Toxoplasmosis and iodine deficiency in Angora goats.

Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in two goat herds in the Czech Republic. The 1996 outbreak in the herd of Angora goats was associated with abortions and births of weak kids. No apparent signs of toxoplasmosis were observed in the herd of White Short-Haired (WSH) goats reared under similar conditions. Seroprevalences of 60% and 66% tested by complement fixation and indirect fluorescent antibody tests, respectively, were found in the herd of Angora goats during the outbreak of clinical toxoplasmosis. Significantly lower values were recorded in this herd in years 1994 and 1997 and in the herd of WSH goats between years 1994-1996. Iodine deficiency was also demonstrated in the herd of Angora goats in 1996. Goitre was detected by clinical examination in 39% of animals and mean urinary iodine concentration was 8.0+/-4.65 microg per 11. This concentration rose significantly to 15.7+/-5.02 microg per 11 in the subsequent year. Effects of iodine deficiency on clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis in Angora goats were discussed.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats in the Czech Republic.

Prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis was studied in goats from six herds in the Czech Republic. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis exhibiting typical properties was isolated from clinically affected animals only. Antibodies to C. pseudotuberculosis were identified by means of agar immunodiffusion and the neutralization test using a toxin--phospholipase D (PLD)--as antigen. No clinical manifestations of caseous lymphadenitis or antibodies to C. pseudotuberculosis were found in four herds. In one herd without any history of clinical caseous lymphadenitis, serological positivity was reported in two out of 148 examinations. In a herd with clinical manifestations of caseous lymphadenitis, antibodies were ascertained to a various degree in subsequent samplings (100%, 87% and 64%, respectively). The importance of serologic examination of caseous lymphadenitis in goat herds is discussed.

[First report of demodicosis in goats in the Czech Republic]. / První nálezy demodikózy koz v Ceské republice.

The first case of demodectic (Acari: Demodecidae) mange in the Czech Republic was diagnosed in a domestic White Shorthaired goat hospitalized in our clinic. A total of 128 solid protruding nodules, similar in size to lens or pea, were found on lateral parts of the neck and trunk and on proximal part sof the limbs. A pasty, creamy mass containing immature and adult mites could be pressed out of the nodules. Parasitological examinations identified the mites as Demodex caprae Railliet, 1895 (Fig. 1). Antiparasitic treatment was started with the pyrethroid deltamethrine (Butox 7.5 Pour On, Roussel Uclaf) although demodectic mange is not given in the spectrum of its applications. Ten ml of the drug were poured onto the back of the animal twice within an interval of 7 days. The next drug tested was another pyrethroid, Neostomosan sol. ad us. vet. (Sanofi Santé Animale) containing tetramethrine and transmix as the effective ingredients and recommended by the manufacturer for the treatment of canine and feline demodicosis. The animal was bathed twice within an interval of 14 days in a 1 : 400 dilution as recommended by the manufacturer. The mites survived the treatments with both drugs and their motility was not affected. The size of nine of the nodules (4.5 to 6.8 mm), measured before and after the treatments, remained unchanged. The third drug tested was amitraz (Taktic, Hoechst) known to be effective against canine demodicosis (Ectodex, Hoechst). Seven baths with 10-day intervals in the drug diluted 1 : 400 resulted in the decrease of the number of nodules to 83 (by 35.2%). The diameters of 7 of the measured nodules diminished by approx. 1.6 mm. No movements of the mites were observed on Day 56 after the treatment, but the immature stages probably survived because new nodules and allergy developed after the patient had been released from the clinic. The unsatisfactory effect of amitraz can be explained by the limited penetration of the drug into the nodules surrounded by fibrous tissue. Demodectic mange was subsequently diagnosed in one highly pregnant animal housed together with the patient. Further cases of demodicosis were detected by intentional examinations in the districts of Nový Jicín and Olomouc (three cases in the latter). It is apparent that the infection may remain undetected at current health checks, although it is world-wide spread and causes considerable losses to the hide-and-skin industry.

[Antibodies to certain infections on large goat farms in the Czech Republic]. / Protilátky proti nekterým infekcím ve velkochovech koz v Ceské republice.

On five newly established large goat farms the incidence of antibodies to some chronic and latent infections (arthritis and encephalitis, Q-fever, caseous lymphadenitis and toxoplazmosis) was investigated in the first six months of the year 1994. Agar-gel immunodiffusion did not reveal any antibodies to arthritis and encephalitis of goats (CAE). Complement fixation test did not demonstrate any antibodies to Q-fever. Neither agar-gel immunodiffusion nor neutralization test confirmed any antibodies to caseous lymphadentitis. Complement fixation test (titer 1:8 and more) revealed antibodies to toxoplazmosis at 20.2% of the cases. No clinical symptoms of toxoplazmosis were observed on the investigated goat farms. It was recommended to take a preventive serological examination of goats against CAE, Q-fever and caseous lymphadenitis before they were housed on the given farms. By maintaining high zoohygienic parameters on the large goat farms it is possible to except a decrease in prevalence of antibodies to toxoplazmosis.

