bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological, histological and histochemical studies of the pituitary glands of ovine freemartins
Authors: Smith K. C. , Parkinson T. J. , Long S. E. , Pearson G. R. , Sylvester L
Published: October 2010

Freemartins are XX/XY chimaeras that develop as a result of the fusion of the placental circulation of at least one male and one female fetus. The pituitary glands of eight normal ewes at various stages of the oestrous cycle and three rams were compared with those of two male‐type and three undifferentiated‐type freemartins. The pituitaries were heaviest in the male‐type freemartins, and their pattern of gonadotrophs, assessed by differential staining, was more intense than in the normal males. The pituitaries of the undifferentiated‐type freemartins weighed less than those of the normal ewes but had more stained gonadotrophs than the normal ewes or rams. In both types of freemartins the pattern of cells resembled that of a castrated male.
Abortion epidemic in a dairy herd associated with horizontally transmittedNeospora caninuminfection
Authors: Crawshaw W. M. , Brocklehurst S.
Published: October 2010

A dairy herd experienced an abortion epidemic during which 43 per cent of the cows at risk aborted.Neospora caninuminfection was demonstrated in four of six fetuses suitable for examination and the group of at‐risk cows that aborted had significantly higherN caninumantibody concentrations than the at‐risk cows that delivered a live calf at term (P<0·001). The antibody concentrations in the cow herd were significantly higher than in the youngstock (P<0·001), and the concentrations in the youngstock increased significantly (P<0·001) with age. When seven months to a year old, the calves born at term to the at‐risk cows had significantly higher (P=0·007) antibody concentrations than age‐matched calves born before the epidemic. At the time of the epidemic, there was a significant increase in the antibody levels of the herd that was not consistent with vertical infection alone, indicating that there appeared to have been a sudden large increase in the incidence of horizontal postnatal transmission ofN caninumto the cow herd, or to the surviving offspring of the at‐risk cows, or to both of these groups.
Characterisation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains involved in respiratory disease in pheasants and peafowl
Authors: Benčina D. , Mrzel I. , Zorman Rojs O. , Bidovec A. , Dovč A.
Published: October 2010

Two cases of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in different avian species in backyard gamebird operations in Slovenia were investigated. In the first case, M gallisepticum was associated with severe respiratory disease with almost 20 per cent mortality in pheasants, whereas the infection was less pathogenic for chickens and turkeys reared at the same site. The M gallisepticum isolates from pheasants had a unique pMGA gene sequence containing a repeat of 12 nucleotides, and they contained only small amounts of the cytadhesins MGC1 and MGC3 and no PvpA protein. However, they expressed some typical M gallisepticum proteins and several proteins which were immunogenic for pheasants, chickens and turkeys. A strain of M gallisepticum isolated from the sinus of a pheasant was highly pathogenic for chicken embryos. In the second case, the M gallisepticum strain that was associated with respiratory disease and mortality in peafowl also affected chickens. M gallisepticum strain ULB 992 was isolated from the infraorbital sinus of a dead peafowl. The ULB 992 strain synthesised a small amount of MGC3, a truncated form of MGC1 and lacked PvpA. However, it expressed several proteins which were immunogenic for the birds infected with M gallisepticum at both gamebird operations.
Efficacy of selamectin against biting lice on dogs and cats
Authors: Shanks D. J. , Gautier P. , McTier T. L. , Evans N. A. , Pengo G. , Rowan T. G.
Published: October 2010

The efficacy of selamectin was evaluated against naturally acquired Trichodectes canis infestations on dogs and against Felicola subrostratus infestations on cats. Twenty dogs and 18 cats were randomly allocated to treatment with either a placebo or selamectin (6 mg/kg), administered topically once only on day 0. The treatment had no adverse effects in either the dogs or the cats. Efficacy was assessed by counting the live lice (adults and nymphs) on each animal by using a coat.parting technique on days ‐3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 for the dogs, and on days ‐1, 7,21, 35 and 42 for the cats. On day 43, the number of live lice on each dog was also assessed by using a whole.body combing technique. Selamectin was 100 per cent effective in killing biting lice on the dogs and cats throughout the period of assessment; the louse counts on the treated dogs and cats were significantly lower than the pretreatment counts (P=0.0001) and were also significantly lower than on the placebo.treated dogs (P≤0.05) and cats (P=0.0001). There was a marked reduction in the prevalence of clinical signs associated with ectoparasite infestation in the treated dogs and no clinical signs were observed in any of the treated cats.
Seroepidemiological survey ofBordetella bronchisepticaand canine parainfluenza‐2 virus in dogs in Sweden
Authors: Englund L. , Jacobs A. A. C. , Klingeborn B. , Chriél M.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of antibodies againstBordetella bronchisepticaand canine parainfluenza‐2 virus (CPiV‐2) was investigated in a population of 302 pet dogs in Sweden. Sera were analysed forB bronchiseptica‐specific immunoglobulin G by means of an ELISA, and for CPiV‐2 specific neutralising antibody by means of a haemagglutination inhibition test.B bronchisepticahad a seroprevalence of 22 per cent and CPiV‐2 had a seroprevalence of 28 per cent. The two pathogens did not appear to circulate together. The crowding of dogs together was significantly associated with the seroprevalence of CPiV‐2, but not with the seroprevalence ofB bronchiseptica. The dogs' ages, gender or their Federation Cynologique Internationale breed group affiliation was not correlated with the seroprevalence of either pathogen.
Abattoir‐based survey of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in cattle in Turkey
Authors: Çetinkaya B. , Öngör H. , Karahan M. , Kalender H. , Lorenzon S. , Thiaucourt F.
Published: October 2010

