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The aim of the present study was to determine the effective dose of fosfatriclaben through a field study in sheep naturally infected with F. hepatica. Thirty crossbred sheep positive for fluke eggs were selected for inclusion in the trial. On day 0, 5 groups of 6 animals each were formed for treatments: group 1 (G1), G2, and G3 received fosfatriclaben at 4, 6, and 8 mg/kg/IM, respectively. G4 received triclabendazole at 10 mg/kg/PO, and G5 was the untreated control group. Fecal samples of the sheep were analyzed to count the number of fluke eggs to evaluate the percentage of egg reduction. Twenty-one days after treatment, all sheep were humanely euthanized to extract the flukes from the bile ducts. They were counted to assess the percentage of fluke reduction. Fosfatriclaben reduced fluke eggs by 99.6, 99.6, and 100% and flukes by 94.3, 100, and 100%, respectively. Triclabendazole reduced fluke eggs by 95.2% and flukes by 100%. The fosfatriclaben injectable prodrug showed a high fasciolicidal efficacy similar to triclabendazole, with advantages over its predecessor, since only half the dose as compared to triclabendazole was required to remove eggs and flukes in the sheep that were studied.

This study reports the preparation, in vitro release, pharmacokinetics, and local tolerability of novel ethylene-vinyl acetate intravaginal rings (IVRs) delivering 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P), in drug-naive ovariectomized female Dorset crossbred sheep. After preparation and assessment of in vitro release of E2 and P, animals were randomized to treatment groups 1 or 2 (comparator rings releasing 50 or 100 μg/d E2, respectively), groups 3 or 4 (ethylene-vinyl acetate IVRs, 160 μg/d E2 with 4 [160/4 IVR] or 8 mg/d P [160/8 IVR], respectively), or group 5 (160 μg E2 and 10 mg P administered intravenously). IVRs were placed on day 1 and remained in place through day 29. Animals underwent daily examinations to confirm ring placement, and vaginal irritation was scored from 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Blood samples were taken at scheduled times for pharmacokinetic analysis. Postmortem examinations performed on groups 1-4 were macroscopic and microscopic evaluations, including irritation scoring and histopathology. IVRs were retained over 28 days in all but 1 animal (group 4). In all animal groups, clinical observations showed no significant abnormal findings. Pharmacokinetic analysis in the animals showed sustained release of E2 and P over a 28-day period. Irritation scores and microscopic assessments were consistent with foreign object placement. A novel 2-drug IVR delivery system was well tolerated in a sheep model and pharmacokinetic release was as expected over a 28-day release period. These results will guide future human clinical studies.

The study aimed at evaluating the testicular structure and spermatogenesis of Santa Ines and Santa Ines and Dorper crossbred sheep. Sixteen testicles of the animals under study were used, in order to evaluate the volumetric proportion, the diameter of the tubules, the height of seminiferous epithelium, the frequency of stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and the spermatogenic yield. The data were submitted to Student-Newman-Keulstestat 5% significance. The tubular diameter was 173.12 ± 29.09 μm and 185.71 ± 29.7 μm, and the height of the seminiferous epithelium was 52.29 ± 9.98 μm and 56.68 ± 11.25 μm, for the crossbred and the Santa Ines, respectively. There was no difference between the testicular compartments and the frequency of the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle between the groups. Santa Ines sheep presented a number of 15.36 ± 4.49 spermatocytes in the pre-leptotene/leptotene stage and 27.42 ± 6.65 spermatocytes in the pachytene, whereas the crossbred presented 13.18 ± 5.19 and 23.48 ± 7.80, respectively. The crossbred showed higher meiotic yield (3.98 ± 1.28) and spermatogenesis yield (3.71 ± 1.02). It is concluded there are differences in testicular morphology and spermatogenesis between Santa Ines sheep and crossbred Dorper/Santa Ines, indicating that the crossbreeding between the Santa Ines and Dorper animals allows a gain in the reproductive potential.

Simple Summary In this study, we measured the performance parameters of two crossbred sheep breeds, using Masson staining of the muscle tissue, and using the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Dorper (DP) × Small-tailed Han (STH) sheep and Mongolia (MG) × Small-tailed Han sheep (STH). New transcripts of the muscle transcriptome were examined for the first time. DP × STH sheep were superior to MG × STH sheep in terms of meat quality and muscle morphology. In addition, 13 DEGs were found to play important roles in growth, development, and meat quality. The findings of this work may provide valuable resources for future research on muscle development in sheep. Abstract Crossbreeding can improve production performance and meat quality in sheep. The objective of this study was to look for genes related to sheep growth, development, and muscle. In this study, Dorper (DP) × Small Tailed Han (STH) sheep and Mongolia (MG) × Small-tailed Han (STH) sheep were used to estimate the productive performance and meat quality in a crossbreed. Subsequently, transcriptome analysis and bioinformatic analysis were performed on the Longissimus dorsi muscles of DP × STH and MG × STH sheep to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to growth, development, and meat quality. The presence of DEGs was confirmed by real-time PCR (qPCR). Productive performance and meat quality of the DP × STH sheep were better than the MG × STH sheep. Compared to DP × STH, a total of 1445 DEGs were identified in MG × STH sheep (1026 DEG were up-regulated and 419 DEG were down-regulated). Of these, 38 DEGs were related to growth, 161 to development, and 43 to muscle. In addition, 13 co-expressed genes (FGFRL1, SIX1, PLCB1, CRYAB, MYL2, ADIPOQ, GPX1, PPARD, GPC1, CDC42, LOC101106246, IGF1, and LARGE) were identified. The expression of DEGs was consistent with the comparative transcriptome analysis. This work provides genetics resources for future research on muscle development in sheep.

