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Veterinary certificates have been an integral component of animal and animal product trade for many years. These certificates are agreed to by trading partners during bilateral or multilateral negotiations on the trade of animals and animal products, and provide assurance that goods are free from specific diseases. Many countries seek to implement or adopt a more streamlined and secure method of information exchange, with some implementing the electronic exchange of certificates for cross-border trade. Such an exchange of data has many advantages over its paper counterpart, including a streamlined business process, better accessibility to information (particularly in advance of shipment arrival) and the reduction of fraudulent certificates. Although there are some challenges related to this initiative and important considerations to be taken into account for its implementation, many countries are becoming aware of its efficiencies, leading to more productive and mutually beneficial trading-partner relationships.Les certificats vétérinaires sont une composante essentielle des échanges internationaux d’animaux et de produits d’origine animale depuis de nombreuses années. Il s’agit de certificats approuvés préalablement par les partenaires commerciaux lors de négociations bilatérales ou multilatérales relatives aux échanges d’animaux et de produits d’origine animale et qui apportent la garantie que les marchandises échangées sont indemnes de certaines maladies spécifiées. Plusieurs pays ont cherché à mettre en oeuvre ou à valider une procédure d’échange d’informations à la fois plus simple et plus sûre ; parmi eux certains ont mis en place un système de certification électronique pour les échanges transfrontaliers. Ce type de transmission de données présente de nombreux avantages par rapport à la délivrance de certificats papier : un processus opérationnel rationalisé, un meilleur accès à l’information (en particulier avant l’arrivée d’une cargaison) et un nombre réduit de certificats frauduleux. Bien que certains problèmes en lien avec cette initiative restent encore à résoudre et que plusieurs aspects importants devront être pris en compte lors de sa mise en oeuvre, un nombre croissant de pays prennent conscience du fait que les performances d’un tel système contribueront à des relations plus productives et mutuellement bénéfiques entre partenaires commerciaux.Hace ya muchos años que los certificados veterinarios son un componente intrínseco del comercio de animales y productos de origen animal. Estos certificados, acordados por las partes en el curso de negociaciones bilaterales o multilaterales sobre ese tipo de comercio, aportan la garantía de que las mercancías están exentas de una u otra enfermedad. Muchos países están tratando de aplicar o adoptar un método más ágil y seguro para intercambiar información, y algunos están implantando el intercambio de certificados por vía electrónica para operaciones comerciales transfronterizas. Esta modalidad de transmisión de datos presenta muchas ventajas con respecto al uso del papel, en particular porque agiliza los procesos de trabajo, facilita el acceso a la información (en particular, antes de que llegue la mercancía) y reduce los casos de certificados fraudulentos. Aunque esta iniciativa no deja de presentar dificultades y hay importantes consideraciones que es preciso tener en cuenta para llevarla adelante, muchos países van cobrando conciencia de que trae consigo procesos más eficientes y se traduce en relaciones más productivas y mutuamente beneficiosas entre los socios comerciales.

Many organisms modify their physiological functions by acclimating to changes in their environment. Recent studies of thermal physiology have been influenced by verbal models that fail to consider the selective advantage of acclimation and thus make no predictions about variation in acclimation capacity. We used a quantitative model of optimal plasticity to generate predictions about the capacity of Drosophila melanogaster to acclimate to developmental temperature. This model predicts that the ability to acclimate thermal sensitivity should evolve when temperature varies greatly among generations. Based on the model, we expected that flies from the highly seasonal environment of New Jersey would acclimate thermal sensitivity more than would flies from the less seasonal environment of Florida. When raised at constant and fluctuating temperatures, flies from these populations failed to adjust their thermal optima in the way predicted by the model, suggesting that current assumptions about functional and genetic constraints should be reconsidered.

