Cytogenetic analysis of a canine haemangioendothelioma: a case report.

An 8-year-old German Shepherd bitch developed a haemangioendothelioma in the mammary region. The cytogenetic characterization of the tumour cells revealed a chromosome number of 80 plus a double minute. Several aberrations were detected: trisomies 4, 35, and 38, a centric fusion 8/22 and a tandem translocation 9/23.     

DNA diagnosis in veterinary medicine: I. DNA fingerprinting]

With the development of recombinant DNA-technology during the last 15 years, it became possible to analyse genetic variability directly at the level of genomic DNA. Restriction-Fragment-Length-Polymorphism (RFLP) and Highly-Variable-Regions (HVRs) lead to the development of new genetic markers, which can be used for the localization of normal and mutated genes. Some polymorphisms are hypervariable and can therefore be applied to carry out DNA-fingerprints thus identifying individuals from man and animals.     

Effect of therapeutic dietary biotin on the healing of uncomplicated sole ulcers in dairy cattle--a double blinded controlled study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of orally administered biotin on the healing of uncomplicated sole ulcers in dairy cattle. In a double-blind controlled study, 24 dairy cows with a mild, uncomplicated sole ulcer on a lateral hind claw were given either 40 mg biotin per day or a placebo feed over a period of 50 days. An orthopaedic shoe was fitted to the medial claw of the affected foot. The healing process was assessed clinically and by histological examination of horn samples. In the biotin-treated animals, the newly formed epidermis covering the sole ulcers was found to be of significantly better histological quality after 50 days than at the start of the study. The significant improvement in histological horn quality found in the biotin-treated animals suggests that biotin exerts a positive influence on the healing of sole ulcers, however the study period of 50 days appears to have been too short to permit macroscopic detection of the improvement in horn quality.     

DNA diagnosis in veterinary medicine: II. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

DNA diagnostic has become very important for genetic and infectious diseases. With a new method, called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), specific pieces of genomes from viruses, bacteria, parasites or even cells can be amplified more than hundred million fold in a very short time period. For the following reasons this opens a new dimension in diagnostics: (1) The technique is so sensitive that a single virus, bacterium, parasite or cell is sufficient to be detected provided part of its nucleic acid sequence is known. (2) The material does neither need to be fresh nor be stored under special conditions since the nucleic acids are much more stable than e.g. enzymes or other proteins. (3) The method is quicker than the usual immunodetection methods. (4) The polymerase chain reaction has been standardized recently so that it can be carried out in diagnostic laboratories. The purpose of this minireview is to give an introduction into the basic technique and to mention possible and already existing applications in veterinary medicine.     

Chicken egg antibodies for prophylaxis and therapy of infectious intestinal diseases. II. In vitro studies on gastric and enteric digestion of egg yolk antibodies specific against pathogenic Escherichia coli strains

Specific antibodies directed against enterotoxic E. coli strains from the yolk of immunized hens were exposed in vitro to the influence of varying digestive phenomena like reduction of pH and proteolytic digestion. The remaining antibody activity was tested in a specific ELISA system. It could be shown that already within the stomach a considerable loss in antibody activity caused by a lowering of pH and peptic cleavage can be expected. A further loss in antibody activity is due to the proteolytic effect of the pancreas proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin. It was found that antibodies in protein rich solutions like egg or yolk suspensions were more resistant than mere globulin fractions or antibodies isolated by affinity chromatography. Prospects for further in vivo tests are discussed.     

Fimbriae and membranes on Haemophilus parasuis.

In the electron microscope an additional layer (glycocalix) of the cell wall and fimbriae on Haemophilus parasuis were shown in thin sections of the infected CAM which have their origin on the CM of the Haemophilus parasuis-cells. No fimbriation was seen after conventional cultivation.