Arthrodesis of metatarsophalangeal joints in a dog

Chronic osteomyelitis and septic arthritis involving the 3rd and 4th metatarsophalangeal joints were diagnosed in a Doberman Pinscher. Arthrodesis of the 3rd and 4th metatarsophalangeal joints resulted in a subtle persistent gait abnormality, but limb function was preserved. Arthrodesis of metatarsophalangeal joints is an alternative to amputation, especially when main weight-bearing digits are involved.     

Pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) acclimated at two different temperature levels

The influence of temperature (10 degrees C and 20 degrees C) on pharmacokinetics and metabolism of sulphadimidine (SDM) in carp and trout was studied. At 20 degrees C a significantly lower level of distribution (Vdarea) and a significantly shorter elimination half-life (T(1/2)beta) was achieved in both species compared to the 10 degrees C level. In carp the body clearance parameter (ClB(SDM)) was significantly higher at 20 degrees C compared to the value at 10 degrees C, whereas for trout this parameter was in the same order of magnitude for both temperatures. N4-acetylsulphadimidine (N4-SDM) was the main metabolite of SDM in both species at the two temperature levels. The relative N4-SDM plasma percentage in carp was significantly higher at 20 degrees C than at 10 degrees C, whereas there was in trout no significant difference. In neither species was the peak plasma concentration of N4-SDM (Cmax(N4-SDM)) significantly different at two temperatures. The corresponding peak time of this metabolite (Tmax(N4-SDM)) was significantly shorter at 20 degrees C compared to 10 degrees C in both carp and trout. In carp at both temperatures, acetylation occurs to a greater extent than hydroxylation. Only the 6-hydroxymethyl-metabolite (SCH2OH) was detected in carp, at a significant different level at the two temperatures. Concentrations of hydroxy metabolites in trout were at the detection level of the HPLC-method (0.02-micrograms/ml). The glucuronide metabolite (SOH-gluc.) was not detected in either species at the two temperatures.     

Familial stomatocytosis--hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), a newly recognised disease in the dog (Drentse patrijshond)

A newly recognised disease, which we have given the provisional name of familial stomatocytosis-hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), is described in two families of dogs of the Drentse partrijshond breed. The affected dogs consisted of 3 females and 5 males, 3 to 19 (mean 9.5) months of age at admission. The main clinical problems were diarrhoea, icterus, and ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs. Laboratory evaluation revealed abnormal red cell shape (stomatocytosis), increased osmotic fragility, haemolytic anaemia, and increased liver enzymes and serum bilirubin. Gastroscopic and histopathologic examination of the gastric mucosa revealed hypertrophic gastritis resembling Ménétrier's disease in man. Histologic findings in the liver were suggestive of progressive liver disease. Cysts were found in the kidneys of the five oldest patients. Electroneurography in 2 dogs revealed polyneuropathy. In the parents of 2 patients (sister and brother), there were no clinical or laboratory abnormalities. An autosomal recessive hereditary defect of lipid metabolism is suspected.     

Mystery swine disease in The Netherlands: the isolation of Lelystad virus.

In early 1991, the Dutch pig-industry was struck by the so-called mystery swine disease. Large-scale laboratory investigations were undertaken to search for the etiological agent. We focused on isolating viruses and mycoplasmas, and we tested paired sera of affected sows for antibodies against ten known pig viruses. The mycoplasmas M. hyosynoviae, M. hyopneumoniae, and Acholeplasma laidlawii, and the viruses encephalomyocarditis virus and porcine enterovirus types 2 and 7 were isolated from individual pigs. An unknown agent, however, was isolated from 16 of 20 piglets and from 41 of 63 sows. This agent was characterised as a virus and designated Lelystad virus. No relationship between this virus and other viruses has yet been established. Of 165 sows reportedly afflicted by the disease, 123 (75 per cent) seroconverted to Lelystad virus, whereas less than 10 per cent seroconverted to any of the other virus isolates or to the known viral pathogens. Antibodies directed against Lelystad virus were also found in pigs with mystery swine disease in England, Germany, and in the United States. We conclude that infection with Lelystad virus is the likely cause of mystery swine disease.     

The prevalence and identity of Sarcocystis cysts in cattle in Belgium

Muscle tissue from the oesophagus, diaphragm and heart of 100 cattle slaughtered in Belgium was examined for Sarcocystis infection by microscopic examination of tissue and artificial digestion. Intact sarcocysts or cystozoietes were recovered from 97% of the cattle examined. There was a difference in sensitivity between the method (digestion or histology) used and the muscle processed. The digestion of the oesophagus muscle resulted in the highest number of positive animals whereas the heart muscles contained most cysts during histological examination. Thin-walled cysts were recovered from all positive animals especially in the heart and they were indistinguishable from those of S. cruzi. Thick-walled cysts were recovered from 56% of animals but these could not be identified as S. hirsuta and/or S. hominis on morphological grounds. A correlation between pathological changes and the infection grade could not be proved.     

