bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of halofuginone lactate in the prevention of cryptosporidiosis in suckling calves
Authors: Lefay D. , Naciri M. , Poirier P. , Chermette R.
Published: October 2010

The efficacy of halofuginone lactate in the prevention of cryptosporidiosis in suckling calves was evaluated in a multicentre, control versus placebo, randomised, double.blind clinical trial. Seventy‐eight six‐ to 48‐ hour‐old calves were treated daily with 120 μg/kg bodyweight of halofuginone lactate administered orally for seven consecutive days, while 80 calves received a placebo. Faecal samples were collected on the first day of dosing and four, seven, 14 and 21 days later, andCryptosporidium parvumoocysts were counted and faecal indices for diarrhoea were determined after a clinical examination. An analysis of variance for repeated measurements showed a highly significant difference in favour of halofuginone lactate for both the oocyst counts (P=0.0002) and the faecal diarrhoea indices (P=0.0001) throughout the trial. The difference was greatest after seven days, when the mean oocyst count of the placebo group was 2.5 times and its mean faecal index was twice the mean of the halofuginone lactate group. One day after the end of the treatment the calves which received halofuginone lactate excreted 44 per cent fewerC parvumoocysts and 44 per cent fewer of them had diarrhoea. The reduction was even greater (65 per cent) when liquid diarrhoea was assessed, with 32.5 per cent of the calves in the placebo group having liquid diarrhoea compared with 11.5 per cent in the halofuginone lactate group. The treatment was well tolerated and easily administered.
Effects of vehicle movements during transport on the stress responses and meat quality of sheep
Authors: Ruiz‐de‐la‐Torre J. L. , Velarde A. , Manteca X. , Diestre A. , Gispert M. , Hall S. J. G. , Broom D. M.
Published: October 2010

Two groups of 26 lambs were transported for 15 hours either on smooth highways or on rougher secondary roads. Nine of the animals in each group were monitored for heart rate and the plasma levels of cortisol, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, before the journey began, after four, eight and 12 hours and at slaughter. The pH of the meat was measured 45 minutes and 24 hours postmortem and its colour was assessed 24 hours postmortem. The lambs transported on smooth roads had a lower heart rate and lower plasma cortisol concentrations after eight and 12 hours than the lambs transported on rougher roads. Twenty‐four hours after slaughter the pH of the meat of the lambs transported on smooth roads was lower than that of the lambs transported on rougher roads.
Evaluation of a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of canine sarcoptic mange
Authors: Curtis C. F.
Published: October 2010

This study was designed to assess the accuracy of a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of canine scabies. Serum samples from 37 dogs were examined blind; 12 had sarcoptic mange confirmed by the identification of mites in skin scrapings, 12 were atopic (with positive intradermal reactions to one or more aeroallergens, including Dermatophagoides farinae), and 13 were healthy dogs with no history of skin disease. Optical density values of more than 0.16 were considered positive, 0.145 to 0.16 were considered questionable and less than 0‐145 were considered negative. Ten of the 12 dogs with scabies were positive, all 12 atopic dogs were negative, and 11 of the 13 healthy dogs were negative and two were questionable.
Postmortem biochemical markers of experimentally induced hypomagnesaemic tetany in cattle
Authors: McCoy M. A. , Hutchinson T. , Davison G. , Kennedy D. G. , Fitzpatrick D. A. , Rice D. A
Published: October 2010

Severe hypomagnesaemia and tetany were induced in 10 lactating cows by feeding them semi‐synthetic low magnesium diets and the animals were used to study the stability of postmortem markers of hypomagnesaemic tetany. There were significant relationships between the concentrations of magnesium in either cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma and either aqueous or vitreous humour. The onset of hypomagnesamic tetany was also associated with low magnesium concentrations in plasma, CSF and aqueous and vitreous humour. Magnesium concentrations less than 0.25 mmol/litre in fresh aqueous humour may be indicative of severe hypomagnesaemia and possible tetany in lactating cows, but the concentration of magnesium in aqueous humour was unstable postmortem. The concentration of magnesium in vitreous humour was relatively stable and a concentration of less than 0.55 mmol/litre could be used as a diagnostic marker of tetany in cattle for up to at least 48 hours postmortem, at ambient temperatures typical of Northem Ireland.
Effects of stone chewing by outdoor sows on their teeth and stomachs
Authors: Davies Z. E. , Guise H. J. , Penny R. H. C. , Sibly R. M.
Published: October 2010

Stone chewing is a common behaviour in outdoor sows, but its effects on their teeth and stomachs have not been investigated. Tooth wear and damage was assessed by examining the heads of 58 sows culled from outdoor units and 23 culled from indoor units. Tooth damage was found in 28 per cent of outdoor and 30 per cent of the indoor sows, and tooth wear affected 88 per cent of the outdoor and 91 per cent of the indoor sows. The outdoor sows were more prone to wear on the lower molars and premolars, a pattern of wear associated with stone chewing. The stomachs of 152 outdoor sows and 47 indoor sows were examined. Stones were found in 59 of the outdoor sows but in none of those kept indoors. There was no evidence that the presence of stones damaged the stomach, or that stone chewing affected the health of the sows. The teeth of the outdoor sows were worn, but probably not sufficiently to affect their ability to eat during their relatively short productive lives.
Detection of Pasteurella muftocida in pigs with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome
Authors: Thomson J. R. , Henderson L. E. A. , Meilde C. S. , Maclntyre N.
Published: October 2010

