Renal Measures in Healthy Italian Trotter Foals and Correlation Between Renal and Biometric Measures: Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasonographic renal measures in healthy foals aged 1–6 weeks and to verify the correlation between biometric measures to ultrasonographic renal ones. A total of nine Italian trotter foals born in the same stud farm and underwent similar management conditions were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were normal gestation time, unassisted delivery, and normal physical examination at all evaluation times. Length and height of both kidneys were measured by ultrasound weekly from 1 to 6 weeks of life, along with the thoracic and the middle third of the metacarpal area circumferences. Data were expressed as mean and standard deviation, and distribution was evaluated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to verify differences related to time. The Pearson correlation test was carried out to evaluate the linearity between time versus all the parameters measured. Student's t test was used to verify differences in ultrasound measures between right and left kidney at all recorded times. The Pearson test was applied to a mean-variance matrix to verify the correlation between each biometrical versus all renal measures. Significance level was set at P <.05. One-way ANOVA showed differences in biometric and renal measures related to time. Correlation test revealed a linear growth. Differences in ultrasound renal measures between right and left kidney were obtained. Correlation was found between biometrical parameters versus kidney measures. Renal measures and differences between left and right kidneys were in line with literature. Correlation test revealed a linear growth. Renal growth is correlated with age and biometric measure

Spin imbalance effect on Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrel state

We study spin imbalance effects on the Larkin-Ovchinikov-Fulde-Ferrel (LOFF) state relevant for superconductors under a strong magnetic field and spin polarized ultracold Fermi gas. We obtain the exact solution for the condensates with arbitrary spin imbalance and the fermion spectrum perturbatively in the presence of small spin imbalance. We also obtain fermion zero mode exactly without perturbation.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; v2 slightly improved, typos fixed, published versio

Ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals

Objective  To determine the prevalence and describe ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals within 48 h of birth. Animals  One hundred and two neonatal foals. Procedures  All foals had an unassisted delivery. On the basis of physical examination and the results of hematological and biochemical parameters, all foals were unaffected by systemic diseases. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed within 48 h of birth. Foals with ocular hemorrhages were re-examined weekly until the abnormalities were resolved. Results  65/102 (63.7%) foals did not show ocular abnormalities, while in 37/102 (36.3%) cases, ocular abnormalities were present. Retinal and subconjunctival hemorrhages were recorded in 19/102 (18.6%), and in 13/102 (12.7%), respectively. In 4/102 (3.9%) animals, an entropion of the lower eyelid was present. Only one foal (1%) showed a congenital nuclear unilateral cataract. No other ocular abnormalities were detected. However, all foals showed various degrees of remnants of hyaloid system. One week after the first ocular examination, retinal hemorrhages had resolved in 100% of the eyes, whereas subconjunctival hemorrhages had disappeared in all eyes by the second week following the first examination. Conclusions  The acquired ocular lesions observed with relatively high frequency in the examined healthy Standardbred foals were ocular hemorrhages, which always showed a good outcome. Although these abnormalities were present at birth, they were not considered strictly congenital but likely acquired during parturition. Instead, congenital ocular abnormalities were rarely diagnosed, and the entropion of the lower eyelid was the most common disease in the breed

Valutazione alla nascita di alcuni parametri semeiologici, ematologici e biochimici in una popolazione di 99 puledri trottatori

