bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congenital arthrogryposis: an inherited limb deformity in pedigree Suffolk lambs
Authors: Doherty M. L. , Kelly E. P. , Healy A. M. , Callanan J. J. , Skelly C. , Crosby T. F. , Boland M. P.
Published: October 2010

Thirty of 52 pedigree Suffolk lambs (58 per cent) were born with arthrogryposis characterised by bilateral flexion rigidity of the metacarpophalangeal and carpal joints. The recent introduction of a breeding ram was identified as the only significant risk factor in the flock, and embryo transfer was used to test the hypothesis that the arthrogryposis was an inherited disorder associated with the introduction of this ram. Two adult ewes that had previously produced lambs with arthrogryposis by the ram and four of its affected daughters were available as donors, and 20 crossbred ewes were used as recipients. Ten Suffolk‐crossed ewes that had no known familial relationship with the ram were also mated by the ram as controls and they produced 10 normal lambs. Following embryo transfer, 19 lambs were born, of which seven were stillborn; arthrogryposis was evident in 10 of the 12 live lambs. Analysis of the data suggested that in the population under study, arthrogryposis was inherited as an autosomal recessive condition.
Observations on the trajectory of the bullet in 15 horses euthanased by free bullet
Authors: Millar G. I. , Mills D. S.
Published: October 2010

The trajectories taken by the free bullets used to euthanase 15 horses were examined. The point of entry of the bullet relative to the recommended site was measured, together with the angle of the trajectory of the bullet relative to a tangent to its point of entry, the deviation of the trajectory from the midline of the brain, the structures of the brain that were damaged and the extent of this damage. Despite a reasonably consistent point of entry, there were wide variations in the damage inflicted, ranging from the total destruction of the hindbrain to injury to the cerebral cortex alone. extent of the bullet's lateral deviation from the midline appeared to be the most significant factor affecting the level of destruction to the hindbrain, suggesting that angular direction may be more important than precise surface location in effecting a satisfactory kill.
Therapeutic efficacy of water‐soluble lincomycin‐spectinomycin powder against porcine proliferative enteropathy in a European field study
Authors: McOrist S. , Muller Wager A. , Kratzer D. , Sjösten C‐G.
Published: October 2010

Controlled clinical trials to a standardised protocol were conducted into the effect of a water‐soluble antibiotic on proliferative enteropathy and its causative agent (Lawsonia intracellularis) on commercial pig farms at six sites in four European countries. Clinical signs of the disease and L intracellularis‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐positive pigs were detected in pens of six‐ to 12‐week‐old pigs (weighing 5 to 55 kg) immediately before each trial. Matched pens of randomised pigs were either left unmedicated (32 to 59 pigs per trial), or medicated orally with 10 mg/kg of a water‐soluble combination of lincomycin and spectinomycin powder (21 and 42 mg, respectively, of antibiotic activity per litre) for either seven days (33 to 61 pigs per trial), or 14 days (33 to 61 pigs per trial), delivered via the drinking water. Investigators did not know which pens received which treatment. In most of the affected pigs in each trial, diarrhoea due toL intracellularisresolved within three to seven days after the medication began, whereas most unmedicated pigs remained diarrhoeic for at least 10 days. On average the medicated pigs gained more weight than the unmedicated pigs over the 21‐day trial period (P=0.01). In two trials, the absence ofL intracellularisafter the treatment ended was confirmed by the PCR.
Evidence of Muscovy duck parvovirus in Muscovy ducklings in California
Authors: Woolcock P. R. , Jestin V. , Shivaprasad H. L. , Zwingelstein F. , Arnauld C. , McFarland M. D. , Pedersen J. C. , Senne D. A.
Published: October 2010

Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPv) has been demonstrated in tissue samples from one‐ to four‐week‐old commercially reared Muscovy ducks that were weak, unable to walk and had a high mortality rate. On postmortem examination, the thigh and leg muscles, and the myocardium were found to be pale, and there was a fibrinous exudate on the capsule of the liver, and ascites. The parvovirus was isolated in embryonated Muscovy duck eggs and visualised by negative stain electron microscopy, detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directly from the tissues, and antibodies to it were detected by immunoelectron microscopy, ELISA and immunofluorescence. In addition, the PCR products obtained that represented 1625 bp (74 per cent) of the capsid vPi gene, including a hypervariable region between Derzsy's disease virus or goose parvovirus and MDPV, were sequenced and shown to be 100 per cent homologous with the MDPV 89384 reference strain, but only 82‐3 per cent homologous with Derzsy's disease virus.
Transfer of chiortetracycline from contaminated feedingstuff to cows' milk
Authors: McEvoy J. D. G. , Higgins H. C. , Kennedy D. G. , Mayne C. S.
Published: October 2010

