Investigation and clinical application of a novel axial pattern flap for nasal and facial reconstruction in the dog

OBJECTIVE: To describe the vascular supply to a facial skin flap based at the commissure of the lip in the dog and report on its use in four dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental and prospective clinical study. Animals Five canine cadavers and four client-owned dogs. METHODS: In the cadavers, the ventral aspect of the zygomatic arch, the ventral margin of the caudal mandible and the wing of the atlas were marked as anatomical boundaries of a skin flap that was elevated from the subcutaneous tissues to the level of the medial canthus of the eye. Methylene blue dye and barium sulphate solution were independently infused through a common carotid (three dogs) or facial artery (two dogs) catheter. Distribution of dye throughout the harvested skin was assessed subjectively. After contrast infusion the flap was excised and radiographed. The technique was used to reconstruct large facial or nasal defects in four dogs after tumour or skin lesion excision. RESULTS: Cadaver dissections and contrast studies clearly demonstrated three direct cutaneous arteries, the superior and inferior labial arteries and the angularis oris artery, arborising within the base of the flap. A separate direct cutaneous branch of the angularis oris artery was identified. An arterial plexus was identified within the distal flap, within which this artery communicates with the transverse facial artery and a cutaneous branch of the masseteric artery. Dye infusion caused discolouration of the elevated skin and vasculature within the flap. The flap survived in all clinical cases with marginal distal necrosis in one dog. CONCLUSIONS: The complex facial flap described is perfused by three direct cutaneous arteries and functions reliably in clinical cases.     

Epidemiology of porcine non-specific colitis on Scottish farms

The objective of this study was to investigate epidemiological risk factors for porcine non-specific colitis (NSC). Forty-seven Scottish pig farms, with and without a clinical history of diarrhoea during the growing period (15-40 kg), were selected. The study included farm visits, clinical inspection of pigs, completion of farm management questionnaires, pathological tests into the cause of the diarrhoea and analysis of the non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) content of feeds. The results from 17 farms designated as NSC and 10 control farms suggest dietary associations with NSC. Farms with NSC fed diets with significantly higher levels of NSPs, especially containing the sugars glucose, arabinose and xylose. Few management factors were identified, although the high prevalence of infectious colitis reduced the power of the study.     

The response of broilers to the feeding of mash or pelleted diets containing maize of varying particle sizes

1. The effects of maize particle size and steam pelleting on growth and nutrient utilisation were studied with broiler chicks. 2. The presence or absence of 10 microg/kg of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol in diets adequate or deficient in phosphorus was also investigated. Food efficiency was superior with the fine maize diets but calcium retention and phytate phosphorus retention were greatest with the coarse maize diets. Pelleting improved food efficiency and growth in both experiments while phytate phosphorus utilisation was decreased. 3. Addition of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol to the diet increased 16-d body weight, bone ash, plasma dialysable phosphorus and retentions of total phosphorus and phytate phosphorus while decreasing phosphorus deficiency rickets and tibial dyschondroplasia. 4. There were significant interactions between maize particle size and food form. The improvement in calcium retention observed with the coarse maize diets was reduced when the diets were pelleted. When fed as a mash, coarse maize diets resulted in increased plasma dialysable phosphorus levels but when the diet was pelleted this response was eliminated. 5. There was also a significant interaction between particle size and phosphorus concentration in that chicks given diets deficient in phosphorus had improved bone ash when fed coarse maize as compared to fine maize. However, this response was eliminated when the diets were adequate in phosphorus. 6. In one experiment, fine maize diets had higher metabolisable energy values and there was a significant interaction between maize particle size and food form as pelleting improved the metabolisable energy value of coarse maize diets but not fine maize diets. In another experiment only pelleting of the factors studied improved the metabolisable energy value of the diets.     

Arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal joint: a biomechanical comparison of three 4.5-mm and two 5.5-mm cortical screws

OBJECTIVE--To compare the biomechanical characteristics and mode of failure of 2 parallel-screw techniques for proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis in horses. STUDY DESIGN--Randomized block design, blocking for horse (1-5), method of screw fixation (three 4.5-mm vs two 5.5-mm), side (left limb vs right limb), and end (front limb vs hind limb). Constructs were loaded to failure in 3-point bending in a dorsal-to-palmar (plantar) direction. SAMPLE POPULATION--Twenty limbs (10 limb pairs) from 5 equine cadavers. METHODS--A combined aiming device was used to facilitate consistent screw placement. Three parallel 4.5-mm cortical screws were placed in lag fashion in 1 limb of a pair, and 2 parallel 5.5-mm cortical screws were placed in lag fashion in the contralateral limb. Arthrodesis constructs were tested in 3-point bending in a dorsal-to-palmar (plantar) direction using a materials-testing machine. Loading rate was 19 mm/s. Maximal bending moment at failure and composite stiffness were obtained from bending moment-angular deformation curves. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and chi(2) analysis. RESULTS--There were no significant differences in bending moment (P >.05, power = 0.8 @ delta = 19%) or composite stiffness (P >.05, power = 0.8 @ delta = 19%) between the 2 fixation techniques. Higher maximal bending moment was found in front limbs than hind limbs, and front limbs with two 5.5-mm screws than hind limbs with two 5.5-mm screws. In all cases, constructs completely failed. A greater number of 4.5-mm cortical screws failed than 5.5-mm cortical screws. CONCLUSIONS-In pastern arthrodesis constructs loaded in 3-point bending, end (front limb vs hind limb) affected maximal bending moment at failure of constructs. There was no significant effect of horse, treatment, or side on maximal bending moment or stiffness. Two 5.5-mm cortical screws should provide a surgically simpler pastern arthrodesis than three 4.5-mm cortical screws while maintaining similar biomechanical characteristics. CLINICAL RELEVANCE--Three 4.5-mm screws or two 5.5-mm screws will provide similar biomechanical characteristics in bending when performing equine pastern arthrodesis.     

