This retrospective study was conducted to elucidate reproductive parameters oh heifers. The age of insemination resulted with pregnancy (AIRP), the number of inseminations per pregnancy (NIPP), length of the gestation period (LGP), age at first calving (AFC), maternal body weight at the first calving (BWFC), and bodyweight of calves at parturition (BWCP) data were compiled from 179 heifers (Holstein, n = 32; Simmental, n = 147), which were born between June 22, 2013 and October 31, 2019 and raised under the same managerial program in a private farm. The data were subjected to 2-way ANOVA and regression analysis. The AIRP was longer in Simmental heifers than Holstein heifers (515 ± 5 d vs. 482 ± 7 d; P<0.01) while NIPP values were similar (1.99 ± 0.10 vs. 2.06 ± 0.10, P>0.05). Likewise, the AFC was 39 d shorter for Holstein heifers than that for Simmental heifers (753 ± 7 d vs. 796 ± 5 d, P<0.001). The LGP was shorter in Holstein heifers than Simmental heifers (271 ± 1 d vs. 280 ± 1 d; P<0.0001). However, the BWFC (576 ± 10 kg vs. 585 ± 5 kg) and BWCP (39.0 ± 0.8 kg vs. 40.7 ± 0.5) were not different. The sire, calf sex, and maternal weight accounted for 83.1% (P<0.01), 9.3% (P<0.05), and 7.6% (P>0.05) of variations in the BWCP. The linear models describing relationships were 1) LPG (d) = 0.46∙BWCP (kg) + 260.4, R² = 0.12 (P<0.0001), 2) AFC (d) = 28.05∙NIPP + 731.36, R² = 0.35, (P<0.0001), and 3) BWFC (kg) = 0.32∙AFC (d) + 328.47, R² = 0.11 (P<0.0001). In conclusion, reproductive management covering accurate observation for estrus sign, inseminated by experienced inseminator, checked for pregnancy status as early as possible is crucial to improve life-time productivity. Sire selection should be considered for minimizing dystocia incidence.

N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (melatonin) which is a hormone synthesized primarily by the pineal gland and other tissues, affects a variety of biologic processes in organism with receptor dependent pathways and independent pathways. Both in vivo and and in vitro experiments show that the melatonin via its receptors, stimulates differentiation of immune cells and immune cell–target cell interactions. The influences of melatonin on immune system are generally associated with production of cytokines. In addition melatonin has powerful antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. The findings about the effects of melatonin on immune system are promising for therapy of immune system diseases. The present review attempts to summarize melatonin’s effects on immune system.

Despite the implication of viruses and bacteria in oncogenesis, commensal microbes play a beneficial role in anticancer therapy. Microbiota regulates responses made to various types of cancer chemotherapy by affecting the mechanism of action and toxicity of these therapies. From birth, microbiota confers innate and acquired immune responses and its role in modulating health and diseases has recently been appreciated. Increasing evidence also suggests that microbiota affects the pattern of body energy balance thus; they have a correlation with obesity, obesity-related complications and insulin resistance. Hence, microbiota has attracted the interest of researchers. However, there is little, if any, robust evidence-based review on their role in patients’ response to cancer therapy and their influence on host-biochemistry thus, this review aimed to achieve that.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate stiffness of the liver parenchyma in healthy adult cats by means of point shear wave elastography (PSWE). ANIMALS 18 client-owned adult (1- to 6-year-old) healthy cats. PROCEDURES Echogenicity and echotexture of the liver parenchyma were assessed by means of conventional B-mode ultrasonography. The shear wave velocity (Vs) of the right and left portions of the liver were measured by means of PSWE. RESULTS B-mode ultrasonography revealed no abnormalities in echotexture or echogenicity of the liver parenchyma in any cat. Mean (95% CI) Vs in the liver parenchyma was 1.46 m/s (1.36 to 1.55 m/s) for the right portion, 1.36 m/s (1.26 to 1.47 m/s) for the left portion, and 1.43 m/s (1.35 to 1.51 m/s) overall. The difference in mean Vs between the 2 portions of the liver was significant. No significant correlation was found between Vs and body weight or between Vs and the depth at which this variable was measured. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Quantitative PSWE of the liver was feasible in healthy adult cats. The obtained values for Vs may be useful for interpretation of and comparison with values measured in cats with liver disease. Additional research is needed to explore the potential usefulness of PSWE for diagnostic purposes.

