Extramedullary plasmacytoma and immunoglobulin-associated amyloidosis in a cat

Extramedullary plasmacytoma with immunoglobulin-associated amyloidosis was diagnosed in a 10-year-old cat. The primary tumor was a large, circumferential mass of the right tarsal region. Metastasis developed in the regional lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Permanganate-resistant amyloid deposits were associated with plasma cells in the primary and metastatic tumors. Treatment with prednisone and melphalan had little effect on the progression of the disease, and the cat died four weeks later.     

Seroprevalence of Sarcosystis spp. in cattle and buffaloes from the wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka: a preliminary study

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies to Sarcosystis infection in cattle and buffaloes. Crude antigens derived from cystozoites of Sarcosystis cruzi and antibodies from the sera of naturally infected cattle and buffaloes were used. The assay was validated by determination of the specificity, sensitivity and negative and positive predictive values. Using ELISA, a sero-epidemiological survey for sarcosystosis was carried out in cattle (n = 215) and buffaloes (n = 123) from the wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka. The prevalence of infection in cattle was 69.3%. Prevalence of the infection collectively in both cattle and buffaloes in the dry zone was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in the wet zone. The number of sero-positive cattle and buffaloes in the dry zone was significantly higher than that in the wet zone (P < 0.05). Buffaloes in the dry and wet zones showed a greater prevalence of infection (P < 0.05) than cattle.     

Salmonella contamination of poultry flocks in The Netherlands

The contamination of poultry in the Netherlands with Salmonella enteritidis was tested. For this, different methods (detection of S. enteritidis in faecal samples of 25 g; detection of S. enteritidis in cloacal swabs; detection of S. enteritidis by serological testing of antibodies in serum) were compared for their efficiency to detect S. enteritidis in flocks of poultry. Testing of faecal samples clearly yielded the best results. This method was used in a transmission study, in which 14 flocks descending from a contaminated primary mother flock were screened for the presence of S. enteritidis. The method was also used for screening 49 flocks of laying hens and 52 flocks of broiler chickens throughout the Netherlands. From the transmission study it became clear that S. enteritidis, phage type 2 (Dutch phage set) was isolated both from the mother flock and from five of the descendent flocks. Screening of poultry flocks for the presence of salmonella revealed that salmonella was present in 47% of the layer flocks and in 94% of the broiler flocks. S. enteritidis was isolated from 15% of the flocks screened.     

Assessment of the impact of resistant and susceptible canola on Plasmodiophora brassicae inoculum potential

The impact on clubroot severity of growing susceptible canola or mixtures of resistant and susceptible canola genotypes was examined. Bioassays revealed greater clubroot severity and incidence, and reduced plant height, where 100% of a susceptible cultivar had been grown. A higher proportion of susceptible plants within a resistant canola crop increased root hair and secondary infections. Regression analysis of root hair infection and the amount of Plasmodiophora brassicae DNA (as determined by quantitative PCR) revealed strong linear relationships between the two parameters. The linear relationships between root hair infection and P. brassicae DNA were stronger for the resistant cultivar than for the susceptible cultivar when regression analysis was conducted by cultivar over the sampling dates. In conclusion, the cropping of a resistant cultivar reduced clubroot severity, while the presence of susceptible volunteer canola increased inoculum potential. Quantitative PCR was a reliable tool for the quantification of root hair infection.     

