Journal of the South African Veterinary Association最新文献

{"title":"Technical aspects of improved semen collection procedures in African rhinoceroses <i>(Ceratotherium simum; Diceros bicornis)</i> under field conditions.","authors":"J Meuffels-Barkas, I Luther-Binoir, H Bertschinger, I Callealta, B Tindall, I Lueders","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.694","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.694","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wild rhinoceros populations are threatened by ongoing poaching pressure and habitat loss. Establishing reservoirs of gametes of as many individuals as possible may assist to preserve genetic diversity and could be applied in assisted reproductive techniques in the future. However, for routine implementation of semen collection during any male rhinoceros immobilisation event, current methods and protocols need simplification and improvement. This study aimed to establish field-friendly methods of semen collection in white (<i>Ceratotherium simum</i>; WR) and black rhinoceroses (<i>Diceros bicornis</i>; BR) that can be performed opportunistically given the usual time constraints. Sixty-two game-farmed WR and seven wild BR were immobilised for planned management interventions. Semen collection was performed using electro-stimulation with a battery powered electro-ejaculator and specifically designed rectal probe. Furthermore, in ten WR and two BR, urethral catheterisation was performed with a 10FG nasogastric tube passed retrograde up the urethra as a method of semen collection. Semen-rich fractions were collected from 47/62 WR and 6/7 BR following electro-stimulation. Of these, 10 WR and two BR samples were obtained by urethral catheterisation. The duration of semen collection was 16.4 ± 7.3 (3-30) and 25.8 ± 6.0 (19-33) min requiring 5.2 ± 2.3 and 6.0 ± 0.7 stimulation sets for WR and BR, respectively. Semen volumes, sperm concentrations, motile and viable sperm were 1-64 and 9-18 ml, 68.4 ± 54.2 and 23.7 ± 26.7x106/ml, 51.0 ± 14.2 and 55.0 ± 17.3, and 79.9 ± 15.0 and 88.3 ± 8.4% for WR and BR, respectively. Urethral catheterisation, when implemented, reduced the time required for semen collection. Operator experience influenced sampling efficacy. Equipment and methods described in this study improved semen collection in free-ranging rhinoceroses and can be combined with routine immobilisations, despite time constraints.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"40-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Left-lateral laparotomy using a dorsoventral incision for unilateral ovariohysterectomy in free-ranging African lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>).","authors":"R J Harvey, D A Bantlin","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.658","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.658","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Population management of the African lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>) is often necessary in smaller non-contiguous systems. Ovariohysterectomies are commonly performed as a means of surgical birth control in many species by ventral-midline celiotomy, although a lateral laparotomy is used routinely in certain species and clinical settings. Ovariohysterectomies have been carried out in both captive and free-ranging African lion populations for birth control. This paper presents a left-lateral laparotomy (left-flank approach) for ovariohysterectomy in the free-ranging African lion, using the greater trochanter of the femur and the iliac crest as anatomical landmarks in order to determine the correct location for the abdominal incision. Unilateral ovariohysterectomies were successfully performed in three free-ranging lionesses by left-flank approach with no intra- or postoperative complications and rapid recovery. The procedure is swift, safe and provides an alternative to the ventral-midline celiotomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":" ","pages":"74-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First report of a Sporidesmin Toxicity (Facial Eczema) outbreak in a South African dairy herd.","authors":"A J Davis, D D P Jordaan, J G Myburgh","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.662","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.662","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sporidesmin, a toxin released by a saprophytic fungus, <i>Pseudopithomyces chartarum</i>, causes hepatogenous photosensitivity in sheep and cattle, commonly known as Facial Eczema. A recent outbreak in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa caused significant direct and indirect economic losses to a farmer in the area and highlighted the potential negative consequences of this mycotoxicosis to the dairy industry in this province. The milking herd consisted of 400 cross-bred Jersey/Friesian/Montbilliard cattle. The farmer identified 56 cows showing teat sensitivity/irritability during milking, hypersensitive skin, excessive licking and/or obvious skin lesions on non-pigmented skin areas. Three were culled due to the severity of their skin lesions. Grazing consisted of mixed kikuyu/perennial rye grass pasture under pivot irrigation, alternated with dryland kikuyu/Italian rye and sorghum. Typical clinical signs of severe secondary photosensitivity (skin inflammation and hypersensitivity to touch), very high serum concentrations of Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT 2143-5177 IU/L) and detection of large numbers of spores on grazed planted pastures supported the clinical diagnosis. Supplementation of zinc oxide (ZnO) powder at 12g per 500 kg cow dosed individually over the concentrates fed in the dairy, effectively reduced the incidence of new cases within two to three weeks. Weight loss, a decrease in milk volume and solids, and increased somatic cell counts were observed during this outbreak. One of these parameters, milk volume loss, was quantified by comparing the financial records of the four years preceding the outbreak to the production figures during the outbreak. The farmer lost approximately R1.5 million in milk volume during this outbreak (November 2020 - April 2021). Long term consequences were also apparent: the culling rate within the clinically affected group of 53 cows was more than 50% higher than the rest of the herd over the following two years. This case study highlights the urgent need to investigate the prevalence and potential economic impact of Sporidesmin Toxicity