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Biomedical subjects

R Keatinge

Publications and source records attributed to R Keatinge.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effects of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) when compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on ovine gastrointestinal parasite development, survival and migration.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of birdsfoot trefoil and chicory on parasitic nematode development, survival and migration when compared with perennial ryegrass. In experiment one, sheep faeces, containing 10,385 Cooperia curticei eggs were added to 25 cm diameter pots containing birdsfoot trefoil, chicory or ryegrass, and the pots maintained under optimal conditions for nematode parasite development. Replicate pots of each forage type were destructively sampled on day 8, 16, 20, 28 and 37 to collect the nematode larvae. When forages were compared on a dry matter basis, by day 16 there were 31% and 19% fewer larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory than on ryegrass, respectively (P<0.01). In the second experiment, replicate 1m(2) field plots of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory and ryegrass were sub-sampled on day 14, 21, 35 and 49 for larval counts following the application of sheep faeces containing 585,000 Teladorsagia circumcincta eggs to each plot on day 0. Results showed there were a minimum of 58% and 63% fewer infective stage parasitic larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory, respectively, compared with ryegrass on day 14 and 35 when forages were compared on a forage dry matter, plot area sampled and leaf area basis (P<0.01). Overall, these results indicate that the number of infective stage larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory pasture was reduced by the effect of their sward structure on the development/survival/migration of ovine parasitic nematodes. These effects may be one of the ways in which these forages may affect parasitic infections in grazing livestock.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

The use of milk progesterone to monitor reproductive function in beef suckler cows.

Milk progesterone analysis was used to monitor reproductive function in 134 autumn calving cross-bred suckler cows. Progesterone was measured in milk samples collected three times per week from around 4 week post-calving to around day 60 of pregnancy during 1st and 2nd lactation. The mean day of onset of luteal activity (OLA) was 40.7 +/- 1.1 with the distribution skewed towards a later return. Once cyclicity had been initiated the incidence of reproductive cycle problems (6.5%) was low, though animals with such problems (n = 14) exhibited a delayed interval to first service (P < 0.05), lower conception and calving rates (P < 0.001), increased services per pregnancy (P < 0.001) and a higher (P < 0.10) barren rate (14.3% versus 4.0%) compared to animals with normal cycles (n = 201). In conclusion, using milk progesterone analysis we found a relatively low incidence of reproductive cycle problems in beefxdairy suckler cows. However, while the incidence of cycle problems was low, those animals with problems showed significantly impaired reproductive function.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The effect of dietary forage on the development and survival of helminth parasites in ovine faeces.

Studies in New Zealand and the UK have shown that lambs grazing birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or chicory (Cichorium intybus) have reduced parasite intensities compared to lambs grazing ryegrass swards. However, data in the literature on the influence of forages on helminth parasites is equivocal and the underlying mechanisms by which different forage diets may affect these parasites have not been fully determined. The aim of the experiments reported here was to investigate the hypothesis that the consumption of these forages does not affect the hatching and development of helminth eggs in the faeces subsequently produced by the host animal. Lambs grazed monoculture swards of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)/red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) for 5 weeks and faecal samples collected on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 directly from the rectum of each lamb were used to prepare replicate cultures for each forage type on each occasion. The experiment was repeated over two consecutive years but ryegrass/red clover was not included in Year 2. The dry matter of all faeces was made constant and the faeces were cultured at 27 degrees C for 7 days, before larvae were extracted, counted and identified according to genus or, where possible, species. Overall, the results showed that forage diet had no effect on egg hatchability but significantly affected the development/survival of infective helminth larvae in the faeces of the host animal. Furthermore, feeding birdsfoot trefoil to lambs was found to increase the percentage of helminth parasites that reached the infective stage in the subsequent faeces compared to other forages. Further work is needed to assess whether this would increase the number of larvae on birdsfoot trefoil swards overall under field conditions and to understand the implications of these findings in an applied farming system.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2003

The effect of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) on parasite intensities and performance of lambs naturally infected with helminth parasites.

Conventionally, farmers rely upon the routine use of anthelmintics to control helminth parasites and their use has proved highly cost-effective. However, several factors, including the emergence of helminths resistant to pharmaceutical anthelmintics, are forcing farmers to seek alternative approaches to parasite control. Studies in New Zealand have shown that some alternative forages may reduce parasitic infestation in sheep. In the current study, it was found that under UK environmental conditions lambs with naturally acquired helminth infections grazing chicory (Cichorium intybus) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) had fewer helminth parasites than sheep grazing ryegrass/white clover (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens). Twelve pure-bred Lleyn male lambs grazed replicated 0.5ha plots of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory or ryegrass/white clover for 5 weeks. Liveweight and faecal egg counts (FECs) were determined weekly and eight lambs per forage were slaughtered at the end of the trial to determine total helminth intensities. Lambs grazing birdsfoot trefoil had a lower FEC on day 7 (P<0.05) and fewer total adult helminths than those grazing the other forages on day 35 (P<0.01). Lambs grazing chicory did not have significantly lower FEC than lambs grazing other forages but these lambs were found to have fewer total adult abomasal helminths than lambs grazing ryegrass/white clover (P<0.001). As the performance of grazing lambs is inversely correlated with the intensity of helminth parasites, these alternative forages could be used to improve the liveweight gain of lambs produced in the UK. Overall, the results support the contention that alternative forages could have a positive role in the control of helminth parasites in sheep, subject to successful agronomic development and integration of these forages into whole farm systems.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1985

Pneumonia in young children with homozygous sickle cell disease: risk and clinical features.

The incidence and clinical features of pneumonia have been examined in children with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease and in age/sex matched control children with a normal haemoglobin (AA) genotype followed in a cohort study of sickle cell disease from birth. Survival curve analysis indicated a similar incidence of pneumonia in the two genotypes up to the ages of 8 months after which pneumonia became significantly more prevalent in SS disease, the relative risk exceeding a factor of four by 4 years of age. Children with SS disease were also more prone to multiple episodes. Comparison of clinical features in the two genotypes yielded no difference in sex or seasonal involvement, or in the results of bacteriological and radiological investigations. Children with SS disease and pneumonia had an increased frequency and increased duration of hospital admission, and mortality was confined to this group. It is concluded that children with SS disease have an increased prevalence of single and multiple attacks of pneumonia and that these events run a more serious clinical course than in control children.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