Prevalence of canine uroliths. Minnesota Urolith Center

Uroliths obtained from 839 dogs were evaluated by quantitative methods. Struvite was the most prevalent mineral detected; newberyite, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, sodium and ammonium urate, cystine, and silica were detected much less frequently. Seven per cent of the uroliths had an identifiable nucleus and one or more surrounding layers of different mineral types. Although uroliths were found in all parts of the urinary tract, the urinary bladder was most common. Uroliths of different composition were encountered in a variety of breeds of both sexes and different ages.     

Pretaping of the Aorta Prior to Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation

SURGICAL repair of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common cardiovascular procedures performed in veterinary and human medicine.^1–3 The techniques have been well documented and used successfully.^2–5     

Studies on neonatal calf diarrhoea caused by rotavirus: transmission of the disease and attempted vaccination of colostrum-deprived calves

Mild to severe scouring could be produced in colostrum-deprived calves with tissue culture-adapted rotavirus and feacal material from field cases of calf diarrhoea. The feaces of experimentally infected calves contained rotavirus for at least 3 days. Pathogenic bacteria were presented in one calf only and this calf also showed the most severe gastroenteritis. Eight calves were vaccinated with a live rotaviral calf diarrhoea vaccine and subsequently challenged with infective rotavirus. Mild scouring was observed after vaccination, but the calves remained normal after challenge. Rotavirus particles were detectable in the faeces for a few days after vaccination and challenge.     

Effects of photoperiod on growth, carcass composition, prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol in prepubertal and postpubertal Holstein heifers

Effects of photoperiod on growth, carcass composition and serum concentrations of prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol were determined in prepubertal and postpubertal Holstein heifers. Forty-two prepubertal (avg body wt 84 +/- 3.0 kg) and 42 postpubertal (avg body wt 303 +/- 7.1 kg) Holstein heifers were utilized. Ten prepubertal and 10 postpubertal heifers were slaughtered before treatment began to obtain initial carcass data. The remaining 32 prepubertal and 32 postpubertal heifers were paired by body weight and randomly assigned to short-day (8 h of light: 16 h of dark) or long-day (16 h of light: 8 h of dark) photoperiods. After exposure to treatments for an average of 139 d, 10 prepubertal and 10 postpubertal heifers from each photoperiod treatment were slaughtered. In prepubertal heifers, photoperiod did not affect (P greater than .10) average daily body weight gain, carcass weight, carcass composition, accretion of carcass fat and carcass protein, or serum concentrations of prolactin, growth hormone or cortisol. However, prepubertal heifers exposed to long-day photoperiods had reduced (P less than .01) urinary N tau-methylhistidine excretion compared with heifers given short-day photoperiods. Postpubertal heifers exposed to short-day photoperiods had greater average body weight daily gain than animals exposed to long-day photoperiods. Although there was no effect of photoperiod (P greater than .10) on carcass or fat depot weights, postpubertal heifers exposed to short days had greater (P = .06) percentages of fat and reduced (P = .07) percentages of protein in the soft tissue of the 9-10-11 rib sections. Fat accretion was greater (P less than .05) in carcasses of postpubertal heifers exposed to short days than heifers given long-day photoperiods, but there was no effect (P greater than .10) of photoperiod on protein accretion. Photoperiod did not affect serum concentrations of growth hormone and cortisol, but serum prolactin tended (P less than .10) to be greater in postpubertal heifers exposed to long days. Under the conditions of this experiment, we conclude that exposure to short-day photoperiods stimulated body weight gain and fat accretion in postpubertal but not prepubertal Holstein heifers.     

Characterisation of a type 2 bovine viral diarrhoea virus isolated from cattle in the UK

Two genotypes of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) are recognised. Type 2 was first recognised when virulent strains caused significant losses among cattle in North America. Subsequently, BVDV type 2 has been found in many other countries, but recent studies have shown that only type 1 BVDV is circulating in the UK herds (sheep and cattle) with type 1a predominating. During routine genotyping of UK BVDV isolates, a type 2 isolate was identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the 5'-untranslated region of the viral genome showed it to be a BVDV type 2a, most similar to a low virulent US strain of BVDV type 2. Antigenic typing with a panel of monoclonal antibodies verified this classification. This is the first confirmed isolation of BVDV type 2 found circulating in the UK.