No abstract

Summary Historical, clinical and experimental data were collected from 9 horses homozygous for HYPP (H/H). All showed episodes of respiratory stertor, described as a rattling or honking sound, usually within the first week post partum. Five horses had one or more episodes of dysphagia, in 3 horses this was accompanied by drooling and in 3 by weight loss. In comparison, only one of 35 contemporaneous half siblings (of which approximately half would be expected to be of the H/N genotype and half N/N) was observed to have respiratory stertor prior to weaning and none had problems with dysphagia. One mature homozygous stallion was infertile secondary to urospermia. Six homozygous horses died or were subjected to euthanasia; 4 age less than a year, one age 20 months and one age 5 years. The remaining 3 cases were still alive at the end of the study. A comparison of homozygous and heterozygous horses using standardised potassium chloride challenge testing indicated that during attacks homozygotes showed significantly more frequent signs of drooling, prolapse of the third eyelid, respiratory stridor and weakness than heterozygous horses. Homozygotes also had significantly more total abnormalities (including myotonic discharges, high frequency repetitive discharges, and spontaneous activity) on electromyographic examination than heterozygotes. These data imply that HYPP is inherited as a co‐dominant genetic defect, because the homozygotes showed more severe clinical signs of disease than heterozygotes. Homozygous foals would be expected to be produced in 25% of matings in which both parents are heterozygous. Owners and veterinarians should be aware of the risks of this mating.

No abstract

The objective was to investigate the use of Cue-Mate and porcine LH (pLH) or GnRH with or without presynchronization on pregnancy rate following timed AI (TAI) in Angus heifers (n = 462). Approximately half of the heifers (Control; n = 236) were treated at random stages of the estrous cycle, and the other half (Presynch; n = 226) received two injections of 500 �g cloprostenol (PGF: Estrumate�; Schering Plough Animal Health, Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada) 14 days apart; synchronization treatments were initiated 11 days after the second injection of PGF. On Day 0, heifers received an intravaginal progesterone device (Cue-Mate; Bioniche Animal Health, A/Asia Pty, Armidale, Australia) and were treated with 100 �g GnRH IM (Cystorelin�; Merial Canada Inc., Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada; n = 233) or 12.5 mg pLH (Lutropin-V�; Bioniche; n = 229). On Day 7, Cue-Mates were removed and heifers were given PGF IM. GnRH or pLH (same as the first treatment) was given concurrently with TAI on Day 9 (54–56 h after PGF) with frozen–thawed semen of one of 3 sires. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed in a subset of 182 heifers on Days 0 and 7 for CL and follicle development, and in all heifers on Days 41 to 49 for confirmation of pregnancy. Data were compared using CATMOD procedures in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The proportion of cycling heifers on Day 0 was 90.7% (165/182). Pregnancy rate tended to differ among bulls (46.7, 56.9, and 61.4% for Bulls A, B, and C, respectively; P≤ 0.1). Heifers that ovulated in response to the first GnRH or pLH injection had a higher pregnancy rate than those that did not ovulate (66.3 vs. 51.9%; P ≤ 0.03). In addition, heifers treated with GnRH tended to have a higher ovulatory response to the first treatment and a higher pregnancy rate to TAI than those treated with pLH (60.9 and 60.5% vs. 50.0 and 52.4%, respectively; P ≤ 0.09). Although ovulatory response to the first GnRH or pLH treatment was 46.5 and 63.5% for Control and Presynch groups, respectively (P ≤ 0.02), pregnancy rates did not differ (59.8 vs. 53.1%; P ≥ 0.2). However, there was an interaction between presynchronization treatment and ovulatory response to the first injection of GnRH or pLH on pregnancy rates (P ≤ 0.02). The pregnancy rate was higher in Control heifers that ovulated (77.5%) to the first injection of GnRH or pLH than in Control heifers that did not ovulate (52.2%) or Presynch heifers that did (59.0%) or did not (51.4%) ovulate. In summary, Cue-Mate-treated heifers that ovulated in response to the first GnRH or pLH treatment had higher pregnancy rates to TAI. Although presynchronization with PGF increased the ovulation rate, it did not significantly affect the pregnancy rate.

Medical ketogenic diets (KDs) are effective yet resource-intensive treatment options for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). We investigated dietetic care contact time, as no recent data exist. An online survey was circulated to ketogenic dietitians in the UK and Ireland. Data were collected considering feeding route, KD variant and type of ketogenic enteral feed (KEF), and the estimated number of hours spent on patient-related activities during the patient journey. Fifteen dietitians representing nine KD centres responded. Of 335 patients, 267 (80%) were 18 years old or under. Dietitians spent a median of 162 h (IQR 54) of care contact time per patient of which a median of 48% (IQR 6) was direct contact. Most time was required for the classical KD taken orally (median 193 h; IQR 213) as a combined tube and oral intake (median 211 h; IQR 172) or a blended food KEF (median 189 h; IQR 148). Care contact time per month was higher for all KDs during the three-month initial trial compared to the two-year follow-up stage. Patients and caregivers with characteristics such as learning or language difficulties were identified as taking longer. Twelve out of fifteen (80%) respondents managed patients following the KD for more than two years, requiring an estimated median contact care time of 2 h (IQR 2) per patient per month. Ten out of fifteen (67%) reported insufficient official hours for dietetic activities. Our small survey gives insight into estimated dietetic care contact time, with potential application for KD provision and service delivery