HIV-related deaths from selected infectious diseases among persons without AIDS in New Jersey.

This study sought to quantify HIV-related deaths among persons not classified as having AIDS, in an area where AIDS incidence among injecting drug users (IDUs) is high. Death certificates of persons who were aged 25-44 years at death, died in 1987 in two New Jersey counties, and had certain infectious conditions were compared with names in the AIDS Registry. Hospital and/or Medical Examiner records were reviewed for nonmatching cases. Cases were considered as confirmed HIV infection if there was laboratory evidence of such infection and as suggestive HIV infection if the decedent had oral thrush or a combination of certain other clinical findings were present. Of 412 deaths meeting the above criteria, 165 (40.0%) were in the AIDS Registry. We investigated 205 of the remainder; of these, 7.3% were found to have AIDS, 21.5% had confirmed HIV infection without AIDS, and 15.1% had suggestive HIV infection. This increased the HIV-related mortality in excess of deaths due to AIDS in this age group by 9.2% for confirmed HIV infections and 15.6% for both confirmed and suggestive HIV infections, with deaths among IDUs increasing 12.3% for confirmed HIV infections and 18.9% for both confirmed and suggestive HIV infections. Thus, in addition to AIDS indicator diseases, a variety of other infectious conditions can lead to death in HIV-infected persons, particularly in IDUs; however, the extent of such deaths may be less than previously described.

Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for scrotal circumference and semen traits in young beef bulls.

Estimated in this study were heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations involving scrotal circumference (SC), percent live sperm, sperm number, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and an overall measure of a bull's potential breeding efficiency. Potential breeding efficiency is a composite trait based on a consideration of sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm morphology and scrotal circumference. Data used were from three sources. Records on 863 Angus, 753 Polled Hereford, and 302 Simmental bulls were made available through the Missouri Performance-Tested Bull Sale and records on 1169 Polled Hereford bulls came from the American Polled Hereford Association. Information from these first two data sets were used to estimate heritability of scrotal circumference. The third data set was provided by Nichols Farms of Bridgewater, Iowa, and included information from the records of 465 yearling Polled Hereford and 264 yearling Simmental bulls. This latter data set was used to estimate all of the above mentioned parameters. Each data set was kept separately for the purpose of statistical analysis. Parameters were estimated using components from paternal half-sib analysis of variance and covariance. Pooled estimates of heritability for SC, sperm concentration, sperm motility, percent live sperm, sperm number and potential breeding efficiency were 0.51 +/- 0.09, 0.20 +/- 0.13, 0.11 +/- 0.12, 0.00, 0.19 +/- 0.14 and 0.13 +/- 0.12, respectively. Phenotypic correlations involving the six traits were very consistent for the two breeds. Combined across breeds their values ranged from 0.47 for SC and percent live sperm to 0.96 for sperm concentration and potential breeding efficiency. Corresponding genetic correlations were generally positive and high and ranged from 0.65 for SC and sperm motility to 1.14 for sperm number and potential breeding efficiency.

Associations of scrotal circumference with semen traits in young beef bulls.

Associations of percent live sperm, sperm number, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and potential breeding efficiency score with scrotal circumference were studied using data from the records of 465 Polled Hereford and 264 Simmental bulls. Data were subdivided by breed and within breed into three groups according to scrotal circumference (SC) size. Group I bulls had SC measurements <32 cm. Group II included bulls with SC measurements between 32 cm and the mean measurement of the breed (i.e., 35 cm for Polled Hereford and 38 cm for Simmentals). Group III was comprised of bulls with SC values above their respective breed averages. Age and body weight differences were also evaluated in the three groups. Average age differences among bulls in the three groups differed by not more than nine days in the two breeds. Average body weight differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05) with the maximum difference between any two groups within breed being 80 pounds. Average differences in percent live sperm and sperm number were greater (P<0.05) in Groups II and III than in Group I. For sperm concentration ratings, sperm motility ratings and potential breeding efficiency score, and for both breeds, Group I had a significantly lower (P<0.05) number of bulls classified satisfactory and a significantly greater (P<0.05) number of bulls classified unsatisfactory than did groups II and III.

Scrotal circumference adjustment factors for age and weight differences in beef bulls.

Scrotal circumference measurements were analyzed to develop appropriate adjustment factors for age and body weight differences in beef bulls. Age, body weight, and scrotal circumference measurements were collected on 863 Angus, 753 Polled Hereford, and 302 Simmental bulls from the Missouri tested bull sale, 1169 Polled Hereford bulls from the American Polled Hereford Association, and 465 Polled Hereford and 264 Simmental bulls from Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa. Within sources, data were subdivided into appropriate subsets and then each subset was statistically analyzed. Adjustment factors to remove differences in scrotal circumference due to age and body weight were developed for bulls of each of the 3 breeds studied.

Scrotal circumference adjustment for differences due to age of beef bulls.

Scrotal circumference measurements on 870 Angus, 759 Polled Hereford, and 309 Simmental bulls ranging in age from 484 to 704 days were analyzed to develop an appropriate method of adjustment of scrotal circumference for differences associated with age of the bull. Data were separated by breed, year, and season and then each subset of data was subjected to statistical analysis. Adjustment factors to remove differences due to age were developed for bulls of the three breeds studied.