bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproductive Efficiency of Three Estrus Synchronization Schemes Comprising Fixed‐Time Insemination in Dairy Cows
Authors: Amiridis G. S. , Belibasaki S. , Leontides L. , Lymberopoulos A. , Vainas E. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe objective of this field trial was to compare the odds of pregnancy at 25 days (P25) and at 60 days (P60), of embryonic death (ED) between 25 and 60 days, and of non‐pregnant cows returning to heat 20–25 days after artificial insemination (AI). Three fixed‐time insemination protocols involving combined administration of either double gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandins (A) or GnRH, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and prostaglandins (B), or double treatment with prostaglandins (C) were used. Cows included in the trial were selected from five herds, comprising a total of 735 (herd size range 85–250, median 120) Holstein dairy cows. Animals used for the study were multiparous, 4–7 years of age, had expressed at least one overt postpartum heat, were between 60 and 120 days of lactation and had at least one palpable corpus luteum and no gross morphological anomalies of their reproductive tracts. They were randomly allocated to receive treatment A (n = 89), B (n = 93), or C (n = 65). Pregnancy of cows not observed in heat 18–24 days post AI was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography at 25–30 days and confirmed by rectal palpation at 60–75 days post AI. Those that were detected in heat in the normal period post AI were re‐inseminated. No differences were detected among the three treatment groups concerning the odds of P25 (P = 0.5), P60 (P = 0.2) and ED (P = 0.13). In contrast, non‐pregnant cows that were administered treatment A were less likely to exhibit estrous signs in the normal period post AI than those administered treatments B (P = 0.02) or C (P = 0.005).
Polyamines in the Gastro‐intestinal Tract of Goat Kids and in the Regenerating Ruminal Epithelium of Sheep
Authors: Eliassen K. A. , Sjaastad Ø.V. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe aim of the present study was to investigate whether temporal changes in polyamine concentration and synthesis could be found in the luminal content and wall tissue of the rumen and abomasum, two organs which have entirely different growth patterns during the first month of life. In the abomasal mucosa there was a marked gradual decrease in the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity during the first month of life, while the ODC activity in the ruminal mucosa was low during the whole experimental period. However, injury of the rumen wall was followed by increased ODC activity. The ODC activity in duodenal mucosa was about 10 times higher than in the ileal mucosa and the ruminal epithelium. In ruminal liquid a clear peak in ODC activity was observed during the period 51–70 days after birth. The polyamine concentration did not parallel the ODC activity, in either the ruminal epithelium or the ruminal liquid. Of the polyamines, the spermine concentration was always highest, and with the exception of duodenal mucosa, the putrescine concentration was lowest. In liver a clear decrease in spermidine concentration from day 1 to about day 60 after birth was observed. Otherwise no marked temporal changes in tissue polyamine concentrations were observed. Two and a half hours after oral administration of 14C‐labelled spermine, nearly all of the radioactivity was found in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, 1 h after intravenous injection of polyamines the walls of the gastrointestinal tract were strongly labelled. In conclusion, the polyamines needed for ruminal epithelial development seem to come from sources other than the ruminal epithelium itself or the ruminal lumen.
Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 Activity in Bovine Synovial Fluids
Authors: Arican M. , Coughlan A. R. , Clegg P. D. , Carter S. D. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important enzymes found in connective tissues and thought to be involved in cartilage degradation. They are detectable in bovine synovial fluid and may play a destructive role in bovine septic arthritis. The MMP gelatinase enzymes were detected by gelatin zymography using image analysis of the gels. The active gelatinase levels were determined by a gelatin degradation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Increased concentrations of MMP‐9 activity were found in the synovial fluids of cows with septic arthritis (P< 0.001) in comparison with fluids from normal joints. Using the gelatin degradation ELISA the net active gelatinases were measured, and significant increases were found in gelatinase bioactivities in synovial fluids from septic joint disease cases (P< 0.001). Increased concentrations of MMP‐2 activity were found in the synovial fluids of cows with aseptic arthritis, which appeared to be playing an important role in degradation of articular cartilage in joint disease. This finding required further investigation.