Thymocytes and granulosa cells (GC) were cultured up to 48 h to determine the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on apoptosis in culture (in RPMI containing 10% fetal bovine serum [FBS] at 38 degrees C in a 5% CO2:95% air atmosphere). In experiment 2, GC were cultured for 24 h at a density of 0.5 x 10(6) cells/0.5 ml in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium:Hams F-12 (1:1) containing 1% FBS to determine whether porcine FSH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) attenuated apoptosis and to compare two methods of measuring apoptosis: 1) flow cytometry of dispersed cells for subdiploid DNA fluorescence and 2) densitometry of internucleosomal DNA fragments. The percentages of apoptotic (%A0) thymocytes and GC increased (p0.01) during 48 h of culture. Compared to no DEX, 0.1 or 1.0 microM DEX in thymocytes caused a 33% further increase (p0.01) in %A0 cells but had no effect in GC. In experiment 2, apoptosis, measured by %A0 GC and amount of internucleosomal fragments, decreased (p0.01) by 50% during culture in the presence of FSH (4 NIH-S1 mU/ml) or IGF-I (50 ng/ml); results from these techniques were correlated (r = 0.829, n = 44, por = 0.0001). We conclude that 1) porcine GC and thymocytes undergo spontaneous apoptosis in culture, 2) two methods of analyzing apoptosis were in excellent agreement, and 3) FSH and IGF-I attenuated spontaneous apoptosis in cultured porcine GC.

The incidence of atresia, concentrations of follicular fluid steroids, and circulating concentrations of estradiol, FSH, and progesterone were investigated to determine whether there was any evidence for a wave of follicular activity or atresia between Days 7 and 15 of the estrous cycle in pigs, Cyclic pigs (gilts) were slaughtered on Days 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 (4, 4, 4, 4, and 3 pigs per day), and 287 follicles2 mm were dissected from ovaries to recover follicular fluid and granulosa cells. Apoptotic (Ao) granulosa cells were those containing sub-diploid DNA fluorescence as determined by flow cytometry. follicles withor = 10% Ao granulosa cells were classified as atretic, and those with10% Ao granulosa cells were designated nonatretic. The percentage of atretic follicles (AF) per pig was 35.5 +/- 4.7 (mean +/- SEM), and while the percentage of AF ranged from 12% to 73%, means did not differ significantly among days. Mean follicular estradiol concentration was higher (p0.05) in nonatretic follicles (NAF) than in AF; in NAF, the concentration decreased (p0.05) from 15 ng/ml on Day 7 to 2.5 ng/ml on Day 11 and then increased (p0.05) to 10 ng/ml on Day 15 of the cycle. Mean follicular progesterone concentration was higher (p0.05) in AF than in NAF, while follicular androstenedione concentration (20 +/- 1.5 ng/ml, overall mean +/- SEM) did not differ between AF and NAF. Mean plasma estradiol, FSH, and progesterone concentrations did not differ among days of the cycle or differ significantly during the last 42 h before slaughter. Plasma estradiol and FSH concentrations were not significantly correlated with percentage of AF or with follicular steroid concentrations. These results support the notion of continuous growth and atresia of ovarian follicles in pigs independent of changes in plasma FSH and follicular steroid concentration, without evidence for a dominant cohort of follicles during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle.

