Cutaneous neoplasia in 340 cats.

A total of 340 cases of cutaneous neoplasia were diagnosed in 340 of 3,564 cats that were examined by biopsy or necropsy during a 41-month period from January 1, 1986 through May 31, 1989. Eighteen types of tumor occurred, but four types comprised 77% of the cases. These were basal cell tumor, 89 cases (26%, mean age 10.3); mast cell tumor, 72 cases (21%, mean age 8.6); squamous cell carcinoma, 52 cases (15%, mean age 11.6); and fibrosarcoma, 50 cases (15%, mean age 10.2). For each of these four types of tumors, peak number of cases occurred in cats older than 10 years. Mast cell tumor was the only tumor diagnosed in cats younger than 1 year. The head was the most common site for basal cell tumors, mast cell tumors, and squamous cell carcinomas. The legs were the most common location of fibrosarcomas. Siamese cats had approximately three times as many mast cell tumors as statistically expected, but only one-fourth as many squamous cell carcinomas. Breed predilection for other skin tumors was not apparent. Sex predilection was not detected for any skin tumor.     

Pneumonia in calves produced with aerosols of Pasteurella multocida alone and in combination with bovine herpesvirus 1.

Pathological changes in respiratory tracts were studied in 30 calves following exposure to aerosols of Pasteurella multocida or to bovine herpesvirus 1 and P. multocida. Two groups of five calves were exposed to aerosols of one of two types of P. multocida only, which produced lobar pneumonia in one calf of each group. Another five groups of four calves were exposed to aerosols of bovine herpesvirus 1 and four to seven days later to one of the two types or one sub-type of P. multocida. Extensive necropurulent lesions were produced throughout the respiratory tract with each type of P. multocida in all four calves in three groups but none in the remaining two groups. The pathological changes differed from those produced following similar exposures to bovine herpesvirus 1 and P. haemolytica, in that the exudate in air passages and alveoli was more purulent and streaming (oat) cells and large mononuclear eosinophilic granulocytes were absent. This is the first report of experimental respiratory disease in cattle as a result of aerosol exposure to P. multocida alone or in combination with bovine herpesvirus 1.     

Effects of growth type on carcass traits of pasture- or feedlot-developed steers.

Carcasses of 342 steers of known genetic backgrounds from four fundamentally different growth types were developed either on pasture or feedlot regimens to study differences in carcass traits. Growth types were large framed-late maturing (LL), intermediate framed-intermediate maturing (II), intermediate framed-early maturing (IE), and small framed-early maturing (SE). Five calves from each growth type were assigned to each regimen in each year of a 9-yr study. Eighteen steers were removed from the study because of accident or illness. Data collected were preslaughter shrunk BW (SBW); hot carcass weight (HCW); chilled carcass weight (CCW); dressing percentage (DRESS); fat thickness at the 12th and 13th-rib interface (FAT); percentage kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH); longissimus muscle area (LMA); marbling score (MARB); quality grade (QG); and yield grade (YG). Differences in carcass traits reflected genetic differences among growth types. The LL steers had heavier BW, HCW, and CCW and larger LMA (P < .05) than steers of other growth types, regardless of development regimen. Among pasture-developed steer carcasses, IE and SE steers had higher (P < .05) MARB and QG than either LL or II steers. Carcasses of large framed-late maturing steers had the lowest (P < .05) MARB and QG of the growth types. Carcasses of the II, IE, and SE steers had a higher (P < .05) numerical value for YG than carcasses of the LL steers. Among the carcasses of the feedlot-developed steers, IE and SE steers had the highest (P < .05) MARB and QG. Carcasses from the IE and SE steers were fatter (P < .05) than those from LL or II steers. Carcasses of the LL steers had the lowest percentage of KPH of growth types developed in the feedlot. No difference was observed in KPH for carcasses of II, IE, and SE steers. The LL steer carcasses had the lowest numerical value for YG of all growth types. These data indicate that variation existed among carcass traits for the four growth types and that carcass traits influenced by fatness were greater and more attainable in the feedlot-developed steers using current methods of evaluation.     

Four cases of chondrodystrophy in fallow deer.

