Comparative susceptibility of caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys to Pasteurella multocida.

When susceptibility to virulent Pasteurella multocida was compared, there was no significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys. Neither was there any significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between the surviving caponized and uncaponized toms in the development of serum anti-P. multocida antibody. However, at 28 weeks of age, the average live body weight of the caponized toms was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than that of the uncaponized toms. Turkeys were caponized when 9 weeks old, and different groups were exposed to P. multocida when 13, 18, 23, and 28 weeks old.     

Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.     

Influence of 17-α-Methyltestosterone on Red Tilapia Under Two Thermal Regimes

Fingerling red tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ± O. niloticus ) were orally administered 17-α-methyltestosterone (MT) under a warmwater (27.0 ± 0.5 C) and coolwater (21.5 ± 0.5 C) thermal regime. In the warmwater experiment, fish received either 0, 1, 5, 10, 30, 60, or 100 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days. In the coolwater experiment, fish received 0, 10, or 60 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days followed by a 34 day withdrawal period. After 75 days, fish receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed (best treatment) in the warmwater and coolwater experiments exhibited significantly higher growth rates than controls by 35.3 and 45.8%, respectively. Likewise, feed conversion among groups receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed in the warmwater and coolwater experiments were significantly better than the controls (1.14 versus 1.30 and 1.44 versus 1.77, respectively). During the withdrawal period, no significant differences in growth rates or feed conversion were observed between the control and treatment groups. MT treatment significantly affected the body composition (whole body and empty carcass) of the red tilapia in both experiments, elevating percent moisture and protein values, but depressing percent fat values. Results demonstrated that incorporation of MT into fingerling diets offers potential for extending the period when tilapias actively feed and grow in temperate climates.     

Tuberculosis in wild seals and characterisation of the seal bacillus

SUMMARY Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 3 otariid seals found dead on beaches at 3 locations on the south coast of Western Australian between May 1990 and March 1991. This confirms that tuberculosis is present in the 2 native seals (Neophoca cinerea and Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australian waters. Mycobacterium sp isolated from the lungs of 2 of the seals were studied to determine the similarity of the strains to each other, to the strains isolated during 1986 from Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals kept in captivity at a marine park near Perth, Western Australia, and to a strain isolated in 1988 from a seal trainer who worked with the infected captive seals for 3 years. After restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with the endonucleases Bst Ell, Bcl I and Pvu II, one of the wild seal strains appeared to have identical DNA fragment patterns to the strains from the captive seals and the seal trainer. The other wild seal isolate had identical REA profiles using Bst EII and Bcl I, but a minor difference was detected using Pvu II. Differences in these isolates were more clearly seen in restriction fragment length polymorphisms after hybridisation with two DNA probes. The secretory protein MPB70, present in M bovis, was not detected in wild seal isolates using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. Analysis of protein and DNA fragment profiles indicated that seal tuberculosis isolates form a unique cluster within the M tuberculosis complex.     

Radiographic diagnosis of an expansile bone lesion in a dog

An old dog had an expansile lesion affecting the ulnar diaphysis. The lesion had clinical and radiographic features typical of a bone cyst; however, computed X-ray tomography indicated that the lesion had a tissue content incompatible with a true cyst. The histological diagnosis was osteosarcoma. This report emphasises the highly variable radiological appearance of canine osteosarcoma; biopsy is required to establish the diagnosis because the radiological signs may mimic a lesion of different aetiology.     

