Intramyocardial haematoma causing right ventricular outflow obstruction after brown snake (Pseudonaja species) envenomation in a dog

A 15-month-old, male neutered Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross was presented to its referring veterinarian collapsed and agonal. He was immediately intubated, manually ventilated, and treatment commenced for presumptive snake envenomation with two vials of Tiger/Multi-Brown Snake Antivenom (minimum 7000 units/vial). The dog was transferred to a referral hospital intubated. Additional diagnostics performed following arrival at the referral hospital included a urine snake venom detection kit test, which was positive for brown snake immunotype. Three additional vials of Tiger/Multi-Brown Snake Antivenom (minimum 7000 units/vial) were administered until the dog was extubated and able to stand. Venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC) was diagnosed based on prolonged clotting times and scleral haemorrhage. Paroxysms of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) origin ventricular arrhythmias were treated with lignocaine and sotalol. Four days after presentation, a new-grade IV/VI systolic heart murmur was auscultated, prompting an echocardiogram. An anechoic and compartmentalised mass measuring 43 mm × 19 mm was visualized within the right ventricular wall at the RVOT, immediately adjacent to the pulmonic valve. The mass was causing a RVOT obstruction. Its appearance was suggestive of an intramyocardial haematoma, most likely secondary to VICC. The dog remained cardiovascularly stable, and treatment consisted of supportive care. Recheck echocardiograms at 2 and 7 weeks after discharge revealed progressive improvement of the intramyocardial mass and resolution of the associated heart murmur. Although intramyocardial haematomas are rare, it should be considered as a differential in dogs that develop a newly diagnosed heart murmur and/or cardiac arrhythmia following brown snake envenomation.     

A 13C NMR study of decomposing logging residues in an Australian hoop pine plantation

Purpose

Residue retention is important for nutrient and water economy in subtropical plantation forests. We examined decomposing hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait. Ex D. Don) residues—foliage, branches, and stem wood—to determine the changes in structural chemistry that occur during decomposition.

Materials and methods

Residues were incubated in situ using 0.05 m² microplots. We used solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the structural composition of harvest residues in the first 24 months of decomposition.

Results and discussion

The spectral data for branch and stem residues were generally similar to one another and showed few changes during decomposition. The lignin content of branch and foliage residues decreased during decomposition. When residues were mixed together during decomposition, the O-alkyl fraction of foliage decreased initially then increased up to 24 months, while the alkyl carbon (C) fraction exhibited the opposite pattern. The decomposition of woody hoop pine residues (branch and stem wood) is surprisingly uniform across the major C forms elucidated with ¹³C NMR, with little evidence of preferential decomposition. When mixed with branch and stem materials, foliage residues showed significant short- and long-term compositional changes. This synergistic effect may be due to the C/N ratio of the treatments and the structure of the microbial decomposer community.

Conclusions

Twenty-four months of decomposition of hoop pine residues did not result in substantial accumulation of recalcitrant C forms, suggesting that they may not contribute to long-term C sequestration.     

Lightning damage to potatoes

Summary Two distinct round patches were observed in a potato field where the haulm showed symptoms like those of blackleg. The remainder of the field was in vigorous growth. Affected stems had long cracks andErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica was isolated from some. This had probably developed subsequently on damaged tissue and no rotting was apparent below soil level. Most of the tubers were decayed but noErwinia and only green pseudomonads were detected. Local meteorological records showed that thunderstorms occurred on only one day (1 August) in the six weeks before observation of the field symptoms. It was concluded from all evidence that the condition described was caused by a lightning strike on that day.     

Studies on potato sprout suppressants. 6. Headspace analysis of tecnazene and chlorpropham in a commercial box potato store

Summary The headspace concentrations of tecnazene (1,2,4,5-tetrachloro-3-nitrobenzene) and chlorpropham [isopropyl-N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate] were determined in a box potato store by adsorption of potato store headspace volatiles onto a porous polymer absorbent (Tenax G.C.) followed by thermal desorption for gas chromatographic analysis. The apparatus devised for the adsorption and thermal desorption of tecnazene and chlorpropham is described. Headspace concentrations of 4.5–11.9 μg 10 dm⁻3 for tecnazene and 0.24–1.13 μg 10 dm⁻³ for chlorpropham were found throughout the store.

