Rupture of an aortic sinus aneurysm in a 15-year-old broodmare

A 15-year-old, Standardbred broodmare with an aortic sinus aneurysm developed rupture of the aneurysm with subsequent rupture of a tricuspid valve chorda tendinae, tricuspid regurgitation, acute right-sided congestive heart failure, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Shunting of blood from the aorta through the ruptured aneurysm into the right ventricle resulted in decreased renal perfusion and acute renal failure. Initially, treatment of the mare with analgesics, fluids, and digoxin resulted in clinical improvement, but the mare's condition deteriorated after 8 days and the mare was euthanatized due to unrelenting pain and a poor prognosis. Echocardiography was useful in diagnosis of the cardiac disease in the broodmare.     

Annual biomass and production of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) introduced into a historically fishless lake

Brook charr 15 months old were introduced in 1985 into one of two self-contained basins of Batchawana Lake, Ontario, Canada, where they survived and reproduced. Population survival rates (ages ≥ 1) remained high (>50%) from 1986 to 1992. Annual growth rates peaked (G^x=3.1) the year following their introduction, and remained between 0.8 and 1.6 thereafter. Brook charr biomass (B) was highest, ～ 55 kg ～ ha^?1 in 1987 and 1990, and production (P) gradually declined from 80–90 in 1986–1987 to ～ 30 kg-ha^?1 -year^?1 in 1990–1991. Initial high P:B ratios for brook charr, ～ 3.0, declined and stabilized to ～ 1.3 in the third year after introduction.     

Cockroach control in sewers in Singapore using bioresmethrin and piperonyl butoxide as a thermal fog

Cockroaches have considerable importance as vectors of disease. In tropical areas, large populations of Periplaneta americana may be found in sewers and the refuse chutes of large apartment blocks. These cockroach populations are not accessible to residual insecticide treatment with sprays but may be controlled with thermal fogs of pyrethroids. An experiment on the use of bioresmethrin (5-benzyI-3-furyimethyl-(+)-trans chrysanthemate) as 0.15% and 0.25% w/v solutions with equal amounts of synergist in kerosene discharged from a TIFA fog generator was made at Toa Payoh in Singapore. Effective control was obtained with 0.15% bioresmethrin plus 0.55% piperonyl butoxide in kerosene blown into the sewers and waste chutes initially, at four weeks, at eight weeks later and then followed by treatment every two months.     

Exotic diseases of dogs and cats at risk of importation to Ireland

: Changes in legislation that facilitate movement of companion animals within the European Union will expose those animals to microbial and parasitic organisms currently exotic to Ireland. This paper reviewed information on the exotic diseases most likely to be introduced to Ireland by travelling dogs and cats: rabies, leishmaniosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and dirofilariosis.     

The contribution of horned cattle to carcase bruising.

Five trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of the presence of horns on cattle on carcase bruising. In each trial there were three groups of cattle, hornless, horned and mixed (some with hrons and some without). The weight of bruised tissue trimmed from the carcases of the cattle in the horned groups was significantly greater than that trimmed from the carcases of the cattle in the hornless groups. When horned and hornless cattle are mixed the hornless animals in the mixed group sustain significantly more bruising than animals in a group consisting soley of hornless animals while the horned animals in a mixed group have a similar degree of bruising to cattle in a group consisting solely of horned cattle.     

Evaluation of a focused assessment with sonography for trauma protocol to detect free abdominal fluid in dogs involved in motor vehicle accidents

OBJECTIVE: To establish a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) protocol in dogs, determine whether FAST can be performed by veterinary clinicians without extensive ultrasonographic experience, and assess the frequency of free fluid (as determined via FAST) in the abdominal cavity of dogs following motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 100 client-owned dogs evaluated within 24 hours of an MVA. PROCEDURE: Dogs were placed in lateral recumbency for the FAST examination. To detect fluid in the abdomen, 2 ultrasonographic views (transverse and longitudinal) were obtained at each of 4 sites (just caudal to the xiphoid process, on the midline over the urinary bladder, and at the left and right flank regions). RESULTS: In the 100 dogs evaluated via FAST, free abdominal fluid was detected in 45 dogs. In 40 of those 45 dogs, abdominocentesis was performed; hemoperitoneum and uroperitoneum were diagnosed in 38 and 2 dogs, respectively. Compared with dogs that had no free abdominal fluid detected via FAST, dogs that had free abdominal fluid detected via FAST had significantly higher heart rates and serum lactate concentrations and significantly lower PCVs and total solid concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that FAST is a simple and rapid technique that can be performed on dogs in an emergency setting to detect intra-abdominal free fluid and can be performed by veterinary clinicians with minimal previous ultrasonographic experience.     