The gross and microscopic pathology in four cases of chondrodystrophy in a herd of captive fallow deer is described. The gross pathology was similar in all cases with shortening of all the bones, especially of the limbs, but at the microscopic level two distinct types of abnormality were present in the epiphyseal plates. In one type there was failure of proliferation of chondrocytes and in the other proliferation and vascularisation were irregular.     

The sequential appearance of sperm abnormalities after scrotal insulation or dexamethasone treatment in bulls.

Scrotal insulation and dexamethasone treatment were used as a model to compare the effect of testicular heating and stress on spermatogenesis. Insulation was applied to the scrotum of eight bulls (insulated) for a period of four days, eight bulls were treated daily for seven days with 20 mg dexamethasone injected intramuscularly, and four bulls were untreated controls. Semen from four bulls in each group was collected and evaluated over a six-week period after treatment. Blood samples for testosterone analysis were taken hourly for eight hours at the beginning and the end of the six-week period from the control bulls and before and after treatment from the four insulated and four dexamethasone-treated bulls that were not used for semen collection. At the end of the last blood sampling period, the four bulls in each group were castrated for the collection of testicular tissue for the determination of testosterone concentrations. Basal, peak episodic, and mean serum testosterone concentrations among control bulls, pre and postinsulated bulls, and pretreatment samples of dexamethasone-treated bulls were not different (p > 0.05); however, bulls that had received dexamethasone treatments had significantly lower basal, peak episodic, and mean testosterone concentrations (p < 0.05). Tissue concentrations of testosterone in control, insulated, and dexamethasone-treated bulls were not significantly different but tended to be lower in dexamethasone-treated bulls (p > 0.13). The spermiograms of the control bulls varied insignificantly over the six-week sampling period; however, there was a marked increase in sperm defects in insulated and dexamethasone-treated bulls. The types of sperm defects and the temporal relationships of rises and declines of sperm defects were quite similar for both treatments. All bulls recovered to approximately pretreatment levels of sperm defects by six weeks after the initiation of treatment. Results indicate that two of the most common types of insults to spermatogenesis in bulls, heat and stress, result in similar spermiograms.     

Uremic gastropathy in the dog.

Stomachs of four dogs with uremia and four normal dogs were examined. Uremic stomachs represented four types of disease: atrophic, amyloidotic, ulcerative and necrotic gastropathy. Pathologic changes common to all uremic stomachs were expansion of the lamina propria, atrophy of gastric glands, and submucosal arteriopathy; lesions were limited to body and fundic zones. Lamina propria was markedly expanded by edema, mastocytosis, deposition of acidic mucosubstances, fibroplasia and mineralization. Capillaries in lamina propria had swollen endothelium and calcium salts were present extracellularly as amorphous granular laminae. Gastric glands were distorted and irregular and had fewer cells per unit of tissue. Parietal cells were swollen and had fragmentation of cytocavitary network and mitochondrial swelling with calcification. Chief cells were shrunken, agranular and atrophic with foci of glycogen and dilation of endoplasmic reticulum. Argentaffin cell content was diminished. Muscular arteries of submucosae had segmental degenerative lesions characterized by myocyte necrosis, calcification, and deposition of acidic mucosubstances and fibrin; thrombosis and obstructive arteriopathy were common. These studies suggest that uremic gastropathy is a disease of mucosal lamina propria and that lesions were due to anoxia caused by diffuse vascular injury and to altered parietal cell function.     

四种不同类型鸡肉组织学特性的研究

本文研究了AA鸡、京白鸡、新浦东鸡和土杂鸡四种类型鸡的鸡肉 12个组织学性状 ,结果表明 :鸡肉组织学性状因品种 (类型 )、性别、部位的不同而有不同程度的差异 ,特别是品种 (类型 )间的差异比较明显 ;根据组织学性状运用综合指数法评定鸡肉品质 ,其优劣的排列顺序为 ;新浦东鸡、AA鸡、土杂鸡和京白鸡。     

Heterosis and recombination effects in Hampshire and Landrace swine: II. Performance and carcass traits.

