"Rongeurs"

Hannah Fearing, University of Georgia

Creative Corner, Winner

"Rongeurs"

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Surfactant protein D as a biomarker of bronchopneumonia in calves

Jennifer Storer, University of Tennessee

Cases/Abstracts, Honorable Mention

Title: Surfactant protein D as a biomarker of bronchopneumonia in calves.

 
Bronchopneumonia in cattle is a costly disease caused by multiple pathogens. Mannheimia haemolytica is the most frequently isolated etiologic agent and induces tremendous inflammation through the production of a leukotoxin. Surfactant protein D is produced by type II pneumocytes and is tissue specific for the lungs. During alveolar inflammation these proteins are up-regulated and may be released into the blood. We hypothesized that these proteins could be detected in the serum and serve as biomarkers for alveolar membrane damage and overall pulmonary inflammation. This study used bronchoselective endoscopic inoculation of Mannheimia haemolytica or sterile saline of the right apical lung lobe in twelve 4 month old dairy calves. Six principal calves received 3-5 x 109 colony forming units of M. haemolytica in a 5mL suspension of phosphate-buffered saline, while 6 control calves received an equivalent volume of sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected to analyze surfactant protein D with a bovine specific ELISA. Serum samples were collected daily for seven days, while BAL samples were collected on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Calves were additionally assigned a clinical illness score twice daily and a datalogger outfitted with accelerometers were placed on the left rear fetlock of each calf to assess behavioral changes. We hope the results of this study will provide information for the use of surfactant proteins in the diagnosis of BRD.

The One That Got Away

Stephanie Massey, Texas A&M University

Experiences, Honorable Mention

Feverishly squirming with no other objective but freedom. Flailing arms with dangerous, dragon like claws and beady eyes sizing up his captors. 

“Let’s just put him back in the cage,” the grad student in our group suggested.

Our victim: a white lab rat, at the mercy of a group of first year veterinary students simply trying to learn about the effects of hormones on the body during their weekly physiology lab.

His captor started edging towards the box, his prison. His senses heightened, the rat began struggling, going into an alligator like roll clawing mercilessly at the first year’s bare hands. She managed to drop him in his box and was beginning to close the lid when the rat quickly took his opportunity for escape, making an incredible leap out of the box and off the table. He rapidly scurried along the floor from one cubicle area into another group’s. Over eight veterinary students hot on his trail, we surely had the rat surrounded.

He was cornered, with only a cabinet at his back, nowhere for him to go. Trapped like the rat he was. The eight veterinary students began closing in on him slowly from every angle. And suddenly, POOF! As if by magic, the rat was gone.

We ran to the cabinet at this point and frantically tried to open it, hoping to recover our lost prisoner, but the cabinet was securely fastened. Upon closer inspection a small hole was noted going from the floor into the cabinet. One of my classmates quickly contacted a technician to unlock the cabinet. We were on hot pursuit of our prey, we had him now. How could he escape the cabinet?

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Reproduction block inspired cartoons

Chanel Baron, UC Davis

Foot In Mouth Disease, Honorable Mention

"Aquarmetra"

"Placenta"

Some light snacking...

Caitlyn Lennon, Western University

Life as a Vet Student, Honorable Mention

My dog, Dorado, has severe allergies and is on a hypoallergenic diet. My family had gathered at our house for Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone was very interested in hearing about what sorts of things dogs were allergic to and how the hypoallergenic diets work. Everyone, that is, except grandma. Grandma was more interested in snacking on the variety of goodies displayed on the dining room table. About halfway through the conversation, grandma decided to join the group. She had a sour, disgusted look on her face. I looked at her, quite puzzled. She turned to me and said, "Those macadamia nuts taste disgusting!" My mother walked over to the table, muttering, "I didn't put out any macadamia nuts." Suddenly she burst out laughing and I realized what had happened. Unbeknownst to me my mother had placed Dorado's bowl of food on the dining table temporarily as the other dogs were trying to steal it. My grandma had seen the round, white kibbles and decided those looked quite tasty! They most definitely were not. The laughter did not stop for the entire night.