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This study aimed to collect information on local and systemic inflammatory responses, and goblet cell‐associated components, following anthelmintic treatment with moxidectin and ivermectin in horses naturally infected with cyathostomin parasites. Thirty‐six horses aged 2–5 years of age were randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 received ivermectin/praziquantel (0.2 mg/kg), Group 2 received moxidectin/praziquantel (0.4 mg/kg) and Group 3 were untreated controls. Tissue samples from the Cecum, Dorsal and Ventral Colons were used for histopathological evaluation and preserved for RNA isolation and gene expression analysis. Whole blood was collected weekly for gene expression analysis as well. The control group had significantly higher inflammation associated with higher larval scores. The treatment groups displayed no differences in larval counts and inflammatory cell populations (p >.05). Mucosal larval counts were positively correlated with goblet cell hyperplasia scores (p =.047). The moxidectin‐treated group had a significantly lower expression of IFN‐γ (p <.05). The data suggest that removal of cyathostomins reduced the pro‐inflammatory response associated with cyathostomin infections. Pro‐inflammatory reactions associated with anthelmintic treatment were minimal, but lowest for moxidectin‐treated horses. Results suggested that cecum, ventral and dorsal colons responded differently to cyathostomin larvae, which may have implications in the disease process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core Ideas: Do agricultural travel courses have an impact on the student‐travelers' careers, and do the employer and employee perceive any benefits?We surveyed 335 students who had participated in an Iowa State ag‐led international ag study course between 1964 and 1990.Overall the survey showed strong impacts and favorable attitudes decades after participation in an international agricultural travel course. Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has offered international agricultural travel courses since 1963. Students traveled to Europe, Eastern Europe, or Asia on roughly a bi‐annual basis. We were interested in learning if agricultural travel courses had an impact on the student‐travelers' careers, and if the employer and employee perceived any benefits. Lists of student travelers collected over decades in the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University gave a unique opportunity to take a long‐term perspective. We sent 335 surveys to students who had participated in a CALS‐led international ag study course between 1964 and 1990. We received 132 valid responses. Respondents were asked to rate on a 5‐point Likert scale to what extent they agreed or disagreed with statements regarding their international study course and career advancement and their personal development and attitudes regarding international awareness and humanitarianism. The responses relating to significant career advancement correlated with overall positive attitudes, a mean of 3.70 on the 5‐point scale, toward the effect of student travel. Most respondents felt their employers benefitted as well. The questions on personal development such as improved self‐confidence had a mean score of 3.86, and broadened attitudes regarding others' customs and beliefs scored 4.22. One question regarding increased international interest had a mean score of 4.16. Overall the survey showed strong impacts and favorable attitudes decades after participation in an international agricultural travel course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a vaccine is not available against Rhodococcus equi, R equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) is commonly used, although its efficacy remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a commercially available HIP to prevent clinical rhodococcal pneumonia in neonatal foals after experimental challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for performing study Rhodococcus equi ( Rhodococcus hoagii/Prescottella equi) is a common cause of foal pneumonia, but its diagnosis remains a challenge for equine veterinarians. While the VapA-specific (virulence-associated protein A) immunoglobulin G ( IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) has low sensitivity and specificity for detecting pneumonic foals, little is known about VapA-specific IgG subclasses. Objectives To evaluate the performance of VapA-specific ELISA for IgG and its subclasses IgGa, IgGb and IgG( T) in the early diagnosis of pneumonia caused by R. equi. Study design Assay validation followed by assessment of diagnostic performance using archived samples from animals of known status. Methods Serum samples from exposed (n = 125) and nonexposed adult horses (n = 10) and from experimentally challenged and naturally infected foals were used for ELISA validation. Post mortem and tissue culture records of the last 24 years from the Institute for Experimental Pathology at the University of Iceland in Keldur, Iceland laboratory were evaluated to confirm the absence of R. equi cases in Iceland. The diagnostic performance of VapA-specific IgG and its subclasses was evaluated using banked serum samples from pneumonic (n = 21) and healthy foals (n = 80). To evaluate each IgG assay, a cut-off value was selected based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and used to calculate sensitivity and specificity. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were calculated for each ELISA. Results Using sera from Iceland, where R. equi infection has not been reported, the VapA-specific IgG ELISA differentiated exposed from nonexposed horses. When used to identify infected foals, VapA-specific IgG, IgGa and IgGb had no diagnostic value. In contrast, IgG( T) had high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions Horses from Iceland are not exposed to VapA+ R. equi and can serve as negative controls. VapA-specific IgG subclasses, with the exception of IgG( T), are poor predictors of disease. Further investigation on the use of IgG( T) as a diagnostic tool in field conditions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent emergence of the pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) and H3N2 variant influenza A viruses (IAV) in 2009 and 2011-2012, respectively, highlight the zoonotic potential of influenza viruses and the need for vaccines capable of eliciting heterosubtypic protection. In these studies, single-cycle, propagation-defective replicon particle (RP) vaccines expressing IAV haemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) genes were constructed and efficacy was evaluated in homologous and heterologous pig challenge studies with the pH1N1 2009 influenza virus (A/California/04/2009). Homologous HA RP vaccination eliminated virus shedding and decreased pulmonary pathology in pigs following pH1N1 2009 challenge. An RP vaccine expressing an H3N2-derived NP gene was able to decrease nasal shedding and viral load following heterosubtypic pH1N1 2009 challenge in pigs. These studies indicate that although homologous vaccination of swine remains the most effective means of preventing IAV infection, other vaccine alternatives do offer a level of heterosubtypic protection, and should continue to be evaluated for their ability to provide broader protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several case studies related to necrotizing enteritis related to Lawsonia intracellularis in weanling horses are presented. It cites the case of an 8-month-old Thoroughbred colt that was diagnosed with throat latch edema, fever, and lethargy. It also mentions the case of an 8-month-old filly whose physical examination revealed fever and poor hair coat. Moreover, it mentions the case of a 6-month-old Thoroughbred coat who was presented with lethargic tachycardia and was febrile.