Comprehensive bacterial cultures were made on samples from 20 pigs that had died of porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome after a short clinical illness. Eleven species of porcine bacterial pathogens and a range of commensal organisms were isolated. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from 16 of the 20 cases but the other pathogens occurred much less commonly. P multocida was isolated from between one and five sites per case and from the tonsils, retropharyngeal lymph node or lungs in 14 of the 16 cases. Immunohistochemical investigations of kidneys from 30 cases of the syndrome (including the 20 cases in the bacteriological study) revealed P multocida ‐specific staining in 26 of the cases, primarily in the renal tubular epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules, but also in the glomeruli, in lesions of renal vasculitis and in the cytoplasm of interstitial mononuclear cells.
Sentinel practice‐based survey of the management and health of horses in northern Britain
Authors: Mellor D. J. , Reid S. W. J. , Love S. , Walker R. , Gettinby G.
Published: October 2010

Details of the management, feeding, level of activity and routine health care of horses in Scotland and the five northernmost counties in England were recorded through a stratified random sample of horse owners who had responded to a previous survey. Sixty‐eight per cent of the horses were kept where their owners resided, and 32 per cent were kept away from the owner's home. More than 99 per cent were turned out to grazing for at least part of the year and 81 per cent were stabled for at least part of the time, most commonly bedded on straw (50 per cent) or shavings (34 per cent). Hay was fed to 87 per cent, sugar beet pulp to 64 per cent and commercially prepared concentrate mixes to 60 per cent of the horses. Hacking was the most popular activity (52 per cent of horses) followed by riding/pony club events (28 per cent) and showing (21 per cent). The majority of the horses were involved in more than one activity. There were an estimated 0‐88 veterinary visits per horse per year and 29 per cent of the horses were reported to suffer from at least one permanent or recurrent health disorder. The median annual numbers of administrations of vaccines (influenza and tetanus) and anthelmintics were one and seven respectively per horse, and each horse was shod a median seven times. There were significant differences in the management of horses kept in different types of premises and in areas of different human population density.
Vestibular signs associated with suspected lightning strike in two horses
Authors: Bedenice D. , Hoffman A. M. , McDonnel J. , Parrott B.
Published: October 2010

Two previously healthy 14‐year‐old horses developed right‐sided unilateral vestibular signs after they had possibly been struck by lightning. Repeated radiographic and endoscopic evaluations did not reveal any significant changes. A brainstem auditory evoked response test indicated a subtle left to right interaural latency difference of waves 1, III and V in the more severely affected pony, but its central conduction time remained normal.
Intraocular pressure of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) held in different positions
Authors: Chittick B. , Harms C.
Published: October 2010

The intraocular pressure of 12 apparently healthy juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) was determined by applanation tonometry while the turtles were held in dorsoventral, ventrodorsal, and head‐down suspended positions. The median intraocular pressures were 5 mmHg (range 4 to 9 mmHg) in the dorsoventral position, 7 mmHg (range 5 to 12 mmHg) in the ventrodorsal position, and 23 mmHg (range 17 to 33 mmHg) in the suspended position.
Prevalence and public health significance of blemishes in cuts of Irish beef
Authors: Beechinor J. G. , Bloomfield F. J. , Buckley T.
Published: October 2010

Between February 1999 and February 2000 more than 45,000 quarters of Irish beef cattle were examined for the presence of blemishes as they were cut into primal and subprimal cuts. A total of 2379 blemishes, either scars or cysts, were found. Eight of the scars and one cyst tested positive for residues of inhibiting substances.
Evaluation of excision, cryosurgery and local BCG vaccination for the treatment of equine sarcoids
Authors: Martens A. , De Moor A. , Vlaminck L. , Pile F. , Steenhaut M.
Published: October 2010

Ninety‐five horses with sarcoids were subjected to three types of treatment: surgical excision (conventional or carbon dioxide laser), cryotherapy or local BCG vaccination. The type of treatment was selected on the basis of the size, location and clinical appearance of the tumours. The choice between conventional and laser excision was empirical. A successful outcome was obtained in 1 1 of 14 (79 per cent) of the horses treated by cryosurgery, 18 of 27 (67 per cent) treated by BCG vaccination, 18 of 22 (82 per cent) treated by conventional excision, and 20 of 28 (71 per cent) treated with a carbon dioxide laser. For both excision methods, rigorous measures were taken to avoid autoinoculation and to ensure a wide margin of normal skin. The probability of local recurrence after excision was significantly higher for large sarcoids and sarcoids which had previously failed to respond to treatment. In 10 of the 31 horses with remaining sarcoids, some or all of the untreated sarcoids were observed to regress spontaneously.
Influence of three types of farm management on the seroprevalence of Q fever as assessed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay
Authors: Capuano F. , Landolfi M. C. , Monetti D. M.
Published: October 2010