Three groups of four Friesian cows in mid‐lactation were fed a compound feedingstuff contaminated with 2, 10 or 300 mg chlortetracycline/kg for 21 days, and were then fed an uncontaminated diet for seven days. A fourth group of four cows was fed an uncontaminated diet throughout the study. Daily pooled milk samples from each cow were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a detection limit of 50 μg chlortetracycline/litre. Chlortetracycline was deteded in only two milk samples taken from one of the animals fed feed containing 300 mg chlortetracycline/kg; and both contained less than the maximum residue limit (MRL) specified by the European Union (100 μg/litre). All the milk samples were also analysed by the Delvotest sp microbiological assay, which has a detection limit of 300 μg chlortetracycline/litre. During the treatment period, this method gave four presumptive false‐positive results, because they were not confirmed by HPLC. Seleded daily pooled samples from each treatment group were also analysed by the semi‐quantitative Charm II radioreceptor assay with a detection limit of 10 μg chlortetracycline/litre. Immunoreactive chlortetracycline was detected only in the animals fed feed containing 300 mg chlortetracycline/kg and several of the results exceeded the EU MRL during the treatment period. No significant treatment effects on animal performance were observed. However, there was a trend towards a higher milk fat concentration (P<0.09) and a lower milk protein concentration (P<0.07) with increasing concentration of chlortetracycline in the diet.
Dermatomyositis in five Shetland sheepdogs in the United Kingdom
Authors: Ferguson E. A. , Cerundolo R. , Lloyd D. H. , Cappello R. , Rest J.
Published: October 2010

Five cases of dermatomyositis in four Shetland sheepdog puppies and one adult bitch are described. The dogs all had well‐defined patches of scaling, crusting and alopecia over the muzzle, periorbital skin and distal limbs, and the tail, perineum and pinnae were affected in some of them. The affected puppies were all sired by the same stud dog. The affected adult bitch was unrelated to the puppies. Three of the four dogs tested had high serum creatine kinase concentrations and electromyographic abnormalities were detected in three of the four dogs tested. The histological changes observed in the skin of four of the dogs strongly supported the diagnosis of dermatomyositis, and in the fifth dog they were compatible with this diagnosis. Two of the puppies were euthanased shortly after being diagnosed. In the other two puppies and the adult the disease remains stable and non‐progressive 15 to 18 months after diagnosis. The sire of the four affected puppies has been used extensively because it was considered to be genetically clear of collie eye anomaly.
Sarcocystis infections in gazelles at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohammed O. B. , Davies A. J. , Daszak P. , Hussein H. S.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of Sarcocystis species in muscle samples from gazelles kept as breeding groups at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre, Saudi Arabia, was deterined by fibreoptic examination, pepsin digestion and histological techniques. No macroscopic sarcocysts were detected by fibreoptic examination, and the overall prevalence of Sarcocystis was 66.7 per cent by pepsin digestion, and 39.9 per cent by histological examination. By digestion, the tongue contained the highest density of bradyzoites in Gazella dorcas, and Gazella gazella erdangeri, the oesophagus in Gazella subgutturosa marica and skeletal muscle in Gazel/a gazella and Gazelha thomsoni. Skeletal muscle was least affected in G dorcas, the oesophagus in G gazella, and the diaphragm in G gerdangeri, G s marica and G thomsoni. By histology, the heart contained most microcysts, except in G g erlangeri, in which the tongue was most affected. No single tissue type was therefore suitable for the diagnosis of sarcocystosis in this multispecies collection, although digestion was more sensitive in detecting infection than histology. The level of Sarcocystis infection was significantly higher in free‐ranging gazelles kept in a main enclosure than in gazellas kept in breeding pens, and higher in adult gazelles than in juveniles.
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma mimicking cutaneous histiocytosis: differentiation by flow cytometry
Authors: Baines S. J. , McCormick D. , McInnes E. , Dunn J. K. , Dobson J. M. , McConnell I.
Published: October 2010

A two‐year‐old, neutered female cross‐bred labrador had multiple cutaneous nodules, biopsies of which revealed pathological changes consistent with cutaneous histiocytosis. During a period of one month the dog developed multicentric lymphadenopathy, a retrobulbar mass and masses within the quadriceps and cervical muscles. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the cutaneous nodules and lymph nodes and histological examination of the cutaneous nodules and muscle masses suggested the presence of lymphoblastic lymphoma. A definitive diagnosis of CD8+ T cell lymphoma was achieved by immunophenotyping the tumour cells by flow cytometry.
Commercial slaughter methods used on Atlantic salmon: determination of the onset of brain failure by electroencephalography
Authors: Robb D. H. F. , Wotton S. B. , McKinstry J. L. , Sørensen N. K. , Kestin S. C. , Sørensen N. K.
Published: October 2010

This study investigated the effect of exsanguination without prior stunning, or carbon dioxide narcosis followed by exsanguination, or percussive stunning or spiking the brain, on the time taken to abolish the visual evoked responses (VERS) of farmed Atlantic salmon. Only percussive stunning and spiking killed the fish immediately and the other two methods resulted in aversive reactions by the fish. The VERS were lost between 148 and 440 seconds after exsanguination without stunning, and between 300 and 554 seconds after carbon dioxide narcosis followed by exsanguination. During both these procedures the fish showed strong aversive behaviour. In contrast, percussive stunning and spiking the brain could result in the immediate loss of VERS and no aversive reactions from the fish if the stun was applied correctly.
Comparison of different methods of diagnosis of cystic ovarian disease in cattle and an assessment of its treatment with a progesterone‐releasing intravaginaI device
Authors: Douthwaite R. , Dobson H.
Published: October 2010

