Reducing the incidence of intramammary infection in heifers by using prepartum systemic tylosin therapy: initial results of a single herd pilot study / Reducción en la incidencia de infecciones intramamarias en novillas con el uso de tylosina sistémica preparto: resultados iniciales de un estudio piloto en un hato lechero / Redução da incidência de infecção intramamária em novilhas através do uso tilosina sistêmica préparto: resultados iniciais de um único estudo em um rebanho piloto

Background: mastitis in heifers is recognized as an important problem that impacts animal health and wellbeing and reduces milk quality and lifetime productivity. Objective: to assess the effectiveness of intramuscular administration of tylosin (20 g) as a method to prevent and treat intramammary infections (IMI) in heifers. Methods: heifers from a commercial farm in Michigan, due to calve within 14 to 18 d, were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups. The control group (n=108 heifers) received no antibiotic treatment or teat sealants to prevent IMI. The tylosin group (n=112 heifers) was injected intramuscularly with 20 g of tylosin. Quarter milk samples were taken in duplicate for bacterial culture from all functional quarters at 2 to 6 d (sample 1) and 7 to 15 d (sample 2) after calving. Representative isolates from sample 1 were speciated. Somatic cell counts and milk production were recorded. Results: in sample 1, 42% of the heifers, and 16.5% of the quarters were infected. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and streptococci infected 10.8% and 3.6% of the quarters, respectively. No antibiotic residues were detected at either sample 1 or sample 2. No differences were observed in Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and milk production between tylosin treated animals and controls, however, uninfected heifers had a lower somatic cell score (SCS). At the heifer level, tylosin did not reduce significantly IMI infection rate caused by Gram-positive bacteria. At the quarter level, tylosin reduced levels of IMI caused by CNS. Conclusion: tylosin administration to primigravid heifers 2 weeks before expected calving should not be advised without first evaluating udder health, management and economic implications on each individual dairy farm should be taken into account.

Antecedentes: la mastitis en novillas es reconocida como un problema importante que afecta la salud y el bienestar animal reduciendo la calidad de la leche y la productividad durante la vida de la vaca. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad de la administración vía intramuscular de tylosina (20 g) como un método para prevenir y tratar infecciones intramamarias (IMI) en novillas. Métodos: novillas de un hato lechero comercial en Michigan, con fecha tentativa de parto 14 a 18 d después del inicio del estudio, fueron asignadas al azar a uno de dos tratamientos. El grupo control (n=108 novillas) no recibió antibióticos o sellantes de pezón para prevenir IMI. Los animales en el grupo tylosina (n=112) fueron inyectados vía intramuscular con 20 g de tylosina. Muestras de leche fueron tomadas en duplicado de cada uno de los cuartos funcionales a los 2-6 d (muestra 1) y a los 7-15 d (muestra 2) después del parto para cultivo bacteriológico. Las colonias representativas de la muestra 1 fueron clasificadas. Los recuentos de células somáticas y la producción de leche fueron evaluados. Resultados: en la muestra 1, el 42% de las novillas y el 16,5% de los cuartos estaban infectados. Estafilocococoagulasa negativos (CNS) y estreptococos infectaron el 10,8% y el 3,6% de los cuartos, respectivamente. No se encontraron residuos de antibióticos en ninguna de las muestras. No se observaron diferencias en el Recuento de células somáticas (SCC) o producción de leche entre los animales tratados con tylosina y los controles; sin embargo, las novillas no infectadas tuvieron un recuento de células somáticas más bajo. A nivel de novillas, el tratamiento con tylosina no redujo la tasa de IMI causada por bacterias Gram-positivas. A nivel de cuartos, la tylosina redujo los niveles de IMI causados por SCN. Conclusión: la administración de tylosina en novillas primigravidas 2 semanas antes del parto no debe ser formulada sin previa evaluación de la salud de la ubre y de las implicaciones de manejo y económicas pertinentes para cada hato.

