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Este artículo se encuentra disponible en la siguiente URL: http://pvj.com.pk/pdf-files/23-053.pdf En este artículo también participan: Muhammad Tahir Aleem y Muhammad Arfan Zaman. Fasciolosis is caused by F. hepatica and F. gigantica. It is of economic and zoonotic importance. Several strategies for control of fasciolosis are being used; these include vaccination of animals that are at risk and control of the snails that carry the parasite. Several types of vaccines, such as recombinant cathepsin, mixed recombinant vaccine, fatty-acid-binding proteins, a cocktail of recombinant and fatty-acid-binding vaccines, nucleic acid-based vaccines and gene-silencing methods have been reported to show efficacy ranges of 32-75%, 52-79%, 8-36%, 43-68%, 74-100% and 90% respectively. These are currently undergoing experimental testing against fasciolosis. The study described in this paper was carried out to discover the comparative efficacy of these vaccines in the enhancement of the immune response in order to find the most effective method so that future research could focus on the development of that type of vaccine. Besides immunization, control of the intermediate host of the parasite (snail) is also an effective way to control fasciolosis. Snails are controlled through the use of physical, chemical and biological methods. The most effective of these is biological control using Sphaerodema urinator as a predator of snails.

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) was diagnosed in a 9‐day‐old Romagnola calf. The condition was characterized by microtia of the left ear, anotia of the right ear, asymmetry of the face, and deafness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed agenesis of the right pinna and both tympanic bullae, asymmetry of the temporal bones and temporomandibular joints, and right pontine meningocele. Brainstem auditory evoked responses confirmed the impaired auditory capacity. At gross post mortem examination, there was agenesis and hypoplasia of the right and the left external ear, respectively. No histological abnormalities were detected in the inner ears. A trio whole‐genome sequencing approach was carried out and identified a private homozygous missense variant in LAMB1 affecting a conserved residue (p.Arg668Cys). Genotyping of 221 Romagnola bulls revealed a carrier prevalence

The authors examine animal welfare indicators for the bovine species, with particular reference to dairy cow. This work proposes a practical approach to the Functional Area of Animal Health, considers the issue of animal welfare as an integrated concept, the current legislation –horizontal and vertical-, the epidemic surveillance system (Classyfarm) and biosecurity in breeding., Rassegna di Diritto, Legislazione e Medicina Legale Veterinaria, V. 18 N. 1 (2019): INDICATORI DI BENESSERE ANIMALE NELLA SPECIE BOVINA E RIFLESSI PRATICO-APPLICATIVI IN SANITA’ PUBBLICA VETERINARIA

Vengono descritti sei casi di Ectopia cordis (anomalo posizionamento del cuore al di fuori della cavità toracica) nel bovino, cinque dei quali di tipo cervicale, uno sternale. La condizione, osservata in soggetti di più razze e di diverso genere, in due casi ha provocato natimortalità, in tre casi la morte nei primissimi giorni di vita, nell’ultimo vitello una sopravvivenza di un mese. Fra le specie animali, il bovino risulta quello col maggior numero di segnalazioni di Ectopia cordis, soprattutto del tipo cervicale, rappresentando, fra le altre cose, un potenziale modello per studi teratologici comparati con la medicina umana. La convinzione che i dati epidemiologici della patologia, al pari di altre malformazioni, soffrano di sottostima, motiva le sollecitazioni a veterinari ed allevatori a segnalare simili malattie malformative a centri di ricerca per favorirne gli studi. Fra le ipotesi eziologiche, infatti, non può essere taciuta quella genetico/ereditaria, fatto preoccupante nella generalizzata tendenza alla riduzione della variabilità genetica nelle razze bovine. Ectopia cordis is a congenital anomaly defined as an abnormal position of the heart outside the thorax. Based on the position of the heart, the ectopia is cervical, thoracic and abdominal. The first form has been observed most frequently in domestic animal, whereas the last two have been described mainly in man. The article reports 6 cases of Ectopia cordis in calves. In five cases the heart was situated in the cervical area, in one case outside the chest. Affected calves were both male and female, and of different breeds. Two calves were stillborn, three died during the first days of life whereas the last survived for one month. Among the different animals species Ectopia cordis seems to occur mostly in cattle. In this species the cervical Ectopia cordis accounts for the majority of the cases. Cervical Ectopia cordis is likely due to fibrous adhesions between the pericardium and the surrounding tissues that inhibit the migration of the heart into the thoracic cavity. This condition has been found in the subjects examined. Within the pericardial cavity, the apex of the heart was, generally, cranially oriented and the right ventricle was hypertrophic. Furthermore, the pulmonary trunk was connected with the aortic arch by a persistent arterial duct. Thoracic Ectopia cordis is due to a failure of the two embryonic sternal islands to come together, although it has also been hypothesized that the lack of fusion of the sternum is secondary to the ectopia of the heart itself. In any case, the heart protrude from the defective thorax and the pericardium is missing. It is conviction of the authors that, similarly to other congenital malformations, Ectopia cordis is underestimated. Therefore, the authors prompt practitioners and farmers to submit all cases of malformed calves to allow more in depth studies, as a lot of malformations may be caused by genetic defects.

