SummaryAn investigation was made as to whether the sexual cycle and pregnancy can be determined by means of vaginal smear in chinchillas. T his study represents the ®rst attem pt to record changes which occur in the pattern of exfoliated cells in chinchilla's vaginal smear during anoestrus, proestrus, oestrus, metoestrus and pregnancy. Fifteen female chinchillas aged from 8 months to 3 years and bred through harem breeding method were used. T he major change during proestrus was an increase in the proportion of super®cial cells, with a corresponding decrease in other cells. Goblet cells were observed in the smears prepared by strong aspiration during this cycle. Neutrophils, small and large intermediates and parabasal cells were not found in the smear during oestrus and the smear consisted of super®cial cells only. In the proportion of neutrophils, small and large intermediates and parabasal cells increased during metoestrus. In addition, metoestrum and foam cells were found in this cycle. In anoestrus; super®cial and parabasal cells were present in small numbers. Also small and large intermediate cells as well as neutrophils were present. Traces of foam and metoestrum cells were found. During pregnancy, neutrophils generally of medium density were present, parabasal; small and large intermediate cells were present at low or medium density, and super®cial cells were only present in trace amounts.

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Effect of carprofen and/or CIDR on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) 14 days after artificial insemination (AI) in lactating cows were investigated. Following detection of corpus luteum (CL) by ultrasonography (USG) 14 days after AI, cows (n=853) were randomly allocated to CARP (carprofen, 1.4 mg/kg; Rimadyl®XL), CIDR (progesterone, 1.38g, for seven days), CARP+CIDR and CONT (control) groups. CL was re-determined with USG 21 days after AI to monitored the maintenance of CL. Rates of maintenance of CL did not differed among CARP (79.6% [168/211]), CIDR (86.0% [196/228]), CARP+CIDR (80.0% [172/215]) and CONT (74.9% [149/199]) groups; however, the interaction effect of treatment by body condition score (BCS) at AI (P<0.05) were existed. In this matter, among cows with BCS≤2.5, chances of maintenance of CL was lower in CONT (70.7%, [111/157]) group compared to those in CARP (81.7%, [125/153]), CIDR (83.6%, [153/183]) and CARP+CIDR (80.1%, [129/161]) groups. Whereas, among cows with BCS>2.5, chances of maintenance of CL were lower in CARP (74.1%, [43/58]) and CARP+CIDR (79.6%, [43/54]) groups compared to those in CONT (90.5%, [38/42]) and CIDR (95.6%, [43/45]) groups. For the P/AI at 28-32 days after AI, there was no difference among CARP (48.8% [103/211]), CIDR (50.9 [116/228]), CARP+CIDR (47.4% [102/215]) and CONT (44.7% [89/199]) groups. Pregnancy losses between 28-32 and 55-60 days did not differ among CARP (3.9%, [4/103]), CIDR (4.3%, [5/116]), CARP+CIDR (5.9%, [6/102]) and CONT (6.7%, [6/89]) groups. However, there was a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect of treatment by the number of services on pregnancy losses. In this regard, pregnancy losses were higher in cows inseminated thrice and four or more times in CONT (11.8% and 16.7%) group compared to those in CARP (0% and 4.8%), CIDR (0% and 6.9%), CARP+CIDR (0% and 11.1%); respectively. Consequently, no effects of carprofen or CIDR around pregnancy recognition on P/AI were observed despite a higher maintenance rate of CL in lactating cattle. Furthermore, fewer pregnancy losses in cows following three or more services could indicate the beneficial carry-over effects of carprofen and/or CIDR administration around maternal recognition of pregnancy.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and other cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine derivative, was found to inhibit TNF-alpha synthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of pentoxifylline would prevent the occurrence of OHSS in a rabbit model. Thirteen rabbits were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 6) were given pentoxifylline 15 mg/kg intravenously and the second group (n = 7) were given physiological serum 15 mg/kg before ovulation induction. Ovarian hyperstimulation was induced in rabbits by 200 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin on day 1 and 100 IU human chorionic gonadotropin on day 3. Blood samples were analyzed for TNF-alpha on days 1, 3 and 5. All animals were autopsied on day 6 to evaluate the ovarian weight, ascites formation and histopathological changes. There was no difference between groups regarding weight gain, ascites formation and plasma TNF-alpha levels (p < 0.05). Ovarian weight and number of ovulations were significantly lower in the pentoxifylline group than the control group (p < 0.05). Pentoxifylline did not prevent ascites formation despite the observed decrease in ovarian weight and number of ovulations in OHSS in a rabbit model.

IntroductionDefined as inflammation of the mammary gland, mastitis is the most common disease of dairy cattle, and it causes major economic losses (1). The disease reduces milk yield, alters milk composition, and shortens the productive life of affected dairy cattle. Seventy to eighty percent of milk losses caused by mastitis arise from subclinical cases (2). The changes observed in the composition of milk in subclinical mastitis include the presence of plasma proteins, alterations in ion concentrations, the breakdown of local cells, a reduction in the synthetic capacity of the mammary epithelium, and, most importantly, an increase in shedding of somatic cells (3). Although the tests used to determine the number of somatic cells in milk enable diagnosis of mastitis, they do not provide information on its causative agents. Despite the lengthy time they require, the isolation and identification of microorganisms by the culturing of milk samples and the application of antibiograms contribute greatly to the diagnosis and treatment of mastitis as well as to prophylaxis (4).Nevertheless, mastitis control programs highlight the need for the rapid and timely treatment of cases on the basis of the somatic cell count (SCC) values determined by use of easily applied rapid techniques, irrespective of whether they are caused by environmental or contagious pathogens (5).Although mastitis develops as a result of polymicrobiological infection, the most frequently isolated agents are Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and of gram-negative bacteria, E. coli (6,7). Other microorganisms involved in the development of mastitis are Actinomyces pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Mycoplasma spp., and Pasteurella multocida (8).Depending on the type and virulence of the microorganisms involved, the clinical course of mastitis in dairy cattle varies from mild to fatal. The treatment protocol applied also varies with the severity of mastitis. Generally, therapeutic agents are administered by the intramammary route. When compared to systemic