Austral Journal of Veterinary Sciences
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Subcutaneous abscess caused by Trueperella pyogenes in a Southern pudu (Pudu puda)
Get PDFA case of an abscess on the head of a captive Southern pudu (Pudu puda) caused by Trueperella pyogenes is described. A diagnosis was done based on bacterial culture and MALDI-TOF MS identification. Traumatic inoculation of the bacterium in the subcutaneous tissue is speculated
Finishing lambs using an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program in an intensive production system in Northern Mexico
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to compare the productive performance of finishing lambs using an integral diet under a restricted-feeding program. Ten Dorper lambs were assigned to two homogenous groups according to live weight and age under a complete randomised block design. Group 1 was fed a traditional diet commonly used by the producer and group 2 was fed an integral feed restricted to 75% of dry matter requirement of lambs. The evaluated variables were: dry matter intake, initial and final live weight, daily weight gain, feed efficiency and body growth expressed in height, body length, thoracic diameter, cane length and cane width. A partial cost analysis was carried out to evaluate the economic viability. Lambs fed with the integral feed had better feed efficiency, higher dry matter intake, daily weight gain, height, body length and thoracic diameter when compared with the lambs fed the traditional diet. The use of an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program reduced the cost of finishing lambs by 2.46 dollars per head and finishing length by 120 days. Overall, providing an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program is a viable alternative for improving finishing lambs under intensive conditions in the Northern Mexico
Hemicastration in Chilean rodeo stallions in competition
Get PDFThe objectives of this study were: a) establish the frequency, age and reason for hemicastration, b) determine the most frequently removed testicle and c) compare the athletic performance between unilaterally castrated and intact Chilean rodeo stallions. Two hundred and sixteen Chilean Horse stallions participating in the 2016 Chilean rodeo qualifying rounds and National Championship (CRNC) were evaluated. Owners and/or riders were interrogated about age, hemicastration, age at hemicastration, removed testicle, reason and effects of hemicastration on athletic performance of stallions. The statistical analysis was descriptive and the results were expressed in means and percentages. Chi-square test was used to compare the performance between unilaterally castrated and intact stallions. Performance was qualified based on qualification to the CRNC and ultimately participation in the Champion series. Fifty-three percent of the stallions were unilaterally castrated (47% left testicle; 53% right testicle) (P>0.05). Mean age of hemicastration was 6.97±2.24 years. Main reasons reported for hemicastration were: traumatic (76%), increased volume (13%) and preventive (11%), but not all of them with medical confirmation. Seven owners or riders were unaware of the reason of hemicastration. Forty-six percent of the qualified stallions to the CRNC (P>0.05) and 29% of the qualified to the Champion series were unilaterally castrated (P=0.0122). It was concluded that half of the 2016 elite Chilean Horse stallions were unilaterally castrated, without preference for a testicle, after the age of initiation of sporting activity. A 43.5% of hemicastration in Chilean rodeo stallions are performed preventively or based on subjective assessments of owners and riders without veterinary diagnosis, however, it is unclear that hemicastration affected the athletic performance in these cases
Faecal shedding of campylobacteria among domestic and wild animals from an urban coastal area
Get PDFCampylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the leading cause of food-related diarrhea worldwide. However, other campylobacteria such as other Campylobacter spp., Arcobacter spp. and Helicobacter spp. are also recognised as emerging pathogens, although they are not frequently isolated by traditional culturing methods. Moreover, Campylobacter spp. have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics due to antibiotic usage in animal and human medicine. It has been suggested that pet ownership increases the risk for campylobacteriosis. However, environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and poor sanitation conditions have also been associated with the highest rates of shedding among animals. This study assessed the faecal shedding of campylobacteria in an urban coastal area among 68 (66.0%) domestic animals, mainly dogs (n=61), and 35 (33.9%) wild animals belonging to 13 species and eight orders. None of them had symptoms of gastroenteritis and campylobacteria were detected by PCR in 21 samples (20.4%), while only six (5.8%) were detected by culturing, i.e. Campylobacter upsaliensis (n=4, dogs), C. jejuni (n=1, dog) and Arcobacter butzleri (n=1, chicken). None of the isolates was resistant to ciprofloxacin, but two were resistant to erythromycin, i.e. A. butzleri (MIC=8 μg/ml) and C. upsaliensis (MIC=128 μg/ml). Regarding the virulence factors, only one isolate of C. jejuni was positive for cdtC and cadF genes and one isolate of A. butzleri was positive for cadF and ciaB genes. This is the first study to assess the faecal shedding of campylobacteria in animals from the urban coastal area of Valparaíso, Chile. Although C. jejuni and other emerging campylobacteria were detected mainly from pet dogs and in a low rate, further investigations are needed to assess the potential transmission of these zoonotic bacteria or their antibiotic resistance between pets and owners
Differentiation and multipotential characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue of an endangered wild cat (Leopardus guigna)
Get PDFAdipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) had been isolated and used for cell therapy in domestic cats. For wild cats, the isolation of AMSCs has only been reported in the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes). AMSCs obtained from wild cats may be useful to treat injuries of endangered cat species that remain in captivity or arrive at wildlife rehabilitation centers. Additionally, AMSCs might allow improvement of cloning techniques or assist in derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Endangered wild cats such as the guigna (Leopardus guigna), an endemic and endangered species from Chile and Argentina, might benefit greatly from the development of novel treatments or techniques that can be applied for its conservation. The objective of this study was to characterise putative AMSCs from guigna in terms of their main biological attributes, particularly, growth kinetics, differentiation ability and surface marker expression. Results obtained from this characterisation were compared with AMSCs isolated from domestic cats. AMSCs were isolated from peritoneal adipose tissue of female cats and subcutaneous tissue from a female guigna. Migration potential, colony-forming unit assay, mesodermal differentiation and surface marker expression (CD45, CD44, CD90, MHCI and MHCII) were evaluated. Domestic cat and guigna AMSCs displayed similar growth properties in culture. Both AMSC types showed mesodermal differentiation potential, in vitro homing potential and similar surface marker expression. These results indicate that AMSCs from subcutaneous tissue of guigna could have potential use as regenerative treatment for this species and might be considered for use in other biotechnological applications
Energy balance of pregnant vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) in the Chilean High Andes
Get PDFEnergy unbalance may be the cause of low fertility rates found in vicuñas. The objective of this study was to estimate the temporal variation of the nutritional status in pregnant vicuñas from a herd kept under captivity in the Chilean High Andes. The hypothesis under study is that animals are able to maintain the energy balance during the dry season. Six pregnant vicuñas were examined in August, October and January (year 2015-2016). Reproductive status was estimated by ultrasonography and plasma progesterone concentration. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS: 1-5 scale) were measured for each animal. A blood sample was taken to estimate the plasma concentrations of total protein (Biuret method), cholesterol (CHODPAP method), triglycerides (GPO-PAP method), β-hydroxybutyrate (enzymatic method) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA; enzymatic colorimetric method). Vicuña groups had similar LW, BCS, plus similar plasma concentrations of metabolites, total protein and progesterone. Females did not increase their LW during gestation and their BCS in January (2.9) was below the recommendations for late pregnancy in camelids (BCS 3.5). NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate values were higher than those expected under nutritional energy balance signalling a lipolytic and ketogenic metabolic response, respectively. The absence of weight gain and the values of NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate show that pregnant vicuñas suffer a negative energy balance during the dry season in the Chilean High Andes. This can cause abortion and contribute to low fertility rates of the herds. It is suggested to provide pregnant vicuñas with food supplements up to birthing, in years of severe drought
Prevalence, risk factors, and identification of Salmonella spp. in stray dogs of northwest Mexico
