2008 - 77 (5)

Paper in Dutch

Paper in Dutch

Pet cats live in close proximity with their owners and are considered a potential source of Toxoplasmagondii infection for humans. Four hundred and ten sera of healthy pet cats originating from different partsof Belgium were examined. The age of the cats varied from 3 months to 8 years. Nearly 27% of the cats testedpositive for Toxoplasma IgG and/or IgM antibodies. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was lowest in Flanders(20.4%), followed by Brussels (30.9%) and Wallonia (35.0%). Seroprevalence increased with age: from merely2% below 12 months of age, up to 47% at 7 years of age. Infection peaks were observed in the age group of12-23 months (17.6% increase) and, remarkably, also in the age group of 6 years (14.0% increase).The study suggests an overall chance of 5.5% for a seronegative cat to become infected within the next year.The risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis to the cat’s owner is discussed.

This article provides a detailed description of both the method and the requirements for an infusion in the ear veinof cattle, performed in daily practice. By using this approach, calves and cows can be given larger quantities of fluidduring a longer period of time. Besides the ear anatomy, a description of the infusion technique is outlined. Thistechnique is easy to learn and can, according to the experiences of the authors, be used under field conditions at lowcost and with a minimal risk of complications.

The vast majority of cutaneous canine nonepitheliotropic lymphomas are of T cell origin. Nonepithelial Bcelllymphomas are extremely rare. The present case report describes a 10-year-old male Golden retrieverthat was presented with slowly progressive nodular skin lesions on the trunk and limbs. Histopathology of skinbiopsies revealed small periadnexal dermal nodules composed of rather pleomorphic round cells with roundor contorted nuclei. The diagnosis of nonepitheliotropic cutaneous B-cell lymphoma was based on histopathologicalmorphology and case follow-up, and was supported immunohistochemically by CD79a positivity.

A Harris’s Hawk was referred for severe lameness of the left pelvic limb. Clinical examination and radio -graphy revealed an open transverse diaphyseal fracture in the proximal third of the tarsometatarsal bone.Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen after premedication with buprenorphineintramuscularly. Closed reduction and stabilization using a Type IIa external skeletal fixation device was performedduring anesthesia lasting 70 minutes. Recovery was fast, uneventful and complete 15 minutes afterisoflurane was stopped. Meloxicam (0.5mg/kg bid) was administered as analgesic and and marbofloxacine(15mg/kg bid) as antibiotic therapy during the post-operative period.

Desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon is a frequently performed surgical techniquein foals to treat flexural limb deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint. In this retrospective study with 40foals varying in age from 15 days to 18 months, 53 desmotomies were performed. The follow-up period varied from2 to 12 years. In 85% (34/40) of the foals a desmotomy had a successful outcome. Both type 1 and 2 flexural deformitiescould be corrected.Preoperative changes in hoof conformation, which appeared especially in older foals (mean age 10.2 months),could also be corrected. The prognosis in foals with a bilateral flexural deformity was less favorable. Changes of thedistal phalanx on radiographic examination seemed to play a role in preoperative lameness but did not have any effecton the post-operative outcome of the desmotomy.Although changes in hoof conformation in older foals can successfully be corrected through desmotomy, surgicalcorrection in young foals is preferred, since changes in hoof conformation in these patients are rather rare. In theopinion of the authors, desmotomy should not be postponed if conservative treatment does not improve a type 1 deformitywithin a couple of weeks, or in case of severe deformity (type 2).

Reliable estimates of boar fertility potential from semen evaluation could be a valuable tool for boar selection.The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology and the detailed motility parameters of dilutedboar semen and to relate these to their predictive value concerning conception and farrowing rate, littersize and the number of live born piglets. In addition, the optimal time for evaluation of the motility of preservedsemen with respect to its predictive effect on fertility was determined. One hundred ejaculates from 38 boarswere evaluated morphologically by eosin-nigrosin staining and different motility characteristics were assessedusing Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA). The motility was determined at 15, 45 and 120 minutesafter incubation at 37°C. The conception rate, farrowing rate, litter size and number of live born pigletswere registered from 276 sows inseminated with these ejaculates. Different regression models were used to evaluatethe predictive value of the semen characteristics on these fertility parameters, taking into account theeffect of herd, parity and weaning to estrus interval.The motility characteristics of the spermatozoa varied significantly during the 15 to 120 minutes of incubation.The longer the incubation time, the more the velocity parameters along the actual cell path decreased,while the parameters of straightforward movement increased. The predictive value of individual semen parameterson conception and farrowing rate was very small. The predictive value of certain associations of differentsemen parameters, on the other hand, was significant.The percentage of motile spermatozoa had a significant (P<0.05) and positive effect on the total numberof piglets born (litter size) and on the number of live born piglets, independent of the time of measurement (X20.38-1.00 and 0.41-1.00, respectively). Accurate evaluation of the motility of a semen dose is therefore imperativefor estimating its predictive value relating to fertility.In conclusion, since the time of evaluation after warming the samples significantly influences the motilityparameters, CASA measurement should be done when the cells are completely acclimatized to 37°C. On thebasis of the available data, a 45 min incubation period appeared to be sufficient. The percentage of motilespermatozoa, as assessed by CASA on diluted semen, offers detailed predictive information regarding littersize, irrespective of the time of measurement.

Paper in Dutch