[An intrauterine and prenatal fasciola hepatica infection in a dairy herd in South Netherlands].

A intra-uterine infection with Fasciola hepatica in a three years old cow is proved on a milking cow herd in the South of the Netherlands. Two calves showed to have a prenatal infection. Further investigations on the farm revealed a general presence of this parasite.

The time sequence of electrical and mechanical activation during spontaneous beating and ectopic stimulation.

The relation between the sequence of electrical (E) and mechanical (M) activation was studied at the LV anterior wall of open-chest dogs (n = 11). M activation was defined as the onset of epicardial fibre shortening, as measured with a recently developed video technique. E activation was determined with a brush of extracellular electrodes.

Mapping the sequence of contraction of the canine left ventricle.

A method has been developed to map the sequence of contraction as measured at the epicardial surface of the anterior free wall of the canine left ventricle during sinus rhythm and electrical stimulation of the ventricle. In an area of 35 x 45 mm, 40-60 white markers were attached to the epicardial surface. The motion of the markers was recorded on video and analysed off-line by computer.

Redistribution of myocardial fiber strain and blood flow by asynchronous activation.

Hearts of 11 anesthetized open-chest dogs were paced from the right atrium (RA), right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), and left ventricular apex (LVA). Maps of the sequence of electrical activation (192 electrodes), fiber strain (video technique), and blood flow (microsphere technique) in the epicardial layers were obtained from a 15- to 20-cm2 area of the anterior left ventricular wall. Electrical asynchrony in this area was 10 +/- 5 (RA), 52 +/- 12 (RVOT), and 30 +/- 16 ms (LVA, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.

Practical experiences with prostaglandins in heifers and dairy cows.

This paper describes the extent to which utilisation of prostaglandins (PG) to achieve synchronisation of oestrus can influence certain economic results. Special attention is paid to the fertility status (FS) and calving index in dairy cows, where PG-treated groups are compared with untreated groups. With regard to these parameters a significant difference exists in favour of the PG treated group.