Infections of the subcutis and skin of dogs caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria

Nine dogs with panniculitis due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) were examined over 17 years. Dogs were two to 15 years; five were male, four were female. All were obese or in good condition. Antecedent injury, typically a dog bite or vehicular trauma, could be identified in some patients, while one bitch had hyperadrenocorticism. Infections involved different locations, although the cervicothoracic region, dorsum or flank were most often affected. Patients were systemically well, apart from one dog with pyrexia and two with pain or lameness. Cytology demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation, but in only one case was it possible to see acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in smears. Histology demonstrated chronic active pyogranulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis; AFB could be detected in only four specimens. Culture of aspirates or resected tissues demonstrated RGM in all cases, comprising six Mycobacterium smegmatis group and three Mycobacterium fortuitum group isolates. Resection of infected tissues, perioperative injectable antimicrobials and long courses of oral antimicrobials chosen according to susceptibility data generally effected a cure, although some cases recurred.     

Impact of supplement withdrawal and wheat middling inclusion on bone metabolism, bone strength, and the incidence of bone fractures occurring at slaughter in pigs

The objective of this study was to determine if supplement withdrawal (omission of dietary vitamin and trace mineral premixes and 2/3 of inorganic P) 28-d preslaughter and the feeding of wheat middlings (dietary concentrations of 5, 15, or 30% from weaning to 16 kg, 16 to 28 kg, and 28 kg to slaughter, respectively) affect bone metabolism, bone strength, bone density, and the incidence of bone fractures at slaughter in pigs. Crossbred barrows (n = 64) were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (with or without supplement withdrawal, and with or without wheat middlings). Serum was collected on d 0, 14, and 27 of the preslaughter withdrawal period to determine changes in the concentrations of osteocalcin, an indicator of bone formation, and pyridinoline, an indicator of bone resorption. The serum osteocalcin and pyridinoline concentrations on d 14 and 27 were analyzed as change from the d-0 concentration. At slaughter, radiographs of the lumbar vertebrae and of the right and left femurs were taken to determine the incidence of bone fractures. Third metacarpal bones were analyzed for bone mineral density, peak load, ultimate shear stress, and percent ash. Supplement withdrawal increased (P < 0.05) serum osteocalcin and pyridinoline concentrations, indicating an increase in osteoblast activity and bone resorption. Supplement withdrawal decreased (P < 0.01) bone mineral density, peak load, ultimate shear stress, and percent ash of the metacarpal bones. Dietary wheat middling inclusion did not alter bone quality. Neither supplement withdrawal nor wheat middling inclusion affected the incidence of bone fractures at slaughter. The results of this study indicate that removing inorganic P, vitamin premix, and trace mineral premix for 28 d preslaughter increases bone turnover and decreases bone quality.     

Gene cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of a recombinant trehalose synthase from Picrophilus torridus in Escherichia coli

A trehalose synthase (TSase) gene from a hyperacidophilic, thermophilic archaea, Picrophilus torridus, was synthesized using overlap extension PCR and transformed into Escherichia coli for expression. The purified recombinant P. torridus TSase (PTTS) showed an optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 45 degrees C, respectively, and the enzyme maintained high activity at pH 5.0 and 60 degrees C. Kinetic analysis showed that the enzyme has a 2.5-fold higher catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)) for maltose than for trehalose, indicating maltose as the preferred substrate. The maximum conversion rate of maltose into trehalose by the enzyme was independent of the substrate concentration, tended to increase at lower temperatures, and reached approximately 71% at 20 degrees C. Enzyme activity was inhibited by Hg2+, Al3+, and SDS. Five amino acid residues that are important for alpha-amylase family enzyme catalysis were shown to be conserved in PTTS (Asp203, Glu245, Asp311, His106, and His310) and required for its activity, suggesting this enzyme might employ a similar hydrolysis mechanism.