Blood samples collected from 945 cattle at four local abattoirs in Turkey were examined for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) by the complement fixation test (cFT) and competitive ELISA (cELISA). In addition, the carcases of the animals were examined macroscopically at the abattoirs and 62 lung samples which had lesions suggestive of CBPP were collected for bacteriological culture. To identify suspicious isolates the PCR was used in addition to the routine biochemical tests. By the cFT, two of the 945 serum samples were seropositive, and by the cELISA, four of them were seropositive. In the bacteriological culture of the lungs, growth was observed in 18 (29 per cent) of the samples by the observation of turbidity in the broths. However, when these broths were inoculated into an agar base, growth was observed in only three (4‐8 per cent) samples. These isolates were identified as Mycoplasma species on the basis of biochemical tests. In the PCR analysis of DNA extraded from the broths, none of the isolates was identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony or one of the members of the M mycoides cluster, but amplification was obtained in only eight (44‐4 per cent) of 18 samples, using Mycoplasma ‐genus specific primers. These DNA samples were examined further with primers specific to 16S rRNA and were then sequenced and compared with the databanks; DNA homologies at different levels were observed in five samples, with Mycoplasma alkalescens, Mycoplasma canadense, Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium.
Effects of atropine, scopolamine and xylazine on the placement of an orally administered magnet in cows
Authors: Braun U. , Gansohr B. , Flückiger M.
Published: October 2010

This study was carried out to determine whether the administration of atropine, scopolamine or xylazine to cows before the administration of a magnet orally would help to position it in the reticulum. The transit time of the magnet through the oesophagus was also measured. Sixty Swiss Braunvieh cows were examined by radiography and ultrasonography to locate the reticulum. They were then divided into six groups of 10. Before the administration of the magnet, a control group received 4 ml saline solution subcutaneously, one group received 0.10 mg/kg of atropine subcutaneously, a second received 0.05 mg/kg of atropine intravenously, a third received 0.15 mg/kg of scopolamine intravenously, a fourth group received 0.02 mg/kg of xylazine intravenously, and the cows in the fifth group were positioned so that their forelimbs were 30 cm lower than their hindlimbs during the administration of the magnet. The passage of the magnet through the oesophagus was timed with a stopwatch and monitored with a compass. In the control group the magnet passed through in less than 60 seconds, but in four of the cows receiving either atropine or xylazine intravenously, or having their forelimbs positioned lower than their hindlimbs, it took longer than 60 seconds. In the cows receiving atropine subcutaneously or scopolamine intravenously, it took the same time as in the control group. All the cows were radiographed one‐and‐a‐half hours after the administration of the magnet to determine its location. In seven of the 10 cows in the control group, the magnet was located in the reticulum, but in the other three it was in the cranial dorsal blind sac of the rumen. In the other five groups the magnet was located in the reticulum of between four and seven of the 10 cows, but in the cranial dorsal sac of the rumen, the rumen or in other sites in the other cows.
Origin of maternally transferred antibodies against rabies in foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
Authors: Vos A. , Schaarschmidt U. , Muluneh A. , Müller T.
Published: October 2010

During previous experiments, maternal antibodies against rabies were detected in the sera of fox cubs whelped by orally immunised vixens. These antibodies appear to be transferred exclusively via the colostrum. No evidence of maternally transferred immunity in the form of immunoglobulin G was found in 80 fox embryos collected from 19 rabies‐immune vixens originating from areas where oral rabies vaccine baits had been distributed.
Clinical and pathological observations in English cocker spaniels with primary metabolic vitamin E deficiency and retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy
Authors: McLellan G. J. , Cappello R. , Mayhew I. G. , Elks R. , Lybaert P. , Watté C. , Bedford P. G. C.
Published: October 2010

Fifteen English cocker spaniels with confirmed vitamin E deficiency were examined physically, ophthalmologically and neurologically. Eleven of them had clinical signs of neurological dysfunction which included ataxia, proprioceptive deficits, abnormal spinal reflexes and muscle weakness. In the two dogs examined histopathologically there was central neuronal fibre degeneration with prominent neuroaxonal dystrophy, particularly within the sensory relay nuclei of the brainstem, and one of the dogs had severe intestinal lipofuscinosis.
Four‐year study of lameness in piglets at a research station
Authors: Zoric M. , Stern S. , Lundeheim N. , Wallgren P.
Published: October 2010

Lameness in piglets up to nine weeks old was studied in a research station herd for four years; 9411 piglets were born alive, of which 9.8 per cent were treated for lameness. In litters born to gilts, 9.9 per cent of the piglets were treated for lameness, in litters born to sows of parity 3, 11.4 per cent of the piglets were treated, but in litters born to sows of parity 4 to 7 the proportion of piglets treated for lameness decreased to about 8 per cent. Around 75 per cent of all cases were observed in piglets less than three weeks old; the incidence risk of lameness decreased from 2.7 per cent during the first week of life to 0.3 per cent after weaning. The average weight of affected piglets was reduced by approximately 8 per cent at nine weeks of age. There was no overall association between lameness and sex or birth weight within sex. The mortality among lame gilts was higher at all ages than among healthy gilts, but among barrows a higher mortality was observed only during the late suckling period. Litters with 12 or more piglets had a higher incidence of lameness. Clinical signs of disease in the sow and whether the piglets were given an intramuscular injection of 200 mg of iron on their second, third or fourth day of life had no effect on the incidence of lameness.
Survey of the views of graduates (1993 to 1997) on the undergraduate veterinary clinical curriculum in the British Isles
Authors: Fitzpatrick J. L. , Mellor D. J.
Published: October 2010

