The incidence of abnormal limb development in the Irish thoroughbred from birth to 18 months.

A two part survey was carried out in Irish Thoroughbred horses in 1988 and 1989 to establish the incidence and prevalence of developmental skeletal problems, particularly possible manifestations of developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD). Survey One was a retrospective study based on a questionnaire involving the foal crops of 46 stud farms for 3 successive seasons; the 1711 animals initially documented represented 10.46% of Irish foal registrations. The second survey involved repeated monitoring of the 1988 foal crop from birth to 18 months of age on 17 stud farms. The 248 foals initially examined represented 4.24% of foal registrations. Treatment for DOD was deemed necessary for 11.3% of the animals in Survey One. Angular limb deformities and physeal dysplasia ("epiphysitis") together constituted 72.9% of the cases treated. The peak incidence of DOD problems occurred between weaning and the end of December. More than half the animals treated (53.9%) recovered completely, ie achieved expected sale value as yearlings, 27.5% of those treated showed incomplete recovery and mild to moderate loss of sale value and the remaining 18.7% were killed or lost much of their sale value. In the second survey, while 67% of animals exhibited some form of DOD, the incidence and severity of problems treated were not significantly different from those of farms in Survey One. Again, physeal dysplasia and angular limb deformity were the predominant clinical conditions and their severity was greatest during the early winter. During the suckling phase colts had a significantly greater incidence of DOD. At all other stages the incidence and severity of DOD was similar in both sexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevalence of clinical babesiosis in an area in north Co Meath, Ireland.

A survey of clinical babesiosis was carried out in an area serviced by a veterinary practice in Oldcastle, Co Meath. Data were collected from the day books of the practice from 1970 to 1981 and from questionnaires and visits to farmers. Clinical incidence ranged between 3.2 and 4.9 per cent, which was very high compared with figures from Northern Ireland and Devon. Mortality rates were found to range from 7.3 to 14.5 per cent. The seasonality of cases and the age of animals most affected were found to conform to the findings of most earlier studies. The view of the veterinary surgeons that the prevalence of relatively unresponsive cases has increased markedly over the last 12 years was supported by data on the number of revisits and blood transfusions carried out. Cows seemed to be more involved in this phenomenon than other age groups. Although the veterinary surgeons treat less than a third of the cases that occur in the area this seems to be a fairly constant proportion and it is concluded that their day books provide valuable information on the incidence of babesiosis.

Comparison of four methods for early detection of experimental Trichinella spiralis infections in pigs.

Four methods employed in the diagnosis of experimental porcine trichinellosis (trichinoscopy, digestion method, immunofluorescence and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) were compared by eleven laboratories in the countries of the European Economic Community and Sweden. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of ELISA during the onset of T. spiralis infection. Material from conventionally raised pigs infected with 1500 to 10000 larvae was compared to uninfected controls at Day 17 and Day 21 post infection. The serological techniques gave higher percentages of positive results than the direct techniques. Specific antibodies could be demonstrated with ELISA at an earlier stage and at higher percentages than with the other methods. ELISA micro-assay was the most sensitive procedure.