The detection and subspeciation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (CFV) from veterinary samples is important for both clinical and economic reasons. Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis is the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis, a venereal disease that can lead to serious reproductive problems in cattle, and strict international regulations require animals and animal products to be CFV-free for trade. This study evaluated methods reported in the literature for CFV detection and reports the translation of an extensively tested CFV-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set; including the VenSF/VenSR primers and a real-time, quantitative PCR (qPCR) platform using SYBR Green chemistry. Three methods of preputial sample preparation for direct qPCR were evaluated and a heat lysis DNA extraction method was shown to allow for CFV detection at the level of approximately one cell equivalent per reaction (or 1.0 × 10(3) CFU/mL) from prepuce. The optimized sample preparation and qPCR protocols were then used to evaluate 3 western Canadian bull cohorts, which included 377 bulls, for CFV. The qPCR assay detected 11 positive bulls for the CFV-specific parA gene target. DNA sequence data confirmed the identity of the amplified product and revealed that positive samples were comprised of 2 sequence types; one identical to previously reported CFV parA gene sequences and one with a 9% sequence divergence. These results add valuable information towards our understanding of an important CFV subspeciation target and offer a significantly improved format for an internationally recognized PCR test.

Objective: To determine reference ranges for serum cobalamin (Cbl), urine methylmalonic acid (uMMA), and plasma total homocysteine (tHcys) concentrations and to compare values for healthy control dogs with values for Border Collies (BCs), a breed in which hereditary cobalamin deficiency has been identified. Animals: 113 BCs, 35 healthy control dogs fed a typical diet, and 12 healthy dogs fed a bone and raw food diet exclusively. Procedures: Urine and blood samples were obtained from each dog and Cbl, uMMA, and tHcys concentrations were determined. Results: Reference ranges for Cbl (261 to 1,001 ng/L), uMMA (0 to 4.2 mmol/mol of creatinine), and tHcys (4.3 to 18.4 μmol/L) concentrations were determined. Four BCs had a Cbl concentration lower than the assay detection limit (150 ng/L); median uMMA and tHcys concentrations in these dogs were 4,064 mmol/mol of creatinine and 51.5 μmol/L, respectively. Clinical abnormalities included stunted growth, lethargy, anemia, and proteinuria. Abnormalities improved after administration of cobalamin. Of the 109 healthy BCs with Cbl and tHcys concentrations within reference ranges, 41 (37.6%) had a high uMMA concentration (range, 5 to 360 mmol/mol). Results for dogs fed raw food were similar to those for control dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Hereditary cobalamin deficiency is a rare disease with various clinical signs. The finding of methylmalonic aciduria in healthy eucobalaminemic BCs and BCs with clinical signs of Cbl deficiency was surprising and indicated these dogs may have defects in intracellular processing of Cbl or intestinal Cbl malabsorption, respectively. Studies investigating Cbl absorption and metabolic pathways are warranted.

Objective: To determine pharmacokinetics after IV and oral administration of a single dose of tramadol hydrochloride to Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). Animals: 9 healthy adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (3 males, 5 females, and 1 of unknown sex). Procedures: Tramadol (5 mg/kg, IV) was administered to the parrots. Blood samples were collected from −5 to 720 minutes after administration. After a 3-week washout period, tramadol (10 and 30 mg/kg) was orally administered to parrots. Blood samples were collected from −5 to 1,440 minutes after administration. Three formulations of oral suspension (crushed tablets in a commercially available suspension agent, crushed tablets in sterile water, and chemical-grade powder in sterile water) were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of tramadol and its major metabolites were measured via high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Mean plasma tramadol concentrations were > 100 ng/mL for approximately 2 to 4 hours after IV administration of tramadol. Plasma concentrations after oral administration of tramadol at a dose of 10 mg/kg were < 40 ng/mL for the entire time period, but oral administration at a dose of 30 mg/kg resulted in mean plasma concentrations > 100 ng/mL for approximately 6 hours after administration. Oral administration of the suspension consisting of the chemical-grade powder resulted in higher plasma tramadol concentrations than concentrations obtained after oral administration of the other 2 formulations; however, concentrations differed significantly only at 120 and 240 minutes after administration. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Oral administration of tramadol at a dose of 30 mg/kg resulted in plasma concentrations (> 100 ng/mL) that have been associated with analgesia in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and types of tooth resorption in dogs with oral tumors and to compare findings with those for control dogs. Animals: 101 dogs with oral tumors and 128 control dogs that did not have oral tumors and for which dental radiographs were available. Procedures: Exclusion criteria for dogs included systemic disease, long-term administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, traumatic occlusion, severe semigeneralized or generalized periodontitis, and endodontic disease. For each dog with an oral tumor, histologic sections of biopsy specimens of tumors were examined. Dental radiographic images of dogs were examined, and the presence and type of tooth resorption were determined for each tooth. Statistical analyses were performed to compare data regarding prevalence of tooth resorption. Results: Teeth at tumor sites in dogs with nonodontogenic tumors were significantly more frequently affected with external inflammatory resorption, compared with teeth at tumor sites in dogs with odontogenic tumors. Teeth at sites distant from tumors in dogs with oral tumors were 3.2 times as likely to have external surface resorption (OR, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 7.9) and 83.4 times as likely to have external inflammatory resorption (OR, 83.4; 95% confidence interval, 9.7 to 719.6) as teeth in control dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Resorption of teeth at tumor sites and at sites distant from tumors was common in dogs with oral tumors. Results of the present study will contribute to an understanding of the complex effects of oral tumors on local and distant hard tissues.

