1,721,102 research outputs found
Seroprevalence of Leishmania sp infection in healthy horses housed in endemic areas in Tuscany
No full textThis study carried out an epidemiological survey of seroprevalence of positive immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) results for Leishmania infantum in horses living in Tuscany, where the disease in the dog is endemic and no cases of equine leishmaniasis were observed. Inclusion criteria were (1) horses housed for more than 2 years in endemic areas; (2) horses grazing 24 hours a day outside; and (3) horses living on farms where affected dogs were hdused. Two blood samples each were collected from 277 horses from June to October 2011 (T1) and from December 2011 to February 2012 (T2), and IFAT was performed for L infantum. A dermatologic examination was performed to detect the presence of skin lesions. No animals had skin abnormalities. At T1,18 of 277 horses had positive results for IFAT, while at the second sampling (T2) 277 of 277 samples were negative. In conclusion, our seroprevalence is lower than that in Spain but higher than that in Greece. Our results suggest the presence of a transient humoral response to L. infantum in horses
Valutazione della ripetibilità nella lettura dei WBC e della quantità di muco nel BALF
No full textAIM. To evaluate: 1) repeatability in BALF WBC count; 2) turbidity evaluation of BALF for mucus quantification. MATERIALS AND METHODS. BAL was performed in 31 healthy trotter mare aged 3-6 years. Tracheal mucus was quantified by a scoring system (0-5). BALF was evaluated 3 times consecutively by a cell counter for WBC and by a spectrophotometer for turbidity (DO). ANOVA test was performed to verify differences between the 3 evaluations, both for WBC and DO. Statistical differences were set at p<0.05. Average of the 3 DO was calculated and a correlation was verify between DO average and mucus score. RESULTS. No statistical differences were obtained for ANOVA test, while a statistical significative correlation (r: 0,82) was obtained for DO vs mucus score. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION – Our results confirm the repeatability of WBC evaluation by a cell counter and the useful of turbidity evaluation of BALF with a spectrophotometer for mucus quantification
Effetto della somministrazione orale di tannini di castagno sulla risoluzione della diarrea nel vitello lattante
No full textLa diarrea neonatale è una delle principali cause di perdite economiche nell’allevamento bovino da latte. I tannini di castagno hanno un effetto astringente e antinfiammatorio sul tratto gastro-enterico e sono comunemente utilizzati come fitoterapici per questi scopi in alcune specie. Lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di valutare l’effetto della somministrazione orale di tannini di castagno (Castanea sativa) sulla risoluzione della diarrea nel vitello lattante.
Sono stati inclusi 24 vitelli di razza Frisona Italiana e età compresa fra 0 e 60 giorni che presentassero diarrea con fecal score ≥1. I soggetti sono stati suddivisi in due gruppi e la durata della diarrea è stata registrata: gruppo A ha ricevuto Effydral® in 2 L di acqua tiepida; gruppo B ha ricevuto Effydral® in 2 L di acqua tiepida + 10 g di estratto di tannini di castagno in polvere. E’ stato eseguito T-test di Student per verificare differenze tra i due gruppi relative alla durata della diarrea. Sono stati considerati statisticamente significativi valori di p<0.05.
La durata della diarrea è stata di 10.1±3.2 giorni nel gruppo A e 6.6±3.8 giorni nel gruppo B, con una differenza statisticamente significativa tra i due gruppi (p=0.02).
La durata inferiore della diarrea nel gruppo B rispetto al gruppo A fa ipotizzare un’effettiva azione astringente di questi fitoterapici nel vitello, come già riportato nell’uomo. L’utilizzo dei tannini di castagno nella diarrea del vitello lattante sembra abbreviarne la durata di quasi 4 giorni e potrebbero rappresentare un ausilio a basso impatto economico ed ambientale nel trattamento delle diarree neonatali.
Parole chiave: vitello, diarrea neonatale, tannin
Evaluation of Some Physical, Haemathological and Clinical Chemistry Parameters in Healthy Newborn Italian Holstein Calves
Full text linkAbstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate some physical,
haematological and clinical chemistry parameters in the newborn Italian
Holstein calf at birth and at 24 h of life, to evaluate changes during the
immediate post-partum period. Forty-six Italian Holstein Friesian calves
were included in this study. Heart rate, respiratory rate and body
temperature were recorded at birth and at 24 h of life. The time needed to
raise the head, acquire sternal recumbency, stand up were also recorded.