The article presents a study on the use of fast pyrolysis instead of slow pyrolysis biochars as soil amendments. Three corn (Zea mays L.) stover quick pyrolysis biochars prepared with the use of various reactor conditions were physically and chemically characterized to identify their extent of pyrolysis. Quantitative solid-state carbon (C) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and elemental analysis revealed variation in aromatic C and oxygen (O) functional groups, mainly associated with carbohydrates which could be used to identify extent of pyrolysis.

Understanding the temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is important to predict the response of soil carbon (C) dynamics to projected global warming. There is no consensus, however, as to whether or not the decomposition of recalcitrant soil C is as sensitive to temperature as is that of labile soil C. Soil C is stabilized by three mechanisms: chemical recalcitrance, mineral interaction and physical accessibility. We used artificial soils with controlled compositions to assess the effects of chemical recalcitrance (cellulose compared with lignin) and clay-mineral composition with montmorillonite (M) or kaolinite (K) on the decomposition of model organic compounds at 2, 12, 22 and 32°C. When only substrate composition was varied, the presence of cellulose enhanced the decomposition rate of lignin. Treatments with relatively large amounts of cellulose were very sensitive to temperature only at low temperatures (2-12°C), whereas treatments with relatively large amounts of lignin had similar temperature sensitivities at all temperatures. When only clay-mineral composition was varied, CO2 production rates were greatest in soils containing kaolinite-montmorillonite mixtures (10% K:20% M) and least in soils containing kaolinite only at temperatures ≥12°C. Clay mixtures and pure montmorillonite treatments had their greatest temperature sensitivities at 2-12°C, whereas pure kaolinite treatments had the greatest temperature sensitivities at 12-22°C. Temperature sensitivities at the highest temperatures (22-32°C) were all small (Q10 < 1.1 on days 30 and 140). Artificial soils with controlled but flexible compositions may serve as simple and useful models for evaluating SOM dynamics with a minimum of confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study conducted on an adult red-bellied piranha fish, which was tested at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. These fishes were from a private aquarium and three of them showed clinical signs that included exophthalmia, tail and fin rot, anorexia and loss of equilibrium. Despite treatment with antibiotics two fishes died. It is stated that fish tuberculosis is caused by several species of Mycobacterium.

