Congenital esophagotracheal fistula as the cause of bloat in a calf

A four day old Holstein calf was presented with a history of recurrent free gas bloat. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and no abnormalities were discovered in the gastrointestinal tract. An esophagotracheal fistula was suspected and confirmed by endoscopy. Surgical correction was performed by ligating the tubular connection between the trachea and esophagus and suturing closed the defects in these structures.     

Examination of the origin of increased equine serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations

Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was found to be increased in 32.6% of equine samples analyzed at the Ontario Veterinary College over an 18 month period. An attempt was made using sensitivity to L-phenylalanine and heat to identify the origin of increased serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes present in 44 clinical cases. No difference in sensitivity to either procedure was observed for serum alkaline phosphatase from groups of foals and horses representing different clinical problems. Alkaline phosphatase of osseous tissue origin appeared to be the major source of activity for each group of animals reported.     

A strategy for control of bovine leukemia virus infection: test and corrective management

Test and corrective management was applied in one dairy herd (130 milking cows) to control bovine leukemia virus infection. It consisted of: raising uninfected calves in order to establish a pool of uninfected replacement heifers, preventing transmission of bovine leukemia virus through transfer of blood from animal to animal and closing the herd. Regular herd testing was combined with selected changes in herd management. These procedures have been followed since January 1979. Prevalence of antibodies (as determined by gel-immunodiffusion) has declined markedly since the program was implemented.     

The F38-Like Group,a New Group of Caprine Mycoplasmas?

This paper concerns the taxonomic status of the F38-like group (MacOwan), a prime determinant of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). Extensive biochemical and serological investigations on strain F38 are reported. Some complex serological relationships with other mycoplasma species are revealed. The results, taken in conjunction with earlier published work on geno-typic characters, lead to the conclusion that final classification of these organisms should await further comparative studies of a number of field strains with a related group of strains classified as M. capri-colum.The characterization of F38 confirms its partial relationship to the “M. mycoides group” of ovine/caprine/bovine mycoplasmas, and has also revealed a very close phenotypic relationship to the bovine mycoplasma serogroup 7, a finding of potential diagnostic and epidemiological importance.Key words: mycoplasmas, classification, F38-like group     

Endocrine effects of heat stress in boars

The purpose of this study was to describe the temporal changes in peripheral plasma levels of testosterone and Cortisol in boars during and after heat stress. A total of 8 boars were utilized, 4 of them were exposed to 35°C, for 100 h in a climatic room, and 4 served as controls and were kept at 20 °C for 100 h in the climatic room.Blood samples were obtained via permanent vein catheters 3 times daily from 5 days before heat stress until 20 days after termination of heat stress. Testestorone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and Cortisol by a competitive protein binding technique.For both hormones the pre-exposure levels were similar in both groups of boars. The control boars had significantly higher testosterone levels, while being in the climatic room, than during any other period. The experimental boars had slightly increased testosterone levels during the first day of heat stress and thereafter continuously decreased levels. In the control boars the testosterone levels returned to pre-exposure levels immediately after removal from the climatic room, whereas in the experimental boars the testosterone levels were dramatically increased during the first 5 days after exposure. The differences in Cortisol levels, between the 2 groups of boars were restricted to the period spent in the climatic room. During this period the experimental boars had significantly higher Cortisol levels.Key words: boars, heat stress, testosterone, cortisol     

An Epidemiological Study of Foot Rot in Pastured Cattle

Using 12 years of data from the common grazing areas at Store Vildmose on the incidence of foot rot in cattle, it was shown that the disease incidence varied significantly between the sections in which the animals were grazing. Differences also existed between breeds in their foot rot incidence. Extraordinarily wet summers were noted to influence foot rot in cattle, and a possible effect of soil pH was also observed.Key words: foot rot, cattle, incidence, epidemiology, breed differences, climatic factors, lameness     

Comparison of plasma aldosterone concentration among clinical status groups of dogs with chronic heart failure

The plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) among clinical status groups of 23 dogs with chronic heart failure was compared at various times after diagnosis of the problem. Eighteen dogs admitted in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV clinical status had significant elevations in PAC (P<0.0001), when compared with clinically normal dogs. Five dogs admitted in NYHA class III status and 4 dogs that responded with a change to NYHA class III status had significant elevations in PAC (P<0.01), when compared with clinically normal dogs. In patients with NYHA class IV status, the PAC was significantly greater (P<0.01) than in patients in NYHA class III status. For patients with the poorest prognosis, ie, severe signs of NYHA class IV status, the PAC was not markedly different, when compared with that for patients with a favorable prognosis, ie, recent onset of signs of NYHA class IV status. Patients treated with captopril had significantly lower PAC after therapy (P<0.01), whereas patients treated with hydralazine had significantly higher PAC (P<0.05) after therapy. It was concluded that heart failure in the dog increases PAC, most likely because of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system activation, and that the increase is related directly to the clinical status of the patient. Further, it was concluded that treatment of dogs in heart failure with captopril causes a decrease in circulating PAC, whereas treatment with hydralazine causes an increase in circulating PAC.     

A comparison of different drying techniques for energy and amino acid analyses of poultry excreta

1. Broilers were fed on wheat‐casein or wheat‐soyabean meal diets and the excreta collected after 12 and 24 h. Samples of excreta were freeze dried or dried in a force draught oven at 60 or 80 °C.

2. Drying procedure and collection time significantly influenced the determined energy and nitrogen concentrations of the excreta.

3. Drying excreta in an oven at 60 °G proved at least as effective as freeze drying for the majority of amino acids.     

Pathogenicity of various isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis for broilers

Day-old broilers or specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intranasally with approximately 1 X 10(8) organisms of eight different field isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis. Major differences in the pathogenicity of isolates and their ability to colonize the trachea were found. Only two isolates (Wilson and Lockamy) produced mild clinical signs of respiratory disease ("snicking," dyspnea). The same two also colonized the respiratory tract, especially the trachea, in large numbers; they persisted for 31 days. Of the remaining six isolates, five were also able to colonize the respiratory tract but did so to a lesser degree and less persistently, without causing clinical signs. Only one isolate (CS) was incapable of becoming established in the respiratory tract of chicks after intranasal inoculation.