Blood samples were collected before first feeding and at 24 h of age and
CBC count, L-lactate, glucose and total protein concentrations were
evaluated. The head was raised immediately in 46/46 calves, suckling
reflex was acquired within 12±9 min, sternal position in 5±2 min and
newborn stood up in 38±30 min. Some of the physical data,
haematological and biochemical values showed statistical differences
between birth and 24 h of age. The results from this study provide some
information about physical and laboratory data of Italian Holstein
Friesian calves, at birth and at 24 h of life. Our results confirm that
several clinical and laboratory values in newborn calves differ from adult
reference intervals and from calves of different breeds
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the mammary cistern size during dry period in healthy dairy cows
Full text linkIntroduction
The dry period (DP) is defined as the nonlactating period prior to parturition in dairy cows. During the DP, new udder tissue
is formed and prepared for the next lactation [1]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the udder cistern (UC) size during the
dry period by the ultrasound technique.
Methods
Ten Italian Friesian cows were included, for a total of 40 quarters. All the cows underwent the same management condition.
The following inclusion criteria were set: 1) no heifer; 2) abruptly drying-off; 3) no mastitis or other diseases at drying-off
and during the whole study period. A convex probe (5 MHz) was placed immediately cranial to the insertion of each teat on
the udder in order to visualize the UC of each quarter. The probe was first held parallel to the teat for a longitudinal section,
then a 90° rotation was applied for the cross-section view [2]. All the animals were evaluated at the drying-off (T0) and
24 hours later (T1), then regularly until the end of the dry period (T7, T14, T21, T28, T38, T48, T58), during the colostrum
production phase (TCPP) and at 7 days in milking (T7PP). The Spearman test was applied to evaluate the correlation between
ultrasonographic UC size (UUCS) assessment and time. The Friedman test and the Dunn’s test for multiple comparisons
as post-hoc were performed to compare the cross-section UUCS of the forequarters (FQCS) and hindquarters (HQCS) and
the longitudinal section UUCS of the forequarters (FQL) and hindquarters (HQL) at T0 vs T58 vs TCPP vs T7PP. Values of
p <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
No subject developed mastitis or other diseases during the study period. The ultrasound evaluation of the UUCS was easy to
perform in field conditions. A total of 440 images have been measured. There was a statistically significant negative linear
correlation between the time and the UUCS for FQCS and FQL (r = -0.95; p <0.0004) and for HQCS and HQL (r = -0.90; p
<0.002). The Friedman test was statistically significant (p <0.0001), showing that the UUCS at T58 were lower, compared
to other times for FQCS, FQL and HQCS. T0 did not differ from TCPP.
Conclusions
No studies can be found in literature evaluating the UUCS during the dry period. Studies on UC cellular proliferation showed
that the UC cellular involution during dry period peaked 25 days after the dry-off [3,4]. In our study, the UUCS decreased
throughout the whole dry period and started to increase at the beginning of the next lactation. This difference could be due
to a discrepancy between the UC cellular proliferative and the ultrasonographic evaluation of the UC. In conclusion, the
evaluation of the UUCS during the dry period in healthy cows was feasible for field conditions. UUCS might give useful
information for the udder dry period monitoring.
References
[1] Annen et al 2004. J Dairy Sci, 87: E66–76.
[2] Ayadi et al 2003. J Dairy Res, 70(1): 1-7.
[3] Capuco et al 2003. J Anim Sci 81, 18-31.
[4] Capuco et al 2006. Ruminant Physiology, 363-88
Haematological and biochemical findings in pregnant, postfoaling and lactating jennies
Full text linkThe aims of this study were to: 1) verify if significant changes occur in hematological and biochemical parameters in jennies during the last two months of pregnancy and the first two months of lactation, and 2) determine any differences with equine species.
Materials and methods. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in jennies every 15 days during late pregnancy, parturition, and early lactation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey’s multiple comparison test as post hoc were applied. The significance level was set at p<0.05.
Results. Statistical analysis showed differences related to time for RBC and HCT, WBC, PLT, total proteins (TP), blood urea, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations, AST, GGT, CK activities, sodium (Na) and potassium (K).