The influence of three types of farm management on the occurrence of Q fever in cattle was investigated by means of a serological study carried out in Irpinia in southern Italy. Twenty‐one herds were permanently housed, 26 were housed in winter and turned out to graze in the spring, and six herds were kept outdoors throughout the year. Blood samples were taken from 1188 cattle and tested by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The overall seroprevalence of Q fever was 14.4 per cent. The herds which were housed in winter and turned out in the spring had the highest seroprevalence of 19.6 per cent, followed by the permanently housed animals with a seroprevalence of 13.2 per cent and the unhoused cattle had a much lower seroprevalence of 1.9 per cent.
Controlled study of the efficacy of clavulanic acid‐potentiated amoxycillin in the treatment of Chlamydia psittaci in cats
Authors: Sturgess C. P. , Gruffydd‐Jones T. J. , Harbour D. A. , Jones R. L.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐four specific pathogen‐free cats were inoculated with 3 x 103 infectious units of a field isolate of Chiamydia psittaci on to the corneal surface. Seven days later they were assigned randomly to three groups of eight and treated orally for 19 days with either clavulanic acid‐potentiated amoxycillin, doxycycline or a placebo. Both treated groups responded rapidly, with a marked reduction in isolation rates and clinical scores which were significantly lower than in the placebo group within two and four days, respectively. After two days the group treated with potentiated amoxycillin had a significantly lower isolation score than the group treated with doxycycline. Forty days after they were infected the clinical signs recurred in five of the eight cats treated with potentiated amoxycillin, but a four‐week course of potentiated amoxycillin resulted in a complete clinical recovery with no evidence of a recurrence for six months.
Intrauterine device for contraception in dogs
Authors: Volpe P. , Izzo B. , Russo M. , Iannetti L.
Published: October 2010

A new intrauterine device for contraception was tested on nine bitches. After it had been implanted, the bitches were mated but none of them became pregnant. Over a two‐year period no side effects were observed, except in a bulldog bitch in which signs of oestrus persisted until the device had been removed.
Comparison of simultaneous changes in electroencephalographic and haemodynamic variables in sheep anaesthetised with halothane
Authors: Otto K. A. , Gerich T.
Published: October 2010

Haemodynamic responses are routinely used for monitoring anaesthesia, but they can be elicited at spinal or brainstem levels and therefore do not provide information on cerebrocortical activity. To test the possibility that electroencephalography (EEG) might provide an objective assessment of unconsciousness and depth of anaesthesia the haemodynamic and EEG data from 17 ewes anaesthetised with halothane were analysed. Data were recorded at least every five minutes. An increase of 10 per cent or more in heart rate, systolic arterial pressure (sAP), or mean arterial pressure (MAP) was defined as a positive haemodynamic response to surgical stimulation. Simultaneously recorded EEG variables included 8‐, 0‐, and f‐frequency band power, power ratios (0/6, a/8, 0/8), 80 per cent spectral edge frequency (SEF 80), and median frequency. In 11 of the ewes, a positive haemodynamic response was accompanied by a significant decrease in 6 activity and significant increases in a/6 ratio, P/6 ratio, and SEF 80, and there were significant correlations between the changes in heart rate, and 6 activity and P/6 ratio. In the other six ewes, there were no significant EEG responses in association with haemodynamic changes of less than 10 per cent.
Ultrasonography of the teat canal in cows and sheep
Authors: Franz S. , Baumgartner W. , Hofmann‐Parisot M. , Windischbauer G. , Suchy A. , Bauder B.
Published: October 2010

When the isolated teat of a cow was examined with an 8.5 MHz linear array transducer in a vertical plane, the teat canal appeared as a thin, white line, bordered on each side by parallel, thick, grey‐black bands. In a horizontal plane a comparable image was obtained. In a sheep, images of comparable quality were obtained with a 12 MHz transducer. Histological studies of the tissues whose removal led to the disappearance of this characteristic ultrasonographic appearance showed that it was associated with the stratified keratinised squamous epithelium with distinct papillae. The content of keratin in the stratum corneum was apparently responsible for the bright zone; the stratum lucidum was not visible, and the surrounding dark, less echoic area was associated with the stratum granulosum. Doppler echography in live animals confirmed this designation. The outer layers of the teat wall were more echogenic.
Screening badgers (Meles meles) for Mycobacterium bovis infection by using multiple applications of an ELISA
Authors: Forrester G. J. , Delahay R. J. , Clifton‐Hadley R. S.
Published: October 2010

The current indirect ELISA used to evaluate whether live badgers are infected with Mycobacterium bovis has a low sensitivity (40.7 per cent), but a relatively high specificity (94.3 per cent). The low sensitivity of the test makes the diagnosis unreliable, but its sensitivity can be increased by using multiple tests. Two multiple testing procedures (involving up to three sequential tests) were investigated. A procedure in which two positive results were required from three tests before an animal was declared positive resulted in a lower sensitivity, but a higher specificity than the single test (38 and 98 per cent respectively). A more rigorous procedure, in which only one positive result was required from three tests, resulted in a marked increase in sensitivity but a slight reduction in specificity (79.5 and 83.1 per cent respectively) when compared to the single test.
Critical points in the transport of cattle to slaughter in Spain that may compromise the animals' welfare
Authors: Villarroel M. , Maria G. A. , Sierra I. , Saitudo C. , Garcia‐Belenguer S. , Gebresenbet G.
Published: October 2010