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Zusammenfassung Die Konzentrationen von Tecnazene (1,2,4,5-Tetrachlor-3-Nitrobenzol) und Chlorpropham (Isopropyl-N-(3-Chlorphenyl)-Carbamat) wurden in einem 2150 Tonnen-Kartoffelboxenlager gemessen. Die Proben im oberen Luftraum (Luftraum oberhalb des Stapels) ergaben sich durch Adsorption der gasf?rmigen Substanzen an por?se, polymere Adsorbentien (Tenax G.C.), in eine Glasr?hre (Vors?ule) gepackt. Der Apparat, in Abbildung 1 illustriert, erlaubte dreifache Proben aus dem oberen Luftraum, die an jeder Stelle innerhalb des Lagers genommen werden konnten. Sie wurden bei zwei Gelegenheiten genommen, erstens drei Tage nach Behandlung des Lagers mit Tecnazene, und zweitens 15 Tage nach Behandlung des Lagers mit Chlorpropham — d.h. 28 Tage nach der initialen Tecnazene-Behandlung. In beiden F?llen erfolgten die Probenahmen in dreifacher Ausführung an acht Stellen (Stellen 1–8, Abbildung 3). Die Durchflussraten der Proben betrugen 300–600 cm³ min⁻¹, das Probe-volumen 7–12 dm³. Die Tecnazene-Konzentration im oberen Luftraum zum ersten und zweiten Probenahme-Datum zeigen Tabelle 1 und 2. Die Chlorpropham-Konzentrationen im oberen Luftraum zum zweiten Probenahme-Datum zeigt Tabelle 3. Tecnazene und Chlorpropham wurden durch thermale Desorption auf eine G.C.-S?ule durch Kupplung der Vors?ulen auf eine gepackte G.C.-S?ule zurückgewonnen, bei einer Erh?hung der Temperatur der Vors?ulen auf 210–230°C mit einem Heizblock und überführung der desorbierten gasf?rmigen Stoffe auf eine G.C.-S?ule mit Tr?gergas, verbunden mit dem oberen Teil der Vors?ule. Der Apparat wird in Abbildung 2 beschrieben. Im Konzentrationsbereich von 1–10 μg lag der Rückgewinnungsgrad bei Tecnazene von 96,9% (Standardabweichung (s.d.)±4,6) bis 98,7% (s.d.±3,9), bei Chlorpropham von 94,1% (s.d.±4,8) bis 97,9% (s.d.±6,1), bei den Vors?ulen. Zwei Punkte ergaben sich aus den Resultaten: Erstens verringerte sich die Tecnazene-Konzentration im oberen Luftraum zwischen den beiden Probenahme-Terminen nicht, was auf ein Reservoir von Tecnazene-Rückst?nden schliessen l?sst, die in der Lage sind, eine konstante Tecnazene-Konzentration im oberen Luftraum zu erzeugen. Zweitens waren zum zweiten Probenahme-Termin die relativen Konzentrationen von Tecnazene zu Chlorpropham ca. 1∶10. W?hrend der Lagerperiode hemmte und unterband Chlorpropham das Keimwachstum effektiv, das Tecnazene aber nicht mehr, sobald die Keimung eingesetzt hat. Im Hinblick auf die relative Konzentration beider Chemikalien konnte die hohe Aktivit?t von Chlorpropham gegenüber Tecnazene klar demonstriert werden.

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Résumé Les concentrations de tecnazène et de chlorpropham sont mesurées dans l'air ambiant d'un batiment de stockage de 2150 tonnes de pommes de terre en caisses-palettes. Les échantillons d'air sont obtenus par adsorption des produits volatils sur un polymère poreux (Tenax G.C.) lui-même envelopée dans un tube de verre (précolonne). L'appareil de la figure 1 permet de préveler les échantillons en triple exemplaires, à tout endroit du batiment. Le premier prélèvement est effectué 3 jours après un traitement au tecnazène et le second prélèvement 15 jours après une application de chlorpropham 28 jours séparaient les deux traitements. Trois répétitions sont prélevées à chaque fois dans 8 endroits différents du batiment (zones 1 à 8, fig. 3). Le débit des prises d'échantillons variait entre 300 et 600 cm³/mm et leur volume entre 7 et 12 dm³. La concentration du tecnazène dans l'air ambiant est rapportée dans les tableaux 1 et 2 pour respectivement la lère et la 2ème date. La concentration du chlorpropham dans l'air ambiant est indiquée dans le tableau 3 pour la 2ème date. Le tecnazène et le chlorpropham sont extraits de précolonnes par libération thermique sur une colonne G.C., en reliant les précolonnes au sommet de la colonne G.C. obturée et par élévation de leur température à 210–230°C à l'aide d'un bloc chauffant. Les vapeurs libérées sont transférées sur la colonne G.C. par un gaz porteur à partir du sommet de la précolonne. L'appareil est décrit dans la fig. 2. Pour une gamme de concentration allant de 1 à 10 μg, le taux de récupération du tecnazène à partir des précolonnes varie de 96.9%±4.6 à 98.7%±3.9 et celui du chlorpropham de 94.1%±4.8 à 97.9%±6.1. Il ressort deux points de cette étude: prémièrement, la concentration du tecnazène dans l'air ambiant ne diminue pas entre deux dates d'échantillonnage, ce qui montre la présence d'un réservoir de produit résiduel capable de maintenir la concentration de tecnazène constante. Deuxièmement, le rapport tecnazène-chlorpropham à la deuxième date est d'environ 10∶1. Pendant la période de conservation, seul de chloropropham inhibe la crossance des germes et la détruit de fa?on efficace lorsque celle-ci a commencé. C'est pourquoi, étant donné le rapport des concentrations des deux produits, l'activité du chlorpropham, par rapport au tecnazène, s'est révélée beaucoup plus grande.