The article presents a study which assesses the toxicity of tulathromycin in goats, which is effective in treating respiratory diseases in swine and cattle. It mentions that male and female young goats are utilized in the study, in which the animals were injected with tulathromycin and their tissues and body organs were evaluated for hispathological changes that may occur. The results show that the tulathromycin dosage is safe and effective in goats.

The article presents a study which aims to compare methane (CH4) flux from riparian buffer systems which contain forest, warm and cool season grasses and also to relate them to soil property changes after perennial plant reestablishment. Analysis of collected soil samples were done with determinations of soil pH, gravimetric moisture content, and bulk density. Results show no significance in the relation between methane flux, soil moisture, or soil temperature. It also reveals that methane flux was not changed after perennial vegetation was established on cropped soils, regardless of significant changes in soil properties.

Loynachan AT, Pettigrew JE, Wiseman BS, Kunkle RA, Harris DL. Evaluation of a diet free of animal protein in germfree swine.Xenotransplantation 2005; 12: 149–155.© Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005Two experiments were conducted in which germfree pigs or pigs monoassociated withLactobacillus paracaseisubspecies paracasei were fed either a traditional milk-based diet (Esbilac) or an experimental diet free of animal protein (DFAP).Throughout the 16-day study, animals’ clinical condition, total weight gain, feed conversion, and bacterial contamination were monitored. At the conclusion of the study the animals were killed, necropsied and tissues sampled forL. paracaseiisolation.General pig disposition remained consistent between treatment groups and trials, except for two animals that developed mild diarrhoea during trial 1. All pigs remained viable during the study irrespective the diet fed or probiotic inoculation. Germfree pigs fed the Esbilac diet gained on average a total of 1034 ± 63.0 g, and had a feed conversion ratio of 0.17 ± 0.01 g of gain per 1 ml of diet. Germfree pigs fed the experimental diet gained on average a total of 599 ± 151 g, and had a feed conversion ratio of 0.10 ± 0.02 g of gain per 1 ml of diet. Monoassociated pigs fed the Esbilac diet gained on average a total of 862 ± 70.3 g, and had a feed conversion ratio 0.14 ± 0.01 g of gain per 1 ml of diet. Monoassociated pigs fed the experimental diet gained on average a total of 563 ± 96.8 g, and had a feed conversion ratio of 0.09 ± 0.02 g of gain per 1 ml of diet.Lactobacillus paracaseiestablished extensively in pigs fed either the Esbilac or experimental diets.Lactobacillus paracaseihad no effect (P > 0.05) on piglet growth and did not display any interactions based on the diet fed. Measured growth parameters were statistically different (P < 0.05) based on the diet fed and variance seen between trials.In conclusion, a DFAP has been developed and has been shown to be capable of sustaining life in piglets up to 16 days of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aeration rate, temperature, and manure loading rate on nitrogen transformations in swine manure slurries. Periodic samples were collected and analyzed for residual organic N, NH4‐N, NO2‐N, and NO3‐N, as well as NH3 volatilized from the aerated slurries. It was found that organic N decreased rapidly leaving a rather constant fraction after the first several weeks. At the end of the 83‐day study at 25C, one‐fourth of the N remained in solution in organic forms. This represents N that was not mineralized and consequently would not be lost during the denitrification process. From 16 to 26% of the added N was volatilized as NH3‐N and from 48 to 87% of the added C was evolved as CO2‐C during the study. Increasing temperature, increasing loading rate, and increasing aeration tended to increase volatilization of NH3 and CO2. An N balance at the conclusion of the study showed that 22 to 48% of the N was unaccounted for. While the mechanism responsible for the N losses was not determined, NH3 volatilization apparently predominated. The quantities of lost N increased with an increase in temperature. There appeared to be no relationship between the losses of N and changes in concentration of oxidized forms of N in solution. While nitrification occurred in extensively aerated swine‐manure slurries, about 1/4 of the original total N was not mineralized. As this represents a rather stable form and because only 3% of added N occurred in a mineral form at any given time, the extent of denitrification would be limited. Consequently, nitrification‐denitrification schemes probably have limited application to N removal from waste substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]