Plasma amino acid concentrations in 36 dogs with histologically confirmed superficial necrolytic dermatitis

Plasma amino acid concentrations were measured in 36 dogs diagnosed with superficial necrolytic dermatitis (SND) via skin biopsy. The median age of the dogs was 10 years, and 27 out of 36 (75%) were male. Twenty-two out of 36 (61%) of the dogs were accounted for by six breeds; West Highland white terriers (six), Shetland sheepdogs (five), cocker spaniels (four), Scottish terriers (three), Lhasa apsos (two) and Border collies (two). The mean concentration (+/- standard deviation) was calculated for each measured plasma amino acid and compared to previously documented concentrations of plasma amino acids measured in dogs with acute and chronic hepatitis. The ratio of branched chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids in the dogs with SND was 2.6, slightly lower than that in normal dogs. The mean plasma amino acid concentrations for dogs with SND were significantly lower than for dogs with acute and chronic hepatitis. A metabolic hepatopathy in which there is increased hepatic catabolism of amino acids is hypothesized to explain the hypoaminoacidaemia seen in SND.     

Divergent selection for yolk cholesterol in laying hens

1. Lines were selected for divergence in yolk‐cholesterol concentration for three and four generations in the Cornell Control (Leghorn) and Athens‐Canadian (AC) (meat‐type) randombred populations respectively. Selection was based on both individual and family records.

2. Cholesterol values were obtained from two consecutively laid eggs when birds were 28 weeks of age. The yolks of eggs from individual hens were pooled and analysed for cholesterol content by the colorimetric assay of Zlatkis et al. (1953) on the “fat extract” obtained by a modification of the procedure of Folch et al. (1956).

3. The largest differences between high and low lines (1.lb27 and 1.lb38 mg cholesterol/g yolk) were observed in the last generation of selection. There was evidence of a lack of response in the low lines. Realised herita‐bility estimates obtained by dividing the difference between high and low lines by half the cumulative selection differential ranged from 0.lb11 to 0.lb25 in the AC population and from 0.lb21 to 0.lb25 in the Leghorn population. Realised estimates on a within‐line basis suggest that selection for yolk cholesterol is effective only in the upward direction.     

Multiple congenital epitrichial sweat gland hamartomas in a piglet

A case of multiple congenital epitrichial sweat gland hamartomas in a 2-day-old piglet is presented. The skin lesions were raised, ovoid to linear in configuration, alopecic, red-purple to pink, and cauliflower-like to cerebriform in appearance. Histological examination of skin specimens confirmed a diagnosis of epitrichial sweat gland hamartoma. Complete necropsy examination revealed no other lesions.     

禽用液态饲料原料

近 2 0年来 ,有越来越多的液态饲料原料供家禽日粮之用。这些液态原料有许多好处 ,比如养分利用率高 ,用于饲料配合时有较大的灵活性 ,可提高制粒性能。本文系作者发表于 2 0 0 0年 9月召开的美国饲料工业协会液态饲料专题讨论会上     

Dirofilariasis in wild canids from the Gulf coastal prairies of Texas and Louisiana,U.S.A.

Heartworms, Dirofilaria immitis, were recovered from 17 out of 24 (71%) coyotes, Canis latrans, 38 out of 46 (83%) coyote × red wolf hybrids and all of 8 (100%) red wolves, Canis rufus gregoryi, collected from the Gulf coastal prairies of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. Intensities of infection ranged from 1 to 176 ($\text{x}\text{=25}$) worms per host. There was a significantly (P<0.05) higher intensity of infection in red wolves. Prevalence of heartworms increased significantly with increasing age. There were no significant differences between coyotes, hybrids and red wolves or between different host sexes in terms of prevalence. The female to male ratio of heartworms was close to unity (1.2:1) and was not correlated with worm burdens. Nematodes were primarily localized in the right heart, frequently extending into the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary arterial tree in the lungs. In 13 instances, 1–4 adult heartworms were recovered from the venae cavae. Pathological responses in the right heart were variable, depending on the intensity of infection. In severe infections, there were small areas of infarctive necrosis with mild to severe interstitial edema in the myocardium. Lesions in the pulmonary artery and pulmonary arterial trunk varied from mild focal hyperplastic intimal changes to extensive exudative villous endarteritis. The latter was characterized by a hyperplastic collagenous stroma with numerous histiocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. Lung pathology varied from patchy to extensive areas of congestion, edema, hemorrhage, interstitial pneumonitis and infarction. In cases with heartworms in the venae cavae, hepatic changes were minimal and associated with liver changes such as passive congestion and centrolobular necrosis seen in cases without adult worms in the venae cavae. In heavily infected animals, hemosiderosis of the liver, spleen and kidneys was pronounced. A microfilaremia was noted in 46% of the infected wild canids. Microfilariae were observed in tissue sections of the myocardium, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, pancreas and appendix. Wild canids from this area are regarded as natural definitive hosts and primary reservoirs for heartworms and it appears that this infection is an important factor in the morbidity and mortality of these hosts.     

Effect of hemodialysis on plasma amino acid concentrations in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the effect of maintenance hemodialysis on plasma amino acid concentrations and to quantitate free amino acid losses into the dialysate during hemodialysis in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURE: Five dogs received hemodialysis treatments 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Plasma amino acid concentrations were evaluated once per week for 4 weeks in each of the 5 dogs prior to hemodialysis (time 0), 90 minutes during hemodialysis, and immediately after hemodialysis (180 minutes). Total free amino acid concentrations and plasma amino acid concentrations (time 0, 90 minutes, and 180 minutes) in the dialysate were evaluated in 3 dogs that received 1 hemodialysis treatment. RESULTS: Significant time versus week interactions with any plasma amino acid were not detected; however, significant decreases in all plasma amino acid concentrations measured were detected at the midpoint of dialysis (46 +/- 2%) and at the end of each dialysis session (38 +/- 2%). Mean (+/- SEM) total free amino acid loss into the dialysate was 2.7 +/- 0.2 g or 0.12 g/kg of body weight. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hemodialysis is associated with significant alterations in plasma amino acid concentrations and loss of free amino acids into the dialysate. Loss of amino acids into the dialysate, coupled with protein calorie malnutrition in uremic patients, may contribute to depletion of amino acid stores.     

Effects of physical properties on incidence of breakage in canned white potatoes

During commercial sterilization of whole white potatoes, mild to severe breakage sometimes occurs. Physical properties of potatoes were measured before and after sterilization. These included major diameter, minor diameter, density, dry matter content, amylographic viscosity, compressive breaking strength, and tensile breaking strength. The experimental data were evaluated in terms of mean values from 33 different truckloads sampled at a commercial canning facility (60 tubers sampled per load). These properties were statistically compared to the incidence of breakage in sterilized potatoes. The results did not show significant relationships between any of the raw potato properties and the incidence of breakage. However, several properties of the sterilized potatoes (major diameter, peak viscosity, peak viscosity temperature) were linearly related to breakage (R² = 0.84).