Fungal dermatitis in captive pinnipeds.

Fungal dermatitis was diagnosed in two captive gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) and four harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) between 1992 and 1994. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Malassezia spp., and Yarrowia (Candida) lipolytica were isolated. Erythematous, thickened, alopecic skin lesions were present on the face and on the flippers, particularly around the nail bed. The two most important environmental factors associated with development of fungal dermatitis appeared to be excessive chlorination of pool water and warm water temperature.     

Distribution of tissue enzymes in three species of pinnipeds.

In domestic animal medicine, changes in serum enzyme levels are routinely used as diagnostic tools to detect liver disease. Hepatic disease occurs in pinnipeds, but limited data are available on the tissue distribution of serum enzymes in marine mammals. The objectives of this study were to determine the tissue distribution of seven serum enzymes in three pinniped species. Enzymes evaluated were alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in tissues from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) (n = 5), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (n = 5), and northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) (n = 5) that stranded and then died at a rehabilitation center. Samples were evaluated in duplicate from liver, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, kidney, adrenal, spleen, pancreas, lung, lymph node, and intestine. Patterns of tissue enzyme distribution were similar in all species, with SDH activity highest in liver and kidney, CK activity highest in skeletal and cardiac muscle, ALP activity highest in adrenal, and GGT activity highest in the kidney. Aspartate aminotransferase and LDH activities were less specific, with high activity in multiple tissues. Tissue ALT activity was high in the liver of all species, but was also high in cardiac muscle (California sea lions), skeletal muscle (harbor seals), and kidney (elephant seals). These results suggest that concurrent analysis of SDH, ALT, and CK would provide high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of hepatic lesions, and allow differentiation of liver from skeletal muscle lesions in pinniped species.     

Detection of a novel genotype of Cryptosporidium in Antarctic pinnipeds

A study was conducted to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Antarctic marine mammals. A total of 270 faecal samples from different species of pinnipeds from different locations in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula were analysed by immunofluorescence microscopy and PCR. Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR in three samples from Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) and 2 Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). However, no oocysts were observed in any of the samples by immunofluorescence microscopy. Molecular characterisation of the isolates, using the 18S rDNA, the HSP70 and the COWP loci, revealed the presence of a Cryptosporidium sp., previously reported from an Antarctic Southern elephant seal, in the elephant seals and a novel genotype in Weddell seals. Giardia could not be detected in any of the samples analysed.     

Colour‐Doppler ultrasound imaging as a laparoscopy substitute to count corpora lutea in superovulated sheep

This study evaluated colour‐Doppler ultrasound imaging (UI) as a substitute for laparoscopy to count the corpora lutea (CL) in superovulated sheep. Twenty‐five Santa Ines ewes were superovulated three times at 21‐day intervals. Corpora lutea were counted by colour‐Doppler UI (CL_DOPPLER) 6 days after each superovulation and confirmed by laparoscopy (CL_LAP) 12 hr later. The mean number of CL was similar for both techniques (2.1 ± 2.5 vs. 2.1 ± 2.7 for CL_DOPPLER and CL_LAP, respectively) with a significant positive correlation (r = .94; r²=.89). Colour‐Doppler UI effectively evaluated the ovarian response in superovulated ewes and efficiently identified animals that did not respond to superovulation.     

Ergosterol as a measure of fungus growth in fodder. I. Ergosterol content of grain

Ergosterol was determined as a chemical indicator of fungal biomass in wheat (w), barley (b), oats (o), and grain corn (c). In samples selected by microscopy and odour as an indicator of good mycological quality the following contents (mg/kg dry matter) were found: 1.96 +/- 0.72 (w), 2.43 +/- 0.82 (b), 2.42 +/- 1.4 (o), 0.61 +/- 0.37 (c). In cereals from farms in Baden-Württemberg (FRG) which were not selected by microscopy and odour 5.8 +/- 3.8 (w), 5.8 +/- 2.0 (b), 15.8 +/- 9.0 (o) mg/kg (year of harvest: 1984); and 3.5 +/- 1.9 (w), 3.9 +/- 1.4 (b), 9.9 +/- 3.6 (o) mg/kg (year of harvest: 1985) were found. Differences between years of harvest, between samples without and with selection, and between oats and the two other types of cereal are significant. Elevated ergosterol contents (as compared to those of selected samples) were found in 66 and 22% (w), 70 and 15% (b), 95 and 86% (o) of farm samples from 1984 and 1985, respectively. The more prolific mold growth in 1984 was mainly due to readier development of field fungi and can be explained by heavier rainfall. Almost all of the ergosterol contents described in literature for wheat and grain corn are in the range found in the present study.     

