Hypervitaminosis D in fur-bearing animals.

Investigations concerning the effect on fur-bearing animals of large doses of vitamin D3 were carried out. The material comprised 62 animals in all--10 silver foxes, 17 blue foxes and 35 mink (Table II). Daily doses of 5 IU vitamin D3/g body weight for two months did not produce clinical symptoms in the foxes. However, a short while after the dose was increased to 10 IU, the animals showed loss of appetite, had difficulty in moving, were apathetic and developed dark coloured faeces. Analysis of blood serum showed markedly raised calcium values (Table III). Calcium deposits were demonstrated in the kidneys and in some cases also in the musculature, gastric mucosa, bronchi and the larger blood vessels. No abnormal signs were shown by 30 mink which received 0.6--0.7 IU vitamin D3/g body weight for five months. PM findings were normal.     

Hypervitaminosis D in green iguanas

Two green iguanas, with a dietary supplement of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, had gross and microscopic lesions of hypervitaminosis D characterized by massive deposition of calcium salts in the media of elastic arteries and terminal nephritis. Hypervitaminosis is a malady that should be kept in mind in dealing with captive wild animals, especially when exact nutritional requirements are not known.     

Hypervitaminosis D in sheep. An experimental study.

A comparison of the picture of vitamin D intoxication in sheep caused by injection of vitamin D3 and the picture caused by injection of lα-OH-cholecalciferol was made. The clinical symptoms were moderate. Unwillingness to move and sensitivity to palpation of the flexor tendons of the forelegs were found during the last week of life. The clinical-chemical picture was characterized by a pronounced increase in inorg. P values and a less pronounced increase in Ga values. In the vitamin De-treated animals these increases appeared later and were less pronounced.At necropsy, vascular calcifications were found (Table 3). No macroscopical or histological differences between the effect of vitamin D3 and of lα-OH-cholecalciferol were demonstrated.     

Hypervitaminosis D and metastatic pulmonary calcification in a cow.

The history, clinical signs and post mortem findings in a cow with metastatic pulmonary calcification and calcific arteriosclerosis after vitamin D3 treatment are described.     

Hypervitaminosis A in the dog.

Toxic effects of excessive vitamin A and of excessive vitamin ADE were studied in 9 mixed Labrador Retriever pups. Clinical signs were loss of body weight, dullness, emaciation, roughened coat, evident pain in limb joints, and retarded growth. Radiologic changes were decreases in overall length and thickness of long bones, development of osteophytes, periosteal reaction, and premature closure of epiphyses. Pathologic changes were degenerative epiphyseal plate, hemorrhage and exostotic proliferation of periosteum, fatty liver, and microcalculi in kidney. Toxic effects of excessive vitamin A did not appear to be so great when it was administered as vitamin ADE.     

Hypervitaminosis A in a cat.

A 10-year-old cat that was kept on a diet consisting largely of raw liver was evaluated because of lethargy, partial anorexia, and weight loss of several months' duration. The cat's head and neck were rigidly extended, and a hard mass was palpable in the ventral cervical region. Cervical and thoracic radiography revealed proliferative bony lesions of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae as well as of the sternum and costal cartilages. Serum vitamin A concentration was 4 times normal. For reasons unrelated to hypervitaminosis A, euthanasia and necropsy were performed 6 months after evaluation. The skull and the cervical and first few thoracic vertebrae were rigidly fused, and the vertebral architecture was altered by deposition of new bone. The sternum and costal cartilages were similarly affected. The historical, physical, radiographic, laboratory, and postmortem findings were consistent with the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A. On the basis of findings in this cat, hypervitaminosis A should be suspected in any sick cat fed a diet consisting partly or completely of raw liver.     

Detection of streptococci from various serological groups in animals

During the period from 1985 to 1988 we determined 228 strains of streptococci isolated from samples of various sorts of biomaterials, mainly animals. From this set of streptococci we classified 207 strains into serological groups according to the Lancefield classification and about 30% strains into species by means of serological and biochemical methods. Most of the strains were allocated to group C (37.28%) and group Q (17.39%). 89 streptococci strains originated from pigs, 40 strains from horses, 13 from cattle, 12 from dogs, 9 from poultry and 8 from coypu. The other streptococci strains originated from other animal species or from different material. Most serological groups of streptococci were determined in pigs, less in cattle (7), in poultry (6), in dogs (6), in horses (5) and in coypu (3). Streptococci of the serological group Q were determined in as many as 9 animal species, group C in 8 species and group G in 6 species.     

