A Sustainable Translational Sheep Model for Planned Cesarean Delivery of Contraction-Free Ewes.

We evaluated whether the sheep constitutes a useful translational model to evaluate anatomical and surgical aspects of cesarean delivery (CD) from a human medical perspective with the aim of both maternal and neonatal well-being. Our hypothesis was that CD in contraction-free ewes is not associated with major complications. Primary endpoint was the transferability of anatomical conditions and surgical techniques of CD from the ewe to the human. Secondary endpoints were maternal and fetal survival, occurrence of retained fetal membranes, metritis, mastitis, or wound infections. Forty-eight Merino ewes were delivered by CD after 95% gestation (142-144 days). Both ewes and newborn lambs were cared for intensively after the delivery. Ovine uterine anatomy during CD appeared slightly different but comparable to the human uterus. Uterine incisions were mostly performed in the uterine horns, not in the uterine corpus. The ovine uterine wall is thinner than in humans. All ewes survived without any major complications. Seventy-seven (88.5%) out of 87 live-born lambs survived without any complications. The contraction-free ewe constitutes an appropriate and safe model to evaluate anatomical and surgical aspects of CD from a human medical perspective. We present a step-by-step manual for successfully planned cesarean delivery for sheep including the perioperative management illustrated with photographs and a five-minute video. With adequate planning and a reasonable number of staff, it is possible to safeguard both maternal and neonatal survival. This sustainable translational medicine model offers additional potential for the offspring to be used for further research studies (e.g., transgenerational inheritance research).

A method for estimating the outer exposure of dairy cows to deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) as a precondition for risk assessment based on inner exposure with toxin residue levels in blood and urine as indicators.

DON and ZEN residues in the blood and urine of dairy cows can be used to predict the outer exposure to DON and ZEN expressed per kilogram diet for a risk evaluation based on comparisons to critical dietary concentrations. This method was used to evaluate the exposure of dairy cows from 12 farms located in Brandenburg, Germany, fed rations with unknown DON and ZEN concentrations (N = 244). The corresponding diet concentrations predicted by different methods from analyzed blood and urine samples varied significantly amongst farms from 0 to 1.6 mg/kg for DON and 0 to 3.0 mg/kg for ZEN at a reference dry matter content of 88% but independently of lactational state (post-partum vs. early lactation). This significant variation was noticed below the critical dietary DON concentration of 5 mg/kg, while the ZEN concentration in one farm exceeded the critical ZEN level of 0.5 mg/kg markedly. Predicted DON concentrations of rations increased with the proportion of maize silage, while the high ZEN concentration found in one farm was most likely related to a higher proportion of sugar beet pulp supposedly highly contaminated by ZEN. Exceeding the critical dietary ZEN concentration and significant variations in DON contents below the critical level was not related to performance, reproductive performance, and health-related traits of cows. For a more consistent evaluation of possible associations between the inner exposure of cows to DON and ZEN, more frequent longitudinal observations of both mycotoxin residue levels and performance and health traits are required.

Evaluation of multifactorial digestive disorders in a dairy herd at different stages of lactation.

The manager of a large dairy herd (total confinement, total mixed ration feeding, 10130 kg milk sold per cow and year) requested a workup of a digestive disorder problem that had been ongoing for several years. The cows were at all stages of lactation, and the incidence proportion (events/100 cows at risk) of digestive disorders was approximately 5 to 10%. The clinical picture included an abnormal demeanor of varying severity and signs that differed among the cows. The latter included decreased milk production and physical activity, low body condition score, abnormal rumen motility and stratification, small intestinal dilatation, diarrhea, undigested fiber particles in the feces, fever and abdominal pain.The following approach was used to investigate the digestive disorder problem:1. The herd was assessed for production levels, housing requirements, feeding protocols and animal health management. The latter comprised evaluation of different animal scores, metabolic profile analysis, diagnosis of disease, culling records and slaughter data. The results revealed risk factors concerning the feeding and animal health monitoring, (e. g. in dry matter intake and silage quality management, disease detection and diagnosis in fresh cows). The assessment also identified a high occurrence of digestive disorders of unknown origin.2. Fifteen cows that represented the ongoing digestive disorder problem were selected to undergo clinical examination, hematological analysis, urinalysis, and ultrasonography of the ventral abdomen. The clinical examinations revealed different digestive disorders, which were mainly inflammatory in nature, in all the cows. Eight cows had localized reticuloperitonitis and 13 had left displaced abomasum with different degrees of displacement and adhesions between the abomasum and reticulum attributable to reticuloperitonitis.Our results revealed a multifactorial problem caused by several risk factors relating to animal health and feeding management protocols that resulted in different types of digestive disorders. The wires from damaged tires used to hold the pit silo tarps in place were identified as a possible traumatic cause of the reticuloperitonitis. Treatment, prevention and follow-up of the different conditions were discussed.