The welfare of cattle depends greatly on the attitudes and training of stockpersons and on the availability of appropriate facilities. Much has been learned about stress during transport, but less attention has been paid to identifying and correcting critical points, partly because they vary widely both nationally and internationally. A survey of cattle transport in Spain was made in an effort to determine which parts of the process most compromised the animals' welfare. Data were collected on the methods and facilities for loading and unloading, transport times, types of vehicle and slaughterhouse practices. Loading facilities were adequate and loading times generally short but some farms continued to use an electric goad and weather‐proofing was generally poor. The average journey time within Spain was three‐and‐a‐half hours, but many trips were made abroad (especially to Italy), few drivers received specific training courses and the types and quality of vehicles varied widely. The average unloading time was very short but the animals were not always inspected for injuries or dirtiness. Lairage times were normally more than eight hours but few slaughterhouses had air‐conditioning equipment to prevent excessive heat or dehydration. Almost all stockpersons avoided either regrouping animals or housing or transporting animals at high densities.
Assessing the within‐herd prevalence of cows antibody‐positive to bovine viral diarrhoea virus with a blocking ELISA on bulk tank milk
Authors: Beaudeau F. , Assié S. , Seegers H. , Belloc C. , Selial E. , Joly A.
Published: October 2010

Milk samples from 135 herds in Brittany were tested by a blocking ELISA for antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BvDv) and used to assess the relationship between the bulk milk result and the within‐herd prevalence of antibody‐positive lactating cows. This relationship was first quantified by using a general linear model and controlling for the number of cows contributing milk to the bulk tank, for the percentage of primiparous cows in the herds and for the number of milkings contributing to the bulk tank. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was then used to define classes of percentage inhibition in the bulk milk associated with minimum intraclass and maximum between‐class variances of the within‐herd prevalence. Only the percentage inhibition of bulk milk had a significant positive effect on within‐herd prevalence (R2 =0.85). The ROc analysis provided three classes of bulk milk results corresponding to different expected levels of within‐herd prevalence. Herds with bulk milk percentage inhibitions of 0 to 35 per cent, 35 to 60 per cent and 60 to 100 per cent had mean (sd) observed prevalences of 4.8 (5.7) per cent, 21.6 (14.6) per cent and 66.0 (29.3) per cent, respectively. Herds with a bulk milk inhibition of 0 to 35 per cent were expected to be BVDV‐free. A herd with two consecutive bulk milk results four months apart of 60 per cent or more was likely to have a very high prevalence (median of 93 per cent) and could be suspected of harbouring an active infection.
Studies of embryo transfer from cattle clinically affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
Authors: Wrathall A. E. , Brown K. F. D. , Sayers A. R. , Wells G. A. H. , Simmons M. M. , Farrelly S. S. J. , Bellerby P. , Squirrell J. , Spencer Y. I. , Wells M. , Stack M. J. , Bastiman B. , Pullar D. , Scatcherd J. , Heasman L. , Parker J. , Hannam D. A. R. , Helliwell D. W. , Chree A. , Fraser H.
Published: October 2010

Semen from 13 bulls, eight with clinical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BsE), was used to artificially inseminate (AI) 167 cows with clinical BSE, and their resultant embryos were collected non‐surgically seven days after Al. The viable and non‐viable embryos with intact zonae pellucidae were washed 10 times (as recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society) then frozen. Later, 587 of the viable embryos were transferred singly into 347 recipient heifers imported from New Zealand, and 266 live offspring were born of which 54.1 per cent had a BSE‐positive sire and a BSE‐positive dam. The recipients were monitored for clinical signs of BSE for seven years after the transfer, and the offspring were monitored for seven years after birth. Twenty‐seven of the recipients and 20 offspring died while being monitored but none showed signs of BSE. Their brains, and the brains of the recipients and offspring killed after seven years, were examined for BSE by histopathology, PrP immunohistochemistry, and by electron microscopy for scrapieassociated fibrils. They were all negative. In addition, 1020 non‐viable embryos were sonicated and injected intracerebrally into susceptible mice (20 embryos per mouse) which were monitored for up to 700 days, after which their brains were examined for spongiform lesions. They were all negative. It is concluded that embryos are unlikely to carry BSE infectivity even if they have been collected at the end‐stage of the disease, when the risk of maternal transmission is believed to be highest.
Relationship between aggressive and avoidance behaviour by dogs and their experience in the first six months of life
Authors: Appleby D. L. , Bradshaw J. W. S. , Casey R. A.
Published: October 2010

The early experiences of dogs showing signs of avoidance behaviour or aggression were compared with those of dogs from the same clinical population that did not show such behaviour. The occurrence of each behavioural sign was tested for its association with the dog's maternal environment, the environment it experienced between three and six months of age, and the age at which it had been acquired. Non‐domestic maternal environments, and a lack of experience of urban environments between three and six months of age, were both significantly associated with aggression towards unfamiliar people and avoidance behaviour. Aggression during a veterinary examination was more likely in dogs from non‐domestic maternal environments. There was no significant association with either environment for aggression towards familiar people, or towards dogs.
Newcastle disease outbreaks in Italy during 2000
Authors: Capua I. , Terregino C. , Dalla Pozza M. , Marangon S. , Mutinelli F.
Published: October 2010

