Introduction: Glycolic changes which occur post-mortem have an impact on the physical and sensory features of beef, which in turn determine the successive processes and influence such beef quality traits as colour, tenderness, and cooling loss. The aim of this study was evaluation of the post-mortem changes in bovine meat during aging, quantitative analysis of glycogen and lactic acid, as well as examination of their impact on technological and sensory quality of selected muscles from Holstein-Friesian × Limousin breed carcasses.Material and Methods: The study included three muscles of different metabolic qualities and sarcomere length: m. semitendinosus, m. longissimus dorsi, and m. psoas major, collected from nine bull carcasses aged 24 ±2 months.Results: Significant correlations were found between the volume of cooling loss on individual days of aging and the pH value of muscle tissue, lactic acid and glycogen content, as well as beef lightness. However, no significant dependency between the volume of glycogen and the intensity of red and yellow colours was detected.Conclusion: The colorimetric analysis of glycogen and lactic acid can be an effective tool in predicting the quality of beef.

Objective—To assess biometric tools for gait analysis in healthy calves by use of pressure mat sensors, a handheld algometer, and serial circumferential measurements of selected joints. Animals—20 six- to eight-week-old healthy male Holstein calves. Procedures—Calves were evaluated over a 4-day period. Gait analysis was performed by training calves to walk over a pressure-sensitive mat, which recorded quantitative measurements. An algometer was applied perpendicular to each joint until an aversion response was observed or a preset limit of 50 N/cm2 was obtained. Circumference measurements of the carpal and tarsal joints were obtained by the application of a flexible measuring tape to defined areas of each limb. Variability between joint circumference measurements and pressure mat variables were analyzed with a standard least squares means model. Algometer measurements were dichotomized, and logistic regression was used to assess the probability that a calf reacted to algometer-applied pressure. Results—1 calf was removed from the study because of lameness. Mean carpal and tarsal joint circumference measurements were reliable and consistent among calves. Algometry results suggested that healthy calves were more sensitive to pressure applied to the elbow and stifle joints, compared with pressure applied to the carpal, tarsal, and metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joints. Pressure mat variables of stance time and stride velocity varied greatly among calves, whereas impulse and maximum forces varied little. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Findings can serve as reference points for other studies and be used for comparison with results for calves with lameness or altered gaits.

Objective-To qualitatively describe lung CT images obtained from sedated healthy equine neonates (≤ 14 days of age), use quantitative analysis of CT images to characterize attenuation and distribution of gas and tissue volumes within the lungs, and identify differences between lung characteristics of foals ≤ 7 days of age and foals > 7 days of age. Animals-10 Standardbred foals between 2.5 and 13 days of age. Procedures-Foals were sedated with butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol and positioned in sternal recumbency for thoracic CT. Image analysis software was used to exclude lung from nonlung structures. Lung attenuation was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) for analysis of whole lung and regional changes in attenuation and lung gas and tissue components. Degree of lung attenuation was classified as follows: hyperinflated or emphysema, −1,000 to −901 HU; well aerated, −900 to −501 HU; poorly aerated, −500 to −101 HU; and nonaerated, > −100 HU. Results-Qualitative evidence of an increase in lung attenuation and patchy alveolar patterns in the ventral lung region were more pronounced in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older foals. Quantitative analysis revealed that mean +/- SD lung attenuation was greater in foals ≤ 7 days of age (−442 +/- 28 HU) than in foals > 7 days of age (−521 +/- 24 HU). Lung aeration and gas volumes were lower than in other regions ventrally and in the mid lung region caudal to the heart. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Identified radiographic patterns and changes in attenuation were most consistent with atelectasis and appeared more severe in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older neonatal foals. Recognition of these changes may have implications for accurate CT interpretation in sedated neonatal foals with pulmonary disease.