Twelve different mating types among the Hampshire and Landrace breeds were used to determine direct, maternal, heterosis, and recombination effects for performance and carcass traits. Mating types used were two purebred, two F1, two F2, two F3, and four backcross. Carcass data were collected on 238 barrows and 262 gilts over four replications. Traits measured were length (LENG), 10th rib off midline backfat (BF10), longissimus muscle area (LMA), and dressing percentage (DRS%). Average backfat (AVBF) was calculated as the mean of three midline fat depths measured opposite the first rib, last rib, and last lumbar vertebra. The model used to evaluate the carcass traits included main effects of mating type, farrowing season, and sex and included slaughter weight as a covariate. The performance traits of ADG, feed efficiency (FE), daily feed consumption (DFC), lean gain per day (LNGN), and lean efficiency (LNEF) were measured on a pen basis. Comparisons of reciprocal F1 crosses showed that carcasses from pigs sired by Hampshire boars were leaner and had more LMA than those sired by Landrace boars. Heterosis percentages were significant for AVBF (7.2%; P less than .01), BF10 (8.8%; P less than .01), DRS% (1.5%; P less than .01), ADG (11.5%; P less than .01), DFC (10.2%; P less than .01), LNGN (10.6%; P less than .01), and LNEF (6.0%; P less than .05). Epistatic recombination losses in the offspring were significant for LENG (3.6 cm; P less than .05) and approached significance for BF10 (6.1 mm; P less than .10).     

Characterization of the Blood Cells of Australian Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus [SCHNEIDER] AND C. johnstoni [KREFFT])

Circulating blood of eight crocodiles (four Crocodylus porosus [SCHNEIDER], four Crocodylus johnstoni [KREFFT]) was examined by light microscopy, cytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The results were correlated and on that basis erythrocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes and three main types of granulocytes were characterized. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes were similar in appearance to those described for other reptiles. In addition, lymphocytes and monocytes had ultrastructural details similar to those described for the cells in man. The three main granulocytes were designated types I, II and III. Type III had characteristics which were similar to those described for the basophil. Types I and II were eosinophilic on blood films stained with Giemsa. On ultrastructural detail, and by comparison with ultrastructural reports for the granulocytes of the fowl and lizard (Agamia stellio), type I appeared to be similar to the heterophil but type II could not be characterized definitely. However, the crystalline array present in granules of type II has been recorded for eosinophil granules in man.     

Characterization of Salmonella spp. isolated from an integrated broiler chicken operation in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological and genetic characterization of persistent Salmonella isolates in an integrated broiler chicken operation, in an attempt to elucidate the source of contamination. From the breeder farm, the hatchery, the broiler farm and the chicken slaughter house of an integrated broiler chicken operation, a total of 6 serotypes were observed. Although S. Heidelberg was not detected in the broiler farm, it was consistently found in the breeder farm, the hatchery and the chicken slaughter house. Also, S. Enteritidis and S. Senftenberg were found in the hatchery and the chicken slaughter house, and the hatchery and the broiler farm, respectively. S. Gallinarum and S. Blockley were found only in the broiler farm, and S. Virchow was only recovered in the chicken slaughter house. Isolated S. Heidelberg, S. Enteritidis and S. Senftenberg strains were divided into 3, 5 and 7 types, respectively, on the basis of all properties. Especially, S. Senftenberg isolates, divided into four types by their antimicrobial resistance patterns, were all obviously the XbaI PFGE pattern. Also, four S. Enteritidis isolates resistant to nalidixic acid showed a difference in phage type and PFGE pattern. Such a different pattern was shown despite Salmonella isolates originating from an integrated broiler operation, suggesting that further epidemiological studies on many integrated chicken companies in Korea are needed.     

Pathology of experimental CV777 coronavirus enteritis in piglets. II. Electron microscopic study

Sixteen cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived piglets were infected oronasally with CV777 coronavirus on the second or third day of life. Two uninfected piglets were controls. After an incubation period of 22 hours to 36 hours, all principals showed severe diarrhea. The piglets were killed at different time intervals. Viral particles were found in the jejunal villous epithelial cells from 18 hours after infection until four days after the beginning of diarrhea. In the colonic epithelial cells, viral particles and degenerative lesions were found only in the piglet killed 36 hours after onset of diarrhea. Degenerative lesions in the enterocytes began at 18 hours after infection and were most pronounced in the jejunum at the onset of clinical signs. From 24 hours on after the onset of clinical signs, three cell types were found: degenerated virus-containing enterocytes; cuboidal cells; and columnar, highly vacuolated cells containing lipid droplets.     

