Left Rear Leg Research Articles

Daily behavioral measures recorded by precision technology devices may indicate bovine respiratory disease status in preweaned dairy calves

Precision technology devices can measure and detect relative changes in an animal's behavior to possibly create alerts to intervene and to administer treatments. However, the association of relative changes in daily feeding and activity behaviors in calves with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) status is still largely unexplored. The objective of this case-control study was to determine if daily behavioral patterns of preweaning dairy calves (measured by precision technologies) change before BRD diagnosis. This case-control study enrolled 33 pairs of calves (33 BRD calves matched by age, sex, and birthdate to 33 controls) health scored daily for BRD for the preweaning period (until 50 d on the automated feeder). A pedometer (IceQube, Ice Robotics) was attached to the left rear leg to track activity (lying time, lying bouts, total steps, and acceleration activity index). At 3.0 ± 2.0 d of age, calves were trained to use the automated feeder, which recorded milk and calf starter intake, drinking speed, and feeder visits. Calves were allotted a maximum 10 L/d of milk replacer (Cow's Match, Land O'Lakes Animal Milk Products Co.; 140 g/L) and starter (Special Calf Starter and Grower, Baghdad Feeds), ad libitum. Calves were scored daily for signs of BRD using the Wisconsin scoring system, and their lungs were scored with ultrasonography twice weekly. Outward signs of BRD as defined by the Wisconsin scoring system and an area of consolidated lung ≥3.0 cm2 was identified as BRD (d 0). Relative changes in daily behaviors were calculated using d -5 before BRD diagnosis as the baseline for each calf for each behavior. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the association of BRD status with feeding behaviors, activity, and relative changes in calf behavior over a 5-d period before diagnosis, as well as the BRD status × day interaction. Calves with a BRD bout were diagnosed at an average age of 33.0 ± 9.0 d (mean ± standard deviation) and weighed 56.1 ± 9.7 kg. Over the period, BRD calves had reduced milk and starter intake, greater lying times, and fewer lying bouts, step counts, and activity indices when compared with healthy calves. Furthermore, there was a BRD status × day interaction for relative changes in unrewarded visits, and relative changes in calf starter intake. Specifically, BRD calves had a decline in relative changes in their unrewarded visits on d -4, -2, -1, and 0 compared with healthy calves. This study suggests that there is the potential to use feeding and activity behaviors to identify BRD development in preweaning calves. However, utilization of an animals' daily behavioral patterns in real time is fundamental for developing disease detection algorithms, thus we suggest relative changes in unrewarded visits may be useful for algorithm development when d -5 is used as a baseline. Future research should investigate the potential of feeding behavior and activity levels collectively to indicate BRD status in calves using machine learning techniques.

An animal model study on the gene expression profile of meniscal degeneration

Meniscal degeneration is a very common condition in elderly individuals, but the underlying mechanisms of its occurrence are not completely clear. This study examines the molecular mechanisms of meniscal degeneration. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the right rear limbs of seven Wuzhishan mini-pigs were resected (meniscal degeneration group), and the left rear legs were sham-operated (control group). After 6 months, samples were taken for gene chip analysis, including differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, gene ontology (GO) analysis, clustering analysis, and pathway analysis. The selected 12 DEGs were validated by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The two groups showed specific and highly clustered DEGs. A total of 893 DEGs were found, in which 537 are upregulated, and 356 are downregulated. The GO analysis showed that the significantly affected biological processes include nitric oxide metabolic process, male sex differentiation, and mesenchymal morphogenesis, the significantly affected cellular components include the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and the significantly affected molecular functions include transition metal ion binding and iron ion binding. The pathway analysis showed that the significantly affected pathways include type II diabetes mellitus, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, and AMPK signaling pathway. The results of RT-PCR indicate that the microarray data accurately reflects the gene expression patterns. These findings indicate that several molecular mechanisms are involved in the development of meniscal degeneration, thus improving our understanding of meniscal degeneration and provide molecular therapeutic targets in the future.