Nutritional scarcity during summer and winter is a major constraint for sheep rearing in the semi-arid tropical region. In this region, a new crossbred sheep has been developed by the crossing of a native sheep breed Malpura with a breed of hot-humid coastal region breed Garole. A study was conducted for 9 weeks to assess the physiological response of crossbred (Garole x Malpura x Malpura, GMM) rams under nutritional scarcity in the semi-arid tropical region. Eighteen adult crossbred rams were randomly allocated into three groups of six animals each. The groups are G1 (control, ad libitum feeding), G2 (20% less than ad libitum feeding), and G3 (30% less than ad libitum feeding). The animals were stall-fed with a diet consisting of 70% roughage (Cenchrus ciliaris hay) and 30% concentrate feed. Body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed intake were significantly (P

From a genetic perspective, the advantages of crossbreeding in sheep are unclear. In the present study, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed using Longissimus dorsi tissues from two sheep groups in order to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to growth, development and meat quality. Compared to Small Tail Han sheep, a total of 874 DEGs were identified in the crossbred sheep. Among these DEGs, 30, 116 and 32 DEGs were related to growth, development and meat quality, respectively. Seven DEGs highlighted by functional analysis as playing crucial roles in growth, development and meat quality were validated by the gene-act-network and co-expression-network. The expression levels of DEG mRNAs and proteins were further confirmed using RT-qPCR and western blot analyses. The results were consistent with the comparative transcriptome data. The data from this transcriptomic analysis will help to understand genetic heterosis and molecular-assisted breeding in sheep.

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics and local tolerability of a novel, segmented ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) intravaginal ring (IVR) delivering progesterone (P) in drug-naive ovariectomized female Dorset crossbred sheep. Following preparation and assessment of in vitro release of P, animals were randomized into one of six treatment groups: group 1 Crinone® 8% gel (90 mg); group 2 Prometrium® 200-mg capsules; group 3 placebo IVR; group 4 progesterone (P) IVR 4 mg/day; group 5 P IVR 8 mg/day; or group 6 P IVR 12 mg/day. Crinone 8% gel and Prometrium capsules were administered once daily for 28 days. IVRs were inserted vaginally on day 1 and remained in place through day 14; a new ring was administered on day 15 and was removed at day 28. Animals underwent daily examinations to confirm ring placement, and vaginal irritation was scored from 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Blood samples were taken at scheduled times for pharmacokinetic analysis. Postmortem examinations performed on all IVR groups included vaginal irritation, macroscopic, and microscopic evaluations, including irritation scoring and histopathology. Intravaginal rings were retained over 28 days in all animals. Clinical observations showed no significant abnormal findings in any group. Pharmacokinetic analysis in animals showed sustained release of P over from days 0 through 14 of ring use. Irritation scores and microscopic assessments were consistent with the IVRs being well tolerated. These results will guide future human clinical studies to ultimately develop an IVR for use in women for the prevention of preterm birth.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty-four Dorper × thin-tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non-carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non-protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of calcium lignosulfonate associated with whole cottonseed in high-concentrate diets for sheep. Eight Dorper crossbred sheep with an average live weight of 42.5 ± 1.70 kg were assigned to two 4 × 4 Latin squares. The following experimental diets were evaluated: control diet (without calcium lignosulfonate) and diets with inclusion of 50, 100, and 150 g of calcium lignosulfonate/kg fresh matter. Diets were composed of soybean meal, ground corn, and whole cottonseed. Feed intake, digestibility, metabolic characteristics, and feeding behavior were evaluated. The intake of nutritional components did not show significant differences as a function of the lignosulfonate levels in the diet; however, the increase in calcium lignosulfonate levels linearly decreased the dry matter digestibility. Rumen ammonia nitrogen concentrations decreased linearly as the lignosulfonate levels in the diets were increased. There was no effect of lignosulfonate levels on blood parameters or feeding behavior of the animals. The use of lignosulfonate associated with cottonseed decreases the digestibility of dry matter and the concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen, but does not change the intake of nutritional components, the blood parameters, or the feeding behavior of sheep.