The aims of this study were to assess the accuracy of different common methods of differentiating between follicular and luteal ovarian cysts, and to monitor the response of the cysts to 12 days treatment with a progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID). On the basis of agreement between the different methods, 25 of the 46 cases examined were diagnosed as follicular and 14 as luteal cysts; for the other seven cases the methods disagreed. The use of ultrasound was more accurate in diagnosing follicular cysts than luteal cysts, and combined with plasma progesterone concentrations gave the most accurate assessment of cyst type (92 per cent for follicular cysts and 82 per cent for luteal cysts). The mean (se) plasm; progesterone concentration was lower in the cows with follicular cysts than in those with luteal cysts (0.29 [0.05] v 3.90 [0.63] ng/ml; P<0.05). Luteal cysts had thicker walls (5.3 [0.04] v 2.5 [0.2] mm; P<0.0001), and the wall thickness of all the cysts was positively correlated with plasma progesterone concentration (r=0.52, P<0.0004). Cows with luteal cysts had more additional follicles greater than 5 mm in diameter (P<0.01). In cows with follicular cysts and other follicles greater than 5 mm in diameter, the mean oestradiol concentration was 7.9 (1.8) pg/mI compared with 24.2 (3.1) pg/ml (P=0.002) in cows without other follicles greater than 5 mm in diameter on either ovary. At the time of PRID removal, plasma progesterone concentration had increased in the cows with follicular cysts to 1.59 (0.06) ng/ml (P<0.05) and decreased in the cows with luteal cysts to 0.87 (001) ng/ml (P<0.05), although there was no change in original cyst structure in 45 per cent of the cases. However, new ovarian structures were frequently observed during the treatment. The overall pregnancy rate for cows with both types of cyst after treatment was 50 per cent after three inseminations, but the first service pregnancy rate was only 18 per cent for cows with follicular cysts and 28 per cent for cows with luteal cysts. After treatment, the fertility of cows with follicular cysts was similar to that of paired herdmates, whereas cows with luteal cysts took 40 days longer to calve again than healthy herdmates. However, the culling rate was higher for cows with follicular cysts (41 v 11 per cent).
Descriptive spatial analysis of the epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Great Britain to June 1997
Authors: Stevenson M. A. , Morris R. S. , Pfeiffer D. U. , Lin D. , Wilesmith J. W. , Ryan J. B. M. , Lawson A. B.
Published: October 2010

This was a spatial analysis of the epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BsE) in Great Britain, based on agricultural census data collected between 1986 and 1996 and BSE case data collected up to June 1997. Kemel smoothing techniques were used to plot the distribution of BSE‐positive cattle holdings per 100 holdings per square kilometre and the distribution of confirmed BSE cases per 100 head of cattle per square kilometre. In the early stages of the epidemic reported BSE cases were scattered widely throughout Great Britain, with no clearly identifiable focus. By June 1997, a statistically significant cluster of BSE‐positive holdings was identifiable in the eastern part of the South west region of England. During the epidemic the highest densities of confirmed BSE cases per 100 cattle per square kilometre occurred in the greater part of the South west region of England and within Dyfed in the south west of Wales. In Wales, a small number of holdings experienced large numbers of confirmed BSE cases. In the South west region of England a large number of holdings experienced small numbers of confirmed cases. By June 1997, the distribution of BsE‐positive holdings across Great Britain was largely determined by factors that influenced the amount of recycled infectious material they were exposed to.
First isolation of a rabies‐related virus from a Daubenton's bat in the United Kingdom
Authors: Whitby J. E. , Heaton P. R. , Black E. M. , Wooldridge M. , McElhinney L. M. , Johnstone P.
Published: October 2010

On May 30, 1996, a sick Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) was recovered from the cellar of a public house in Newhaven, East Sussex. Its condition deteriorated rapidly, and it was euthanased and examined. Positive results, establishing the presence of a rabies or rabies‐related virus in its brain, were obtained from the fluorescent antibody test, the rabies tissue culture isolation test, and a hemi‐nested reversetranscription PCR. The complete sequence of the nucleoprotein gene was determined and a phylogenetic analysis, based on the 470 nucleotide bases of the amino terminus of the nucleoprotein, established the genotype of the virus as European bat lyssavirus 2. Bat rabies had not previously been recorded in the UK but does occur in mainland Europe. A study of the back‐trajectories of the wind on May 29 and 30, established that the infected bat possibly came from near the Franco‐Swiss border.
Prevalence of caftle infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus in Switzerland
Authors: Rüfenacht J. , Schaller P. , Strasser M. , Peterhans E. , Audigé L.
Published: October 2010

A cross‐sectional study was made in a major cattle‐breeding area of Switzerland to investigate the prevalence and local distribution of animals antibody positive to bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus and of persistently infected animals. The sample size and statistical analysis took into account the possible clustering of persistently infected animals on individual farms. Of 3440 animals tested on 121 farms, 1982 were found to have antibodies to BVD virus (95 per cent confidence interval for the population prevalence: 57.6±4.5 per cent) and 22 were persistently infected (estimate for the population prevalence: 0.64±0.34 per cent). The detection of persistent infection in animals less than seven months old was improved either by retesting one year later, by using an antigen‐capture ELISA or, in selected cases, by the analysis of original serum samples by reverse‐transcription PCR. The results showed that the prevalence of persistent infection may be underestimated by as much as one‐third when antigen detection alone is used. None of the 121 farms investigated was free of antibody‐positive animals and one in eight herds had at least one animal that was persistently infected. The prevalence of antibodies was lowest in seven‐ to 12‐month‐old animals (22.9 per cent) and highest in animals aged five years or over (84.9 per cent).
Fractures of the central tarsal bone in eight racing greyhounds
Authors: Guilliard M. J.
Published: October 2010