Use of Infrared Thermography for Identifying Physiological and Hematological Conditions of Young Sapera Dairy Goats

Infrared thermography (IRT) is an alternative solution that can be applied to replace invasive methods currently used in the monitoring of goats' physiological and hematological parameters. This study was done to compare and correlate the physiological and hematological conditions of young Sapera dairy goats and their correlations with results obtained by IRT. Four young Sapera dairy goats (weight of 26-28 kg) were kept in the individual rearing cage. Skin surface temperature (TS), rectal temperature (TR), body temperature (TB), heartbeat (HR), respiration rate (RR), and IRT at eyes, mouth, nose, legs, left body, right body, vagina, and vulva were monitored from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 2 h intervals. Blood samplings were done at the beginning and the end of the obsevation time. Results showed that IRTs at several body parts were positively correlated with physiological parameters, except for heartbeat. Negatively correlation was observed in hematological parameters. The highest correlation (r = +0.85) was observed in the correlation between the results of the left rear leg IRT on TB. It was concluded that IRT can be applied to examine goats’ physiological conditions especially body temperature<span lang="IN">.</span>

Dietary fatty acid content and thickness of plantar pads in gilts

The objective of this study was to test a diet enriched in the most abundant components of foot fat pads (oleic and palmitic acid) to increase its thickness in gilts. We evaluated the effects of two oleic and palmitic acid dietary concentrations (control and test) and three treatment durations (35, 45, and 65 d) on 116 gilts (Landrace × Large White), all 180-d-old and slaughtered at the end of the study. Both test and control diets contained 5.9% total fat. The control diet contained 0.9% oleic acid and 0.6% palmitic acid; the test diet contained 1.9% and 1.2%, respectively. Body weight (BW), backfat (BF), lateral, and medial plantar pad thickness from the left rear leg were measured. No significant differences were detected for BW or BF between the test and control groups. The lateral pad was always thicker than the medial one (P < 0.001). No significant difference for plantar pad thickness was detected for the 35 d treatment. For the other treatments, thickness increased with respect to the control group (P < 0.01); the percentage of increase ranged from 20.8% (lateral side, 45 d treatment) to 37.8% (lateral side, 65 d treatment). Its effects on foot health must still be demonstrated.

PSVII-38 Increased activity in horses following reapplication of shoes

Abstract Despite shoeing being a common practice, the impact of shoeing on horse behavior has not been widely studied. To examine the impact of reapplication of shoes to previously shod horses on horse activity, seven light horse geldings (3 to 21 year old Quarter Horse, Dutch Warmblood, or Thoroughbred) were fitted with three axis accelerometers (IceTag, Ice Robotics, Edinburgh, Scotland) on the left rear leg. Horses were maintained on pasture except for approximately 1 hour morning and evening for feeding. Boots were placed under the accelerometer, and boots and accelerometers were removed once daily for approximately one hour while the horses were stalled for am feeding to examine the horses’ leg and to allow exposure to air to dry. After seven days, horses were treated by either having shoes removed, feet trimmed, and new shoes fitted (reapplication; n = 3) or being handled by the farrier but not trimmed or fitted with new shoes (sham; n = 4). Horse activity was then monitored for 6 d. Steps per hour were tested for effects of treatment, time (before or after treatment), and interaction of treatment by time using procedures for repeated measures with JMP Software (version 7, SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Means separation was performed using Student’s t test if appropriate. There was a treatment by time interaction (P = 0.0109), such that after treatment, reapplication horses took more steps than sham horses (150 ± 20 vs 117 ± 18 steps per hour, respectively). However, both groups took fewer steps after treatment than before (124 ± 13 vs 157 ± 13 steps per hour, respectively; P < 0.0001). These results indicate horses with reapplication of shoes move more than horses which did not experience reapplication of shoes, possibly indicated the horses with reapplication of shoes experienced more comfort in movement.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus): a case report

A 2-year-old female Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus) was presented to the veterinary clinic for swelling, pain and lameness of the left rear leg. Radiologically, an invasive tumour around the distal femur was suspected, and the leg was surgically amputated and submitted for histopathological diagnosis. Microscopically, the mass was densely packed with multinucleated strap cells that had round-to-oval, or elongated nuclei with prominent nucleoli. These neoplastic cells occasionally formed myotubes with cross-striations and were immunohistochemically positive for muscle markers including desmin and myogenin. Consequently, embryonal rhabdomyosaroma myotubular variant of the leg with metastasis to the femur was diagnosed. Spontaneous rhabdomyosaromas are rare tumours in animals and humans, and this is the first report of its occurrence in a Siberian chipmunk.