In 1998 a questionnaire was sent to graduates from all the veterinary schools in Great Britain and Ireland who had obtained their veterinary degree within the previous five years, to assess their opinions of the undergraduate clinical veterinary curriculum. Ninety‐five per cent of the graduates who responded were working full time in veterinary practice, with small animal work occupying 90 per cent of them for a median of 70 per cent of their time. Their assessment of the curriculum suggested that they were generally satisfied, but that there were some subjects they considered important in which the teaching and extramural studies had failed to provide adequate learning opportunities. Twelve subjects were rated as ‘very important’, two subjects, small animal medicine and anaesthesia, were considered to be ‘very well’ taught, and extramural studies were considered to be ‘very useful’ for three subjects, small animal surgery, cattle medicine and cattle surgery. The survey provided evidence that graduates are keen to continue learning and specialise after they graduate.
Correlation of urinary nitric oxide concentrations with the development of hip dysplasia in labrador retrievers
Authors: Morich K. , Ohlerth S. , Reist M. , Lang J. , Riitano M. , Schawalder P. , Spreng D.
Published: October 2010

Urinary nitric oxide was determined in terms of the ratio of the concentrations of total urinary nitrite and nitrate:creatinine in 40 juvenile labrador retrievers, and radiographic signs of hip dysplasia and distraction indices were investigated in the same dogs in later life. The ratio was correlated significantly with the Norberg angle and with subchondral sclerosis in both hips, and with the grade of dysplasia in each hip and the dogs' overall grade of hip dysplasia. No correlations were observed between the ratio and the distraction indices or other radiographic criteria for hip dysplasia.
Antibiotic susceptibilities of recent isolates ofMycopasma bovisin Belgium
Authors: Thomas A. , Nicolas C. , Dizier I. , Mainil J. , Linden A.
Published: October 2010

The susceptibilities of 40 recent Belgian field isolates ofMycoplasma bovisto 10 antimicrobial agents were assessed. Tiamulin was the most active antimicrobial agent againstM bovis, with an initial inhibitory concentration (IIC50) of 0‐06 μg/ml, but it is not licensed for the treatment of cattle. All three fluoroquinolones tested (danofloxacin, enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin) were effective against strains ofM bovis, and had a minimum mycoplasmacidal concentration (MMC50) less than or equal to 1 μg/mI. Gentamicin was poorly effective, having an IIC50 of 8 μg/mI. Many strains ofM boviswere resistant to tylosin, spectinomycin, lincomycin, tetracycline and oxytetracycline.
Salmonella serotypes present on a sample of Irish pig farms
Authors: Rowe T. A. , Leonard F. C. , Kelly G. , Lynch P. B. , Egan J. , Quirke A. M. , Quinn P. J.
Published: October 2010

A survey of the prevalence of Salmonella species infection was conducted on 59 Irish farrow‐to‐finish pig herds. Faecal samples were collected from the pens of first‐stage weaners (growing pigs approximately three to 10 weeks of age), second‐stage weaners (approximately 10 to 17 weeks of age) and fatteners, and from the dry sow and farrowing sow houses. The prevalence of infection was estimated to within 5 per cent with a 95 per cent confidence interval. Thirty of the 59 herds were infected, 12 with Salmonella Typhimurium only, eight with Salmonella Derby only and seven with both S Typhimurium and S Derby; serotypes London, Livingstone and Infantis were each isolated from a single herd. Farms in Ireland are assigned to one of three infection categories on the basis of the antibody levels in samples of meat juice taken at slaughter. When a herd was classified as either positive or negative on the basis of the isolation of Salmonella from at least one faecal sample there was no association between the herd's category as determined by meat juice serology and the probability of the isolation of Salmonella from the faecal samples. However, there were differences in prevalence between pigs at different stages of production in herds of different categories. Farrowing sow houses in moderately infected (category 2) herds had significantly lower infection rates (P≤0.05) than other herd categories and other stages of production. Pigs from first‐stage weaner pens in slightly infected (category 1) herds were more likely to be infected with Salmonella than pigs at any other stage of production or category of herd.
Diagnosis and treatment of retropharyngeal injuries in lambs associated with the administration of intraruminal boluses
Authors: Macrae A. I. , Barnes D. F. , Hunter H. A. A. , Sargison N. D. , Scott P. R. , Blissitt K. J. , Booth T. M. , Pirie R. S.
Published: October 2010