The incidence of atresia in the first group of follicles grown after ovulation was investigated in the pig. At slaughter, 113 follicles 3-6 mm in diameter were dissected from the ovaries of four pregnant pigs per day on Days 5, 6, and 7 after the onset of estrus. Granulosa cells were isolated from each follicle. The percentage of granulosa cells containing sub-diploid amounts of DNA (%Ao cells), a measure of apoptosis, was determined for each follicle by DNA fluorescence flow cytometry of propidium iodide (PI) stained nuclei of ethanol-fixed cells. Granulosa cell DNA condition was used to classify follicles. Follicles withor = 10% Ao cells (n = 33) were designated biochemically atretic (BA), and follicles with10% Ao cells (n = 80) were designated biochemically healthy (BH). Internucleosomal cleavage, also indicative of apoptosis, was determined by autoradiographic analysis of [32P]-3'-end-labeled DNA from granulosa cells. Densitometric analysis showed that optical density of [32P]-3'-end-labeled DNA fragments in the 0.18-20-kb size range was correlated with the %Ao cells (Ror = 0.90, N = 22, p0.001). The incidence of pigs with BA follicles was 2 of 4, 3 of 4, and 4 of 4 on Days 5, 6, and 7, respectively. The %BA follicles per pig (mean +/- SEM) increased (por = 0.01) between Days 5 and 7; values were 6.2 +/- 3.6, 28.1 +/- 13.5, and 50.0 +/- 7.1, respectively, on Days 5, 6, and 7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Granulosa cells of individual follicles were analyzed by DNA fluorescence flow cytometry to determine how the percentage of cells with degraded DNA and the distribution of cells in the phases of the cell cycle (Go/G1, S1, G2/M) related to the incidence of morphological atresia and to changes in follicular steroid concentrations. Follicles were dissected from ovaries recovered at slaughter on Days 1, 3, 5, or 7 of altrenogest-synchronized preovulatory maturation. Twenty-one follicles with debris among their isolated granulosa cells were classified as morphologically atretic (MA); 92 follicles with debris-free granulosa cells were classified as morphologically healthy (MH). Granulosa cells were prepared for flow cytometry by fixation in 80% ethanol and staining with propidium iodide (PI) containing RNase. DNA fluorescence intensity was determined by use of the 488-nm line of an argon laser. A subpopulation of granulosa cells with degraded DNA (Ao cells), containing less fluorescence than the Go/G1 peak, was found in the DNA histogram of every follicle. The percentage of Ao cells ranged from 0.02 to 83.6% per follicle. The percentage of Ao cells was inversely related to the percentage of Go/G1 cells (r = -0.9611, p = 0.0001). The percentage of Ao cells (mean +/- SEM) was greater (p = 0.0001) in MA (45.9 +/- 6.3%) than in MH follicles (5.3 +/- 1.6%). Follicular estradiol-17 beta was less in MA than in MH follicles, but androstenedione or progesterone did not differ significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ovarian tissues were collected from 5 pigs on each of days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after withdrawal of an orally active progestin to determine changes in follicular inhibin subunit mRNAs during preovulatory maturation. Follicles (N = 146) were aspirated for fluid and homogenized in guanidinium isothiocyanate for RNA isolation. Follicular RNA and inhibin alpha and beta A subunit mRNA standards were dot-blotted, hybridized with [32P]-cDNA probes, and quantified by densitometry. Mean concentrations of alpha mRNA (pg/micrograms of RNA) increased (por = 0.05) by 140% as healthy follicles grew from medium (3-5 mm) to large (5 mm). Inhibin immunoactivity was greater (por = 0.05) in large than medium follicles. In contrast, mean concentrations of inhibin beta A subunit mRNA did not differ between healthy medium and large follicles. However, both alpha mRNA and beta A mRNA increased (por = 0.05) linearly as follicular diameter increased from 3 to 5 mm on Day 1 and from 3 to 9 mm on Day 3. On Day 5, alpha mRNA remained elevated, but was not significantly correlated with diameter. In contrast, beta A mRNA decreased linearly (p0.05) as diameter increased from 6 to 11 mm on Day 5. The molar ratio alpha mRNA to beta A mRNA was 20:1 in healthy, large follicles on Days 3 and 5. Mean concentration of alpha mRNA in large follicles decreased (p0.05) by 72% between Days 5 and 7, while beta A mRNA decreased to non-detectable levels on Day 7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sodium benzyl penicillin, procaine penicillin and benethamine penicillin were applied into the bovine conjunctival sac as an aqueous solution or in ointment form in order to study the concentration-time profiles. The series of treatments was repeated in five animals in a random sequence. Penicillin concentration in conjunctival sac fluid (CF) was determined using the agar-well-diffusion assay technique. The data obtained were transformed to linear regression slopes. Similarity of the slopes within treatments (in five different eyes) enabled the construction of four common lines by co-variance analysis to represent each treatment. The regression coefficients of the four common lines were then compared to study the difference between treatments. Topical application of 5,000 iu sodium benzylpenicillin in aqueous solution at a concentration isotonic with 0.9% saline, produced a duration of therapeutic concentration (DTC) in CF of 12.6 +/- 1.5 h. When the same salt or other less water-soluble ones were formulated at the same concentration in an ointment base, the DTC was significantly prolonged. For all treatments, peak concentrations in CF were recorded at the first sampling and ranged between 7 iu/ml and 14 iu/ml. Sodium benzylpenicillin or procaine penicillin, both in the ointment base, produced DTCs of 38.8 +/- 2.1 h and 37 +/- 4.0 h, respectively, while the ointment formulation of benethamine penicillin produced a DTC of 56 +/- 4.5 h. The prolonged duration observed in the eye ointments can be partly accounted for by the viscous nature of the base. Other differences may be dependent on relative water solubility of each penicillin product and complexity of the surface mucosae of the eye.

