Four boars were inoculated intranasally with pseudorabies virus to determine if microscopic testicular changes occurred as a result of infection. Testicular biopsies and semen samples were taken at two, four and six weeks postinoculation and the boars were castrated immediately after the last sample collection. Testicular samples and semen were cultured to determine if the virus was present. Pseudorabies virus was not isolated from the semen or testicular tissue. Virus was isolated from trigeminal ganglia at necropsy and from nasal swabs taken one day after castration. Consequently, a time of high risk for shed of the virus from clinically normal carrier animals is immediately following castration. Gross changes were not observed in testicular tissues and microscopic changes in the testicles were the result of biopsy. Lesions consistent with pseudorabies virus infection were observed in the central nervous system of all inoculated boars. Temporary lowered fertility may result from the effects of elevated body temperature on spermatogenesis during acute clinical disease. However, it appears that the strain of pseudorabies virus used, lacked the ability to infect and/or replicate in the boars' reproductive tracts.
Background: Blood glucose concentrations are essential in defining diabetes mellitus. Recent guidelines advocate either of two discrete methods for sample collection and processing. One of these involves addition of glycolysis inhibitors, such as sodium fluoride–potassium oxalate (NaF–KOx) to sample collection tubes, whereas the other requires immediate refrigeration and sample separation. Aims: To examine whether the choice of the preanalytical process has any impact on subsequent glucose determinations. Methods: 62 healthy men participated in the study during screening for diabetes. Paired venous blood samples were collected in a serum-gel tube and a tube containing NaF–KOx (both Sarstedt, Leicester, UK). Serum was promptly separated from gel tube samples and refrigerated, whereas NaF–KOx samples were not separated until immediately before analysis. Glucose concentrations were determined using an Olympus AU 2700 analyser incorporating an automated hexokinase method. Results: Mean (95% CI) glucose concentration in serum-gel tube samples was 5.2 mmol/l (5.0 to 5.4 mmol/l), whereas the concentration in tubes containing NaF–KOx was 4.9 mmol/l (4.8 to 5.1 mmol/l). A negative bias of 0.23 mmol/l (0.16 to 0.30 mmol/l) and relative negative bias of 4.7 % (3.2% to 6.3%) were observed for samples collected in NaF–KOx tubes, consistent with the combined effects of glycolysis and dilution. Conclusions: Bias associated with the use of NaF–KOx tubes may have a significant impact on the prevalence of fasting hyperglycaemia, according to current diagnostic criteria. The small but significant difference between preanalytical processes should be considered when screening for the presence of diabetes mellitus.
Spermatozoa were initially separated from fresh boar ejaculates using a 1.0 M sucrose density gradient. Spermatozoa (1 x 10(8) cells/ml) were subjected to gas cavitation (650 psi, 10 minutes), followed by a 4-step centrifugation technique to yield the final plasma membrane preparation. Purity of the plasma membrane isolate was determined using microscopic techniques (i.e. differential interference contrast and transmission electron microscopy) and marker enzymes for biochemical characterization. Plasma membranes were found to be removed primarily from the periacrosomal region of the sperm. Acrosomes appeared to remain intact on the cavitated spermatozoa. Transmission electron microscopy yielded a homogenous population of 100-200 microns unilamellar vesicles. Enzyme markers specific for plasma, acrosome and mitochondrial membranes substantial the purity observed under visual examination.
A novel surgical technique was used for vasectomizing boars. The benefit of this approach over existing methods is that the ductus deferens is isolated prior to its entrance into the spermatic cord, thereby eliminating the potential for damage to associated neurovascular structures that are essential to testicular viability. Additionally, the described surgical procedure can be performed on boars positioned in lateral recumbency. Vasectomized boars can be used in breeding management strategies.
Parturition was artificially induced in 294 cows (Angus, Hereford, Holstein, Brown Swiss and their crosses) by treatment with dexamethasone or flumethasone. An additional 10 cows calved before administration of a corticoid treatment was performed. The 20 mg dosage of dexamethasone caused parturition within 72 hr. in 159 of 189 cows. All higher dosages of dexamethasone (30, 50 or 60 mg) and the 7.5 mg dosage of flumethasone caused parturition within 72 hr. in all animals treated. Placental retention occurred in 159 of the 294 treated cows and none of the 10 untreated cows. Intramuscular treatment of cows with a retained placenta with 4 million units penicillin and 5 g streptomycin resulted in good post-partum recovery and subsequent normal fertility. Mean services per conception was 1.23 for retained placenta animals and 1.35 for animals that did not retain the placenta. The calving interval was 365 days following the induced parturition. There was a significant correlation (r=.271, P<0.01) of birth weight with day of pregnancy at parturition over all breeds. Within individual breeds, only the cross-bred females failed to show a similar correlation. The average increase in calf birth weight per day of gestation length ranged from 1.20 lb. (.545 kg) for Angus females to 0.28 lb. (.129 kg) for cross-bred females and averaged 0.94 lb./day, (.428 kg/ day) for all animals. These data were based on calving at days 267 to 285 of gestation. One may expect some reduction in birth weight but since good calf survival is difficult if parturition occurs more than 1 to 2 weeks early, this would mean that a reduction of 8.8 to 13.2 lb. (4 to 6 kg) would be the most that could be anticipated on the basis of this study.
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