The case records of eight greyhounds that had undergone a surgical repair of either a type Ill or type IV fractured central tarsal bone were reviewed. In some cases difficulties were encountered which resulted in less than ideal fixation methods being used, but the fractures healed satisfactorily by intertarsal ankylosis and were radiographically complete after four to six months. For a successful outcome it was not necessary to preserve functional intertarsal joints by interfragmentary reconstruction and compression. The absence of dorsal slab fixation, poor dorsal screw positioning, or loss of the dorsal fragment, had no influence on the results. It took from six months to one year for the dogs to return to racing.
Fox predation as a cause of lamb mortalit on hill farms
Authors: White P. C. L. , Groves H. L. , Savery J. R. , Conington J. , Hutchings M. R.
Published: October 2010

Data collected between 1993 and 1996 from two Scottish hill farms were used to assess the potential importance of predation by foxes as a cause of lamb mortality. Farm 1 was in Midlothian and farm 2 in West Perthshire. Overall lamb mortality rates from birth onwards were 10.2 per cent for farm 1 and 9.3 per cent for farm 2. Sixteen lambs were identified as killed by foxes on the two farms during the four‐year period. The minimum rates of fox predation were 0.6 per cent for farm 1 and 0.2 per cent for farm 2. All confirmed cases of fox predation were recorded during the period until the lambs were marked at about six weeks of age, and during this period another 53 lambs went missing from the two farms. Both groups of missing lambs were characterised by having significantly more siblings than the remaining lambs. A logistic regression model was able to classify the lambs killed by foxes and the missing lambs with 75 per cent accuracy on the basis of their birth rank alone. Of the total potential revenue from lamb production, the maximum losses due to confirmed fox predation in any one year were equivalent to 1.5 per cent on farm 1 and 0.6 per cent on farm 2.
Investigations towards an efficacious and safe strangles vaccine: submucosal vaccination with a live attenuated Streptococcus equi
Authors: Jacobs A. A. C. , Goovaerts D. , Nuijten P. J. M. , Theelen R. P. H. , Hartford O. M. , Foster T. J.
Published: October 2010

As part of a search for a safe and efficacious strangles vaccine, several different vaccines and different vaccination routes were tested in foals. The degree of protection was evaluated after an intranasal challenge with virulent Streptococcus equi by clinical, postmortem and bacteriological examinations. Inactivated vaccines containing either native purified M‐protein (500 pg per dose) or whole S equicells (1010 cells per dose) administered at least twice intramuscularly at intervals of four weeks, did not protect against challenge. Different live attenuated S equi mutants administered at least twice at intervals of four weeks by the intranasal route were either safe but not protective or caused strangles. In contrast, a live attenuated deletion mutant administered intramuscularly, induced complete protection but also induced unacceptable local reactions at the site of vaccination. Submucosal vaccination in the inner side of the upper lip with the live attenuated mutant at.108 colony‐forming units per dose, appeared to be safe and efficacious in foals as young as four months of age. The submucosal vaccinations caused small transient swellings that resolved completely within two weeks, and postmortem no vaccine remnants or other abnormalities were found at the site of vaccination.
Canine distemper virus neutralising antibodies in vaccinated dogs
Authors: Rikula U. , Nuotio L. , Sihvonen L.
Published: October 2010

The associations between the levels of canine distemper virus neutralising antibodies and vaccination history, age and gender were investigated in a cross‐sectional study of a sample of 4627 dogs from the Finnish urban dog population. Dogs vaccinated with either Canlan (Langford Laboratories) or Dohyvac (Solvay Animal Health) or with both, had significantly lower titres than those vaccinated with Candur (Behringwerke), Duramune (Fort Dodge Laboratories) or Nobivac (Intervet), or with combinations including at least one of these. The vaccines were classified as having low and high immunogenicity on the basis of the geometric mean titre achieved by the vaccine when compared with the geometric mean titre of the entire dataset. The low geometric mean titre of Canlan, Dohyvac and their combination groups resulted from the large proportion of dogs without detectable titres, especially dogs under one year of age, rather than from uniformly low titres. An age‐stratified comparison of vaccine usage and titres showed that the division of the vaccines into low and high immunogenicity vaccines was apparent in the dogs less than two years of age but not in the older dogs. The first vaccination with the high immunogenicity vaccines resulted in a higher proportion of dogs with detectable antibodies than even repeated vaccination with the low immunogenicity vaccines. Neither the time elapsed since the most recent vaccination nor the gender of the dogs was associated with the titre of antibody.
Keratinopathogenic mould fungi and dermatophytes in healthy and diseased hooves of horses
Authors: Keller M. , Stanek C. , Krehon S. , Rosengarten R.
Published: October 2010

