Medical dissolution of canine struvite uroliths

Medical therapy is an effective method of canine struvite urolith dissolution. Recommendations include (1) eradication or control of urinary tract infection (if present), (2) use of calculolytic diets, and (3) administration of urease inhibitors to patients with persistent urinary tract infection caused by urease-producing microbes.     

The effect of gamma-HCH upon the ultrastructure of the neurohaemal organs on the median nerves of the stick insect (Carausius morosus)

Topical application of gamma-HCH induced considerable ultrastructural changes and damage in the cellular components of the neurohaemal organs on the median nerves of Carausius morosus. The cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of the glial cells became much more opaque to electrons and shrinkage occurred in the cellular wrappings surrounding the nerve axons. The cytoplasm of the tracheal wall cells and end cells also increased in electron density. Damage to the nervous elements was less evident than to the glial cells but some clumping and increase in electron opacity of the axoplasm took place. Neurosecretory granules could fragment and/or become less opaque to electrons. Some axons that lacked a glial-cell sheath and contained neurosecretory granules appeared to be disrupted or degenerating. At very high doses there was an apparent reduction in the number of storage granules and an increase in exocytotic profiles in some neurosecretory axons. These results are discussed in relation to the possible modes of action of gamma-HCH upon the nervous system of insects.     

Dissolution of canine ammonium urate uroliths

Medical therapy that may be effective in promoting dissolution of canine ammonium urate uroliths includes the following: reduction of dietary purines, reduction in in vivo production of uric acid, and alkalinization of urine.     

An Abattoir Survey of the Incidence of Pneumonia in Saskatchewan Swine and an Investigation of the Microbiology of Affected Lungs

The lungs of 15 409 pigs, mostly from Saskatchewan, slaughtered at an abattoir were examined over a one year period. The incidence of lesions was 36.7% for “enzootic” pneumonia and 2.1% for pleurisy unassociated with pneumonia. Seasonal variations were recorded and compared with the results of similar surveys carried out in Australia, Belgium and England. Mycoplasmological examination of lungs from 347 animals was consistently negative for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Pasteurella multocida was the commonest bacterial isolate, a result which agrees with those of other workers.     

The action of insecticides on neurosecretory neurons in the stick insect, Carausius morosus

The action of insecticides on the spontaneous electrical activity of neurohemal tissue in the stick insect, Carausius morosus, has been studied using extracellular electrodes. The pyrethroid, permethrin, causes a massive increase in the frequency of the spontaneously generated action potentials at concentrations between 5 × 10^?5 and 5 × 10^?8M. Concentrations as low as 5 × 10^?11M are still effective in producing bursting activity.DDT, at concentrations between 5 × 10^?5M and 5 × 10^?6M, produces an overall increase in activity although the bursting activity is less violent than that shown with permethrin. DDT, 5 × 10^?7M, is ineffective at altering the resting pattern.Carbaryl and coroxon cause a transitory increase in electrical activity at 1 × 10^?4M, but are ineffective at 1 × 10^?5M.It is concluded that insecticides could have a direct effect upon the neurohormonal balance in insects.     

BREED DIFFERENCES IN THE RESPONSE OF YOUNG BEEF BULLS TO ELECTRO-EJACULATION

SUMMARY A total of 702 electro-ejaculation attempts are recorded on young (16 to 31 months) beef bulls of 3 breeds and 3 breed crosses (Brahman cross 100, Africander cross 93, Shorthorn cross 109, Brahman 81, Africander 89, and Hereford 230. Four hundred and forty of these attempts were conducted on bulls of the first 5 of these breeds which had been reared under similar conditions on the same property. The machine employed was a Watson Transtimulator, powered by a 12-volt automobile battery, and connected to a 6.25 cm diameter bipolar ring electrode probe, 37.5 cm in length. The voltages at which the sperm free (sample A) and sperm rich (sample B) samples were initiated were 4.8 ± .2 and 7.7 ± .2 volts respectively. No breed differences occurred. Breed differences occurred in the proportion of bulls showing a severe reaction to the electricity (P < 0.001) with the Africander (32.6% P < 0.001) and Ax (28.0% P < 0.01) having the highest proportions of severe reactions. These 2 breed groups also had the highest proportions of electro-ejaculation failures (respectively, 23.6% P < 0.05 and 19.4% n.s.). Overall, bulls of Bos indicus derivation did not differ from those of Bos taurus derivation in electro-ejaculation failures. During stimulation, erection was achieved by 19.8% of bulls and failure to collect an assessable ejaculate occurred in 15%. No breed differences occurred in either category. Collapse during stimulation occurred in 5.3% of electro-ejaculation attempts (overall P < 0.05) with the SH breed group having highest representation (12.8% P < 0.001).