Helicobacter spp. from captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

The gastric fluid of six bottlenose dolphins and the faeces of four polar bears from the same oceanarium were examined for the presence of Helicobacter. As detected by PCR, all dolphins and 8/12 samples collected from polar bears were positive for Helicobacter. Novel sequence types were identified in samples collected from these animals of which several were unique to either the dolphins or the polar bears. At least one sequence type was, however, detected in both animal taxa. In addition, a sequence type from a dolphin shared a 98.2-100% identity to sequences from other Helicobacter species from harp seals, sea otters and sea lions. This study reports on the occurrence of novel Helicobacter sequence types in polar bears and dolphins and demonstrates the broad-host range of some species within these animals.     

Cryopreservation of sheep red blood cells. 1. Experiments with polyvinylpyrrolidone and other protective agents

The protection of sheep erythrocytes at freezing temperatures was investigated using glycerol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), glucose and four different types of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as cryoprotective agents. Depending on type (molecular weight) and concentration good protection was obtained with PVP, whereas glycerol, DMSO and glucose were unsatisfactory. Recovery of cells after thawing was most successful when the cells had been frozen at a concentration of 1–2 × 10⁹ cells/ml. No cells tolerated freezing at −20 °G. Best results were obtained when the cells were frozen directly in liquid nitrogen (−196°G).     

Metabolism and hematology studies of intensively raised fattened lambs under various feeding and management conditions. 3. The effect of weaning age under various management conditions on the blood picture, serum mineral and bilirubin concentration and vitamin A concentration in the liver]

Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and bilirubin, blood picture and liver vitamin A were studied in six groups of lambs weaned at various ages and fattened under four types of management, in comparison with a control group. Results are shown in graphs and tables, with a comparison with conventionally fattened lambs. Age at weaning had no demonstrable effect on the parameters investigated.     

Development of a typing system for epidemiological studies of porcine toxin-producing Pasteurella multocida ssp. multocida in Denmark

The aim of the present study was to evaluate capsular-typing, plasmid-profiling, phage-typing and ribotyping for epidemiological studies of toxin-producing Pasteurella multocida ssp. multocida in Denmark. The evaluation of methods was based on 68 strains from nasal swabs and 14 strains from pneumonic lungs. Strains from lungs were all of capsular Type A, whereas strains from nasal swabs were of both capsular Types A and D. Only 9% of the strains contained plasmids, which could not be associated with antibiotic resistance. Phage-typing divided 61% of strains into 10 groups, while 39% were non-typable. CfoI ribotyping divided strains into four groups of which one type contained 94% of isolates. HindIII ribotyping divided strains into 18 types. A total of 18 strains from The Netherlands, UK and USA were subjected to HindIII ribotyping, resulting in 13 types of which six were identical to ribotypes of Danish strains. Phage-typing of isolates from an outbreak of atrophic rhinitis involving six herds in 1985 showed the existence of an epidemic strain. This type was recognised in the herd suspected of being the source of the infections and in four of the five infected herds. These findings were supported by HindIII ribotyping, as 85% of isolates from all herds were assigned to one ribotype. In conclusion, HindIII ribotyping seems to represent a useful tool for epidemiological studies of toxigenic P. multocida ssp. multocida.     

Attempts to restore abduction of the paralyzed equine arytenoid cartilage. I. Nerve-muscle pedicle transplants.

The purpose of this project was to adapt a surgical technique from humans and dogs to horses in which a portion of an accessory muscle of respiration and its nerve supply is transplanted to a denervated dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle. Anatomical dissections in seven horses revealed two possible donor nerve-pedicle grafts: the omohyoid and the sternothyrohyoid, both innervated by a branch of the first and second cervical nerves. Histochemical evaluations in two ponies of the dorsal cricoarytenoid, omohyoid and sternothyrohyoid muscles revealed similar proportions of fiber types 1 and 2 in all three muscles. Electromyographic studies in these two ponies revealed that the omohyoid and sternothyrohyoid muscles contract synchronously with respirations during forced inspiration under general anesthesia. Based on surgical ease of access, a 1 cm2 portion of the omohyoid muscle at the point of penetration of the second cervical nerve was used as a nerve-muscle pedicle graft in an attempt to reinnervate the left dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle in four ponies. These four ponies (as well as three others which served as controls) had previously undergone left recurrent laryngeal nerve transection. All seven ponies endoscopically showed signs of complete left laryngeal hemiplegia immediately postoperatively. Animals were monitored endoscopically for 30 weeks after surgery. The three control ponies showed no abduction of the arytenoid cartilage. In addition, in these three ponies, histological and histochemical expected changes of muscle fiber atrophy and fibrosis were present in the dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reptile neoplasia at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 1901-2002.

