Autumn bloom of antarctic pack-ice algae

An autumn bloom of sea-ice algae was observed from February to June of 1992 within the upper 0.4 meter of multiyear ice in the Western Weddell Sea, Antarctica. The bloom was reliant on the freezing of porous areas within the ice that initiated a vertical exchange of nutrient-depleted brine with nutrient-rich seawater. This replenishment of nutrients to the algal community allowed the net production of 1760 milligrams of carbon and 200 milligrams of nitrogen per square meter of ice. The location of this autumn bloom is unlike that of spring blooms previously observed in both polar regions.     

The aetiology of spinal deformity in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.: influence of genetic factors on the frequency and severity in freshwater stages

A radiographic study was carried out on 2-year groups of pre-smolt parr to detect the comparative frequency of vertebral change in a range of defined pedigreed families of high growth rate of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., reared under identical conditions. The observed frequency of deformity was related to the observed deformity level in the seawater parental generation, and to a potentially uncontrolled environmental determinant, i.e. stripping date. High and low parental deformity groups of families were found to produce offspring that had very similar levels of radiographically detectable spinal deformities in the pre-smolt parr, suggesting no genetic link. With regard to stripping date, the overall incidence was nearly half that seen in the preceding year (8.7% cf 16.6%). However, a non-significant trend to fewer radiographic spinal deformities was seen in the later stripping period.     

疑似碘酊致牛死亡一例

笔者在临床上曾遇到一疑似“碘酊”致牛死亡的病例,由于未曾见过碘酊致牛死亡的报道,查阅资料也终未得到答案.笔者将其整理如下,供同行探讨。     

A COMPARISON OF THE ROSTROCAUDAL OPEN MOUTH AND ROSTRO 10° VENTRO-CAUDODORSAL OBLIQUE RADIOGRAPHIC VIEWS FOR IMAGING FLUID IN THE FELINE TYMPANIC BULLA

Fluid within the tympanic bulla is an indication of middle ear disease. Radiography has a relatively low accuracy for the detection of soft tissue opacification in the tympanic bulla, and the most useful radiographic projection, the rostrocaudal open mouth (RCd (open mouth)), is technically difficult to perform in dogs and cats. An alternative projection for the feline tympanic bulla, the rostro 10 degrees ventro-caudodorsal oblique (R10 degrees V-CdDO), was compared to the RCd (open mouth) in 41 feline cadaver heads with the tympanic bullae randomly filled with KY jelly. Computed tomography was used as the gold standard. Each tympanic bulla was recorded as being positive or negative for soft tissue opacification. Although there was no significant difference between the accuracy of the two views, the R10 degrees V-CdDO was subjectively more accurate and easier to perform, and in a live patient may be performed without the need for general anesthesia. The R10 degrees V-CdDO projection is a good alternative to the RCd (open mouth) projection for detecting otitis media in the cat.     

Semitendinosus muscle transfer flap for external anal sphincter incompetence in a dog

A 5-year-old sexually intact female Yorkshire Terrier was referred with a history of fecal incontinence of at least 2 years and chronic intermittent colitis. The external anal sphincter to the left of the anus was intact; the external anal sphincter was not detectable to the right of the anus. To repair the defect, the semitendinosus muscle was isolated and severed 2 cm proximal to its insertion on the tibia. Care was taken to preserve the integrity of the vasculature and nerve supply in the proximal third of the muscle body. The body of the muscle was passed around the ventral and right aspects of the rectum; the cut end was secured with simple interrupted sutures dorsal to the levator ani and coccygeus muscles to simulate the external anal sphincter. After surgery, the dog could defecate normally. Absence of a portion of the external anal sphincter may be congenital or the result of anorectal trauma, rectal prolapse, severe perineal disease, or surgical resection. The use of a semitendinosus muscle flap for treatment of fecal incontinence secondary to sphincter incompetence in dogs may be a viable alternative to euthanasia.     

Associations between age or sex and prevalence of gastric ulceration in Standardbred racehorses in training

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between age, sex, or medical treatment and prevalence and severity of gastric ulceration in Standardbred racehorses in training. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 224 Standardbred racehorses in training. PROCEDURE: Gastroscopy was performed on each horse, and mucosal ulceration was graded from 0 (normal mucosa, no lesions) to 3 (extensive, often coalescing, lesions with areas of deep ulceration). Associations between age, sex, or treatment and prevalence and severity of ulcers were evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalence of gastric ulceration was 87%. Although there was little association between age and prevalence of ulcers, there was an association between age and severity of ulcers. Most 2-year-old horses (57.7%) had an ulcer score of 0 or 1. In all other age groups, most (58% to 82.61%) of horses had an ulcer score of 2 or 3. Although overall prevalence of ulceration was comparable among sex groups, the relative risk for gastric ulceration increased with age in castrated males, whereas it decreased in females and sexually intact males. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gastric ulceration is common in Standardbred horses in race training. Severity is higher in horses > or = 3 years of age than in 2-year-old horses. Relative risk for ulceration increases with age in castrated males.