on the South African pasture-based dairy industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":" ","pages":"82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The incision and beyond: successful implantation of temperature loggers in the coelom of ostrich chicks.","authors":"M R Kekana, A Fuller, A Engelbrecht, A C Donaldson, N Lotz, A Olivier, S W P Cloete, S K Maloney, A J Haw","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.668","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.668","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The surgical procedure and post-surgical consequences of data logger implantation in ostrich chicks are described for the first time. Twenty-eight two-week-old ostrich chicks were anaesthetised with isoflurane for the implantation of miniature temperature data loggers into the coelom. Following surgery, the ostrich chicks regained consciousness within five minutes, and recovered quickly without complications. No signs of discomfort were noted during observations for 72-hours post-surgery. Detailed behavioural observations were conducted directly after surgery and thereafter every 15 minutes, for 30 minutes (at T0, T15, and T30). At T15, the chicks spent significantly less time sitting than at T0, and at T30 the percentage of sitting decreased further. Walking increased significantly at T30 compared to T0. Feeding behaviour increased at T15 compared to T0, followed by a further increase at T30. The percentage of chicks showing staggering and/or shivering behaviour was lower at T15 and T30 than at T0. For the seven days after surgery, the body temperature of the chicks ranged from 35.5 to 41.8 °C, with an overall mean of 39.3 °C. The surgical procedure was safe and suitable for young ostrich chicks, since the chicks recovered quickly after the procedure and had a 100% survival rate at one month after surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"49-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantification of Angora goat beta chain haemoglobin variants using the Sebia Capillarys 2 Flex-Piercing system.","authors":"S D C Parsons, A Vermeulen, M Hobson, E H Hooijberg","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.683","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Sebia Capillarys 2 Flex-Piercing (C2FP) system for the quantification of the major caprine beta chain haemoglobin (Hb) variants, i.e. foetal Hb, neonatal Hb, and adult Hb. Blood samples were collected from six Angora kids at one, 11, and 20 weeks after birth, and analysed using the C2FP instrument and Capillarys Hemoglobin(E) kit. Electropherograms displayed three major peaks which showed consistent changes in relative magnitude as kids aged. At one week old, a peak at position ~75 was identified as foetal Hb, while in older animals, peaks at ~150 and ~170 were identified as neonatal Hb and adult Hb, respectively. In conclusion, this study has confirmed the utility of the Sebia C2FP system for the simple, rapid, and standardised quantification of the major beta chain Hb variants of Angora goats.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canine vertebral venous thrombosis: confirmatory MRA before retreatment following symptom recurrence.","authors":"T K Lai, P Jull","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.686","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.686","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Venous thrombosis within the internal vertebral venous plexus is a rare occurrence in both human and veterinary medicine. This case report details the evaluation and management of an 18-month-old female spayed Siberian Husky Mix diagnosed with internal vertebral venous plexus thrombosis after presenting with cervical pain and mild tetraparesis. Initial imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed asymmetric enlargement of the right internal vertebral venous plexus without evidence of spinal cord compression. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was unremarkable. The dog was treated with clopidogrel and analgesics, leading to significant clinical improvement. However, clinical signs recurred after 20 weeks, prompting a repeat MRI that confirmed persistent thrombus. The treatment regimen was reinitiated, resulting in resolution of clinical signs. This case underscores the need for specific guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of venous thrombosis in veterinary patients, as current literature predominantly references human medicine. The report also highlights the potential role of advanced imaging techniques, such as phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), in diagnosing vascular conditions in veterinary practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"78-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accidental intravenous overdose of meloxicam in a Cape Vulture (<i>Gyps coprotheres</i>).","authors":"B A T Gazendam, K N Koeppel","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.640","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many species of vulture are under threat from man-made inventions; this has led to wounded and sick vultures presenting for veterinary treatment and in need of pain management. Following the devastating effect of diclofenac on vultures in South Asia, meloxicam was found to be very safe for vultures, as a treatment as well as through ingestion of meat from treated animals. Many studies investigated the safety of meloxicam, and all found it to be safe up to 2 mg/kg, which was deemed the maximum likely exposure through treated carcasses. All studies exposed the birds either through oral dosing, treated meat or intramuscular administration, no instances of toxicity where recorded and all birds remained healthy. In this case the bird was exposed to a single dose of 2 mg/kg, intravenously, with no signs of toxicity. This appears to be the first recorded instance of accidental intravenous administration of meloxicam in a vulture.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":" ","pages":"82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144111372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of fertility outcome following in vivo insemination with sex-sorted semen in sheep.","authors":"J G Nel, P N Thompson, D E Holm","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.696","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.696","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sex-sorted semen (SS) offers economic benefits to sheep producers, but lower fertility outcome (FO), defined as probability of pregnancy, pregnancy rate or lambing rate, than that following conventional semen (CS) artificial insemination (AI) may limit its use.