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Biomedical subjects

W Klee

Publications and source records attributed to W Klee.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Investigations of the potential risk factors associated with cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Bavaria, Germany.

In order to identify the management and feeding practices that might have contributed to the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Bavaria, Germany, information from 110 dairy farms on which a case of BSE had been reported was compared with information derived from a questionnaire sent to approximately 10,000 Bavarian farms on which no case of BSE had been reported up to February 2003. Representative information was obtained from 4006 dairy farms. The results indicated that in comparison with these control farms a higher proportion of the BSE farms had also kept pigs or poultry, although the difference was not significant, and that a significantly higher proportion of the BSE farms had fed proprietary concentrates and/or milk replacers to their calves.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Breed predisposition for BSE: epidemiological evidence in Bavarian cattle.

We present epidemiological data from Bavaria that indicates that animals of the Brown Swiss (BS) cattle breed might be more susceptible to BSE than animals from other breeds, both in terms of disease prevalence and length of the incubation period. BS animals were disproportionately represented among the BSE cases (BS represented about 9% of the susceptible population but 27% of actual cases). BS were slaughtered at a higher age (5.8 years vs. 5.0 years for other breeds), and there is a higher prevalence of feeding proprietary feeds to BS calves than calves from other breeds. There was no difference in the recorded feeding practice of BSE-positive animals from BS or other breeds. These results would lead to expect a higher prevalence of BSE in the BS population, with BS BSE animals being of equal age or older than BSE animals from other breeds. In contrast, median age at BSE detection was significantly lower in BS animals than in other breeds (61.4 vs. 68.8 months). There was no difference in the identification categories of BSE between BS animals and animals of other breeds that could explain this difference in age. BS cattle are reported to have more octapeptid repeats in the prion protein gene than other breeds, which could account for shorter incubation periods and higher susceptibility. These observations suggest that BS animals and their tissues should be used in further studies into genetic determinants of BSE susceptibility in cattle.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Investigations of D-lactate metabolism and the clinical signs of D-lactataemia in calves.

Five clinically healthy calves received an intravenous injection of 25 g sodium D-lactate (223 mmol) in 100 ml sterile water and five control calves were given the same volume of 0.9 per cent sodium chloride. Two clinical examiners who were blinded to the status (test or control) of the calves observed that between eight and 40 minutes after the injections the calves that had received sodium-D-lactate could be distinguished with certainty from the control calves on the basis of their clinical signs, for example, an impaired palpebral reflex, somnolence and a staggering gait. One-compartment and two-compartment analyses of the changes in the plasma concentration of D-lactate, and its renal clearance, indicated that the calves metabolised considerable amounts of D-lactate.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed2004

D-Lactic acidosis in calves as a consequence of experimentally induced ruminal acidosis.

In order to test the hypothesis that ruminal drinking in calves can lead to D-lactic metabolic acidosis, ruminal acidosis was induced in nine calves by intraruminal application of untreated whole milk via a stomach tube. The amount of the daily force-fed liquid was 3 x 1 l. The experimental design called for an end of intraruminal applications if two or more of the following signs were observed: severe depression, estimated degree of dehydration >10%, absence of sucking reflex, lack of appetite for two consecutive feedings, severe metabolic acidosis with calculated Actual Base Excess (ABE) <-15 mmol/l. The procedure was scheduled to be discontinued on the 17th day of experiment. The onset of ruminal acidification occurred rapidly, and mean pH value fell from 6.70 (+/-0.48) to 4.90 (+/-0.38) after the first application. The following days the pH values varied between 4 and 5. Rumen acidity was characterized biochemically by a significant increase in both isomers of lactic acid. The effects of the intraruminal administration on the calves were detrimental; eight of nine calves showed an acute disease process. According to the pre-established clinical standard, seven of nine calves were removed from the intraruminal feeding schedule. All but one of the calves developed severe systemic acidosis. The increase in anion gap demonstrated the net acid load. In all the calves D-lactate levels were found to show a significant and rapid increase. On the contrary, L-lactate never deviated from physiological levels. These observations confirm that, in young calves as in adult cattle, ruminal acidosis may lead to a clinically manifested D-lactic metabolic acidosis.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed2004

[Clinical examination of cattle for BSE in a cattle facility and slaughterhouse].

