An investigation into the usefulness of a rostrocaudal nasal radiographic view in the dog

A rostrocaudal (RCd) nasal view was developed in large breed mesaticephalic dogs using a complete, subsequently sectioned, skull and cadaver specimens to optimise the radiographic technique and evaluate normal anatomic features. Gelatin was placed in one nasal passage of the cadaver specimens to mimic the effects of nasal pathology. The latter specimens and 18 clinical cases with suspected nasal disease were evaluated to determine the usefulness of the RCd view compared to standard nasal views. An optimal RCd view was obtained with the dog in dorsal recumbency and the head symmetrically positioned with the hard palate perpendicular to the table using a table top technique with 8:1 grid, collimating to the nasal region and centring the primary beam on the philtrum. The dorsolateral aspects of the maxillary bone, the nasal bones, septal sulcus of the vomer, mucosa lined nasal septum and conchae could be seen. A centrodorsal more radiolucent area representing the ethmoid bone region was also visible. Gelatin soft tissue opacification of the nasal passage could be seen more clearly in RCd nasal view than in occlusal dorsoventral view. In clinical cases the RCd view was useful to build up a 3-dimensional image of nasal passage pathology as well as to detect nasal septum and osseous nasal border pathology not visible in other views. This view is particularly useful in cases where cross-sectional imaging modalities are not available or where the nasal investigation is limited by cost considerations.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of urinary bladder in normal,fern fed and enzootic bovine haematuria-affected cattle

A total of 19 adult hill cattle of both sexes were subjected to trans-rectal ultrasound scanning of urinary bladder to evaluate bladder wall thickness and the presence of space-occupying lesions. The animals were divided into four groups. Eight apparently healthy hill cattle maintained under standard ration served as control (group I) and the remaining II animals were divided into three groups (II, III and IV). Group II animals (n = 8) were fed with different type of ferns which were further divided into subgroups II-P, -D and -B and fed with Polystichum squarrosom (n = 2). Dryopteris juxtaposita (n = 2) and Pteridium aquilinum (n = 4) ferns, respectively. The one animal in group III was a natural case of enzootic bovine haematuria (EBH) and the two animals in group IV were natural cases of microscopic EBH fed with Polystichum squarrosum fern. In group I animals, the average bladder wall thickness was 1.45 mm. The delineation of the bladder wall was uniformly smooth and the echo pattern of the bladder was homogeneously black, which was suggestive of clear urine content. In group II (P, D and B) the average bladder wall thickness of the six animals was 1.87 mm and the sonographic features were within normal limit when compared with controls. In two of the animals of group II-B, the bladder wall was apparently thick (4.36 mm) and there was no intraluminal mass except at one or two focal elevated points. Animals of groups III and IV showed the average bladder wall thickness of 4.86 mm and were characterized by the presence of irregular sessile masses extending into the bladder lumen. The homogeneous anechoic area was reduced centrally due to the presence of a hypoechoic soft tissue mass all around the bladder wall. Post-sonographic urinalysis, biopsy and necropsy of selected cases further confirmed the sonographic findings.     

An exercise in leadership training for veterinary students aiming for careers in biomedical research

A group discussion on the theme of "leadership" has been a central event in the annual Cornell Leadership Program for Veterinary Students since 1990. However, these discussions were often unfocused and did not readily demonstrate the leadership skills of distinguished guests who were invited to participate. Since 1998, a new format for this session has been developed in which students and guests are assigned individual roles in a scenario that is unfolded by a moderator over two to three hours. This role-playing exercise ensures that every student is obliged to participate and has an opportunity to practice such leadership skills as critical thinking, verbal communication, and decision making under pressure and with inadequate information. The distinguished guests, in their assigned roles, are able to interact freely with the student fellows and thus demonstrate their expertise as experienced leaders. This challenging experience has become an enjoyable part of the 10-week Leadership Program and one that shows the importance of leadership skills for those who aspire to careers in the biomedical sciences.     

