Construction of a full mouth speculum facilitating oral examinations, bronchoscopy and gastric tubing in elephants

Objective Here we tested the application of a full mouth speculum to sedated elephants in human care to gain access to the oral cavity, the trachea (bronchi) and esophagus (stomach) and therefore improve diagnostic and therapeutic options in elephant medicine. The construction of this oral speculum for elephants and the procedure are described. Material and methods The oral speculum is a steel construction consisting of 2 bite plates of 0.8 × 60.0 × 8.0 cm attached between 2 threaded guiding poles (40 cm). Through crank handles, the metal plates are dispersed once placed between the elephant‘s jaws in front of the molars. The oral speculum was applied in 26 elephants (6,16 Asian elephants, and 1,3 African elephants) during standing sedation. Results All sedated elephants tolerated the positioning of the mouth opener and subsequent manipulations well. The mouth opener was applied for the following procedures: inspection of the oral cavity (n = 2), placing a stomach tube (n = 16), and/or performing endoscopic examinations such as bronchoscopy (n = 20) and/or gastroscopy (n = 8). Conclusion This method provides a new possibility to open the jaws to gain access to the molars, larynx and pharynx in captive elephants without full immobilization. Valuable samples for diagnostics may be obtained or animals medicated via stomach tube with this application. Clinical relevance The mouth opener provides veterinarains with a new option to perform necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures around the oral cavity, airways and stomach in captive elephants during standing sedation with no need for a full anaesthesia.

Rumen Sampling Methods Bias Bacterial Communities Observed

The rumen is a complex ecosystem that plays a critical role in our efforts to improve feed efficiency of cattle and reduce their environmental impacts. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene provides a powerful tool to survey shifts in the microbial community in response to feed additives and dietary changes. Oral stomach tubing a cow for a rumen sample is a rapid, cost-effective alternative to rumen cannulation for acquiring rumen samples. In this study, we determined how sampling method, as well as type of sample collected (liquid vs solid), bias the microbial populations observed. The abundance of major archaeal populations was not different at the family level in samples acquired via rumen cannula or stomach tube. Liquid samples were enriched for the order WCHB1-41 (phylum Kiritimatiellaeota) as well as the family Prevotellaceae and had significantly lower abundance of Lachnospiraceae compared with grab samples from the rumen cannula. Solid samples most closely resembled the grab samples; therefore, inclusion of particulate matter is important for an accurate representation of the rumen microbes. Stomach tube samples were the most variable and were most representative of the liquid phase. In comparison with a grab sample, stomach tube samples had significantly lower abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Fibrobacter and Treponema. Fecal samples did not reflect the community composition of the rumen, as fecal samples had significantly higher relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae and significantly lower relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae compared with samples from the rumen.

Therapeutic Evaluation of Florets of Musa acuminate in the Management of Rumen Lactacidosis in Goats

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Musa acuminate flower floret (MAFF) extract/chopped in goats with moderate rumen lactacidosis. Methods: Goats affected with moderate rumen lactacidosis (MRLA) were divided into three groups. TC (Control): Eight goats with moderate rumen lactacidosis were administered with magnesium oxide (@ 1g/kg PO) through stomach tube, T1: Twenty four goats with MRLA were administered with aqueous extract of MAFF (either @ 1 ml/kg, 2 ml/kg or 4 ml/kg - PO) and T2: Twenty four goats with MRLA were administered with chopped MAFF (either @1 g/kg, 2 g/kg or 4 g/kg - PO) continuously for 5 days. Proximate, mineral and phytochemical compositions of MAFF were assessed by using standard protocol. Rumen fluid examination, consisting of pH, total protozoal count and bacterial count was assessed in addition to haematology and serum biochemical examination before and after administration of MAFF. Result: Goats with MRLA treated using chopped MAFF orally @ 4 gm/kg body weight or crude extract of the MAFF orally @ 2 ml/kg, 4 ml/kg body weight continuously for 5 days had restoration of (P less than 0.05) packed cell volume, increase in haemoglobin level, total protozoal count, gram negative bacterial count and rumen fluid pH and in serum PCO2 level (P less than 0.05) to the levels comparable to healthy animals.

PSI-4 Effects of increasing metabolizable protein on starch digestion in lightweight beef cattle

The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing MP on starch digestion in lightweight beef steers. Greater provision of metabolizable protein (MP) may increase RUP and aid in pancreatic amylase production for optimum digestion of starch in the small intestine. Twelve crossbred steers were early weaned and used in a crossover design with two 18-day periods and 4 dietary treatments. Lightweight steers (BW = 153 kg) were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence for the 2 periods. Diets provided MP at: 0.59 (MP1), 0.69 (MP2), 0.85 (MP3), and 0.91 kg/d (MP4) based on observed DMI. Additional MP was provided through greater inclusion of blood meal. Feed and total feces were collected on d 12-18 to determine total tract starch digestion. Rumen fluid was sampled prior to feeding on d 17 via stomach tube to assess in vitro starch disappearance over 8 h for each steer. Data were analyzed using the Mixed procedure of SAS with fixed effects of treatment and period, and a random effect of steer. Starch intake was not affected (P = 0.18) by treatment with MP1 and MP4 having similar starch intake values (3.3 kg/d and 3.1 kg/d, respectively). In vitro starch disappearance and final in vitro pH were not affected (P ≥ 0.18) by increasing MP. Similarly, fecal starch output was not different (P = 0.65) among treatments with MP1 treated steers having 0.21 kg/d of starch output and MP4 steers having 0.18 kg/d of starch output. Low fecal starch output values resulted in high total tract starch digestion ranging from 90-96% and were not affected (P = 0.52) by treatment. Overall, increasing dietary MP did not affect ruminal in vitro or total tract starch digestion.

372 Effect of rumen fluid collection methodology on extent and variance of in vitro dry matter disappearance and interaction with substrate and incubation time

The objective was to evaluate the interaction of rumen fluid collection methodology, substrate, and incubation time on the extent and variance of in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD). A 4×2×2 factorial design was used to test the interaction between rumen fluid collection methodology, substrates (hay and silage), and incubation time-points (24 and 48 h). Four methods of rumen fluid collection were evaluated: stomach tube (TUBE), suction strainer through rumen cannula (STRN), ruminal contents collected through cannula and squeezed through cheesecloth (SQZ), and ruminal contents blended for 1 minute and squeezed through cheesecloth (BSQZ). Four replications of each treatment were used and repeated in three periods. A methodology by substrate interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for pH; hay had a greater pH than silage and the magnitude of this difference was greatest for STRN. A tendency for a methodology by substrate interaction (P = 0.06) was observed for ammonia. For TUBE ammonia was greater (P < 0.01) with hay while substrate did not affect ammonia for BSQZ, SQZ and STRN. A methodology by time interaction was observed (P < 0.01) for ammonia; TUBE was least at 24 h, but TUBE and BSQZ were lesser (P ≤ 0.01) than STRN and SQZ at 48 h. A tendency for a methodology by substrate interaction (P = 0.08) was observed in IVDMD; silage had greater IVDMD than hay and the magnitude of this difference was greatest for TUBE. Collection methodology affected (P < 0.01) IVDMD. The greatest IVDMD was observed for STRN (64.7%), with BSQZ (59.1%) and SQZ (57.7%) being intermediate and TUBE (54.3%) being the least. A tendency for a methodology by substrate interaction (P = 0.11) was observed for variation in IVDMD; silage had greater variation than hay for TUBE. Rumen fluid collection methodology affects IVDMD and may depend on substrate.