Veterinary Science & Technology

The time of ovulation and co-ordination of sexual behaviour is important for the successful artificial insemination. In our previous studies, urine samples were collected from the bovine at pre-pubertal, pro-estrus, estrus, postestrus,pregnant and lactating animals and a number of compounds were identified by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS); 1-iodoundecane and di-n-propyl phthalatepresent in estrus, the bioactivity of these compounds were not tested to confirm the efficacy of their estrus-specific compounds. So, the present study was planned to confirm the nature of these compounds through testing with bull’s bioactivity. The bioassay was carried out in three different groups exposed to water (Control), estrus urine and estrus-specific synthetic compounds. The behavioural study revealed that the compound 1-iodoundecane identified in the estrus urine exhibits more attraction in bull by enhanced flehmen behaviour when compared to di-n-propyl phthalate. This clearly indicates that the 1-iodoundecane in the estrus female urine is an effective estrus-specific chemical signal which may be used as marker to detect estrus in bovine.

The development of techniques capable of accurate diagnosis of strongyle infections is at the forefront of research in equine parasitology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential, for using lipidomics in the diagnosis of strongyle infection. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 30 horses. Fecal egg count (FEC) results were used to select the serum samples from six uninfected horses (negative controls) and from the five horses with the highest burdens. The lipid portion of serum samples was extracted and analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. The concentrations of 66 lipid metabolites differed between infected and uninfected horses (p<0.025). Database comparison of mass/charge (m/z) ratios and retention times were used to tentatively identify 16 of these metabolites. The roles of these metabolites and reasons for the observable changes were discussed. These results demonstrate the potential for the use of high resolution lipidomic analysis, for the development of a diagnostic technique capable of detecting, and perhaps stratifying, equine strongyle infection.

Swine Idiopathic Vesicular Disease (SIVD) syndrome is characterized by the formation of ulcers, erosions and vesicles on the skin, coronary bands and in the oral cavity of pigs. The clinical importance of SIVD is its resemblance with vesicular foreign animal diseases. Although the etiology of SIVD remains unknown, Seneca Valley virus, which belongs to the family Picornaviridae, was previously identified in such pigs. Here, we report gross and histopathologic findings in a 6-month-old intact male Chester White boar presented with a history of anorexia, lethargy and lameness.Intact and ruptured vesicles, erosions and ulcers were clinically observed within the oral cavity, around the nares, coronary bands and all four limbs. Various diagnostic tests were negative for swine vesicular disease virus, footand- mouth disease virus, vesicular exanthema of swine virus and vesicular stomatitis virus infection. However, vesicular scrapings and oral pharyngeal fluid were positive for the presence of Seneca Valley virus by RT-PCR.

On-farm pasteurization of waste milk fed to calves has become increasingly common over the last 15 years. This study investigated bacteria counts in milk before pasteurization and for 24 h following pasteurization at varying storage temperatures associated with seasons. Standard plate counts on Aerobic Count Plate PetrifilmTM to enumerate bacterial colony concentration were measured on raw and post-pasteurized milk after pasteurization at 63°C (145°F) for 30 min using commercial pasteurizers on 3 different commercial dairy farms. Each farm was sampled in each of 4 seasons of the year. All 12 batches of milk were divided into 2 aliquots. One aliquot was incubated at controlled temperature to mimic the season (refrigerated, room temperature, or incubated at 37 °C) and the other was incubated at ambient outdoor temperatures. The SPC was determined at pre-pasteurization, 0 (immediately post-pasteurization), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h post-pasteurization. The final general linear model testing for factors associated with LogSPC was highly explanatory (R2=0.71), and significant (P<0.0001). This final model for LogSPC included time since pasteurization, season, farm, the interaction of time and season, and the interaction of season and farm. The model showed that passage of time was associated with increased LogSPC, especially during summer. In a northern temperate climate under the conditions observed during this study, milk - could safely be fed-if defined as SPC<20,000 cfu/ml-for at least 8 h post-pasteurization during fall and spring, and for 24 h during winter, but only for 3 h if milk was stored outside during the summer. These results suggest that for milk kept outdoors during summer, any milk remaining after first feeding following pasteurization should not be fed to calves at subsequent feedings, but instead should be re-pasteurized or discarded.