Risk factors for purulent vaginal discharge and its association with reproductive performance of lactating Jersey cows.

Despite the rapid growth in popularity of the Jersey breed, most research on dairy cows in the United States has been done with the Holstein breed. Postpartum uterine diseases negatively influence reproductive performance of dairy cows and limited data are available regarding predisposing factors for uterine diseases in Jersey cows. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) and its effect on fertility of lactating Jersey cows. This was a retrospective observational study with data collected from 3,822 Jersey cows. The Metricheck device was used for PVD diagnosis, and positive cases (≥50% of pus in exudate) were further classified for severity using the following 4 categories based on the amount of pus observed: 50 to 60% pus in exudate, 60 to 90% pus in exudate, 90 to 100% pus in exudate, and 90 to 100% pus in exudate + uterine fluid detected by palpation per rectum. Univariable and multivariable regression analyzes were conducted to dissect the risk factors for PVD and severity of PVD in Jerseys cows. The major risk factors for PVD were calving-related problems, retained fetal membrane, metritis, and days in the close-up diet. A subgroup of cows (n = 740) was scored for body condition and locomotion scores and had blood sampled in the peripartum for determination of plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and ß-hydroxybutyrate. In the multivariable analysis that considered data collected for the subgroup of cows, peripartum nonesterified fatty acids, postpartum ß-hydroxybutyrate, and peripartum locomotion and body condition scores were not retained in the reduced model of predictors of PVD. Not surprisingly, pregnancy per artificial insemination following the first and second services was reduced in cows diagnosed with PVD compared with cows without PVD. In addition, PVD was associated with increased odds of pregnancy loss after the first service and reduced hazard of pregnancy by 305 d in milk. The stratification of PVD severity according to the amount of pus observed and the consistency of the uterus was meaningful, as observed by the differences in reproductive outcomes between cows with diverging amounts of pus in the retrieved exudate. Risk factors for PVD in Jersey cows was similar to previously reported for Holstein cows, and a strong detrimental effect of PVD on fertility was also observed in Jersey cows.

Transient suppression of ovulatory ovarian function in pony mares after treatment with slow-release deslorelin implants.

Behavior during the estrous cycle of mares can affect their performance and therefore inhibition of cyclical ovarian activity is indicated. We hypothesized that implants containing the GnRH analog deslorelin downregulate GnRH receptors and inhibit ovulation in mares. The estrous cycles of Shetland mares were synchronized with 2 injections of a PGF2α analog. One day after the second injection (day 0), mares received 9.4 (group D1, n = 6) and 4.7 mg deslorelin (D2, n = 5) as slow-release implants or 1.25 mg short-acting deslorelin as a control (C, n = 5). Ultrasonography of the reproductive tract and ovaries and observation of estrous behavior and collection of blood samples for analysis of progesterone and LH concentrations were performed every second day until day 10 and thereafter at 5-d intervals. Stimulation tests with the GnRH-agonist buserelin were performed on days 10 and 45. Until day 50, there were less spontaneous ovulations in group D1 (P < 0.01) and estrous behavior was reduced in groups D1 and D2 compared with group C (P < 0.05). The time until first ovulation (D1 62.0 ± 8.6, D2 44.2 ± 14.1, C 22.2 ± 3.1 d, P < 0.05) and the number of days with estrous behavior (P < 0.05) differed among groups. On day 10 after treatment, a GnRH stimulation test revealed interactions between group and time (P < 0.001) in plasma LH concentration that were no longer detectable on day 45 after treatment. In conclusion, long-acting deslorelin implants result in a transient downregulation of pituitary GnRH receptors that is associated with inhibition of ovulation and estrous behavior in Shetland mares.

The effect of flunixin meglumine, firocoxib and meloxicam on the uterine mobility of equine embryos.

Embryo mobility occurs as a result of prostaglandin production by the embryo and endometrium, promoting uterine smooth muscle contractions, which propels the embryonic vesicle through the lumen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as flunixin meglumine, are routinely used in equine medicine and can alter the conceptus mobility if applied in early pregnancy, which may impair maternal recognition of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of flunixin meglumine (FM; 1.1 mg/kg IV), firocoxib (FIRO; 0.2 mg/kg PO), and meloxicam (ML; 0.6 mg/kg, IV), on the embryo mobility. Thirty mares were divided into three groups (n = 10 per treatment). After the pregnancy diagnosis on day 12 after ovulation, the embryo mobility was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography every 5 min for 1 h in order to visualize the location of the embryo. In all mares, three evaluations were performed: immediately before treatment (pre-treatment), after NSAID administration and 24 h after treatment. In group FM, embryo mobility decreased, from 5.8 ±â€¯0.3 movements/hour (m/h) to 2.3 ±â€¯0.5 m/h (p < 0.05) and, after 24 h the values were similar to the pre-treatment evaluation (5.9 ±â€¯0.2 m/h). Likewise, ML treatment caused a decrease of embryo movements, from 5.9 ±â€¯0.3 to 1.9 ±â€¯0.3 m/h (p < 0.05), 24 h after treatment values were 5.7 ±â€¯0.4 m/h. Treatment with FIRO did not interfere with embryo mobility (5.7 ±â€¯0.4; 5.8 ±â€¯0.3 and 5.6 ±â€¯0.3 embryo movements in the first, second and third evaluation, respectively). In conclusion, FIRO was the only NSAID that did not alter the embryo mobility and may be the safest NSAID for use in early pregnant mares.

Swimming escape learning in rats with telencephalic lesions.

Experiments were conducted to determine whether rats having unilateral or bilateral ablation of either the neocortex or telencephalon can learn to escape from a tank of water by climbing a platform. Hemi- or bilaterally decorticated rats were able to learn the swimming escape task, the same being observed for hemidetelencephalated rats. Fully detelencephalated rats, however, did not exhibit this capability. These results show that integrity of one of the cerebral hemispheres is necessary in order to allow swimming escape learning.

Swimming escape learning in rats with telencephalic lesions

Experiments were conducted to determine whether rats having unilateral or bilateral ablation of either the neocortex or telencephalon can learn to escape from a tank of water by climbing a platform. Hemi - or bilaterally decorticated rats were able to learn the swimming escape task, the same being observed for hemidetelencephalated rats. Fully detelencephalated rats, however, did not exhibit this capability. These results show that integrity of one the cerebral hemispheres is necessary in order to allow swimming escape learning