Essential Fatty Acids and the Cat

Abstract— The physiology of essential fatty acid metabolism in the cat is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of the n:6 and n:3 fatty acids, their metabolites and interactions, which relate primarily to the skin. The functional roles, if known, of the fatty acids are discussed. Recent clinical research into the use of essential fatty acid supplements in the management of feline dermatoses is presented. Current indications for the therapeutic supplementation with essential fatty acids are summarised.     

The significance of sheep and goats as carriers of zoonoses in this country]

The significance of sheep and goats in this country in connection with the zoonoses rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, contagious ecthyma, Q-fever, chlamydiosis, brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, echinococcosis and toxoplasmosis is discussed.     

Radiographic interpretation of normal skeletal variations and pseudolesions in the equine foot.

Effective radiographic interpretation requires a veterinarian who is knowledgeable of equine limb anatomy and the various principles that affect the resulting image. The normal and its variations must be recognized and understood before the abnormal can be confidently identified as pathologic. Proper patient positioning and sound radiographic technique are mandatory if reliable diagnostic radiographs are to be produced. This review emphasizes equine foot radiographic variations of normal and pseudolesions that occur with commonly used radiographic views performed in equine practice.     

Corneocyte Counts for Evaluation of Antiseborrheic Shampoos in Dogs

Abstract— An objective method for measuring corneocyte numbers before and after antiseborrheic shampoo therapy was assessed in dogs. Corneocytes were collected from six skin regions on the dorsal trunk of nine colony-raised beagles with clinically normal skin. Forty-eight collection sites were randomly assigned a treatment with one of seven medicated shampoos or water alone; six additional sites served as non-treated controls. Corneocytes were collected immediately before the first treatment, and 14 and 28 days after initiation of therapy with a 0.1% Tween 80 surfactant and a quantitative cup-scrub technique. Pretreatment corneocyte counts were not significantly different among the nine dogs nor among the randomly assigned treatment and control sites (3.55 · 10⁴ cells.cm^-2, SEM 0.17). Corneocyte counts increased in all treatment and control sites from days 0 to 14. Corneocyte counts were similar in the non-treated and water-treated sites from days 14 to 28. Corneocyte counts were not significantly different when the same treatments were compared on days 0, 14 and 28, or when different treatments were compared on the same day. The corneocyte collection technique used in this study proved to be a reliable method for assessing the rate of cell desquamation and cell surface cohesion in dogs.     

Irrigation and dryland cultivation effects on the surface properties and erodibility of a Zimbabwe vertisol

Abstract. Changes in chemical and physical properties and erodibility of a vertisol were studied in relation to land use. The vertisol, which occurs extensively in the semi-arid south-east of Zimbabwe, is derived from basalt and has a self mulching surface layer. Irrigated crops show static yields despite introduction of improved varieties. Four uncultivated sites were selected as controls and compared with five irrigated and four dryland sites. Surface soils were analysed for a range of chemical and physical properties, and laboratory rainfall simulation was used to measure soil erodibility under high intensity rain. The irrigated soils had greater exchangeable sodium and available phosphorus than the uncultivated soils. In contrast, dryland soils showed no such changes apart from a decrease in the amount of small water-stable aggregates. The soils are very erodible under high intensity rain but no significant differences were found between sites. We conclude that, although soil chemical changes have taken place in the irrigated soils, significant soil degradation has not occurred at the sites examined. The static yields probably result from management problems. However, immediate measures should be taken to improve drainage and irrigation management in the irrigated soils to avoid further sodium increases.     

Nitrogen uptake by ryegrass from organic wastes applied to a sandy loam soil

Sandy‐textured Mediterranean soils are invariably depleted in organic matter and supply only small amounts of N to crops. To compensate for these deficiencies, we tested the N supply from six organic wastes applied to a Cambic Arenosol in pots growing ryegrass. The results showed that the behaviour of the wastes in supplying N to a ryegrass crop grown in this soil can be predicted by observing their performance in laboratory aerobic incubations. The N made available during these incubations fitted well to a one‐pool kinetic model.     

A novel approach to studying the effects of temperature on soil biogeochemistry using a thermal gradient bar

The temperature dependence of chemical reaction rates and microbial metabolism mean that temperature is a key factor regulating soil trace gas emissions and hydrochemistry. Here we evaluated a novel approach for studying the thermal response of soils, by examining the effects of temperature on gas emissions and hydrochemistry in (a) peat and (b) soil from a Sitka spruce plantation. A thermal gradient was applied along an aluminium bar, allowing soil to be incubated contemporaneously from 2 to 18 °C. The approach demonstrated clear differences in the biogeochemical responses of the two soil types to warming. The peat showed no significant emission of CH₄ at temperatures below 6 °C, while above 6 °C, a marked increase in the rate of release was apparent up to 15 °C (Q₁₀ = 2.5) with emissions being similar between 15 and 18 °C. Conversely, CH₄ emissions from the forest soil did not respond to warming. Nitrate availability in the peat decreased by 90% between 2 and 18 °C (P < 0.01), whereas concentrations in the forest soil did not respond. Sulphate availability in the peat decreased significantly with warming (60%, P < 0.01), while the forest soil showed the opposite response (a 30% increase, P < 0.01). Conventionally, thermal responses are studied by incubating individual soil samples at different temperatures, involving lengthy preparation and facilities to incubate samples at different temperatures simultaneously. Data collected on a given thermal response is usually limited and thus interpolated or extrapolated. The thermal gradient method overcomes these problems, is simple and flexible, and can be adapted for a wide range of sample types (not confined to soil). Such apparatus may prove useful in the optimization of management practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, as thermal responses will differ depending on land use and soil type.     

Osteosarcoma of the distal femur, combined with multiple bone infarcts: the case of a 10-year-old poodle

A ten-year-old female poodle was presented for left hindlimb lameness. Radiographically, irregular intramedullary densities of long bones (bone infarcts) and a lytic lesion in the left distal femur were detected. Two years after the first examination, the lesions in the distal femur were definitely identified as osteosarcoma and the dog was euthanized. Pathological and histological changes of the bone infarcts as well as of the osteosarcoma are described. Regarding bibliographical data, occurrence and aetiopathogenesis of osteosarcoma associated with multifocal bone infarction in man and dog are discussed.     

Otodectes cynotis infestation of dogs and cats: biology of the agent, epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis and case description of generalized mange in dogs

A review on the biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of Otodectes cynotis in dogs and cats is presented. Additionally, three cases of generalized otodectic mange in dogs are described.