Japanese Journal of Large Animal Clinics
Online ISSN : 2187-2805
Print ISSN : 1884-684X
ISSN-L : 1884-684X
Volume 11, Issue 5
Displaying 1-6 of 6 articles from this issue
Review
  • N. Endo
    Article type: review-article
    2020 Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 185-189
    Published: December 31, 2020
    Released on J-STAGE: September 21, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     Hair cortisol concentrations are increasingly used as a marker of chronic stress in humans and animals. In dairy cows and other domestic animals, management of chronic stress associated with poor housing and feeding practices is important to improve animal welfare and productivity. To establish hair cortisol as a clinical marker of chronic stress in cattle, it is essential to understand baseline hair cortisol concentrations, examine whether they accurately reflect the dynamics of circulating cortisol and identify factors that may affect hair cortisol concentrations. This review describes the principle and methodology of hair cortisol measurement and discusses how chronic stress can affect the health and reproductive function of dairy cows.

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Original Article
  • H. Takahashi, T. Okada, M. Sato, K. Matsuda
    Article type: Original Article
    2020 Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 190-197
    Published: December 31, 2020
    Released on J-STAGE: September 21, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    A feed supplement containing amino acids and fatty acids was fed to Japanese Black cattle before calving, and its effects on blood profiles of the dams and their newborn calves were investigated. The study included 24 cows and their calves in three farms. Cows were divided into two groups: 11 cows that were fed a standard gestation diet(Group 1)and 13 cows that were fed 50 g/day of a fatty acid supplement fortified with amino acids(BestBalance U)in addition to the standard gestation diet for 60 days before calving and on the day of calving(Group 2). Blood samples were collected from these cows at 10 and 40 days before the estimated calving date and after calving for biochemical analysis. Blood samples were also collected from calves at 24 and 48 hours and 1 week after birth, and their heart girth was measured at 24 hours after birth. Plasma total protein, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids and the estrone sulfate concentration of Group 2 cows were significantly higher than those of Group 1 cows at 10 and 40 days before the estimated calving date and after calving. The plasma albumin of Group 2 calves was significantly higher than that of Group 1 calves at 24 and 48 hours and 1 week after birth. The mean heart girth of Group 2 calves was significantly greater than that of Group 1 calves at 24 hours after birth. These results suggest that supplementation of amino acids and fatty acids before calving is beneficial for the development of calves.

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Case Report
  • Y. Kawakami, K. Uesaka, J. Hiasa, S. Nakagun, Y. Kobayashi, H. Inokuma
    Article type: case-report
    2020 Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 198-203
    Published: December 31, 2020
    Released on J-STAGE: September 21, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     A 115-day-old Holstein heifer was presented to a local veterinarian for evaluation of abnormal gait. At 122 days old, the heifer was able to stand but had a wide stance, hypermetria, stiff gait, falling, lateral recumbency and opisthotonos. In the following two weeks, the heifer remained recumbent for increasingly longer times, having difficulty in standing and walking. Bilateral nystagmus was also observed. Necropsy revealed no obvious gross abnormalities in the central nervous system, but loss of Purkinje cells and axonal swelling in the cerebellar cortex as well as vacuoles in the molecular layer were noted by histological examination. Cerebellar cortical degeneration was diagnosed based on these findings. Although the biochemical profile of the cerebrospinal fluid was unremarkable, the cerebrospinal fluid concentration of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain(pNF-H) was 597.7 pg/mℓ, which was higher than the median value of 294.7 pg/mℓ in five clinically healthy Holstein calves. The pNF-H level may be used as a prognostic marker for neuronal injury.

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  • H. Kojima, C. Tani, K.  Tomokawa, D.  Igasaki, Y.  Ohashi, M.  Yasuda
    Article type: case-report
    2020 Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 204-209
    Published: December 31, 2020
    Released on J-STAGE: September 21, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     A 63-month-old, Japanese black breeding cow at 223 days of gestation was presented for chief complaints of anorexia and mild straining. At initial presentation, the tail was raised, and frequent, small amounts of muddy diarrhea were observed. On rectal examination, a hard mass was palpated at about 25 cm cranial to the anus, and rectal stricture to the size of one finger was also noted. From the symptoms and rectal examination findings, fat necrosis was suspected. Isoprothiolane was administered for 1 month. At 283 day of gestation, the cow exhibited signs of labor pains and had veterinarian-assisted vaginal delivery. Post-calving, the cow continued to have anorexia and dyschezia but nursed the calf successfully. Approximately 3 months after calving, the calf was weaned, and the cow was culled due to poor prognosis.

     Necropsy revealed a white-yellow, saponified necrotic fat mass (15 cm × 30 cm) surrounding the rectum. Two other necrotic fatty masses(about 15 cm × 15 cm) were also noted in the mesentery of the spiral colon. In the pancreas, no macroscopic lesions were present, but extensive fat infiltration was noted within the parenchyma by histological examination. The mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ and TNF-α were higher in the abdominal fat necrotic lesions compared to the normal adipose tissue, indicating an inflammatory process and suppressed adipocyte hypertrophy.

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  • S. Suzuki, T. Sumiyoshi, H. Kondo, H. Shibuya, T. Ohtaki, T. Horikita
    Article type: case-report
    2020 Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 210-215
    Published: December 31, 2020
    Released on J-STAGE: September 21, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     A 7-day-old Holstein calf was presented to the Nihon University Animal Medical Center for evaluation of congenital shortening of the neck. At presentation, the calf was generally in good condition with no neurological signs. Hematological and serum biochemical values were largely unremarkable. Computed tomography showed atlanto-axial fusion due to failure of division at the odontoid process, fusion of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae and fusion of the seventh cervical vertebra with the first and second thoracic vertebrae. There were 13 ribs on the left side, and 12 ribs on the right side. Some thoracic spinous processes were also fused. Furthermore, the vertebral bodies were bent ventrally from the third to fifth thoracic vertebrae. In the lumbar region, the left transverse process of the first lumbar vertebra was absent, and fusion of the first and second lumbar vertebrae was found. The third lumbar vertebral body was wedge shaped, and the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae were fused and curved dorsally. Pathological examination revealed a bony protrusion in the ventral side of the spinal canal at the third and fourth cervical vertebrae. No abnormalities were found in the brain or spinal cord. Virus isolation and genotype testing were negative. Thus, the cause of congenital vertebral and rib malformation was inconclusive. However, multiple vertebral deformities suggested a morphogenetic disorder during somite formation in early embryogenesis.

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