Fusobacteriosis in captive wild-caught pronghorns (Antilocapra americana)

An outbreak of Fusobacterium necrophorum-induced septicemia occurred in a group of 40 captive wild-caught pronghorns (Antilocapra americana). Primary pododermatitis or necrotic stomatitis progressed to produce fatal septicemia with metastatic lesions in the forestomachs, lung, liver, and cecum in 38 of the animals. Two remaining animals were euthanatized because of chronic pododermatitis. Housing the animals in a pasture previously used by bovids and heavy rains with persistence of ground water pools in the pasture were contributing factors in the pathogenesis of this outbreak.     

Residues of tetrachlorvinphos and its breakdown products on treated crops. I.—Method development

Procedures are described for the analysis of crops for residues of tetrachlorvinphos (Gardona, trans-isomer of dimethyl 1-(2′,4′,5′-trichlorophenyl)-2-chloroyinyl phosphate) insecticide together with methods for the analysis for residues of its isomer and its conjugated and non-conjugated breakdown products. Suitable procedures for the extraction are described together with procedures for the cleanup of the extracts by partition or column chromatography and final analysis down to 0·01 ppm or less by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection.     

Movement of dieldrin through soils: II.—In sloping troughs and soil columns

A glass-lined trough was divided into six compartments by vertical transverse partitions and filled with soil to a height of 5 cm above the top of each partition. The base of the box and the surface of the soil sloped forwards one end with a gradient of 1 in 3·7. Dieldrin was applied (22 kg active ingredient/ha) to the soil surface in the uppermost compartment and the movement of dieldrin into leachate and down the slope was followed for 17 weeks. During this time 19·5 cm of rain fell. Less than 0·02% of the dieldrin appeared in the leachate and 99% of this was collected during the first 9 weeks, mainly from the uppermost compartment. Very little dieldrin moved down the slope and it was not detected in the leachate from compartments other than the treated one during 9–17 weeks after treatment. In other experiments, 3 cylinders were filled respectively with sandy loam, heavy clay loam and peat which were transferred from the field as intact cores. Three other cylinders were filled with soils of the same types but broken up. Approximately 2% of the dieldrin leached through one column but usually it was much less than 0·1%. The largest amounts of dieldrin were leached down columns of heavy clay loam, intermediate amounts down columns of peat, and least through sandy loam. Ten times as much dieldrin leached down the columns of intact soil as through those with broken soil. The results indicate that the movement of dieldrin from treated soil into water systems by leaching is limited and is unlikely to be a major pathway for the contamination of water.     

Determination of residues of the molluscicide trifenmorph and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol: I.—Method

A procedure has been developed for the analysis of crops and soils for residues of trifenmorph (N-trityl-morpholine) molluscicide and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol (TPC). Samples were extracted with 20% by vol. acetone in petroleum ether and the efficiency of the extraction was established using radiochemical techniques. The extracts were subjected to column chromatography on basic alumina columns to separate trifenmorph from the TPC. The residues were converted to trichloroethyl ether derivatives followed by clean-up by column chromatography on silica gel and analysis of down to 0·02 ng by gas-liquid chromatography. Blank values were generally 0·01–0·02 ppm, recoveries were on average about 80% and were limited to this value by the yield of the etherification reaction. The storage stability of the residues at —10°c was satisfactory.     

Hyperthermia and disturbances of prenatal development

Pregnant guinea pigs at all stages of gestation were exposed for 1 hr daily on 1, 2 , 4 or 8 days to temperatures of 42–43°C. ‘High doses’ of heat stress resulted in maternal death; progressively smaller doses caused foetal death, abortion, foetal malformations or no effect. The commonest foetal abnormalities were micrencephaly, hypoplasia of digits, umbilical hernia, club-foot and arthrogryposis. Proliferating neuroblasts were especially susceptible to heat between days 20 and 23. Résumé. Des cobayes enceintes à tous les stades de la gestation ont été exposées pour une heure par jour pendant 1, 2 , 4 ou 8 jours à des températures de 42–43° C. De ‘hautes doses’ de temps de chaleur ont eu pour résultat la mort de la mère; des doses progressivement plus petites ont causé la mort du f?tus, l'avortement, la malformation du f?tus ou n'ont eu aucun effet. Les anomalies f?tales les plus fréquentes étaient la microcéphalie, l'hypoplasie des doigts, l'hernie ombilicale. le pied bot et l'arthrogrypose. Des neuroblastes proliflres étaient particulièrement sensibles à la chaleur entre les 20ième à 23ième jours. Zusammenfassung. Trächtige Meerschweinchen in allen Stadien der Trächtigkeit wurden 1, 2 , 4 oder 8 Tage eine Stunde täglich Temperaturen von 42–43° C ausgesezt. ‘Hohe Dosen’ der Wärmebelastung führten zum Tode des Muttertiers; zunehmend kleinere Dosen führten zum Tod des Fetus, zur Fehlgeburt, zu fetalen Missbildungen oder sie blieben wirkungslos. Die häufigsten fetalen Anomalien waren Mikrenzephalie, Hypoplasie de Zehen, Nabelbrüche, Klumpfuss und Arthrogryposis. Proliferierende Neuroblasten waren besonders vom 20. bis 23. Tag empfindlich gegen Wärme.