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The objective of this observational cohort study was to identify management factors associated with lamb mortality risk for sheep flocks in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Data were collected from 50 lambing groups from 36 sheep flocks during 3 farm visits before, during and after the lambing seasons in 2014-15. Variables of interest included flock management practices, ewe health indicators, ewe nutrition, litter size and lamb birth weight. Principal component analysis was performed and resulting component scores were used for further analysis using a mixed Poisson regression model with lamb mortality risk as the outcome. The median group-level lamb mortality in the first 8 weeks of life was 10.0 % (0 %-30.3 %), with 25 groups having lamb mortality greater than 10 %, which is considered higher than the standard productivity goal. Four principal component scores were retained in the final model identifying generalized factors associated with lamb mortality: 1) flock factors, 2) forage factors, 3) lamb health factors, and 4) general health factors. Specifically, the following management factors were indirectly through the 4 principal components associated with lower lamb mortality: using goal setting; having a strong working relationship with a veterinarian; seeking veterinary advice for animal treatment; using benzimidazole-class anthelmintics; feeding forage with high crude protein, digestible energy, and net energy for maintenance and low acid detergent fiber to late-gestation ewes; applying visual lamb identification methods; using anti-coccidial prophylactic medication to lambs; administering clostridial vaccines to lambs; avoiding separation of hypothermic lambs from their dams; and treatment/prevention of neurological and/or wasting disease. Although this study is exploratory, and confirmation is required, the results should help sheep farmers and researchers direct attention to management variables that could reduce lamb mortality in sheep flocks.

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Blood samples were collected from late-gestation ewes to determine the agreement of a point-of-care (POC) Precision Xtra meter and a standard laboratory test for ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Fresh whole blood samples were immediately tested with the POC instrument, and serum samples were analyzed with a standard commercial biochemical analyzer. Ewes were classified as having ketonemia if their BHBA concentrations were ≥800 µmol/L. Scatter plots, paired t-tests, Bland-Altman limits of agreement, and Gwet AC1 tests were used to compare results. The 2 tests had very good agreement. The values between instruments were not statistically different based on paired t-tests ( p = 0.312). The intercept and slope of a linear mixed model, containing the standard test results as an outcome and the POC meter results as a predictor, were 0.02 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.04) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.01), respectively. When the samples were classified into ketonemic classes (non-ketonemic and ketonemic) based on BHBA concentrations obtained from each test, the Gwet AC1 statistic was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97; p < 0.001). The ketosis classification agreed in 95% of samples. Based on the Bland-Altman plot and limits of agreement, the optimal cutoff to diagnose ketonemia with the POC meter was 1,000 µmol/L, which is 200 µmol/L higher than the laboratory BHBA medical decision limit. The Precision Xtra meter provided excellent correlation and substantial agreement with the standard laboratory technique for measuring blood BHBA in late-gestation ewes.

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Late-gestation ewes are susceptible to ketonemia resulting from high energy requirement for fetal growth during the last few weeks of pregnancy. High lamb mortality is a possible consequence of effects of ketonemia on both ewes and lambs. Determining risk factors to ketonemia is a fundamental step to identify ewes at risk, in order to avoid losses caused by ketonemia. Serum ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations of 384 late-gestation ewe samples were determined. Physical examinations, including body condition, FAMACHA© and hygiene scoring, were performed. Udders and teeth were also examined. Fecal floatation was performed to detect gastrointestinal helminth eggs of the ewe fecal samples. General feeding management practices and season at sampling were recorded. Litter sizes were retrieved from lambing records. Factors associated with log serum BHBA concentration were determined using a linear mixed model, with flock and lambing groups as random effects. The mean serum BHBA concentration was 545.8 (±453.3) µmol/l. Ewes with a body condition score (BCS) of 2.5-3.5 had significantly lower log BHBA concentrations than ewes with a BCS of ≤2.0, by 19.7% (p = 0.035). Ewes with a BCS of >3.5 had a trend toward higher log BHBA concentrations compared to ewes with a BCS of 2.5-3.5. Ewes with a FAMACHA© score of 3 had significantly higher log BHBA concentrations than ewes with a FAMACHA© score of 1 or 2, by 12.1% (p = 0.049). Ewes in which gastrointestinal helminth eggs were detected had significantly higher log BHBA concentrations than ewes in which helminth eggs were not detected, by 12.3% (p = 0.040). An increased litter size was associated with higher log BHBA concentration (p ≤ 0.003), with the log BHBA concentrations of ewes having twins, triplets, and quadruplets or quintuplets were higher than those of ewes having singleton by 19.2%, 30.4%, and 85.2%, respectively. Season at sampling confounded the association between log BHBA concentration and FAMACHA© score, and therefore was retained in the final model even though it was not statistically significant. Intra-class correlation coefficients at the flock and lambing group levels were 0.14 and 0.32, respectively.

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Increased systemic concentrations of L-lactate and unmeasured strong ions (USI) are associated with an increased risk of mortality in human neonates and adults suffering from various diseases. This exploratory study aimed to investigate if values of certain acid-base parameters, especially L-lactate and USI, on admission to hospital are associated with mortality in diarrheic calves. Fifty-five calves < 28 days old admitted to 2 teaching hospitals for diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea were included. Admission demographic, physical examination, blood gas and biochemistry analysis, and outcome data were recorded. Admission acid-base values associated with outcome were assessed using multivariable regression modeling. Calves with elevated plasma L-lactate (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.55; P = 0.005) and USI (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.74; P = 0.003) at admission were more likely to die or to be euthanized. This study revealed that elevated concentrations of L-lactate and USI at admission were positively associated with mortality.