Effect of melatonin on induction of estrous cycles in anestrous ewes

To examine the influence of melatonin on seasonality of reproduction, 97 multiparous Suffolk and Suffolk-cross ewes were randomly assigned to one of four treatment (TRT) groups in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments were as follows: 1) control (C); 2) melatonin (M); 3) progestogen (P) implant of norgestomet plus pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection (P + PMSG) and 4) M plus TRT 3 (M + P + PMSG). From April 3 to June 24 an oral dose of 2 mg M was administered once daily at 1600 to each ewe in TRT groups M and M + P + PMSG. On April 30, ewes in groups P + PMSG and M + P + PMSG were implanted in the ear with 2 mg norgestomet for 13 d. Immediately following implant removal, each ewe was injected with 500 IU PMSG. Blood samples were collected from all ewes twice weekly from March 22 through June 24. Number of estrous cycles per ewe during the TRT period of 82 d (April 3 to June 24) was higher (P less than .05) for M + P + PMSG (2.1 +/- .2) than for C (.3 +/- .2), M (1.5 +/- .2) and P + PMSG (1.1 +/- .2). Control ewes had fewer (P less than .05) estrous cycles per ewe than either M or P + PMSG. Following the induced estrus, 40% of ewes in the M TRT had one estrous cycle; 32% had two or more cycles. For ewes treated with M + P + PMSG, 24% had one cycle, and 32% had two estrous cycles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of acute asphyxia at birth on subsequent heat production capacity in newborn pigs

The effect of acute asphyxia at birth on subsequent ability to produce heat was investigated in 30 newborn pigs. A model of experimentally induced asphyxia consisting of the prevention of breathing within the first four minutes of life was used. Blood was sampled from an umbilical artery catheter within the first 75 minutes of life for blood gas, pH, glucose, lactate and catecholamine analysis. After the treatment and 24 hours later, heat production capacity, shivering intensity and rectal temperature were measured 10 degrees C below thermoneutrality. Effects on blood gas parameters were severe but transient whereas alterations in carbohydrate metabolism were maintained during the first 75 minutes (P < 0.05). Acute asphyxia at birth induced only minor alterations of thermoregulatory abilities during the first day of life: rectal temperature was lower one hour after birth (P < 0.05) and the postnatal increase in heat production capacity was less pronounced than in controls. It is suggested that the lower viability usually reported for piglets suffering from asphyxia during delivery is most likely to result from reduced vigour and colostrum intake, as well as altered carbohydrate metabolism early after birth.     

Intraocular pressure in normal dairy cattle

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in normal dairy cows by applanation tonometry. In the first study of 15 Holstein and 17 Jersey cows the mean IOP by Mackay-Marg tonometry was 27.5 ± 4.8 mmHg (range 16–39 mmHg); no significant differences ( P < 0.92) were observed between the Holstein and Jersey breeds. In the second study of 15 Holstein and 12 Jersey cows, the mean IOPs by Mackay-Marg and TonoPen-XL tonometry were 28.2 ± 4.6 mmHg (range 19–39 mmHg) and 26.9 ± 6.7 mmHg (range 16–42 mmHg), respectively. Comparisons of the Mackay-Marg and TonoPen tonometers indicated no significant differences ( P < 0.16). The mean and range of IOP in normal dairy cows within 2 SD (95% of the population) is 27 mmHg with a range of 16–36 mmHg.     

Clinical characteristics and mode of inheritance of familial focal seizures in Standard Poodles

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical characteristics and mode of inheritance of seizures in a family of Standard Poodles. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 90 Standard Poodles descended from the same maternal bloodline (30 with probable idiopathic epilepsy [PIE] and 60 without any history of seizures). PROCEDURES: Researchers contacted owners to determine whether dogs had ever had any seizures and, if so, the nature of any such seizures and any potential underlying causes. Dogs were considered to have PIE if they were between 6 months and 7.5 years old at the time of seizure onset and had no evidence of any underlying cause. To determine the mode of inheritance, segregation analyses were designed to allow the family to be analyzed as a whole, as opposed to as nuclear families. Competing models of inheritance were compared statistically for their ability to explain the data. RESULTS: Of the dogs with PIE, 28 (93%) had focal onset seizures with or without secondary generalization. Median age of onset was 3.7 years; 6 dogs were > 5 years old at the onset of seizures. Segregation analyses strongly suggested that PIE was inherited as a simple recessive autosomal trait with complete or almost complete penetrance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that in this family of Standard Poodles, PIE was inherited as a simple recessive autosomal trait with complete or almost complete penetrance. Seizures often had focal, as opposed to generalized, onsets, and it was not uncommon for seizures to begin after 5 years of age.