Free-flow electrophoresis was used on bovine spermatozoa to test the hypothesis that there are surface charge differences between X and Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were deflected towards the anode by means of tromethamine (THAM) buffers of varying concentrations, and were separated into two populations under specific conditions. Experimental temperature and initial sperm motility had a significant effect on sperm distribution in the electric field. The results of DNA hybridization assays indicated an enrichment for Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Thoracic ultrasonography technique in newborn calves and description of normal and pathological findings.

The aim of this study was to establish whether thoracic ultrasonography is a viable screening method for detecting respiratory disorders in newborn calves. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed on 66 newborn calves. There were 10 normal control animals with healthy lungs and 56 newborn calves suffering from respiratory disorders such as lung atelectasis, aspiration of amniotic fluid, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and lung abscesses. Ultrasonography of the lung enabled rapid classification of the severity, extent and type of pulmonary lesion found, thus supplementing the clinical examination. Processes deep to the pleura were not amenable to thoracic diagnosis by ultrasonography. This is due to the inability of sound waves to penetrate normally ventilated lung. Despite this problem, ultrasonography of the lung is suitable for assessment of clinically unclear respiratory disorders in calves.

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PubMedDate not supplied

[Case report: (erythro)keratoderma variabilis in a newborn foal].

A case of congenital (Erythro)keratoderma variabilis in a newborn foal is described. The clinical and histological findings are presented.

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PubMedDate not supplied

[The diagnostic value of venous blood gas parameters and pH value in newborn foals with pulmonary diseases].

Analysis of blood gases in equine neonatology is regarded as a diagnostic tool to study the neonatal adaptation period. Aim of this study therefore was to compare the diagnostic value of venous blood gas parameters to arterial parameters in newborn foals with pulmonary disorders. Venous as well as arterial blood samples were taken from 24 foals (1 to 6 days old) and the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), pH, and oxygen parturition (S-O2) of these samples were investigated. In addition, the alveolar (A) to arterial (a) gradients (A-aDO2) were calculated. Due to changes in blood gas parameters during the first week postnatal the age was taken into consideration by using covariance analysis. All arterial parameters except paCO2 showed a significant difference among healthy foals (n = 15) and foals with respiratory disorders (n = 11) with A-aDO2 and paO2 being the most reliable arterial parameters. In venous blood there was a significant difference between healthy and sick foals only in S-O2 and pH.

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