Hypercalcaemia associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in a Giant Schnauzer.

A 7-year-old male Giant Schnauzer was referred with a history of severe vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, polydipsia and polyuria. Detailed investigations revealed leucocytosis with a marked lymphocytosis, mild non-regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercalcaemia and azotaemia. Circulating lymphocytes were small and well-differentiated, and the same lymphoid population was present in bone marrow. Chronic lymphocyctic leukaemia with associated paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia was diagnosed. Immunohistochemical staining of a bone marrow biopsy revealed a neoplastic B-cell line expressing CD79. The dog responded to therapy with prednisolone and chlorambucil for a period of 8 months.     

The effect of dietary chloride and bicarbonate on blood pH, haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension and ascites in broiler chickens.

1. The effect of supplementing grower diets with bicarbonate or chloride on haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension syndrome and ascites in broilers exposed to cold temperature was investigated. 2. High concentrations of dietary chloride had no effect on the pH of the venous blood but a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet significantly increased blood pH. There was no consistent effect of dietary chloride or bicarbonate concentrations on growth performance, although in 1 experiment birds given a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet consumed less food and gained less weight than controls. 3. Birds fed on high-chloride diets tended to have a higher incidence of ascites and pulmonary hypertension than controls. Birds fed on low-chloride and high-bicarbonate diets had significantly lower pulmonary hypertension and lower heart weights, which may have indicated a decrease in pulmonary and systemic blood pressure. 4. We conclude that increasing dietary bicarbonate and reducing dietary chloride has potential as a low cost and effective method to reduce the pulmonary hypertension which leads to ascites in broiler chickens.     

Effects of Benzyl Adenine and Abscisic Acid on Grain Yield and Yield Components in Triticale and Wheat

Grain yield and yield components (grains per ear, grain weight, 1000-grain weight, ear weight, ear seed ratio and dry matter partitioning between ear and seed) were examined in a wheat genotype (PBW-343) with well-filled grains and a Triticale genotype (DT-46) with poorly filled grains (showing grain shrivelling) grown in pots. Six days after anthesis (DAA), benzyladenine (BA) @2 µg ear⁻¹ and abscisic acid (ABA) @4 µg ear⁻¹ were injected at the base of the mother shoot ear in both species. It was observed that, in both wheat and Triticale , BA increased the grain weight, grain number and partitioning of dry matter between ear and seed, whereas ABA decreased the grain weight, grain number and dry matter partitioning between ear and seed. However, these decreases were slower in Triticale than in wheat. BA treatment increased the grain dry matter accumulation, which in turn resulted in better filling of grains and increased the grain weight in both wheat and Triticale . The average grain weight of Triticale was lower than that of wheat. Thus, it appears that variation in grain weight between wheat and Triticale might be due to different availabilities of growth-promoting phytohormones such as cytokinins and assimilates.     

Survey of tick infestation and tick-borne ehrlichial infection of dogs in Ishigaki Island, Japan.

Twelve (54.5%) of 22 free-roaming dogs in Ishigaki Island had tick infestation identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. There were 121 ticks recovered and consisted of 28 females, 58 males, 22 nymphs and 3 larvae. Infection of dogs possibly with canine ehrlichial pathogens was examined by both indirect immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two dogs of the 13 examined were sero-positive for the human granulocytic ehrlichia agent, and one of two dogs was PCR positive for Ehrlichia platys. This dog had platelet numbers slightly lower than normal value, however, no morulae were found within platelet on peripheral blood smear stained with Giemsa.     

Trends in mortality ratios among cattle in US feedlots.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends in feedlot cattle mortality ratios over time, by primary body system affected, and by type of animal. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: Approximately 21.8 million cattle entering 121 feedlots in the United States during 1994 through 1999. PROCEDURES: Yearly and monthly mortality ratios were calculated. Numbers of deaths were modeled by use of Poisson regression methods for repeated measures. Relative risks of death over time and by animal type were estimated. RESULTS: Averaged over time, the mortality ratio was 12.6 deaths/1,000 cattle entering the feedlots. The mortality ratio increased from 10.3 deaths/1,000 cattle in 1994 to 14.2 deaths/1,000 cattle in 1999, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09). Cattle entering the feedlots during 1999 had a significantly increased risk (relative risk, 1.46) of dying of respiratory tract disorders, compared with cattle that entered during 1994, and respiratory tract disorders accounted for 57.1% of all deaths. Dairy cattle had a significantly increased risk of death of any cause, compared with beef steers. Beef heifers had a significantly increased risk of dying of respiratory tract disorders, compared with beef steers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that although overall yearly mortality ratio did not significantly increase during the study, the risk of death attributable to respiratory tract disorders was increased during most years, compared with risk of death during 1994. The increased rates of fatal respiratory tract disorders may also reflect increased rates of non-fatal respiratory tract disorders, which would be expected to have adverse production effects in surviving animals.     