Antecedentes: a mastite em novilhas é reconhecida como um dos principais problemas que afetam a saúde e o bem-estar animal e reduz a qualidade do leite e a produtividade ao longo da vida da vaca. Objetivo: avaliar a efetividade da administração de tilosina (20 g) via intramuscular como um método para prevenir e tratar as infecções intramamárias (IMI) em novilhas. Métodos: novilhas de um rebanho leiteiro comercial de Michigan, com a data de parto prevista para 14 a 18 dias após o início do estudo, foram escolhidas ao azar para um dos tratamentos. O grupo controle (n=108 novilhas) não recebeu antibióticos ou desinfetantes de mamilos para prevenir a IMI. Os animais do grupo tilosina (n=112) receberam 20 g de tilosina via intramuscular. As amostras de leite de cada um dos quartos para o cultivo bacteriológico foram obtidas em duplicado de todos os quartos funcionais 2-6 d (amostra 1) e a 7-15 d (amostra 2) depois do parto. As colônias representativas da amostra 1 foram classificadas. As contagens de células somáticas e a produção de leite foram avaliadas. Resultados: na amostra 1, 42% das novilhas e 16,5% dos quartos estavam infectados. Staphylococos coagulase negativos (CNS) e estreptococos infectaram 10,8% e 3,6% dos quartos, respectivamente. Não se encontraram resíduos de antibióticos em nenhuma das amostras. Não se observaram diferenças na contagem de células somáticas (SCC) ou na produção de leite entre os animais tratados com tilosina e os controles, no entanto, as novilhas não infectadas apresentaram uma contagem de células somáticas mais baixa. Enquanto a novilhas, o tratamento com a tilosina não reduziu a taxa de IMI causada por bactérias Gram-positivas. No nível de quartos, a tilosina reduziu os níveis de IMI causadas por CNS. Conclusão: a administração de tilosina às novilhas de primeira gestação, duas semanas antes do parto, não deve ser indicada sem uma avaliação prévia da saúde da glândula mamária e as implicações no manejo e na economia pertinente a cada rebanho.

Rapid ongoing decline of Baird's tapir in Cusuco National Park, Honduras.

During the International Tapir Symposium 16-21 Oct 2011, the conservation of Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in Honduras received a boost with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Minister Director of the Honduran Institute of Conservation and Forestry (ICF) and the Tapir Specialist Group (TSG). Despite this agreement, accelerating levels of hunting and habitat loss continue to pose a threat to Baird's tapir in Honduras. An ongoing study in Cusuco National Park in northwestern Honduras has been monitoring changes in population dynamics of Baird's tapir since 2006 through the collection of occupancy data. The study has identified an increase in hunting pressure, coinciding with a drastic decline in the encounter rate with Baird's tapir spoor. Here, we examine the significance of a range of demographic variables on Baird's tapir occupancy in Cusuco National Park using the software PRESENCE, and simulate the effects of different management strategies on the future dynamics of the population using the stochastic simulation software VORTEX. The predictions of the theoretical population models are compared to observed changes in occupancy levels. We found that non-intervention resulted in the local extinction of Baird's tapir within a very short time frame, but that various intervention models enabled the population to recover to near carrying capacity. Occupancy and extinction probability were shown to respond markedly to the increase in hunting pressure; and occupancy models supported the future population predictions generated by VORTEX. Our study suggests that immediate intervention is required to reduce hunting pressure to near historical levels to prevent the imminent local extinction of the species.

Effect of alcohol on serum lipids in diabetics

This report emanated from a three-year study conducted at the Diabetic Outpatient Clinics convened at the Port-of-Spain and Sangre-Grande Hospitals in Trinidad. The diabetic population which participated consisted of 132 men and 245 women of African descent; and 99 men and 163 women of East Indian origin. The mean age was 50 years (ñ13). The effect of alcohol on lipid fractions varied in the races. A lower incidence of ischaemic heart disease was observed among the alcohol consumers when compared to those who abstained

Relationship between different lipoprotein fractions and the incidence of coronary heart disease in diabetics of Trinidad & Tobago

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the relationship between the different lipoprotein fractions and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in diabetics of Trinidad and Trinidad and Tobago. Seven hundred (700) diabetics attending outpatient clinics at Sangre-Grande and Port-Grande and Port-of-Sapin hospitals were screened.There were 132 males and 249 females of African descent; 99 males and 163 females of East Indian extraction and 19 males and 38 females of other ethnic origins. The average age of the population studied was 50 years (ñ15). From this survey, it is evident that the impact of the diabetic state on lipoprotein homeostasis results in elevation of serum lipid concentrations. The elevation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol seems to be the most reliable lipid risk indicator of the lipoprotein profile, predisposing patients to a coronary event. The data also provides unequivocal evidence that diabetic patients of Trinidad and Tobago have more coronary atherosclerosis and a higher incidence of clinical CHD than does the non-diabetic population of similar age