The aim of the present study was to evaluate some semeiotical, haematological and biochemical parameters useful to assess viability in newborn trotter foals. Materials and methods - Ninety-nine trotter foals were investigated. Each subject was examined within 5 minutes after birth, APGAR scoring was assessed, and suction reflex was evaluated. Furthermore, the interval time needed to raise the head, acquire sternal recumbency, stand and acquire colostrum were recorded. Ombelical torsion was assessed too. A blood sample was collected from the jugular vein from every newborn foal before first feed and a total CBC count, serum creatinine, serum urea, fibrinogen and glucose concentration were evaluated. At 24h after birth, IgG status was assessed (SNAP (R), IDEXX, USA). Placenta was layed out in the shape of an "F" with the allantoic surface of the allantochorion exposed. Integrity, thickness, discoloured and/or edematous areas were recorded. Amniotic fluid was also collected during delivery before the rupture of amniotic sac with a sterile 50cc syringe; amniotic fluid clearness was also assessed. Minimum and maximum values, median and standard deviation were calculated for semeiotical, haematological and biochemical data. Student t test was calculated to verify possible differences between healthy foals and foals with APGAR < 6. Statistical analysis was considered significative for p < 0.05: Results - APGAR scoring was 7-8 in 89/99; suckling reflex was present in 89/89, 85/89 foals raised the head immediately, 4/89 after 2 minutes; sternal recumbency was achieved within 1 minute in 61/89, between 1 and 2 minutes in 13/89, between 3 and 4 minutes in 3/89, between 5 and 6 minutes in 8/89 and over 6 minutes in 4/89; 24/89 foals standed within 60 minutes, 25/89 between 61 and 90 minutes, 29/89 between 91 and 120 minutes, and 11/89 after 121 minutes. 43/89 foals nursed the mare within 120 minutes, 33/89 between 121 and 180 minutes, 8/89 between 181 and 240 minutes and 5/89 after 241 minutes. IgG concentration was above 800 mg/dl in 87/89 foals and between 400 and 800 mg/dl in 2/89 subjects. APGAR scoring was < 6 in 10/99. Suckling reflex was not present in 3/10 foals; 7/10 foals raise the head immediately, 2110 within 2 minutes, 1/10 after 10 minutes; sternal recumbency was achieved within 1 minute in 4/10 foals, between 3 and 4 minutes in 2/10, between 5 and 6 minutes in 2/10 and over 6 minutes in 2110 subjects; 1/10 foals standed within 60 minutes, 3110 between 61 and 90 minutes, 6/10 subjects over 60 minutes. 3/10 foals nursed the mare within 120 minutes, 2/10 between 121 and 180 minutes, 2110 subjects between 181 and 240 minutes and 3110 over 241 minutes. Minimum and maximum values, median and standard deviation of semeiotical values are reported in Table 1. Minimum and maximum values, median and standard deviation of haematological and biochemical values, heart (HR) and respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature are reported in Table 2. Concerning foals with APGAR 7-8, mares' placenta was thicked in 5189, edematous/discoloread areas were present in 12189, the weight was 2-8 kg (X +/- DS 5,1 +/- 1,06 kg), amniotic fluid clearness was considered optimal in 23/89, medium in 65189, scarce in 1/89. Concerning foals with APGAR < 6, mares' placenta was not thicked and/or edematous/discoloread, the weight was 2,5-7 kg (X +/- DS 4,8 +/- 1,2 kg), amniotic fluid clearness was considered optimal in 1/10, medium in 7110, scarce in 2/10. Statistical differences were significative for standing time (180vs90'), nursing the mare (200vs130) and HR (43vs60apm). Conclusions - The semeiotical data obtained in our study were similar to other surveys (Harvey et al, 1984; Bauer et al., 1984; Vaala, 1994; Madigan, 1997; Knottembelt et al., 2004), but with wider reference intervals. Haematological and biochemical values showed some differences respect to other studies (Bauer et al., 1984; Vaala, 1994; Madigan, 1997); in particular in our study we observed mild haemoconcentration and hypoglicemia. These differences could be related to the blood sampling collection time: immediately after this birth (as reported by Knottembelt, 2004) in the present study, while in most other was within 24 hours and after nursing (Harvey et al., 1984; Vaala,1994; Madigan,1997)

Fertility at the first post partum estrous compared with fertility at the following estrous cycles in foaling mares and with fertility in non foaling mares

A retrospective study on the reproductive performance of 401 artificially inseminated trotter mares during six breeding seasons is presented. Mares, 279 post partum (PP) and 122 maiden and barren, or nonlactating (NL), were inseminated with fresh semen obtained from four fertile stallions of the same breed. Pregnancy rate (PR) of mares inseminated at the foal heat (182/253, 71.9%) was lower, but not significantly different, than the PR (22/26, 84.6%) of mares inseminated for the first time at the second post partum cycle and similar to the PR at the first and second cycle of NL mares (95/112, 77.8% and 25/33, 75.7%, respectively). PR of mares inseminated at the foal heat was higher, but nonsignificantly different, from PR of the post partum mares not pregnant after artificial insemination (AI) at foal heat and inseminated again at the following estrous cycle. The PR after AI at the foal heat was significantly higher than the PR when the AI was performed at the third or later cycle in NL mares (71.9% vs 22.2%, P<0.01). The estrus cycle/pregnancy ratio for the PP mares inseminated for the first time at the foal heat or at the second heat and for NL mares was, respectively, 1.4, 1.2, 1.3 at first cycle and 1.4, 1.3 and 1.4 at the end of the season or when mares left the stud. The proportion of open mares at the end of the season or when leaving the stud was 7.1% (18/253), 3.8% (1/26) and 4.1% (5/122) for PP mares first inseminated at the first or second post partum cycle and for NL mares, respectively; the total rate of open mares was 6% (24/401). The foaling rate (FR) following conception at the foal heat (72.1%) was not statistically different from the FR following conception at any other cycle (50-100%). Based on the absence of significant differences in fertility at the first post partum estrus cycle versus any other estrus cycle, we conclude that breeding at the foal heat should be advisable

Determinazione alla nascita di alcuni esami di laboratorio di base in una popolazione di 99 puledri trottatori

APGAR scoring within 10’ after birth was assessed, heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature were recorded in 11 donkey foals. The time needed to raise the head, observe suction reflex, acquire sternal recumbency, stand and acquire colostrum were recorded. Blood sample was collected before first feeding, a total CBC count, lactate and glucose concentration were evaluated. IgG status was also assessed at 24h. APGAR scoring was 7-8 and the head was raised immediately in 11/11; suckling reflex was acquired in 9,7’±4,7’, sternal recumbency within 3,7’±1,3’; standing up within 127,5’±70’; nursing the mare within 200’±67,4’. Blood lactate concentration mmol/L 2,08±0,5, blood glucose concentration mg/dl 93,7±24,5, WBC K/μL 5,9±1,5, neutrophils (N) K/μL 4,2±1,6, lymphocytes (L) K/μL 1,5±0,4, N:L 3,2±1,3. IgG was >800 mg/dl in 11/11 foals. Some of the semeiotic data, haematological and biochemical values showed some differences respect to equine foals