Lipomatous infiltration of the canine salivary gland

Benign connective tumours of the canine salivary glands are rare. This report describes lipomatous infiltration of parotid or submandibular salivary glands in seven dogs in which the glands were enlarged as a result of infiltration by fat cells; they appeared to have been successfully treated by local excision. The precise cause of the lipomatous infiltration in the dogs is unclear but different causes of similar lesions in humans are discussed.     

Corneal concentrations and preliminary toxicological evaluation of an itraconazole/dimethyl sulphoxide ophthalmic ointment

The objectives of this study were to determine the concentration of itraconazole achieved in corneal tissue and aqueous humour after topical application of a 1% itraconazole ointment; to determine the effect of including dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in the ointment on achievable ocular tissue itraconazole concentrations; and to assess if any gross or histopathologic ocular toxicity results from the topical application of 1% itraconazole with or without the addition of DMSO.
The experimental trial consisted of 6 horses considered to have normal eyes. Each horse had one eye treated with 0.3 mL of 1% ultra-micronized itraconazole ointment and the fellow eye with 0.3 mL of 1% itraconazole/30% DMSO ointment. The ointment was applied every 6 h for a total of 28 treatments. Both ointments were well tolerated and no gross or histopathologic abnormalities developed during the trial.
Corneal tissue and aqueous humour concentrations of itraconazole were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Corneal tissue concentration averaged 1.1 (± 0.4) μg/g in horses treated with the 1% ultra-micronized itraconazole ointment and 7.9 (± 3.3) μg/g for those treated with the 1% itraconazole/30% DMSO ointment; there was a statistically significant difference between ointments ( P = 0.005) No itraconazole could be detected in the aqueous humour in either treatment group.     

Epoxy Putty for Free-Form External Skeletal Fixators

Objective —To evaluate the suitability of epoxy putty for use as a connecting beam material in a free-form external skeletal fixator.
Design —Mechanical evaluation of beams and the pin-material interface of commonly used methacrylates and the proposed epoxy putty.
Procedure —The apparent modulus, bending strength, and toughness of 10 beams of three methacrylates (Technovit, APEF System, Bone Cement) and three epoxy putties (Oatey Epoxy Putty, All-Metals PowerPoxy, and Plumber's PowerPoxy) were determined in three-point bending. The shear strength of smooth and roughened-shaft pins embedded in the three methacrylates and the Oatey Epoxy Putty was determined by pull-out testing.
Results —The epoxy putties had similar strength, greater apparent modulus, and reduced toughness when compared with the methacrylates. The shear strength of the smooth pin interface with the Oatey Epoxy putty was greater than that with the methacrylates. The interface with roughened pins was much stronger than that with smooth pins for all materials tested.
Clinical Relevance —Epoxy putty is a suitable material for free-form external fixators. It is easy to handle, inexpensive, and has suitable setting times and mechanical properties.     

The effects of non-specifically activated immunity in rabbits on primary infestation with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi

The secondary antibody response to sheep red blood cells and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was measured in rabbits infested with adult Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. The response was reduced (particularly for BSA) but still displayed anamnestic characteristics. Resistance against ixodid ticks associated with antibodies detected by gel diffusion and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques early in the primary challenge was acquired by the immunized hosts only. This suggests that a non-specifically activated immune system enables hosts to develop rapid resistance against tick parasitism.     

Intraruminal administration of milk in the calf as a model for ruminal drinking: Morphological and enzymatical changes in the jejunal mucosa

In order to develop a calf model for studying the syndrome of ruminal drinking (RD) in veal calves, three dual-fistulated calves were used to test the effect of intraruminal administration of milk replacer on the jejunal mucosa. Biopsies of the proximal jejunal mucosa were taken through a jejunal fistula and the mucosal morphology and the activities of two brush border enzymes, lactase and alkaline phosphatase, were determined.Means of villus length and brush border enzyme activities decreased during the period of intraruminal administration of milk. The hyperplastic villus atrophy in this model was similar to that found in chronic RD patients in previous studies. This could not be associated with isolation of pathogenic micro-organisms from the faeces and is probably the consequence of the intraruminal milk feeding procedure itself.Clinical recovery from the signs of RD occurred rapidly after intraruminal administration of milk ceased and was followed by restoration of villus length and brush border enzyme activities 3–4 weeks later.     

Airway hypersensitivity induced by Ascaris suum extract in New Zealand Romney sheep

Sheep from local farms with and without previous exposure to pigs were tested for their skin and airway responses to a commercial Ascaris suum antigen. There was an immediate reaction to intradermal injection of the antigen in 90% of 101 sheep. A bronchial provocation test by aerosol of the same antigen was undertaken on 43 of the sheep with a positive skin reaction. About 70% of sheep showed an immediate airway response to the antigen as an aerosol, reflected as a significant increase in airway resistance and/or decrease of dynamic lung compliance. The mean peak airway resistance and mean lowest dynamic lung compliance were 165% above and 61% below their baselines, respectively. No significant changes were recorded when the same animals were given an aerosol of phosphate buffered saline. Similarly, no correlation was found between the degree of skin reaction and the magnitude of bronchoconstriction (p>0.05). The sheep with previous exposure to pigs showed no significant differences in airway responses to antigen challenge, although they showed significantly greater skin reactions than those without exposure to pigs. These results indicate that the majority of Romney sheep in the Manawatu have a natural skin and airway sensitivity to A. suum antigen and may therefore be used as an animal model to study human airway hypersensitivity. The origin of this sensitivity has yet to be determined.     

