No abstract

Digital dermatitis is one of the main causes of lameness in dairy cattle, possibly accounting for 25% of the reported cases of lameness (Watson, 1999). With lameness being attributed to reduced milk yields and increased calving intervals there are considerable economic implications and effective treatment and prevention regimes are essential. Topical antibiotic treatment is the most common method of treating digital dermatitis in the UK although there is currently only one product licensed for use (Terramycin spray, Pfizer Animal Health) which contains oxytetracycline. Although effective, there can be various problems (e.g. antibiotic resistance) associated with using antibiotics for the management of digital dermatitis meaning that a suitable prevention regime that uses a non-antibiotic solution instead would be desirable. One possible alternative is sodium chloride solution (salt water) which is hypertonic and would therefore cause the bacterial cells to dehydrate, inhibiting cell growth and multiplication. This trial aimed to investigate the effect of topical application of either oxytetracycline or sodium chloride solution on the pre-washed rear feet of cows for the prevention/treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle.

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) and belongs to a category of incurable diseases that include BSE in cattle. An association exists between the Prion-Protein (PrP) genotype of an animal and the risk of developing disease after exposure (Tongue et al., 2004). This PrP genetic information is the basis of the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) which aims, through genotyping, to eradicate those individuals which have the susceptible alleles. Studies into scrapie risk (Jeffrey et al., 2002) have highlighted several alleles which confer scrapie susceptibility. The NSP have used these alleles to categorise individuals according to risk with group one being most scrapie resistant to group five being least resistant. VRQ alleles are synonymous with infection however the ARQ affords susceptibility but not the disease itself. Genotype may however not be the sole indicator of scrapie risk. There is an inference of a relationship between phenotypic characteristics (hornedness, coat colour) and scrapie risk. These alternative indicators of scrapie risk may affect the final choice of susceptible individuals. Scrapie risk studies carried out on the Shetland Isles (Jeffrey et al., 2002) investigated the alleles concerned with scrapie infection. Results confirmed that VRQ alleles are synonymous with scrapie infection however the ARQ alleles, even though they afford susceptibility, do not necessarily confer disease, the animal still has to be exposed to the scrapie agent. Using survey-type questionnaires, the study investigated any potential relationship between the PrP gene, coat colour and hornedness.

On the afternoon of the 7th of November, 1854, I was called to see Mrs. J. IL, who had been suffering the pangs of maternity about four hours. She had previously borne six children, and in but one or at most two instances had the time of labor exceeded that which had elapsed in the present effort. The pains were markedly inefficient and distressing; both on this account and by reason of her unusually increased size, coupled with the fact that quickening had never been very decided and the foetal movements always very feeble, she was exceedingly anxious. About two hours subsequent to my arrival, and when for a little time the paroxysms of pain had been less marked, I was suddenly startled by a violent scream from the patient, and a great gush of water, which latter an immediate examination proved to be the result of ruptured membranes. The outcry seemed not so much induced by increased pain as from shock consequent upon the sudden and excessively abundant discharge of liquor amiiii.Pushing my investigations with the purpose of determining the position of the child, I found protruding from the os a ragged mass of so little consistency as to lead to the supposition that it was a partially detached placenta, but the absence of haemorrhage soon convinced me that such was not the case. To satisfy myself at this time concerning it was simply impossible, with the light of my reading or experience.Fortunately the pains forthwith became more characteristic of true labor, though still ineffectual in promoting progress, and as nothing but the anomalous mass presenting and the difficulty in defining the position of the child afforded special cause of anxiety or pretext for interference, it was thought best to await natural developments.The patient seemed very feeble, and so excessively nervous that convulsions were at times seriously apprehended. Whisky punch and quinine were freely administered, with the result of allaying nervous symptoms and of inducing labor pains more decided in character. Examinations were still very unsatisfactory, as I could find nothing by which to identify the presentation. Thus obscurely the labor proceeded The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal as published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Downloaded from nejm.org at BOSTON UNIVERSITY on June 25, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. From the NEJM Archive.