CEREBELLAR HYPOPLASIA OF GENETIC ORIGIN IN CALVES

Within 2 years, following the introduction of 2 Shorthorn bulls from the same stud into an Australian Illawarra Shorthorn (AIS) herd, 16 calves were born with cerebellar hypoplasia. All affected calves were the progeny of one bull mated to the daughters of the other. All other progeny of these bulls, most of which were from AIS dams, were normal. Affected calves exhibited severe ataxia, consistent head movement and abduction of the forelimbs. Microscopic changes in the cerebellum included sparsity of cells of the granular layer, loss of Purkinje cells and narrowing of the molecular layer. Observations on the frequencies of normal and abnormal calves are consistent with the hypothesis that the condition is caused by an autosomal recessive gene for which affected calves were homozygous and which was introduced into the herd in heterozygous condition by both of the Shorthorn bulls. Evidence is given for an unusually high frequency of the gene in the stud of origin of the Shorthorn bulls and a procedure for reducing its frequency is outlined. The possibility of a viral or toxic aetiology is discussed but is considered to be an unlikely explanation for the condition in this herd.     

Interaction of aflatoxin with Eimeria tenella infection and monensin in young broiler chickens.

Young broiler chicks inoculated with Eimeria tenella and given a diet containing 2.5 mug aflatoxin/g had significantly higher mortality than birds with aflatoxicosis or coccidiosis alone or uninoculated controls. This effect was seen even when a light coccidial infection alone did not increase mortality or cause weight depression. In addition this higher mortality with the combination began earleir and occurred at a higher rate than did mortality from aflatoxin or cecal coccidiosis alone. Dietary monensin sodium (99 umg/g) did not completely prevent mortality and weight depression when aflatoxin and E. tenella were in combination. Aflatoxin and E. tenella singly significantly depressed three-week body weights; however, the depression was most severe when the two were in combination. Both dietary aflatoxin and E. tenella significantly reduced hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and plasma pigmentation, and in combination resulted in more severely reduced hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and plasma pigmentation. Coccidial lesion scores were significantly less for the combination of E. tenella and aflatoxicosis than for coccidiosis alone. This atypical response of the ceca to E. tenella in the presence of dietary aflatoxin was characterized by less distended ceca, very little coagulated blood in the ceca, and apparently more profuse cecal hemorrhage.     

PREOPERATIVE CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE SURGICAL PATIENT WITH POTENTIAL OR APPARENT INFECTION

Because of the type of patient treated, and the nature of the injury, the veterinarian is often called upon to treat surgical infections. These infections may be primary, or can be sequelae or trauma or elective surgery. Each clinician has his own protocol and priorities in evaluation of the patient with a surgical infection. A careful history and physical examination, together with clinical and microbiological laboratory testing procedures will help identify the pathogenic organism and indicate the severity of the infection in the animal patient. With this preliminary evaluation, the clinician and surgeon may attack the problem appropriately, and with a greater assurance of success.     

The successful use of a prosthesis in the correction of a palatal defect in a dog

The use of a palatine prosthesis in the treatment of a traumatic cleft palate in a dog is described. Attempts at surgical repair of the cleft failed and the prosthesis successfully obturated the defect for 10 months. The value of this technique used alone or in combination with palatoplasty is discussed.