Animal models remain the gold standard for the preclinical evaluation of tissue response, sealing and integrity of aortic endografts. Preclinical testing of the InCraft® device was performed to evaluate these attributes. Through the femoral arteries of eight male crossbred sheep, 22 mm diameter InCraft® Aortic Bifurcate devices were deployed in the abdominal aortas, and shortened 13 mm diameter iliac limbs were deployed in the right iliac arteries. Vessels were excised for radiographic and histopathologic assessment at six months. There were no instances of graft thrombosis, type I endoleak or endograft migration. No fractures of the stents or fixation barbs were observed. There were minimal inflammatory changes on histology, characterized by histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells located along the fabric. The InCraft® device has favorable tissue compatibility and functions well in a sheep model, maintaining patency and sealing without migration, stent fracture or abnormal histologic changes.

This study evaluated the effects of varying amounts of melon with high sugar content offered to sheep without prior melon experience and that were not adapted to consuming it. We used 12 eight-month-old, rumen-cannulated crossbred sheep weighing 25 kg each. The animals received a base diet of roughage, and then half were randomly selected to have 25% of their diet replaced with melon (G25%) and the other half had 75% of their diet replaced with melon (75%). Ruminal fluid was collected before administration of melon and at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after the administration of the fruit. Sheep from the G25% group presented volatile fatty acid ruminal acidosis (sub-acute) between 3 and 6 h after consumption. This acidosis was characterized by a rumen pH slightly lower than 5.6, increased discrete L-lactic acid content, and increased redox potential (RP) and methylene blue redox (MBR) time of the ruminal fluid. The G75% group presented lactic ruminal acidosis at T6h, characterized by a rumen pH lower than 5.0, high lactate-L content, increased RP and MBR time, and increased ruminal fluid osmolarity. Therefore, offering large amounts of melon (75% of dry matter (DM)) is not recommended but 25% of DM of this fruit can be used safely.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FecB genotypes on body weight, average daily gain (ADG), ewe's productivity efficiency (EPE) and litter size in FecB introgressed GarolexMalpura (GM) crossbred sheep. A total of 235 GM lambs were selected randomly and screened for FecB mutation using forced RFLP-PCR. The majority (69.8%) of GM individuals were carriers (BB and B+) for the FecB mutation and frequency of the FecB allele was about 0.40. The FecB genotypes were significantly (P0.01) associated with the lamb's body weights from birth to 12 months of age. The generation wise (F(1), F(2) and F(3)), lamb's body weight did not differ significantly at birth, 6 and 12 months of the age, while it differed significantly (P0.05) at 3 and 9 months of age. The ADG1 (0-3 months) was significantly associated (P0.05), but not the ADG2 (3-6 months) and ADG3 (6-12 months) between genotypes. Type of birth and sex significantly (P0.01) affected the body weight from birth to 12 months of age; and body weight of single born lambs was significantly higher (P0.01) than that of twins and triplets from birth to 12 months of age. Type of birth significantly (P0.01) affected the ADG1, but had no significant effect on ADG2 and ADG3. Year of birth did not affect the birth and weaning weights, but it significantly affected (P0.01) the body weight and ADG's after weaning ages. The EPE was affected significantly (P0.01) by the FecB genotypes at birth, 3 and 12 months of age. The EPE of B+ and BB ewes were 7.86 kg (36.9%) and 2.32 kg (10.9%) higher as compared to ++ ewes at 12 months of age, respectively. The mean litter size of BB ewes (2.17+/-0.24) was significantly higher (P0.01) than that of B+ ewes (1.73+/-0.04) and ++ ewes (1.03+/-0.23). The present study indicated that the body weight and ADG of carrier lambs (BB and B+) was comparatively lower than that of non-carriers (++), while EPE of B+ ewes was comparatively higher than that of BB and ++ ewes. Further, it is interesting to note that heterozygous and homozygous state of individuals increased 0.70 and 1.14 extra lambs as compared to non-carriers (++), respectively.

International audience; Background The objectives of this study were to investigate the accuracy of genotype imputation from low (12k) to medium (50k Illumina-Ovine) SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) densities in purebred and crossbred Merino sheep based on a random or selected reference set and to evaluate the impact of using imputed genotypes on accuracy of genomic prediction.MethodsImputation validation sets were composed of random purebred or crossbred Merinos, while imputation reference sets were of variable sizes and included random purebred or crossbred Merinos or a group of animals that were selected based on high genetic relatedness to animals in the validation set. The Beagle software program was used for imputation and accuracy of imputation was assessed based on the Pearson correlation coefficient between observed and imputed genotypes. Genomic evaluation was performed based on genomic best linear unbiased prediction and its accuracy was evaluated as the Pearson correlation coefficient between genomic estimated breeding values using either observed (12k/50k) or imputed genotypes with varying levels of imputation accuracy and accurate estimated breeding values based on progeny-tests.ResultsImputation accuracy increased as the size of the reference set increased. However, accuracy was higher for purebred Merinos that were imputed from other purebred Merinos (on average 0.90 to 0.95 based on 1000 to 3000 animals) than from crossbred Merinos (0.78 to 0.87 based on 1000 to 3000 animals) or from non-Merino purebreds (on average 0.50). The imputation accuracy for crossbred Merinos based on 1000 to 3000 other crossbred Merino ranged from 0.86 to 0.88. Considerably higher imputation accuracy was observed when a selected reference set with a high genetic relationship to target animals was used vs. a random reference set of the same size (0.96 vs. 0.88, respectively). Accuracy of genomic prediction based on 50k genotypes imputed with high accuracy (0.88 to 0.99) decreased only slightly (0.0 to 0.67 % across traits) compared to using observed 50k genotypes. Accuracy of genomic prediction based on observed 12k genotypes was higher than accuracy based on lowly accurate (0.62 to 0.86) imputed 50k genotypes.

