Suspected ciliary dysfunction in Chinese Shar Pei pups with pneumonia

Chronic pneumonia was investigated in a litter of young Chinese Shar Pei in which 4 of 6 dogs were affected. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgA, IgG, IgM) determined by radial immunodiffusion varied over time, but were not consistently lower in affected dogs, compared with control dogs. Two dogs that died had hydrocephalus and lymphoid depletion, in addition to severe broncho-pneumonia. Evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure in 2 affected dogs revealed random orientation of adjacent respiratory tract or oviductal cilia and a greater number of microtubular disarrangements, compared with control dogs. In vivo tracheal mucociliary clearance of 99mtechnetium macroaggregated albumin was absent in 1 dog examined. The ciliary abnormalities were suspected to have resulted in an inefficient mucociliary transport system predisposing to the development of pneumonia. Further evaluation of 1 Chinese Shar Pei revealed lymphocyte mitogenesis results that were not consistently less than those of a control dog, normal total hemolytic complement values, and normal blood neutrophil chemotaxis.     

The influence of physiological state and dietary nitrogen supply on digestion in the dairy cow

The effects of N supply on digestion were compared in cows in late pregnancy vs early lactation. Two groups of four and one group of three dairy cows received, during a digestion trial, corn silage-concentrate diets (65:35) differing in N supply. Concentrates were formulated so that diets were either insufficient (Diet 1) or sufficient (Diets 2 and 3) in ruminally fermented N and either insufficient (Diets 1 and 2) or sufficient (Diet 3) in protein digestible in the intestines. Experimental periods were 3 wk before and 3 wk after parturition. Organic matter digestibilities were 69.8, 73.1 and 72.5% in late pregnancy vs 64.9, 69.8 and 70.8% in early lactation for Diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Digestibility was higher (P less than .05) in late pregnancy than in early lactation. Differences between physiological states were attributed to differences in ruminal digestibility and in fiber digestibility. These differences were not explained by a reduction in large particle retention time, but in situ DM disappearance was reduced in early lactation. Ruminal protozoa concentration and the acetate: propionate ratio decreased between pregnancy and lactation. The duodenal non-ammonia N:N intake ratio was higher for Diet 1 than for Diets 2 and 3, 1.20, .97 and .94, respectively, but it did not vary between physiological states. In conclusion, some of the negative consequences of a shortage in degraded N are more dramatic in early lactation than in late pregnancy.     

A tracheoscopic technique for obtaining uncontaminated lower airway secretions for bacterial culture in the horse

Transtracheal aspirate (TTA) aerobic microbiology culture results from 30 ponies were compared to protected catheter brush (PCB) culture results obtained from the same ponies. The PCB procedure resulted in significantly fewer (P less than 0.05) isolates than those obtained by the TTA procedure and the PCB procedure resulted in significantly more samples with no bacteria growth than the TTA procedure. To address the possibility that the volume of tracheobronchial secretion obtained by PCB was insufficient as a microbiological sample, a sterile, double-sheathed, protected aspiration catheter (PAC) was developed. Comparisons were made between TTA and PAC aerobic microbiology culture results from 18 pneumonic foals and weanlings. There were no significant differences between the PAC and TTA procedures with respect to the number of bacteria isolates. It was concluded that the PAC technique may be used as an alternative to TTA for isolation of equine pulmonary bacteria and may be the preferred procedure because of the reduced risk of complications associated with the TTA.     

Enteric Function in Cats after Subtotal Colectomy for Treatment of Megacolon

The enteric function of four cats that had undergone subtotal colectomy for megacolon was compared with that of four normal cats. All cats were fed the same diet before and during the study. History, physical condition, body weight, blood chemistry panel, fasting and postprandial serum bile acids, serum cobalamin concentration, serum folate concentration, fecal weight, fecal water content, fecal fat content, fecal osmolality and electrolyte concentration, quantitative anaerobic fecal bacterial culture, partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, breath hydrogen concentration, urinary calcium, phosphorus and electrolyte concentrations, and abdominal radiographic examination with air contrast studies (pneumocolon) were examined. The four cats treated surgically were healthy and thriving and, in general, enteric function was similar to the controls. Bowel movements occurred only slightly more frequently with no significant differences in fecal volume or water content. Serum cobalamin concentrations were significantly higher in cats treated surgically. Fecal sodium concentrations were high and fecal potassium concentrations were low. Results of this study did not show any significant subclinical evidence of abnormal bowel function in cats after subtotal colectomy.     

Cor triatrium dexter with Budd-Chiari syndrome and a review of ascites in young dogs

Ascites with accumulation of a true or modified transudate, is relatively uncommon in young dogs. When it does occur, congenital defects of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or renal systems, infectious diseases and trauma must be considered. Cor triatrium dexter, an abnormal membrane obstructing the caudal vena cava at the level of the right atrium, was diagnosed in an eight-month-old cocker spaniel presented with ascites.     

Host responses during experimental infection with Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica in Merino sheep II. Development of a predictive index for Fasciola gigantica worm burden

This study reports on the predictive relationship between serological, immunological and pathological responses following experimental inoculation with incremental doses of Fasciola gigantica in sheep. Fifty, 6-month-old, naive Merino wethers were allocated to one of 5 experimental groups, four of which received 50, 125, 225 and 400 metacercariae, respectively, whilst a 5th group acted as non-inoculated control. Strong individual correlations were observed between liver score, GLDH (glutamate dehydrogenase), GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase), CatL5 (cathepsin L5) antibody titre (IgG1, IgA), eosinophilia, and the total worm count or worm biomass. A combination of multiple indicator traits performed significantly better than any single indicator trait alone. The best predictive index accounted for up to 88% of observed worm burden (Wb) if information on inoculation dose was available. Without knowledge of inoculation dose, such as under field conditions, up to 67% of variation in worm burden could be predicted. In contrast, the best single predictor variable (liver damage score) accounted for up to 50% of worm burden, and in the absence of post-slaughter information, serum levels of anti-cathepsin IgA antibody titres accounted for 35% of predicted variation in worm burden. The utility of a predictive index under both field and experimental inoculation conditions is discussed.