Feline dysautonomia — The Key-Gaskell syndrome

Sir:- In 1981, Key and Gaskell in the United Kingdom recognised a new disease in cats which subsequently became known as the Key-Gaskell Syndrome.⁽¹⁾ The incidence of this condition increased in the United Kingdom during 1982, and other workers described the clinical signs in more detail and were able to relate certain features of the disease to changes in the autonomic ganglia⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ Recently, the NZVA Small Animal Society was asked by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association for any evidence as to its presence in New Zealand. The purpose of this letter is to provide information on feline dysautonomia (Key-Gaskell Syndrome), which it is felt may assist veterinary practitioners to recognise the condition and determine if it occurs in this country.     

Feline hyperthyroidism — A review

The efficacy of selenium dioxide (SeO₂) was similar to sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄.10H₂O), in terms of increasing and maintaining blood Se concentrations. when administered orally twice daily to give 0.64 rng of Se/dav to grazing dairy cows for 56 days.     

Heritability of thrips resistance in the ‘IPA-3’ onion cultivar in South Texas

A two season study was conducted to compare the onion cultivars TG1015Y and IPA-3 for resistance to thrips in South Texas. Narrow and broad sense heritabilities were estimated from populations developed from the cross, ‘IPA-3’ × ‘TG1015Y’. Parents, F1, F2, and the respective backcross populations were evaluated for thrips numbers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Weslaco, TX. ‘IPA-3’ had significantly fewer thrips than ‘TG1015Y’ in both seasons. Yield was significantly different only in the 1996–97 season. The heritability of thrips resistance in this study was very low. Depending on the methods of estimation h ² was 5.3% and 4.0%, and H ² was 4.1% and 8.0%. These results suggest that greater genetic gains for thrips resistance in onion can be achieved by selection on a family basis rather than using single plant selection. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tetanus in the dog: review and a case-report of concurrent tetanus with hiatal hernia

: Tetanus with hiatal hernia was diagnosed in a four-month-old female sheepdog pup. The animal was treated with tetanus antitoxin, antibiotics, fluids and intensive nursing care for three weeks and subsequently made a full recovery.     

Narrow host range phages associated with citrus canker lesions in Florida and Argentina

Bacteriophages were isolated from naturally infected citrus canker lesions from diverse locations in Florida and Argentina and characterized for host range using a world-wide collection of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) strains. Sixty-seven bacteriophages isolated from citrus canker lesions in Florida (37 bacteriophages) and Argentina (30 bacteriophages) revealed little diversity. All 30 phages isolated from four locations in Argentina had identical host ranges (group ARG), while 37 phages from Florida made up two groups (FLA and FLB). ARG and the 31 FLA phages produced clear plaques and had nearly identical host ranges as phage CP2 of Japan in that they only reacted with typical A strains and none of the atypical A strains (A^* and A^W) or other Xanthomonas spp. FLB phages had a different host range from the other strains and produced turbid plaques. We used phage typing, fatty acid analysis and riboprinter analysis to classify citrus-associated xanthomonads. Phage typing using 12 phages isolated from Xcc, X. fuscans subsp. aurantifolii (Xfa), X. alfalfae subsp. citrumelonis (Xacm), and other sources proved useful for classifying all major Xcc pathotypes and/or strains (A, A*, Miami (MI), Manatee (MA) and Wellington (A^W)), as well as B and C types of Xfa. X. citri subsp. citri strains from a worldwide collection were diverse in phage susceptibility. The majority of Xcc strains, which originated from different regions of the world and which were typical “A” pathotype strains based on pathogenicity characteristics, was sensitive to most phages (including CP2, FLA and ARG), and had nearly identical phage sensitivity profiles. MA strains were quite unique in that they reacted with none of the phages; furthermore, they were different from the putative progenitor MA strain, ATCC 49118, which reacted with a group of phages. Fatty acid analysis revealed considerable variation in Xcc-A, Xfa-B, Xfa-C and Xacm strains. Using riboprinter analysis, we identified a unique riboprinter pattern for strains isolated from an etrog tree (Citrus medica) in Florida that were “A” pathotype strains based on pathogenicity characteristics. Phage typing and fatty acid analysis were useful in corroborating that the etrog strains represent a unique new Xcc strain in Florida.     

Prevalence of the causes of fleece derangement among sheep flocks in New South Wales

SUMMARY An investigation of sheep flocks with unknown histories of fleece derangement, selected at random from the main sheep raising areas of New South Wales, showed that Psorergates ovis was present in 53 of the 177 flocks surveyed and In 162 of the 3495 sheep examined. Of the single causes of fleece derangement, the most prevalent was grass seed contamination (15.7%) followed by Infestation with sheep body lice, Bovicola ovis, (14.7%) and Infestation with Itch mite (7.8%). The prevalence of fleece derangement was significantly higher on sheep In which lice were the only ectoparasites found than on those In which Itch mites were the only ectoparasites present. The greatest prevalence of P ovis was In flocks In the Young, Yass, Mudgee and Tenterfield districts. In most affected flocks, more than one potential cause of fleece derangement was present. Itch mite Infestation was more prevalent in flocks that received no treatment for ectoparasites than in those that had been treated in the year preceding the survey. Our results did not support a commonly held belief among farmers that arsenical compounds control Infestations of Itch mites more effectively than other types of pesticides. There was no significant difference in prevalence of fleece derangement between flocks treated with different pesticide groups and those that received no treatment, but mean fleece derangement score was significantly lower in sheep treated with organophosphates than in untreated sheep. Infestations of lice were significantly more prevalent in sheep from flocks treated with synthetic pyrethroids than from those treated with organophosphates or those that received no treatment.     

Phase I Clinical Trial and Pharmacokinetics of Intravesical Mitomycin C in Dogs with Localized Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder

Background: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common cancer of the urinary tract in dogs. The most frequent cause of death is urinary obstruction from the primary tumor. Standard medical therapy for TCC is only partially effective. Hypothesis/Objectives: Intravesical administration of mitomycin C (MMC) in dogs with invasive TCC will result in antitumor activity against the primary tumor and minimal systemic drug absorption. Animals: Thirteen privately owned dogs with naturally occurring, histopathologically diagnosed TCC of the urinary bladder. Methods: A prospective phase I trial was performed. MMC was given intravesically (600 μg/mL initial concentration) for 1 h/d for 2 consecutive days each month. The MMC concentration was escalated to a maximum of 800 μg/mL in groups of 3 dogs until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined. Serum assays for MMC were performed to determine the extent of systemic absorption of the MMC. Results: The MTD of MMC based on local toxicoses was 700 μg/mL (1‐h dwell time, 2 consecutive days). In addition, 2 dogs had severe myelosuppression and appeared to have systemic absorption of MMC. Five dogs had partial remission, and 7 dogs had stable disease. Conclusions: Intravesical MMC has antitumor activity in dogs with invasive TCC. Further study is needed to determine the cause of the myelosuppression associated with MMC administration, and to develop strategies to minimize this risk.