Detection of a case of BSE in slaughtered cattle causes considerable expenses. It seems therefore desirable to screen cattle before slaughtering and exclude suspect animals from slaughter. The object of this study was to determine the practicability of such screening under realistic conditions in a large slaughterhouse and to evaluate the specificity of the tests proposed by BRAUN et al. (1997). 949 cattle over 24 months old were examined in the Munich slaughterhouse. Spontaneous behaviour and the reaction to tactile, acoustic, and optical stimuli only could be tested. The evaluation of locomotion was not possible without interference with the routine processing of cattle before slaughter. The examination took about three minutes per animal. The results were evaluated using a modification of the scheme of BRAUN et al. (1997). The specificity of the classification "BSE very likely" was 97.8%. If all animals that exhibit any signs suggestive of BSE were to be excluded, the specificity would drop to 63.7%. This pre-slaughter clinical screening is not useful.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between milk yield and the incidence of some diseases in dairy cows.

Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between milk yield and incidence of certain disorders. Lactations (n = 2197) of 1074 Holstein-Friesian cows from 10 dairies (25 to 146 cows per dairy) in Lower Saxony were studied. The 305-d yield from the previous and current lactations served as the standards for milk yield. Eight disorder complexes were considered: retained placenta, metritis, ovarian cysts, mastitis, claw diseases, milk fever, ketosis, and displaced abomasum. Each disorder complex was modeled separately. In addition to milk yield, the influences of the lactation number, the calving season and the other disorder complexes were examined with the "herd" factor taken into account. A correlation between retained placenta, mastitis, and milk fever to milk yield during the previous lactation was found to be probable and for ketosis and displaced abomasum such a correlation was found to be possible. A connection to the yield in the current lactation was shown for ovarian cysts, claw diseases, and milk fever. No relationship to milk yield existed for metritis. An influence of the lactation number was also demonstrated in various models. Single models allowed a demonstration of the influences of both milk yield and lactation number. Limitations of the model types are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Efficacy of an immune modulator in enzootic pneumonia of dairy calves.

The objective of this cohort study was the evaluation of the efficacy of an immune modulator in the prophylaxis, metaphylaxis and treatment of enzootic bronchopneumonia (EBP). A total of 552 dairy calves on 13 farms were included. Groups of calves were included in the study if the prevalence of respiratory disease on the first visit was at least 50%, and the number of animals aged 2-16 weeks was at least 10. Controls were treated with a placebo. Animals of both groups were treated antibiotically if body temperature exceeded 39.5 degrees C. A clinimetric system was devised and used for classifying the animals into one of seven categories (healthy, beginning respiratory disease, acute BP, subacute BP, chronic BP, acute flare-up of chronic BP, and other disease). Animals were examined clinically on days 1, 3, 10, and 28. In animals treated prophylactically, the incidence of BP on day 10 was significantly higher (51%) than in those that received the placebo (31%). In animals treated metaphylactically, the average number of treatment days was significantly lower (2.86) than in the placebo group (3.81). In animals treated therapeutically, the incidence of EBP on day 10 was significantly lower than in the placebo group.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

[Effect of ad lib and restricted milk feeding on the course of illness and body weight in young calves with diarrhea].

Two different feeding regimens for calves (age up to 21 days) suffering from acute diarrhea were evaluated with respect to course of illness and change in body weight. The patients of the experimental group were given whole milk ad libitum three times a day. The patients of the control group were offered whole milk at a rate of 13% their body mass per day divided into three meals. In addition, both groups were offered an oral rehydration solution at a rate 9.5% of body mass per day, also divided into three portions. Data from 60 calves (30 in both groups) were available for statistical analysis. The duration of illness in the experimental group was 10.9 +/- 6.0 days vs. 10.0 +/- 5.2 days in the control group. The daily increase of body mass in the experimental group averaged 0.607 +/- 0.452 kg, the one in the control group 0.230 +/- 0.231 kg (p = 0.0002). The calves of the experimental group required 13.16 +/- 11.18 I milk per kg weight gain, the calves of the control group 21.39 +/- 12.80 I. Six calves of the experimental group and two calves of the control group subsequently had a relapse. On the basis of the results obtained, a feeding regimen for calves suffering from acute diarrhea is suggested.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

[Utility of a CO2 micro-system for diagnosis of acid-base equilibrium disorders in cows with abomasal displacement].

