Characteristics of mammary secretions collected from infected and uninfected primigravid dairy heifer mammary glands.

Intramammary infections (IMI) in primigravid dairy heifers can affect mammary growth and development, which can reduce first-lactation milk yield. Detection of IMI in heifers most often involves the use of culture-based methods that are not often used in production dairy settings given their labor- and time-consuming nature. The objective of this study was to determine whether mammary secretion somatic cell count (SCC) and viscosity were associated with the infection status of primigravid heifer mammary glands. A total of 270 heifers from a single farm were used, selected based on the farmer's willingness to participate. The study was conducted from June to October 2020. Mammary secretion samples were aseptically collected from a randomly selected quarter of each heifer at 75 d prepartum (75PP), and another quarter of each heifer was sampled at 35 d prepartum (35PP). The remaining 2 quarters of each heifer were not examined. Mammary secretion samples underwent bacteriological examination to determine IMI status and quantitative SCC measurement and were also assessed for secretion viscosity based on visual observation. Prevalence of IMI was 26% (69/270) and 28% (71/255) at 75 and 35 d prepartum, respectively. Uninfected secretion samples had 133.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.8 to >999.9] times greater odds to be thick compared with samples infected with a major pathogen, and 14.4 (95% CI: 8.5 to 24.1) times greater odds to be thick compared with samples infected with non-aureus staphylococci (NAS). The mean secretion SCC of uninfected quarters (6.04 ± 0.03 log10 cells/mL) was significantly lower than that of secretions collected from quarters infected with Staphylococcus chromogenes (6.34 ± 0.04 log10 cells/mL), other NAS species (6.28 ± 0.10 log10 cells/mL), or a major pathogen (6.73 ± 0.08 log10 cells/mL). These results indicate that mammary secretion viscosity and SCC measurement may be useful tools in identifying primigravid heifer quarters with IMI. The ability to evaluate viscosity at time of sampling may be a useful strategy that could be incorporated into interventions designed to diminish the negative effects of prepartum IMI on lactational performance.

Administration of internal teat sealant in primigravid dairy heifers at different times of gestation to prevent intramammary infections at calving.

Intramammary infections (IMI) are common in primigravid dairy heifers and can negatively affect future milk production. Bismuth subnitrate-based internal teat sealants (ITS) have been used to prevent prepartum IMI in dairy heifers by creating a physical barrier within the teat, preventing pathogens from entering the gland, though determination of when to administer ITS in heifers has yet to be investigated. The objectives of this study were to determine if administration of ITS in primigravid heifers reduced the odds of IMI at calving and if administration of ITS at different stages of gestation (75 vs. 35 d prepartum) affected the odds of IMI at calving. A total of 270 heifers were used at a single farm. One quarter of each heifer was randomly chosen to be aseptically sampled and administered ITS 75 d prepartum (ITS75), another quarter of each heifer was sampled and received ITS 35 d prepartum (ITS35), whereas the remaining 2 quarters of each heifer served as control quarters (CON) and were not sampled before calving. Within 12 h of calving, aseptic colostrum samples were collected from all quarters to determine quarter infection status. When an IMI was caused by mastitis pathogens other than non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), CON quarters were 3 times [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-6.3] and 2.5 times (95% CI: 1.2-4.9) more likely to be infected at calving than ITS75 and ITS35 quarters, respectively. For IMI with NAS, CON quarters were 5.8 (95% CI: 3.2-10.5) and 6.4 (95% CI: 3.4-12.0) times more likely to be infected than ITS75 and ITS35 quarters, respectively. Odds of IMI at calving was similar between ITS75 and ITS35 quarters for both NAS (odds ratio = 0.9) and other pathogens (odds ratio = 1.2). Results indicate that ITS administration at either 75 and 35 d prepartum reduced IMI prevalence at calving in primigravid dairy heifers. Farm specific factors may influence prevalence and timing of heifer IMI and earlier administration of ITS provides an extended period of protection for the developing gland.

Structural differences in chromosomes distinguish species in the tomato clade.

The tomato clade of Solanaceae is composed of 12 species that are all diploid with the same chromosome number and morphology. Species in the tomato clade are considered to have evolved primarily by genic changes rather than large-scale chromosomal rearrangements because pachytene chromosomes in F(1) hybrids synapse normally along their lengths and linkage maps of intra- and inter-specific hybrids are co-linear. However, small inversions have been reported between tomato and some of its wild relatives. Therefore, we reevaluated 5 F(1) hybrids using high-resolution, electron microscopic examination of pachytene chromosome (= synaptonemal complex) spreads to determine whether any minor structural changes had occurred among species in the tomato clade, which were not easily visible using light microscopic analysis of conventional chromosome squashes. Our study revealed a number of unexpected synaptic configurations such as mismatched kinetochores, inversion loops and reciprocal translocations. Most of these structural differences were in or close to heterochromatin that has comparatively few genes and little recombination, so they would be expected to have little effect on the evident colinearity of linkage maps, especially in euchromatin. However, these results demonstrate that substantial changes in chromosome structure have occurred among species within the tomato clade.

Wound amylase levels as an early indicator of orocutaneous fistulae.

The formation of an orocutaneous fistula following ablative head and neck surgery is a common complication. Early fistula detection could permit prompt management, hopefully preventing further wound breakdowns. Amylase is quantitatively the most prominent enzyme in saliva. This study prospectively evaluated whether the amylase content of wound drainage could predict the formation of an orocutaneous fistula earlier than clinically evident. Patients undergoing procedures that required postoperative wound drainage represented the study population. Baseline serum and salivary amylase determinations were obtained. The drainage was assayed for amylase content twice daily. Wound amylase values were then correlated with the patient's clinical course. Results showed wound amylase had a downward trend in uncomplicated postoperative courses. An upward trend of wound amylase was correlated with early fistulization. No pattern was identified in patients with delayed fistulae.

Liver abscess.

A liver abscess may occur secondary to an umbilical vein catheterization or infection in other parts of the body, and is associated with immune deficiencies, especially chronic granulomatous disease. There are no specific signs and symptoms, but an unexplained fever with upper abdominal tenderness and an enlarged liver were present in all of our cases. A liver-spleen scan is the most useful diagnostic test, demonstrating a filling defect in the liver. A single abscess may be unroofed and drained. When multiple abscesses are found, as many as possible are drained, but long-term specific antibiotic therapy is the most important treatment.

Intraoperative angiography in intestinal angiodysplasia.

Intraoperative angiography is quite useful in locating the site of bleeding in patients with angiodysplasia of the small intestine. We recommend the placement preoperatively of an angiographic catheter in these patients. We have described a technique that complements this procedure with metallic clip labeling to locate precisely the area of bleeding. This method of treatment is illustrated in the present study by reports of patients bleeding from vascular malformations of the ileum, duodenum and the head of the pancreas.