OBJECTIVE To identify associations between microbes and host genes in cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), a debilitating inflammatory oral mucosal disease with no known cause, compared with healthy cats and cats with periodontitis (control cats). ANIMALS 19 control cats and 23 cats with FCGS. PROCEDURES At least 1 caudal oral mucosal swab specimen was obtained from each cat. Each specimen underwent unbiased metatranscriptomic next-generation RNA sequencing (mNGS). Filtered mNGS reads were aligned to all known genetic sequences from all organisms and to the cat transcriptome. The relative abundances of microbial and host gene read alignments were compared between FCGS-affected cats and control cats and between FCGS-affected cats that did and did not clinically respond to primary treatment. Assembled feline calicivirus (FCV) genomes were compared with reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) primers commonly used to identify FCV. RESULTS The only microbe strongly associated with FCGS was FCV, which was detected in 21 of 23 FCGS-affected cats but no control cats. Problematic base pair mismatches were identified between the assembled FCV genomes and RT-PCR primers. Puma feline foamy virus was detected in 9 of 13 FCGS-affected cats that were refractory to treatment and 5 healthy cats but was not detected in FCGS-affected cats that responded to tooth extractions. The most differentially expressed genes in FCGS-affected cats were those associated with antiviral activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that FCGS pathogenesis has a viral component. Many FCV strains may yield false-negative results on RT-PCR-based assays. Coinfection of FCGS-affected cats with FCV and puma feline foamy virus may adversely affect response to treatment.

OBJECTIVE To determine the median time to maximum concentration (tmax) of amikacin in the synovial fluid of the tarsocrural joint following IV regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) of the drug in a saphenous vein of horses. ANIMALS 7 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES With each horse sedated and restrained in a standing position, a 10-cm-wide Esmarch tourniquet was applied to a randomly selected hind limb 10 cm proximal to the point of the tarsus. Amikacin sulfate (2 g diluted with saline [0.9% NaCl] solution to a volume of 60 mL) was instilled in the saphenous vein over 3 minutes with a peristaltic pump. Tarsocrural synovial fluid samples were collected at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after completion of IVRLP. The tourniquet was removed after collection of the last sample. Amikacin concentration was quantified by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Median maximum amikacin concentration and tmax were determined. RESULTS 1 horse was excluded from analysis because an insufficient volume of synovial fluid for evaluation was obtained at multiple times. The median maximum synovial fluid amikacin concentration was 450.5 μg/mL (range, 304.7 to 930.7 μg/mL), and median tmax was 25 minutes (range, 20 to 30 minutes). All horses had synovial fluid amikacin concentrations ≥ 160 μg/mL (therapeutic concentration for common equine pathogens) at 20 minutes after IVRLP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that, in healthy horses, maintaining the tourniquet for 20 minutes after IVRLP of amikacin in a saphenous vein was sufficient to achieve therapeutic concentrations of amikacin in the tarsocrural joint.

