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Given the climate projections for livestock rearing regions globally, understanding the inflammatory status of livestock under various heat loads will be informative to animal welfare and management. A survey of plasma inflammatory markers was conducted, and blood leucocyte counts followed to investigate the capacity of the ~ 500 kg grain fed Black Angus steer to respond to and recover from a moderate heat load challenge. Two sequential cohorts of 12 steers were housed in climate-controlled rooms (CCR) for 18 days. A thermally challenged (TC) group (n = 2 × 6) experienced five consecutive periods: PreChallenge, Challenge, and Recovery within the CCR, and 40 days in outdoor pens (PENS and Late PENS). PreChallenge (5 days) and Recovery (7 days) delivered thermoneutral conditions, whereas in Challenge the TC steers experienced a diurnal temperature range of 28-35 °C. A feed-restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) treatment (n = 2 × 6) was run concurrently to differentiate between responses to reduced feed intake alone and moderate heat stress. Blood neutrophil counts were particularly sensitive to moderate heat load with higher numbers during Challlenge and in PENs. The plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL-1β were depressed in the TC group compared to the FRTN counterparts and remained so for 40 days after Challenge. Linear relationships of the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-10, and haptoglobin with rumen temperature or dry matter intake detected in the FRTN group were altered or absent in the TC group. The findings suggest significant impacts of moderate heat load on the inflammatory status of feedlot cattle., (© 2023. Crown.)

Human-animal bond is defined as the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and animals. Recent years have seen increasing research regarding the benefits of interaction with animals for autistic children. However, there continue to be limited studies exploring the impact of this interaction on the welfare of therapy dogs. As part of a pilot randomised control trial assessing the efficacy of canine-assisted occupational therapy with autistic children, this project assessed welfare markers of the therapy dog involved. A total of twenty-one saliva samples were taken from the therapy dog to assess cortisol, alpha amylase, and oxytocin concentrations at home and throughout the treatment days. Additionally, six hours of therapy session videos were analysed for stress indicators of canine behaviour. No significant differences were found between days spent at home and treatment days for any of the biomarkers or stress indicators. Results suggest that the therapy dog involved did not experience increased stress resulting from interaction with the autistic children throughout the therapy sessions. This study supports the need for further research regarding therapy dog welfare when interacting with autistic children including an increased sample size of therapy dogs and therapists.

We set out to determine the impact of moderate heat load on the plasma concentrations of a suite of hormones involved in regulating energy metabolism and feed intake. The responses of the thermally challenged (TC) feedlot steers were compared to those of feed restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) steers. Two sequential cohorts of twelve 518 ± 23 kg Black Angus steers on finisher grain ration were housed in climate-controlled rooms (CCR) for 18 days and returned to outdoor pens for 40 days. The TC group was subjected to a diurnal range of 28-35 °C for 7 days (Challenge) but held in thermoneutral conditions beforehand (PreChallenge), and in Recovery (after Challenge). The FRTN group was held in thermoneutral conditions and feed restricted throughout. Blood was collected over the three periods in CCR and two periods in outdoor pens for 40 days (PENS and Late PENS). Plasma concentrations of prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and thyroxine (T4) were determined during the five periods. Whilst the pituitary hormones were relatively stable, there were differences in plasma leptin, adiponectin and T4 between the two groups during Challenge and Recovery, and occasionally in PENS. The interaction of the plasma hormone concentrations and rumen temperature and DMI were also investigated. Whilst the positive relationship between DMI and leptin was confirmed, we found a strong negative relationship between adiponectin and rumen temperature, and a strong positive relationship between adiponectin and dry matter intake (DMI) in the TC steers only., (© 2023. Crown.)

Responses to heat stress in ruminants reflect the integration of local climatic conditions, environment/production system and the animal's homeostatic and homeorhetic capacities. Thus, the goal of ameliorating heat stress requires experimental settings that, within limits, closely resemble the target production system and cohort. We investigated the blood biochemical changes of two sequential cohorts of twelve 518 ± 23 kg grain fed Black Angus steers. Each cohort consisted of two treatments of 6 head/group: a thermally challenged (TC) treatment and a feed restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) treatment. Both groups were housed in climate controlled rooms for 19 days, with the TC group experiencing three distinct periods: PreChallenge, Challenge and Recovery. PreChallenge and Recovery delivered thermoneutral conditions, while Challenge consisted of 7 days of moderate diurnal heat load. The FRTN group was maintained in thermoneutral conditions at all times. Both groups were then relocated to outdoor pens for a further 40 days to detect any enduring change to metabolism as a consequence of the treatments. We compared blood biochemical responses of the treatments and inferred likely metabolic changes. Relative to the FRTN group, the TC animals experienced limited supply of triglycerides, cholesterol and glutamine during moderate heat load, suggesting constraints to energy metabolism. Lower blood urea during Recovery and in outdoor pens implied a requirement to capture N rather than allow its excretion. Altered liver enzyme profiles indicated a higher level of hepatic stress in the TC group. By the completion of feedlot finishing, the groups were not separable on most measures., (© 2022. Crown.)