Association des ions forts non mesurés avec les résultats des veaux de boucherie et laitiers diarrhéiques hospitalisés. Des concentrations systémiques accrues de L-lactate et des ions forts non mesurés (IFN) sont associées à un risque accru de mortalité chez les nouveau-nés humains et les adultes souffrant de diverses affections. Cette étude exploratoire visait à vérifier si les valeurs de certains paramètres acides, particulièrement L-lactate et IFN, à l'admission à l'hôpital sont associées à la mortalité chez les veaux diarrhéiques. Cinquante-cinq veaux âgés de < 28 jours admis à deux hôpitaux d'enseignement pour le diagnostic et le traitement ont été inclus. Les données démographiques, l'examen physique, les valeurs des gaz sanguins et de l'analyse biochimique du sang ainsi que l'issu des animaux ont été consignés. Les valeurs de l'équilibre acide-base à l'admission associées à l'issu des animaux ont été évaluées en utilisant une modélisation de régression multi-variable. Il était plus probable que les veaux avec du L-lactate plasmatique élevé (RC : 1,30, IC 95 %, 1,08 à 1,55; P = 0,005) et IFN (RC : 1,40, IC de 95 %, 1,12 à 1,74; P = 0,003), à l'admission meurent ou soient euthanasiés. Cette étude a révélé que des concentrations élevées de L-lactate et d'IFN à l'admission étaient positivement associées à la mortalité.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

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Acute pancreatitis is a rare disease in horses and is often associated with gastrointestinal disorders. Accurate diagnosis is challenging due to the presence of nonspecific clinical signs. This case represents the first documentation of acute pancreatitis in a horse following surgery of the reproductive tract.

Pancréatite aiguë consécutive à l'enlèvement d'une tumeur de la granulosa chez une jument. La pancréatite aiguë est une maladie rare chez les chevaux et est souvent associée aux troubles gastro-intestinaux. Un diagnostic exact est difficile en raison de la présence de signes cliniques non spécifiques. Ce cas représente la première fois qu'une pancréatite aiguë est documentée chez un cheval après la chirurgie de l'appareil reproducteur.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

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The effects of selenium (Se) supplementation and source on equine immune function have not been extensively studied. This study examined the effects of oral Se supplementation and Se source on aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in horses. Fifteen horses were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (5 horses/group): control, inorganic Se (sodium selenite), organic Se (Se yeast). Immune function tests performed included: lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogen concanavalin A, neutrophil phagocytosis, antibody production after rabies vaccination, relative cytokine gene expression in stimulated lymphocytes [interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-5, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)], and neutrophils (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNFα). Plasma, red blood cell Se, and blood glutathione peroxidase activity were measured. Plasma and red blood cell Se were highest in horses in the organic Se group, compared with that of inorganic Se or control groups. Organic Se supplementation increased the relative lymphocyte expression of IL-5, compared with inorganic Se or no Se. Selenium supplementation increased relative neutrophil expression of IL-1 and IL-8. Other measures of immune function were unaffected. Dietary Se content and source appear to influence immune function in horses, including alterations in lymphocyte expression of IL-5, and neutrophil expression of IL-1 and IL-8.

Les effets d'un supplément de sélénium (Se) ainsi que sa source sur la fonction immunitaire équine n'ont pas été étudiés à fond. On examina dans la présente étude les effets d'un supplément oral en Se et les sources de Se sur des éléments de l'immunité innée et adaptative de chevaux. Quinze chevaux ont été assignés à un de trois groupes (5 chevaux/groupe); témoin, Se inorganique (sélénite de sodium), et Se organique (Se provenant de levures). Les tests de fonctions immunitaires effectués étaient : prolifération lymphocytaire en réponse au mitogène concanaviline A, phagocytose par les neutrophiles, production d'anticorps après vaccination anti-rabique, expression relative des gènes des cytokines de lymphocytes stimulés [interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukine (IL)-2, IL-5, IL-10, facteur de nécrose tumorale alpha (TNFα)], et de neutrophiles (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNFα). Le Se plasmatique et des globules rouges, ainsi que l'activité de la glutathion peroxydase ont été mesurés. Le Se plasmatique et des globules rouges étaient plus élevés chez les chevaux dans le groupe de Se organique, comparativement au groupe recevant le Se inorganique ou le groupe témoin. Un supplément de Se organique entraîna une augmentation d'expression relative d'IL-5 par les lymphocytes, comparativement au Se inorganique ou aucun Se. Un supplément de Se augmenta l'expression relative d'IL-1 et IL-8 par les neutrophiles. Les autres mesures des fonctions immunitaires n'étaient pas affectées. Le contenu et les sources de Se alimentaire semblent influencer les fonctions immunitaires des chevaux, incluant des altérations dans l'expression d'IL-5 par les lymphocytes, et l'expression d'IL-1 et IL-8 par les neutrophiles.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

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