The growing number of honey bee colonies and beekeepers in Canada has led to a great diversity of beekeeping practices. All beekeeping operations, however, need to implement consistent management measures for the control of diseases. The objective of this study was to document the actual disease management practices of beekeeping productions in southwestern Quebec, Canada. A survey was conducted to describe management practices used by 15 beekeepers who own 1824 colonies in that area. Data were obtained by telephone interviews. When infectious diseases were suspected, beekeepers generally avoided using potentially toxic acaricides and chemical treatments associated with antimicrobial resistance and instead used preventive, physical or management methods, although laboratory diagnosis was rarely used. This study highlights the wide variety of operation sizes, activities, and disease management strategies among beekeepers in southwestern Quebec. It identifies the need to encourage the use of services available to them and to propose a standardized preventive medical approach for field veterinarians to avoid the spread of infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate synoviocentesis of the equine forelimb digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) via a basilar sesamoidean approach (BSA) or distal approach (DA). ANIMALS 21 healthy adult horses without DFTS-related lameness. PROCEDURES The forelimbs of each horse underwent the BSA or DA (21 limbs/approach) performed by 1 individual. The volume of synovial fluid (SF) aspirated, time from skin puncture to collection of SF, and number of attempts to place a needle in the DFTS were compared between approaches. RESULTS An SF sample was successfully aspirated from 16 of 21 (76%) limbs with the BSA and 20 of 21 (95%) limbs with the DA. For the BSA and DA, the number of attempts to obtain SF was 2 and 1, respectively; the median volume of SF obtained was 0.4 and 0.7 mL, respectively; and the median time to SF collection was 17.91 and 18.48 seconds, respectively. Between the approaches, the number of limbs with SF successfully aspirated and number of attempts to collect SF differed significantly, whereas the volume of SF aspirated and time to SF collection did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Regarding SF collection from forelimb DFTSs in horses without DFTS-related disease, use of the DA had a greater success rate with fewer attempts, compared with findings for the BSA, which may reflect the relative ease of identifying anatomic landmarks for the DA. Results suggested that a DA for DFTS synoviocentesis in horses appears efficient and effective and may minimize limb trauma by requiring fewer attempts for SF sample collection, compared with a BSA.

OBJECTIVE To describe methods to measure the 3-D orientation of the proximal, diaphyseal, and distal segments of the canine radius by use of computer-aided design software (CADS) and to compare the repeatability and reliability of measurements derived by those methods. SAMPLE 31 canine radii with biapical deformities and 24 clinically normal (control) canine radii. PROCEDURES Select CT scans of radii were imported into a CADS program. Cartesian coordinate systems for the humerus and proximal, diaphyseal, and distal radial segments were developed. The orientation of each radial segment in the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes was measured in triplicate by 3 methods. The repeatability and reliability of those measurements were calculated and compared among the 3 measurement methods. RESULTS The mean ± SD within-subject repeatability of radial angular measurements for all 3 methods was 1.40 ± 0.67° in the frontal plane, 3.17 ± 2.21° in the sagittal plane, and 3.01 ± 1.11° in the transverse plane for control radii and 2.56 ± 1.95° in the frontal plane, 3.59 ± 2.39° in the sagittal plane, and 3.47 ± 1.19° in the transverse plane for abnormal radii. Mean ± SD bias between radial measurement methods was 1.88 ± 2.07° in the frontal plane, 6.44 ± 6.80° in the sagittal plane, and 2.27 ± 2.81° in the transverse plane. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that use of CADS to assess the 3-D orientation of the proximal, diaphyseal, and distal segments of normal and abnormal canine radii yielded highly repeatable and reliable measurements.

Eggs are important to the diet of Canadians. This product is one of the supply-managed commodities in Canada, but unlike other commodities, where food safety risks are extensively explored and reported, information on the prevalence of enteric organisms (e.g., Salmonella, Campylobacter) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in layers in Canada are limited. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of select bacteria and the associated AMR patterns in layer flocks using 2 sample matrices. Farms were located within FoodNet Canada and the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance sentinel sites (SS). Fecal samples (Ontario: ONSS1a, ONSS1b) and environmental sponge swabs (British Columbia: BC(SS2a)) were collected. Salmonella prevalence was 29% and 8% in ONSS1a and ONSS1b, respectively, and 7% in BC(SS2a). S. Kentucky and S. Livingstone were the most frequently isolated serovars and no S. Enteritidis was detected. Campylobacter was not detected in the BC sponge swabs but was isolated from 89% and 53% of Ontario fecal samples (ON(SS1a) and ON(SS1b), respectively). Seven C. jejuni from Ontario were ciprofloxacin-resistant. Escherichia coli prevalence was high in both sample types (98%). Overall, tetracycline resistance among E. coli ranged from 26% to 69%. Resistance to ceftiofur (n = 2 isolates) and gentamicin (n = 2) was relatively low. There were diverse resistance patterns (excludes susceptible isolates) observed among E. coli in Ontario (10 patterns) and British Columbia (14 patterns). This study revealed that fecal samples are more informative for farm-level monitoring of pathogen and AMR prevalence. Without further validation, sponge swabs are limited in their utility for Campylobacter detection and thus, for public health surveillance.