Journey length and high temperatures: effects on rabbit welfare and meat quality     

Liste G  María GA  Buil T  García-Belenguer S  Chacón G  Olleta JL  Sañudo C  Villarroel M 《DTW. Deutsche tier?rztliche Wochenschrift》2006,113(2):59-64

The transport of domestic animals by road can increase levels of stress and decrease meat quality, especially in unfavourable climates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of journey duration and vertical position on the transport truck on some physiological indicators of stress and on instrumental meat quality parameters in commercial rabbits. In the summer months (June and July, 2003), 78 rabbits were subjected to either long (7 h) (LJ) or short (1 h) (SJ) journeys (3 replicates each, n = 6) between the farm and an abattoir in northern Spain. The position (top, middle, or bottom) occupied by the rabbits on the Multi-Floor cage Rolling Stand (MFRS) of the transport truck was recorded. Blood samples were collected at sticking and meat pH was measured at 24 h post-mortem (pH24). At 48 h post-mortem, samples of the M. longissimus dorsi were used to determine water-holding capacity (WHC) and instrumental tenderness using an INSTRON machine. The levels of corticosterone, glucose, lactate, and creatine kinase were slightly higher in LJ than in SJ samples, but the difference was not statistically significant (p < or = 0.10). Independent of journey length, rabbits in the middle and bottom of the MFRS showed higher levels (p < or = 0.05) of glucose and creatine kinase (middle), and corticosterone (bottom) than the rabbits located at the top floor. The pH 24 and WHC values of the SJ and LJ rabbits did not differ significantly. Journey length had a significant effect (p < or = 0.01) on meat tenderness. The meat from rabbits subjected to LJ had higher values of maximum stress and total toughness than did the SJ rabbits (p < or = 0.05). There were similar differences (p < or = 0.05) between LJ and SJ rabbits in their stress values of compression at 20% and 40% (measures of the tenderness of raw meat). In hot weather, the position on the transport truck appeared to have a greater effect on rabbit welfare than the duration of the journey.  相似文献   

Pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin in horses after intravenous, intramuscular and intragastric administration     

Fernández-Varón E  Ayala I  Marín P  Carrión A  Martos N  Escudero E  Cárceles CM 《Equine veterinary journal》2006,38(4):342-346

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Danofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone developed for veterinary medicine showing an excellent activity. However, danofloxacin pharmacokinetics profile have not been studied in horses previously. OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics following i.v., i.m. and intragastric (i.g.) administration of 1.25 mg/kg bwt danofloxacin to 6 healthy horses. METHODS: A cross-over design was used in 3 phases (2 x 2 x 2), with 2 washout periods of 15 days (n = 6). Danofloxacin (18%) was administered by i.v. and i.m. routes at single doses of 1.25 mg/kg bwt. For i.g. administration an oral solution was prepared and administered via nasogastric tube. Danofloxacin concentrations were determined by HPLC assay with fluorescence detection. Tolerability at the the site of i.m. injection was monitored by creatine kinase (CK) activity. RESULTS: Danofloxacin plasma concentration vs. time data after i.v. and i.g. administration could best be described by a 2-compartment open model. The disposition of i.m. administered danofloxacin was best described by a one-compartment model. The terminal half-lives for i.v., i.m. and i.g. routes were 6.31, 5.36 and 4.74 h, respectively. Clearance value after i.v. dosing was 0.34 l/kg bwt/h. After i.m. administration, absolute bioavailability was mean +/- s.d. 88.48 +/- 11.10% and Cmax was 0.35 +/- 0.05 mg/l. After i.g. administration, absolute bioavailability was 22.36 +/- 6.84% and Cmax 0.21 +/- 0.07 mg/l. CK activity following i.m. dosing increased 3-fold over pre-injection levels 12 h after dosing and subsequently approached (but did not reach) normal values at 72 h post dose. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic danofloxacin exposure achieved in horses following i.m. administration was consistent with the predicted blood levels needed for a positive therapeutic outcome for many equine infections. Conversely, danofloxacin utility by the i.g. route was limited by low bioavailability. Tolerability associated with i.m. administration was high. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Pharmacokinetics, blood levels and good tolerability of i.v. and i.m. administration of danofloxacin in horses indicates that it is likely to be effective for treating sensitive bacterial infections.  相似文献   

Changes in antimicrobial susceptibility of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated from pigs in Spain during the last decade     

Gutiérrez-Martín CB  del Blanco NG  Blanco M  Navas J  Rodríguez-Ferri EF 《Veterinary microbiology》2006,115(1-3):218-222