Stability of Tetracycline in Water and Liquid Manure
Authors: Kühne M. , Ihnen D. , Möller G. , Agthe O. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe objective of this study was to establish a suitable model for the prediction of the environmental stability of antibiotics in water and liquid manure. The model consists of incubation systems for solutions with installations for stirring and ventilation. It was used to examine the stability of tetracycline in ventilated and unventilated Ringer's solution and liquid pig manure for a period of 8 days. Tetracycline concentrations decreased significantly during the experiment. The fastest degradation was observed in ventilated liquid manure. The test might be used as a screening test for the determination of the degradation half‐life of antibiotics in the first phase of an environmental safety study according to directive 92/18/EEC.
Pharmacokinetics and Urinary Excretion of Sulphadimidine in Buffalo Calves
Authors: Jain S. K. , Punia J. S. , Garg B. D. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryPharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of sulphadimidine (SDI) were determined in buffalo calves following single oral administration (150 mg/kg). The plasma levels of free sulphadimidine were above minimum effective therapeutic concentration (>40 µg/ml) between 4 and 12 h and the N4‐acetylated form of the drug was in the range of 7.2–19.3 %. Kinetic evaluation of plasma levels was performed using a two‐compartment open model. The absorption and elimination half‐lives of SDI were 3.01 and 11.94 h, respectively. Based on this study, an optimal dosage regimen of sulphadimidine in buffalo calves would be 100 mg/kg, followed by 50 mg/kg at 12 h intervals. Sulphadimidine was mainly excreted in the urine as free amine. The percentage of N4‐acetyl sulphadimidine in urine was comparatively higher than in plasma.
Synchronization of Lactating Dairy Cows with Prostaglandin F2α: Insemination on Observed Oestrus versus Timed Artificial Insemination
Authors: Tenhagen B.‐A. , Drillich M. , Heuwieser W. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe effect of two insemination policies after synchronization of oestrus on reproductive performance in two groups of cows was investigated. Oestrus was synchronized by two treatments with prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) at a 14‐day interval. Cows in Group 1 (n= 234) were inseminated twice on appointment 66 and 90 h after the second treatment. Cows in Group 2 (n= 222) were intensively watched for signs of oestrus after the synchronization protocol and inseminated on observed oestrus. Cows with abnormal discharge after synchronization were excluded from breeding and inseminated later during the study period. Service rate within 1 week after synchronization was higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (89.3 versus 67.1 %). Conception rates on first service did not differ between groups (33.2 versus 30.0 %). Days to first service and days open were shorter in Group 1 (P< 0.05). The number of cows culled for infertility did not differ between the groups. Endometritis 14–20 days post‐partum decreased the percentage of cows pregnant at the end of the study period in both groups but did not have a significant effect on conception rates and days open. It is concluded that additional inseminations required in the timed artificial insemination protocol were economically justified by the reduction in days open in comparison with insemination on observed oestrus after synchronization.
The Effect of Repeated Follicular Puncture on Ovarian Function in Dairy Heifers
Authors: Petyim S. , Bage R. , Forsberg M. , Rodriguez‐Martinez H. , Larsson B. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThree dairy heifers were examined during three consecutive oestrous cycles (control period, CP). Subsequently, the animals were subjected to 4 and then 5 weeks of twice‐weekly ovum pick‐up (OPU) (FPP1 and FPP2, respectively) with a recovery period (RP) of two consecutive oestrous cycles between FPP1 and FPP2. After FPP2, the animals were slaughtered and the ovaries were macroscopically examined. Throughout, ovarian activity was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography and concentrations of plasma progesterone. During CP, all the heifers showed normal cyclicity. During FPPs, the heifers occasionally presented oestrous activity. Corpus luteum (CL)‐like structures developed from punctured follicles with diameters and life‐spans varying from smaller and shorter than those in the CP (P > 0.05) to equal to those in the CP. There was a tendency for a lower number of emerging and punctured follicles in the presence of a CL‐like structure. Subsequently to FPP1, all heifers regained normal cyclicity. A thickening of the ovarian tunica albuginea and a slight hardening of the ovaries were found postmortem. In conclusion, dairy heifers can occasionally show cyclic activity and form CL‐like structures during twice‐weekly OPU. Further, OPU did not seem to cause any major negative effects on ovarian structure and subsequent ovarian function.