UNLABELLED: The so-called Harleco apparatus, a micro-system for determination of total CO2, was tested on samples from 200 cows with abomasal displacements. Plasma bicarbonate concentration (pbc) determined with blood gas analysors were used as the reference method. RESULTS: (1) The pbc of 38.0% of the cows was considered normal (22-28 mmol/l), 51.5% of the cows had metabolic alkalosis (pbc > 20 mmol/l), while 10.5% were acidotic (pbc < 22 mmol/l). (2) Values for pbc determined by the reference method correlated well with values obtained with the Harleco apparatus using plasma (coefficient of correlation 0.804) or whole blood (cc = 0.565). (3) On the basis of sensitivity and specificity, the Harleco apparatus diagnosed alkalosis as reliably as acidosis. (4) The values determined in whole blood were not accurate. (5) The amount of plasma required can be obtained in practice using a micro-centrifuge. (6) Results obtained using a self-prepared reagent were not significantly different from those obtained using the commercially available reagent. (7) Use of a second standard with a bicarbonate concentration close to the sample value did not yield significantly different results than use of a single standard of 25 mmol/l. (8) Increasing the reaction time from 30 sec (according to instructions) to 60 or 90 sec did not yield significantly better results. It is concluded that the Harleco apparatus is a simple, quick, cheap, sufficiently reliable and practical alternative to convential methods for the determination of total CO2 in plasma of cattle.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1998

[Investigations on the development of hyponatremia in older calves with diarrhea].

The study involved 50 hospitalized calves (four weeks to five months old) suffering from diarrhoea and hyponatraemia (blood sodium concentration below 130 mmol/l). Starting from the day of admission blood, urine, and faecal samples were taken each morning and sodium and potassium concentrations were measured. In addition, blood and urine samples were taken in the evenings, if electrolytes had been given orally during the day. The obtained values from urine samples were compared with the plasma concentrations in order to check for inadequate renal excretion of electrolytes. Consistency of the faeces and visible blood admixture were the main criteria in the evaluation of electrolyte concentration in the 317 samples of faecal water. With one exception no inadequate renal losses of sodium were observed. Sodium and potassium concentrations in faecal water showed a distinct negative correlation. As the consistency of faeces grew increasingly normal, electrolyte contents of faeces approached those reported for adult cattle, i.e. potassium levels rose and sodium levels decreased. Visible blood admixtures had no significant effect on the sodium and potassium concentrations in the faeces. A distinct relationship between electrolyte contents in faecal water and the consistency of the faeces was found. There were highly significant differences in electrolyte concentrations between faeces of watery (Na: 82 +/- 21 mmol/l; K: 23 +/- 12 mmol/l) and soupy (Na: 54 +/- 26 mmol/l; K: 42 +/- 19 mmol/l) consistency (mean +/- standard deviation). By contrast, soupy and pulpy faeces just showed a slight or no difference in electrolyte concentrations. Only faeces of watery consistency contained approximately as much sodium as observed in neonatal calf diarrhoea. These results show that the pronounced hyponatraemia in older calves can hardly be attributed to loss of sodium via faeces and urine. The following possible causes are proposed: (a) older calves usually have access to water (therefore there is more gradual dehydration or no dehydration at all); (b) oral electrolyte solutions are seldom administered.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

[Systemic effects of ruminal acidosis following ruminal drinking in dairy calves. A retrospective analysis of 293 cases].

In a retrospective study the data of 293 young calves (age upon admission less than four weeks) with evidence of ruminal drinking (rumen pH < 6.0) were analyzed for possible associations between ruminal acidosis and various parameters of systemic acid-base metabolism (blood pH, blood levels of HCO3- and L-lactate, as well as anion gap). On the basis of the degree of ruminal acidosis (pH < 5.0/ > or = 5.0) and evidence of diarrhea, the animals were assigned to one of four groups. The results indicate that severe ruminal acidosis leads to disturbances of systemic acid-base metabolism in young calves, too. With additional diarrhea, those disturbances can be complex.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1998

[Retrospective evaluation of urea and creatinine blood levels in calves with diarrhea].