Specimens of hoof horn from 187 horses were examined for a possible relationship between clinically affected hooves and the occurrence of pathogenic fungi. Specimens were taken from the coronary band and from the stratum extemum and medium of the coronary horn and transferred on to Sabouraud dextrose agar, with and without cycloheximide, and incubated at 28°C Dermatophytes and mould fungi were identified by their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The 732 isolates could be assigned to 26 species of moulds, two different species of the dermatophyte Microsporum and three different species of the dermatophyte Trichophyton. Depending on their pathogenic potential they were assigned to three groups: (i) fungi known to be keratinopathogenic (Acremonium blochii, Altemaria altemata, Altemaria chiamydospora, Geotrichum candidum, Microsporum ferrugineum, Microsporum gypseum, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichophyton species, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton schönleinii, 57 isolates), (ii) a group of uncertain pathogenicity (223 isolates), and (iii) a group of non‐pathogenic species (452 isolates). Eighty per cent of the samples from horses with hoof hom lesions and 66.7 per cent of the samples from horses with slightly affected hoof horn contained fungi of the keratinopathogenic group, whereas only 8.9 per cent of the samples from horses with healthy hoof hom contained fungi of this group. There were no significant correlations between the clinical data and the age, sex or breed of the horses or their bedding and hygiene. Twelve species of fungi were isolated from the air in the horses' stables, but none of them belonged to the keratinopathogenic group.
Epidemiological and microbiological study of an outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in sheep
Authors: Naglić T. , Šeol B. , Hajsig D. , Busch K. , Frey J. , Lojkić M.
Published: October 2010

After several thousand sheep had been imported from Australia and New Zealand to Croatia during 1995, many native sheep that had been in contact with the imported animals acquired a severe ocular disease closely resembling infectious keratoconjunctivitis. In affected flocks glucose‐fermenting mycoplasma were isolated from 48 per cent of conjunctival swabs and Branhamela ovis from 58 per cent. Twelve of 42 culturally and biochemically identical isolates were identified as Mycoplasma conjunctivae by polymerase chain reaction. From the conjunctivae of two animals M conjunctivae and M arginini were isolated in mixed culture. For many reasons most farmers removed the imported animals from their flocks and only sporadic cases of the disease were recognised in 1996. At the end of 1997, six flocks which were clinically free of the disease but had been affected during 1995, and five flocks with no history of the severe ocular disease were examined clinically and microbiologically, and were found to be free of M conjunctivae infection. At the time, B ovis was cultured almost exclusively from sheep originating from flocks which had been affected during 1995 and/or 1996. It was usually isolated in pure culture or as the predominant bacterial species, and was often accompanied by mild conjunctivitis. There were no microbiologically confirmed new cases of infectious keratoconjunctivitis during 1998 and 1999.
Observations of lameness, hoof conformation and development of lesions in dairy cattle over four lactations
Authors: Offer J. E. , Logue D. N. , McNulty D.
Published: October 2010

Lameness and lesions in the claws of 31 autumn‐calving Holstein Friesian dairy cows were recorded from before their first‐calving until their fifth lactation. The animals were managed by the same herdsman and housed adjacently in the same building in one of two herds grazed either on clover‐rich pastures (herd 1) or on conventional ryegrass (herd 2). All four hooves were examined routinely four times during each lactation, and claw lesions were scored for severity and drawn on hoof maps. Heel erosion and infectious skin conditions of the hoof were also recorded, and hoof conformation, hardness, and growth and wear were measured. The animals' locomotion was scored weekly throughout the winter housing period and any observed to be lame were examined to determine the cause. The development of lesions was modelled by using hierarchic smoothing splines. There was no significant effect of herd except on the prevalence of lameness in lactation 2 when the incidence of (inter)digital dermatitis was higher in herd 2. Lesion and locomotion scores were significantly higher by lactation 4 (P<0.05). There were significant effects (P<0.05) of weeks postcalving on lesion formation, claw conformation, and heel erosion.
Clinical and laboratory findings in cases of toxic mastitis in cows in Northern Ireland
Authors: Menzies F. D. , McBride S. H. , McDowell S. W. J. , McCoy M. A. , McConnell W. , Bell C.
Published: October 2010

This paper describes the clinical and laboratory findings from 264 cases of toxic mastitis in cows in Northern Ireland between October 1995 and May 1997. Nearly all the cases occurred during the winter housing period, with 84 per cent occurring between November and March inclusive, and 30 per cent in March. Sixty per cent of the cases occurred within one month of calving, and 29 per cent within four days of calving. The most common clinical signs were lethargy (92 per cent), discoloured milk (90 per cent), anorexia (72 per cent), tachypnoea (23 per cent), diarrhoea (23 per cent), recumbency (18 per cent) and staggering (15 per cent). Severe pyrexia (18 per cent) and clinical dehydration (44 per cent) were relatively common findings. Pure growths ofEscherichia coliwere isolated from 50 per cent of the milk samples, but 1 1 per cent yielded no bacterial growth. In vitro sensitivity tests indicated that enrofloxacin was effective against 98 per cent of the baderia isolated, and framycetin and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid against 91 per cent. Abnormally high blood urea levels were observed in 31 per cent of cases, high blood creatinine levels in 42 per cent, and severe leucopenia in 56 per cent. Of the cases which were followed up, 14 per cent died, 21 per cent were culled early and a further 22 per cent lost milk production from the affected quarter.
Stockpersons' attitudes to the husbandry of dairy cows
Authors: Seabrook M. F. , Wilkinson J. M.
Published: October 2010