The administration of intraruminal identification boluses to a group of 76 lambs resulted in 24 (32 per cent) showing signs of pharyngeal damage. In 16 of them the bolus was found to be in the retropharyngeal region by means of a hand‐held microchip scanner, radiography and endoscopy. Purulent tracts were identified in the dorsal pharynx. In 13 of the 16 lambs the surgical removal of the bolus under general anaesthesia was followed by a normal clinical recovery, although the lambs did not grow as well as similar unaffected animals; three of the 24 lambs died. The administration of a larger bolus to 10 yearling rams did not result in any clinical signs of pharyngeal damage. The most important factors influencing the occurrence of this type of injury among this group of lambs were the size and age of the lambs, the positioning of the lambs during bolus administration, the relative size of the dosing gun and bolus, and the large number of animals in the group.
Study of the clinical effects of postoperative parenteral nutrition in 15 horses
Authors: Durham A. E. , Phillips T. J. , Walmsley J. P. , Newton J. R.
Published: October 2010

Several clinical variables were compared in two groups of 15 horses recovering from resection and anastomosis of a strangulated small intestine; 15 were treated with parenteral nutrition and 15 were starved routinely. There was some evidence that parenteral nutrition had a short‐lived adverse effect on both the catheter sites and gastric emptying, but there were no marked adverse clinical effects and no evidence of any improvement in the horses' condition.
Detection of canine distemper virus antigen in canine serum and its application to diagnosis
Authors: Soma T. , Ishii H. , Hara M. , Ohe K. , Hagimori I. , Ishikawa Y. , Taneno A.
Published: October 2010

Canine distemper virus (CDV) antigen was detected in the serum of dogs by an ELISA and the results of this assay were compared with an anti‐CDV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody test. In paired sera from 26 naturally infected dogs, the antigen‐positive rate was 26.9 per cent at the first examination and 11.5 per cent at the second examination two to three weeks later. The antigen was detected in three of the 10 dogs which were negative for anti‐CDV IgM antibody at the first examination. It could also be detected in the serum of between eight and two of 40 specific pathogen‐free dogs vaccinated against CDV, for up to four weeks after they were vaccinated.
Study of factors that may predispose domestic cats to road traffic accidents: part 1
Authors: Rochlitz I.
Published: October 2010

Between March 2000 and February 2001, six veterinary practices in Cambridgeshire collected data on 117 owned cats which they had examined after a road accident. For one week every month during the same year, the practices distributed questionnaires to the owners of cats which had been examined for reasons other than a road accident, and the data from these cats were checked to ensure that they were representative of the practice records, which were compared with a survey of the owned cat population for age and sex. From this population, the cats that were allowed outdoors and had never been in a road accident were chosen as controls, and compared with the cats that had been in a road accident for age, sex, pedigree status and coat colour. The cats that had been in a road accident differed from the control population with respect to age, sex and pedigree status; for every one‐year increase in age, the odds of a road accident decreased by 16 per cent; the odds for males (entire and neutered) being in a road accident were 1.9 times the odds for females (entire and neutered), and the odds for pedigree cats were 0.29 those for non‐pedigree cats.
Ultrasonographic monitoring of 103 recipient mares of different reproductive status during the first 30 days after embryo transfers
Authors: Taveiros A. W. , Oliveira M. A. L. , Lima P. F. , Tenório Filho F. , Bartolomeu C. C. , Santos M. H. B. , Oliveira L. R. S. , Iunes‐Souza T. C. , Freitas J. C. C.
Published: October 2010

Ten pluriparous mares were used as donors to supply embryos which were transferred into 103 recipients, 31 of which were nulliparous, 34 were pluriparous and lactating, and 38 were pluriparous and non‐lactating. The embryos were recovered eight days after ovulation and pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound six days after the transfer; the length of the embryos was measured ultrasonographically on days 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 and 30 after the embryo transfer. One hundred and fifteen of 200 flushes provided embryos, 12 being degenerate and 103 being viable embryos. From the 103 embryo transfers carried out, 51 pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasound within 30 days; 16 of the 31 nulliparous recipients became pregnant, 16 of the 34 pluriparous lactating recipients and 19 of the 38 pluriparous non‐lactating recipients. There were no significant differences between the groups of mares in the mean (sd) rate of growth of their embryos between 12 and 30 days of gestation.
Evaluation of tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin and streptomycin for decontaminating koala semen contaminated in vitro with chlamydiae
Authors: Bodetti T. J. , Hengstberger K. , Johnston S. , Timms P.
Published: October 2010

Semen from seven koalas was extended in a tris‐citrate glucose diluent containing one of four antibiotics at different concentrations and then contaminated with a standard concentration of chlamydiae. These semen preparations were then tested for residual chlamydial viability by an in vitro cell culture assay, and any detrimental effect of the antibiotics on the motility and viability of the sperm was assessed. Penicillin at 25 iu/ml or more, erythromycin at 1000 μg/mI or more and tetracycline at 200 μg/mI or more were highly effective at rendering the chlamydiae non‐viable, but streptomycin showed no antichlamydial activity. There was a significant reduction of the motility of spermatozoa extended in diluents containing erythromycin (P<0.05), but spermatozoa incubated with tetracycline up to concentrations of 200 μg/mI were not affected.
Serological study of a population of alpine chamois (Rupkapra rrupkapra ) affected by an outbreak of respiratory disease
Authors: Citterio C. V. , Luzzago C. , Sala M. , Sironi G. , Gatti P. , Gaffuri A. , Lanfranchi P.
Published: October 2010

