease in another. BYDV infection caused a greater yield reduction in roots than in shoots. Even varieties giving increased shoot yield gave decreased root yield. The possible disadvantages of the resulting increase in shoot to root ratio are discussed. It is concluded that breeding ryegrass for BYDV-induced yield increases may be easier and more rewarding than breeding for resistance or tolerance.     

Ventricular septal defects in three familially-related female Saanen goats

SUMMARY Ventricular septal defects were diagnosed in 3 familially-related Saanen goats, a 4-year-old doe and 2 female kids aged 18 weeks, by clinical examination, electrocardiography, phonocardiography and thoracic radiography. Findings were contrasted with those from 3 clinically normal goats. Cardiac catheterisation was attempted on the 2 affected kids before euthanasia. Blood pressure tracings and selective contrast cardioangiography successfully demonstrated the defect in one case, but the other died shortly after anaesthetic induction. The adult goat, suspected paternal grand-dam of the affected twins, died without premonitory signs at 4.5 years of age. Necropsy confirmed the diagnosis in all 3 cases.     

Observations on blood coagulation after snakebite in dogs and cats

Blood samples from 13 cases of snakebite, 6 in dogs and 7 in cats, were tested for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Four cases were tested for fibrinogen concentration. Based on the results of a commercially available ELISA test, 9 cases were caused by tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and 1 case by a brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). Three other cases had clinical signs and increased creatine phosphokinase values which suggested tiger snake envenomation. Although the period post-envenomation varied, results indicated a marked prolongation of the APTT and PT in 5 of 6 dogs. Three of these 5 dogs also had increased FDP values and 3 (of 3 examined) were hypofibrinogenaemic. Clinical manifestations of this coagulopathy were: haematoma formation after venepuncture (3 cases), gingival petechiae (1 case) and hyphaema (1 case). In contrast, there was minimal or no prolongation of the APTT and PT values, and no increase in FDP, in all 7 cats. Furthermore, no cat exhibited clinical signs of a coagulopathy.     

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF FELINE LEUKOCYTES RADIOLABELED IN WHOLE BLOOD WITH 99MTC STANNOUS COLLOID

Technetium-99m stannous colloid (^99mTcSnC) has been used to radiolabel human leukocytes to investigate various inflammatory disorders. We investigated the in vitro behavior of feline leukocytes labeled in whole blood with ^99mTcSnC. Heparinized blood samples were collected from healthy cats and divided into control and test aliquots. The latter were labeled with ^99mTcSnC using a standard procedure. Leukocyte viability was determined for each sample using a trypan blue exclusion test. Labeling efficiency was determined for test aliquots. Test aliquots were layered onto Histopaque-1077^® and centrifuged before measurement of radioactivity of the blood components. Leukocytes from radiolabeled and control samples were washed and incubated with opsonized zymosan particles to allow assessment of phagocytic function. Aliquots were taken from radiolabeled feline leukocyte samples at 1, 3, 4, and 7 h postlabelling. After centrifugation of each aliquot, radioactivity of the supernatant and pellet was measured and the labeling retention determined. Leukocyte viability in both radiolabeled and control samples was >98%. The labeling efficiency was 95.2±0.14%. The distribution of radioactivity in feline blood was found to be 3.4±0.18% in plasma, 39.0±0.37% in erythrocytes, and 57.6±0.38% in leukocytes. Labeled feline leukocytes had phagocytic activity of 90.9±0.18% (control 91.3±0.15%). The radiolabeled leukocytes retained 93.4±0.19% of the radioactivity up to 7 h postlabeling. ^99mTcSnC efficiently labeled feline leukocytes with no effect on viability and minimal effect on phagocytic function. The percentage retention of radioactivity by the leukocytes was still high at 7 h postlabeling.     