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To systematically review the literature, and analyse factors associated with FO following AI in sheep using SS vs CS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Available literature was searched using the PRISMA guidelines, resulting in 11 studies with 14 experiments that were reviewed. From these, information from 70 study cohorts representing 13 experiments was used to conduct a meta-analysis which confirmed that FOs for SS and CS AI were 37% (95% CI = 31-43%) and 52% (95% CI = 45-59%), respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FO improved over time, with FO following SS and CS AI improving at the same rate over the period investigated (1997- 2022). In a subgroup analysis, five factors were identified that potentially decrease the FO after SS AI disproportionately. These were sperm dose ≤ 4 × 10⁶ spermatozoa, semen preservation (fresh vs frozen-thawed), oestrus synchronisation using an intravaginal sponge (vs a controlled internal drug release device), presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the synchronisation protocol, and absence of biostimulation using a teaser ram. In a random-effects model analysis, an interaction between sperm dose and SS vs CS, and semen preservation were independent predictors of FO after adjusting for the effect of timing of insemination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FO following insemination with SS is 15% lower than that of CS, which can be narrowed by increasing the semen dose for SS inseminations and improving the synchronisation of ovulation with the timing of insemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"56-67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Swelling disease of Angora goats is characterised by panhypoproteinaemia, leukocytosis, and hyperaldosteronaemia.","authors":"S D C Parsons, M Hobson, M Wepener, T Mtetwa, E H Hooijberg, S J Clift","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.718","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Swelling disease is a poorly understood clinical syndrome of South African Angora goats that is characterised by acute-onset diffuse oedema. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated aldosterone secretion has been proposed as a possible aetiology of swelling disease, but this hypothesis has not been tested.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate aldosterone secretion in swelling disease by reanalysing data collected during a 2015 clinical investigation of the syndrome in which serum aldosterone and cortisol levels were measured along with standard clinical laboratory variables in affected and unaffected animals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Goats affected with swelling disease, and unaffected herd-mates, were sampled for measurement of haematology variables, serum protein variables, and serum sodium, aldosterone, and cortisol. Results for affected and unaffected goats were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the association between variables was investigated using Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Goats affected with swelling disease had significantly higher white blood cell counts (WBC) and serum aldosterone than unaffected animals, and significantly lower total serum protein (TSP), albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratios. For all animals (<i>n</i> = 60), serum protein variables showed a significant and strong positive correlation with one another, and a negative correlation with serum aldosterone and WBC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Swelling disease of South African Angora goats is characterised by panhypoproteinaemia, a low A/G ratio, leukocytosis, and hyperaldosteronaemia. Causal relationships between variables could not be determined, however, the detection of hyperaldosteronaemia provides novel insight into the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of this syndrome.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"68-72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ovine balanoposthitis: observations on the microbiome and immunoglobulin response.","authors":"L Fernhout, H Lambrechts, J H C van Zyl","doi":"10.36303/JSAVA.679","DOIUrl":"10.36303/JSAVA.679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incidence of ulcerative balanoposthitis (UB) in rams contributes to significant economic losses in the national sheep population. Understanding the immune response in the reproductive tract can aid in developing preventive measures. This study aimed to characterise the immunoglobulin profiles and microbial diversity in the reproductive tract of rams affected by UB, providing insight into the immune responses to this disease. Serum and glans tissue samples from healthy and UB-affected rams were analysed using an ELISA approach to quantify IgG, IgA, and IgM levels. The microbial diversity in nasal, penile swabs, and smegma samples was assessed using an ARISA approach. Significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001) were observed between the systemic and localised immune responses. UB-affected rams exhibited higher IgG and IgM levels but lower IgA levels in both serum and glans tissue compared to healthy rams. The study confirmed UB-induced shifts in the microbiome, with significant differences in microbial diversity indices in nasal, penile, and smegma samples. Specifically, there were changes in the nasal fungi Shannon (<i>p</i> = 0.047) and Simpson (<i>p</i> = 0.038) indices, the penile Shannon (<i>p</i> = 0.015) and Simpson (<i>p</i> = 0.006) bacterial indices, and the smegma bacterial species number index (<i>p</i> = 0.042). Correlations between microbial populations and immunoglobulin profiles indicated an interactive immune response in different health statuses. This study highlights the need to understand the immune system of the lower reproductive tract and its interaction with commensal organisms to develop therapeutic immunomodulators for preventing UB in sheep.</p>","PeriodicalId":17467,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the South African Veterinary Association","volume":"96 2","pages":"73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147348784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}