Objective: To investigate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as a minimally invasive method for the subjective and quantitative assessment of pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in healthy adult dogs, with reference to perfusion in adjacent liver tissue. Animals: 8 clinically normal adult dogs. Procedures: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonograms of the right pancreatic limb, proximal portion of the descending duodenum, and adjacent liver were acquired after IV administration of a microbubble contrast medium. Following subjective evaluation, quantitative time-intensity curves were generated from regions of interest in the pancreas, duodenum, and liver. Five contrast medium characteristics representing perfusion parameters were determined for each organ and used for statistical analysis: interval to arrival, inflow rate, peak intensity (PI), time of peak intensity (TPI), and outflow rate. Results: Significant associations between pancreatic and duodenal values were found for interval to contrast medium arrival, PI, TPI, and outflow rate. Pancreatic and duodenal inflow rates were not correlated. Inflow and outflow rates were significantly faster and TPI significantly shorter for the pancreas and duodenum, compared with values for the liver. There was no significant difference among all 3 organs for interval to arrival and PI of contrast medium. Subjective evaluation findings corresponded to quantitative analysis results. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may be a useful, minimally invasive method for evaluating pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in dogs. The data from healthy dogs reported here could aid in the assessment of pancreatic and duodenal conditions and their response to medical treatment.

Tissues unsuitable for standard immunohistochemical and histopathological examinations for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids and for scrapie in sheep are frequently submitted for testing. This study investigated the effects of experimental autolysis on the detection of abnormal prion protein (PrPsc) in lymphoid and central nervous system (CNS) tissues from elk and sheep. The PrPsc was detected using a Western blotting (WB) test following PrPsc enrichment using sodium phosphotungstic acid (PTA) precipitation (PTA-WB). A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used as a reference test for quantitative measurement. This study showed that the amount of PrPsc in lymphoid and CNS tssues from elk and sheep decreased gradually as a result of autolysis, but PrPsc was still detectable after 5 and 15 d incubation at 37°C by PTA-WB for all lymphoid and CNS samples. The results of the ELISA supported those of PTA-WB, particularly for CNS tissues. In conclusion, autolysis at 37°C for 15 d would not significantly affect the detection of PrPsc in lymphoid and CNS tissues by WB and ELISA and, particularly, PTA-WB is a valuable and alternative confirmatory test to detect PrPsc in autolyzed lymphoid and CNS samples.

Objective-To determine the influence of age on results of quantitative analysis of electromyographic (EMG) needle examination in the subclavian, triceps, and lateral vastus muscles of Dutch Warmblood horses. Animals-7 healthy young Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 13 to 18 months old), 7 healthy adult Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 4 to 10 years old), and 7 healthy elderly Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 18 to 21 years old). Procedure-An EMG needle examination was performed to evaluate insertional activity, spontaneous activity, and motor unit action potential (MUAP) variables. Although all horses were conscious, young horses were sedated prior to examination. Results-Mean insertional activity in young horses was significantly lower than in elderly horses. Pathologic spontaneous activity was rarely found in young and adult horses but was frequently evident in all muscles in all elderly horses. The MUAP duration and amplitude were significantly lower in all muscles of young horses, compared with values for adult and elderly horses. The MUAP duration and number of phases and turns were significantly lower in adult horses than in elderly horses. Group differences for percentages of polyphasic and complex MUAPs were also found. The 95% confidence intervals for MUAP duration, MUAP amplitude, and number of phases and turns for the subclavian, triceps, and lateral vastus muscles were significantly lower in young horses than in adult or elderly horses. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Age of the horse being examined should be considered when EMG examination is performed.