Effects of genetic and environmental factors on pre-weaning and post-weaning growth were studied in West African crossbred sheep. Effects of lamb genotype (7/8 Sahelian–1/8 Djallonke, 3/4 Sahelian–1/4 Djallonke and 1/2 Sahelian–1/2 Djallonke; hereafter denoted 7/8Sa, 3/4Sa and 1/2Sa, respectively), parity, type of birth, sex of lamb and year-season of lambing on birth weight, weaning weight, 8-month weight and pre- and post-weaning growth rates were determined. At birth 7/8Sa and 3/4Sa lambs were heavier (p < 0.01) than 1/2Sa lambs. Lambs born to first-parity ewes were lighter (p < 0.01) at birth than lambs of older ewes. At weaning and 8 months of age, lambs born to fourth-parity ewes were heavier (p < 0.05) than those born to ewes of the other parities. Parity did not have any significant effects on pre-weaning growth rate. Lambs born in the rainy season of 2001 were significantly heavier at birth and at 8 months of age than those born in the dry season of 2001/02, but there was no difference between the two groups at weaning. Pre-weaning growth rate was significantly faster in lambs born in the dry season of 2001/02 but the reverse was true for post-weaning growth rate.

The effect of phenobarbitone against signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) toxicity was studied in 26 male crossbred sheep. Grazing on signal grass significantly decreased the concentration of cytochrome P-450 and the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes, viz. aminopyrine-N-demethylase, aniline-4-hydroxylase, UDP- glucuronyltransferase and glutathione-S-transferase in liver and kidneys of affected sheep. Oral administration of phenobarbitone (30 mg/kg body weight) for five consecutive days before grazing on B. decumbens pasture, and thereafter, for three consecutive days every two weeks, resulted in significant increases in hepatic and renal activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes. The induction of drug metabolizing activity in sheep grazing on signal grass group was found to be lower than in animals given phenobarbitone alone. Induction by phenobarbitone provided a degree of protection against the toxic effects of B. decumbens as indicated by the delay in the appearance of signs of toxicity. Furthermore, these were much milder compared to those in the sheep not treated with phenobarbitone. The present study suggests that phenobarbitone-type cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme-induction may increase resistance against signal grass (B. decumbens) toxicity in sheep.

Objective—A model system was developed to objectively assess the quality of articular cartilage after surgical reconstruction of focal defects in the medial femoral condyle using osteochondral dowel grafts. Study Design—The surgical technique was developed and customized to reproducibly minimize surgical trauma and graft instability in order to improve the survival of the transplanted cartilage and the long-term integrity of the joint surfaces. Animals or Sample Population—24 adult female Suffolk-Romanoff crossbred sheep. Methods—Biomechanical creep testing, paravital staining for chondrocyte viability, histological analysis, and gross morphological analysis were performed at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to compare fresh autografted osteochondral dowels with allografts that had been subject to a freezing protocol known to kill chondrocytes. The latter was used to investigate the time course of cartilage degeneration after injury. These two groups were also compared with normal unoperated control tissue. Results—Biomechanical behavior, chondrocyte survival, and cartilage histology differed significantly between fresh grafts and those that had been frozen. Conclusions—Indentation testing and paravital staining were able to identify degenerative changes earlier than other methods of assessment. The technique developed here reproducibly and reliably transplanted osteochondral dowel grafts while minimizing the confounding effects of surgical trauma and graft instability. Clinical Relevance—The technique provides both a promising surgical technique for the repair of focal defects of the medial femoral condyle and a sensitive model for the future study of cryopreservation strategies for articular cartilage.