A serological survey of respiratory virus infections was carried out from 1998 to 2001 in Lecco province, Italy, as part of a health monitoring programme in a population of alpine chamois, many of which died of pneumonia in autumn and winter 2000 to 2001; 194 carcases of all age classes were found over a short period and in a small area. Eighteen of them, which were examined postmortem, consistently showed signs of severe fibrinous lobar pneumonia or catarrhal bronchopneumonia. Samples of serum from 145 chamois collected from hunted animals and carcases were tested by a virus neutralisation test against bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRsv), bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine herpesvirus type 1 and parainfluenzavirus type 3. Positive results were detected only for BRSV. The area was divided into two subunits on the basis of the distribution of deaths; in the areas where fatalities were observed there was a significant increase of BRSV titres at the beginning of the outbreal. Furthermore, during the 2000 and 2001 hunting seasons antibody titres to BRSV were significantly higher in the areas where mortality occurred. The roe deer living in the same area were not affected by pneumonia and had a low prevalence of titres to BRSV which did not vary during the period of the study.
Use of mycobacterial peptides and recombinant proteins for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in skin test‐positive cattle
Authors: Buddle B. M. , McCarthy A. R. , Ryan T. J. , Pollock J. M. , Vordermeier H. M. , Hewinson R. G. , Andersen P. , de Lisle G. W.
Published: October 2010

More accurate tests are required to test cattle which have reacted positively in the tuberculin skin test. For this purpose, a range of mycobacterial antigens, MPB59, MPB64, MPB70, MPB83, ESAT‐6 and CFP10, were used either as recombinant proteins or as synthetic peptides in the whole blood interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) test. Groups of uninfected cattle with typical ‘non‐specificity’ problems were targeted, in particular animals with skin tuberculosis, animals vaccinated against Johne's disease and animals that were positive in the standard purified protein derivative (PPD)‐based IFN‐γ test. The two study groups consisted of 74 Mycobacterium bovis ‐culture positive animals and 72 uninfected animals, all of which tested positive in the caudal fold tuberculin skin test eight to 28 days before the blood test. The use of combinations of ESAT‐6 and CFP10 antigens, either as recombinant proteins or peptides, detected similar percentages of M bovis ‐infected animals as the PPD‐based IFN‐γ test, but produced significantly fewer false positive reactions. The PPD‐based IFN‐γ test was very effective in differentiating animals vaccinated against Johne's disease that were skin‐test positive from those with bovine tuberculosis, and the use of PPD or specific mycobacterial antigens minimised the number of false positive reactions in animals with skin tuberculosis.
Juvenile laryngeal paralysis in three Siberian husky x Alaskan malamute puppies
Authors: Polizopoulou Z. S. , Koutinas A. F. , Papadopoulos G. C. , Saridomichelakis M. N.
Published: October 2010

Three three‐month‐old Siberian husky x Alaskan malamute crossbreds had suffered episodic inspiratory dyspnoea and stridor for four to eight weeks and their endurance had decreased. In two of them bilateral, and in the other unilateral, laryngeal paralysis was diagnosed by laryngoscopy. In the nucleus ambiguus of the dogs there was a depletion of motor neurons, neuronal degeneration and mild gliosis, but there were no lesions in the root and peripheral segments of the recurrent laryngeal nerves.
Clinical and radiographic study of bone and joint lesions in 26 dogs with leishmaniasis
Authors: Agut A. , Corzo N. , Murciano J. , Laredo F. G. , Soler M.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐six dogs with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis and abnormalities of gait were studied to determine the most common radiological patterns of bone and joint lesions. The clinical findings included either lameness, joint pain and crepitation, soft tissue swelling and/or muscle atrophy. Bone lesions were observed radiographically in 12 of the 26 dogs; the radius and ulna were affected in seven, the tibia in six and the femur in six. Joint lesions were observed radiographically in 15 of the 26 dogs; the carpus and stifle were affected in all 15, and the tarsus in nine. There was a tendency for the bones and joints to be affected bilaterally. The radiographic patterns observed were different in the long bones and the joints. In the long bones, the most common pattern was periosteal and intramedullary proliferation, involving the diaphyses and related to the nutrient foramen; in the joints, two patterns, either non‐erosive or erosive polyarthritis with soft‐tissue swelling, were observed. The changes observed in the synovial fluid were associated in most cases with osteolytic lesions. However, Leishmania organisms were identified in the synovial fluid from joints without bony radiographic changes.
Unusual manifestation of hepatic encephalopathy in two Irish wolfhound siblings
Authors: Herden C. , Beineke A. , Hetzel U. , Lemmer W. , Baumgärtner W.
Published: October 2010

In hepatic encephalopathy the brain lesions are usually charaderised by polymicrocavitation, preferentially in the white matter, and the occurrence of Alzheimer type 11 cells. This paper describes an unusual manifestation of hepatic encephalopathy in two Irish wolfhound siblings in which the white matter was not involved predominantly. Both puppies had developed progressive neurological disturbances and signs of blindness. Histologically, there were widespread spongiform changes in the neuropil and fibre bundles interspersed within the grey matter, and there were some neuronal vacuoles. In both animals, the regions of the brain mainly affected were the nucleus caudatus, amygdala, cerebellar nuclei, mesencephalon, thalamus, hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. An astrogliosis characterised by Alzheimer type Il‐like cells was also observed. Electron microscopy revealed a splitting of the myelin sheath. No infectious agents such as rabies virus, canine distemper virus or prion proteins were detected. The main findings in the portal regions of the liver consisted of a dilatation of the lymphatic vessels and increased numbers of small arteries, indicating that a portosystemic shunt was the probable cause of the spongiform brain lesions.
Identification of a novel bluetongue virus vector species of Culicoides in Sicily
Authors: Caracappa S. , Torina A. , Guercio A. , Vitale F. , Calabrò A. , Purpari G. , Ferrantelli V. , Vitale M. , Mellor P. S.
Published: October 2010

