An investigation into the origin of the first fraction of the canine ejaculate

Histological examination of the reproductive tract of the male dog failed to identify glandular tissue other than the prostate gland and its disseminated portion. A biochemical study of the three fractions of the ejaculate demonstrates similarities between the first and the third fractions. The composition of three ejaculates collected over 12 hours indicated that storage of prostatic secretion was a possible explanation for the biochemical differences observed. It is suggested that both the first and third fractions originate from the prostate gland.     

Studies on canine anaemia in Ibadan: aetiology

During a study on 500 dogs in Ibadan, 136 (27.2%) were found to be anaemic. Fifty-two of these were associated purely with blood parasites, twenty-one with hookworm infection, while ten were associated with a mixture of blood parasitism and hookworm infection. Seventeen cases were associated with various conditions such as traumatic wounds, transmissible venereal tumour, nephritis, taeniasis, anal gland adenoma, idiopathic epistaxis and lice and fleas infestation. The cause of anaemia in thirty-six cases could not be diagnosed.
The blood parasites of definite aetiological significance were Babesia canis, B. gibsoni and Haemobartonella canis . The role of Eperythrozoon species and trypanosomes could not be readily assessed since they occurred concurrently with hookworm.     

An immunologic investigation of canine eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy

Immunologic variables in dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) have not been extensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and to perform phenotypic subtyping of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood (PB) of 12 dogs with EBP at the time of diagnosis (TD) and to compare these data with those obtained in healthy dogs, as well as in EBP dogs after antibiotic therapy (TAB) and during corticosteroid treatment (TM). Matched samples of serum and BALF were used to determine Ig concentrations (IgG, IgM, and IgA) by capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), from which a secretory index (SI) was calculated. Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in the BALF and PB by flow cytometry. Log values of BALF IgM and IgA were significantly higher (0.64+/-0.05 and 1.06+/-0.13, respectively) in EBP dogs at TD than in controls and then tended to decrease at TM (0.55+/-0.03 and 1.02+/-0.17, respectively). A calculated SI for IgA was not significantly increased. In the BALF of dogs with EBg the CD4: CD8 was significantly (P < .05) higher (22.6+/-30.3) than in controls (3.2+/-1.9), due to significantly higher CD4+ T cells and lower CD8+ T cells. At TM, the BALF T-cell percentages returned to normal (2.4+/-0.6). We propose that the influx of eosinophils into the airway of dogs with EBP is at least in part mediated by cytokines derived from CD4+ T cells. Further studies of canine cytokines and chemokines will help determine whether canine EBP involves type I hypersensitivity mechanisms regulated by Th2 lymphocytes.     

Some causes of diarrhoea in the dog

The basic cause of diarrhoea is explained. The present high incidence of intestinal syndromes in dogs is mentioned and an analysis is given of the cases seen during a year at the University of Bristol Veterinary School. Some of the commoner clinical entities which give rise to diarrhoea are described. Résumé. On explique la cause basique de la diarrhée. On fait mention de l'incidence actuelle élevée de syndromes splanchniques chez les chiens et on donne une analyse des cas vus au cours d'une année à l'École Vétérinaire de l'Université de Bristol. On décrit quelques-unes des entités cliniques les plus communes qui provoquent une diarrhée. Zusammenfassung. Die Hauptursache für Durchfall wurde erklärt. Das augenblickliche hohe Vorkommen von viszeralen Syndromen in Hunden ist erwähnt und eine Analyse von Fällen die man ein Jahr lang in der tierärztlichen Schule der Universität Bristol behandelte, wurde ver-öffentlicht. Einige der gewöhnlicheren klinischen Entitäten die Durchfall verursachen, sind beschrieben.     

An immunohistochemical investigation of canine idiopathic granulomatous scleritis

The clinical, histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings in three dogs with granulomatous scleritis are reported. The lesions of granulomatous scleritis were characterized by vasculitis, collagenolysis, granulomatous inflammation and perivascular lymphoplasmacytic aggregation. There was evidence of vascular immune complex deposition, and the inflammatory aggregates contained T lymphocytes, IgG plasma cells and macrophages expressing class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). There was no evidence for an infectious etiology in any case, and one of the dogs subsequently developed cutaneous vascular disease consistent with a systemic immune-mediated disorder. Canine granulomatous scleritis has an immunopathogenesis likely involving primary type IV hypersensitivity, with a probable underlying type III involvement.     