[The effect of the early feeding of solid and bulk foods on the dynamic development of the digestive processes in calves ina large-scale breeding facility]. / Vliv casného príjmu jadrných a objemných krmiv na dynamiku vývoje trávicích procesu u telat ve velkokapacitním teletníku.

Digestive activities were studied in test calves (n = 12) in relation to age and feed intake. The calves were isolated after birth from adult cows. Since the 14th day of age, milk replacers were fed with concentrate feed mixture TG and alfalfa hay, i.e. the calves were in the period of plant feeding. The investigation lasted from the end of milk feeding (50th day) to the age of six months. Overall health condition was studied clinically. The characteristics of digestive activities studied in rumen fluid at weekly--monthly intervals were pH, ammonia content, total content of volatile fatty acids, content of particular volatile fatty acids, incidence and number of infusoria. At the age of 50 days, actual pH of rumen fluid was on the average 6.07 and it ranged from 5.84 to 6.76 in the next period. Ammonia content was the highest at the age of 50 days (21.49 mmol/l rumen fluid), then it dropped to 9.83 mmol/l rumen fluid at the age of 180 days. The average total concentration of volatile fatty acids (C2-C5) made 117.00 mmol/l during the first examination, it increased to 132.98 mmol/l at the age of 84 days, and it dropped to 94.16 mmol/l rumen fluid at the age of six months. A similar tendency was found in the volatile fatty acids. The infusoria were found out only at the age of 120 days--their numbers were 155 000 per ml; at the age of 180 days their numbers rose to 368 000 per ml rumen fluid. No disorders of health condition were recorded during the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Dynamics of selected biochemical indicators of energy metabolism in calves fed 2 different types of milk diets]. / Dynamika vybraných biochemických ukazatelu energetického metabolismu u telat pri dvou odlisných zpusobech mlécné výzivy.

The effect of two milk diets on the changes in selected parameters of energy metabolism was studied in calves. After the termination of colostrum feeding, the experimental group of calves (n = 10) was given whole milk whereas the calves in the control group (n = 10) were given the Laktosan milk replacer. Blood was collected for biochemical investigation from the third day of age (determination of glucose concentration) and from the fourth week of age (evaluation of the parameters of lipid metabolism). The plasma concentrations of glucose were about the same in both groups of calves throughout the period of study. The total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood serum were significantly higher in the calves of the experimental group during the milk feeding period; later they did not differ significantly from the values determined in the control calves. On the other hand, the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids were higher in the calves of the control group in the milk feeding period; the differences, however, are not statistically significant. The average daily weight gains from the 5th to the 18th week of age were significantly higher in the calves given whole milk.

[Utilization of urea nitrogen in young calves]. / Vyuzitelnost dusíku mocoviny u mladých telat.

The influence of an increasing intake of urea in feed rations for calves on its levels in blood plasma and urine, development of health condition, weight gains and on other biochemical characteristics in the blood of calves was studied. The experimental group (n = 4) received urea in feed ration from the 17th day of age, at the beginning in the preparation Syrur, later on (from the 66th day) in the synthetic form only. The feed ration of the control group (n = 3) differed only in the zero content of urea. Over the period of ten weeks the blood was sampled for biochemical examination twice a week, since the 52nd day of age urine was also taken at the same intervals. Starting the 24th day of age, the levels of urea in the blood plasma of experimental animals were significantly higher (P less than 0.05). The concentrations of urea in the urine of the animals belonging to the experimental group were also higher, however, the differences in the average values were not significant. In both groups of animals under study no significant differences in the content of vitamin A, concentration of total protein, glucose, bilirubin, activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gammaglutamyl transferase (GMT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were observed. The average daily weight gains were higher in the calves of the control group, however, the differences were not significant. Over the whole experimental period the health condition of both groups of calves was good.

[The effect of the use of milk-based feed mixtures and whole milk on the development of selected indicators in the blood plasma in calves]. / Vliv príjmu mlécné krmné smesi a plnotucného mléka na vývoj vybraných ukazatelu v krevní plazme telat.

Two milk feeding systems were investigated as influencing the health and development of calves. After the termination of colostrum feeding, the ten animals of the experimental group were given whole milk whereas the control group (also ten calves) was given the Laktosan milk replacer. By the age of three months, blood was collected from the calves for biochemical examination in weekly intervals, later once a month. The content of urea, determined in the blood plasma of the calves of the experimental group was significantly lower in the fourth to seventh week. The plasma levels of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium were about the same in the experimental and control groups, being within the limits of the reference values. At the age of six to nine weeks, the content of inorganic phosphorus in the blood plasma of the tested animals was statistically significantly higher. Vitamin A concentration in the blood plasma was about the same in both groups. The content of vitamin E in the blood plasma of the calves of the experimental group was statistically significantly higher in the fourth to eight week of age. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the plasmatic activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT). The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher in the third to fifth week of life. From the fifth to eighteenth week of age, the average daily weight gains were significantly higher in the calves given whole milk.