Galleria mellonella larva model in evaluating the effects of biofilm in Candida albicans

Biofilm-related infections are chronic infections that cause serious increase in morbidity and mortality as well as significant economic loss. Galleria mellonella larva is shown as a reliable animal model for in vivo toxicology and pathogenicity tests due to its large size, ease of practice, ability to survive at 15-37°C and its similarity to mammals' natural immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects biofilm activity of Candida albicans in a G.mellonella larva model. Two C.albicans strains isolated as a disease agent were used for the model, where one was positive (BP), and the other one was negative (BN) for biofilm production. Eighty healthy G.mellonella larvae, all in the last larval stage and 2-2.5 cm long, were divided into 4 groups of equal size. Group 1 was set as the control group. Group 2 was injected with sterile phosphate buffer (PBS) group. Group 3 was injected with BP C.albicans strain and group 4 with BN C.albicans strain. A 5 μL volume of C.albicans prepared at 5 × 105 cfu/ml concentration with PBS was injected into the last left rear-legs of the larvae. The larvae were kept in sterile petri dishes at 37°C. They were observed for a total of 96 hours, for 4 hours in the first 24 hours, then in 12 hours intervals. Melanization, survival, total hemocyte count and fungal burden were evaluated as infection indicators. Melanization and death were not observed throughout the study period in group 1. One larva died in group 2. Small melanization spots (dark spots) and subsequent progressive melanization were observed from 3rd hour in the larvae infected with C.albicans. When compared with the BN C.albicans infected group, survival rate was 20% for BP C.albicans infected larvae at the end of 24 hours. Total hemocyte count was very low in the infected groups compared to groups 1 and 2, also significantly lower in group 3 than in group 4. In quantitative cultures, growth of C.albicans was detected in groups 3 and 4 while not in groups 1 and 2. Fungal load was significantly higher in BP C.albicans infected group than BN C.albicans infected group. In this study, G.mellonella larvae were used as live hosts to demonstrate the effects of biofilm activity of C.albicans. Our results suggest that larval models can be used to investigate the effects of fungal infections and biofilm like virulence factors on host cells, and invertebrate animal models can be widely used and can bridge between in vitro studies and mammalian models.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Sertraline in a Rat Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: Previous studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) modulate immune system functionality. SSRIs are the preferred treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). A high rate of MDD is observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunological effects of SSRIs in a rat model of RA. Methods: Adjuvant arthritis was induced in 8-week-old Lewis rats; in the first set of experiments following the induction, 15.3 or 30.6 mg/kg of sertraline was daily injected into the ankle joint of the left rear leg. Clinical disease activity was evaluated and the findings compared with the 3 untreated legs and with control groups given methotrexate (MTX) or vehicle only at the same site. In a second set of experiments, the effect of 5, 25 and 50 mg/kg daily oral sertraline was evaluated in the same rat model. Splenocyte viability and inflammatory mediators were evaluated. Results: The sertraline-treated rats showed a significant reduction in clinical arthritis compared to controls, at all doses given, accompanied by a significant increase in interleukin 10 and a decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α levels and cycloxygenase-2 production, without lymphotoxicity. There was no significant difference from MTX, the first-line treatment for RA patients. Oral sertraline had a significant anti-inflammatory effect at all doses. There was no treatment × time effect. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of sertraline in this rat model of arthritis have clinical implications for its use in humans. Large-scale clinical efficacy trials are needed.

