Stephanofilarial dermatitis in India

Four species ofStephanofilaria have been reported from India causing various forms of dermatitis in cattle, buffalo, goat and elephant. However, additional work is needed to establish their identity as separate species. The lesions appear to flare up following reinfection, while the application of a petroleum jelly alone reduces them. In vitro tests have shown organophosphorous compounds to possess stephanofilaricidal action in addition to their insecticidal activity. Aspects where further work is needed are indicated.     

Comparison of fractional excretion and 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium in clinically normal cats and cats with induced chronic renal failure.

The influence of induced chronic renal failure on 24-hour urinary excretion and fractional excretion of sodium and potassium was studied in cats. Induction of chronic renal failure significantly increased fractional excretion of potassium (P less than 0.0001) and sodium (P less than 0.05); however, 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium decreased slightly following induction of chronic renal failure. Fractional excretion and 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium were compared by linear regression in clinically normal cats, cats with chronic renal failure, and clinically normal and affected cats combined. In clinically normal cats, linear regression revealed only moderate correlation between fractional excretion and 24-hour urinary excretion for sodium and potassium. Linear regression of these same relationships in cats with chronic renal failure, and in clinically normal cats and cats with chronic renal failure combined, indicated low correlation. Fractional excretions of sodium and potassium were not reliable indicators of 24-hour urinary excretion of these electrolytes in cats with chronic renal failure or unknown glomerular filtration rate. Fractional excretion of potassium and sodium correlated only moderately with 24-hour urinary excretion in clinically normal cats.     

Effects of increasing photoperiod length on performance and health of broiler chickens

1. Broiler performance and health were compared from 0 to 42 d for lighting programmes consisting of near-continuous light 23L:1D (23L), a lighting programme where photoperiod gradually increased from 6 to 23 h between days 4 and 35 (INC) or an increasing-lighting programme with 1 h of light mid-way through the scotophase (INC + 1). 2. The increasing lighting programmes reduced growth rate and increased gain:food ratio from 0 to 21 d; INC + 1 growth rate was intermediate to the 23 L and INC treatments. From 0 to 42 d there were no differences in growth rate or gain:food ratio among lighting treatments. Males grew faster, ate more food and converted food more efficiently than females. 3. The increasing-lighting programmes (INC and INC + 1) resulted in less skeletal disease than the 23L control. The incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) and mortality other than SDS were numerically lower for the increasing lighting treatments. More males died as a result of SDS and were affected by skeletal defects than females. 4. In terms of health, increasing lighting programmes were superior to near-continuous light for broiler chickens.     

Evaluation of combined Pasteurella vaccines in control of sheep pneumonia

The effectiveness of an oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV) incorporating locally isolated strains of Pasteurella haemolytica type 7 and Pasteurella multocida types A and D was compared with that of Carovax (Wellcome Laboratories) in imported cross-bred lambs. The criterion of efficacy was the ability of the vaccines to reduce the extent of pneumonic lesions in vaccinated as against unvaccinated control lambs. The OAV produced at this Institute significantly reduced the lung lesions at P less than 0.05 level compared with its control group when challenged with P. haemolytica alone. However, the vaccine was unsatisfactory against P. multocida or combined P. multocida P. haemolytica challenge. Carovax did not produce any significant reduction in the lung lesions caused by P. haemolytica and/or P. multocida.     

The isolation of salmonella from kangaroos and feral pigs processed for human consumption

A total of 154 feral pig carcases and 81 kangaroo carcases were examined for the presence of Salmonella, coliforms and total aerobic counts. Approximately 34% of pig carcases yielded one or more serotypes of Salmonella, while about 11% of kangaroo carcases were contaminated with salmonella. The results differed widely between sampling occasions. A total of 13 serotypes were isolated from feral pigs with S. anatum (31 isolates) and S. typhimurium (9 isolates) being the predominant serotypes. Coliforms were isolated from approximately 90% of carcases. The mean log10 coliform count on feral pigs was 4.39 +/- 1.45/g and the mean log10 total count was 6.15 +/- 1.15/g. About 21% of carcases were contaminated with more than 100,000 coliforms/g. A total 3 serotypes were isolated from kangaroos (S. bahrenfeld, S. binza, and S. onderstepoort). The mean log10 coliform count on kangaroos was 3.54 +/- 1.04. More than 50% of kangaroo carcases were contaminated with less than 100 coliforms/g. About 15% of carcases were contaminated with more than 10,000 coliforms/g. The mean log10 total count was 5.2 +/- 1.01/g.     

Posterior paralysis due to fibrocartilaginous embolism in two weaner pigs.

Acute posterior paralysis in two weaner pigs was attributed to ischemic infarction of the lumbar spinal cord due to fibrocartilaginous emboli. These arterial and venous emboli were assumed to have originated from the nucleus pulposus of one or more intervertebral discs. There was no indication of an initiating factor in either instance, although some form of trauma may have been involved. Lesions were not grossly evident and were limited to one or two lumbar segments. Although it appears to be a rare occurrence, fibrocartilaginous embolism of the spinal cord should be considered in cases of acute paralysis in pigs particularly when gross lesions are absent.     

Response of mink, skunk, red fox and raccoon to inoculation with mink virus enteritis, feline panleukopenia and canine parvovirus and prevalence of antibody to parvovirus in wild carnivores in Ontario.

Mink virus enteritis, feline panleukopenia and canine parvovirus-2 were inoculated separately into groups of raccoon, mink, red fox and striped skunk. Raccoons were highly susceptible to mink virus enteritis and feline panleukopenia, with animals developing clinical illness, and several dying within six to ten days of inoculation with lesions typical of parvovirus infection. Both viruses were shed in high titre in the feces of infected raccoons, and high antibody titres were stimulated. Raccoons inoculated with canine parvovirus-2 showed no signs; shedding of virus was sporadic though moderate titres of antibody developed. Mink inoculated with mink virus enteritis and feline panleukopenia developed signs and lesions of early parvovirus infection. No signs or significant lesions followed canine parvovirus-2 inoculation. Shedding of virus was heavy (mink virus enteritis) or sporadic (feline panleukopenia and canine parvovirus-2), though good serological responses were elicited to all three viruses. Red fox showed no signs of infection, shed all three viruses only sporadically, and the serological response was strong only to feline panleukopenia. Skunks developed low antibody titres, but no signs, and did not shed virus. Antibody to parvovirus was found in 79.2% of 144 wild red foxes; 22.3% of 112 wild raccoons; 1.3% of 157 wild skunks and 6/7 coyotes in southern Ontario. The likely significance of these viruses to wild and captive individuals and populations of these carnivores is discussed.     

Motility of the rumen and abomasum during hypocalcaemia.

The relationship between plasma calcium level and rumen motility in cows and sheep and abomasal motility in cows was investigated by inducing hypocalcaemia in seven cows and five sheep by the infusion of Na2 EDTA over a period of approximately two hours. Rates and amplitudes of rumen and abomasal contractions were markedly reduced by the reduction of plasma calcium level to approximately 50% of normal. There were significant positive linear relationships (P less than 0.05) between rate and amplitude of rumen contractions in both sheep and cows over a plasma calcium range of 1-3 mmol/L. There was also a significant linear relationship (P less than 0.05) between plasma calcium and abomasal rate of contraction over the same range in cows, but the relationship with amplitude of abomasal contraction was not quite significant (P less than 0.1 greater than 0.05).