A total of 229 Spanish Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates recovered from diseased pigs with pleuropneumonia from 1997 to 2004 was tested for their susceptibility to 11 antimicrobials in a broth microdilution method. All the isolates were susceptible to florfenicol and most of them to cephalothin; however, a high rate of resistance was observed to tetracycline. A bimodal or multimodal distribution of isolates over the MIC range were observed for penicillins, tetracycline, trimethoprim, sulfisoxazole and nalidixic acid, suggesting the development of acquired resistance. Eight resistance patterns were established, and 21.1% of the isolates were resistant to at least two antimicrobials. In addition, a considerable increase in the resistance to tetracyclines was observed during the last decade in Spain, when compared with other A. pleuropneumoniae strains isolated during 1987-1988 (Gutiérrez, C.B., Píriz, S., Vadillo, S., Rodríguez Ferri, E.F., 1993. In vitro susceptibility of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains to 42 antimicrobial agents. Am. J. Vet. Res. 54, 546-550); this finding was also observed for gentamicin in minor percentage.  相似文献   

Anaplasma marginale: lack of cross-protection between strains that share MSP1a variable region and MSP4     

Ocampo Espinoza V  Vázquez JE  Aguilar MD  Ortiz MA  Alarcón GJ  Rodríguez SD 《Veterinary microbiology》2006,114(1-2):34-40

In Mexico, there are no commercial alternatives for the immunoprophylaxis of bovine Anaplasmosis, a disease responsible for great economic losses. Blood derived Anaplasma marginale used for immunizing susceptible cattle has shown promising results for homologous protection and controversial results against unrelated strains. The present study examined, under controlled conditions, the cross-protective potential of an immunogen composed of blood derived A. marginale of three strains against challenge with strains not included in the immunogens. Groups 1 and 2 were immunized with blood derived Anaplasma from strains Mexico, Morelos and Yucatan, group 4 with strains Morelos, Veracruz and Yucatan, two more groups (2 and 5) of equal conditions were inoculated with an adjuvant alone. Groups 1, 4 and 5 were challenged with Mexico strain; groups 2 and 3 were challenge-inoculated with strain Veracruz; groups 3 and 5 with strains Veracruz and Mexico as controls. Only animals in group 1, immunized and challenged with strain Mexico showed adequate protection. Both groups challenged with strains not included in the immunogens developed poor protection, while all the controls had to be treated to prevent death.  相似文献   

Characterization of Bordetella bronchiseptica strains using phenotypic and genotypic markers     

Friedman LE  Messina MT  Santoferrara L  Santillán MA  Mangano A  Franco MA 《Veterinary microbiology》2006,117(2-4):313-320

Thirty-five strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica, recovered primarily from pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats and humans, were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic markers. Biochemical typing only showed variation in the ability to reduce nitrate to nitrite. OMP profiles from virulent strains showed variations in the region of 85-95kDa, which lead us to describe five OMP-types alpha, beta, gamma, delta and varepsilon. Genotypic markers included the presence of IS1001, and polymorphisms in the flagellin gene (flaA) and pertussis toxin (PT) promoter region. The IS1001 was detected in 16 isolates (2 from humans and 10 from pigs) but was absent in rabbit isolates. The restriction profiles of the flaA gene allowed us to differentiate the strains into types A-C. The PT types were characterized by an RFLP assay and could be typed through patterns III-V. There was no apparent association between the flaA or PT types and the origin of the isolates. Eleven groups of isolates were identified on the basis of specific combinations of the analyzed markers. The combination of phenotypic and genotypic tests used could be useful in characterizing isolates and differentiating between certain clonal types of B. bronchiseptica.  相似文献   

Ocular lesions associated with Trypanosoma evansi in experimentally infected goats     

Morales I  de León M  Morales M  Dalla F  Gutierrez C 《Veterinary parasitology》2006,141(3-4):325-329

Ocular lesions associated with Trypanosoma spp. infection have been described in man and many animal species. However, loss of vision has not been demonstrated in humans presenting Chagas disease or in animals affected by different trypanosome species. In order to assess the possible ocular disorders caused by Trypanosoma evansi infection, six goats were inoculated with 1 x 10(5) T. evansi and maintained for 12 months and four goats were used as control. The inoculated animals became positive at serological and parasitological tests at 1-month post-inoculation and showed a subclinical course of the disease. Unilateral superficial corneal ulceration and retinochoroiditis were observed in two inoculated animals. Data from ocular neurologic examination and electroretinography showed no significant differences between inoculated and non-inoculated goats. It could be concluded that Trypanosoma evansi can produce ocular lesion but without apparent loss of vision in goats.  相似文献   

Efficiency of Duddingtonia flagrans against Trichostrongyle infections of sheep on mountain pastures     

Gómez-Rincón C  Uriarte J  Valderrábano J 《Veterinary parasitology》2006,141(1-2):84-90

