Forty–two weaned Sudan Desert lambs of both sexes were divided into three equal sex and age groups and were randomly assigned to one of three diets: Humra + limited amount of cottonseed cake and a complete ration (dura 44 % cottonseed cake 25% dry humra 29% salt 1.5% and vitamin minerals 0.5%). All diets were fed adlibitum for eleven weeks. Then differential feeding was stopped and each group was fed ad libitum on the complete ration for twelve weeks. Two lambs from both sexes were chosen at random for each nutritional treatment, and were slaughtered before the beginning of the trial. Half of the remaining lambs in each treatment was slaughtered at the end of the differential feeding period and the other half at the end of the trial. Generally, the live weight gain of lambs fed on Humra, with or without cottonseed cake, was poor whereas lambs fed on the complete ration made significantly (p

International audience | Udder infections were recorded in 3 herds throughout a lactation period with bacteriologic examination being done at 3-week intervals. New infection rates and levels of infection at calving differed significantly (P less than 0.001) between herds, but persistence of infection did not. Of the 324 infections, 80.5% lasted up to drying off. Of quarters infected with major pathogens, 16.8% eliminated their infection (63% became reinfected); 20.8% of quarters infected with minor pathogens eliminated their infection (43% became reinfected). Significant differences in persistence of infections, quarter clearing rate (defined as the rate at which infected quarters become and remain noninfected) and ability to give way to and to take place of a preexistent infection, did not occur between Corynebacterium bovis and major pathogens. Though 66% of coagulase-negative staphylococci infections persisted up to drying off, they disappeared more frequently (P less than 0.01).

International audience | The herd factor did not significantly affect distributions of somatic cell counts of 6,560 milk samples (collected in 3 herds) within an infection status. Minor-infections distribution for a herd was closer to that of healthy quarters than that of major infections. About 35% of the quarters infected by major pathogens had counts less than 400,000 cells/ml. Statistical analysis by conditional probability indicated that herd major-infection level should be taken into account to predict the probability of quarter infection by major pathogens. Discrimination with a good reliability between presence and absence of pathogens, as estimated by a single somatic cell count, is possible only in herds with high major-infection level.

International audience

gastrointestinal helminths in calves, field conditions, febantel, no activity against Moniezia benedeni, no signs of intoxication

Eimeria tenella, chickens (exper.), alpha-difluoromethylornithine promising for preventive chemotherapy, perhaps prevents schizont formation, anticoccidial effect possibly due to inhibition of putrescine biosynthesis; immunity to reinfection after treatment

Strongylus vulgaris (larvae), Trichostrongylus axei (adults), ponies (exper.), efficacy of ivermectin, controlled tests

Eimeria mitis, 2 strains, chickens, reduced intestinal absorption of glucose and L-methionine, reduced weight gain, depigmentation of plasma, gross lesions absent

In 1973-1974, 4 controlled tests were performed in pony foals (n = 17) raised parasite-free and experimentally infected with Strongyloides westeri. Administration of infective larvae by stomach tube in 1 test resulted in low-grade infections and tended to invalidate the test. Intraoral and percutaneous (intra-aural) administration of larvae resulted in suitable test infections for 1 and 2 tests, respectively. A paste formulation of dichlorvos at 36.3 mg/kg of body weight removal from 4 ponies. Treatment of 4 the dosage rate of 44 mg/kg was consistently effective (greater than 99% to 100%) for eliminating intestinal infections of S westeri.