Among the consequences of the epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza which affected Italy between 1999 and 2000 was an epidemic of Newcastle disease in northern and central Italy. It affected industrially reared poultry, dealer flocks and backyard flocks, with a total of 254 outbreaks notified up to December 31, 2000. Virological investigations yielded virulent isolates of Newcastle disease virus, which produced intracerebral pathogenicity indices ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 and which, on the basis of their monoclonal antibody binding patterns, could be classified as belonging to group Cl. The clinical, gross and microscopical findings were typical of Newcastle disease, and different avian species were susceptible to different degrees. Chickens and guinea fowl appeared to be the most susceptible, followed by pheasants, turkeys and ostriches. The epidemiological inquiry highlighted the crucial role of a broiler hatchery in initiating the epidemic, and of dealers in perpetuating it. The control measures imposed by Directive 92/66/EEC are discussed with reference to the outbreaks in backyard flocks.
Portal hypertension in a dog due to circumscribed fibrosis of the wall of the extrahepatic portal vein
Authors: Szatmári V. , Vörös K. , Fenyves B. , Sótonyi P. , Kotai I. , van den Ingh T. S. G.A. M. , Petrási Z.
Published: October 2010

A two‐and‐a‐half‐year‐old German shepherd dog with ascites and a high concentration of blood ammonia was investigated. Sonographically, its liver was normal but the portal vein was dilated and the flow of blood within it was slow. A liver biopsy showed that the liver was normal, and did not reveal any possible cause of portal hypertension or ascites. Postmortem, the cranial part of the portal vein was dilated with a crossstriped internal surface, but the caudal part looked normal; there was a stenotic ring between the normal and dilated parts. Histology of the dilated segment revealed marked hypertrophy of both the internal circular and the external longitudinal smooth muscle layers. At the site of the stenosis, the longitudinal muscular layer was replaced by connective tissue. Circumscribed fibrosis in the wall of the portal vein was responsible for the stenosis and the subsequent prehepatic portal hypertension. The cross‐striped pattern in the dilated part of the vein was the result of hypertrophy of the inner circular smooth muscle layer.
Prevalence of feline leukaemia virus and antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus and feline coronavirus in stray cats sent to an RSPCA hospital
Authors: Muirden A.
Published: October 2010

A total of 517 stray cats at an RSPCA veterinary hospital were tested for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline coronavirus (FCov) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The prevalence of FeLV was 3.5 per cent in all the cats, 1.4 per cent in healthy cats and 6.9 per cent in sick cats. FeLv positivity was associated only with disease of non‐traumatic origin. Antibodies to FCoV were present in 22.4 per cent of the cats, and their prevalence was significantly higher in cats over two years old and in feral/semiferal cats. The prevalence of antibodies to FIV was 10.4 per cent in all the cats, 4.9 per cent in healthy cats and 16.7 per cent in sick cats. The prevalence of FIV antibodies was significantly higher in entire males and neutered males than in females, in cats over two years old compared with younger cats, and in cats suffering disease of non‐traumatic origin rather than in healthy cats or cats suffering only from trauma. Sex, age and health status were each independently highly associated with FIV antibodies.
Evaluation of the portable Cepheid SmartCycler real‐time PCR machine for the rapid diagnosis of foot‐and‐mouth disease
Authors: Hearps A. , Zhang Z. , Alexandersen S.
Published: October 2010

The ability of the portable Cepheid SmartCycler real‐time PCR machine to detect foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) virus sensitively and accurately was evaluated by comparing the results of the analyses of nasal swab and serum samples from experimentally infected animals with those obtained from the real‐time PCR assay currently in use in the laboratory. The results indicated that the ability of the machine to detect viral RNA iS greatly affected by the PCR reagents used for the assay. When it was used with PCR beads it was unable to detect weakly positive samples, but when TaqMan core reagents were used for the assay, its sensitivity was significantly increased. The machine could be used for the laboratory‐based detection of FMD; however, as with all assays, significant optimisation of assay conditions as well as solid validation of the technique is required.
Pathological changes of renal tubular dysplasia in Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Sasaki Y. , Kitagawa H. , Kitoh K. , Okura Y. , Suzuki K. , Mizukoshi M. , Ohba Y. , Masegi T.
Published: October 2010

Pathological studies were conducted on 91 Japanese Black cattle with a hereditary disease which induced growth retardation, long hooves and renal failure. In calves one to two months old, no gross abnormalities were observed in the kidneys, but microscopical examinations revealed immature epithelia which were arranged irregularly and not attached to the basement membranes in some proximal tubules. In animals three to 36 months old, the kidneys had shrunk perceptibly and had grey‐white radial streaks; microscopically they showed severe interstitial fibrosis with round‐cell infiltration in the outer zone of the medulla and cortex, and reductions in the numbers of glomeruli and tubules. In the fibrotic areas there were immature epithelia with an irregular arrangement, and the basement membrane of the tubules was thickened. It was concluded that renal tubular dysplasia was the primary lesion of the disease, and that interstitial fibrosis and reductions in the numbers of nephrons were secondary lesions.
Infectious agents associated with respiratory disease in pheasants
Authors: Welchman D. DE B. , Bradbury J. M. , Cavanagh D. , Aebischer N. J.
Published: October 2010