The health and welfare of dairy cows are dependent upon the stockpersons who handle, observe and monitor them. The attitudes and behaviour of these people have been little studied, although they are fundamental for the animals' well‐being and performance. The results of a series of standardised interviews with 238 dairy stockpersons are discussed. Milking was considered both the most important and the most enjoyed task, and the most disliked task was cleaning the parlour and yards. These attitudes can affect the health of the herd. The stockpersons valued their interaction with animals; ‘a special event involving the cows’ was frequently mentioned as the component of a ‘good’ day, and a ‘bad event involving the cows’ was almost unanimously the factor associated with a ‘bad’ day.
Timing and causes of piglet mortality in alternative and conventional farrowing systems
Authors: Marchant J. N. , Rudd A. R. , Mendl M. T. , Broom D. M. , Meredith M. J. , Corning S. , Simmins P. H.
Published: October 2010

The causes and timing of piglet mortality were studied in different farrowing systems. In the first experiment 198 litters were recorded in three systems, two of which allowed the sows to move freely, and the third restricted them in conventional crates. More piglets were weaned from the conventional crates than from the open systems and they grew more quickly. More than half the liveborn mortality occurred during the first four days after parturition. In the open systems, 17 per cent and 14 per cent of the piglets born alive were crushed, compared with only 8 per cent in the crates. In the second experiment, 29 sows and litters were studied in detail in a communal pen system during the first seven days of lactation. Three‐quarters of the liveborn mortality was due to crushing. The total number of piglets dying per litter, including stillbirths, was significantly associated with the total litter size and the sow's parity. The percentage livebom mortality was significantly associated with the parity and body length of the sows and with the within‐litter variation in the birth weight of the piglets. Individual birth weight was closely associated with percentage survival. Only 28 per cent of piglets weighing less than 1.1 kg at birth survived to seven days.
Antigenic variation and genotype of isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Korea
Authors: Cheon D‐S. , Chae C.
Published: October 2010

A panel of three anti‐glycoprotein 5 (gp5) protein monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (15, 28 and 246) and three anti‐nucleocapsid (N) protein mAbs (SDOW17, V017 and EP147) was used to investigate, by an indirect fluorescent antibody test, the antigenic variations of 50 Korean isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and compare them with a US ATCC VR2332‐derived attenuated vaccine strain and the reference European Lelystad strain of PRRSV. A multiplex PCR assay for the differentiation of European and North American genotypes of PRRSV was used to determine the genotype of the 50 Korean isolates. Forty‐six (92 per cent) of the 50 Korean isolates shared the epitopes recognised by the anti‐N protein mAb SDOW17. No reactivity to the anti‐gp5 and anti‐N protein mAbs was observed with the other four isolates. Six distinct patterns could be identified on the basis of their reactivities with the anti‐PRRsv mAbs. All 50 isolates were identified as North American genotypes by the differential PcR.
Fatal adiaspiromycosis ina wild Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
Authors: Simpson V. R. , Gavier‐Widen D.
Published: October 2010

Postmortem examination of an immature otter which died in the wild showed that large areas of the lungs were swollen and firm, with emphysema and haemorrhage in the remaining areas. Histopathological examination revealed large numbers of fungal adiaspores and an unusually severe inflammatory response. It was considered that respiratory impairment was the primary cause of the otter's death.
Observations on Salmonella contamination of commercial laying farms before and after cleaning and disinfection
Authors: Davies R. , Breslin M.
Published: October 2010

Little is known about the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection methods in use on commercial laying farms in Great Britain. Samples were taken from poultry house structures and equipment of five cage layer flocks, five barn egg production flocks and two free‐range flocks. In the free‐range houses there was a decrease in Salmonella after cleaning and disinfection, although the soil in the paddocks remained contaminated. In the barn and especially the cage layer houses, significant residual contamination remained on the surfaces of buildings and equipment. Wildlife pests were also found to be carrying Salmonella in the disinfected houses and free‐range paddocks.
Risk factors for toxic mastitis in cows
Authors: Menzies F. D. , Gordon A. W. , McBride S. H. , Goodall E. A.
Published: October 2010

A case‐control study of the management and disease risk factors associated with toxic mastitis in cows was carried out. Seventy‐one cases satisfied all the selection criteria, and a subset of 41 cases in which pure growths of Escherichia coli were cultured from milk samples was also investigated. Conditional multiple logistic regression analysis of the 71 cases and matched controls revealed no statistically significant associations. However, among the subset of 41 cases and matched controls, the administration of calcium parenterally at calving (P<O.O1) and assistance at calving (P<O.O1) were both associated with toxic mastitis. Controlling for assistance at calving, the odds of a cow developing E coli toxic mastitis if it had received calcium parenterally at calving were 23 times higher than for a cow that had not received calcium. Similarly, controlling for the administration of calcium at calving, the odds of a cow developing E coli toxic mastitis if it had received assistance at calving were 11 times higher than for a cow that did not receive assistance.
Persistent truncus arteriosus and patent foramen ovale in a Simmentaler x Braunvieh calf
Authors: Schwarzwald C. , Gerspach C. , Glaus T. , Scharf G. , Jenni R.
Published: October 2010