Neste artigo realizou-se a avaliação de ovinos mestiços Santa Inês com pododermatite infecciosa, verificando as alterações no leucograma e proteínas de fase aguda. No primeiro experimento, 70 fêmeas foram separadas em três grupos de acordo com o seu escore podal: Grupo controle (G1) com escore 0; Dermatite interdigital (G2) com escore 1 ou 2 e Pododermatite necrosante (G3) com escore 3, 4 ou 5. Durante dois meses observou-se a evolução clínica e efeitos no leucograma em cinco momentos: M1 (dia 0), M2 (dia 15), M3 (dia 30), M4 (dia 45) e M5 (dia 60). A intensidade do resultado do leucograma foi de baixa magnitude, observando-se alterações significativas (p

Background This study was conducted to investigate the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in mediating acute kidney injury in endotoxemic sheep using the selective TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242. Methods A randomized, controlled, experimental study was performed with 20 adult Texel crossbred sheep. Before an Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide infusion (3 μg · kg(-1) · h(-1) for 24 h), sheep were randomized to receive a bolus dose (2 mg/kg), followed by a continuous infusion (4 mg · kg(-1) · 24 h(-1)) of either TAK-242 (n = 7) or vehicle (n = 7). A third group of lipopolysaccharide-treated sheep (n = 6) received norepinephrine, titrated to maintain baseline arterial blood pressure. Results Endotoxin infusion established a state of hyperdynamic circulation, with an increased cardiac index, hypotension, and tachycardia. Urine output and creatinine clearance decreased throughout the experiment, together with increasing plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and arterial lactate concentrations. After 24 h, TLR4 inhibition had significantly (P ≤ 0.001) attenuated the mean ± SEM decrease in arterial pressure (97 ± 3 vs. 71 ± 4 mmHg), urine output (1.16 ± 0.15 vs. 0.13 ± 0.05 ml · kg(-1) · h(-1)), and creatinine clearance (126 ± 13 vs. 20 ± 7 ml/min) compared with vehicle-treated animals. Furthermore, arterial lactate, plasma creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly lower in the TAK-242 group versus the vehicle-treated animals. Compared with TLR4 inhibition, norepinephrine caused similar effects on arterial pressure, cardiac index, and heart rate; however, it did not attenuate the decrease in urine output or creatinine clearance. Conclusions These results indicate a critical role for TLR4 in impairing renal function during ovine endotoxemia that is independent of changes in central hemodynamics.

The FecB gene of Garole was introgressed into non-prolific Malpura sheep. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FecB genotypes on cumulative lifetime (three lamb crops) litter size (CLS), cumulative number of weaned lambs (CWL) and cumulative ewe's productivity efficiency (CEPE) in 51 Garole x Malpura (GM) crossbred sheep. The GM ewes of F(1) were selected and screened for FecB mutation using forced RFLP-PCR technique. The majority (78.4%) of F(1) GM individuals were carriers (FecB(B+)) for the FecB mutation. In first parity 55% FecB(B+) ewes gave births to multiple lambs. The FecB genotypes were significantly (P

Objective—To evaluate the respiratory excretion and elimination kinetics of organic and inorganic selenium after oral administration in sheep. Animals—38 crossbred sheep. Procedures—Selenium was administered PO to sheep as a single dose of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg/kg as sodium selenite or selenomethionine. Expired air was collected and analyzed from all sheep at 4, 8, and 16 hours after administration. Results—Clinical signs consistent with selenium intoxication were seen in treatment groups given sodium selenite but not in treatment groups given the equivalent amount of selenium as selenomethionine. However, a distinct garlic-like odor was evident in the breath of all sheep receiving 2 to 4 mg of selenium/kg. The intensity of odor in the breath did not correlate with clinical signs in affected animals receiving sodium selenite treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The concentration of selenium in expired air was greater in sheep receiving selenium as selenomethionine than sodium selenite. The concentration of selenium in expired air from sheep receiving high doses of selenium (3 and 4 mg of selenium/kg) was larger and selenium was expired for a longer duration than the concentration of selenium in expired air from sheep receiving low doses of selenium (1 and 2 mg of selenium/kg). (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:2142–2148)

Using a step-cooling cryopreservation protocol that held the tissue 60 min at -4 degrees C, 30 min at -8 degrees C, and 10 min at -40 degrees C before plunging into liquid nitrogen, we were able to get a substantial improvement in the magnitude and pattern of chondrocyte recovery following cryopreservation, achieving postthaw recoveries of 62 +/- 13%. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ice growth within articular cartilage is planar, but they provide no direct support for that hypothesis. Transplanting (step-cooled) cryopreserved osteochondral allografts into adult Suffolk/Romanoff crossbred sheep for periods of 3 months and 1 year further tested the efficacy of the cryopreservation protocol. Unfortunately, the cryoinjury sustained by the chondrocytes during cryopreservation, although apparently nonlethal immediately after thawing in many cases, was not innocuous in the long term. The presence of large clusters of chondrocytes at 1 year after transplantation illustrates that cryoinjury not detectable with a membrane integrity assay can still have far-reaching effects on transplanted tissue.