Detection of Salmonellae in Captive and Free-Ranging Turtles Using Enrichment Culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction

Information on the importance of captive turtles as sources of human Salmonella infections is well established; however, data on the potential of free-ranging turtles as carriers of salmonellae are scarce and contradictory. We combined traditional culture techniques and molecular tools to analyze swabs obtained from the cloacae and from different body parts of captive and free-ranging turtles for salmonellae. Salmonellae were detected in 50% of captive turtles (N = 10). A similar percentage of detection (51%) was obtained for salmonellae in free-ranging turtles from the Rio Grande (N = 80) with six sites at Big Bend National Park, Texas, and one site at Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico, analyzed. Here, 46% of Trachemys gaigeae (N = 36), 56% of Apalone spinifera (N = 43), and the only individual of Chrysemys picta were positive for salmonellae. These percentages of detection of salmonellae in turtles were independent of the location of the sampling in the Rio Grande, the species and the gender of the turtles. Although individuals of captive turtles testing positive for salmonellae were generally positive for all body parts tested (i.e., the cloacae, the carapace, the ventral base of the left rear leg, underneath one or more of the claws on the front feet, and the ventral base of the tail), individuals of free-ranging turtles testing positive for salmonellae were often positive for only one or two body parts. Our results demonstrate that salmonellae are prevalent in high rates in both captive and free-ranging turtles.

“Lions and Elephants in Tibet, Eighth to Ninth Centuries”

Neither lions nor elephants are native to Tibet, yet these animals are represented in Tibetan art during the eighth to ninth centuries as a consequence of flourishing cultural and economic exchanges between Tibet and her neighbours during this period. In their natural habitat in India, the lion traditionally symbolizes royalty, power and strength and the mighty elephant is the regal vehicle par excellence. In Buddhism, the lion became the symbol of Shakyamuni’s royal birth as well as his valour; one speaks of the “lion’s roar” of the Buddha’s teachings, and the taming of the wild elephant is an analogy to the taming of the undisciplined mind. Thus certain aspects of Buddha may be seated on thrones supported by pairs of lions, while statues of elephants and lions served as guardians at the entrance to monasteries. The representations in India closely copied the physical reality of the lion yet sometimes there is a touch of fantasy, such as the addition of wings on lions.1 As Buddhism spread beyond the Indian subcontinent, so did the mythology of lions and elephants. These foreign representations may be anatomically inaccurate yet they convey the salient features of both creatures. In this article, my primary focus will be the physical description of these animals in the art of the sPu rgyal dynasty (mid-seventh to mid-ninth centuries), where to date, in addition to a stone stele with a lion carved on its top and an elephant at its base, archaeological investigations of Tibetan tombs have revealed three pairs of lion statues: at the royal necropolis in ’Phyong rgyas, central Tibet, at Dulan, in northeast Tibet near Kokonor, and at Khrom chen, near Lhatse in southwest Tibet.2 First, to attempt to understand the raison d’etre of the Tibetan tomb lion statues, it will be helpful to situate them within the context of Tibetan burial systems during the imperial period. We will return to the lion-elephant stele below. Comparison of the tombs situated in the vast territory of the sPu rgyal Empire reveals the following factors to be consistent in all regions investigated: 1) Spatial organization of a principal tomb surrounded by ancillary tombs and trenches for animal sacrifice; in Dulan and Khrom chen, there were trenches for animal sacrifice in front of the principal tomb as well as smaller satellite tombs.3 2) Construction materials of rammed earth alternating in layers with cut stone, as well as unbaked bricks alternating in layers with cut stone, in both cases reinforced with wooden beams at roof or ceiling juncture. 3) Construction techniques of underground tomb-chambers within the mound, as well as upper chambers. The mound is most often trapezoid in shape, occasionally spherical. Significantly, other than these tombs, underground chambers are absent in ancient Tibetan architecture.4 4) The combination of a stone stele rdo ring (T. “long stone”) and two statues of stone lions appear near the most important tombs in those necropoli which appear to be linked to political authority.5 In addition to the placement of rdo ring at such tomb sites during the dynastic period, Tibetans carved inscriptions on rdo ring to stipulate the conditions of treaties or to celebrate the foundation of temples and monasteries. I am grateful to Professor Pa Tshab Pasang Wangdu, a Tibetan colleague at the Tibetan Academy for Social Sciences, Lhasa, who has brought to my attention the rdo ring stele with its lion and elephant carvings, which I also present here. While the majestic, monolithic lion of the Tibetan royal necropolis at ’Phyong rgyas (Fig. 1a and b) has considerable renown, this is not the case for the lion sculptures of Dulan and Khrom chen (Figs. 2-5). The lion’s seated posture and the curve of its tail between its left rear leg and flank are stylistic conventions common to all of the tomb lions, also to be found on a pair of lions represented on a textile bearing an inscription in Tibetan language related to sPu rgyal dynasty burial customs.6 However the facial features and especially the manes of the Dulan and Khrom chen lions are very different from the bulging eyes and the mane of stylized rows of incised modelled curls of the ’Phyong rgyas lion.7 I will therefore summarize these two grave sites and their stone lions, and conclude with discussion of the stone stele and its sculpted animals.