A Simmentaler x Braunvieh calf had been anorexic during its first 36 hours of life, had a loud heart murmur and was suspected to have pneumonia. In the light of the results of radiographic and echocardiographic examinations, right heart catheterisation and angiography, a diagnosis of persistent truncus arteriosus and patent foramen ovale was made. The diagnosis was confirmed on postmortem examination.
Risk factors associated with the prevalence of footrot in sheep from 1999 to 2000
Authors: Wassink G. J. , Grogono‐Thomas R. , Moore L. J. , Green L. E.
Published: October 2010

A postal survey of the techniques being used for the treatment and control of footrot in sheep flocks between November 1999 and October 2000 was conducted in England and Wales in November 2000. Of the 392 questionnaires circulated, 251 (64 per cent) were returned, and 209 of these were usable. Negative binomial regression analysis indicated that the isolation of bought‐in sheep, and the separation and individual treatment of diseased sheep with parenteral antibiotics, foot trimming and topical foot sprays were associated with a significantly lower prevalence of footrot in a flock. In contrast, ewe flocks which were routinely foot trimmed more than once a year had a significantly higher prevalence of footrot. No evidence was found that footbathing a flock reduced the level of footrot, except on the 14 per cent of farms where the penning and race facilities for footbathing were reported by the farmer to be excellent. Vaccination had no significant beneficial effect on the level of footrot in a flock.
Pathogenicity of three isolates of porcine respiratory coronavirus in the USA
Authors: Halbur P. G. , Pallarés F. J. , Opriessnig T. , Vaughn E. M. , Paul P. S.
Published: October 2010

The pathogenicity of three isolates of porcine respiratory coronavirus (AR310, LEPP and 1894) from the USA was assessed in specific pathogen‐free pigs. Pigs inoculated with 1894 developed mild respiratory disease and pigs inoculated with AR31o and LEPP developed moderate respiratory disease from four to 10 days after they were inoculated, but all the pigs recovered fully by 14 days after inoculation. Gross and microscopic examination revealed mild (1894) to moderate (AR31o and LEPP) multifocal bronchointerstitial pneumonia from four to 10 days after inoculation. The lesions were characterised by necrotising bronchiolitis, septal infiltration with mononuclear cells, and a mixed alveolar exudate. No clinical signs or microscopic lesions were observed in control pigs that had not been inoculated.
Assessment and conservation of the giant gomeran lizard (Gaiotia bravoana)
Authors: Hernandez‐Divers S. J. , Lafortune M. , Martínez‐Silvestre A. , Pether J.
Published: October 2010

In June 1999, a species of lizard previously considered extinct was rediscovered on the island of La Gomera, Spain. The giant gomeran lizard, Galotia bravoana, is highly endangered and at risk of extinction by the feral cat population. A conservation effort to save the species was initiatived by the regional and central Spanish government and six lizards were captured and brought into captivity. This paper describes the results of the initial assessment of the health of the animals, by a physical examination and by haematological, biochemical, radiographical and coprological investigations. The methods used to maintain the animals in captivity are described and the first captive breeding success is reported.
Evaluation of dog‐appeasing pheromone as a potential treatment for dogs fearful of fireworks
Authors: Sheppard G. , Mills D. S.
Published: October 2010

Thirty dogs that showed signs of fear in response to fireworks participated in an open clinical trial to assess the potential value of dog‐appeasing pheromone for the alleviation of their behavioural signs. The treatment was delivered continuously into the atmosphere of each dog's home with an electrically heated diffuser. At the baseline assessments, the owners identified the behavioural signs of fear that their dogs normally displayed in response to fireworks, rated their frequency and assessed the overall severity of their responses. These measures were repeated at the final assessment and the owners also rated the change in their dogs' responses. There were significant improvements in the owners' rating of nine of the 14 behavioural signs of fear that were examined, and in their ratings of the overall severity of the responses. The treatment was generally associated with a reduction in the intensity of fear but there were variations in the responses of individual dogs.
Classical swine fever in wild boar in the Lombardy region of Italy from 1997 to 2002
Authors: Zanardi G. , Macchi C. , Sacchi C. , Rutili D.
Published: October 2010

In 1997, outbreaks of classical swine fever occurred in wild boar and domestic pigs in the Italian province of Varese (Lombardy region). Statutory animal health measures were imposed, and a control plan aimed at preventing the virus from spreading outside the infected hunting zone of 108 km2 was implemented. However, in 1998, virologically positive wild boar were found outside this zone, including within Swiss territory. The infected zone was then enlarged to include the three other hunting areas of the northern province of Varese and the neighbouring Swiss territory. Italian and Swiss veterinary services initiated a joint policy to control the disease by hunting young wild boar and conserving older, immune animals. The percentage of virologically positive animals gradually decreased, the last being found in July 2000. The seroprevalence initially increased, but in 2000 and 2001 it decreased from 42.2 per cent to 8.8 per cent, indicating that the wild boar population had had no further contact with the virus.
In vitro activity of 10 antimicrobial agents against bacteria isolated from cows with clinical mastitis
Authors: Guérin‐Faublée V. , Carret G. , Houffschmitt P.
Published: October 2010