     

GASTRIC EMPTYING OF SOLID RADIOPAQUE MARKERS IN HEALTHY DOGS

The gastric emptying of 1.5 mm diameter (small) and 5.0 mm diameter (large) radiopaque markers (BIPS) was assessed in 20 dogs. The markers were fed to the dogs in a test meal and abdominal radiographs were made hourly thereafter. Studies were repeated three times in each dog. The variation between two veterinarians interpreting the radiographs was low. The sex, age and day of the study did not have a significant effect on the lag phase or the time taken to empty 25%, 50% and 75% of the markers (T₂₅, T₅₀ and T₇₅ respectively). There was a weak but significant positive correlation between the body weight and T₅₀. There was no significant difference in gastric emptying parameters between the large and small markers.
The mean gastric emptying versus time curve of the small markers on day one was chosen to represent the reference curve for healthy dogs. The lag phase of the small markers on day one was 2.45 ± 2.04 hours, the T₂₅ was 4.85 ± 2.15 hours, the T₅₀ was 6.05 ± 2.99 hours and the T₇₅ was 8.32 ± 2.72 hours (mean ± SD).     

Serving capacity of crossbred yearling beef bulls. I. Single-sire mating behavior and fertility during average and heavy mating loads at pasture

Eighty crossbred, virgin, yearling beef bulls were subjected to three serving capacity (SC) tests. Ten low SC (LSC) and 10 high SC (HSC) bulls similar in weight (avg wt = 452 kg), testicular size and seminal traits but differing in average services were selected. Objectives were to evaluate the mating behavior and fertility of LSC and HSC bulls at pasture when exposed to an average and a heavy mating load and to determine the effect of sexual activity on body weight and testicular characteristics. One LSC and one HSC bull per block were exposed single-sire to 25 naturally cyclic (N) cows for 3 d and to 9 estrus-synchronized (S) cows for 1 d in a randomized complete block design consisting of 10, 4-d blocks. Bulls were fitted with pedometers to record distance travelled. Behavioral data were collected by periodic visual observation. During the N cow treatment, LSC bulls had fewer (P less than .05) services per cow, total services and a higher mount to service ratio than HSC bulls. During the S cow treatment, LSC bulls showed increased sexual activity, though they achieved fewer (P less than .09) services per cow. Pregnancy rates for LSC and HSC bulls did not differ (P greater than .20) and across SC groups averaged 53.6% for N cows and 31.9% for S cows. Distance travelled also was similar (P greater than .20) between SC groups for both treatments. Sexual activity during pasture exposure had no effect (P greater than .20) on testicular characteristics but resulted in an average decline in body weight of 25.7 kg across SC groups during the 4-d period. Post-exposure SC tests found that LSC bulls had increased (P less than .05) services, decreased mounts and mount to service ratio compared to pre-exposure measurements, but LSC were still lower (P = .06) than HSC bulls for average services. These results suggest that LSC virgin, yearling bulls should be offered sexual experience and retested before their inherent SC can be determined.     

Use of a high frequency transducer with real time B-mode ultrasound scanning to identify early pregnancy in cows

The reproductive tracts of 22 Friesian dairy cows were examined from seven to 35 days after insemination using a real time B-mode ultrasound scanner with a 7.5 MHz transducer. The earliest detection of pregnancy was at nine days when a vesicle was imaged within the lumen of the uterine horn. The early conceptus was seen at day 13 within the vesicle and these structures were followed ultrasonically until day 35. There was a sudden enlargement of the vesicle at day 19 and a heart beat was detected in the embryo at day 22. The allantois was imaged at day 23 and the amnion by day 29. The embryonic outline was clearly defined by day 33 when the body cavities could be discerned. This ability to determine pregnancy at an early stage should prove to be a useful technique in investigating the problems associated with early embryonic death in cattle.     

Texture and chemical composition of soils from shrimp ponds near Choluteca, Honduras

Analyses of bottom soils from three recently-established (newer) and three older ponds on each of two, semi-intensive shrimp farms near Choluteca, Honduras, revealed that the 0 to 2.5 cm layer had greater concentrations of most variables than deeper layers. Concentrations of total carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, and zinc were greater in older than in newer ponds on one or the other of the farms. After 8–11 y of continuous production, total carbon concentrations varied over pond bottoms, and concentrations usually were greatest (1.5–2.5%) in inlet sections. Nitrogen concentrations were about 20% those of carbon and changes in nitrogen concentration closely followed those of carbon. Precipitation of iron pyrite (FeS₂) in anaerobic soil layers was the apparent cause of sulphur accumulation in older ponds. Phosphorus accumulated in older ponds on the farm where heavy doses of fertilizer were applied. Soils of both older and newer ponds on both farms had large accumulations of major cations, a large portion of which were water-soluble salts. There was no evidence of development of adverse soil quality in older ponds.