The vectors of bluetongue virus are certain species of Culicoides biting midges, and in the Mediterranean area Culicoides imicola has long been considered to be the only field vector. In Sicily an entomological and serological surveillance programme has been in operation since the autumn of 2000, which has shown that the prevalence and abundance of C imicola is lower than in many other Italian regions. Moreover, in 2002, there were outbreaks of bluetongue in the absence of C imicola, and in these regions bluetongue viral RNA was detected by means of a nested reverse‐transcriptase PCR in wild‐caught, non‐blood‐engorged, parous Culicoides pulicaris. Furthermore, bluetongue virus serotype 2 was isolated on five occasions from extracts of non‐blood‐engorged parous C pulicaris by using embryonated hens eggs and BHK‐21 cells as assay systems. These findings suggest that in parts of Italy and possibly in other areas of Europe, where C imicola is absent or rare, C pulicaris may act as a fully competent vector of bluetongue virus.
Congenital anorectal abnormalities in six dogs
Authors: Prassinos N. N. , Papazoglou L. G. , Adamama‐Moraitou K. K. , Galatos A. D. , Gouletsou P. , Rallis T. S.
Published: October 2010

Congenital anorectal abnormalities were diagnosed in three male and three female dogs. One dog had anal stenosis, three had a persistent anal membrane, and the other two had an imperforate anus associated with a rectovaginal fistula. Five of the dogs were treated surgically, and four of them which were followed up for periods ranging from one to five years continued to pass faeces normally.
Hereditary aspects of occipital bone hypoplasia and syringomyelia (Chiari type I malformation) in cavalier King Charles spaniels
Authors: Rusbridge C. , Knowler S. P.
Published: October 2010

A database of over 1300 cavalier King Charles spaniels spanning 20 generations was established by obtaining pedigree information from 45 dogs with syringomyelia secondary to occipital bone hypoplasia. These data were supplemented with published information from the breed club. The incidence of syringomyelia was very high in certain families and lines which had been extensively inbred. The affected dogs could be traced back to one bitch born in 1956 and the two offspring from her single lifter. Four key dogs representing four major breeding lines consistently occurred within the individual pedigrees. If a dog had more than five of its eight great‐grandparents descended from these four lines there was a greater chance of it having syringomyelia. The data from this preliminary study suggest that occipital bone hypoplasia is hereditary in the cavalier King Charles spaniel and that its inheritance is more likely to be autosomal recessive because both dam and sire must be inbred descendants from certain lines. However, the inheritance is more likely to be of variable penetrance or oligogenic than simple.
Procedures for preventing the transmission of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus to pigs and sheep by personnel in contact with infected pigs
Authors: Amass S. F. , Pacheco J. M. , Mason P. W. , Schneider J. L. , Alvarez R. M. , Clark L. K. , Ragland D.
Published: October 2010

The most effective method of containing an outbreak of foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is by the culling of livestock. However, qualified people must diagnose the disease before the culling can begin, and they must avoid susceptible animals after having been in contact with infected premises, to prevent them from transmitting the virus. To test the effectiveness of biosecurity procedures in preventing the transmission of FMD virus (O/UK/35/2001) investigators contacted and sampled pigs inoculated with FMD virus for approximately 45 minutes and then contacted and sampled sentinel pigs and sheep after either using no biosecurity procedures, or washing their hands and donning clean outerwear, or showering and donning clean outerwear. The virus was detected in the nasal secretions of one investigator immediately after the postmortem investigation of the inoculated pigs but was not detected in samples collected between approximately 12 and 84 hours later. After the contaminated personnel had showered and changed into clean outerwear they did not transmit the strain of FMD virus to susceptible pigs and sheep.
Prevalence ofLeptospiraspecies among farmed and domestic animals in Greece
Authors: Burriel A. R. , Dalley C. , Woodward M. J.
Published: October 2010

A total of 1527 serum samples from pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and dogs in Greece were examined by the microscopic agglutination test and 11.8 per cent of them had antibodies against one or more Leptospira serovars at titres of 1/100 or more. The predominant serovar affecting farm animal species was Bratislava, and Copenhageni was common among dogs and the second most important serovar when all animals were considered together. Another prevalent serovar was Australis, but antibodies to Pomona were detected only in goats and cattle.
Comparison of the efficacy of three commercial bacterins in preventing canine leptospirosis
Authors: André‐Fontaine G. , Branger C. , Gray A. W. , Klaasen H. L. B. M.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐four specific pathogen‐free beagles were randomly allocated into four groups (three vaccinated groups and one control group) and inoculated at nine and 12 weeks of age with one of three commercial inactivatedLeptospiravaccines: A (Vanguard 7; Pfizer Santé Animale), B (Dohyvac 7L; Fort Dodge), and C (Nobivac DHPPi + Lepto; Intervet Intemational); the control group received Nobivac DHPPi (Intervet International). Seven weeks after the second vaccination all the dogs were challenged withLeptospira interrogansserogroup canicola. All the vaccinated dogs developed a mild serological response (microscopic agglutination titres) after the booster vaccination. A significant serological response after the challenge was observed, particularly in the controls. The challenge induced fever and clinical disorders in the control group, whereas in the vaccinated groups the clinical signs were mild. Blood cultures became positive in all control dogs, and in one of six dogs vaccinated with vaccine A and two of four dogs vaccinated with vaccine B; none of the six dogs vaccinated with vaccine C was leptospiraemic at any stage of the experiment. Urine cultures were positive in all the control dogs two weeks after the challenge. One of six dogs vaccinated with vaccine A and two of four dogs vaccinated with vaccine B shed bacteria in their urine after the challenge, but none of the dogs vaccinated with vaccine C shed bacteria in their urine at any time during the experiment.
Isolation of a glycoprotein E‐deleted bovine herpesvirus type 1 strain in the field
Authors: Dispas M. , Schynts F. , Lemaire M. , Letellier C. , Vanopdenbosch E. , Thiry E. , Kerkhofs P.
Published: October 2010

