1,720,969 research outputs found
Male camel behavior and breeding management strategies: how to handle a camel bull during the breeding season?
No full textThe present article reviews male camel behavior and breeding management strategies, providing an insight into the handling procedures and the most relevant welfare issues on these topics. Furthermore, it suggests some procedures for rearing, handling and collecting semen from camel bulls, based on results that have been achieved in the last twenty years and, recently, literature published with the aim of optimizing dromedary camel breeding. Camels are seasonal breeders and their breeding season (BS) is confined to the coolest winter months of the year; during the BS, also called “rutting period” or "rut", males exhibit morphological, behavioral and endocrinological peculiarities. Short breeding season, low libido and high aggressiveness are still some of the major cause of economic loss, poor reproductive performance and injuries, for camel breeding and industry. The application of ethology to approach, to train and to study camel bulls may be useful in the future to improve camel welfare and productive performances. Strong knowledge of animal learning and correct management procedure could be useful for camel technicians, owners, breeders, but also for veterinarians and others scientists
Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) as an useful biomarker in preventive screening programme of canine prostate: CPSE threshold value assessment and its correlation with ultrasonographic prostatic abnormalities in asymptomatic dogs
Full text linkDue to the increased attention that pet-owners
devote to their animals and to the
improved veterinary care, investigations regarding methods to early detect prostatic
disorders that might affect canine life quality have been performed. Canine prostate
specific esterase (CPSE) concentration was reported to be higher in dogs suffering
from prostatic diseases. This study aimed to estimate the CPSE threshold as a biomarker
to early identify prostatic diseases in asymptomatic dogs. The ultrasonographic
examination of the prostate was performed in 19 dogs (6–40 kg; 1–5 years)
with no symptoms of prostatic diseases. Dogs were grouped according to the presence
(Group A) or absence (Group B) of prostatic disorders at the ultrasound (altered
appearance, the presence of cysts or irregular borders). For each dog, a venous blood
sample was collected to measure serum CPSE and the ratio between calculated and
normal expected prostatic volume was assessed for each dog. The CPSE data were
statistically analysed (t test, p < .05), and the CPSE threshold in blood serum between
groups was calculated by ROC. In 11 dogs, ultrasonography showed signs of prostatic
abnormalities (Group A, 2–5 years), while no signs were detected in eight dogs (Group
B, 1–3 years). The calculated/estimated volume ratio resulted greater than 1.5 in
Group A dogs. The CPSE was statistically different between groups (p < .0001): higher
in Group A (mean = 184.9, SD = 126 ng/ml) than in Group B (38.9 ± 22.1 ng/ml). The
cut-off
CPSE threshold was 52.3 ng/ml (ROC, AUC = 0.974, SE 95.6%, SP 89.2%).
This study suggests that CPSE serum concentration higher than 50 ng/ml in asymptomatic
dogs is associated with ultrasonographic alterations and increased the prostatic
size (volume by 1.5 times greater than the normal size). As the onset of prostatic disorders
often remains asymptomatic, the rapid assessment of CPSE could be suitable
for selecting preventively those animals that would require further accurate
evaluation
Post-thawing effects of three cryopreservation diluents on Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) spermatozoa
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate home-made and commercial extenders for the cryopreservation of Rusa deer semen. After collection by electroejaculation, six ejaculates were diluted and frozen in TES-based, Tris-based and Triladyl® extenders. Subjective motility, viability, morphology, acrosome integrity and membrane functionality were assessed post-thawing and after 1-hr incubation at 37°C (Thermal stress test). Total and progressive motility, and kinematic parameters were also assessed through CASA system. Post-thawing sperm progressive motility (PM), velocity according to the straight path (VSL) and linearity (LIN) showed significant differences, and higher values were detected for spermatozoa diluted with Triladyl® and TES (p < 0.05) as compared with Tris (PM of Triladyl® 14.7% vs. 3.2% TES and 2.5% Tris; VSL 56 for Triladyl® , 59.2 for TES and 41.7 for Tris; LIN 45.6 for Triladyl® , 52 for TES and 36.5 for Tris). Triladyl® and TES extender led to better post-thawing sperm parameters, but these preliminary results need to be verified through artificial insemination trials
Case of Anorchia in a Mixed-Breed Dog
Full text linkAnorchia is a rare and often poorly understood disorder of sexual development. In the present case report, we
used a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose a case of anorchia in a 30-month old dog. The diagnostic process
began with gathering the dog medical history followed by a clinical visit with the patient, which
included a general wellness examination as well as an examination of the genital system. As suggested in the
relevant literature, the dog underwent an ultrasound and then computed tomography (CT) of the genital system,
which confirmed the diagnosis of testicular agenesis. Genetic testing confirmed the male XY karyotype.
Hormone testing also supported the diagnosis: testosterone and anti-M€ullerian hormone levels were below
their reference ranges, and luteinizing hormone (LH) was above 1 ng/mL. Following the diagnostic procedures
suggested in the relevant literature, the present study confirms anorchia in the dog and describes a
case of testicular agenesis in the canine species
Effect of continuos exposition on stereotypical behavior in housed male dromedary camel during the onset of the breeding season
No full textEvaluation of the analgesic effect of the Fentanyl patch during ovariectomy and the postoperative period in bitch.