Children on the autism spectrum frequently display difficulties engaging with people and with functional tasks. A pilot, randomised control trial was completed to explore the impact of canine assisted occupational therapy on the on-task behaviours and goal attainment of autistic children when compared to occupational therapy sessions as usual. Twenty-two children between the ages of 4, and 6 years and 11 months, were randomly placed in either the treatment group (n-11) or waitlist control group (n = 11). Results showed that although there was a positive trend for on-task behaviour and goal attainment within the treatment group, results were not statistically significant. These results support the need for further research in the area of canine assisted occupational therapy for autistic children.

Assessment of equine body composition using objective measurements is difficult owing to the large size of the animals and the costs involved. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS), a technique widely used for the assessment of body composition in humans, was investigated for practicality of use in horses. BIS uses algorithms that require values for the apparent resistivities of body fluids and body proportion factors (Kb), currently not available for horses. Aims of the present study were to derive resistivity coefficients and body proportion factors and to validate their use for prediction of body composition horses. Validation of coefficients and predictive power using a split-sample agreement study design using correlation and limits of agreement analysis. Whole body impedance measurements were performed on 35 standardbred horses, yearlings to 14 yr, concurrently with determination of total body water volume (TBW) by deuterium dilution and extracellular water volume (ECW) by bromide dilution. Kb was determined in an independent group of 38 mixed-breed, age, and sex horses. Mean apparent resistivity coefficients were 511.4 and 1415.9 ohm.cm for intracellular water and TBW, respectively. Mean Kb was 1.52 ± 0.1. Using these coefficients, TBW and fat-free mass could be predicted with limits of agreement (2SD) of ± 11.6%; mean fat-free mass and fat mass were under- and overestimated by 3.1% and 14.1%, respectively, compared to measured reference values although these differences were not statistically significant. BIS is a practical technique for the assessment of body composition in equids, but the relatively wide limits of agreement, particularly for fat mass, may limit its usefulness for predicting body composition in individual horses.

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis, is associated with production losses in cattle worldwide. This study aimed to develop a reliable BGC guinea pig model to facilitate future studies of pathogenicity, abortion mechanisms and vaccine efficacy. Seven groups of five pregnant guinea pigs (1 control per group) were inoculated with one of three strains via intra-peritoneal (IP) or intra-vaginal routes. Samples were examined using culture, PCR and histology. Abortions ranged from 0% to 100% and re-isolation of causative bacteria from sampled sites varied with strain, dose of bacteria and time to abortion. Histology indicated metritis and placentitis, suggesting that the bacteria induce inflammation, placental detachment and subsequent abortion. Variation of virulence between strains was observed and determined by culture and abortion rates. IP administration of C. fetus subsp. venerealis to pregnant guinea pigs is a promising small animal model for the investigation of BGC abortion., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In our recent studies on the effects of maternal hyperthermia on the embryonic guinea-pig, we have demonstrated two 'teratogenic windows' at embryonic days 13 and 21 (E13 and E21). E13 encompasses the period of the closure of the neural groove and anterior neuropore, and E21 the commencement of the cortical plate. The approximate equivalent developmental times in the human are E23-E25 and E49-E56 respectively. In the guinea-pig, maternal hyperthermia at E13 results in a high incidence of neural tube defects (NTD), many open, and associated with other defects such as microphthalmia, and scoliosis or kyphosis. The NTD were most common in the developing hindbrain and all demonstrated considerable infoldings of neural tissue, rosettes of neuroepithelial cells, outpocketings of neural tissue and large cystic cavities beneath the defect. In human examples from the Kyoto Human Embryo Collection, 16 had verified hyperthermic insults at E23-E25 and all had NTD which showed similar deformities to the guinea-pig. Most embryos with such gross defects are aborted in the early fetal period in both species.

Guinea pigs were exposed to hyperthermia for 1 hr once or twice on day 11, 12, 13, or 14 (E11-E14) of pregnancy. The mean rectal temperatures were elevated by 3.4 degrees C-4.0 degrees C. This treatment resulted in a marked elevation of rates of resorption and developmental defects in embryos examined at day E23. The defects observed were those affecting the neural tube (NTD) (exencephaly, encephaloceles, and microphthalmia), kyphosis/scoliosis, branchial arch defects, and pericardial edema. Embryos with NTD and kyphosis/scoliosis have not been found among newborn guinea pigs to date following maternal heat exposure on days E12-E14. It appears that embryos with these defects are filtered out by resorption or abortion by days E30-E35.