RHDV在多种属动物体内分布及细胞免疫水平

应用纯化兔出血症病毒(Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus,RHDV),接种小鼠、豚鼠、SPF鸡、仔猪4d后剖杀,分离组织,通过电镜观察、血凝试验(HA)、RT-PCR,进行体内分布检测;同时将上述动物进行3次免疫,三免后10d分离外周血淋巴细胞进行IFN-γ、IL-4、WST检测病毒刺激指数(SI)。结果显示,通过电镜观察未见到病毒粒子;HA检测结果为肝脏的HA价最高,而肺脏最低;RT-PCR未检测到目的基因;WST检测结果免疫组刺激指数高于对照组;免疫组的IFN-γ和IL-4检测数高对照组。结果表明,RHDV在多种属动物分布规律相同,均能产生细胞免疫反应,为下一步试验奠定基础。     

Intestinal parasites in various animals at a zoo in Malaysia

A survey was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites from different groups of mammals housed in a zoological garden in Malaysia. A total of 197 faecal samples were collected randomly from various primates (99), hoofed mammals (70) and feline (28). It was discovered that 89.3% of feline, 54.5% of primates and 45.7% of hoofed mammals were infected with intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites found in primates were Balantidium coli (19.2%), Cryptosporidium spp. (14.1%), hookworm (10.1%), Trichuris spp. (5.1%), Ascaris (4.0%) and Blastocystis spp. (2.0%). For hoofed mammals, hookworm had the highest prevalence (34.3%) followed by Trichuris spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. (5.7%). Meanwhile, for feline, Toxocara cati was the most prevalent (64.3%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (14.3%), Spirometra spp. (7.1%), and hookworm (3.6%). Animals that were infected were all asymptomatic with low parasite load. Routine monitoring of the presence of parasites in animals kept in the zoo is imperative in assisting zoo management in the formulation and implementation of preventive and control measures against the spread of infectious parasitic diseases among animals within the zoo or to humans.     

Detection of staphylo-coagulase using plasmas from various animals

The effect of sources of Staphylococcus aureus and plasmas, concentration of plasma, temperature and duration of incubation on coagulase-test results was evaluated. Using S. aureus strains of food origin, the value of plasmas in coagulase tests was, in order of superiority, human and rabbit greater than pig greater than donkey greater than chicken greater than cattle greater than duck greater than goat greater than dog. However, with staphylococcal isolates of animal origin the order was cattle greater than pig greater than human greater than duck greater than goat greater than dog greater than rabbit greater than chicken greater than donkey. Regardless of the source of staphylococci, horse plasma was found unsuitable in coagulase tests as it clotted spontaneously. The temperature (25 and 37 degrees C), and duration of incubation and type of anticoagulant had no significant (P greater than 0.05, X2) effect on coagulase-test results. It is concluded that in testing staphylococcal isolates from various sources for coagulase production, it is imperative to use plasmas from several animal species whenever practicable as staphylococcal biotypes display variable ability to coagulate different plasmas.     

Nickel seminal concentrations in various animals and correlation to spermatozoa quality

In this study, the concentration of nickel in stallion, bull, ram, boar and fox semen, and its relation with spermatozoa quality was analyzed. The concentration of nickel in semen was 0.20 mg kg(-1) in stallion, 0.12 mg kg(-1) in bull, 0.31 mg kg(-1) in ram, 0.06 mg kg(-1) in boar and 0.36 mg kg(-1) in fox. Seminal nickel concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in foxes than that in bulls and significantly higher (P < 0.01) in rams and foxes in comparison with boars. Evaluation of total pathological spermatozoa revealed the highest number in stallions followed by rams, bulls, boars and foxes. In bull, ram and boar semen, separated flagellum, flagellum torso and knob-twisted flagellum were predominant. Knob-twisted flagellum, separated flagellum and flagellum torso were found in increased number in stallion semen and broken flagellum in fox semen. Correlation analysis in bulls indicated a high positive correlation between seminal nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.76) and medium positive correlation between nickel and flagellum torso (r = 0.62), and in rams a high positive correlation between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.77). Medium positive correlation was found between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.43) and between nickel and other pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.45) in boars.