(+)-Totarol from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The isolation of (+)-totarol as active compound against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is reported from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis outerbark.     

The immunohistochemical detection of Mycoplasma bovis and bovine viral diarrhea virus in tissues of feedlot cattle with chronic, unresponsive respiratory disease and/or arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of selected pathogens in the tissues of a group of feedlot cattle with chronic disease (most often respiratory disease and/or arthritis). Samples of lung and joint tissues from 49 feedlot animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy were tested by immunohistochemical staining for the antigens of Mycoplasma bovis, Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella (Mannheimia) hemolytica, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Mycoplasma bovis was demonstrated in over 80% of cases, including in 45% of joints and 71% of lungs tested. Mycoplasma bovis was the only bacterial pathogen identified in the joints. Haemophilus somnus and Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica were found in 14% and 23% of cases, respectively, and were confined to the lungs in all instances. Infection with BVDV was demonstrated in over 40% of cases. Mycoplasma bovis and BVDV were the most common pathogens persisting in the tissues of these animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy.     

Research on abalone (Haliotis midae L.) cultivation in South Africa

Although abalone fisheries in South Africa have existed since 1949, cultivation started by successful spawning of captured specimens in 1981 to produce spat and juveniles. Twelve abalone farms, with an estimated investment of US$12 million, have since been established on the coast of South Africa, with a projected production of 500–800 tons. While Haliotis midae could reach a maximum size of about 200 mm shell length at an age of over 30 years in the wild, farm production is concentrating on an average size of 100 mm after 5 years. Growth rates of 0.08–4.5% body weight day ^?1 for abalone of 10–17 mm shell length have been found under stimulated farming conditions on formulated diets, while the corresponding feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 0.9–2.4. Growth rate, FCR and protein efficiency ratio decline at water temperatures above 20 °C. Anaesthetics, for example magnesium sulphate, are used to prevent injury during removal from tanks. Prostrate diatoms, such as Cocconeis sublittoralis (Hendey), Amphora proteoides (Hustedt) and Achnanthes brevipes (Agardh) are preferred after the larval stage (5–7 days, depending on temperature) are finished. South Africa abalone growers prefer formulated feeds in pellet form, which is convenience and cost favourable to farm operations and management. Although fish meal has been found to be the most suitable protein source for inclusion in formulated diets, plant proteins such as soy bean meal, cottonseed meal and sunflower meal presented good growth and apparent protein digestibility. The parasite sabellid polychaete, Terebrasabella heterouncinata, recently named by Australian and American researchers, is indigenous to a variety of South African intertidal molluscs and impedes growth by causing irritation beneath the mantle in abalone. Prevention to some degree is possible by high standards of hygiene and husbandry of abalone in the tanks, but new techniques to control large infestations now include ultrasound. In spite of a reputation for toughness, abalone meat frozen immediately after shucking is tender relative to red meat. The success of abalone farming in South Africa has been as a result of a high degree of cooperation between the private sector and government‐backed research institutions, and it is anticipated that this collaboration will continue.     

An evaluation of the Olsen test as a measure of plant-available phosphorus in grassland soils derived from basalt parent material

Abstract. Anecdotal and circumstantial evidence have suggested that the Olsen test underestimates plant-available phosphorus (P) in basaltic soils in Northern Ireland. Therefore, the ability of this test to predict plant-available P in basaltic (and non-basaltic) soils was investigated by regressing Olsen-P data against herbage P indices calculated from plant tissue test data using the diagnosis and recommendation integrated system. The average Olsen-P concentration for a range of fields situated on basaltic soils was considerably lower than the average Olsen-P concentration for a range of fields situated on non-basaltic soils, and yet mean sward P status, as given by the herbage P indices, was similar for both groups of fields. Herbage P indices were also much better correlated with Olsen-P measurements in non-basaltic soils than in basaltic soils. Furthermore, at low Olsen-P values (≶9mgPL⁻¹) some swards on basaltic soils were genuinely deficient in P, while others were sufficient or even in surplus for this nutrient. The results confirm that Olsen-P is inadequate as a predictor of plant-available P in basaltic soils. It is concluded that an alternative soil test is needed to provide a reliable assessment of plant-available P in basaltic soils, to prevent overuse of fertilizer and manure P and to minimize the amounts of P entering local watercourses.