Eight untrained 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses were used in a study of the remodeling response of the proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) to training-related stimuli. Two horses each were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: group 1, untrained, pasture turnout (control); group 2, modified-classically trained, dirt track; group 3, classically trained, dirt track; and group 4, classically trained, wood chip track. Horses were given fluorochromic bone labels every 28 days during training. All horses were euthanatized after 5 months of training, and the proximal sesamoid bones (PSB) were removed. A midsagittal section of bone 85- to 95-micromole thick was prepared for histomorphometric analysis by use of computerized image analysis and epifluorescent microscopy. Porosity (percent), trabecular width (micrometer), extent of anisotropy (percent), mineralizing surface (percent), fractional mineralizing surface (percent), and mineral apposition rate (micrometers per day) were determined at 5 circular regions of each specimen. Region 1 was located within the apex of the PSB, regions 2, 3, and 4 were subjacent to the subchondral plate, and region 5 was within the basilar articular margin. Data were pooled to allow comparison by training group and by region. The PSB from horses trained on dirt tracks (groups 2 and 3) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower porosities and greater trabecular width, compared with the control group. The PSB from all training group specimens had significantly larger mineralizing surfaces than control group specimens. The fractional mineralizing surface revealed a rapid and vigorous response of the endosteal surface of the PSB in horses trained on dirt tracks. When group data were pooled, region 2 was found to have the lowest porosity and greatest trabecular width of any region. Region 1 was found to have the highest porosity and lowest structural anisotropy of any region. Structural anisotropy of the cancellous bone was greatest at regions 2, 3, and 4. The results of this study demonstrate a substantial stress adaptive remodeling response of the PSB to training-related stimuli. Regional morphologic variations were found that presumably reflect the load history of the PSB in vivo. Adaptive changes may allow the PSB to withstand without failure large stresses generated during maximal exercise.

Immunoturbidimetric determination of serum IgG concentration in foals was compared with the reference methods of single radial immunodiffusion and serum protein electrophoresis. High positive correlations were discovered when the technique was compared with either of these reference methods. The zinc sulfate turbidity test for serum IgG estimation was also evaluated. Although a positive correlation was discovered when the latter method was compared with reference methods, it was not as strong as the correlation between reference methods and the immunoturbidimetric method. The immunoturbidimetric method used in this study is specific and precise for equine serum IgG determination. It is rapid and, thus, is advantageous when timely evaluation of critically ill foals is necessary. The technique should be adaptable to various spectrophotometers and microcomputers for widespread application in veterinary medicine.

Transverse sections of snouts from 171 cross-bred (principally Yorkshire X American Landrace) pigs were evaluated for evidence of turbinate atrophy by use of conventional (atrophic rhinitis [AR] score) and morphometric methods. Of the 171 pigs, 35 were clinically normal (AR score, 0), 65 had mild AR (AR score, 1), 41 had moderate AR (AR score, 2), and 30 had severe AR (AR score, 3). Turbinate cross-sectional area (TA) and the ratio of TA to nostril cross-sectional area, called turbinate area ratio (TAR), had the lowest correlations (r = 0.24 to 0.55) with conventional AR score. Among clinically normal pigs, TA was greater in older pigs as expected, but the TAR values also were significantly (P less than 0.0001) different betwee n 15-week-old pigs (55 kg) and 22-week-old pigs (100 kg). Turbinate perimeter and turbinate perimeter ratio (TPR) were not influenced by pig age or source. The TPR values were closely correlated with subjective visual AR scores (r = 0.73), with AR scores derived by measuring the space between the ventral portion of the scroll and the floor of the nasal cavity (r = 0.72), and the actual size of this space in millimeters (r = 0.71). Mean TPR values for pigs assigned visual AR scores of 0, 1, 2, or 3 were 1.54, 1.25, 0.97, and 0.73, respectively. The 95% confidence intervals around these mean TRP values were discreet and did not overlap. Turbinate perimeter ratio, therefore, may be a more reliable morphometric measure of atrophic rhinitis and also provides parametric data suitable for quantitative analysis.

Ground reaction forces were measured from the hind limbs of 9 dogs before and after stabilization of unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Before surgery, peak vertical force, associated impulses, and weight distribution were significantly less (multivariate analysis P less than 0.02) in the affected limb, compared with the clinically normal limb. Craniocaudal peak forces and impulses, divided into braking and propulsion, also were significantly less in the affected limb. At a minimum of 7 months after retinacular imbrication, all vertical and craniocaudal measurements in the affected limb were increased significantly. Significant changes were not found in the normal limb. Furthermore, at the postoperative evaluation, there was no significant difference in any measurement between the affected and normal hind limbs. The results indicated restoration of function in the cruciate-deficient limb when compared with the clinically normal hind limb at a walking gait during the study time period.