An investigation into the causes of low calving percentage in communally grazed cattle in Jericho, North West Province

The communal grazing system is generally understood to have a low input, low output type of management. However, the actual inputs and outputs of the farmers are not well known and the farmers are often unaware of their problems. Although the causes of low calving percentage are well understood in commercial beef farming enterprises in South Africa, the same is not true for communal farming systems. The aim of this study was to determine the reproductive performance of beef cattle on a communal farming system in Jericho, North West Province. Ten farmers from five villages with a total of 265 cows and 13 bulls were purposively selected. The selection criteria were that each farmer had to have a minimum of 10 breeding cows and a bull and be willing to participate in the study. This was followed by a 12-month longitudinal study with monthly herd visits where cows were examined rectally and bulls (n = 13) were subjected to a single breeding soundness evaluation. The calving percentage was found to be 37.7%. This is lower than the recorded percentages for commercial beef cattle on extensive grazing. The factors playing a role in low calving percentage were ranked using field data. From this it appeared that failure of cows to become pregnant was the main cause of poor calving percentage as opposed of loss of calves through abortion or resorption. Sub-fertility of the bulls was found to be of great significance and it is proposed that this be included in extension messages and that bulls be fertility tested routinely. Poor body condition score of cows, mainly caused by poor management, was also considered to play a major role in reducing pregnancy rates. Infectious diseases like trichomonosis, campylobacteriosis and brucellosis played a much leser role than anticipated.     

An investigation of bacterial causes of arthritis in slaughter hogs.

Joints from 153 arthritic and 80 normal slaughter hogs were examined by culture for presence of bacteria. Although none of the normal joints yielded bacteria, 37% of the disease joints were positive for bacterial growth. Of 67 bacterial isolates obtained, 45% were Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Occurrence of other bacteria in order of their frequency was Streptococcus suis (16%), Actinomyces pyogenes (10%), Mycoplasma spp. including 3 M. hyorhinis isolates (7%), staphylococci (7%), Streptococcus spp. (6%), and organisms of uncertain significance (7%).     

An inquiry into the causes of liver damage in lambs

The lamb slaughter records of a large private abattoir showed that a small minority of farms had a lamb liver rejection rate exceeding 40 per cent. Small sheep farms were most likely to have high rejection rates and farms producing both lambs and pigs had relatively high lamb liver rejection rates. In a farm survey statistical analysis showed that the spreading of pig slurry, access to the grazing land by hunts and the infrequent use of dog cestocides were factors significantly linked to high lamb liver rejection rates. A survey of 4000 lambs' livers confirmed the importance of Cysticercus tenuicollis as a cause of rejection. Fifty-two per cent of the livers had lesions which could not be identified but showed histological similarities to ascarid lesions.     

An investigation of the causes of parturient calf mortality in Shorthorn heifers

A study of parturient calf mortality in a herd of 250 Shorthorn cattle on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales is reported. Death rates as high as 44% from heifer groups are described. There were 30 parturient deaths of which 27 were confirmed as due to maternal dystocia. Pathological changes in many of the dystocia-caused deaths were minimal, but a congested, swollen tongue was a definitive lesion. The death rate was not significantly higher in heifers mated at 14 to 16 months of age than in those mated at 20 to 22 months, but significantly more male than female calves died from maternal dystocia. As two dead calves were affected with goitre, a comparative trial using parenteral iodine was designed. Ratios of thyroid weight to calf body weight were examined for 24 of the calves where the mean was 0.52 gm/kg. Goitre was found not to be a contributing factor to the calving mortality problem. The use of a Jersey bull for heifer matings eliminated the dystocia problem. The Jersey cross allowed safe, early mating at 14 months of age.     

Emerging causes of canine lameness.

Most orthopedic conditions that affect dogs are well described established conditions. Often, the current literature is focused on refinements in diagnosis, treatment, and management of these conditions. Improvement in worldwide reporting of emerging conditions offers veterinarians a greater awareness of new conditions as they occur. This article compiles into a single source what has been reported for five newly described disorders.     