Comparison of Two Fibrin Glues in Anastomoses and Skin Closure
Authors: PARK W. , KIM W. H. , LEE C. H. , KIM D. Y. , CHOI J. H. , HUH J. W. , SUNG H. M. , KIM I. S. , KWEON O. K. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryTo control intra‐operative haemorrhage, fibrin glues are preferred by many surgeons because of their biological advantages and convenience of application. Manufacturers have developed a few kinds of fibrin glues with a little difference in their composition. This study was to compare the effectiveness of two commercially available fibrin glues; Greenplast® (Green Cross P. D. Company, Yongin, Korea ) and Tisseel® (Baxter‐Immuno AG, Vienna, Austria). They were applied experimentally to several kinds of surgery in dogs – renal vessel anastomosis, partial splenectomy, intestinal anastomosis and incision skin wound – and evaluated for their haemostatic and adhesive effects. When the two glues were applied in renal vessel anastomosis, the amount of haemorrhage in artery and vein decreased significantly. They also decreased the haemorrhage in partial splenectomy. At 10 min after application of the glues to an incision skin wound, the tensile strengths developed were significantly higher than that of control.The present study indicates that two‐component fibrin glues have a haemostatic effect as a mechanical barrier in renal vessel anastomosis and an adhesive effect in the early stage of incision skin wound closure, and the two glues have similar effects with no complications.
Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Dot Hybridization with Enzyme‐Linked Immunoassay, Virological Examination and Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis for the Detection of Porcine Rotavirus in Faecal Specimens
Authors: Winiarczyk S. , Gradzki Z. 
Published: March 2003

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of RT‐PCR (reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction) technique and dot blot hybridization with PCR‐generated probe for the detection of group A rotavirus in faecal samples derived from diarrhoeal piglets. They were compared with virological examination (isolation of the virus), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and ELISA. The specificity and sensitivity of each assay was assessed against a ‘gold standard’ which was created on the basis of the virological examination and PAGE results. One hundred and seventeen faecal samples taken from piglets with the signs of diarrhoea were used as research material. cDNA probe labelled with digoxigenin, complementary to the region between 1 and 650 nucleotides of the segment 9 of porcine OSU and Gottfried reference strains was used. The probe detected in the dot blot hybridization 1 ng of dsRNA of the reference porcine strains. Using that test it was shown that 23 positive samples out of 117 samples of diarrhoeic piglets were detected. The RT‐PCR technique appeared to be the most specific and sensitive diagnostic method. From 117 amplified faecal samples, the products of RT‐PCR reactions were obtained from 24 samples. By means of this method it was possible to find 104 virions per 1 g of sample.Overall comparison of the results showed respective sensitivities and specificities of 100 % and 98.9 % for RT‐PCR, 95.7 and 98.3 % for hybridization, 100 and 94.7 % for ELISA, 78.3 and 100 % for virological examination, 91.3 and 100 % for PAGE.
Dynamics of the Development of Chlamydophila psittaci Inclusions in Epithelial and Fibroblast Host Cells
Authors: Escalante‐Ochoa C. , Ducatelle R. , Haesbrouck F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe development of Chlamydophila psittaci (formerly Chlamydia psittaci, avian strains) inclusions in fibroblast L‐929 and epithelial BGM cell lines was studied along the bacterial growth cycle using a BGM cell‐adapted strain in the presence or absence of cycloheximide and cycloheximide + polyethylene glycol. Evolution of the inclusions was determined in terms of their number and size at 24, 30, 36, 48 and 54 h after infection. Significant differences in the chlamydial growth were found between both host cells, throughout the study. Higher numbers of inclusions (P 0.05) were observed in L cells while larger inclusions (P 0.01) were found in BGM cells. In both fibroblast and epithelial cells, inclusions showed a significant (P 0.001) increase in size at the later times studied. Free extracellular chlamydial particles were noticed at 48 and 54 h post‐infection (p.i.) in infected L cells, and at 54 h p.i. in BGM cells. Addition of cycloheximide or cycloheximide + polyethylene glycol had no significant effect on the number of inclusions or their size. The results suggest that host cell characteristics and innate compatibility between Chlamydophila strain and host cell are more important than host cell adaptation for the development of the microorganism.
