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Effects of Nitrate and Pathogenic Nanoparticles on Reproductive Losses, Congenital Hypothyroidism and Musculoskeletal Abnormalities in Mares and Other Livestock: New Hypotheses
Thomas Walter Swerczek,
Alan Ray Dorton
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
1-11
Received:
20 December 2018
Accepted:
20 January 2019
Published:
13 February 2019
Abstract: Spontaneous abortions, congenital hypothyroidism and musculoskeletal abnormalities were attributed to high nitrate in the diet of pregnant mares on Thoroughbred farms in central Kentucky. These fetal losses, with an unknown etiology, and associated with the Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS) have plagued horse farms in central Kentucky for decades. Fetal losses occur in mares grazing spring pastures affected by climatic and environmental factors including droughts, cold-stress, nitrogenous fertilizers, and herbicides. These factors may cause nitrate to accumulate in pasture forages. On a Thoroughbred horse farm, mares affected with the MRLS, pregnant Boer goats grazing high nitrate pastures also were affected with fetal losses. When spring pastures were not fertilized with nitrogen, herbicides not applied, protein reduced in the ration and the diet increased in sodium, fetal losses did not occur and foals were normal at birth. Excessive nitrate, ammonia and sulfate in the diet were associated with the formation of toxic and pathogenic abiotic nanoparticles in the amnionic fluid and pathognomonic placental lesions consistent with the MRLS. Pathogenic nanoparticles were found in aborted fetuses of other livestock. The discovery of these toxic pathogenic abiotic micro and nanoparticles in developing fetuses is unique. This novel mechanism of action for the pathogenesis of fetal losses may be a predisposing factor for a host of opportunistic diseases in livestock. The pathogenic nanoparticles collect in the vessels of the placenta and other organs to form niduses that predispose fetuses to a host of opportunistic microorganisms.
Abstract: Spontaneous abortions, congenital hypothyroidism and musculoskeletal abnormalities were attributed to high nitrate in the diet of pregnant mares on Thoroughbred farms in central Kentucky. These fetal losses, with an unknown etiology, and associated with the Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS) have plagued horse farms in central Kentucky for deca...
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Isolation & Identification of FAV-4 Tianjin Strain and Pathogenicity to Chicks
Rui Liu,
Jing Wang,
Fugui Li
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
12-17
Received:
10 January 2019
Accepted:
27 February 2019
Published:
20 March 2019
Abstract: The Hydropericardium-hepatitis Syndrome (HHS) caused by Fowl adenovirus 4 (FAV-4) is a new epidemic disease in recent years and firstly reported in Tianjin, 2016. The isolation, identification and pathogenicity of FAV-4 Tianjin strain were studied in the paper for providing the theoretical basis to the law of occurrence, development and termination. The virus was isolated and identified from dead & sick birds on a chicken farm in Tianjin by chicken embryo inoculation with tissue homogenate supernatant, PCR and sequencing experiment with viral allantoic fluid; And the pathogenicity was proceeded by inoculating the isolate into 100 one-day-old chicks, which divided into group A, B, C (experimental group) and group D (control), the symptoms, mortality and morphological changes were observed daily, meanwhile the virus was detected by PCR to be sure the same as inoculating strain. The results show that the isolate was 665bp in electrophoresis, had homology of 98.3%-97.3% with FAV-4 by sequencing analysis and finally named as FAV-4 TJ1607 strain in GenBank; They also show in Pathogenicity research that the symptoms were appeared on the 3nd day, death on the 4th day and the peak of death on the 5th day and end of the 8th day in group A and B; The mortality was 64% in group A and 72% in group B; Hepatic edema & congestion, large amounts of basophilic intranuclear inclusions, hydropericardium, parechymal myocarditis and pulmonary edema were observed obviously on the 4th day in group A and B; ALL above changes were the same in group C just appeared 3 days later except death trend and mortality for 32%; And FAV-4 TJ1607 was detected in all experimental groups. The measures of prevention and treatment will be recommended in poultry industry accordance with the HHS disease model.