Objectives: To describe a dysmorphological condition in which the spiral loops of the ascending colon (SLAC) do not form an orderly spiraling mass adjacent to the left side of the mesojejunum. Methods: The study started from the observation of repeated occurrence of intraoperatory and post mortem findings of morphological distortions of the SLAC. Further investigations were carried out on slaughtered veal calves. The specific configuration of the SLAC was classified as following on the basis of the space between loops and their abnormal superimposition as well as loss of the disc shape configuration: 1) normal anatomical situation: the centripetal and the centrifugal coil of the SLAC are intimately attached to the left side of the mesojejunum and the loops are ordenlty distended without any overlapping among adjacent loops; 2) conical shape looseness of the SLAC: the spiral loops are loosly attached to the mesojejunum, and if raised at the level of the central flexure they assume a tri-dimensional flaccid conical shape. Some loops can overlap adjacent one; 3) partial dystopia of the SLAC: intestinal segments of the SLAC are apart from each other with an elongated mesocolon; 4) complete ectopia of the SLAC: in this case the SLAC is completely detached from the mesojejunum. Results: The intraoperatory and post mortem findings of morphological distortions of the SLAC were often observed in animals affected by intestinal mechanical obstructive diseases, such as volvulus, torsion and intussusception. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the abnormal position of the SLAC might have constituted the predisposing factor for the observed intestinal obstructive or ileus condition. The investigation carried out at slaughterhouse included 1,113 clinically healthy slaughtered veal calves. A normal configuration, as expected according to the veterinary anatomical literature, was observed in 641 (57.6± 2.9%) out of the 1,113 calves. A conical shape looseness of the SLAC was found in 381 out of 1113 (34.2±2.8%). Partial dystopia of the SLAC was noted in 68 out of 1,113 cases (6.1±1.4%), whereas a complete ectopia was present in 23 out of 1,113 calves (2.1±0.8%). In the latter cases the SLAC was “dislocated” from its position in the middle of the mesojejunum, just as though it were an independent anatomical structure. Conclusions: This study clearly indicates that the heterotopy of the SLAC represents a relatively common anatomical anomaly also in clinically healthy animals. In fact, 42.4% of the SLAC examined in this study had significant anatomical divergence from what is normally described in reference textbooks. The observation of this kind of anomalies in animals affected by intestinal mechanical obstructive diseases prompts to consider those anomalies as potential predisposing factor for intestinal obstructive or ileus condition. The predisposition might be based on an impairment of the intestinal centre of gravity, and the consequently reduced capacity of the intestine, or tracts of it, of maintaining its correct anatomical position when subjected to stresses causing abnormal movements of the intestinal mass. The heterotopy of the SLAC resembles a developmental abnormality described in human medicine called “intestinal malrotation or nonrotation.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and histopathological aspects of a cutaneous melanocytoma observed in a 3 and half-year old Holstein cow. Methods: The surgical extirpation of the tumor was performed directly at the farm. The cow was restrained in standing and a paravertebral anaesthesia with 2% Lidocaine was performed. An infiltrative subcutaneous anaesthesia was additionally performed around the pedunculous of the neoplasia. The neoplasm was totally extirpated; ligature of blood vessels was necessary to prevent excessive bleeding. Representative samples from the mass were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, and routinely processed for histologic examination. Five micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The postoperative follow up lasted one month: the cow had no further problems and the site of surgery healed as expected. Results: The extirpated tumour was a 32 x 32 x 16 cm pedunculated and irregularly rounded mass, covered by dark, thick skin, that protruded from the right lateral/dorsal region. The total weight of the mass was 10.5 kg. Cut section of the neoplasm was bright and blackish and it had a compact consistency with scattered areas of fine white streaks. The sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin revealed a normal epidermis with focal slight hyperkeratosis while in the dermis, within an extensive, dense an pinkish collagenous matrix, there were many rounded to polygonal cells, sometimes fusiform, full of dark-brownish and granular pigments (melanin) within the cytoplasm and poorly visible nuclei. The cells were often arranged around small blood vessels. In other fields it was possible to observe elongated and fusiform cell, arranged in whorls. Numerous cells of other fields showed totally lack of melanin granules. Anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were moderate. Mitotic activity was low with 1 mitosis per 10 high-power fields. On the basis of these findings diagnosis was coherent with a benign dermal melanocytoma, a rare form in cattle, arising from the dermal melanocytes. Conclusions: The term melanocytoma encompasses the benign forms of melanocytic neoplasms, whereas the term melanoma is used for the malignant forms. However, the literatures clearly emphasizes the difficulties in definitely differentiating the benign from the malignant forms. With this in mind, the described tumour was considered benign on the base of the following findings: no other metastatic masses were clinically founded, the extirpated tumour did not infiltrate the upper epidermis and surrounding tissues, mitotic activity was very low and there was no evidence of lymphovascular invasion. This is also in accordance with literature that indicates that the majority of melanocytic neoplasms in cattle are benign in nature. Despite the fact that such kind of neoplasia are quite rare in cattle, more investigation may be worth of being carried out, eventually as model for human medicine.