犬细小病毒PCR诊断方法的建立及对大熊猫粪便的检测

根据GenBank中登录的犬细小病毒(CPV) VP2基因序列,设计合成1对特异性引物;以CPV疫苗株为模板,建立了一种快速检测CPV的PCR检测方法,并应用于CPV诊断.结果显示,以此对引物进行PCR扩增能得到与理论设计值大小一致的342 bp的特异性条带,对犬瘟热病毒(CDV)、犬冠状病毒(CCV)、狂犬病病毒(RV)、新城疫病毒(NDV)和猫泛白细胞减少症病毒(FPV)扩增结果均为阴性;最低可检出约1.4 pg的病毒核酸;重复性试验结果表明,其检测重复性好;对45份临床宠物犬病料进行检测,并与免疫胶体金抗原检测拭纸捡测结果进行比较,吻合率为90.0％.将此方法初步应用于大熊猫粪便中细小病毒的检测,结果表明,从熊猫基地采集的52份正常大熊猫粪便样品中有8份为细小病毒阳性,阳性率为15.3％.大熊猫是通过自然感染还是弱毒苗感染细小病毒的机制还不清楚.     

An investigation into causes of resistance of a cloned line of BHK cells to a strain of foot-and-mouth disease virus

The reduced ability of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain Asia 1 Iran 1/73 to replicate in the cloned BHK cell line AA7 was not due to lack of virus attachment at the cell surface. Instead, the main restriction in the viral growth cycle occurred during synthesis and processing of viral macromolecules, and/or during the earliest stages of their assembly. Reduced efficiency of penetration and uncoating of virus attached to the cells may also have contributed to inhibition of virus replication. Viral components or subviral particles did not accumulate and defective interfering particles were not detected. The reduced number of infective virions produced was released from infected cells at the normal rate. No interferon production could be demonstrated.     

Immunohistochemical investigation of canine episcleritis

OBJECTIVES: To identify macrophages, B cells and T cells in archived canine episcleral biopsies and to correlate these findings with the clinical presentation and therapeutic outcome. PROCEDURES: Archived formalin-fixed biopsies were immunohistochemically labeled for CD18, CD79a, and CD3 to identify macrophages, B cells and T cells, respectively. Slides were digitally photographed and positive cells were manually counted. Signalment, duration of illness, affected eye(s), treatment, and therapeutic outcome were reviewed for each dog. Dogs were divided into groups based on clinical presentation (unilateral episcleritis, bilateral episcleritis or nodular granulomatous episclerokeratitis (NGE). RESULTS: Twenty-four cases were evaluated. There were 19 episcleritis (13 unilateral, six bilateral) and five NGE cases. The mean age for clinical manifestations of unilateral episcleritis was 6.8 years, bilateral episcleritis was 8.7 years, and NGE was 3.8 years. The Cocker Spaniel was over-represented in the episcleritis groups. All NGE cases were Collies. Approximately 50% of the unilateral episcleritis cases resolved and did not require long-term therapy. Almost all cases of bilateral episcleritis and NGE required continuous medical therapy to maintain remission. There was a significantly higher percentage of B lymphocytes in biopsies from lesions that required ongoing medical therapy to maintain lesion remission than in the lesions that resolved, and for which medications were discontinued (P = 0.0471). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for resolution of NGE and bilateral episcleritis without long-term medical therapy is poor. There is a significant difference in the inflammatory cell population in episcleritis that resolved with medical therapy vs. episcleritis that required ongoing medical therapy.     

An investigation of the role of immunologic factors in anemia associated with canine heartworm disease

Direct Coombs' antiglobulin tests were performed on 80 dogs with patent Dirofilaria immitis infection and 170 dogs negative for microfilaria of D. immitis. Presence or absence of anemia was determined by hematocrit in 55 of the heartworm negative dogs and 68 of the dogs with heartworm disease. Heartworm infected dogs showed a higher incidence (37%) of anemia than noninfected dogs (14.5%). Anemia was most prevalent in two groups of dogs with heartworm infection, one group showing vena caval syndrome (91%) and the other occult dirofilariasis (62.5%). These latter two groups of dogs also showed a significantly higher number of positive Coombs' reactions at 37 degrees C than other dogs with heartworm disease and the noninfected dogs. The number of positive Coombs' reactions at 4 degrees C among the total of 80 dogs with heartworm infection was significantly higher than that for dogs without heartworm disease. However, there was no positive correlation between anemia and the outcome of the Coombs' test at either temperature. These findings do not suggest that immunologic factors play a major role in the pathogenesis of anemia in dogs with heartworm disease.     

An investigation into the feasibility of interspinous injections in the horse

Injections of substances into the interspinous spaces between the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae cannot be practically achieved in the horse.