During a field trial to evaluate the efficacy of repeated vaccinations with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV‐1) marker vaccines, a glycoprotein E (gE)‐negative BHV‐1 strain was isolated from the nasal secretions of two cows, eight months after vaccination with a gE‐negative live‐attenuated vaccine, initially given intranasally, then intramuscularly. The strain isolated was characterised using immunofluorescence, restriction analysis and CR. All the techniques used identified the isolated virus as a gE‐negative BHV‐1 phenotypically and genotypically identical to the Za strain used as a control.
Assessment of the clinical and virological protection provided by a commercial inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus genotype 1 vaccine against a BVDV genotype 2 challenge
Authors: Hamers C. , Couvreur B. , Dehan P. , Letellier C. , Fischer L. , Brun A. J. , Lewalle P. , Michaux C. , Pastoret P‐P. , Kerkhofs P.
Published: October 2010

A new genotype of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BvDv), designated BVDV‐2, has emerged in the last decade and in recent years the prevalence of BVDV‐2 strains has increased. A vaccination‐challenge study was carried out to determine the cross‐protective efficacy of a commercial inactivated vaccine containing a BVDV‐1 strain. A group of five BVDv‐free calves was vaccinated twice and a second group of five calves served as negative controls. Two months after the first vaccination, all the calves were challenged intranasally with BVDV‐2 strain BVD890. The clinical signs of disease, the changes in haematological variables and the level of viraemia were significantly less in the vaccinated group.
Upper Permian (Wordian) fusulinaceans from the Cache Creek Terrane, northern British Columbia
Authors: Rui Lin , Nassichuk W. W.
Published: October 2010

Fusulinaceans from the Horsefeed Formation, the youngest stratigraphic unit within the allochthonous Cache Creek Terrane southeast of Atlin, include abundant Colania columbiana (Dawson) and Schwagerina? atlinensis Ross, as well as rare representatives of Rauserella sp. and Reichelina? sp. They occur with 13 Upper Permian (Wordian) ammonoid species, including several species of Waagenoceras that are also known from Wordian strata in Mexico and Texas. Colania columbiana was first recorded from strata at Marble Canyon within the Cache Creek Terrane in southern British Columbia by G.M. Dawson in 1879. It was identified then as Loftusia, a non-fusulinacean agglutinated foraminifer, but in the last 60 years it has been assigned to a number of Permian fusulinacean genera, including Neoschwagerina Yabe, Yabeina Deprat, and Lepidolina Lee. Colania is quite distinct from all these genera in characteristics of the shell wall. All but one species of Colania around the world are confined to strata of Wordian or equivalent age; in China, Colania douvillei (Ozawa) extends upwards into strata slightly younger than Wordian, that is, early Capitanian age. A Wordian age appears certain for Colania columbiana from British Columbia, on the basis of evolutionary development and associated ammonoids.
On the origin of Early Proterozoic gneiss domes and metamorphic nodes, northern Michigan
Authors: Schneider David , Holm Daniel , Lux Daniel
Published: October 2010

Biotite 40αr/39αr cooling ages from medium-pressure (500–600 MPa) rocks in the Watersmeet district, northern Michigan, suggest significant cooling–uplift and concomitant deformation during gneiss dome formation at~1755 Ma, well after the close of the 1870–1830 Ma Penokean orogeny. However, an 1822 Ma hornblende plateau date indicates that the isograds surrounding the dome are Penokean in age. We attribute gneiss dome formation and doming of Penokean-aged isograds to an episode of orogenic collapse superimposed on an earlier history of crustal shortening. This contrasts with the compressional origin for gneiss domes preserved in the low-pressure (200–300 MPa) Republic district. The different origins may reflect the fact that collapse was localized along the overthickened region of the orogenic belt. In contrast to the Watersmeet area, hornblende and biotite 40Ar/39Ar ages obtained from the Republic area are 1720–1680 Ma. Given the relatively shallow depth of this region, it is unlikely that temperatures remained above 500 °C for over 100 Ma following collision. We interpret these ages to reflect a major thermal event that may have been responsible for formation of the Republic metamorphic node. This interpretation is supported by the recent identification of an ~1730 Ma pluton that is likely the cause of a large, near-surface, negative gravity anomaly coincident with the node, and by the fact that the metamorphic node crosscuts Penokean structures.
The Parry Sound domain: a far-travelled allochthon? New evidence from U–Pb zicon geochronology
Authors: Wodicka N. , Jamieson R. A. , Parrish R. R.
Published: October 2010