Assessment of the reliability of a technique to measure postural sway in horses

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of the center-of-pressure (COP) values obtained from a force platform for analysis of postural sway in horses. ANIMALS: Six 2-year-old horses that were free from lameness and neurologic disease. PROCEDURE: Horses stood stationary with all 4 hooves on a force platform; COP data were collected at 1,000 Hz and 3-dimensional kinematics collected at 60 Hz for 10 seconds. Five trials were recorded at each of 3 time periods (15-minute intervals) or at 1 time period on 3 separate days. Mean values for each set of 5 trials and actual, normalized, and relative COP variables were calculated. The reliability was quantified by use of agreement boundary. RESULTS: The COP results within and across days were similar and provided small agreement boundary limits (eg, across days, in order of least relative reliability: area, +/- 62 mm2; mediolateral range, +/- 8 mm; radius, +/- 2 mm; craniocaudal range, +/- 4 mm; and velocity, +/- 3 mm/s). Head height possessed the greatest relative intraday reliability (12%) but a high agreement boundary limit (+/- 0.15 m). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE; The use of a force platform to analyze postural sway in a group of young healthy horses was found to produce reliable results and may provide a simple and sensitive measure for assessing balance deficiencies in horses. Agreement boundaries provide 95% confidence intervals for use as limits of error and variability in measurements that, if exceeded, may signify meaningful effects.     

Limitations of ATP as a measure of microbial biomass

Estimates of the total living biomass of micro-organisms on decomposing kelp detritus, calculated indirectly from the concentration of ATP, were compared with those obtained directly from cell numbers and volumes. Large overestimates in biomass were obtained from ATP x 250, and C:ATP ratios varied considerably with time. This variation in the C:ATP ratio limits the use of ATP as a measure of microbial biomass.     

Evaluation of ultrasound for prediction of carcass fat thickness and longissimus muscle area in feedlot steers.

Four hundred fifty-two yearling steers from two experiments were measured for subcutaneous fat thickness and longissimus muscle area between the 12th and 13th ribs using real-time linear array ultrasound equipment. Ultrasonic predictions were compared to corresponding carcass measurements to determine accuracy of ultrasound measurements. In Exp. 1, 74% of the ultrasonic estimates of fat thickness were within 2.54 mm of carcass values (r = .81) and muscle area was predicted within 6.45 cm2 for 47% of all carcasses (r = .43). Although similar correlation coefficients between ultrasonic and carcass fat thickness were obtained in Exp. 2 (r = .82), estimates were more biased; only 62% of ultrasound estimates were within 2.54 mm of carcass measurements. Improvement in longissimus muscle area estimates was noted in Exp. 2, in which 54% of ultrasonic estimates were within 6.45 cm2 of carcass values (r = .63). The extremes for each trait proved most difficult to predict; fat thickness was underestimated on fatter cattle and muscle area was underpredicted on more heavily muscled steers. Ultrasonic measurements of fat thickness are precise and accurate in determining carcass fat thickness, but muscle area estimates are inconsistent and warrant further investigation.     

Extraneous egg shell calcification as a measure of stress in poultry

The incidence of eggs showing abnormal shell calcification amongst those produced by hens kept in individual battery cages, hens kept in battery cages in groups of 3 and hens kept in battery cages in groups of 4 was studied. There was good agreement between observers in the assessment of abnormal eggs. Hens kept in individual cages laid fewer abnormal eggs than hens kept in groups of 3 or 4. There was no significant difference in the incidence of abnormal eggs between hens kept in groups of 3 or 4. The results of this study support the idea that the incidence of eggs showing abnormal calcification may provide a quick and reliable method of measuring stress in hens which lay brown shelled eggs.     

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase as a measure of sporidesmin-induced liver damage in sheep

The relationship between serum concentrations of the enzyme gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) after experimental sporidesmin intoxication, and the severity of the liver damage seen on post-mortem examination of the liver, has been examined. Serum GGT activity in blood collected 2 to 3 weeks after ad-ministering the toxin is positively correlated to a subjective liver damage score and to losses in bodyweight associated with the intoxication. Determination of GGT activities provides a sensitive method for detecting and measuring liver damage in experimental sporidesmin poisoning. In the field, GGT determinations should prove useful in diagnosing liver damage associated with subclinical and clinical facial eczema giving additional information about the severity of the lesion.     

Utilization of the scrotum as a full thickness skin graft in a dog

A 1.5-year-old, intact, male dog was presented for degloving wounds to the distal pelvic limbs due to vehicular trauma. Treatment involved serial debridement of the wounds and use of the scrotal skin as a full thickness, meshed skin graft applied to the dorsal aspect of the left pes with a successful outcome.     

Use of ultrasound scanning to estimate teat wall thickness in Murciano-Granadina goats

To evaluate the ultrasound technique as a method for estimating the effect of mechanical milking on teat thickness in Murciano-Granadina goats, the following work was carried out with a twofold objective: (1) to study the most suitable ultrasound exploration frequency for this breed and the effect of the operator in applying the technique and (2) to validate the approach, comparing it with measurements taken by another estimation method (cutimeter) and performing ultrasound examinations in cows using the same methodology. To this end, three studies were designed. In the first study, 2 experiments were carried out: (a) the first (E1) tested the frequencies 5, 7.5 and 10 MHz; (b) the second (E2) tested the frequencies 3.5 and 5 MHz. In the second study, 2 different independent operators (OP) performed sonography on the same animals (E3), chose the best image of ultrasound examinations recorded as a video sequence (E4) and carried out measurements on ultrasound images (E5). In the third study, the technique tested in goats was applied in 10 Holstein cows (E6) and, finally, ultrasound scans were performed at 5 MHz frequency and cutimeter measurements taken in 63 goats (E7).