Epidemiological and Bacteriological Aspects of Mastitis Associated with Yellow‐Jacket Wasps (Vespula germanica) in a Dairy Cattle Herd
Authors: Yeruham I. , Schwimmer A. , Brami Y. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe German wasp, Vespula germanica has been observed to injure teats of dairy cows, causing lesions that are associated with clinical and subclinical mastitis. The presence of skin lesions on the teats, caused by the wasps, was recorded in a dairy cattle herd located in the Samaria foothills during July–October 1999. Wasp‐inflicted injuries were found in 43.6% (58 of 133) of the adult cows and 1.4% (one of 71) of the first‐calving cows. They were located in 42.4% of cows (n = 25) on all quarters, 18 cows (30.5%) had lesions on the front quarters and 27.1% (n = 16) of cows on the hind quarters only. Clinical and subclinical mastitis were diagnosed in 61% (36 of 59) and 28.8% (17 of 59), respectively, of the injured adult and first‐calving cows. The most common bacterial isolates from the mastitic cows were Staphylococcus aureus 45.1% (n = 14), Streptococcus dysgalactiae 16.1% (n = 5), Streptococcus spp. 19.4% (n = 7) and others 13.9% (n = 5). The loss of milk production was estimated at 300 kg milk for each cow injured by wasps and exhibiting clinical mastitis. An increase in the bulk‐milk somatic cell count, from 186 × 103 at 1 month prior to the outbreak to a peak of 1200 × 103 in the post‐outbreak month, was noted. The culling rate reached 13.6% (eight of 59) of the affected cows. In summary, the considerable economic losses caused by the wasp infestation resulted from decreased milk production and a decline in milk quality, culling of affected cows, and increased demand for use of drugs and veterinary care.
The Importance of Pets as Reservoirs of Resistant Enterococcus Strains, with Special Reference to Vancomycin
Authors: RODRIGUES J. , POETA P. , MARTINS A. , COSTA D. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, with special attention to vancomycin, in 104 strains of Enterococcus, which is the sentinel bacterium isolated from dog and cat faeces samples. The phenotypic characterization of the isolates classified them as E. faecium (58%), E. avium (41%) and E. faecalis (1%). Sensitivity testing used the diffusion method according to the recommendations of CASFM (Comité de l'Antibiogramme de la Société Française de Microbiogie), to oxacillin, amoxycillin, amoxycilin + clavulanic acid, ampicillin, piperacillin, cefoperazone, imipenem, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, οfloxacin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, lincomycin, erythromicin and vancomycin. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination by E test revealed a MIC to vancomycin of between 0.5 μg/ml and 3 μg/ml. All the strains were resistant to nalidixic acid, erythromycin, cefoperazone and oxacillin. We detected resistance to amoxycillin + clavulanic acid in 1.9% of isolates, to amoxycillin in 4.8%, to piperacillin in 13.5%, and to ampicillin in 21.2% of strains. A high prevalence of antibiotic resistance to lincomycin, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin was found in 98.1%, 95.2%, 76.9%, 73.1% and 64.4% of strains, respectively. Resistance to vancomycin was not found, which indicates that there is no transmission risk of vancomycin‐resistant enterococcal strains to man or transfer of their resistance genes to other bacteria belonging to the endogenous flora of humans.
Identification of Acid Fast Bacteria From Caseous Lesions in Cattle in Sudan
Authors: Sulieman M. S. , Hamid M. E. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryOne‐hundred‐and‐twenty caseous lesions collected from slaughtered cattle at selected slaughterhouses in Sudan were processed for the detection of acid‐fast bacteria (AFB). Sixty‐four of the 120 samples showed AFB on microscopic examination after staining with the Ziehl–Neelsen method. Accordingly, it was estimated that 64 (53.3%) of the 120 caseous (purulent) lesions among the samples were due to AFB whereas 56 (46.7%) were due to other causes. Growth on Lowenstein‐Jensen slants was obtained in 54 of the 120 samples. The isolated AFB were tentatively identified using microscopic and cultural characteristics. Confirmation of the phenotypic clusters was achieved by analysing the mycolic acids contents and PCR‐amplification of the IS6110 insertion sequences. The above two methods have allowed the identification of Mycobacterium bovis and M. farcinogenes, the major AFB isolated from cattle in Sudan. The remaining AFB, which were negative for the above two tests, were further identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The above strategy thus allowed the identification of the isolated strains as follows: 25 (46%) M. bovis; 21 (39.9%) M. farcinogenes; 4 (7.4%) M. tuberculosis; 1 (1.9%) M. avium; 1 (1.9%) Nocardia sp., 2 (3.7%) unidentified AFB. The isolation of M. farcinogenes and M. tuberculosis, from pulmonary lymph nodes represented important findings.