In a case‐control study of the infectious agents associated with natural outbreaks of respiratory disease in pheasants, 28 batches of birds from sites affected by disease and eight batches of birds from unaffected sites were examined by six veterinary laboratories in England, Wales and Scotland, and tested for mycoplasmas, other bacteria and viruses. Sinusitis was the commonest sign of disease and was associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum as detected by PCR in the trachea (P<0.05) and conjunctiva (P<0.01). Sinusitis was also associated with pasteurella cultured from the sinus (P<0.05), antibody to avian pneumovirus (APv) (P<001) and avian coronaviruses as detected by reverse.transcriptase PCR (P<0.05); there was no association between disease and APV as detected by PCR. Avian coronaviruses were the most common infectious agents detected. They were genetically close to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) but differed in their gene sequence from all the serotypes of iBv previously identified in domestic fowl, and serological tests with six known IBV types showed little cross reactivity. Mycoplasma species other than M gallisepticum were cultured in 18 batches of pheasants but, with the exception of Mycoplasma gailinaceum, were not associated with disease.
Clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of carprofen in the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis
Authors: Lipscomb V. J. , Pead M. J. , Muir P. , AliAbadi F. S. , Lees P.
Published: October 2010

Six medium to large breed dogs with osteoarthritis were treated with 2 mg/kg of racemic carprofen, mixed with their morning feed, daily for 28 days. The treatment significantly (P<0.01) reduced their mean lameness score, measured on a visual analogue scale, and there was a trend (P=0.1 1) for the peak vertical forces exerted on a forceplate to be increased in the most severely affected limb. The plasma concentration‐time relationships of the S(+) and R(−) enantiomers were studied for 24 hours after the first dose and after seven days and 28 days. There were no significant differences between the mean pharmacokinetic parameters measured on the three occasions, suggesting that carprofen was not accumulated and that tolerance to the drug did not develop. Although the pharmacokinetic parameters of the S(+) and R(−) enantiomers were generally very similar, there were wide variations both between and within dogs.
Influence of the design of facilities at auction markets and animal handling procedures on bruising in cattle
Authors: Weeks C. A. , McNally P. W. , Warriss P. D.
Published: October 2010

The movements of cattle at 12 livestock auction markets were observed to determine the possible causes of trauma leading to carcase bruising. Design faults included right‐angled bends in races, dead ends, flooring with insufficient slope or grip, and steps. Sliding gates were often misused for goading cattle. Projecting fittings and square‐edged corners were potentially injurious; conversely, rounded posts and curved races assisted the flow of cattle with minimal impacts. At all the markets, some cattle were hit directly and poked with wooden sticks, and the variations in their use could partially explain the differences between the markets in the prevalence of carcase bruising. Most harder hits were directed at less valuable parts of the body, such as the spine, hips and shoulders, and a survey of bruising at the abattoir showed that these were the areas with most bruising. In this survey of 48,926 carcases, the overall level of commercially significant bruising of 4.1 per cent was lower than the 6.5 per cent found in a previous survey. Carcases of cattle from markets had a greater incidence and severity of bruising (P<0.001) than those arriving directly from farms or dealers. Carcase bruising in young bulls was less (P<0.001) than in heifers and steers.
Effect of electrocardiographic filters on the R‐amplitude of canine electrocardiograms
Authors: Dvir E. , Lobetti R. G. , Cilliers P. J.
Published: October 2010

Lead II electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded in 88 dogs ranging in weight from 3 to 50 kg. A commercial direct‐writing electrocardiograph was used to record the ECGs, first with manual HUM filter (notch filter at 50/60 Hz) and EMG filter (cut‐off frequency of ‐3 dB at 35 Hz) on, immediately followed by a recording with both filters off. The mean (sd) reduction in R‐amplitude with the filters on was 53(18) per cent with a range from 22 to 100 per cent and a median value of 51 per cent. The R‐amplitude with the filters off was related to the R‐amplitude with the filters on, making it possible to correct for the effect of the filters. The reduction in R‐amplitude was inversely correlated with the weight of the dog and with the duration of the QRS‐complex. Other known changes induced by filters, such as the elimination of notches and the slurring of the junction between the QRS‐complex and the sT‐interval were also observed. The inverse relationship between the weight of the dog and the magnitude of the reduction in R‐amplitude by the filters indicates that ECG machines with different characteristics should ideally be used to record ECGs in dogs of different sizes.
Straelensiosis in dogs: a newly described nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis
Authors: Net J‐L. , George C. , Rousselle S. , Theau V. , Longeart L. , Fain A.
Published: October 2010

A distinctive nodular dermatitis induced by Straelensia cynotis, a newly described trombidioid larval mite which resides in hair follicles, was identified in 12 dogs living in France. They all had scattered, small (1 to 3 mm in diameter), pale, firm skin nodules, variable in distribution but always affecting the dorsal regions of the head and trunk; they were distributed over the whole body of seven of the dogs. The animals were otherwise healthy except for three severely infested fox terriers which had a decreased appetite, were lethargic, and whose skin nodules were painful to the touch. The nodules did not induce pruritus. The lesions usually began as erythematous papules which developed into firm pale nodules. The dermatitis resolved within two to 12 months. Topical acaricides were ineffective but the skin nodules regressed after treatments with systemic avermectins. Histologically, each nodule was composed of a dilated follicular ostium containing a well‐preserved larval mite, and showed a pseudoepitheliomatous follicular hyperplasia and an abundant perifollicular mucinosis. The larvae were identified as belonging to the genus Straelensia (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae). It was clearly established that the three fox terriers had become infested within a fox's den. The nymphs and adults of this species of mite are believed to live in foxes' dens; foxes are considered to be the natural host for the larval stage, and dogs a permissive but occasional host.
Survey of the stocking densities at which sheep are transported commercially in the United Kingdom
Authors: Warris P. D. , Edwards J. E. , Brown S. N. , Knowles T. G.
Published: October 2010

