Detection of infectious bursal disease viruses using in situ hybridization and non-radioactive probes.

The in situ hybridization assay was developed for the detection of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infections in chickens. Bursal tissue samples were harvested 4 days following infection with the ST-C, MD, E, IN, or SAL IBDV strain. The cDNA clones STC-243, located on genome segment A, and STC-119, located on genome segment B, were used to prepare non-radioactive probes. Probes were labeled with digoxigenin and detected the homologous ST-C virus and also heterologous viruses in bursal tissue sections. No positive cells were observed in tissue sections from uninfected control chickens.     

Roughage level and limited maximum intake regimens for feedlot steers.

Hereford steers (n = 280, BW = 371 +/- 29 kg; 40 pens) were used to evaluate two alternatives to ad libitum access to feed and constant roughage levels in finishing diets. The eight treatments were as follows: two treatments in which intake was limited to a multiple of the maintenance (MM) energy requirement (2.1, 2.3, 2.5, and 2.7, [2.7MM] and 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, and 2.9 [2.9MM] times maintenance for wk 1, 2, 3, and 4 and thereafter, respectively) and six roughage regimen and grain source treatments (10% roughage equivalent [RE] fed during the mid- and late-finishing periods [10/10], respectively, 2% RE followed by 10% RE [2/10], and 10% RE followed by 2% RE [10/2] fed with steam-flaked sorghum grain [SFSG] or whole-shelled corn [WSC]). The 2.7MM treatment tended to improve ADG (6%, P = .08) and gain efficiency (4%, P = .15) relative to ad libitum access to feed. The 2.9MM treatment was intermediate. Steers fed WSC diets consumed approximately 12% more DM (9.2 vs 8.2 kg/d) and gained 4% more (1.45 vs 1.39 kg/d, P < .05) but had lower gain efficiency (7%, 159 and 170 g/kg, P < .001) than steers fed SFSG diets. For SFSG diets, the 2/10 regimen resulted in similar gains, a 3.6% decrease (P = .10) in DMI, an 8.6% improvement (P < .01) in gain efficiency, and reduced roughage use (40 kg per steer) compared with the 10/10 regimen. With WSC diets, the 2/10 regimen did not (P > .2) affect gain efficiency but did reduce roughage use (48 kg) compared with the 10/10 regimen. The 10/2 regimen did not differ (P > .2) from the 10/10 regimen. Few differences in carcass characteristics were noted among treatments. Roughage use and cost of gain can be reduced by feeding 2% roughage during the mid-finishing period followed by a return to 10% roughage.     

Use of etretinate for treatment of primary keratinization disorders (idiopathic seborrhea) in cocker spaniels, west highland white terriers, and basset hounds.

An open clinical trial was used to evaluate the synthetic retinoid, etretinate, for treatment of idiopathic seborrhea in Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, and Basset Hounds. Clinical and histologic improvement was seen in the Cocker Spaniels. Etretinate had no beneficial effect on the skin disease of the West Highland White Terriers or the Basset Hounds. Etretinate treatment did not alter the type or degree of otitis externa. Clinical side effects were minimal. Relevant laboratory abnormalities were not detected.     

Reversible megaesophagus associated with atypical primary hypoadrenocorticism in a dog.

Megaesophagus, hypercalcemia, and eosinophilia associated with glucocorticoid deficiency were detected in a 5-year-old neutered female Standard Poodle with concurrent hypothyroidism. Clinical and biochemical abnormalities resolved with glucocorticoid replacement treatment, and the dog was normal 29 months after diagnosis. The dog's breed and sex and the existence of a second endocrinopathy supported an underlying immunologic disorder.     

Testing meningeal strains of Streptococcus suis to detect M protein genes.

Previous reports have suggested that the surface proteins found in meningeal strains of Streptococcus suis might be similar to the M protein of group A streptococci. Fifty-five strains of S suis, including human and swine meningeal and pneumonic isolates, were tested for M protein genes by DNA probes representing the constant domain of the 3' end of the group A, M protein gene. None of the S suis strains examined was positive, indicating that these organisms either lack M protein genes or harbour different genes, not expressing the constant domains of protein M from group A.     