The susceptibility of 495 strains of bacteria, recently isolated in France from cows with clinical mastitis, to 10 antimicrobial agents ‐ penicillin G, cloxacillin, oxacillin, cephalexin, cefazolin, cephapirin, cefquinome, neomycin, ampicillin and colistin ‐ was determined by measuring their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Overall, the levels of resistance were very low except for staphylococci and penicillin G. The 167 streptococcal strains were susceptible to all of the β‐lactams tested, but six (3.6 per cent) were highly resistant to neomycin. Of the 171 staphylococcal isolates, 36.2 per cent were resistant to penicillin G, one strain of Staphylococcus sciuri was classified as methicillin‐resistant, but they were all susceptible to neomycin. None of the 122 strains of Escherichia coli was resistant to colistin, but 12 had high MIC values for one or more of the cephalosporins.
Clinical and laboratory investigations of five outbreaks of foot‐and‐mouth disease during the 2001 epidemic in the United Kingdom
Authors: Alexandersen S. , Kitching R. P. , Mansley L. M. , Donaldson A. I.
Published: October 2010

Clinical and laboratory investigations of five outbreaks of foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) were made during the early stages of the 2001 epidemic in the UK. The first outbreak, confirmed on February 20, was at an abattoir in Essex which specialised in the processing of culled sows and boars. On February 23, the disease was confirmed at a pig farm in Northumberland which held cull sows and boars fed on waste food; the findings indicated that it was the first of the five premises to be infected. The disease had probably been present since early February, and it was the most likely origin of the epidemic. The other premises investigated were a waste food‐fed cull sow/boar pig unit in Essex, approximately 30 km from the abattoir, which was probably infected at the same time or before the abattoir, a sheep and cattle farm approximately 6 km from the Northumberland pig farm, which was probably infected by airborne virus from it in the period immediately before February 13, and a sheep and cattle farm in Devon which had clinical disease from February 20 and was probably infected by sheep transported from Northumberland on February 13 which arrived on February 15.
Survey of permanent wound tracts in the carcases of culled wild red deer in Scotland
Authors: Urquhart K. A. , McKendrick I. J.
Published: October 2010

The number and sites of permanent wound tracts in the carcases of 943 wild culled red deer (Cervus elaphus) were recorded. During the peak period of the red deer rut there was a significant increase in the number of these tracts in the carcases, which was associated with a decrease from 89 per cent to 71 per cent in the probability of the first permanent wound tract also being the last (the terminal probability). There were significantly more permanent wound tracts in the carcases of one group (predominantly males) than in a second group (predominantly females and calves). In carcases with a single tract in the trunk, in which the heart and lungs were also examined, 80 per cent had tracts involving the heart and/or lungs, the recommended thoracic target organs. Tracts involving vital structures in the neck were also common, with 15.3 per cent of the carcases with a single permanent tract having damage limited to cervical structures.
Incidence of cryptorchidism in dogs and cats
Authors: Yates D. , Hayes G. , Heffernan M. , Beynon R.
Published: October 2010

Over a period of 54 months, 3518 dogs and 3806 cats were castrated; 240 of the dogs and 50 of the cats were cryptorchid. Pedigree dogs, in particular the German shepherd dog, boxer and chihuahua were overrepresented. Among the dogs, right‐sided inguinal cryptorchidism was the most common form, followed by right‐sided abdominal cryptorchidism. The location of the affected testicle(s) was most variable in the boxer. Among the cats, left‐ or right‐sided inguinal cryptorchidism were the most common forms of the condition.
Serum amyloid A in the serum and milk of ewes with mastitis induced experimentally withStaphylococcusepidermidis
Authors: Winter P. , Fuchs K. , Walshe K. , Colditz I. G.
Published: October 2010

Mastitis was induced experimentally in ewes withStaphylococcus epidermidis, and the concentrations of serum amyloid A (sAA) in milk and serum, and the somatic cell counts and bacteria in the milk were determined for up to 10 weeks in two experiments, each examining five infected and five control ewes. The somatic cell counts peaked eight hours after infection and preceded an increase in sAA in milk. A maximum concentration of 6460 μg/ml SAA was recorded in milk from the infected sheep, compared with a mean concentration of 1.4 μg/ml in the control sheep. The mean peak concentration of sAA in serum (206.8 μg/mI) occurred earlier (one day after infection) than in milk. The serum concentration of SAA in the healthy animals ranged from 0 to 29.4 μg/ml. There was no correlation between the concentrations of sAA in serum and milk.
Case‐control study to investigate risk factors for horse falls in hurdle racing in England and Wales
Authors: Pinchbeck G. L. , Clegg P. D. , Proudman C. J. , Morgan K. L. , French N. P.
Published: October 2010

Between March 1, 2000 and August 31, 2001, a case‐control study was conducted on 12 racecourses in England and Wales to identify and quantify the risk factors associated with horse falls in hurdle races. The cases and controls were defined so that variables relating to the horse, the jockey, the race and racecourse, and the jump could be considered. The cases were defined as a jumping effort at a hurdle flight that resulted in a fall, and the controls were defined as a successful jump over a hurdle at any of the 12 racecourses within 14 days before or after the case fall. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the univariable and multivariable relationships between the predictor variables and the risk of falling. The risk of falling was significantly associated with the position of the jump in the race, and with the distance and speed of the race. A horse's previous racing experience and history were also significantly associated with the risk of fallng and horses participating in their first hurdle race were at almost five times greater risk of falling than horses that had hurdled before.