A total of 6578 sheep carried in 74 vehicles to one slaughter plant were monitored, and stocking densities, in terms of m2 floor area available per 100 kg liveweight, were estimated from the dimensions of the vehicle pens and estimates of liveweight based on chest girth measurements. The observed stocking densities ranged from 0.29 to 2.00 m2 /100 kg liveweight, and the average density was 0.65 m2 /100 kg. One per cent of the sheep were carried at estimated stocking densities of less than 0.3 m2 /100 kg, 37 per cent at densities between 0.3 and 0.6 m2 /100 kg and 57 per cent at densities between 0.6 and 0.9 m2 /100 kg. Over 30 per cent of the animals in the survey were transported at densities higher than the working recommendations made by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Postal survey of ovine caseous lymphadenitis in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1999
Authors: Binns S. H. , Green L. E. , Bailey M.
Published: October 2010

Members of the Sheep Veterinary Society and three terminal sire breed societies (A, B and C) were surveyed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ovine caseous lymphadenitis in the UK. In total, 264 veterinary surgeons and 510 farmers responded. Eighteen per cent of the vets had seen at least one case of the disease, and 45 per cent of the farmers had seen abscesses in their sheep. Relatively few farmers had had the cause of the abscesses investigated, but 24 of the 32 flocks that had submitted samples to a laboratory had had the disease confirmed. The incidence of the disease and abscesses increased from 1990 to 1999. The disease was more likely to be investigated in certain breeds and when male sheep had abscesses. Risk factors for the disease included the presence of sheep of breed B in the flock, the presence of half‐bred sheep, showing sheep, and the use of shearing contractors. Dipping sheep appeared to be protective.
Pyogranulomatous myocarditis due toStaphylococcus aureussepticaemia in two harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
Authors: Siebert U. , Müller G. , Baumgärtner W. , Weiss R. , Desportes G. , Hansen K.
Published: October 2010

Staphylococcus aureussepticaemia was diagnosed in a dead, stranded harbour porpoise from the German Baltic Sea and in a live harbour porpoise by‐caught in inner Danish waters and taken into captivity. Lesions included pyogranulomatous myocarditis, necrotising suppurative bronchopneumonia, pyelonephritis, osteomyelitis and leptomeningitis, and abscesses in lymph nodes and skeletal muscles. The captive animal had fibrinous suppurative epicarditis and pyogranulomatous myocarditis with abscesses. In both animals the organism was suspected to have entered through skin lesions or via the respiratory tract.
Effects of housing practices on the development of foot lesions in dairy heifers in early lactation
Authors: Webster A. J. F.
Published: October 2010

Measurements were made of sole haemorrhages and white line lesions in two groups of heifers which were either introduced to a cubicle house four weeks before they calved (group 1) or housed in a straw yard for eight weeks after calving and then moved into the cubicle house (group 2). The overall severity of the lesions was described by a cumulative score which defined the product of the severity and the area of the overall lesions in each animal. The lesions were scored on six occasions, from four weeks before to 24 weeks after parturition. Before parturition, sole lesions were absent or very small. By four weeks after calving, most of the animals had both types of lesion, but the differences between the two groups were small and statistically insignificant. There were no significant differences in the white line lesions between the two groups at any of the observations. There were, however, progressive, highly significant differences between the two groups in the severity of sole haemorrhages. By 12 weeks after calving, the median score for group 1 was 69 and that for group 2 was 11. In group 2, the sole haemorrhage score peaked at eight weeks but declined thereafter, even though these animals were moved into cubicles eight weeks after calving. By 12 weeks after calving, six of the 17 heifers in group 1 had sole ulcers but none of the 16 in group 2 had ulcers.
Outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in Welsh Black cattle in Carmarthenshire
Authors: Otter A. , Pow I. , Reid H. W.
Published: October 2010

An outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) resulted in the deaths of 12 cattle in a herd of 77 animals during seven weeks in 1999; in addition, one cow developed a milder disease which was confirmed as MCF by PCR for ovine herpesvirus 2 DNA and an immunofluorescent antibody test for antibodies to the virus, but recovered. Further PCR and serological testing revealed the infection in three other animals, none of which developed clinical disease. Hypocuprosis and the possibility of a genetic predisposition were identified as factors which may have contributed to the outbreak.
Effects of different us isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on blood and bone marrow parameters of experimentally infected pigs
Authors: Halbur P.G. , Evans R. , Hagemoser W. A. , Pallares F. J. , Rathje J. A. , Paul P. S. , Meng X. J.
Published: October 2010