Case reports of squamous cell carcinoma in cows.

The aim was to investigate the frequency of squamous cell carcinoma and the outcome after surgical treatment in cows admitted to the clinic between 2012 and 2018. The study included six cows with squamous cell carcinoma (confirmed in 5 cattle and suspected in 1). All cattle underwent clinical examination and additional testing to confirm the diagnosis. Breed, age, gender, localization of neoplasm and treatment were recorded. In a telephonequ estionnaire owners were asked about survival, culling, integration into the herd after discharge from the clinic, wound healing and neoplasm recurrence. Five ocular squamous cell carcinomas were diagnosed during the study period. Another neoplasm on the dorsolateral thoracic wall of a cow could not be diagnosed with certainty; however, it had characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma. Two cows with ocular squamous cell carcinomawere euthanised.  The prognosis and outcome of squamous cell carcinoma depend on early detection of clinical signs, the presence of metastases and the timing of tumour removal. Surgical removal of a squamous cell carcinoma at or near the eye or at other locations of the body appears to have a good prognosis.

Exposure of pregnant sows to deoxynivalenol during 35-70 days of gestation does not affect pathomorphological and immunohistochemical properties of fetal organs.

In order to evaluate the influence of deoxynivalenol (DON) on histomorphological and immunohistochemical parameters in the development of porcine fetuses, five pregnant sows were fed a control diet (0.15 mg DON/kg diet) and seven sows a contaminated diet (4.42 mg DON/kg diet) between days 35 and 70 of gestation. On day 70, fetuses were delivered by caesarean section and sows and fetuses were euthanized. Tissue samples of three fetuses from each sow were collected, fixed in formalin, and processed routinely for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. At necropsy, no macroscopic lesions were observed in any organ of the fetuses. Histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and morphometrical parameters of the immune system, liver, and intestinal tract were examined. The following antibodies were used in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, gut, and bone marrow to compare control- and DON-treated animals: (I) CD3 and CD79a (T and B lymphocytes differentiation); (II) myeloid/histiocyte antigen 387 (MAC) (identification of macrophages); (III) Ki-67 Antigen (Ki-67) (proliferation marker); (IV) p-p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p-p38 MAPK) as well as caspase-3 (cas3) and caspase-9 (cas9) (enzymes of apoptosis cascade); (V) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) (immune-related protein). The results of the study show that exposure of pregnant sows with DON between gestation days 35 and 70 causes no pathomorphologically or immunohistochemically detectable alterations in all fetal organs examined.

[Pituitary syndrome caused by neoplasia in a 17-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer]. / Hirnbasissyndrom infolge eines Tumors bei einer 17 Monate alten Deutsch-Holstein-Färse.

A 17-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer was presented after one day with dysphagia, slight paralysis of the tongue and swelling of the eyelids. Clinical examination of the animal revealed an extended posture of the head and neck, severely increased salivation, reduced lingual tone and mandibular paralysis with complete absence of the swallowing reflex. The right eye showed a drooping eyelid, mucopurulent discharge, exposure keratitis, corneal opacity and miosis. On the left side, a moderate exophthalmos and slight mucous discharge from the nostril were observed. Neurological examination revealed the absence of multiple cranial nerve reflexes suggesting a pituitary syndrome. On X-rays, a soft-tissue opacity with sharp margins and a diameter of approximately 5 cm was seen. It was located ventral to the ethmoid bone with possible intraneurocranial origin. Rhinoscopically, a mass located distal to the ethmoid bone with an uneven, slightly reddish surface partly covered by purulent exudate was visualised. Post-mortem examination of the euthanized animal confirmed neoplasia, which ranged from the fossa hypophysialis of the corpus ossis basisphenoidalis to the ethmoid bone. Histopathologic findings matched a small, round, blue cell tumour.