Abstract: The Hydropericardium-hepatitis Syndrome (HHS) caused by Fowl adenovirus 4 (FAV-4) is a new epidemic disease in recent years and firstly reported in Tianjin, 2016. The isolation, identification and pathogenicity of FAV-4 Tianjin strain were studied in the paper for providing the theoretical basis to the law of occurrence, development and termination...
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Exacerbation of Streptococcus Equi (Strangles) by Overly Nutritious Diets in Horses: A Model for Infectious Bacterial Diseases of Horses and Other Livestock
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
18-23
Received:
1 February 2019
Accepted:
8 March 2019
Published:
29 March 2019
Abstract: Strangles is a highly pathogenic and contagious infection of horses and other equids caused by Streptococcus equi. Reports in the literature summarize the severe complications of strangles, but provide little information on the factors enhancing the pathogenicity and complications that result in high mortalities. However, there are reports suggesting exceptionally nutritious diets will exacerbate strangles infections and promote complications, including bacteremia and metastases to lymph nodes throughout the body and sequalae like purpura hemorrhagic and myositis. Dietary ingredients may enhance S. equi capsular polysaccharide (CPS) which protects bacteria from the immune system and phagocytosis. Low-virulent bacteria may become highly virulent pathogenic bacteria. Overly nutritious diets enhance the pathogenicity of S. equi and efficiency of bacterins, vaccines and antibiotics intended for controlling and treating strangles in horses. The effect of diet on the pathogenesis of S. equi in horses may be an ideal model for other bacterial diseases of horses as well as bacterial diseases like Pasturella multocida respiratory infections in cattle and other livestock.
Abstract: Strangles is a highly pathogenic and contagious infection of horses and other equids caused by Streptococcus equi. Reports in the literature summarize the severe complications of strangles, but provide little information on the factors enhancing the pathogenicity and complications that result in high mortalities. However, there are reports suggesti...
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Cat Owners: How they Keep and Care for Their Own Cats and Their Attitudes to Stray and Feral Cats in Germany
Franziska Kuhne,
Kerstin Hoock,
Martin Kramer,
Hansjoachim Hackbarth
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
24-28
Received:
21 February 2019
Accepted:
30 March 2019
Published:
18 April 2019
Abstract: Cats are among the most popular pets. A cat can be a feral cat, a stray cat, or a pet cat with variable degrees of free-roaming access to the outdoors. Free-roaming pet cats are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. Furthermore, if free-roaming cats do not wear identification, ownership is difficult to identify. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate 1) how pet cats are kept and cared for in Germany and 2) cat owners’ attitudes to stray and feral cats and compliance with fertility control. The survey was designed as a multiple-choice questionnaire covering information on cat ownership and cat owners’ attitudes to stray and feral cats and cat population management tools. Regression analyses were applied to determine whether the attitudes to stray and feral cats could be predicted from demographic parameters or one’s own cat keeping. Many cat owners know stray and feral cats in their vicinity, but this knowledge has no influence on the spaying and neutering, identification, and registration status of their own cats and on their own cat keeping, e.g., with or without free access to the outdoors. Cat owners are afraid that stray and feral cats may transmit diseases to pet cats. The demographic parameters of the cat owners, e.g., their gender, age, and education level, significantly influenced their attitudes to keeping and caring for their own cat and controlling the cat population. Cat owners would accept the costs of legal requirements to spay or to neuter and to identify their own cat, and the majority would not relinquish their own cat to save the costs. To address the responsibility of cat owners is of utmost importance. It is necessary to spay or neuter and to identify free-roaming pet cats to prevent them from getting lost or pregnant. Each cat population management program’s success depends on cat owners being involved and convinced of its necessity.
Abstract: Cats are among the most popular pets. A cat can be a feral cat, a stray cat, or a pet cat with variable degrees of free-roaming access to the outdoors. Free-roaming pet cats are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. Furthermore, if free-roaming cats do not wear identification, ownership is difficult to identify. Therefore, the aim of t...
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