Local immunomodulation with CD4 and CD8 antibodies, but not cyclosporine A, improves osteogenesis induced by ADhBMP9 gene therapy

This study was designed to see if immunosuppression achieved using local application of cyclosporine A (Cs. A) or CD4 and CD8 antibodies would improve bone formation following intramuscular injections of human BMP-4 and BMP-9 adenoviral vectors (ADhBMP4 and ADhBMP9) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cs. A was injected into the thigh muscle. After 2 days, ADhBMP4, ADhBMP9, and the antibodies were separately injected into the left and right rear legs. At this time, the number of CD4+/CD3+ cells was significantly lower and the number of CD8+/CD3+ cells higher in the Cs. A group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The total number of white blood cells 3 days following injection of CD4 and CD8 antibodies was significantly lower than that before the injection (P < 0.01). At 4 weeks after the viral and antibody injections, mean bone volumes at the ADhBMP9 treatment sites were 0.29 +/- 0.01 cm3 in the viral control group, 0.17 +/- 0.03 cm3 in the Cs. A-ADhBMPs group, and 0.59 +/- 0.07 cm3 in the antibodies-ADhBMPs group. ADhBMP4 did not induce new bone formation in any group. This study demonstrates that local immunomodulation may improve the osteogenic potential of bone morphogenetic protein gene therapy in the clinical setting.

Rear Leg Amputation and Subsequent Adaptive Behavior During Reintroduction of A Green Tree Frog, Hyla cinerea

The left rear leg of a green tree frog, Hyla cinerea was amputated following a severe femoral fracture. After convalescence, the frog was reintroduced into the display area where volunteers monitored its locomotive abilities, successful capture of prey, and interaction with other frogs for one week. The frog adapted well and continues to be a popular and valuable feature of the exhibit.

Osteogenic sarcoma of the femur in a mare

A seven-year-old mare Was presented for evaluation of a left rear leg lameness and weight loss of five months duration. Physical exam revealed a non-weight bearing lameness of the affected leg with marked swelling of the stifle. Hematology and clinical chemistr ies were unremarkable. Radiographs revealed an invasive mass on the distal femfir. A bone biopsy was performed standing under local anesthesia and sedation. Osteosarcoma was diagnosed histologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Thoracic radiographs and nuclear scintigraphy were performed to access for metastatic disease. Radiographs were within normal limits. The scintigraphy showed several undef ined areas of increased uptake of the radionucleotide. A postmortem examination was performed. Osteosarcoma was confined to the distal femur evolving both condyles. Osteogenic sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor with proliferating spindle cell stroma producing osteoid or immature bone. ~ The incidence of osteosarcom a is relatively high in dogs, cats, and humans.l3 In man, osteosarcoma is one of the most commonly seen primary sarcomas of bony tissue. ~'4's Osteosarcoma occurs more frequently in dogs than cats, with the incidence of osteosarcoma about twice

Severity of osteochondrosis in three genetic lines of Duroc swine divergently selected for front-leg weakness

