Twenty-four rams inoculated with Brucella ovis by conjunctival and preputial routes were treated with a long-acting oxytetracycline alone or in combination with dihydrostreptomycin sulfate. The combined treatment eliminated Brucella ovis from 11 of 12 (91.6%) treated rams. Only 4 of 12 (33.3%) rams treated with oxytetracycline alone were bacteriologically negative. Neither treatment resolved clinical epididymitis in 2 rams affected before treatment. Many rams had pathologic lesions in the epididymis and ampullae, which limited the efficacy of antibiotic treatment.

A serologic survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and seroconversion rates for ovine adenovirus (OAV) serotypes 1-4 and bovine adenovirus (BAV) serotypes 2, 3, and 7 in sheep in Iowa and in surrounding states. For 2 consecutive years, paired serum samples were obtained from 1- to 2-month-old lambs as they entered a ram test station and, again, 2 months later. Sera were tested for adenovirus antibodies by use of a microtitration serum virus-neutralization test. At the time of entry, high prevalence of antibody (titer greater than or equal to 2) was detected to all tested adenoviruses except BAV-3. All adenoviruses were active in the ram test station both years, as indicated by greater than or equal to fourfold increase in adenovirus antibody titer (seroconversion) in some of the lambs. The prevalence and seroconversion rate for OAV-1 was 94.0 and 7.2%, respectively; for OAV-2, 98.6 and 15.1%; for OAV-3, 86.5 and 11.0%; for OAV-4, 98.4 and 13.2%; for BAV-2, 97.6 and 22.4%; for BAV-3, 11.4 and 3.8%; and for BAV-7, 81.6 and 4.5%. The results indicate that adenovirus infections were widespread in the sheep population and that the prevalence of active infection based on seroconversion rates was approximately 45%.

International audience | Twelve rams were used to confirm whether rams sexually activated in spring by light treatment increase social and sexual activities of non-treated rams in the presence of ewes. Males were divided into 2 groups: light-treated rams (group L, n = 6), which were exposed to artificial long days (16 h light) for 2 months (1 Nov-31 Dec), or non-exposed, control rams (group C, n = 6), exposed to the natural pho-toperiod. At the end of the long-day period, light-treated rams were returned to the natural photoperiod, groups isolated from each other. In mid-Feb, 3 rams from each group were put together such that 4 ex-perimental groups were created: the remaining light-treated rams (L, n = 3), the remaining control rams (C, n = 3), and the other treated (L-mixed n = 3) and non-treated (C-mixed, n = 3) rams, exposed to 30, 30, and 60 ewes, respectively, in 3 separate paddocks. To identify each ram, large (30-cm-high) numbers were painted on the sides and rump of the males with washable sheep spray paint. Behaviors were doc-umented by 4 video cameras using 6 30-minute segments from 1600 to 1800 h the following day (27 hours). C rams presented the lowest proportion of activities ( P < 0.01), and C-mixed rams exhibited pro-portions similar to L and L-mixed rams. C rams exhibited the fewest fight attempts ( P < 0.001), fighting ( P < 0.05), pushing ( P < 0.001), and sniffing another ram. The groups differed significantly ( P < 0.001) in pushing, pawing, flehmen, and attempt mounting, and C rams had the fewest interactions. In conclusion, rams exposed to 2 months of long days at late-autumn early-winter increased social and sexual activities of unexposed rams. These observations can be explained by a "ram-to-ram effect", which can enhance the endocrine activity of rams in sexual rest if they are joined with rams who have been made sexually active by a photoperiodic treatment. These findings suggest that socio-sexual interactions could be used to restrict out-of-season reproduction in this species.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of midazolam following IV and IM administration in sheep. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult rams. PROCEDURES Sheep were administered midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) by the IV route and then by the IM route 7 days later in a crossover study. Physiologic and behavioral variables were assessed and blood samples collected for determination of plasma midazolam and 1-hydroxymidazolam (primary midazolam metabolite) concentrations immediately before (baseline) and at predetermined times for 1,440 minutes after midazolam administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by compartmental and noncompartmental methods. RESULTS Following IV administration, midazolam was rapidly and extensively distributed and rapidly eliminated; mean ± SD apparent volume of distribution, elimination half-life, clearance, and area under the concentration-time curve were 838 ± 330 mL/kg, 0.79 ± 0.44 hours, 1,272 ± 310 mL/h/kg, and 423 ± 143 h·ng/mL, respectively. Following IM administration, midazolam was rapidly absorbed and bioavailability was high; mean ± SD maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum plasma concentration, area under the concentration-time curve, and bioavailability were 820 ± 268 ng/mL, 0.46 ± 0.26 hours, 1,396 ± 463 h·ng/mL, and 352 ± 148%, respectively. Respiratory rate was transiently decreased from baseline for 15 minutes after IV administration. Times to peak sedation and ataxia after IV administration were less than those after IM administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated midazolam was a suitable short-duration sedative for sheep, and IM administration may be a viable alternative when IV administration is not possible.