No full textFor several years now, routine surgical procedures such as ovariectomy are performed as
outpatient surgery. Post-operative care turns out to be much more comfortable for the patient
than hospitalization, particularly at home in reducing the risk of nosocomial infections.
However, this approach rises the problem of the administration of analgesic drugs by the
owners at home. The potent opioid fentanyl is market in the form of a patch (DURAGESIC®,
Jannsen), which fentanyl is gradually released for approximately 72 hours after application
(1). The aim of this study was to evaluate the convenience and the analgesic efficacy of this
patch, in comparison to other analgesic protocols usually utilized in ovariectomized bitches.
This study involved 20 privately-owned bitches, ovariectomized at the Veterinary Hospital of
the Department of Veterinary Medicine (Bari). Only bitches housed without other domestic
animals were selected, to allow the owners to perform a strict control in the postoperative
period. The animals (healthy and from 2 to 5 years of age) were randomly divided into two
2groups. In both groups after premedication with acepromazine, anesthesia was induced by
propofol and maintained with isofluorane. The following parameters were monitored during
the procedure in all animals: heart rate, electrocardiogram, EtCO2, pulse oximetry, blood
pressure and body temperature. The analgesic protocols in the Fentanyl group and Control
group were different. The Fentanyl patches were applied 12 hours before the surgery.
Transdermal fentanyl patches were placed on the neck skin, which had been previously
shaved and disinfected. The size of individual patch was chosen based on the patient's body
weight: <10 kg = 25 mcg/h; 10-20 kg = 50 mcg/h; 20-30 kg = 75 mcg/h, and 30-40 kg = 100
mcg/h (2). The patches were affixed with adhesive tape, and left on site for 72 hours after
application (3). In the control group standard analgesic protocol pre-surgically was with
methadone and oral administration of analgesic drugs at home was administered
(robenacoxib). In the clinic, after the dog awakened from anesthesia, the behavior and level
of pain/discomfort were evaluated using the Glasgow Pain Scale. The owners filled out a
questionnaire with a numerical scale (from 0 to 10) to assess their dogs behavior and the
owners satisfaction, regarding the management of their animals postoperative. All the
animals in the study hade an uneventful recovery from anesthesia. The owners of the bitches
in Fentanyl group were more satisfied with post-operative management than were the owners
of the control group (administration of drugs orally). More pain was reported in the control
group, related to bitches refusing oral medication. The bitches in the Fentanyl group tolerated
the Fentanyl patch well, without any side effects noted. The data obtained from this study
shows that the fentanyl patch is a valid aid for effective analgesia post-ovariectomy in bitches
computer assisted semen analysis of epididymal semen collected throughout the year suggest a seasonality in feral male domestic cat
No full textFor recovering the epididymal sperm we proceed in three steps: the distal part of each cauda epididymidis was minced, then epididymis were subjected to the “slide” technique, at the end epididymis were sectioned by a scalpel blade and all spermatozoa manually collected by the blade.
Sperm suspension was placed on a Leya slide and concentration, the percentage of motile spermatozoa, VAP, VLS, BCF, STR, LIN, VCL, ALH, were assessed by sperm-CASA
BEAUVERICIN DISTURBS NUCLEAR AND CYTOPLASMIC MATURATION OF PREBUPERTAL SHEEP OOCYTES
No full textBeauvericin (BEA) is a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species and a common contaminant of food and feed. Due to its ionophoric properties it can disturb mitochondrial
function, and enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and membrane lipid peroxidation [1]. It has been reported that BEA may affect the quality of oocytes by reducing granulosa cell function in pigs [1]. Here we determined the effect of BEA on meiotic competence and cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes from pre-pubertal sheep. Cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs) recovered at local slaughterhouses from the ovaries of sheep younger than 6 months were underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) [2]. COCs were exposed to BEA concentrations selected on the basis of previous studies (0.5, 1, 3, 5 μM) [3]. COCs
cultured in IVM medium with 0.02% DMSO (vehicle) were used as controls. After IVM, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes stained with MitoTracker Orange CMTM Ros, 2′,7′-
dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and Hoechst 33258 and fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde in PBS. Oocytes at the metaphase II stage were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy for their cytoplasmic maturation expressed as mitochondria (mt) distribution pattern [2]. Data were analysed by Chi-square test and differences were considered to be significant when P<0.05. A total of 464 oocytes were analyzed in four replicates. BEA, at 5 μM, was found to reduce the maturation rate (45/94, 47.9% vs 59/93, 63.4%, for exposed and controls, respectively; P<0.05) whereas it was not effective at the lower tested concentrations
(58/94, 61.7%; 45/93, 48.4%; 47/90, 52.2% for 0.5, 1 and 3 μM, respectively; P>0.05). In addition, BEA at 5 μM affected the bioenergetic status of oocytes, as it increased the rate of
oocytes showing abnormal mt pattern (5/45, 11% vs 0/59, 0%, for exposed and controls, respectively; P<0.05) and reduced the rate of oocytes with healthy perinuclear/pericortical mt pattern (20/45, 44% vs 39/59, 66%, for exposed and controls, respectively; P<0.05). No effects were noticed on mt pattern at lower tested concentrations (37/58, 64%; 25/45, 56%; 29/47, 62%, for 0.5, 1 and 3 μM respectively; P>0.05). These data indicate that BEA, in the exposure conditions used in the present study, hinder nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in prepubertal sheep oocytes
- …