Plasma Cell Myeloma in the Horse

Plasma cell myelomas in horses have been reported infrequently. Data from 10 cases, 9 from the literature and 1 new case, are used to characterize the disease in the horse. Hot-blooded horses (7/10), specifically Quarter Horses (4/10), were most often affected. Median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range, 3 mo-22 yr) and both male (5) and female horses (5) were represented equally. Clinical findings included weight loss (6/8), anorexia (4/8), fever (4/8), limb edema (4/8), pneumonia (3/8), rear leg paresis/ataxia (3/8), epistaxis (3/8), palpable lymphadenopathy (2/8), and bone pain (2/8). Anemia (8/8) was present routinely, and in three horses, RBCs were macrocytic. Leukopenia (2/8), thrombocy-topenia (2/8), and circulating plasma cells (3/8) were variable findings. Except for abnormal protein concentrations and hyponatremia (3), abnormal results from serum biochemical analysis including hypo-cholesterolemia (1), hypercalcemia (1), and azotemia (1) were reported infrequently. Hyperproteinemia (8/9), hypoalbuminemia (7/9), and hyperglobulinemia (8/9) were characteristic but not invariable findings. Monoclonal proteins (7/7) were detected in the α₂, β, or γ region by serum electrophoresis. The paraprotein's heavy chain, determined in four horses, was a subclass of IgG. Three horses had decreased concentrations of normal immunoglobulins. Variable proteinuria (trace to 4+) was detected by routine urinalysis in four of six horses. Bence Jones proteinuria was detected in one of five horses (heat precipitation) and monoclonal proteins were detected in two of three electrophoresed urine samples. Three of the horses had lytic bone lesions detected radiographically. Bone marrow aspirates were diagnostic in two of five horses. Atypical plasma cells or increased numbers of plasma cells or both were present in histologic sections of bone marrow in six of eight horses. Common extraosseous sites of plasma cell infiltration included lymph nodes (8/8), kidney (5/8), spleen (5/8), liver (3/8), lung (3/8), brain (2/8), and orbit (2/8). Two horses had intracellular and extracellular crystalline deposits.     

BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS WITH THROMBUS FORMATION AND ABSCESSATION IN A HORSE

A 2.5 year old Appaloosa stallion with progressive weight loss and a heart murmur was diagnosed as having vegetative endocarditis of the right atrioventricular valves with a mass in the right atrium. The ultrasonographic appearance of the lesion was characterized by extreme reverberation. On postmortem examination, a 9 cm diameter thrombus was found within the right atrium and auricle, occupying approximately 80% of the chamber volume. Additionally, a lenticular abscess extended throughout the parietal cusp of the right atrioventricular valve. Histologic examination revealed that the lesions were septic with numerous gram positive cocci in short chains, suggestive of Streptococcus equi , and gram negative rods.     

Feline Ubiquitin Fusion Protein Genes

Using cDNA from a CRFK cell line as a template, PCR amplification was performed with the Ub1S and poly(dT) primers to isolate feline ubiquitin genes. Sequencing of the 495 bp PCR fragment revealed that the putative amino acids induced by this fragment gave a fusion protein consisting of a ubiquitin polypeptide (76 amino acids) and an extension protein of ribosomal proteins L40 (52 amino acids). The putative amino acid sequence of ubiquitin was identical to those of humans, rats and pigs.The recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)–feline ubiquitin fusion proteins were produced in Escherichia coli and purified. The fusion proteins had a molecular weight of about 42 kDa and were detected by immunoblot assay with rabbit anti-ubiquitin antiserum.The mRNAs from heat-shocked and non-heat-shocked cells were subjected to RT-PCR (Ub1S and poly(dT) primers) analysis. The molecular weights of the ubiquitinated proteins in heat-shocked CFRK cells were between 18 kDa and 24 kDa by immunoblot assay.These results suggested that there were more ubiquinated proteins in the heat-shocked CRFK cells than in the pre-heat-shocked cells.     

Apocrine adenocarcinoma in a golden hamster.

An apocrine adenocarcinoma was observed in the subcutis of the abdomen of golden hamster. Histologically, the tumor cells irregularly formed multiple layers of cysts and some detached cells were presented in the cystic space. PAS stain with alpha-amylase digestion revealed PAS-positive alpha-amylase-resistant granules in the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was demonstrated in the tumor cells. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells had an oval nucleus with invagination, abundant cytoplasmic organelles and microvilli protruding into the intercellular spaces.     

Valvular pulmonic stenosis in bullmastiffs

Six bullmastiffs with congenital heart disease were evaluated over a three-year period. In all the cases the problem was shown to be dysplasia of the pulmonary valve. Five cases were male, one was female. All dogs available to follow-up developed signs of cardiac decompensation. Bullmastiffs must be added to the list of breeds in which valvular pulmonic stenosis is encountered frequently.