Studies on canine mammary tumours. II. Oestradiol and progesterone receptor binding capacity and histological type.

Tissue samples taken from the mammary gland of 42 dogs (age: 6 to 12 years) were examined. Thirty-eight samples showed neoplasia: 36 were epithelial while the remaining 2 proved to be connective tissue tumours. Thirty-four % of the neoplasms were new benign tumours (most frequently adenoma and fibroadenoma) and 66% were malignant ones (mainly adenocarcinoma). The oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) binding capacity was determined on 21 tissue samples using the method of EORTC (1980). The connective tissue tumours and non-tumourous tissues contained no sexual steroid receptor. 71.4% of all tissue samples contained receptors. 61.9% of the samples was ER+, 42.8% was PR+, 33.3% contained both receptors, 28.6% was only ER+ and 9.5% only PR+. The average ER and PR binding capacity was 120.3 (5.0-622.8) and 266.7 (92.3-475.0) fmol/mg cytosol protein, respectively. No difference in receptor positivity was demonstrable between the benign and the malignant tumours. PR negativity accompanied by ER positivity was more common in the case of benign tumours. ER binding capacity tended to be correlated with age: this correlation could be described with a hyperboloid regression curve (r = -0.5931; 0.06 > p > 0.05).     

Efficacy of moxidectin, nemadectin and ivermectin against an ivermectin-resistant strain of Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

The efficacies of ivermectin, nemadectin and moxidectin were evaluated when administered orally to lambs infected with either a susceptible laboratory strain of Haemonchus contortus or a strain reported to be resistant to ivermectin. Groups of 24 Dorset cross Cheviot cross Suffolk lambs were infected with either the susceptible or resistant strain of H contortus and allocated to treatment groups according to their faecal egg counts 27 days after infection. One day later the lambs were dosed orally with one of the three anthelmintics at 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight, and they were killed and surviving worms were recovered 13 or 14 days after treatment. Against the ivermectin resistant strain, ivermectin did not significantly reduce the egg count or the numbers of adult H contortus; however, both nemadectin and moxidectin reduced the nematode egg counts and the numbers of H contortus by 99 and 100 per cent, respectively. Against the susceptible strain, all the anthelmintics reduced the egg counts by 100 per cent as early as four days after treatment and reduced the numbers of susceptible H contortus by 100 per cent. No adverse reactions to any of the drugs were observed.     

Effects of estradiol 17 beta implants on hematologic values and the chemiluminescence response of neutrophils of steers.

The effects of subcutaneous administration of a commercially available estradiol 17 beta implant on hematologic values and the chemiluminescence response of neutrophils were evaluated in 14 steers. Chemiluminescence and hematologic values were measured in treated (n = 8) and nontreated (n = 6) steers on days -14, -7, and -1 prior to implantation. Estradiol 17B was implanted into the treated group of steers on day 0, and blood samples were obtained from all steers on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50. The concentration of estrogen in serum was significantly (P = 0.0120) higher following implantation. Chemiluminescence and hematologic indices were not significantly affected by either implant status or serum concentrations of estrogen. The results of this study suggested that the use of implants containing estradiol 17 beta for promotion of weight gain in steers will not result in alterations of hematologic values or the neutrophil respiratory burst.     

What is your diagnosis? Esophageal hiatal hernia.

A 14-month-old Arabian colt was admitted for treatment of an articular fracture of the supraglenoid tubercle of the right forelimb. Successful repair was achieved by use of three 5.5-mm cortical screws placed in lag fashion across the fracture line. In other reports of supraglenoid tubercle fractures in horses, investigators have preferred conservative management or surgical removal of the fragment, because of limited success with internal fixation. Use of three 5.5-mm screws placed in lag fashion may offer an alternative method of treatment in selected cases of supraglenoid tubercle fractures.