The Epiphysitis is an inflammation of the growth plate, frequently detected in young beef at the level of the distal metaphyses in the long bones. Etiopathogenesis of the epiphysis inflamation in young beef bulls is still unclear. In literature, this pathological process is associated with rapid growing and high weight increase, physical activity and traumatic injuries, inadequate enviromental condictions, toxicosis, excess or deficiency in diet (alteration Ca/P ratio, deficiency in microelements, hypoparatyroidism), ereditary or genetic causes. This case report shows the radiological and pathological findings performed on 36 limbs of 18 young bulls fattening. The bulls had an average weight of 580 +/- 65 kg and the average age was 17 +/- 4 months. Fully slatted floor pens house on 10 bulls were used. On clinical examination the animals presented swelling of the metatarsophalangeal joint which was not painful or warm, no limb hypertermia, rapid weight loss, difficulty in keeping the standing position. Animals treated with antibiotic and/or antinflammatory medication were not included. X-Ray of the limbs were performed for all the animals, both for the clinically normal and lame, at the level of the distal metaphyses in the metatarsophalangeal joint. Pathological examinations were performed following the slaughter of the animals. Four different stages of inflammation in the distal epiphysis of the metatarsus were found in this report: Grade 0, no lesions in the growth plate; Grade 1, hyperemic areas localized on the growth plate and bone; Grade 2, multifocal lesions with thickening of the growth plate associated with the presence of whitish material of fibrous appearance; Grade 3, severe and diffuse thickening of the growth plate with bone tissue degeneration associated with the presence of whitish material of fibrous appearance. The breeding of fattening bulls on slatted floor may be a negative factor in the development of this pathology. The rapid gain weight and the hard slatted floor may induce traumatic or micro-traumatic joint lesions especially on the growth plate, causing chronic inflamation and bone tissue degeneration.

Homozygous regions detected in the genome of the two animals with renal syndrome (xanthinuria). (PDF 30 kb)

List of private homozygous sequence variants of the sequenced animal located within homozygous IBD regions. Variants with predicted effects on the protein sequence are presented boldface. (PDF 108 kb)

List of private heterozygous variants in annotated genes found in the genome of the sequenced animal. (PDF 31 kb)