Data of 393 calves treated for neonatal diarrhea as in-patients in the II. Medical Animal Clinic of the University of Munich were included in a retrospective study with special regard to the course and prognostic information of blood urea, blood creatinine, urea-creatinine-ratio, and PCV. Mean values, standard deviation and maximum values that were measured upon admission to the clinic: blood urea: 16.86 +/- 12.35; 75.70 mmol/l; blood creatinine: 260.3 +/- 204.4; 1610.2 mumol/l; urea-creatinine-ratio [both in mmol/l]: 70.28 +/- 36.38; 245.8; PCV: 41.66 +/- 9.1; 71.5% (mean +/- S.D). Even very high values for blood urea, blood creatinine, urea-creatinine-ratio, and PCV determined at admission yielded no prognostic information, but unchanged or higher urea values on the second day in the clinic were associated with a deterioration of prognosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Cecal intussusception in calves].

Among the patients admitted to the II. Medical Animal Clinic of the University of Munich from 1986 through 1994, there were 51 calves at an age of up to three months with intussusceptions in the caecal region. The following forms were observed: caecocaecal (n = 12), caecocolic (n = 22), ileocaecocolic (n = 6), ileocaecal (n = 8), and jejunoileocolic (n = 3). In 40 cases, the intussusception occurred in the course of diarrheal disease. The most important signs were scant faeces, that often contained blood and/or mucus, and the finding of a hard viscus upon abdominal palpation. Colic was observed in 27% of patients. In 18 cases, surgical intervention was not attempted because of the advanced stage of the disease or severe accompanying disease. From the remaining 33 calves, eight were cured. The others were either destroyed or died because of extensive peritonitis or other diseases. This report is to draw attention to the fact that (caecal) intussusception should be considered in diarrheal calves when faecal output decreases suddenly, and the general state deteriorates.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Histological and bacteriological evaluation of digital dermatitis in cattle, with special reference to spirochaetes and Campylobacter faecalis.

Tissue samples from the feet of slaughtered cattle exhibiting different stages of digital dermatitis were sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and silver staining techniques. Three morphological variations of spirochaetes were observed, whereas control samples from feet which were macroscopically negative for digital dermatitis were also negative for spirochaetes. In an immunofluorescence test, Campylobacter faecalis was found to be abundant on superficial wound smears from the classical ulceration of digital dermatitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Abomasal ulcers in calves: clinical investigations and experiences].

Observations and experiences as well as results of clinical investigations in 364 calves with clinically apparent abomasal ulcers (bleeding 28, deep 37, perforating 299) are communicated. The anamnestic data, evaluated systematically, allow to conclude, that influences of the feeding regime, in particular faults during the early weaning period, play an important role in the multifactorial etiology. Furthermore, symptoms, diagnosis and differential diagnosis as well as treatment and prevention are described. The various localizations (and ways) of perforating abomasal ulcers are demonstrated by schematic representations and by the respective findings at operation or at necropsy.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1993

[The pre- and postoperative course of pH values and net acid-base excretion in the urine of cows with abomasal displacement].

The pre- and postoperative course of acid-base parameters and electrolyte concentrations in urine and blood was studied in 67 cows affected with left- or right-sided abomasal displacement. Paradoxic aciduria was detected in 21 of 37 cattle with preoperative alkalosis. The validity of serum electrolyte determinations for the detection of electrolyte disturbances is limited. The evaluated parameters returned to normal in most of the animals within the following intervals post-op.: 1 day: blood gas parameters 2 days: hematocrit; 3 days: general condition, serum chloride and serum sodium concentrations; 4 days: urine-pH, net acid-base excretion, urine chloride and serum potassium concentrations; Urine-pH and net acid-base excretion increase only after serum electrolyte levels return to normal.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1992

[Intravenous infusion of volatile fatty acids as a metabolic loading test for the evaluation of the possible effects of butafosfane on the energy metabolism of cattle].

In 10 German Black and White heifers metabolic stress reactions were induced by intravenous infusion of propionate and butyrate to demonstrate possible effects of prior medication with butafosfane. This investigation included a preliminary feeding period, followed by 18 hours of feed withdrawal, premedication with butafosfane or placebo and infusion of volatile fatty acids. Reactions were assessed by monitoring biochemical and clinical parameters. A total of 19 blood samples per series were taken in which the concentrations of glucose, free fatty acids, volatile fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, cortisol and insulin were measured. Clinical parameters recorded included heart rate and respiratory rate. During loading with propionate effects of butafosfane on plasma levels of cortisol and insulin could be demonstrated. The differences noted in the other parameters were only insignificant. The loading test chosen is suitable for the demonstration of effects of butafosfane on metabolic parameters which could hardly be influenced by this substance in unstressed animals.

Animals↗