Gastrointestinal Nematode Populations in Stabled Ewes of Rimouski Region

Nematode populations is stabled ewes of the Rimouski region were studied by means of fecal worm egg counts, fecal culture of larvae, and worm counts at necropsy. It was found that during the winter strongyle egg counts were low, Trichostrongylus eggs being most numerous, The stronglye egg counts increased following lambing and reached peak in June. Ostertagia spp was the principal contributor to this “spring-rise”, with substantial contribution from Trichostrongylus and Haemonchus contortus. The bulk of adult worm populations in winter, however, was made up of Trichostrongylus, whereas the great majority of the populations of Ostertagia spp, H. contortus and Nematodirus spp were inhibited in development at the fourth larval stage. All the worms recovered at necropsy in spring were adults, coinciding with the “spring-rise”.     

Toxoplasmosis I. Studies by the Fluorescein-labelled Antibody Technique

The fluorescein-labelled antibody technique was investigated for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The direct method, the inhibition and indirect modifications are suitable for the demonstration of Toxoplasma gondii in fluid and tissue-impression slides from animals in the acute phase of infection. The method was not applicable with the frozen tissue sections.

The fluorescein-labelled antibody inhibition technique detected antibodies in immune sera from various species of animal. However the titres obtained were lower than with the complement-fixation test.

     

The Use of Fluorescent Antibody Staining in the Diagnosis of Rabies

Brain material from 750 domestic and wild animals submitted to this laboratory for rabies diagnosis was studied by the following three methods: a) microscopic examination of Williams'' stained impressions, b) mouse inoculation test, and c) microscopic examination of impressions stained with fluorescein-tagged antibodies. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the sensitivity of the fluorescent antibody technique with that of two classical methods, when applied to the routine diagnosis of rabies. From the results obtained by one or the other method of study, 175 specimens were diagnosed as positive. Of these, only 58 (33 per cent) were detected by the examination of Williams'' stained impressions. On the other hand, two rabid cases were missed by the mouse inoculation test, and four by the fluorescent antibody technique. Without being completely reliable, the last two methods proved to be almost equally sensitive and much more so than the examination of Williams'' stained impressions.     

Surgical treatment of lumbosacral instability caused by discospondylitis in four dogs

OBJECTIVE: To describe a surgical technique involving distraction and stabilization of the lumbo-sacral vertebral segment using an external skeletal fixator in dogs with lumbosacral instability caused by discospondylitis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Four client-owned dogs. METHODS: Medical records of all dogs diagnosed with discospondylitis from 1994 to 1997 were identified and reviewed. Four dogs with lumbosacral discospondylitis requiring surgical treatment were then specifically studied. Surgical technique, clinical signs, preoperative diagnostic investigation, radiographic findings, and the results of short-term and long-term reevaluations were recorded. RESULTS: Twelve dogs with discospondylitis were identified, 4 of which had lumbosacral discospondylitis. These 4 dogs underwent surgical distraction and stabilization because they failed to respond to medical treatment. Three dogs received a cancellous bone graft between L7 and S1 and had rapid interbody fusion of this vertebral segment. The dog that did not receive a graft did not have interbody fusion at the time of fixator removal. This did not affect the final clinical outcome. Lumbosacral pain and neurological deficits present before surgery rapidly subsided after the procedure. All dogs received concurrent antibiotic treatment for a minimum of 4 weeks. All dogs were clinically normal at the time of fixator removal and all continued to do well during the follow-up period (8-48 months; mean, 27.5 months). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lumbosacral discospondylitis may not respond well to conservative treatment because of the mobility of the affected space. Surgical treatment involving distraction and stabilization to obtain intervertebral fusion is very effective in treating lumbosacral instability caused by discospondylitis.     

A Study of Toxoplasma Infection in Chickens and Cats on a Family Farm

Presumptive evidence of toxoplasmosis was obtained following histological and serological studies of tissues from chickens and cats kept on a family farm. This was confirmed by transmission of the infection to experimental laboratory animals and back to chickens. The significance of the low grade serological reaction in one of the persons living on the farm was not clear.