Comparison of Two Diagnostic Methods to Detect Insulin Dysregulation in Horses Under Field Conditions.

Straightforward testing procedures to enable the diagnosis of insulin dysregulation (ID) in horses that are suitable for use in daily veterinary practice are needed because of the risk that ID could result in laminitis. In our study (that included 90 horses), we compared the proportion of horses classified as ID-positive, ID-suspect, and ID-not diagnosed according to the basal insulin concentration (BIC) with the proportion of horses classified as ID-positive or ID-negative according to a practical and feasible version of an oral sugar test (OST). Furthermore, BIC, basal glucose concentration, and insulin and glucose concentration after OST were analyzed and compared.

Levels of trace elements and potential toxic elements in bovine livers: A trend analysis from 2007 to 2018.

Trace elements and potential toxic elements were analyzed in bovine livers submitted for autopsy in the Netherlands during the years 2007 to 2018. The age of each animal was recorded. In total, 1544 livers were analyzed for cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium and zinc.

Drinking water for dairy cattle: always a benefit or a microbiological risk?

Drinking water can be considered an essential nutrient for dairy cattle. However, because it comes from different sources, its chemical and microbiological quality does not always reach accepted standards. Moreover, water quality is not routinely assessed on dairy farms.

[Changes in blood concentrations of bone-specific biomarkers, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide, in third or higher parity sows after administration of calcium and vitamin D].

Changes in blood concentrations of bone-specific biomarkers, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide, in third or higher parity sows after administration of calcium and vitamin D The study had two objectives: 1, to measure levels of two bone-specific biomarkers, with a view to identifying sows with leg problems; 2, to evaluate the effect of additional vitamin D/ monocalcium phosphate on the two bone-specific biomarkers and the number of stillborn piglets. Of 272 third or higher parity sows, 136 were randomly selected to receive a high dose (33 times the normal dose) of vitamin D (as depot) 1 to 5 days before parturition plus 20 g monocalcium phosphate 3 days before and 3 days after parturition. The sows in the control group received no treatment.

Nitrogen dioxide (silo gas) poisoning in dairy cattle.

Toxic silo gases are a potential danger to livestock housed in close proximity to roughage silos. These gases, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), may be produced during the early stages of (maize and grass) silage making. In humans, inhalation of these gases causes a condition known as 'Silo Filler's Disease' (SFD), which is a recognized occupational hazard for workers in upright forage silos in many countries.

[Selenium requirements of dairy goats].

Selenium is an essential part of the enzyme glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and plays an important role in the intracellular aspecific immune defence. Reference values for blood levels of GSH-Px are not available for dairy goats. The EU has authorized the addition of selenium (as E), in the form of sodium selenite or sodium selenate, to animal feeds, to a maximum of 0.

Analyses of the results of different test systems in the 2005 global proficiency testing schemes for infectious bursal disease virus and Newcastle disease virus antibody detection in chicken serum.

The results of global proficiency testing schemes (PTS) for serological tests to detect antibodies against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chicken serum, in which 125 and 120 laboratories, respectively, participated from Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America, were used to analyse the performances of different antibody test systems such as virus neutralization tests, haemagglutination inhibition tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and agar gel precipitation tests. All laboratories were asked to carry out their routine diagnostic tests for the detection of IBDV and NDV antibodies as usual. This global ring trial provided a large amount of data on variation within and between laboratories and test systems used worldwide.

[Measurement of the status of trace elements in cattle using liver biopsy samples].

Serum, plasma, or urine samples are usually used for the measurement of the trace elements copper; zinc, iron, selenium, because these samples are easy to obtain; however; these samples are not always appropriate. For example, it is not possible to measure molybdenum, the major antagonist of copper; in blood or urine. Therefore measurement of trace elements in liver tissue is considered the gold standard.

[Suckling calves with symptoms of swayback].

Within a 1-year period, three calves from the same herd developed ataxia of the hind limbs and urinary incontinence at about 6 months of age. Signs progressed and the calves were slaughtered 1-8 months after the onset of signs. The calves belonged to a suckling beef herd of 35 cattle.

Serum biochemical reference values for gestating and lactating sows.

Reference values have been established for serum biochemical parameters in sows from high producing pig herds. In total, 132 clinically healthy sows from eight breeding herds were serially sampled three weeks and one week before farrowing, and at one week and three weeks after farrowing. Fourteen serum biochemical parameters, focusing mainly on energy and protein metabolism, hepatobiliary and kidney function and inflammation, were investigated.

[Stillbirth/perinatal weak calf syndrome in dairy heifers: results of a pilot study].

A pilot study of 10 Dutch dairy herds was performed to investigate possible causes of stillbirth/perinatal weak calf syndrome in heifers. Possible causes and advice for further investigations on farms affected by this syndrome are discussed based on the results of investigations of blood and urine from pregnant young stock, postmortem examination of still-born calves, and a questionnaire held among farmers. Infections with Neospora caninum, Salmonella spp.

[Suffocating, slow calves with a thick neck. Iodine deficiency in cattle].

On a dairy farm situated 200 km from the sea on sandy soil an increasing problem arose during 3 years with new-born calves showing a thickness over the larynx. The calves and close-in heifers proved to be severely deficient in trace elements. The new born calves had goitre.

Shortfalls using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides can give rise to unexpected casualties in nontarget species in zoos. The first two offspring of a pair of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) died of brodifacoum toxicosis. The adult birds fed rodenticide-killed mice to their offspring.

Accidental fenitrothion intoxication in young broilers.

Death from fenitrothion intoxication in young broiler chicks has never been reported. The mortality in this instance was 16.4% in the first week.

The phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin test as an indicator of stress-induced changes in immune reactivity in pigs.

The present study describes two experiments to standardize the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin test as an indicator of lymphocyte reactivity in pigs after exposure to stressful situations in practical pig husbandry. The first experiment was a dose-response experiment. No time dose interaction was found, so the pattern of the reaction was the same for all doses used, although the magnitude of the reaction differed.

[Selenium deficiency without clinical symptoms in young cattle on a dairy farm].

On a dairy farm a selenium deficiency was diagnosed on the basis of the blood chemistry of heifer calves. Of ten heifers, aged five to fourteen months, six animals had a glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity lower than 10 U/gHb. A good correlation was found between this low GSH-Px-activity and the selenium concentration in the blood.

Haematology and biochemistry reference values for sows kept under modern management conditions.

The data presented here were obtained using blood samples from 159 healthy, conventionally managed sows from 37 breeding herds. Sows were sampled at weaning and at 4-5 weeks gestation. Paired blood samples were analysed from sows that had a normal pregnancy and subsequently farrowed.

Changes in the composition of cervical mucus of the cow during the estrous cycle as parameters for predicting potential fertility.

Four experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the composition of cervical mucus can be used as an indicator of reproductive efficiency in the cow. In Experiment 1, biochemical changes were studied in cervical mucus during the estrous cycle. Sorbitol concentration was observed to be highest at 1 to 3 days prior to estrus and lowest on Days 6 to 12 (P<0.

[The effect of feeding mangel-wurzels on blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level of milk-producing cows].

The effect of feeding dairy cattle mangel-wurzels on the serum increased concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate was investigated in serum is normally indicative of an increased catabolism of fats in the liver as a result of an energy shortage. Feeding cattle large amounts of mangel-wurzels can cause the serum beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration to increase above normal reference values, thus seemingly indicating that there is a (sub)clinical acetonaemia. In fact the increased concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate is probably the result of an increased production of butyrate in the rumen.