Apoptosis Inhibitors Delay the Cytopathic Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV)
Authors: Grummer B. , Bendfeldt S. , Greiser‐Wilke I. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryBased on their action in cell culture, two biotypes of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) can be distinguished. The noncytopathic (ncp) BVDV isolated from persistently infected animals cause no visible damage to cultured bovine cells. In contrast, cytopathic (cp) BVDV induces severe damage and apoptosis in cell cultures. Cp BVDV can be isolated from cattle suffering from mucosal disease (MD) and is associated with the severe lesions that primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract. To get an insight into the molecular events during BVDV induced cytopathic effect (CPE), the effect of three chemical reagents (3‐aminobenzamide, ascorbic acid and N ‐acetyl‐leucyl‐leucyl‐methional) with completely different mode of actions in infected cells was analysed. All three substances were able to delay the cytopathic effect induced in permissive bovine cells.
Sequence Analysis of the Full‐Length Cloned DNA of a Chicken Anaemia Virus (CAV) Strain from Bangladesh: Evidence for Genetic Grouping of CAV Strains Based on the Deduced VP1 Amino Acid Sequences
Authors: Islam M. R. , Johne R. , Raue R. , Todd D. , Müller H. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryChicken anaemia virus (CAV) was detected in the bursa of Fabricius of a 4‐week‐old chicken obtained from an outbreak of acute infectious bursal disease in Bangladesh. Repeated attempts to grow this virus in MDCC‐MSB1 cells were not successful. A full‐length PCR amplicon of the genome of this strain, designated as BD‐3 CAV, was cloned and sequenced. The complete nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence were compared with those of 12 other CAV strains. The genetic analysis of the amino acid sequences of VP1 indicated the possible existence of genetic groups among CAV strains, as BD‐3 CAV along with four other strains (CIA‐1, L‐028, Isolate 704 and TR‐20) formed a distinct lineage. These strains have four signatory amino acids in VP1, such as 75I/T, 97L, 139Q and 144Q, out of which the latter two are located in a small hydrophilic peak.
In Situ Measurement of Pinna nobilis Shells for Age and Growth Studies:  A New Device
Authors: García‐March José Rafael , Manuel García‐Carrascosa Antonio , Luís Peña Álvaro 
Published: March 2003

Abstract. Pinna nobilis
Linnaeus 1758 is an endemic bivalve mollusc in the Mediterranean Sea, where it inhabits seagrass meadows, especially
Posidonia oceanica
(L.) Delile. It is the largest bivalve in the Mediterranean, reaching lengths up to 120 cm. In its natural habitat,
P. nobilis
lives with the anterior part of the valve buried in the seabed, attached to
Posidonia
rhizomes by byssus threads.
This habit makes it impossible to measure its total length directly in situ. As the only way to determine the individual age is the relationship between age and total length, several equations have been proposed to estimate total length by relating it to the unburied parts of the shell. Such measurements are essential to ecological studies that consider age, growth, and population dynamics, and that evaluate the environmental factors that affect this species. Accurately estimating total length depends on the accuracy and precision of the method employed to measure the unburied shell parts. In this paper, we point out the lack of precision of the instruments and methods used until now; we also demonstrate the reason for this imprecision. A new device to measure unburied parts of Pinna nobilis with a precision comparable to that obtained when measuring extracted valves is described. This device is unaffected by substratum type and reduces measurement time. The latter is a very important feature, because these procedures are usually performed whilst SCUBA diving. Finally, a growth equation has been fitted to the measurements obtained with the new device from a population located in Moraira (Alicante, western Mediterranean).