We report U–Pb zircon ages for metaplutonic and metasedimentary rocks from three lithotectonic assemblages within the Parry Sound allochthon of the Central Gneiss Belt, southwestern Grenville Orogen: the basal Parry Sound, interior Parry Sound, and Twelve Mile Bay assemblages. Magmatic crystallization ages for granitic to tonalitic gneisses from the basal Parry Sound assemblage fall in the range 1400–1330 Ma. Younger intrusions include the Parry Island anorthosite dated at 1163 ± 3 Ma and a crosscutting mafic dyke bracketed between 1151 and 1163 Ma. Dated at [Formula: see text] a tonalitic gneiss from the overlying interior Parry Sound assemblage is slightly younger than the older group of rocks from the basal Parry Sound assemblage. 207Pb/206Pb ages for zircons from a quartzite of the basal Parry Sound assemblage range from 1385 Ma to the Neoarchaean. An absolute maximum age for this quartzite is 1436 ± 17 Ma. In contrast, detrital zircons from a quartzite of the Twelve Mile Bay assemblage constrain the age of deposition at post-ca. 1140–1120 Ma. We speculate that Grenvillian-age zircons within this quartzite were derived from rocks in the Adirondack Highlands and Frontenac terrane, implying that part of the Parry Sound domain and these terranes were contiguous during deposition of the quartzite. Our data support previous interpretations that the Parry Sound domain is allochthonous with respect to its surroundings, and suggest that the most likely source region of the basal Parry Sound domain lies southeast of the Central Gneiss Belt, within the Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary thrust zone or the Adirondack Highlands. This implies the possibility of 100–300 km of displacement of the domain. Emplacement of the Parry Sound domain into its present position must have occurred relatively late in the orogen's history, by about 1080 Ma.
FOURTH-ORDER GRAVITY AS THE INFLATIONARY MODEL REVISITED
Authors: KANEDA SHO , KETOV SERGEI V. , WATANABE NATSUKI
Published: October 2010

We revisit the old (fourth-order or quadratically generated) gravity model of Starobinsky in four spacetime dimensions, and derive the (inflaton) scalar potential in the equivalent scalar–tensor gravity model. The inflaton scalar potential is used to compute the (CMB) observables of inflation, associated with curvature perturbations (namely, the scalar and tensor spectral indices, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio), including the new next-to-leading order terms with respect to the inverse number of e-foldings. The results are compared to the recent (WMAP5) experimental bounds. We confirm both mathematical and physical equivalence between f(R) gravity theories and the corresponding scalar–tensor gravity theories.
ANALYSING THE PERFORMANCE OF A RESOURCE RESERVATION PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION USING A GSPN METHOD
Authors: LAI RICHARD , TSANG TONY
Published: October 2010

Performance analysis derived from a formal specification of a multimedia protocol provides important information on the performance characteristics of a multimedia system before implementation; this information includes time-dependent functional behaviours, and statistical traffic characteristics. We have developed an extended Estelle, called Time-Estelle, suitable for specifying time-dependent performance characteristic of a multimedia system, and a method based on GSPN (Generalized Stochastic Petri Net) for analysing the performance of a protocol specified in Time-Estelle. This paper describes an application of this method to analyse the performance of an industrial multimedia protocol, the Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) specified in Time-Estelle; it also presents the performance analysis results which are expressed in terms of blocking probability, packet dropping probability, channel utilisation and packet delay, with variations in time intervals.
ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN ONLINE COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Authors: CABALLÉ SANTI , DARADOUMIS THANASIS , XHAFA FATOS , CONESA JORDI
Published: October 2010

This paper aims to explore two crucial aspects of collaborative work and learning: on the one hand, the importance of enabling collaborative learning applications to capture and structure the information generated by group activity and, on the other hand, to extract the relevant knowledge in order to provide learners and tutors with efficient awareness, feedback and support with regards to group performance and collaboration. To this end, in this paper we first propose a conceptual model for data analysis and management that identifies and classifies the many kinds of indicators that describe collaboration and learning into high-level aspects of collaboration. Then, we provide a computational platform that, at a first step, collects and classifies both the event information generated asynchronously from the users' actions and the labeled dialogues from the synchronous collaboration according to these indicators. This information is then analyzed in next steps to eventually extract and present to participants the relevant knowledge about the collaboration. The ultimate aim of this platform is to efficiently embed information and knowledge into collaborative learning applications. We eventually suggest a generalization of our approach to be used in diverse collaborative learning situations and domains.
ENGINEERING THE LIFE-CYCLE OF SEMANTIC SERVICES-ENHANCED LEARNING SYSTEMS
Authors: DODERO JUAN MANUEL , GHIGLIONE ERNIE , TORRES JORGE
Published: October 2010

Service-oriented learning environments are the new paradigm for interoperability of learning management systems. They support a wider range of needs by integrating existing and emergent services, leading to an entirely new architectural design for such systems. The engineering life-cycle of resources and services can be enhanced and integrated in current and future virtual learning environments. This work defines a services-enhanced learning architecture and describes two levels of integration carried out to author, deploy and enact learning services from open web-based interaction protocols and semantic web service descriptions.