Single dose, subconjunctival injections of procaine penicillin using either skin or conjunctival routes of administration were evaluated in order to compare the duration of antibacterial concentrations at the site of Moraxella bovis infection. Samples of conjunctival sac fluid (CF) were collected using blunted capillary tubes and were periodically assayed for penicillin by an agar-well-diffusion technique. Linear regression lines were constructed for concentration of penicillin-time profiles. Similarity of the regression slopes for each treatment enabled the construction of three common lines by the method of co-variance analysis in order to represent each treatment. Treatments were thereafter compared by the slopes of the common regression lines. A subconjunctival injection of procaine penicillin at a dose of 6 X 10(5) iu in 2 ml, administered either through the skin or through the conjunctiva, produced a peak penicillin concentration in the CF of approximately 8 iu/ml for either route and a duration of therapeutic concentration (DTC) of 67.6 +/- 4.9 and 40 +/- 2.7 h respectively. A dose of 3 X 10(5) iu in 1 ml, administered through the conjunctiva, produced a similar peak but the DTC was reduced to 35 +/- 4.2 h. The results of this study support field practices, as adequate penicillin concentrations were maintained by both techniques investigated.

Extract Professional opinion was sought by a Taupo district farmer when he noticed what he took to be advanced cases of scabby mouth amongst one group of 3- to 4-month-old Romney lambs. These affected animals, and other groups of clinically normal lambs, had a 1 been “inoculated” with scab-by mouth vaccine by the farmer, at docking time 11 weeks previously. Most grazing on the farm was improved and in good condition after a wet and warm spring. Only the affected group of lambs and their ewes had been grazing on an unusually fibrous pasture.

Right ventricular hypertrophy in elastase-induced emphysema in the System hamster was assessed by either the weight of the right ventricle as a fraction of body-weight or by the ratio of the weight of the right to the left ventricle. Right ventricular hypertrophy accompanies elastase-induced emphysema and is more severe in hamsters injected with elastase while fed a diet containing 0.5% beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a combination that causes more severe emphysema. Measurements of arterial blood oxygen pressures showed that emphysematous animals were hypoxemic. Treatment of emphysematous animals with 35% O2 either during the development of right ventricular hypertrophy or after it had developed produced measurable amelioration of the hypertrophy in those groups with the more severe emphysema (elastase plus BAPN diet) but did not completely prevent it. The oxygen had no effect on the severity of the emphysema measured morphometrically. These results indicate that the cor pulmonale in elastase-induced emphysema is probably multifactorial, but hypoxia appears to be one of the major factors.

Sheep were administered phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, chlorcyclizine, or phenylbutazone over 27 days. Rabbits were administered phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, or chlorcyclizine for 15 days. After the last treatment, pentobarbital was administered intravenously, and measurements were made of sleep time and blood serum pentobarbital concentrations over a 2-hour period. Treatment of ewes with phenobarbital or phenylbutazone increased the rate of pentobarbital clearance from the circulation and shortened sleep time; treatment with diphenylhydantoin or chlorcyclizine decreased the rates of pentobarbital clearance from blood and increased sleep time. Treatment of rabbits with phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin accelerated pentobarbital clearance from blood and shortened sleep time; chlorcyclizine had no effect on blood pentobarbital concentrations or sleep time. The results suggest that accelerated or delayed clearance of pentobarbital from the circulation was largely responsible for shortened or prolonged sleep times. Other factors may have been involved to some extent in determining sleep time, because ewes with shortened sleep time tended to awake with lower circulating concentrations of pentobarbital than did control ewes, and those with prolonged sleep time tended to awake with higher pentobarbital values.

Four experiments were conducted on the ability of exogenous estradiol to improve sperm transport and ovum fertilization. In the first experiment, 50 estrous does were injected with 0, 0.3, 1, 3 or 10 �tg of estradiol-17i3, mated 1 h later and necropsied 2.5 h after mating. Significant linear relationships were found between estradiol dose and sperm numbers in the oviducts and uterus. The 3 �tg dose of estradiol resulted in recovery of the highest numbers of sperm. Thirty-two estrous does were injected with either 0 or 3 �zgof estradiol, inseminated artificially with known numbers of sperm and necropsied 2.5 h after insemination. The estradiol-treated does had significantly higher numbers of sperm in the oviducts, uterine horns, cervices and vagina; the estrogen treatment apparently delayed the loss of sperm from the reproductive tract. Twenty-four estrous does were inseminated artificially, injected with 0 or 3 tig of estradiol 7 h later and necropsied 3 h after that. Significantly more sperm were recovered from the treated does, indicating that estradiol influenced sperm numbers when administered several hours after insemination. In the fourth experiment, 56 estrous does were injected with hCG to induce ovulation and inseminated with small numbers of sperm. Estradiol treatment increased significantly the proportion of does with cleaved ova and the proportion of total ova that cleaved.