Twenty-eight farms in 7 shires in south western Victoria were selected and tested for presence of benzimidazole-resistant nematodes between November 1979 and June 1981. Mean faecal egg counts of sheep were less than 100 strongyloid eggs/g on 11 farms. Faecal egg count reduction tests were conducted on the remaining 17 farms and thiabendazole was less than 90% efficient in reducing egg counts in sheep from 5 (29%) of these farms. Thiabendazole-resistant Teladorsagia circumcincta were identified at necropsy of experimentally infected treated sheep. In further studies a survey of 104 farms was conducted in the Mount Rouse and Dundas shires of western Victoria in 1981 and 1982 respectively to determine the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in these shires. Mean faecal egg counts among weaner sheep in the winter-spring of both years were less than 100 eggs/g which indicated low levels of parasitic nematode populations. A faecal egg count reduction test was conducted on 10 farms and thiabendazole was less than 90% efficient on 3; levamisole was greater than 90% efficient in all 10 tests. Most of the surveyed farms carried Merino or Merino crossbred sheep at 10 to 15 dry sheep equivalents per ha and weaners were treated with anthelmintics 3 to 6 times per year. Management procedures based mainly on anthelmintic therapy were effective in controlling nematode populations in weaner sheep, although many producers alternated between different groups of anthelmintics within the same year contrary to current recommendations for long-term preservation of anthelmintic efficacy. It was concluded that anthelmintic resistance was not of practical importance to the majority of sheep producers in the region.

SUMMARY Approximately 250–350 ml. of blood were removed daily from each of five crossbred sheep on six consecutive days and the effects on biochemical and cellular composition of the blood determined during this period and for a further 3 weeks. This treatment reduced the haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte numbers to less than half of the original levels and resulted in intense erythrogenesis from the fourth day onwards as judged by the increase in MCV, decrease in MCHC and the appearance of macrocytes and red cells showing basophilic stippling. White cell numbers and distribution remained relatively constant throughout the experimental period. Blood glucose concentrations rose to almost double the pre-experimental levels but fell to almost the original levels 2 days after phlebotomy ceased. In all animals the glutathione content of red cells was also approximately doubled and 3 weeks later was still more than 50 per cent above the original level. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity increased during the period of phlebotomy and in the following few days. On the eighth and tenth days the activity was more than three times the original and 3 weeks later was still more than double the original level. Adenosine triphosphatase enzyme activity also was found to increase during the period immediately following phlebotomy. In this case the increase was of the order of 50 per cent and showed a steady decline to almost the original levels at the end of the experiment. These findings are discussed in relation to haematopoietic mechanisms.

The transfer of sulphate from plasma to digestive tract and from digestive tract to plasma in crossbred sheep was estimated by the use of isotope dilution techniques with Na235S04. The passage of 35S along the digestive tract was simultaneously measured by reference to two inert radioactive markers infused intraruminally. In the first experiment, three sheep given a roughage-based diet containing 174� 7 mg S/day received an intravenous infusion of Na23SS04 for 7 days before collections were made of plasma and of digesta from the rumen, abomasum and terminal ileum. Similar collections were made in the second experiment in which four sheep received intrahuninal infusions of Na23SS04. From estimates of infusion rate of 35S, specific radioactivity of 3SS in plasma and digesta and rate of flow of sulphur in the digestive tract the following calculations were made: The transfer of sulphate from the plasma to the rumen was calculated as 29 mg S/day. Of this only 12 mg S/day passed as organic sulphur in digesta from the stomach. As the net gain of sulphur in the stomach in this experiment was 153 mg/day, sulphate transferred from the plasma contributed only a small amount of sulphur derived from endogenous sources in the stomach. In contrast, the substantial passage of 35S into the intestinal lumen during intravenous infusion of 35S04 suggested that 38 and 41 mg S/day of the 236 and 145 mg organic S/day flowing from the small and large intestine respectively was derived from plasma sulphate, corresponding to about 26 % of the dose.

Survival from birth to 1 month, 1 month to weaning, weaning to 1 year and birth to 1 year was studied in crosses of native carpet wool breeds (Chokla, Malpura and Jaisalmeri) with Rambouillet. Least-squares analysis of data considering survival as 1 and mortality as 0, showed that the year and season of birth affected survival significantly during all age periods except from birth to 1 month and from 1 month to weaning where season had no significant effect. Sex (studied only for pre-weaning survival), ewe's weight at lambing and birth weight of lamb did not influence survival except that the ewe's weight a significant influence on survival from 1 month to weaning. Genetic groups did not differ significantly. Rambouillet X Malpura F1s had a higher survival rate than the other 2 F1s. There was a non-significant decline in survival with an increase in Rambouillet inheritance, except that 5/8 Rambouillet -3/8 Chola crossbreds had a slightly higher survival rate than Rambouillet X Chokla F1s. Interbreeding F1 and 3/4 crossbreds did not result in any significant decline in survival. The results show that the introduction of exotic fine-wool inheritance up to 50% and interbreeding of halfbreds will not result in any decline in survival.