Discussion and conclusions. RBC and HCT were higher in late pregnancy than at foaling and during lactation. The relative anaemia might be due to increased water ingestion due to fluid losses. The WBC count was higher at foaling than during late pregnancy and lactation. This could be related to the release of cortisol and catecholamine during delivery. The PLT trend showed lower values from delivery to the first two months of lactation compared to late gestation. Blood urea increased near parturition, and then remained constant during delivery and lactation, which might be due to the high-energy demand at the beginning of lactation. Triglycerides and total cholesterol showed a decrease from delivery through the lactation period. Thus jennies seem to have a similar metabolism of fats to ponies and draft horse mares, characterized by a greater fat content and mobilization than light breed horses. AST activity decreased at parturition and early lactation, probably due to a predominance of anabolic over catabolic processes during pregnancy. GGT activity was lower at delivery and during lactation than at late gestation. This could be due to a physiological load on the liver in the perinatal period. GGT activity was always higher than in mares, but within the normal range for adult donkeys. CK decreased near delivery, then was constant from parturition through the first two months of lactation. Na decreased during lactation, probably due to an increased renal retention mediated by aldosterone release during pregnancy. K showed the same trend as Na, and concentrations are in line with the species. The higher K during pregnancy may be due to reabsorption by the gut. TP decreased more during the post-partum period and lactation than in the gestational period
Hematology and clinical chemistry in mule foals from birth to two months of age: A preliminary study
Full text linkIn horses and donkeys, age-related changes in hematological and biochemical parameters preclude the use of normal values of adults in the evaluation of foals. This study aimed to obtain data on hematological and biochemical parameters of mule foals from birth up to the second month of life and to assess age-related changes in order to determine if dedicated reference ranges are required in younger animals. Blood samples from seven healthy mule foals were obtained at birth before colostrum consumption, 24 h, 48 h of life, and then weekly until the second month of life. Results were expressed as mean and standard deviation or median, minimum, and maximum values if showing non-gaussian distribution. Kruskal-Walls and Dunn tests were used to verify the differences among sampling times. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Red blood cell count, packed cell volume and hemoglobin decreased from 24 h to one week of age. Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin decreased over the first month. White blood cells increased from birth to seven days of life. Aspartate amino transferase increased while alkaline phosphatase decreased in the first week of life. Urea, creatinine, and lactate decreased, while glucose concentrations increased at 24 h. Ionized calcium and magnesium and total sodium and potassium showed no changes. In mule foals, several laboratory parameters may be the same or intermediate, lower or higher than in equine or donkey foals, but also compared to all other adult species. The preliminary results suggest that for mule foals, age influences hematological and biochemical parameters
Fungal isolation from bovine milk samples in an Italian dairy farm: preliminary results
No full textAim of the study was to isolate yeasts from quarter milk samples of cows in one Italian dairy herd. A total of 304 quarters were classified as healthy (H) (negative CMT score, normal milk and no clinical changes of the udder), subclinical mastitis (SCM) (positive CMT score, normal milk and udder), clinical mastitis (CM) (positive CMT score, modified milk and udder). Milk samples were aseptically collected in a sterile tube, stored at 4–8°C, plated within 24 h onto malt extract agar added with biphenyl 0.1% and gentamicin 0.1%. Plates were incubated at 25°C and daily examined over a 21 day period. Yeasts’ identification was achieved on the basis of macro‐ and microscopic features of colonies and by means of a technique of carbohydrate assimilation using commercial galleries (ID32C). Yeasts prevalence was calculated. A Chi‐square test was applied for H and SCM+CM in relation to presence/absence of yeasts. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The H quarters were 65.5%, the SCM 27% and the CM 7.5%. Yeasts were isolated in 5% of H, 2.3% of SCM and 0.7% of CM quarters. The prevalence of fungi was: Candida spp. 5.6% (Candida curvata, Candida famata, Candida rugosa, Candida catenulata, Candida guiilliermondii, Candida sphaerica), Rhodotorula sp. 2.6%, other yeasts 1%. Chi‐square test was not statistically significant. Our results confirmed that fungal species usually associated with mastitis are present also in normal milk
Evaluation of three commercial rapid kits to detect Cryptosporidium parvum in diarrheic calf stool
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to evaluate three commercially available rapid immunochromato-graphic tests for detection of Cryptosporidium parvum antigens in faeces of naturally infected neonatal diarrhoeic calves. FASTest (R) CRYPTO strip, FASTest (R) CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip and TETRASTRIPS (R) were compared for their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value using a cumulative positivity as gold standard. In addition, the agreement between each test and the gold standard was evaluated by Cohen's Kappa (k) value. The highest infection rate was observed by FASTest (R) CRYPTO GIARDIA Strip (65.15%), followed by FASTest (R) CRYPTO strip (63.64%) and TETRASTRIPS (R) (56.06%,). A very good diagnostic performance of all the three tests was observed. FASTest (R) CRYPTO strip (k= 0.935) and FASTest (R) CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip (k= 0.968) had the highest sensitivity (100%) while TETRASTRIPS (R) (k= 0.875) had the highest specificity (100%). Eimeria spp oocysts were present in six samples but cross-reaction with this protozoan was not observed. These assays were not time-consuming and very easy to perform and to read. Based on our results, we recommend the use of FA
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