"Stellingen" slip inserted. Proefschrift - Utrecht.

Inaug.-diss.--Leipzig, [188?]

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Veterinary Science, 2010. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-77). Also issued on the Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / "May 2007" The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Includes bibliographical references.

The aim of the thesis was to find out what is the population of the Shetland ponies in the Czech Republic. The uncertain pedigree of these ponies is a big problem; there are only 40% of ponies with pedigree. The thesis concentrated on the investigation of differences between the ponies with pedigree and the ones without it, on the investigation of differences of basic physical measurements of stallions and mares. Another inquiry was the numbers of Shetland ponies in particular regions with a special attention to the region of South Bohemia. The comparison of judging of the externals of Shetland ponies by individual horse breeding inspectors was a separate point. The source material was provided by the Association of Horse Breeder{\crq}s Union. Data and results were processed in MC Excel. In the linear description ponies with pedigree reach better value in the evaluation of type and length of steps, in other parts the evaluation almost overlaps. The overall characteristics are evaluated on average by half a point better with ponies with pedigree. In the physical measurements a difference in KVH and KVP was detected where ponies with pedigree are clearly shorter, in OH and Ohol the difference between ponies with pedigree and without pedigree was inconsiderable. There is also a size difference between stallions and mares of the Shetland pony, KVH and KVP of stallions is clearly lower, the chest perimeter is also clearly smaller. On the contrary the shin perimeter of stallions is slightly higher. The investigation of numbers in regions showed that the Central Bohemian region abounds in most Shetland ponies, followed by Prague, region Usti, region Zlin and region Plzen. On the contrary the poorest region is Pardubice, the South Moravian region and Vysočina Region. There are not many Shetland ponies in South Bohemia either, 17 ponies are registered here out of which six are with pedigree. Another seven ponies were randomly found outside the register that correspond the breeding standard. During the judging of the externals of the Shetland ponies by individual horse breeding inspectors a considerable range in judging of some parts of the linear description was discovered, sometimes even by a point less ore more, which proves a more frequent use of various points by individual inspectors. In the overall characteristics the difference between individual inspectors was up to three quarters of a point.

This study was performed to compare the delivery of the antimicrobial gentamicin to the respiratory tract of adult horses following aerosol and intravenous administration. Nine adult horses were used in a crossover design. Aerosol administration of gentamicin was performed using a close fitting facemask and an ultrasonic nebulizer. Intravenous gentamicin was administered via a jugular venous catheter. Samples of pulmonary epithelial lining fluid were collected by bronchial lavage performed at 0.5, 4, 8 and 24 hours after gentamicin administration. All samples were analyzed for gentamicin concentration, and cytologic examination was performed on aliquots of bronchial lavage fluid from times 0.5, 8 and 24 hours. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The bronchial lavage fluid gentamicin concentration after aerosol administration was significantly greater (p<0.05) than after intravenous administration at 0.5, 4, and 8 hours. The bronchial lavage fluid total nucleated cell count increased significantly (p<0.05) from 0.5 to 24 hours following both routes of gentamicin administration, with the increase observed following aerosol administration being significantly greater (p<0.05) than that observed following intravenous administration. A significant increase in neutrophil count was detected between bronchial lavage fluid samples taken at 0.5 hours and 24 hours, regardless of route of gentamicin administration. We conclude that aerosol administration of gentamicin to the equine respiratory tract achieves bronchial lavage fluid gentamicin levels that are significantly higher than levels obtained following intravenous administration for at least the first 8 hours after administration, while inciting a mild inflammatory response. / Master of Science

Staphylococcus aureus is a coagulase-positive, Gram-positive, coccal bacterium. It is one of the leading causes of both skin and invasive infections. It plays an important role in diagnostics and treatment due to its ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is an important nosocomial pathogen in both humans and animals due to its resistance to all ?-lactam antimicrobial agents. Colonization of MRSA in horses poses a great concern. This is considered an important risk factor for development of staphylococcal related diseases in horses admitted to veterinary hospitals. Colonized horses can also be a source of zoonotic MRSA infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detection based on a PCR reaction is commonly used and various types of PCR-based assays were developed to assist in early detection of MRSA. The main aim of the study was to compare the currently used conventional microbiological techniques with a published multiplex PCR assay targeting the mecA, spa and pvl genes for the rapid and accurate identification of MRSA in horses admitted to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pretoria. A total of 50 isolates, which consists of isolates from horses and their immediate environment, were included in the study of which 94% (n=47) were shown to be infected with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus using conventional microbiological techniques. The remaining three gave inconsistent results. Their isolates were obtained, DNA was extracted and subjected to the multiplex PCR assay. The PCR results indicated that both the mecA and spa genes were present in 72% (n=36) of these isolates, indicative of MRSA strains. In 20% (n=10) of the isolates, only the spa gene could be detected; suggesting that these cannot be classified as being methicillin resistant. The pvl gene could not be detected in any of the isolates tested. A total of four isolates (8%) yielded results that were inconsistent with being MRSA using molecular identification. Overall there was a good correlation between genotypic analysis by PCR and phenotypic determination using S. aureus species identification and susceptibility testing methods. The multiplex PCR assay had a detection limit of 2.18 x 108 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml. This detection limit is higher compared to other published molecular identification techniques used for Staphylococcus aureus but sensitive enough for the accurate detection of MRSA in overnight cultured isolates. Results suggest that the current PCR assay could be used as a supplementary diagnostic method in the routine diagnosis for rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of S. aureus and its associated antibiotic resistance genes in equine samples. / Mini Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2016 / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / MSc / Unrestricted

No description available.