Alteration of nitrogen metabolism by alpha-ketoglutarate administration in growing lambs fed high nonprotein nitrogen-containing diets

Two completely randomized design experiments were conducted, using either 10, 38-kg (Exp. 1) or 10, 26-kg (Exp. 2) Hampshire x Western wether lambs, to study the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) administration on N metabolism. Lambs were fed 890 and 885 g DM/d in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, of corn-cottonseed hull basal diets with urea added to attain CP levels of 10.6 and 10.5% in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Experiments consisted of 10 d of adaptation followed by 7 d of infusion and excreta collection. Lambs were infused continuously either i.v. (Exp. 1) or abomasally (Exp. 2) with control solutions (CON) or solutions containing 41.3 g AKG/d (AKG). In Exp. 1, fecal and urinary N excretion and N retention were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment. Compared to CON in Exp. 2, AKG infusion increased (P less than .10) fecal N output (6.6 vs 5.9 g N/d) but did not affect (P greater than .10) the amount of N retained (4.4 vs 3.5 g N/d). Compared to CON, AKG increased (P less than .10) urinary NH3 N excretion in Exp. 1. Serum urea N was lower (P greater than .10) for AKG than for CON in Exp. 1 but was not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, AKG appeared to reduce activities of several serum enzymes that function in amino N metabolism. In Exp. 1, compared to CON, AKG decreased (P less than .10) aspartate but increased (P less than .10) asparagine in serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hepatic lipidosis in pregnant cows on a dairy farm.

A syndrome very similar to hepatic lipidosis is described in dairy cows during the dry period. After being sent to pasture the animals did not eat well for undetermined reasons. The disease phenomena were mainly observed in animals carrying twins. At post mortem examination severe falty infiltration was found in the 3 animals made available for post mortem examination. Increase of the energy supply to the dry cows by addition of maize silage to the ration prevented new cases.     

Quantitative Aspects of Thyroid Scintigraphy With Pertechnetate (99mTcO4) in Cats

Thyroidal ^99mTcO₄(pertechnetate) uptake percentages were determined in unanesthetized euthyroid (n = 13) and hyperthyroid (n = 18) cats. Maximal uptakes were observed 60 minutes after IV injection of the radionuclide and ranged from 0.3 to 3.9% of the dose in euthyroid cats (median 2.23%) and from 5.2% to 23.9% of the dose in hyperthyroid cats (median 14.8%) ( P < .05). There were no overlaps in pertechnetate uptake percentages during any of the intervals evaluated. It is concluded that the optimal time for visualization of the thyroid by ^99mTcO₄-scanning is 60 minutes after IV injection of the radionuclide. Calculation of the percentage uptake is of additional diagnostic value.     

Aerosol transmission of arthropathic and amyloidogenic Enterococcus faecalis.

One-day-old brown layer chicks were exposed to an aerosol of an arthropathic and amyloidogenic Enterococcus faecalis strain alone or after being subjected to treatment with formaldehyde gas (100-200 ppm). Four-day-old chicks were also treated with the same aerosol but after treatment with a Newcastle disease vaccine virus (NDVV) aerosol or intramuscular injection with methylprednisolon at day 1. The same E. faecalis strain was inoculated intramuscularly in day-old chicks as positive control. Bacteremia with time showed that 24 hr after the aerosol the day-old exposed chicks had the highest rate of positive blood cultures (70%-80%). Lower numbers of bacteremic birds at this point in time were found in the chicks treated with E. faecalis aerosol at day 4 (3/10 in the methylprednisolon-treated group and 0/10 in the NDVV-treated group) and the E. faecalis intramuscular-injected group at day 1 (2/10). Formaldehyde gas treatment did not favor the occurrence of bacteremia. NDVV aerosol exposure or injection with corticosteroids did not favor the occurrence of bacteremia 24 hr after E. faecalis aerosol exposure at day 4 either, although 66 days after aerosol, one bird (1/14) treated with NDVV showed bacteremia. A few bacteremic birds were found 10 days after aerosol in the NDVV- and methylprednisolon-treated groups, whereas at 14 days after aerosol, one bacteremic bird was seen in the group subjected to E. faecalis aerosol at day 1, indicating the occurrence of chronic bacteremia. In contrast to the E. faecalis intramuscular-inoculated birds, no joint pathology was seen in the aerosol-exposed groups in spite of the occurrence of chronic bacteremia.