Two hundred serum samples from Texel and Texel crossbred sheep (non-indigenous breeds) and 200 from indigenous Northern Ireland breeds (mainly Blackface, Cheviot and Border Leicester crosses) were tested for antibodies to parainfluenza virus types 1, 2 and 3, respiratory syncytial virus, bovine adenovirus (subgroups 1 and 2), influenza type A, maedi-visna virus and bovine virus diarrhoea virus. The percentage of animals with antibodies to parainfluenza virus 3 (50 to 56 per cent) and adenovirus subgroups 1 and 2 (70 to 90 per cent) was comparable in both groups. Infection of sheep with subgroup 2 adenoviruses has not previously been reported. In the case of respiratory syncytial virus and bovine virus diarrhoea virus, the percentage of animals positive was higher in the non-indigenous group (55.5 and 53 per cent, respectively) than in indigenous breeds (18.5 and 11 per cent, respectively). No antibodies were detected to parainfluenza virus 1 or 2, influenza A or maedivisna virus.

Summary An inherited skin disease of crossbred Finnsheep in Finland is described. It is characterized by high fragility of the skin. The pathology seems to be identical with that of a disease previously described in Dala sheep. Microscopical findings indicate that the disease is caused by a disturbance in collagen metabolism, resulting in defective collagen fibres. The significance of the investigated blood biochemical parameters of the sheep is discussed. The ewes which produced the defective lambs were of haemoglobin type AB and low-GSH (GSHh) types. Zusammenfassung Eine hereditare Storung im Kollagengewebe von finnischen Kreuzungsschafen Es wird eine erbliche Hauterkrankung bei eingekreuzten finnischen Schafen beschrieben. Sie ist gekennzeichnet durch eine hohe Bruchigkeit der Haut. Die Pathologie scheint identisch zu sein mit einer Krankheit, die bei Dala-Schafen beschrieben wurde. Die mikroskopischen Befunde lassen auf eine Storung im Kollagen-Stoffwechsel schliesen, wodurch es zur Bildung defekter Kollagenfibrillen kommt. Die Bedeutung einiger biochemischer Blutparamter wird diskutiert. Die Muttertiere, deren Lammer betroffen waren, gehorten zum Hamoglobintyp AB und zum Niedrig-GSH-Typ. Resume Trouble hereditaire dans les tissus collagenes chez des moutons croises finlandais Une maladie de la peau hereditaire chez des moutons croises finlandais est decrite. Elle est caracterisee par une forte fragilite de la peau. La pathologie semble etre identique a celle d'une maladie qui a ete decrite chez des moutons Dala. Les resultats-microscopiques ont permis de conclure a un trouble du metabolisme collagene qui provoque la formation de fibrilles collagenes defectueuses. La signification de quelques parametres biochimiques sanguins est discutee. Les brebis dont les agneaux etaient atteints appartenaient au type hemoglobine AB et au type GSH bas. Resumen Un trastorno hereditario en el tejido colageno de ovejas finlandesas cruzadas Se describe una enfermedad hereditaria de la piel en ovejas finlandesas cruzadas. La misma esta caracterizada por una fragilidad enorme de la piel. La patologia parece ser identica a una enfermedad que fue descrita en las ovejas Dala. Los hallazgos microscopicos hacen suponer que se trata de una alteracion en el metabolismo colageno, con lo cual se produce la formacion de fibrillas colagenas defectas. Se discute la significacion de algunos parametras sanguineus bioquimicos. Las ovejas madres, cuyos corderas se hallaban afectados, pertenecian al tipo de hemoglobina AB y al tipo GSH bajo.

