The ability of biochemical and haematological tests to predict recovery in periparturient recumbent cows

Blood samples from 433 periparturient recumbent cows submitted by veterinary practitioners to Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory during 1983 and 1984 were analysed and results related to whether cows recovered, died or were euthanased. Generally cows were sampled only once and the time varied from 15 minutes to 20 days after becoming recumbent. During 1983 serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, creatine phosphokinase (CK), aspartate amino transferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were analysed. In 1984 serum urea, creatinine, fibrinogen and haematological examination (haemoglobin, haematocrit, total and differential white cell counts) were added to the panel. Overall 39% of cows recovered, 30% died and 32% were destroyed. Precalving cows had 111% more deaths and 7% less survivors than postcalving recumbent cows (P<0.1). There was little difference (3%) in euthanasia prevalence. Tests that were most useful in predicting a lack of recovery were serum urea and muscle enzymes. Using these tests and duration of recumbency when sampled a model was produced to predict the probability of recovery from 254 cases.     

Suspected selenium poisoning in a horse

A case of selenium poisoning was suspected following the administration of 325 micromol selenium a day as sodium selenate (25 mg Se) for five consecutive days. The main signs were confined to changes in the integument which were loss of hair from the mane and tail, disintegration of the skin of the anus, lips, prepuce and scrotum, and separation of the hooves from the coronary corium. Periodic analyses of blood, hair and hoof parings from the sole correlated strongly with blood and identified horn and hair as important additional routes of excretion.     

The effects of artificially-induced fly-strike on food intake and liveweight gain in sheep

A single, artificially-induced fly-strike with Lucilia sericata larvae was associated with a rapid (decline in food intake in sheep, with a consequent reduction in liveweight. Loss of weight ranged from 0.5 to 5.5 kg over four to six days and recovery to pre-infestation liveweight took three to 36 days. Pair-fed, uninfested partners of these sheep also showed a reduction in liveweight, whereas uninfested sheep in some experiments fed ad libitum showed either little change or a gain in liveweight over the same period. In general, maggot infested sheep took less time to regain weight than did their pair-fed partners although the weight lost as a proportion of initial weight was similar in both groups. Loss of appetite alone would appear to account for these events.     

The osmolality of caecal contents in piglets following weaning

Pigs weaned for five days had caecal contents with significantly lower osmolalities than those of unweaned animals of the same age. Supplementation of a standard weaning diet with therapeutic levels of oxytetracycline to suppress the normal large intestinal microbial flora did not significantly further reduce osmolarity of caecal contents after weaning. This observation suggests that microbial activity in the large intestine may not be sufficiently developed by five days after weaning to have a major influence on absorptive processes at that site. Incomplete development of the large intestinal microflora may be one more factor which acts to predispose the young pig to diarrhoea after weaning.     

Dyserythropoeisis, sideroblasts/siderocytes and hemoglobin crystallization in a dog

Dyserythropoiesis characterized by enhanced intramedullary destruction, pathologic sideroblasts and siderocytes, and hemoglobin crystallization was detected in a female Cocker Spaniel presented for poor exercise tolerance. Examination of peripheral blood revealed intraerythrocytic crystals, granulation of erythrocytes, nucleated erythroid cells, reticulocytosis and marked variation in erythrocyte morphology in the absence of anemia. Bone marrow examination revealed sideroblasts, a low M:E ratio and evidence of enhanced intramedullary destruction of erythroid cells. Electron microscopy of peripheral blood and bone marrow confirmed pathologic mitochondrial iron accumulation in erythroid cells and the presence of intraerythrocytic hemoglobin crystals. A cause for the hematologic changes was not identified. After the animal became clinically normal, siderocytes disappeared from peripheral blood but intraerythrocytic crystals and reticulocytosis persisted.     

Effects of heartworm and intestinal parasitic infections on hematology and peripheral lymph node cytology in louisiana dogs

Hookworm infected dogs had higher blood basophil counts than hookworm negative dogs. Dogs with occult heartworm infection (i.e., without microfilaremia) had higher blood neutrophil counts than heartworm negative dogs. The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral lymph nodes was higher in heartworm infected, microfilaremic dogs than in both occult infected dogs and heartworm negative dogs. Heartworm or intestinal parasitic infection had no other significant effects on hematologic parameters or peripheral lymph node cytology.     

Potential effects of glucocorticoids on serum iron concentration in dogs

Prednisone was give norally(2mg/kg b.i.d.) to seven healthy mixed breed dogs for 3 consecutive days. Serum iron concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 142 +/- 26 micro g/dl (mean +/- SE) before a drug adminis- tration on Day 0 to a maximum of 307 +/- 47 micro g/dl on Day 2, and returned to the Day 0 value by Day 5. Mean total iron binding capacity did not vary more than 25% from the Day 0 value during the 9 day long study. The percent saturation of transferrin with iron increased from 33 +/- 6% on Day 0 to a maximum of 71 +/- 9% on Day 3. This determination had decreased to 34 +/- 3% on Day 5. No statistically significant changes occurred in these parameters studied in six control dogs that were not given the drug. To determine whether serum iron concentration might be correlated with endogenous serum cortisol concentration, these tests were determined in serum collected from nine dogs at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m. each day for 3 consecutive days. Serum iron concentration was lower at 7 a.m. (147 +/- 9 micro g/dl) than at 3 p.m. (164 +/- 9 micro g/dl) or 11 p.m. (159 +/- 10 micro g/dl). Likewise serum cortisol was lower at 7 a.m. (1.29 +/- 0.18 micro g/dl) than at 3 p.m. (1.49 +/- 0.19 micro g/dl) or 11 p.m. (1.51 +/- 0.22 micro g/dl). There was a significant positive linear correlation between serum iron and serum cortisol concentrations when they were compared using mean values for each dog. From these studies, it appears that exogenously administered glucocorticoids and endogenous increases in serum cortisol concentrations may result in increased serum iron concentrations in dogs.