In the Murine and Bovine Maternal Mammary Gland Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 is Activated in Clusters of Epithelial Cells around the Day of Birth.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins regulate mammary development. Here we investigate the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in the mouse and cow around the day of birth. We present localised colocation analysis, applicable to other mammary studies requiring identification of spatially congregated events. We demonstrate that pSTAT3-positive events are multifocally clustered in a non-random and statistically significant fashion. Arginase-1 expressing cells, consistent with macrophages, exhibit distinct clustering within the periparturient mammary gland. These findings represent a new facet of mammary STAT3 biology, and point to the presence of mammary sub-microenvironments.

Cryopreservation of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) semen using soybean-, liposome-, and egg yolk-based extenders.

The objectives of the present study were to compare the use of soybean-based (Andromed), liposome-based (Optixcell), and egg yolk-based (Ovine Red, Triladyl, and Biladyl) extenders for cryopreservation of white-tailed deer semen. In experiment 1, ejaculates obtained from six bucks were aliquoted into the following extenders: Andromed, Ovine Red, Triladyl, and Biladyl (containing 4%, 6%, or 8% of glycerol). In experiment 2, ejaculates obtained from eight bucks were divided amongst Andromed, Ovine Red, and Optixcell extenders. Total and progressive sperm motility were assessed for each sample before and after cryopreservation using a computer-automated semen analyzer. In experiment 2, flow cytometry was used for post-thaw assessment of sperm viability (SYBR-14/PI), acrosome integrity (FITC-PNA/PI), and chromatin stability (acridine orange). In experiment 1, both Andromed and Ovine Red extenders exhibited higher post-thaw total motility than Biladyl containing 4% or 6% of glycerol (p<0.05). Andromed also produced higher progressive motility than all other extenders (p<0.01) before and after cryopreservation with no differences amongst the other extenders (p≥0.11). In experiment 2, there were no differences in total and progressive motility between Andromed, Ovine Red, or Optixcell extenders (p≥0.39). Additionally, there were no differences in sperm viability (p=0.18), acrosome integrity in viable sperm (p≥0.10), or DNA fragmentation index (p=0.15). These results demonstrated that soybean (Andromed) and liposome-based (Optixcell) extenders are equally as effective at cryopreserving white-tailed semen as egg yolk-based Ovine Red extender, but are superior to egg yolk-based Biladyl or Triladyl extenders.

The area under the curve of L-lactate in neonatal foals from birth to 14 days of age.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown the prognostic utility of measuring L-lactate in critically ill neonatal foals, both as single (at admission) and serial measurements. Greater prognostic sensitivity and specificity may be achieved by use of the area under the L-lactate versus time curve (LACArea ) over the first 24 hours of hospitalization, which captures both severity and duration of hyperlactatemia. Prior to application of this concept in sick equine neonates, a reference interval for LACArea should be determined. METHODS: The concentration of lactate [LAC] was measured in blood obtained via direct jugular venipuncture from clinically normal foals on Days 1 (birth-24 h of age), 3, 7, and 14 following birth at 6-hour intervals for each 24-hour period. LACArea was calculated using the trapezoidal method. Differences in LACArea by Day were determined by MANOVA with a priori Bonferroni correction, P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: LACArea differed by Day (P = 0.001), being largest on Day 1, followed by Day 3. Days 7 and 14 were smallest and not different from each other. CONCLUSION: LACArea decreases substantially and predictably over the first week of life in normal neonatal foals. Knowing how LACArea normally changes over the first 2 weeks of life will aid in future study of LACArea as it applies to sick neonatal foals, allowing for consideration of maturational changes potentially unrelated to disease.

Clinical disease associated with epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in cattle in Illinois.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestation of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in cattle during an outbreak in northwestern Illinois in the fall of 2013. DESIGN: Outbreak survey. SAMPLE: 18 EHDV-affected cattle herds. PROCEDURES: Herds with confirmed EHDV-infected cattle were selected for the survey on the basis of having a manager willing to participate. A survey was developed and administered to obtain information regarding the demographics of EHDV-affected herds and the clinical signs and outcomes for EHDV-infected cattle. RESULTS: The managers of 13 beef and 5 dairy herds participated in the survey. The herds contained approximately 1,400 cattle, of which 61 were infected with EHDV and 16 died. Most cattle clinically affected with EHDV were adults, although 1 herd had 6 calves with clinical signs, and EHDV was identified during postmortem testing of 1 of those calves. Clinical signs most commonly observed were oral ulcerations or erosions, anorexia, weight loss, and lameness that typically lasted > 7 days. Of the 18 herds, 17 had wooded areas and 14 had at least 1 pond or marsh on the property. Deer were observed on the property of all farms. The EHDV outbreak in cattle coincided with an EHDV outbreak in deer in the region. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This large-scale outbreak of EHDV in US cattle was unusual because calves were affected. Because there is no way to effectively predict or prevent an EHDV outbreak in cattle, development of a vaccine for use in cattle during an outbreak would be beneficial.

Assessment of oxidative stress biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate and blood of Thoroughbred foals.

This study reports preliminary data on systemic and local biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS) in Thoroughbred foals. Blood and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were sampled from 13 foals on two farms. Values of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), antioxidant barrier (OXY-ads), thiol antioxidant barrier (SHp) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) were determined in blood, while EBC samples were assayed for hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) levels. Systemic and local OS biomarkers did not differ between farms and gender. Increased oxidative stress index (OSI) values in a foal recovering from pneumonia and elevated H(2)O(2) in EBC coupled with low SHp and elevated AOPPs in the blood of a foal with overt upper respiratory tract disease suggested that the OS markers measured in this study may relate to the respiratory health status of foals.

The Effect of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguarensis) Supplementation on the Productive Performance of Dorper Ewes and Their Progeny.

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis), a tea known for its high antioxidant content, was supplemented to 30 of 60 ewes for 13 wks to assess its effect on their productive performance. A 2.5% inclusion rate of Yerba Mate (YM) in a pelleted concentrate diet decreased feed intake and live weight (LW) during the first few weeks post partum (p<0.001). Overall, the YM group ate less (2,092±78 g/d) pellet than the control (CTRL) one (2,434±83 g/d); similarly, LW was lower in the YM group compared to the CTRL one, 64.9±1.6 kg and 67.3±1.4 kg, respectively. Lambs' birth weight and growth rates were not affected. At birth, lambs' LW were similar between the Yerba Mate and control groups (4.2±0.5 kg and 4.1±0.4 kg, respectively. At the end of the trial, Yerba Mate lambs weighed 15.7±0.4 kg while CTRL lambs weighed 16.1±0.4 kg. Average daily growth rate was similar between the two groups and ranged from 176±19 to 234 ±24 g/d. The inclusion of Yerba Mate in a pelleted diet increased milk fat, protein and total solids content while it decreased milk lactose content. Further work is required to investigate the mechanisms by which Yerba Mate supplementation affects feed intake and milk composition.