Melioidosis usually results in chronic debilities that reduce the&#xD;productivity of animals and condemnation of carcasses in abattoir. Melioidosis is reemerging among animals and humans, and anecdotal reports suggest an increase in disease observation. This study described the seroprevalence of melioidosis in livestock based on the data obtained from the Department of Veterinary Services, Putrajaya and the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh. The data were summarized according to animal species, state, and year. The seroprevalence rate in animals was 7.6, 48.2, 2.6, 13.6 and 3.6% in cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs respectively. The&#xD;seroprevalence of the disease varies in different states of the federation. For all species, the seroprevalence vary between&#xD;2.6% and 48.2%. The seroprevalence over the years increased from 4.2% in 2000 to 12.0% in 2003 after which it varies between&#xD;the period 2004- 2007 and apparently declined between 2007 and 2009.

A total of thirty snakehead fishes Channa micropeltes (Cuvier, 1831)&#xD;were collected at Tasik Kenyir, Malaysia. Muscle, liver, intestine and kidney tissues were removed from each fish and the intestine was opened to reveal cestodes. The cestodes were identified on the basis&#xD;of their morphological characteristics. After staining, drawing by using Camera Lucida, measurement by using advanced microscope and using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the results showed that&#xD;the cestode was Senga parva (Fernando and Fertado, 1964). It differed from other species of genus Senga, parasitising fish genus Channa, by the size of the strobila, scolex, apical disc, hooks, number of hooks, testes and some other characteristics.

Rice straw and oil palm empty fruit bunch were treated with urea&#xD;and commercial effective microorganisms to study their ability to breakdown fibres, improved in protein and energy values. In rice straw, the crude protein and crude fibre treated with urea and urea + effective microorganisms showed significant differences from the untreated control. The neutral detergent fibre and nitrogen free&#xD;extract values in the rice straw treatment did not show significant differences. Metabolizable energy values decreased with the treatment groups compared to the control. The results of keeping the treated rice straw in anaerobic plastic bags up to 30 days showed no significant breakdown of fibre components in the control and urea&#xD;treated groups. But there is a significant dropped in the neutral detergent fibre in urea + effective microorganisms treatment.&#xD;In oil palm empty fruit bunch, there were no significant differences seen in the crude protein, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen free extract and metabolisable energy values. Storage showed decreased in energy values in all treated groups. The addition of urea and microbes showed improved protein level and in the reduction of the fibre components in rice straw only. Keywords: rice straw, oil palm empty fruit bunch, urea, effective microorganisms, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre, neutral&#xD;detergent fibre, metabolisable energy.

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of equine&#xD;lameness and metabolic disorders in endurance horses during an endurance race. Out of 67 horses that participated in the race, 19 horses completed the race successfully without any derangement while 48 horses were eliminated from the race for various disorders. Fifty-three (53.73%) percent of these horses had metabolic disorders and&#xD;17.91% were eliminated due to lameness. The study showed that the highest number of endurance horses that were eliminated were due to metabolic disorders followed by lameness. These findings may assist veterinarians in designing laudable measures in the management and&#xD;conditioning protocols of endurance horses during training and further prevent the morbidity and mortality during endurance races.

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of prolong&#xD;submaximal exercise on heart rate reflecting the performance of endurance horses after covering distances of 40 and 80 km races. This study was conducted in Malaysia to determine the post-race&#xD;heart rates of endurance horses based on distances for the eliminated horses and those that completed the races with good&#xD;performance. Heart rates of competing endurance horses were examined at pre and post-race. Thirty-four endurance horses were sampled; N = 9 (40 km) and N = 9 (80 km) were the good performance horses while, N = 3 (40 km) and N = 13 (80 km) were the poor performance horses&#xD;eliminated from the race. The mean heart rate of the good performance horses in the 40 km category was 53 ± 8 bpm and that of&#xD;the 80 km in the good performance category was 56 ± 7 bpm, while the eliminated horses of the 40 km group had 74 ± 17 bpm and those in the 80 km group had 78 ± 7 bpm. The study showed that eliminated&#xD;horses in the 40 and 80 km categories both exhibited high heart rates compared to the good performance horses that were in the same racing category. Thus, the heart rates of horses during training may be used to predict performance based on distances covered in endurance races.