Response time of broiler chickens to cimaterol: meat tenderness, muscle composition fiber size, and carcass characteristics.

The response time to cimaterol (CIM), a beta-adrenergic agonist, by broiler chickens for carcass characteristics, muscle composition, muscle fiber size, catheptic enzyme activity, and tenderness was determined. Two trials were conducted in which chickens were fed a control diet (CON) containing 0 ppm of CIM or a diet containing 1 ppm of CIM. Trial 1 consisted of 55, 31-d-old broiler chickens individually fed for up to 48 h. At 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h, five CON and five CIM-fed chickens were killed. Trial 2 consisted of 160, 33-d-old broiler chickens group-fed for up to 14 d. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 d, 10 CON and 10 CIM-fed chickens were killed. The breast muscle (BM) and leg muscle (LM) weight, cathepsin B and L activities, DNA, RNA, and protein concentration, and BM shear force value (SFV) were measured in both trials. Thigh muscle (TM) SFV were measured in Trial 2 only. Fiber size of BM was measured (five birds per treatment) at d 2, 6, 10, and 14. In Trial 1, BM weight and SFV were lower in CIM-fed birds at 6 h (P less than .05). In Trial 2 BM SFV were higher at d 8 (P = .06) and d 10 (P less than .05) in CIM-fed chickens. The SFV of CIM-fed chickens were higher at d 4, 8, 10, 12, and 14 (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Epibulbar melanoma in a cat

In a nine-year-old female cat, the diagnostic procedure, therapy and differential diagnoses of a rare, primary, malignant, epibulbar melanoma are presented. Post-operatively no recidivation or metastases occurred within 18 months.     

Microcirculation in the follicles and corpora lutea of the bovine ovary--a corrosion anatomical study

With the help of a new synthetic material follicles and corpora lutea from the ovaries of 80 cows in different stages of the sexual cycle were examined for modifications of their blood vessel architecture. In the theca externa the main artery which runs towards the follicle, separates into arterioles of which capillaries derive in the theca interna, building a basket-like network around the zona granulosa. After ovulation the follicle wall forms characteristic fields. Capillaries grow into the zona granulosa and thus the folds form the lobular structure of the corpus luteum. Capillaries which rise from the ruptured part of the follicle, spread centripetally and together with lutein cells they build up the not lobulated cupola of the corpus luteum. The regression of the corpus luteum starts around the 16th day of the cycle, beginning at the capillary network of the cupola. A contraction of the vessels and a quick decrease of the volume follow.     

In situ radiometric mapping of soil erosion and field-moist bulk density on cultivated fields

Abstract. Recent developments in in situγ ray spectrometry offer a new approach to measuring the activity of radionuclides such as ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in soils, and thus estimating erosion or deposition rates and field moist bulk density (ρ_m). Such estimates would be rapid and involve minimal site disturbance, especially important where archaeological remains are present. This paper presents the results of a pilot investigation of an eroded field in Scotland in which a portable hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure γ ray spectra in situ. The gamma (γ) photon flux observed at the soil surface is a function of the ¹³⁷Cs inventory, its depth distribution characteristics and ρ_m. A coefficient, Q_Cs, derived from the forward scattering of ¹³⁷Cs γ ray photons within the soil profile relative to the ¹³⁷Cs full energy peak (662 keV), was used to correct the in situ calibration for changes in the ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution in the ploughed field, a function of tillage, soil accumulation and ρ_m. Based on only 8 measurements, the agreement between in situγ ray spectrometry and soil sample measurements of ¹³⁷Cs inventories improved from a non significant r²=0.05 to a significant r²=0.62 (P<0.05). Erosion and deposition rates calculated from the corrected in situ¹³⁷Cs measurements had a similarly good agreement with those calculated from soil cores. Mean soil bulk density was also calculated using a separate coefficient, Q_K, derived from the forward scattering γ photons from ⁴⁰K within the soil relative to the ⁴⁰K full energy peak (1460 keV). Again there was good agreement with soil core measurements (r²=0.64; P<0.05). The precision of the in situ¹³⁷Cs measurement was limited by the precision with which Q_Cs can be estimated, a function of the low ¹³⁷Cs deposition levels associated with the weapons testing fallout and relatively low detector efficiency (35%). In contrast, the precision of the in situ ρ_m determination was only limited by the spatial variability associated with soil sampling.     

Comparison of partial ribosomal DNA sequences of Babesia gibsoni occurring in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan.

Nucleotide sequences of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Babesia (B.) gibsoni occurring in Miyazaki, western Japan, were examined using blood samples obtained from seven dogs suffering from natural canine babesiosis. DNA isolated from these blood samples was subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined and compared with other rDNA sequences of B. gibsoni isolated from Asia, Europe and U.S.A. Although homology values between our isolates and those isolated from Europe and U.S.A. were both 84.0%, respectively, our isolates were identical to the Asian types. In conclusion, B. gibsoni occurring in Miyazaki was revealed to have the genotype Asia 1 or Asia 2 from a comparison of the partial rDNA sequences.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the corneoscleral limbus in a dog.

Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon tumor of the cornea in dogs. A 12-year-old Shih Tzu with a history of chronic keratoconjunctivitis sicca was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma of the corneoscleral limbus. The lesion was treated by surgical resection and cryotherapy. One year after surgery, multiple tumors, apparently unrelated to the first tumor, appeared on the same cornea. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca may have predisposed the dog to corneal squamous cell carcinoma development.     

Dietary Lysine Requirement of Juvenile Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus

The dietary lysine requirement of juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was reevaluated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, lyophilized red drum muscle was combined with an L-form crystalline amino acid premix to yield diets containing approximately 35% protein on a dry-matter basis. Gradations (0.25%) of L-lysine HCl were added to the basal diet containing approximately 1.0% lysine. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile red drum initially weighing 6–7 g for 8 weeks. Based on growth and feed efficiency data, the lysine requirement (±SE) was determined to be 1.55% (±0.079%) of dry diet or 4.430% of dietary protein. In a second experiment, the lysine requirement of red drum was investigated with diets containing 35% intact protein from zein and red drum muscle. Each of the zein-based diets containing incremental levels of lysine was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile red drum initially weighing 1–2 g for 8 weeks. A crystalline amino acid test diet serving as a control in this experiment significantly outperformed the zein-based diets, and palatability of those diets was questionable due to an obvious change in feeding behavior of the fish. Due to the inferior performance of the fish fed the zein-based diets, the authors were not successful in determining a requirement with these diets. Thus, a lysine requirement of 1.55% of dry diet (4.43% of dietary protein) as determined in the first experiment is recommended for juvenile red drum.     

Isoleucine requirements of the chicken: the effect of excess leucine and valine on the response to isoleucine.

1. Three experiments were designed to determine the response of broiler chickens to dietary isoleucine, and to quantify the antagonistic effects of excess leucine and valine on this response. 2. A dilution technique was used to measure the responses in growth rate and food intake to a range of diets differing in their isoleucine concentrations. A summit diet was formulated to contain isoleucine at 1.14 times the requirement and with leucine (1.76 times the requirement) and valine (1.87 times the requirement) at the minimum possible concentrations, given the ingredients available. A dilution mixture, devoid of protein, was formulated to correspond in all respects, other than in amino acid content, to the summit diet. These two basal diets were blended in different proportions to give a range of diets of decreasing isoleucine and protein content. 3. In experiment 1 the response was measured to isoleucine with leucine and valine remaining in the same proportion to isoleucine throughout the range of diets fed. In experiments 2 and 3, however, L-leucine and L-valine were added to the diets either singly or in combination to give 6 isoleucine concentrations and 3 ratios of each of leucine and valine to isoleucine. 4. Weight gain decreased as the isoleucine content of the diet was reduced, whereas food intake of broilers fed on the marginally deficient diets increased to a maximum and then decreased. FCE decreased curvilinearly as the isoleucine concentration in the food decreased, reflecting a concomitant change in the fat content of the broilers. 5. It is possible that the amount of dietary isoleucine assumed to be available to the broilers in these experiments was overestimated by hydrolysing the food samples for 72 h, and the doubt thus created makes an estimate of the efficiency of retention of isoleucine suspect. 6. Excess valine had no effect on the response to isoleucine, whereas an increase in the leucine to isoleucine ratio depressed food intake and hence weight gain, but only at the lowest concentrations of isoleucine. 7. If the food content of isoleucine is sufficient to meet the requirements of the broiler, relatively large excesses of leucine, of valine, or of both will not depress growth.     

Efficacy of AHR-13268, an antiallergenic compound, in the management of pruritus caused by atopic disease in dogs.

Twenty-nine pruritic, atopic dogs were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy of an investigational antiallergenic compound, AHR-13268. Fourteen dogs were evaluated by a veterinary dermatologist (at intervals) and the owner (daily). Fifteen dogs were evaluated only by the owner. The mean (+/- SE) owner scores for pruritus, erythema, and lesions with placebo treatment (higher score = worse signs) were 3.24 (+/- 0.12), 2.73 (+/- 0.12), and 2.61 (+/- 0.09), respectively. With drug treatment, the corresponding scores were 2.89 (+/- 0.12), 2.50 (+/- 0.12), and 2.25 (+/- 0.09). Scores for pruritus and lesions (but not erythema) were significantly better with drug treatment than with placebo treatment. Investigator scores showed similar trends, but the differences were not great enough to be statistically significant. Overall, 11/29 (38%) owners reported their dogs had moderate or better improvement from drug capsules, and 4/29 dogs (14%) improved on placebo capsules. A variety of adverse effects were reported following both drug (9/29 dogs) and placebo (8/29 dogs) capsule administration, but were mild and well tolerated. Results of this study indicate that AHR-13268 has potential for empiric treatment of allergic inhalant dermatitis in some dogs.