The effects of method of seminal collection and a diuretic on retrograde flow of spermatozoa into the urinary bladder of rams were examined. In experiment 1, semen and urine were collected from 8 rams during the nonbreeding season. Prior to seminal collection, all rams were given furosemide and a sample of urine was obtained during micturition. Semen was then collected from each ram with an artificial vagina or by electroejaculation in alternate weeks for 4 weeks, and the urine released during the first postseminal collection micturition was collected in 4 consecutive samples. The volume of electroejaculates was larger (P < 0.0001) than the volume of ejaculates, but the total number of spermatozoa in the electroejaculate or in the ejaculate were not different (P > 0.1). Urine obtained before seminal collection was azoospermic or contained few, nonmotile spermatozoa (mean +/- SD = 0.053 +/- 0.114 x 10(6)/ml). The adjusted spermatozoal concentration (mean +/- SD = 1.630 +/- 2.258 X 10(6)/ml) in the urine collected after seminal collection was 31 times higher (P < 0.0001) and there were motile spermatozoa in most (97%) of the samples. The spermatozoal concentration in sequential samples of urine was not different (P > 0.1) between samples and was not affected (P > 0.1) by the method of seminal collection. There was a trend, approaching significance (P = 0.052), for an effect of method of seminal collection on the percentage of retrograde flow. Retrograde flow ranged from 0.21 to 19.38% when semen was collected with an artificial vagina and from 0.03 to 94.60% when semen was collected by electroejaculation and varied (P = 0.02) among rams within the 2 methods of seminal collection. In experiment 2, the 8 rams used in experiment 1 were given injections of 0.9% physiologic saline solution or furosemide in alternate weeks prior to seminal collection with an artificial vagina. Furosemide increased (P = 0.009) the volume of urine voided during the first postejaculation micturition, but did not influence (P > 0.1) the time from exposure of rams to the teaser to ejaculation, seminal characteristics, number of spermatozoa in the urine, or the percentage of retrograde flow. There was a trend (P < 0.1) for more rams to have motile spermatozoa in the postejaculation urine after treatment with furosemide. Administration of furosemide prior to seminal collection facilitates the noninvasive collection of pre- and postejaculation samples of urine for the determination of retrograde flow.

The studies were carried out on 32 rams of the ossimi breed (270 days of age). Sixteen rams (group 1) received a ration containing 0.2 ppm. Se , and 30 mg vit.E, the other 16 rams (group 2) received 0.5 ppm. Se, and 50 mg vit.E/kg feed mixture .The feeding test was conducted from 270 days until 360 days of age. During the experiment the rams were subjected to live evaluations, i.e. testes circumference, libido level, semen characteristics, as well as selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in blood serum and seminal plasma. Routine macroscopic and microscopic analyses of semen quality were accompanied by measurement of Se content and GSH-Px activity in blood and semen. The Se concentration in blood plasma, seminal fluid and spermatozoa was measured by fluorometric method, while the GSH-Px activity by method based on NADPH - coupled reaction .Comparing the results in animals of both groups , it was clear that the all were in good health conditions as ascertained by clinical examination. No significant variation was detected in body weight of animals of both groups. Significant elevation (p<0.05) in the values of semen conc., semen conc./ ejac , semen motion , sperm motility / ejac.as well as total sperms count were observed in animals of group 2 as compared to those of group 1 .

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arthropod-borne viral disease of importance in livestock and humans. Epidemics occur periodically in domestic ruminants. People in contact with infected livestock may develop disease that varies from mild flu-like symptoms to fatal viraemia. Livestock vaccination may assist in disease control. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) Clone 13 is a relatively new vaccine against RVF, derived from an avirulent natural mutant strain of RVFV, and has been shown to confer protective immunity against experimental infection with RVFV. The hypothesis tested in the current trial was that rams vaccinated with RVFV Clone 13 vaccine would not experience a reduction in semen quality (measured by evaluating the percentage progressively motile and percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa in successive ejaculates) relative to unvaccinated control animals. Ram lambs were screened for antibodies to RVFV using a serum neutralisation test. Animals without detectable antibodies (n = 23) were randomly allocated to either a test group (n = 12) or a control group (n = 11). Animals in the test group were vaccinated with RVFV Clone 13 vaccine. Daily rectal temperature measurements and weekly semen and blood samples were taken from all animals. Seven animals were eliminated from the statistical analysis because of potential confounding factors. Logistic regression analysis was performed on data gathered from the remaining animals to determine whether an association existed between animal group, rectal temperature and semen quality parameters. No correlation existed between the treatment group and values obtained for the semen quality parameters measured. There was no statistically significant post-vaccination decline in the percentage of live morphologically normal spermatozoa, or the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, either when assessed amongst all animals or when assessed within individual groups. A repeat study with a larger sample size and a more comprehensive pre-screening process may be indicated to avoid the inclusion of unsuitable animals.

A serologic survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and seroconversion rates for ovine adenovirus (OAV) serotypes 1-4 and bovine adenovirus (BAV) serotypes 2, 3, and 7 in sheep in Iowa and in surrounding states. For 2 consecutive years, paired serum samples were obtained from 1- to 2-month-old lambs as they entered a ram test station and, again, 2 months later. Sera were tested for adenovirus antibodies by use of a microtitration serum virus-neutralization test. At the time of entry, high prevalence of antibody (titer greater than or equal to 2) was detected to all tested adenoviruses except BAV-3. All adenoviruses were active in the ram test station both years, as indicated by greater than or equal to fourfold increase in adenovirus antibody titer (seroconversion) in some of the lambs. The prevalence and seroconversion rate for OAV-1 was 94.0 and 7.2%, respectively; for OAV-2, 98.6 and 15.1%; for OAV-3, 86.5 and 11.0%; for OAV-4, 98.4 and 13.2%; for BAV-2, 97.6 and 22.4%; for BAV-3, 11.4 and 3.8%; and for BAV-7, 81.6 and 4.5%. The results indicate that adenovirus infections were widespread in the sheep population and that the prevalence of active infection based on seroconversion rates was approximately 45%.