Get PDFSalmonellosis has a worldwide relevance in aspects associated with public health, as only in 2009 were reported 93.8 million cases in humans. The objective of the study was to establish the prevalence, risk factors and bacteriological and molecular identification of Salmonella spp in stray dogs in urban, rural and coastal areas of Mexicali, a city in northwest Mexico. From May 2014 to February 2015, 385 dogs were tested. Sampling was performed by rectal swab and conventional bacteriological techniques were applied, for later implementation of the API 20E system and molecular identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The data were analysed statistically by means of descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression modelling. A prevalence of 6.27% was obtained in the dogs examined, the samples obtained were characterised to subspecies (Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica and Salmonella enterica subspecie arizonae). The geographical region with the highest prevalence in the study was the coast (10%), followed by the rural area (8.57%) and the urban area (5.8%), however, no significant statistical differences were detected. There was significant difference in the prevalence by age of dogs under one year (P<0.05). The identification of Salmonella in dogs from northwest Mexico could correspond to serovars of zoonotic importance indicating a potential risk for the population
Cryopreservation of horse semen with a liposome and trehalose added extender
Get PDFThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cryopreserved equine semen in the presence of trehalose-loaded liposomes on the integrity and function of sperm cells. Six ejaculations of five stallions collected with an artificial vagina were used. The ejaculates were diluted with INRA 96® 2:1 v/v and transported at 22 °C to the laboratory. Before cryopreservation, the semen was diluted with INRA Freeze® to obtain the following treatments: T1) INRA Freeze® (control), T2) INRA Freeze® + liposomes, T3) INRA Freeze® + liposomes+trehalose. Data were analysed using the Kruskal Wallis test. The percentages of sperm with intact DNA were 54.5, 57.9, and 64.8% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively (P > 0.05). When evaluating the acrosomal and capacitation state after filtering with Percoll®, the percentages of spermatozoa without acrosome reaction and without capacitation were 67.8, 79.2 and 68.1% in T1, T2, and T3, respectively (P > 0.05), while the capacitated sperm without acrosome reaction and without capacitation was similar in T1 (47%) and T3 (32%) (P > 0.05), and lower in T2 (16%) before filtering with Percoll®. The use of liposomes and liposome-trehalose did not affect on the functional status and nuclear chromatin of the equine sperm after freezing, but it did affect the percentage of capacitated sperm without acrosome reaction after selecting the thawed semen using the Percoll® gradient
The effect of non-traditional cooling on dog sperm cryosurvival and ability to perform the acrosome reaction
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to assess cryosurvival, plasma membrane fluidity, and capability of cryopreserved dog (Canis lupus familiaris) spermatozoa, cooled to –5 °C before freezing, to perform the acrosome reaction under the effect of progesterone and calcium ionophore. In the first experiment, fresh spermatozoa diluted in Tyrode’s medium plus albumin, lactate, and pyruvate (TALP) were incubated at 38 °C in 5% CO2 in air, with progesterone or calcium ionophore added at 2, 4, and 6 h after incubation and sampled 30 min later to assess the acrosome reaction. In the second experiment, diluted sperm were packaged in plastic straws, cooled to either +5 °C or –5 °C and cryopreserved. Progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and fluidity, capacitation status and acrosome integrity were assessed before and after freeze-thawing. After thawing, sperm were assessed, resuspended in TALP and incubated to assess the acrosome reaction. Parameters for sperm cryosurvival were similar in sperm cooled to either +5 °C or –5 °C, except in the percentage of hyper-fluid membranes which was lower (P<0.05) in sperm cooled to –5 °C. There were no differences in the percentages of frozen-thawed spermatozoa with acrosome reaction, induced by progesterone or calcium ionophore, between cooling treatments. In conclusion, cooling of dog spermatozoa to –5 °C did not improve sperm cryosurvival but had a positive effect on plasma membrane fluidity
Comparison of yield characteristics of Damascus and Kilis goats in dry climatic conditions
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to compare the reproductive traits, lactation milk yield, and body measurements of the Damascus (Shami) and Kilis goats raised as dairy goats in the dry climatic conditions of the Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The study was perfomed using 596 Damascus goats and 82 Kilis goats between 3-5 years old. It was observed that the lactation milk yield, lactation period, withers height, and leg circumference of the Damascus goats (175.86 kg, 227.48 days, 72.67 cm, and 74.10 cm, respectively) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the Kilis goats (107.48 kg, 170.39 days, 69.70 cm and 71.83 cm, respectively). This analysis indicated that the Damascus goat may be a good breed for dry climatic conditions. It is suggested that focusing on growing Damascus goats could increase productivity in the Southeastern Anatolian region of Turke