Bacteriological recovery after intramuscular or intracisternal spiramycin-based drying-off therapy

Systemic (intramuscular, IM) vs. local (intracisternal, IC) routes of spiramycin-based drying-off therapy were compared for efficacy on 65 Staphylococcus aureus infected udder quarters of 38 dairy cows. Single-dose (30,000 IU/kg) IM treatment (single IM group) resulted in a similarly low bacteriological recovery rate (14%) as seen in the untreated controls (18%). IM treatment (30,000 IU/kg) on 4 consecutive days (4 IM group) resulted in significantly higher quarter-based recovery rates than that in the single IM group. The bacteriological recovery rates obtained in the intracisternal and 4 IM groups were quite similar but remained below 50%. Based on these findings as well as on the high cost of the repeated intramuscular treatment regime there is no reason to give extra preference to the systemic application of spiramycin at drying off in the practice

Effect of low-dose zearalenone exposure on luteal function, follicular activity and uterine oedema in cycling mares

The effect of 10-day zearalenone administration starting 10 days after ovulation was studied in 6 cycling trotter mares in the summer period. After an entire oestrous cycle (Cycle 1), mares were given 7 mg purified zearalenone per os daily (1 mg/ml in ethyl alcohol) beginning on Day 10 of Cycle 2. Toxin exposure was continued until the subsequent ovulation. Luteal function and follicular activity were monitored daily by rectal palpation, ultrasonography and blood sampling for progesterone. During toxin exposure, all animals were in good physical condition. The toxin had no effect on the length of the interovulatory intervals, luteal and follicular phases. It did not influence significantly the plasma progesterone profiles (logistic curve parameters A1 to A6), the follicular activity (growth rate, maximum size of the ovulatory follicles, maximum number and the time of first increase in the number of large follicles) and the uterine oedema. It is concluded that in cyclic mares the methods used in this study could not detect any adverse effect of zearalenone (administered at a low dose similar to natural exposure) on reproduction

Metabolic and endocrine profiles and reproductive parameters in dairy cows under grazing conditions: effect of polymorphisms in somatotropic axis genes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study hypothesized that GH-AluI and IGF-I-SnabI polymorphisms do change the metabolic/endocrine profiles in Holstein cows during the transition period, which in turn are associated with productive and reproductive parameters.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Holstein cows (Farm 1, primiparous cows, n = 110, and Farm 2, multiparous cows, n = 76) under grazing conditions were selected and GH and IGF-I genotypes were determined. Blood samples for metabolic/endocrine determinations were taken during the transition period and early lactation in both farms. Data was analyzed by farm using a repeated measures analyses including GH and IGF-I genotypes, days and interactions as fixed effects, sire and cow as random effects and calving date as covariate.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>Frequencies of GH and IGF-I alleles were L:0.84, V:0.16 and A:0.60, B:0.40, respectively. The GH genotype was not associated with productive or reproductive variables, but interaction with days affected FCM yield in multiparous (farm 2) cows (LL yielded more than LV cows) in early lactation. The GH genotype affected NEFA and IGF-I concentrations in farm 1 (LV had higher NEFA and lower IGF-I than LL cows) suggesting a better energy status of LL cows.</p> <p>There was no effect of IGF-I genotype on productive variables, but a trend was found for FCM in farm 2 (AB cows yielded more than AA cows). IGF-I genotype affected calving first service interval in farm 1, and the interaction with days tended to affect FCM yield (AB cows had a shorter interval and yielded more FCM than BB cows). IGF-I genotype affected BHB, NEFA, and insulin concentrations in farm 1: primiparous BB cows had lower NEFA and BHB and higher insulin concentrations. In farm 2, there was no effect of IGF-I genotype, but there was an interaction with days on IGF-I concentration, suggesting a greater uncoupling somatropic axis in AB and BB than AA cows, being in accordance with greater FCM yield in AB cows.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The GH and IGF-I genotypes had no substantial effect on productive parameters, although IGF-I genotype affected calving-first service interval in primiparous cows. Besides, these genotypes may modify the endocrine/metabolic profiles of the transition dairy cow under grazing conditions.</p

Mefor semen and endocrinological evaluation of the stallion: a review- Acta Vet

Abstract Juhász J., P. Nagy, M. Kulcsár, Gy. Huszenicza: Methods for Semen and Endocrinological Evaluation of The Stallion: A Review. Acta Vet. Brno 2000, 69: 247-259. Breeding soundness examination of stallions includes the examination of reproductive organs, behavior, quantity and quality of the ejaculate and function of the reproductive endocrine system. The paper reviews the current knowledge of this field. First, the morphology of the equine spermatozoa is described in details. Semen examination is divided into routine and advanced laboratory procedures and new techniques. During routine laboratory examination, the quantitative (volume, concentration, total sperm number) and the qualitative (appearance, motility, morphology) parameters of the ejaculate are determined. Owing to different evaluation systems and interpretation, data on morphology from different laboratories are difficult to compare. Following routine laboratory tests, morphological and functional membrane integrity and acrosome integrity can be determined. Several non fluorescent and fluorescent staining techniques have been developed to determine the viability and/or the acrosomal status of spermatozoa which can be used separately or in combination. Hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test is a relatively simple test to evaluate the functional integrity of the spermatozoal membrane. New automated techniques, such as computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry have been developed recently. These new methods allow us to evaluate different motility parameters, morphology, different compartments and functions of individual cells, including the nucleus, plasma membrane, mitochondria, capacitation, acrosomal status. The determination of baseline concentration of reproductive hormones helps to evaluate the breeding soundness of stallions. GnRH and hCG challenge-tests are also available to monitor the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis

Factors affecting plasma progesterone concentration and the retrospective determination of time of ovulation in cyclic mares

International audienc

Relationship between thyroid function and seasonal reproductive activity in mares

International audienc