Sphaerospora infection of American catfishes (Ictalurus punctatus and I. nebulosus) in Europe.

The occurrence in Europe of a Sphaerospora species described in North America is reported. Based upon its morphological characteristics, the parasite could be identified with the species S. hankai described from brown bullhead in Canada. This parasite was found to infect channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) cultured in farm ponds in Italy and brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) living in the supply channels of fish ponds in Hungary. The spores and sporogonic developmental stages were situated in the lumen of the renal tubules. In the authors' opinion, S. ictaluri described from channel catfish can be considered synonymous with S. hankai.     

Ixodes (Afrixodes) Neitzi, n. sp. (Acarina: Ixodidae) from the mountain reedbuck in South Africa

Ixodes (Afrixodes) neitzi n. sp. is described from females and males collected from the mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. Information is provided to distinguish this new species from other closely related Ixodes species that occur in the Ethiopian region. Its predilection sites are noted and the area in which it occurs is described briefly.     

Thyroid hyperplasia and musculoskeletal deformity in a standardbred filly in Ontario

Thyroid hyperplasia and musculoskeletal deformity, described in foals in western Canada, has not been recognized as a common cause of neonatal foal mortality in Ontario. A case is reported from Ontario, with clinical and histopathological findings consistent with the syndrome described in western Canada.     

Fractures of the distal femur in the dog and cat

A series of fractures of the distal femur in the dog and cat are described and classified anatomically from radiographs. Treatment is discussed and the long-term results of surgery in twenty-four cases are described.     

Leptospirosis in wildlife in Brazil: isolation of a new serotype in the pyrogenes group.

A new leptospiral serotype in the serogroup Pyrogenes is described. The strain was isolated from one gray "four-eyed" opossum (Philander opossum). It is proposed that the serotype be designated guaratuba, strain An-7705. The isolations of serotypes ballum from the South American field mouse (Akodon arviculoides), szwajizak and icterohaemorrhagiae from the North American opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), and grippotyphosa from many other wild animal species as well as domesticated animals are also described.     

Three new Chromadoropsis species (Nematoda,Desmodoridae) from Southern Africa and the North Sea

Three new Chromadoropsis species with four pharyngeal bulbi are described from Southern Africa, Namibia (S.W.A.) and the North Sea. C. granulosus sp.nov. is described from a sandy beach near Port Elizabeth. This species is characterized by a very distinct layer of yellow granules just below the cuticle. C. namibiensis sp.nov. is described from a sandy beach at Langstrand, Namibia. This species can be distinguished by the length and shape of the gubernaculum and spicules as well as the size of the capitulum. C. longispiculosa sp.nov. is described from the North Sea and is characterized by the long spicules and the presence of numerous porids. The genus Chromadoropsis Filipjev, 1918 is revised.     

Procamacolaimus tubifer Gerlach, 1953, Procamacolaimus africanus sp.nov. and Eontolaimus capensis gen.nov., sp.nov., (Nematoda,Leptolaimidae) from South Africa

A female and three males of Procamacolaimus tubifer Gerlach, 1953 are described and illustrated from Cape Receife Beach, Port Elizabeth. P. africanus sp.nov. is also described fromCape Receife Beach. It is compared with P. tubifer which it resembles but from which it can be differentiated by length of the buccal cavity, amphid size and the shape of the spicules. Eontolaimus capensis gen.nov., sp.nov. is described, also from the same sandy beach. This new genus is related to Deontolaimus papillatus de Man, 1880 from which it can be distinguished, among other things, by the absence of a tooth-like structure in the buccal cavity and the presence of pre-anal tubuli.     

Novel perineal approach for repair of a urethrorectal fistula in a bulldog

A urethrorectal fistula was diagnosed in a 10-week-old, intact male bulldog, presented with a history of urine dribbling from his anus. The fistula was ligated using a novel perineal approach, resulting in resolution of clinical signs. The described procedure is simpler and less invasive than previously described repairs.     

Haemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) in the cat

A case of haemophilia A (classical haemophilia, factor VIII deficiency) in a cat is described. The cat presented with persistent bleeding from an oral wound, and protracted haemorrhage after castration. The diagnosis and management of this case is described. Subsequent investigation of the dam and a recent litter identified a further affected male kitten.     

A feather-trap system for the removal of chicken feathers from laboratory sewage.

A simple feather-trap system is described for use on the drain lines of buildings housing poultry for research or other purposes where floors are frequently washed. The trap uses disposable plastic-mesh bags that can efficiently remove almost all feathers from the water, preventing sewer lines from being blocked by compacted feathers. Critical measurements and operational procedures are described.     

Inherited myopathy in a young Great Dane

A 3-year-old, male Great Dane was evaluated for an 18-month history of progressive weakness. Histologic evaluation of muscle biopsies revealed distinct cytoarchitectural changes that were indistinguishable from the central "core-like" structures previously described as central core myopathy in this breed. Clinical features of this inherited myopathy are described.     