First identification of reciprocal translocations in Polish pigs

SUMMARY: Two different reciprocal translocations, rcp (8;14) (p21;q25) and rcp (7;13) (q13;q46), were described for the first time in Poland in the Polish Landrace and Duroc pigs. Observation of synaptonemal complexes showed the presence of a quadrivalent composed of translocational chromosomes and their homologues. Individuals carrying translocations were characterized by normal external appearance and correct semen parameters. Analysis of fertility made on the basis of litter size demonstrated that fertility decreased by 25% in the carrier of translocation rcp (8;14) and by 52% in the carrier of translocation rcp (7;13). ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Zum erste mal festgestelte gegenseitige Translokationen bei Schweine in Polen Bein Polnischen Landras und Duroc Schweinen wurden zum erstenmal in Polen, zwei verschiedene reciproke Translokationen-rcp (8;14) (p21;q25) und rcp (7;13) (q13;q46)-festgestellt. Anhand der Beobachtungen des Synaptonemal Complex wurde die Anwesenheit eines Tetravalent nachgewiesen, welches aus Translokationschromosomen und seinen Homologen zusammengesetzt ist. Die Translokationstiere hatten normale Exterieur und Spermaparameter. Aufgrund der Fortpflanzungsergebmissen wurden verminderte Fruchtbarkeit bei Translokationstieren rcp (8;14)-um 25% und bei Translokationstieren rcp (7;13)-um 52% festgestellt. RéSUMé: Les translocations réciproques identifiées pour la prèmière fois chez les porcs levés en Pologne Chez les porcs des races Landrace et Duroc on a constaté, pour la première fois en Pologne deux translocations réciproques différentes-rcp (8;14) (p21;q25) ainsi que rcp (7;13) (q13;q46). L'observation des complexes synaptonémals a manifesté la présence du quadrivalent composé de chromosomes de translocation et de leurs homologes. Les animaux-les porteurs de la translocation ont se caractérisé par l'extérieur normal et par les paramètres réguliers du sperme. L'analyse de la fertilité expérimenté selon de la taille des portées a démontré la réduction de la fertilité pour le porteur de la translocation rcp (8;14) à 25% cependant pour les porteurs de la translocation rcp (7;13) à 52%.     

Effect on canine oral health of adding chlorhexidine to a dental hygiene chew

A study to compare the effect of a dental hygiene chew with or without 0.2% chlorhexidine on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental deposits was performed using 11 small dogs. Confirming previous data, the daily addition of a standard chew to a dry diet resulted in significantly less gingivitis and calculus after 3 weeks compared with feeding the dry diet alone. Addition of chlorhexidine to the chew made no difference to the degree of gingivitis or the amount of calculus that accumulated, but did result in significantly less plaque accumulation after 3 weeks. The abrasiveness of the chew, rather than the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine, is likely to have contributed the most to the maintenance of oral health in dogs with mild gingivitis.     

Influence of high dietary vitamin E supplementation on egg production and plasma characteristics in hens subjected to heat stress

1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated in 2 experiments on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32C. 2. In the first experiment, egg production and plasma concentrations of calcium and egg yolk precursors were measured in 24 hens before, during and after a stress period of one week and fed on diets containing 10 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. 3. In the second, larger experiment, egg production and food intake were measured in 300 hens housed in 2 temperature-controlled rooms and fed on diets containing 10, 125 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Birds in room 1 were stressed from 24 to 28 weeks of age and those in room 2 from 32 to 36 weeks. 4. In experiment 1, egg production and egg weight were significantly higher (72.6 vs 51.2%, P < 0.05 and 66.6 vs 63.1 g, P < 0.005 respectively) during and after the period of stress in the group given 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Plasma concentrations of calcium, vitellogenin (zinc) and VLDL (triglyceride) were also higher in this group. 5. In experiment 2, egg production was significantly higher (65.4 vs 56.2%, P < 0.05) during and after the period of heat stress in birds in room 1 fed on the diet containing 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Egg production was also higher (49.9% vs 44.7%) on this treatment during the stress period in room 2, though the difference was not significant (P < 0.10). Egg weight and food intake were unaffected by treatment in either room. 6. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with extra vitamin E can, at least in part, alleviate the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens, perhaps by maintaining the supply of egg precursors in plasma.     

Vaccination of cattle against bovine viral diarrhoea

This brief review describes types and quality (efficacy and safety) of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) vaccines that are in the market or under development. Both conventional live and killed vaccines are available. The primary aim of vaccination is to prevent congenital infection, but the few vaccines tested are not highly efficacious in this respect, as shown in vaccination-challenge experiments. Vaccination to prevent severe postnatal infections may be indicated when virulent BVDV strains are prevalent. Live BVDV vaccines have given rise to safety problems. A complication for the development of BVDV vaccines is the wide antigenic diversity among wild-type BVDV. There is ample room for improvement of both the efficacy and safety of BVDV vaccines, and it may be expected that better vaccines, among which marker vaccines, will be launched in the future.