The control of sheep nematode parasites in extensive mountain/transhumant management systems using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was assessed in this study. Two groups of Churra Tensina ewes were allowed to graze for 8 weeks in autumn on two separate paddocks of infected pasture near their winter sheds in the valley. At lambing, ewes and their twin lambs were turned out into the same paddocks for the following 12 weeks. One group of ewes received a daily dose of 5 x 10(5) chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans/kg live weight per day both in autumn and in spring, while the other group was used as a non-treated control. Daily dosing of grazing ewes with the fungus D. flagrans had a clear effect on reducing autumn pasture contamination. This had a subsequent effect on the over-wintering larvae population that was confirmed by a 20% lower worm burden of tracer lambs kept in early spring on the paddock previously grazed by fungus treated ewes. In spring, pasture contamination was also significantly reduced in the paddock grazed by fungi-treated ewes and their lambs showed a 61% lower worm burden and a better performance than the control lambs. Results herein show that fungal spores fed to sheep at critical times with regard to the epidemiology of parasite infection, can have a significant effect on the infective larvae present on pasture, which could further improve lambs performance. This novel approach to parasite control would be of interest amongst both organic and conventional sheep farmers operating in mountain regions.  相似文献   

Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cats from Bogota (Colombia) and genotyping of isolates     

Santín M  Trout JM  Vecino JA  Dubey JP  Fayer R 《Veterinary parasitology》2006,141(3-4):334-339

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cats from Bogota (Colombia) was determined from fecal specimens and scrapings of duodenal and ileal mucosa screened by PCR. All PCR-positive specimens were sequenced to determine the genotype(s) present. Of 46 cats, 6 (13%) were positive for Cryptosporidium, 5 (11%) were infected with C. felis and one (2%) with C. muris. Three (6.5%) cats were infected with Giardia duodenalis Assemblage F. Eight (17%) cats were infected with four genotypes of E. bieneusi: genotype D-like (9%), K (4%), Peru 10 (2%), and Peru 5 (2%). This is the first report on the presence of zoonotic species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in cats in Colombia.  相似文献   

Molecular characterization of Haemophilus parasuis ferric hydroxamate uptake (fhu) genes and constitutive expression of the FhuA receptor     

del Río ML  Navas J  Martín AJ  Gutiérrez CB  Rodríguez-Barbosa JI  Rodríguez Ferri EF 《Veterinary research》2006,37(1):49-59

Bacteria have evolved a set of highly specialized proteins to capture iron in iron-depleted environments. The acquisition and uptake of iron present in the extracellular milieu of eukaryotic organisms is indispensable for the growth and survival of microbial pathogens in the course of infection. Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Gl?sser disease, which is responsible for considerable financial losses in pig-rearing worldwide. To gain insight into the mechanisms involved in siderophore-mediated iron uptake in H. parasuis, genes in the H. parasuis ferric hydroxamate uptake (Fhu) region were amplified in the work being reported here. As has been described in A. pleuropneumoniae, an Fhu genomic region was also present in H. parasuis, being composed of four potential consecutive open reading frames (ORF) designated as fhuC, fhuD, fhuB, and fhuA, respectively. By immunoblotting, using a cross-reactive polyclonal antibody raised against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae FhuA protein, it was demonstrated that this protein was constitutively expressed in H. parasuis and its level of expression was not modified under conditions of restricted iron availability. This is the first report describing the presence of the fhu genes in H. parasuis. Our results indicate that FhuA protein expression is not affected under iron-restricted conditions, however, it is one of the targets of the humoral immune response.  相似文献   

Influence of climatic and management factors on Eimeria infections in goats from semi-arid zones     

Ruiz A  González JF  Rodríguez E  Martín S  Hernández YI  Almeida R  Molina JM 《Journal of veterinary medicine. B, Infectious diseases and veterinary public health》2006,53(8):399-402

A survey of Eimeria infections was performed in dairy goats and kids (<6 months old) of six farms from a dry desert area of Gran Canaria Island (Spain). The number of oocysts per gram of faeces (OPG) was determined by a modified McMaster technique over a total of 2,616 individual faecal samples taken from the rectum in monthly intervals. Eimeria oocysts were found in 96.1% of the samples with OPG ranging from 1 x 10(2) to 1.4 x 10(6). Kid goats had significantly (P < 0.001) higher OPG counts (46,496 +/- 5,228) than dairy females (2,225 +/- 287). Eight Eimeria species were identified, with Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae (30.0%), Eimeria arloingi (28.6%) and Eimeria alijevi (20.5%) being the most frequent species followed by Eimeria caprina (9.1%), Eimeria christenseni (4.5%), Eimeria jolchijevi (3.4%), Eimeria caprovina (3.2%) and Eimeria hirci (0.7%). Although significant differences were observed among goat groups and herds, the eight species were present in the six farms in both dairy goats and kids. The intensity of oocysts shedding was related to some factors such as the size of the herd and was further influenced by the prevailing climatic conditions of the area. The highest OPG counts were recorded during the hot season in dairy goats and close to weaning time in kids reared in small farms having no prophylactic treatments against eimeriosis.  相似文献