Treatment of chronic or recurrent proximal suspensory desmitis using radial pressure wave therapy in the horse

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) is diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) is a widely used therapy for painful orthopaedic conditions in man and dogs. There are, however, few published data as to the outcome of its use in PSD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of RPWT in the treatment of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse, an injury which carries a poor prognosis for return to athletic function with conservative management alone. HYPOTHESIS: RPWT and controlled exercise improves the prognosis of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse when compared to previously published results of controlled exercise alone. METHODS: The use of RPWT in the management of chronic or recurrent proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) was evaluated in 65 horses. Diagnosis was based on response to local analgesia, ultrasonography and radiography. Horses were classified according to severity of ultrasonographic lesions, whether fore- or hindlimbs were affected, and duration of lameness prior to diagnosis. Horses were treated 3 times at 2-week intervals and followed a controlled exercise programme; they were reassessed clinically and ultrasonographically 10-12 weeks after diagnosis, when further exercise recommendations were made dependent upon the animal's progress. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of horses with hindlimb lameness and 53% with forelimb lameness were nonlame and returned to full work 6 months after diagnosis. The prognosis was significantly affected by the ultrasonographic grade at the time of diagnosis and by ultrasonographic evidence of resolution of the lesion in hindlimb cases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings, when compared to previously published results of treatment using controlled exercise alone, suggest that RPWT improves the prognosis for PSD in the hindlimb. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: RPWT is a useful treatment modality for chronic or recurrent PSD when combined with controlled exercise. Further studies are required on the effect of RPWT employing histology and biomechanics in order to fully evaluate its use on equine tissues.     

Vitamin and trace mineral content in feed of breeders and their progeny: effects of growth, feed conversion and severity of malabsorption syndrome of broilers

1. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of several vitamins and trace elements chickens and in chickens experimentally infected with malabsorption syndrome (MAS). 2. Vitamins and trace minerals in feed were varied. Breeders received either a basal amount of vitamins and trace minerals (low mix) or an increased amount (high mix). Their progeny also received either a low mix or a high mix. Effects of different breeder and broiler mix combinations on broiler performance, heamatology, spleen weight and humoral response were examined in control chickens. The effects of the different feeds and breeder, broiler combinations at the severity and recovery of MAS infection were also studied. 3. In general, the immune system can be stimulated by addition of vitamins and trace minerals, without affecting the growth potential of the controls. The number of leukocytes increased on d 1 in the broilers descended from breeders receiving high mix. The response to Newcastle disease virus boost was affected by the different amount of vitamins. 4. When breeders received a high mix the number of infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the intestine was higher compared with breeders receiving basal amounts of minerals and vitamins. Also the recovery rate of intestinal lesions, cystic crypts of Lieberkühn and villus atrophy, as observed by histopathology, was faster in the groups where the breeders received high mix.     

A modified ventral fixation for surgical management of atlantoaxial subluxation in 19 dogs

OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified ventral stabilization technique for surgical management of atlantoaxial subluxation in dogs and to evaluate the outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Nineteen client-owned dogs. METHODS: Medical records of 19 dogs with a radiographic diagnosis of atlantoaxial subluxation surgically managed by a modified ventral fixation technique (cortical screws, Kirschner wires, polymethylmethacrylate) were reviewed. Data on pre- and post-operative neurologic status, surgical technique, and complications were retrieved. Follow-up evaluation was performed at approximately 1 month. Telephone interview of the owner was used for long-term assessment (median follow-up for 17 surviving dogs was 10.5 months). RESULTS: Adequate reduction and stabilization was achieved in all dogs based on radiographic assessment immediately after surgery. Improved neurologic outcome occurred in 16 dogs at 1 month and in 15 dogs at follow-up; 2 dogs died of post-operative complications within 24 hours of surgery. One dog was euthanatized at the owners' request because of recurrent neck pain associated with implant failure after 1 month. Two dogs required surgery to remove broken and migrated implants, but further stabilization was not necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate stabilization and improved neurologic outcome was achieved in most dogs. However, on account of the small size of the study and the variable neurologic signs of the dogs on admission, the surgical technique described could not be compared to those previously reported. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The surgical technique described is an effective means of surgical treatment for atlantoaxial subluxation.     

