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.     

A Comparison of the Cutaneous Trunci Myocutaneous Flap and Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap in the Dog

Latissimus dorsi and cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps of equal dimension and location were randomly elevated on opposite sides of the thorax in 10 dogs (group 1) and resutured to their respective bed. The procedure was repeated in four additional dogs (group 2); however, the short perforating branches of the thoracodorsal artery and vein were divided at the base of each cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flap, whereas the cutaneous pedicle and underlying cutaneous trunci muscle were divided in the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps to determine subsequent skin survivability and the major source of circulation of each myocutaneous flap. There was little difference in the percentage of skin survival between the latissimus dorsi and cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps in group 1 dogs. Circulation to the "skin island" of group 2 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps originated from intramuscular anastomotic connections between the major branch of the thoracodorsal artery entering the latissimus dorsi muscle and the proximal lateral intercostal arteries perforating the muscle. Ligation of the short perforating branches of the thoracodorsal artery resulted in partial skin necrosis in all group 2 cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps. Results from this study indicate that it is unnecessary to elevate the latissimus dorsi muscle for major skin flap elevation and survival. The thicker latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is more difficult to develop surgically and appears to have no clinical major advantage over the more mobile cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flap or the adjacent thoracodorsal axial pattern flap for closure of large skin defects within the radius of flap rotation.     

Uterine motility of the sow during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

With electromyography and strain gauges the uterine motility of the sow during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy was studied. Special attention was paid to characterization of myometrial activity at the time of intrauterine migration of blastocysts.From recordings of 4 animals (3 became pregnant) 3 types of electrical spiking activity (each could be correlated with an elevation of the strain gauge tension) were discerned. Two of them appeared regularly and were suitable for analysis: High Voltage Slow Acticity (with relative high amplitude and low frequency of spikes) and Low Voltage Fast Activity (with relative low aplitude and high frequency of spikes).The sexual status markedly influenced myometrial activity: during prooestrus and oestrus only one type of electrical activity was present whereas the myoelectrical complex (an episode of this activity and the subsequent interval of inactivity) was shorter than 10 min. During dioestrus the myoelectrical complex was longer than 10 min and High Voltage Slow Activity (solely on the cervix and bifurcation) and Low Voltage Fast Activity occurred simultaneously in episodes which mainly appeared to originate on the bifurcation.The characteristics of uterine activity during pregnancy were similar to those of a cyclic sow until day 12. It was only on day 12 that gestation appeared from an increased frequency of myoelectrical complexes.It is concluded that Low Voltage Fast Activity as it was found on the uterine horn at days 8–9 might be involved in the process of intra-uterine migration of blastocysts. In cyclic and in pregnant animals the patterns of Low Voltage Fast Activity were similar. Therefore, the occurrence of Low Voltage Fast Activity is independent of the actual presence of blastocysts. It seems to be exhibited in dependence on the ovarian hormones.     

The kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for coronavirus antibodies in cats: calibration to the indirect immunofluorescence assay and computerized standardization of results through normalization to control values.

The computer-assisted, kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for coronavirus antibodies in cats was calibrated to the conventional indirect immunofluorescence assay by linear regression analysis and computerized interpolation (generation of "immunofluorescence assay-equivalent" titers). Procedures were developed for normalization and standardization of kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results through incorporation of five different control sera of predetermined ("expected") titer in daily runs. When used with such sera and with computer assistance, the kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay minimized both within-run and between-run variability while allowing also for efficient data reduction and statistical analysis and reporting of results.     

光照对鸡产蛋性能的影响及其机理研究——Ⅲ.光照对鸡大脑皮质电位的影响

选用22只“星杂579”成龄母鸡,以电生理方法观察了光照(30lx)及在麻醉状态下光照(30lx)和黑暗对其大脑皮质“Wulst”区电位的影响。结果,黑暗时的电位可因光照而抑制;注射氯胺酮麻醉后,电位明显变小,再给黑暗和光照,电位均没有变化。表明大脑皮质参与了光照对鸡的生理调节过程。     

The phenomenon of stress: Concepts and mechanisms associated with stress-induced responses of the neuroendocrine system

Stress, stressors and the stress response are terms which represent concepts rather than oeing precisely definable. No single theory of stress has been universally accepted. Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome of stress remains the primary theory for the basis of stress research in food-producing animals; however, other concepts and theories have been developed. This paper reviews current theories and suggests that the complexity of research on stress in food-producing animals can be attributed to the lack of concrete theories and concepts regarding identifiable stressors, the endocrine responses stimulated by potential stressors and the complex and integrated biological changes in the neuro-endocrine system resulting from exposure to hypothesized stressors.     

Further studies of the clinical pathology of sweating sickness in cattle

Experimentally-induced cases of sweating sickness in calves were used in an effort to correlate the blood chemistry with some of the known pathological changes. Results showed that the "sweating" associated with necrotic dermatitis did not alter blood electrolyte levels. Laboratory evidence of a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was found which correlated with the microthrombi described in cases of sweating sickness. A high blood cortisol level was found in one of the animals that died from the disease and could possibly be used as a prognostic indicator in clinical cases. Recommendations are made with regard to the supportive treatment based on the clinical pathological findings.     

Dark lines formed between colonies of isolates of phoma exigua var. foveata on a semi-selective medium

Samenvatting In het Instituut voor Plantenziektenkundig Onderzoek (IPO) te Wageningen wordt gangreen bij aardappel, veroorzaakt door de schimmelPhoma exigua var.foveata, onderscheiden van ander droogrot door aangetast weefsel uit te leggen op een semiselectief medium. Op dit medium wordt de vorming van kristallen van voor de schimmel kenmerkende anthrachinonen bevorderd. De gemakkelijk waar te nemen geelgroene kristallen in het medium wijzen op de aanwezigheid van de betrokken schimmel. Bij een van deze toetsen vormden zich tussen de zich ontwikkelende kolonies van de schimmel donkere lijnen. Deze lijnen verschilden van reeds eerder beschreven violette lijnen, die zich vormen tussen kolonies van de twee variëteitenexigua enfoveata vanP. exigua. Onderzoek aan 27 isolaten vanP. exigua var.foveata toonde aan dat er met betrekking tot de vorming van donkere lijnen 11 verschillende typenP. exigua var.foveata onderscheiden konden worden. Isolaten van deze typen vormden bij gepaarde groei op het selectieve medium donkere lijnen met andere typen, maar niet met isolaten van het zelfde type. Er bleek geen verband met het groeitype van de cultures noch met de vorming van het antibioticum E te bestaan.