A retrospective study of neoplasia in reptiles held at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden was conducted. A total of 3,684 original necropsy reports for the period 1901-2002 were reviewed and revealed 86 cases of neoplasia. Original glass slides or re-cuts from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were examined for confirmation of the original diagnosis. At necropsy, a total of six neoplasms were identified in six of 490 chelonians (1.2%), 22 neoplasms in 19 of 736 lizards (3.0%), and 58 neoplasms in 53 of 1,835 snakes (2.9%). An additional 12 neoplasms were found in biopsies of one turtle and 10 snakes. In the chelonians, all the neoplasms were seen in turtles, four of six tumors were malignant (66%) and no organ predilection was noted. For lizards, the liver was the most commonly affected organ, with 7 of 22 primary neoplasms (31%). Multiple tumor types were identified in three lizards (15%), metastasis occurred in five cases (25%), and malignant tumors were identified in 16 cases (73%). In snakes, the liver was most frequently affected by neoplasia at necropsy, with 13 of 58 primary neoplasms (22%); multiple types of neoplasm were identified in five cases (10%) and metastasis in six (9%); and 42 tumors (80%) were diagnosed as malignant. When biopsies were included for snakes, however, the skin was the most commonly affected organ, with 17 of 69 neoplasms (24%). One of five lizards (20%) and four of six snakes (66%) with metastasis also had a second primary neoplasm. Since 1967, the incidence of lizard neoplasia has increased from 0.7% to 5.9%, and snake neoplasia has increased from 2.6% to 9.3%.     

Typing Listeria monocytogenes by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting.

Twenty epidemiologically unrelated Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from different animals, locations and on different dates in Japan were classified into 18 types by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting technique with four primers. Further, seven epidemiologically related L. monocytogenes strains isolated from raw milk and a bulk tank on a dairy farm represented the same RAPD type suggesting that they were all of the same origin. Therefore, RAPD-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, which is rapid, simple and inexpensive to perform, can be used in surveys as a convenient epidemiological technique.     

Identification of unreported putative new bovine papillomavirus types in Brazilian cattle herds

The amplification by degenerate primers FAP59/FAP64 and sequencing allowed the detection of 15 putative new BPV types in cutaneous warts as well as in healthy skin. Four of these isolates were recently recognized as new BPV types (BPV-7, -8, -9, and -10) after determination of their complete genome sequences. In Brazil, investigations involving the definition of BPV types present in skin warts are still rare. The aim of the current study was to identify the BPV types associated with cutaneous papillomatosis observed in Brazilian cattle herds. Twenty-two cutaneous papilloma specimens were submitted to PCR assay employing the FAP primer pair. All PCR products with approximately 480 bp were submitted to direct sequencing. Cloning was performed for the amplicons which prior analysis revealed as putative new BPV types. From 16 cutaneous lesions, BPV-1, -2, and -6 were identified in two, six, and eight papilloma specimens, respectively. In addition, four putative new BPV types were identified in other six skin warts, and then designated as BPV/BR-UEL2 to -5. The detection of the BPV-1, -2, and -6 types in skin wart specimens supports the existence of these BPV types throughout the Brazilian cattle herd. In addition, the identification of four putative new BPV types is the first report of the presence of different BPV types in the American continent.     

Molecular genotyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of restricted genomic DNA of strains of taylorella equigenitalis isolated in Ireland and in the United States

The profiles, after digestion with ApaI or NotI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), of genomic DNA from 18 strains of Taylorella equigenitalis isolated in Ireland were of three different types. The 13 strains in one of these types gave PFGE profiles identical to that of an American prototype strain, Kentucky 188, but different from strain NCTC11184^T and from a strain isolated in Japan.Eight additional strains isolated in the United States gave four distinct types of genomic PFGE profiles. All four types were different from that of T. equigenitalis NCTC11184^T or that of the Japanese strain. The profile of three strains of one type was identical to that of Kentucky 188.