The relationship of osteochondrosis to genetic differences in front-leg structure in Duroc swine was investigated by using offspring from low (poor front-leg structure), control (intermediate front-leg structure) and high (superior front-leg structure) lines from a 5-generation divergent selection experiment for front-leg structure. Ten pigs of each sex and line were chosen at random and visually scored for front- and rear-leg structure. After slaughter, synovial fluid was collected and cultured from 3 major joints of each front leg, and macroscopic, microradiographic and histologic osteochondral lesion scores were obtained for the articular cartilage and growth plates of several areas of both front legs and of the left rear leg. Lesion scores ranged from 0 to 3 or 0 to 5 with 0 being best. Osteochondrosis data were analyzed by using a mixed threshold model, which included the effects of line, sire/line, sex and side of the pig and a covariate for slaughter weight or age of slaughter. Means of front-leg structure scores on a scale of 1 (worst) to 9 (best) were 3.02 ± 0.17 (low line), 5.67 ± 0.21 (control line) and 7.91 ± 0.21 (high line) ( P < 0.05). The high line had lower osteochondral lesion scores ( P < 0.05) for the proximal radius/ulna than did the control or low lines, but severity of osteochondrosis at the other joints and growth plates was not different between lines. Boars had greater severity of lesions than did gilts ( P < 0.01) for the growth plate of the distal ulna and articular cartilage of the distal femur. Mycoplasma hyosynoviae was isolated from joints of a few pigs, however, no relationship between isolation of the organisms and line was observed. These results suggest that, although osteochondrosis may play a role, it is not the primary cause of front-leg weakness in Duroc swine.

An experimental study on differential diagnosis of tumor from inflammation by using 125I labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin.

We have reported that Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA), a plant lectin which recognizes mannosyl residues, accumulates markedly in Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) and suggested the possibility of applying PSA to tumor imaging radiopharmaceuticals. In the present work, an inflammation was induced by implantation of cotton thread in the left rear leg skeletal muscle of ddY mice and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were inoculated into the right rear leg. 67Ga-citrate accumulated in the tumor tissue and the inflammatory lesion to almost equal extents. On the other hand, 125I-PSA preferentially accumulated in tumor tissues in mice bearing both tumor and inflammation. The results suggest that differential diagnosis of tumor from inflammation using radiolabeled PSA may be possible.

Effects on Swine of Unilateral Neutron Irradiation, Calcium, and Zinc

Twenty-four weanling barrows were selected according to body weight and assigned to three dietary treatments: basal (0.6% Ca and 29 ppm Zn); basal + 0.6% Ca; and basal + 0.6% Ca + 71 ppm Zn. Unilateral neutron irradiation (268 rads) was administered to half of each treatment group. Twenty-four hours postirradiation, all swine were orally dosed with 0.5 mCi of65 Zn. Whole-blood and plasma levels of65 Zn were significantly lower in the irradiated animals for several days. In vitro uptake of65 Zn by erythrocytes from the swine fed supplemental zinc was lower, but no differences were found in stable zinc in erythrocytes. Ad libitum feed intake was the same for all treatments, but average daily gain was lower in the irradiated swine. Radiation significantly decreased left kidney, liver, and spleen weights, heart weight, and hair growth. An absence of pigment was observed in the hair cortex on the side of the animal exposed to the reactor. Claudication of the left rear leg, facing the reactor, was observed in a...

Afferent initiation of shivering

The activation of shivering was investigated in 30 lightly Nembutalized dogs by surface cooling of the left rear leg amputated at the hip, excepting the bone, the femoral and sciatic-peroneal nerves and the femoral artery and vein. The onset of shivering, although variable, was evidently not dependent on afferent impulses returning from the cooled leg because nerve section before or during cooling did not affect its occurrence; whereas it appeared to be dependent on an effect of the cooled blood entering the truncal circulation because occluding the femoral vessels abolished shivering. There was not any apparent relation of the onset of shivering to deep body, mean skin and/or brain temperatures. The locus of action of the cooled blood in initiating shivering remained undetermined.