Lamproglena hoi n.sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) from two yellowfish hosts, Barbus marequensis and Barbus polylepis, caught in a river in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Lamproglena hoi n.sp. species was collected from the gill filaments of largescale yellowfish, Barbus marequensis A. Smith, 1841 and smallscale yellowfish, Barbus polylepis Boulenger, 1907 from the Spekboom River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The genus Lamproglena is characterized. Morphological features of L. hoi are described and illustrated by means of drawings and scanning electron micrographs. This species is also compared with congener species described from other Barbus spp.     

The venous drainage of the cervical vertebrae of the ox (Bos taurus L.).

The venous drainage of the cervical vertebrae of the ox was studied in 16 animals (Friesland, Jersey and Guernsey cross-breeds), ranging from near full-term foetuses to adults. The extra- and intraosseous veins of the cervical vertebrae are described and illustrated. The nutrient vessels are derived from the vertebral, deep cervical, occipital and internal jugular veins. In addition to the dorsal and ventral external venous plexuses, a lateral external venous plexus is described. The intraosseous veins correspond in the main to the arteries. They are described and illustrated with reference to the available literature. In both young and adult animals anastomoses between epi- and metaphysial vessels are reported. The role of the internal ventral vertebral venous system as a collateral pathway is stressed and comments are made on its possible functional role.     

Transmissible Gastroenteritis of Swine in Ontario

An investigation of field outbreaks of transmissible gastroenteritis occurring in Ontario in 1967 and 1968 is described. Bacteria-free intestinal filtrates obtained from these outbreaks produced a clinical syndrome in pigs infected per os identical to that seen in field cases. The epizootilogical, pathomorphological and clinical signs in field cases and in experimental pigs were similar to those described in transmissible gastroenteritis in other countries.     

MYCOPLASMAS ISOLATED FROM CATTLE IN AUSTRALIA

Ninety-three mycoplasmas isolated in Australia from various pathological conditions in cattle and from healthy cattle were classified using the growth inhibition reaction. Eighty strains were placed in seven of the eight groups described by Leach (1967). The number of additional groups into which the 13 remaining strains may fall is not known. Cross-reactions not described previously were found between M. bovigenitalium and strains of group 7 (L2917).     

Application of event time analysis to replacement, health and reproduction data in dairy cattle research

Life data statistical methods are proposed for the analysis of dairy cattle production data representing the time from one event to another. The Kaplan-Meier estimator of survival is described and its applications to dairy cattle data are exemplified with data sets of replacement times, time from calving to first case of mastitis and time from calving to first insemination. All data sets include censored data from cows for which the event had not been observed at the end of lactation or data collection period. A method for modifying replacement times to a standard calving interval is presented. A simple non-parametric test of homogeneity in two samples is described.     

A light and electron microscopic study on abomasal globidiosis in Somali goats

Abomasum from apparently healthy Somali goats with globidiosis showed pin-head sized nodules embedded in the mucosa. The nodules consisted of encapsulated cysts, containing mature or immature schizonts. Glandular atrophy and lymphohistiocytic cell reaction were often found in the vicinity of these cysts. The fine structure of immature and mature cysts is described in details. The mature cysts contained elongated, spindle shaped merozoites (type I) or shorter, ovoidal merozoites (type II). Some mature cysts also had basophilic granular bodies among the merozoites. Type I and type II merozoites were morphologically different from those earlier described in goats.     

Molecular biologic methods for epidemiological precision characterization of disease agents using Salmonella enteritidis from poultry as an example

The principles of molecular biological methods for epidemiological investigation of infectious bacteria are described. They were applied for differentiating S. enteritidis isolates originating from poultry. Among the methods described are the determination of the chromosomal DNA fingerprints (BRENDA), the methods of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, plasmid profiles, and the outer membrane protein as well as lipopolysaccharide pattern. It turned out, that S. enteritidis strains isolated before 1987, in 1988 and the ones originating from Great Britain did not differ in anyone of these criteria. Consequently one has to assume, that the strains recently causing problems originate from the population of S. enteritidis which had existed in poultry before.     

A survey of the aerobic bacteria in the feces of captive raptors

Feces of 47 captive raptors belonging to the order Falconiformes or Strigiformes were cultured for bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria, which were cultured from the feces of 45 of the 47 raptors, were the most common isolates. A wide variety of species were identified, including a newly described genus (Moellerella wisconsensis), two newly described species (Escherichia fergusonii and Proteus penneri), and a member of a newly described enteric group (CDC Enteric group 41). Additional organisms identified that have not been reported in previous bacteriological surveys of raptors were Salmonella heidelberg, Salmonella braenderup, Morganella morganii, Yersinia ruckeri, Serratia spp., and Kluyvera sp. Escherichia coli, isolated from the feces of 42 of the 47 raptors, was the most frequently recovered. Streptococcus faecalis, the second most common isolate, was cultured from 30 birds. Several differences were observed between fecal bacteria isolated from raptors fed commercially prepared chicken and those isolated from raptors not fed chicken. The most obvious difference was that birds fed chicken had more varied gram-negative bacterial species and in greater numbers per fecal sample. The potential for the isolated bacteria from raptors as pathogens in humans and avian species is discussed.