2003 - 72 (5)

The measurement of the body temperature in pigs is conventionally done by means of rectal temperature measurement using a thermometer. However, this is a time-consuming activity and in most cases, the method can hardly be put into practice feasible. Therefore, alternative methods for a reliable, fast and practical measurement of the body temperature are searched for. To evaluate the suitability of infrared thermometry, a method by which body surface temperature is recorded, an experiment was set up to assess whether it is possible to predict the rectal temperature based on the body surface temperature. Therefore, the body surface temperature of the ear, feet, side and anus was measured in 12 weaner pigs during 45 consecutive days. These temperatures were compared to daily-recorded rectal temperatures. The results clearly demonstrate that, although there is a significant correlation between most of the measured parts of the body surface temperature and the rectal temperature, no reliable predictions can be made for the rectal temperature. Therefore it can be concluded that infrared thermometry is not a good alternative for the detection of fever in pigs.

This case report describes a severe outbreak of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-induced neurological disorders in horses on a riding school in Belgium. On at least 10 premises that had been in direct or indirect contact with the riding school during the onset of the outbreak, fever was reported. On 7 of these in-contact premises, horses also suffered from neurological disease. Of all the horses, 42 % showed fever and anorexy. Neurological disorders were observed in 15 % of all the horses. The disorders consisted mainly of ataxia and paralysis of hind limb and tail (76 % of the neurologically affected horses). Cerebral disorders such as blindness, torticollis and severe apathy were observed in 24 % of the neurologically affected horses. The mortality during the epidemic was 10 %. EHV-1 was isolated from blood mononuclear cells of two horses and identified using EHV-1-specific monoclonal antibodies.

This paper is the first description of an ependymoma in a sheep, diagnosed by chance from a fallen stock sheep included in the TSE epidemiosurveillance. Macroscopically only a very small grayish fluffy mass was present in the third ventricle of the mid-brain. Microscopically, the fluffy mass was diagnosed as an ependymoma.

In this case report, a severe infection with Sarcoptes scabiei in llamas is described. Sarcoptic mange is common in small camelids, but is often detected too late. In this case, the llamas showed severe signs of pruritus, hyperkeratinization, alopecia and pyodermy. Psoroptes mites were found in the ear and an otitis was present. One llama died and showed an abcedation of the ear base. A treatment with doramectine S.C. in combination with a topical applied acaricid had to be repeated seven times before it was successful. Llamas, which are newly introduced in a herd, have to be inspected and treated thoroughly in order to prevent transmission of the infection to other animals.

Between 1996 and 2000 79 Belgian blue donor cows were submitted to OPU-IVF. They all had a history in classical embryo transfer programs with disappointing results. Two different in vitro embryo production protocols were used. Between 1996 and 1998 (period A), oocytes were matured in M199 and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Foetal Calf Serum (FCS) were added. Subsequently, the oocytes were cultured in a granulosa co-culture system in a Synthetic Oviduct Fluid (SOF) medium. From 1998 until 2000 (Period B), M199, FCS, equine chorionic gonatrophin (eCG) and a granulosa cell co-culture were used for in vitro maturation.Zygotes were subsequently cultured in SOF with a co-culture of bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC). During period A, 531 OPU-IVF sessions were performed, collecting 2111 cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), of which 928 (44 %) were of good morphological quality. The In vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC) resulted in 241 transferable embryos. When fresh embryos (n=88) were transferred, a pregnancy rate of 27 % was obtained, whereas the transfer of frozen embryos (n=18) resulted in 29 % pregnant recipients. During period B, 1519 OPU sessions were performed, collecting 7027 COCs, with 2157 (31%) of them being of good quality. Following IVM-IVF-IVC, we cultured 1120 transferable embryos of which 438 were transferred fresh, resulting in a pregnancy rate of 39%. The transfer of frozen embryos (n=139) yielded a pregnancy rate of only 5 %. The overall results improved over the years, while individual donor variability was one of the main factors that have an influence on the OPU-IVF success rate. At the end of the second period, an average of 0.8 embryos were obtained per OPU session. Since freezing of in vitro derived bovine embryos is still problematic, the transfer of fresh embryos remains the best option. However, in our circumstances the availability of good quality recipients appeared to be the limiting factor.

In this study, the efficacy of intraruminal copper boli in the prevention of molybdenosis in cattle caused by environmental contamination was examined. The efficacy and safety of a high- and a low-dose intraruminal copper bolus were tested. Both treatments maintained copper serum levels within normal limits. The high-dose treatment caused very significant (P<0.001) differences in serum copper levels compared with untreated controls. Significant differences could not be demonstrated in the second trial in which the effects of the high- and the low-dose bolus were compared because an unexpectedly high number of animals had to be excluded from the trial. No abnormal high copper levels or signs of toxicity were observed. In order to prevent excessive copper accumulation in the liver, the lower dose copper bolus may be preferable.

Most variations of the rostral teeth in sheep affect the canine teeth. The present study reports the occurrence of these variations observed in 266 sheep of six different breeds. Unilateral or bilateral absence of the canines was observed in 15.4 % of the cases. This might interfere with the correct determination of the age. Rotation of the canines was observed in 1.1 % of the sheep investigated. Changes of shape or presence of canine teeth in the upper jaw were not observed in the animals of this study.