Salmonella enteritidis clearance and immune responses in chickens following Salmonella vaccination and challenge

Our previous work showed that the cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was enhanced by live Salmonella vaccine (LV). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of live and killed Salmonella vaccines on Salmonella enteritidis (SE) clearance and to determine if the clearance was mediated by cell-mediated and/or humoral immunity. Chickens were first immunized at 2 weeks of age followed by a booster dose at 4 weeks, challenged with live SE 2 weeks later (6-week-old) and tested for CMI, antibody response and SE clearance 1-week post SE-challenge (7-week-old). Spleen cell proliferation induced by SE-flagella and Concanavalin A (Con A) were significantly higher and SE shedding was significantly lower in the LV group. The splenic CD3 population was significantly lower and B cells were higher in the control group compared to all the SE-challenged groups (with and without vaccination). Serum antibody to SE-flagella and envelope were significantly higher in the KV group compared to all the other groups. These results suggest that LV protects against SE infection, probably by enhancing the CMI.     

Comparison of three methods of feeding sows in gestation and the subsequent effects on lactation performance

A total of 684 sows from breeding groups over 6 wk was used to compare three methods of feeding during gestation on gestation and lactation performance. Control gilts and sows were fed according to body condition based on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = thin, 5 = fat). Sows were visually assessed for body condition at breeding and were assigned a daily feed allowance to achieve a BCS of 3 at farrowing. Treatment 2 used feeding levels based on backfat thickness (measured between d 0 and 5 after breeding) and weight at weaning for sows or service for gilts. Feed allowance was calculated to achieve a target backfat of 19 mm at farrowing, and remained constant from d 0 to 101 of gestation. Feed allowances were based on modeled calculations of energy and nutrient requirements to achieve target sow maternal weight and backfat gains. Treatment 3 was identical to Treatment 2, except that feeding pattern was altered for thin sows and gilts (<15 mm at service) in an attempt to reach 19 mm by d 36 of gestation. Sows were weighed at the previous weaning, and gilts were weighed at service, with both weighed again between d 112 and 114 of gestation. Backfat was measured between d 0 and 5, and again between d 108 and 113 of gestation. At farrowing, sows on Treatments 2 and 3 had 19 and 19.1 mm of backfat, respectively, whereas control sows tended to have greater (P < 0.07) backfat (20 mm). On average, sows targeted to gain 6 to 9 mm of backfat failed to reach target gains regardless of feeding method. Feeding sows in gestation based on backfat (Treatments 2 and 3) resulted in a numerically higher proportion of sows in the target backfat range of 17 to 21 mm (40.2, 53.3, and 52.6% for control and Treatments 2 and 3, respectively) at farrowing and a numerically lower percentage of fat sows (>21 mm), but no difference in the percentage of thin sows (<17 mm) compared with feeding based on body condition. In conjunction with this observation, sows fed based on BCS were fed higher (P < 0.05) feeding levels in gestation than were sows fed based on backfat depth. Gestation feeding method had no effect on performance during lactation. Feed intake in lactation was lower (P < 0.05) for high backfat sows (>21 mm) at farrowing compared with sows with <21 mm. The high proportion of sows in the optimal backfat category demonstrates that feeding based on backfat and BW has potential for facilitating more precise feeding during gestation.     

Necrosis of hippocampus and piriform lobe: clinical and neuropathological findings in two Italian cats

The present paper reports the clinical and neuropathological findings in two cats with a neuropathologically confirmed diagnosis of necrosis of the hippocampus and piriform lobe. The cats were presented because of acute onset of behavioural changes and complex partial seizures. The neurological examination suggested a forebrain lesion. The results of blood examination were within the normal range, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and computed tomography (CT) scan in one cat did not show any abnormality. Despite therapy with diazepam (Valium; Roche) there was deterioration of the clinical signs and the cats were euthanased. The neuropathological examination revealed hippocampal necrosis that included the piriform lobe.     

A spontaneous and fatal jejunal intussusception in a European brown hare associated with Eimeria leporis

A recently dead adult female European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) was found in the wild with no evidence of trauma or external injury. Necropsy revealed symptoms consistent with endotoxic shock and a haemorrhagic jejuno-jejunal intussusception with a necrotic intussusceptum. Small, unattached nodules were present extensively in the jejunal lumen and within the intussuscipiens. These nodules proved to be masses of unsporulated Eimeria leporis oocysts. Review of the literature reveals E. leporis to be a common parasite of wild hares, with protracted pathogenic potential under some circumstances. This is the first report of intussusception in this species and the most severe lesion seen associated with E. leporis. This case suggests that E. leporis may be more harmful to the wild European brown hare population than previously supposed.