Seventy five‐week‐old, crossbred, caesarean‐derived, colostrum‐deprived pigs were randomly divided into five groups of 14 pigs and assigned one of five treatments: the intranasal inoculation of 105.7TCID5O of one of four plaque‐purified isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) (VR2385, VR2431, ISU‐984 and ISU‐22), or uninfected cell culture and media. Haematological variables were measured for 21 days and bone marrow was analysed when the pigs were killed three, seven, 10, 21 or 28 days after the inoculation. The PRRsv‐infected pigs had non‐regenerative anaemia and markedly increased myeloid:erythroid ratios from three to 21 days after inoculation. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in the severity of the anaemia induced by the four PRRSV isolates; the most highly pneumovirulent strains (VR2385, ISU‐984 and ISU‐22) induced more severe anaemia than the least virulent isolate (VR2431). The anaemia induced by PRRSV was probably due to a direct or indirect effect on erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow.
Evaluation of three ancillary treatments in the management of equine grass sickness
Authors: Fintl C. , McGorum B. C.
Published: October 2010

Brotizolam, acetylcysteine and aloe vera gel were evaluated as ancillary treatments for 29 cases of equine grass sickness. None of the treatments had any significant beneficial effect on the survival of the horses. However, 11 of 13 horses with mild chronic grass sickness survived solely with intensive nursing care.
Relationship between milk urea concentration and the fertility of dairy cows
Authors: Cottrill B. , Biggadike H. J. , Collins C. , Laven R. A.
Published: October 2010

The relationship between milk urea concentration and the fertility of dairy cows was examined in two studies. The first examined the relationship between bulk milk urea concentration and overall herd fertility, using data collected from 250 herds in the UK. There was no relationship either between bulk milk urea concentration and fertility, or between changes in bulk milk urea concentration and fertility. The second study compared the relationship between the milk urea concentration five days after service, and the fertility of individual cows on 11 UK dairy farms. There was no significant difference between the milk urea concentration of the cows that became pregnant and those that did not.
Experiences of University of Liverpool veterinary students during the 2001 epidemic of foot‐and‐mouth disease
Authors: Winter A. C. , Ward W. R.
Published: October 2010

The 2001 epidemic of foot‐and‐mouth disease disrupted the teaching of practical farm animal work for much of that year. Many students in their clinical years in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, went to help to control the disease, both in place of some normal term‐time activities and as part of their extramural studies out of term time. This paper, which is based on a questionnaire survey of the students, describes their experiences, the types of work they did, the skills they acquired and their views on the effects of the epidemic on their studies. The vast majority of students felt they had benefited from their experiences and had contributed to combating the epidemic.
Evaluation of glucose as a cryoprotectant for boar semen
Authors: De los Reyes M. , Saenz L. , Lapierre L. , Crosby J. , Barros C.
Published: October 2010

Fertility parameters of boar spermatozoa were evaluated in vitro, after freeze‐thawing the semen in three different extenders containing permeable and non‐permeable cryoprotectants: A (111‐OmM Tris, 31.4mM citric acid, 185.0mM glucose, 20 per cent egg yolk, 3 per cent glycerol and 100 iu/ml penicillin G); B (200mM Tris; 70.8mM citric acid, 55.5mM glucose, 20 per cent egg yolk, three per cent glycerol and 100 iu/ml penicillin G); C (200mM Tris, 70.8mM citric acid, 55.5mM fructose, 20 per cent egg yolk, 3 per cent glycerol and 100 iu/ml penicillin G). The freeze‐thawing techniques were the same for each extender. Eight ejaculates from four boars were obtained; the sperm‐rich fraction of each ejaculate was extended in each of the three media at a final concentration of 400 × 106 sperm/ml, loaded into 0.5 ml straws and frozen at a rate of 30°C/minute to ‐ 196°C. The straws were thawed at 60°C for eight seconds. Sperm motility, acrosomal integrity and in vitro sperm penetration through the zona pellucida of gilt oocytes matured in vitro were evaluated. The motility of unfrozen spermatozoa was 93.1 per cent compared with 60.7 per cent, 48.2 per cent and 35 per cent for sperm frozen in extenders A, B and C respectively; these values were all significantly different (P<0.05). There was no significant decline in sperm motility after incubation for 30 minutes in extender A, but there were significant decreases in sperm motility after 30 minutes of incubation in B and C. The percentage acrosomal integrities were 97.2 per cent for the control and 45.5 per cent, 30.3 per cent and 16.8 per cent for the frozen‐thawed spermatozoa in extenders A, B and C respectively. The results of the in vitro penetration assay were 80.7 per cent when using control spermatozoa, and 42.2 per cent, 18.4 per cent and 3.3 per cent when using frozen‐thawed spermatozoa in extenders A, B and C respectively
Effect of postpartum manual examination of the vagina on uterine bacterial contamination in cows
Authors: Sheldon I. M. , Noakes D. E. , Rycroft A. N. , Dobson H.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐one days after they had calved, the vaginas of 34 cows were examined with a clean gloved hand, and 26 cows were left unexamined. Swabs were collected from the lumen of the uterine body of the cows on the same day and seven days later; bacteria were identified by aerobic and anaerobic culture, and bacterial growth was scored semi‐quantitatively. On the same days, blood samples were collected and the concentrations of acute phase proteins were measured, and the diameters of the cows' uterine horns were measured by transrectal ultrasonography. The vaginal examinations did not result in uterine bacterial contamination or an acute phase protein response, and they did not affect the diameters of the uterine horns.