Summary An attempt was made to induce scrapie in local crossbred sheep. The inoculum used consisted of brain suspension from a diseased sheep of the Suffolk breed that had naturally contracted scrapie. Ten sheep from two crossbreds were infected intracerebrally, two via the conjunctiva, and ten were exposed to contact infection. Some of the infected animals died intercurrently, showing no clinical symptoms of scrapie but having typical histological alterations. A total of 7 sheep showed clinical symptoms of the disease between the 15th and 23rd month following infection. The cerebrum and the spinal cord showed dystrophic and necrobiotic changes such as chromatolysis, vacuolation, sclerosis, pycnosis and rhexis. Sheep slaughtered at the 27th month without any visible signs of scrapie also showed typical dystrophic lesions. It is suggested that the pathological process proceeds from a subclinical form without symptoms to intercurrent death or to a form presenting a characteristic clinical picture. Zusammenfassung Ein Versuch Scrapie in bulgarischen Schafrassen zu induzieren Es wurde der Versuch gemacht, Scrapie in bulgarischen Schafrassen zu induzieren. Als Inokulum wurde Gehirnsuspension von einem kranken Suffolk-Schaf, das naturlicherweise an Scrapie erkrankt war, verwendet. Zehn Schafe aus zwei Schafrassen wurden intracerebral, 2 wurden uber die Konjunktiva infiziert und zehn Schafe wurden in Kontakt mit den Infizierten gehalten. Ein Teil der infizierten Tiere starb zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten, ohne da klinische Erscheinungen auftraten. Sie bildeten jedoch typische histologische Veranderungen aus. Insgesamt 7 Schafe zeigten typische Symptome zwischen dem 15. und 23. Monat nach Infektion. Groshirn und Ruckenmark wiesen dystrophische und nekrobiotische Veranderungen wie Chromatolyse, Vakuolisierung, Sklerose, Pyknose und Rhexis auf. Bei Schafen, die 27 Monate p. inf. ohne klinische Erscheinungen geschlachtet wurden, lagen ebenfalls typische dystrophische Lasionen vor. Es wird festgestellt, das die Pathogenese der Infektion von einer subklinischen Form ohne Symptome zu plotzlichen Todesfallen oder zu einer Form mit typischem klinischen Bild fortschreiten kann. Resume Essai d'induction de tremblante chez des races ovines bulgares On a essaye d'induire la tremblante chez des races ovines bulgares. On a utilise comme inoculum une suspension de tissu cerebral preleve chez un mouton «Suffolk» atteint naturellement de tremblante. On a infecte 10 moutons de deux races differantes par voie intracerebrale, 2 par voie conjonctivale et 10 moutons ont ete mis au contact des animaux infectes. Une partie des animaux infectes ont peri a divers moments sans montrer de signes cliniques. Ils presenterent toutefois des lesions histologiques. En tout, 7 moutons montrerent des symptomes typiques entre le 15eme et le 23eme mois apres k'infection. Le cerveau et la moelle epiniere presenterent des lesions de dystrophie et de necrobiose telles que chromatolyse, formation de vacuoles, sclerose, pycnose et rhexis. Les moutons qui ne montrerent aucun symptome clinique et qui furent abattus 27 mois apres l'infection presenterent egalement des lesions dystrophiques typiques. On a etabli que la pathogenese de l'infection peut passer d'une forme subclinique sans symptomes a une mort brutale ou a une image clinique typique. Resumen Un ensayo con el fin de inducir la scrapie en las razas ovinas bulgaras Intentose el ensayo de inducir la scrapie en las razas ovinas de Bulgaria. Como inoculo se utilizo suspension cerebral de una oveja Suffolk enferma, la cual se habia contagiado de forma natural de la enfermedad mencionada. Diez oveias se infectaron por via intracerebral, dos a traves de la conjuntiva y 10 ovejas se mantuvieren en contacto con los infectados. Una parte de los animales infectados murio en fechas diferentes, sin que apareciesen mani-festaciones clinicas. Sin embargo, revelaron modificaciones histologicas tipicas. En total, 7 ovejas manifestaron sintomas clinicos entre el 15° y 23er mes tras la infeccion. El cerebro y la medula espinal evidenciaron modificaciones distroficas y necrobioticas, tales como cromatolisis, vacuolizacion, esclerosis, picnosis y rexis. Las ovejas, que se mataron a los 27 meses p. inf. y no desarrollaron ninguna clase de sintomas clinicos, tambien mostraron lesiones distroficas tipicas. Se establece que la patogenia de la infeccion puede evolucionar de una forma clinica asintomatica a casos mortales repentinos o a una forma con imagen clinica tipica.

A radioimmunoassay for glucagon has been used to study the regulation of the plasma glucagon concentration in sheep. The mean plasma glucagon concentra� tion after an overnight fast was 0�20 ng/ml in crossbred sheep and 0 �12 ng/ml in Merinos. During a more prolonged fast plasma glucagon concentrations declined.

Background The progression of scrapie is known to be influenced by the amino acid polymorphisms of the host prion protein (PrP) gene. There is no breeding programme for TSE resistance in sheep in Finland, but a scrapie control programme has been in place since 1995. In this study we have analysed PrP genotypes of total of 928 purebred and crossbred sheep together with the data of scrapie survey carried out in Finland during 2002–2008 in order to gain knowledge of the genotype distribution and scrapie prevalence in Finnish sheep. Results The ARQ/ARQ genotype was the most common genotype in all breeds studied. ARR allele frequency was less than 12% in purebred Finnish sheep and in most genotypes heterozygous for ARR, the second allele was ARQ. The VRQ allele was not detected in the Grey race sheep of Kainuu or in the Aland sheep, and it was present in less than 6% of the Finnish Landrace sheep. Leucine was the most prominent amino acid found in codon 141. In addition, one novel prion dimorphisms of Q220L was detected. During the scrapie survey of over 15 000 sheep in 2002–2008, no classical scrapie cases and only five atypical scrapie cases were detected. Conclusions The results indicate that the Finnish sheep populations have genetically little resistance to classical scrapie, but no classical scrapie was detected during an extensive survey in 2002–2008. However, five atypical scrapie cases emerged; thus, the disease is present in the Finnish sheep population at a low level.