Ameliorative Effects of Melatonin against Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics and Subsequent In Vitro Embryo Development

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo and in vitro, indicating that melatonin is a potent function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on sperm characteristics (motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and mitochondria activity) and also to examine the developmental rates to the blastocysts stage of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro with semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ). The sperm were treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at 37°C and then analysed for the sperm characteristics. The porcine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) using semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ) for 6 h. The semen characteristics, including motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, were higher in the groups that were treated with melatonin in comparison to other groups, irrespective of incubation periods. Malondialdehyde levels in control, melatonin and melatonin + H₂O₂ groups were lower than H₂O₂ only group. A positive correlation was shown among motility, viability, survival rate and membrane integrity, but a negative correlation was observed between LPO and the other evaluation methods. The developmental rates to blastocysts of IVM/IVF porcine oocytes fertilized by semen treated with melatonin were significantly increased compared with any other groups, with the cell number of blastocysts shown to have a similar trend to the developmental rates. These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the semen characteristics during in vitro storage and support the developmental ability of IVM/IVF embryos in pigs.     

Prevalence and risk factors for medical events following exercise at Australian Greyhound race meetings

Aim

A prospective, observational study to determine the prevalence of post‐exercise conditions at Australian Greyhound race meetings and to assess association with race performance and other environmental, race‐ and dog‐related factors was undertaken.

Methods

A total of 4020 starters were observed (2813 Greyhounds, 1009 trainers, 536 races, 52 race meets, 48 race dates and 11 race tracks) following a race. The presence of diaphragmatic flutter (DF), ataxia, seizure, collapse or sudden death was recorded. Risk factors were screened by univariable logistic regression prior to multivariable backward stepwise model building.

Results

In this study, 962 starters (n = 768 dogs) had DF (23.9%), 16 starters were ataxic (0.4%) and there were no observed cases of collapse, seizure or sudden death. Race track location, increasing race distance, race grade based on increasing 1st place prize value, lower (earlier) race number at the meeting, age, a previous observation of DF at the last start, females, colour (white) and better finishing position were all associated with an increased risk of a Greyhound being observed with DF. However, when logistic regression assessing the random effect of dog was performed, the presence of previous DF was not significant. In this cohort, DF was common following strenuous exercise in Greyhounds and on its own does not appear to result in reduced performance or distress to the animal.

Conclusion

The incidence of ataxia was low and collapse, seizure and sudden death were not observed. However, even though uncommon, ataxia has welfare concerns for racing Greyhounds that warrants further investigation.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—NECROTIZING MENINGOMYELITIS AND POLYARTHRITIS

A vaccinated 2-year-old female neutered Weimaraner had bilateral pelvic limb ataxia that progressed over 12 h. The dog became nonambulatory, with signs of pain on palpation of the lumbar spine. The dog also developed multiple joint effusions. On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, there was a diffuse, asymmetric T2-hyperintensity in the thoracolumbar spinal cord which was characterized by contrast enhancement. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis had an elevated white blood cell count and protein. On the basis of MR images and CSF analysis, a presumptive diagnosis of diffuse myelitis was made. The dog became paraplegic and was euthanized. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of myelitis with vasculitis and nonerosive polyarthritis.     

Effect of desmopressin on plasma factor VIII and von Willebrand factor concentrations in Greyhounds

Objective To determine the effect of 1-Deamino-8-D-argi-nine vasopressin on plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII in Greyhound blood donors, and to compare the response of 1-Deamino-8-D-arginine vaso-pressin injection on plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor between groups with different resting plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor.
Animals Fifteen Greyhound blood donors were used. Dogs were grouped into three categories depending on their von Willebrand factor concentrations.
Procedure Desmopressin was administered subcuta-neously at 1 mg/kg to all dogs. Plasma von Willebrand factor and factor VIII concentrations were measured before and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after desmopressin injection.
Results The von Willebrand factor and factor VIII concentrations in all dogs increased significantly and remained higher than base-line throughout the 2 h period.
Conclusion Desmopressin is useful in increasing von Willebrand factor concentrations in Greyhound blood donors, including those with low resting concentrations.