Penetration of the small intestine by an unusual foreign body resulting in colic in a horse: A case report

A nine-year-old Arabian gelding was evaluated for acute abdominal pain. Based on clinical signs and the results of the diagnostic work-up, surgical exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed. An adhesion was found involving a section of jejunum, its mesentery, and the omentum. Passage of gas and/or ingesta was obstructed at that point. On closer examination of the involved bowel, a porcupine quill which had perforated throught the intestinal wall from the lumen was identified. This was believed to have been the inciting cause for the formation of the adhesion and subsequent intestinal obstruction.     

Book review

Livestock Environment II, Proceedings of the Second International Livestock Environment Symposium, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Publication 3–82. American Technical Publishers Ltd, Hitchin, England. Price £27.00. ISBN 0–916150–45–3.     

The effect of low to normal dietary phosphorus levels on zinc metabolism and tissue distribution in calves

Sixteen 10-wk-old, phosphorus (P)-depleted Holstein bull calves were fed for 6 wk a control diet containing .08% P or P-supplemented diets containing .14, .20 or .32% P with supplemental P from two sources (CDP and Dynafos). The diets contained .45, .56, .66 and .87% Ca. After 5 wk of the experiment, the calves were dosed orally with 65Zn, and daily total fecal collections were initiated. At the end of the experimental period, the calves were killed and tissue samples were taken for total Zn and 65Zn analyses. Growth, feed intake and feed efficiency improved with increasing dietary P levels. Level of dietary P and Ca had little or no effect (P greater than .05) on total Zn content of rib, tibia, liver, heart, kidney, muscle or blood. Likewise, 65Zn absorption and content in most tissues were not affected (P greater than .05). The results do not preclude the possibility of some minor effects of P levels on Zn metabolism. However, it is apparent that when adequate Zn is fed, any effects are likely to be of little or no practical importance.     

Lactic acid as a decontaminant in slaughter and processing procedures

An attempt was made to interrelate the data obtained in experiments conducted by our Department along beef, veal and pig slaughter lines, using lactic acid (LA) for the decontamination of carcasses, cold and hot boned primal cuts, slaughter byproducts, and butcher's knives. First and foremost it was observed, that provided Good Manufacturing Practices are strictly followed, the microbial load of carcass surfaces will be substantially reduced. LA-decontamination may result in an additional reduction. Since in the early post-mortem period bacteria are not yet attached to the meat surface, LA-decontamination should preferably be applied to the hot carcass. It was demonstrated that, dependent on mode and duration of application, LA sprays not exceeding 1% v/v (beef), 1.25% v/v (veal) and 1.5% v/v (pork) resulted in acceptable carcass colour scores. Blood spots, which are particularly prone to discolouration by lactic acid application, should be removed at an early post-mortem stage e.g. by strong showering. The difference in surface pH between LA-treated and control carcasses disappeared within 72 hours post-mortem. Veal longissimus chops treated with LA solutions up to 2% v/v were not identified by a consumer taste panel as significantly different from controls. The 'immediate' bactericidal effect of LA-decontamination for beef, veal and pig carcasses, as well as for pig liver and veal brain, amounted to approximately 1.5 log cycles for the aerobic colony counts, strongly dependent on substrate and conditions of decontamination. In addition, a 'delayed' bacteriostatic effect was observed during storage, which is probably the result of a prolonged lag phase of acid-injured micro-organisms surviving lactic acid decontamination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prenatal occurrence and mode of inheritance of neuraxial oedema in Poll Hereford calves

Breeding experiments were conducted in 1981, 1982 and 1983 using bulls and cows that were obligatory heterozygotes for neuraxial oedema. Fifty-six calves were born in the herd, 14 of which were diagnosed as cases of neuraxial oedema. The mean gestation length for affected calves born in 1983 was nine days shorter than that for unaffected calves. Observations were made of the birth of three affected calves. In one calf spasms of the forelimbs were observed during an unassisted delivery, and in this and two others, typical clinical signs were observed within two minutes of birth. Radiological and, or, pathological examination of each of the eight affected calves born in 1983 revealed lesions in the coxae, some of which predated parturition. These observations are consistent with the calves being affected with neuraxial oedema while in utero.     

Cartilage lesions associated with shaky-leg lameness in turkeys

Shaky-leg lameness is a poorly defined, mild to very severe, painful lameness occurring mainly in 10-to-18-week-old fast-growing male turkeys. Since there are no significant gross or microscopic lesions in early or uncomplicated cases, the cause of the lameness is likely soft-tissue (muscle or tendon) pain. A case history of a flock problem of shaky-leg lameness is described, and it is suggested that stiffness and inactivity secondary to footpad dermatitis in these turkeys was responsible for the severe shaky-leg lameness in the flock. The cartilage lesion described is an avascular lesion and appeared to be the result of inactivity rather than the cause of lameness in these turkeys.     

Drugs and the liver

The authors discuss the liver's influence on drug disposition in the body and the influence of drugs on the liver. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity with regard to mechanisms and causative agents is discussed, as well as administration of drugs to patients with existing liver disease.     

Microtechnique for quantitative platelet isolation from blood enabling electronic counting and sizing of animal and human platelets

A technique for rapidly separating platelets from small quantities of whole blood is described. The isolation method allowed for counting and sizing platelets by electronic means, and counts with this new method were closely correlated with those obtained by phase microscopy. Platelet sizing was possible because of the inert and isotonic nature of the density-gradient medium used in the procedure. The technique was applicable to samples of blood from persons, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The isolation of platelets from whole blood of various species of animals was necessary for electronic counting because of the great variation in sizes of platelets and erythrocytes and the variable sedimentation properties of animal blood.