Radiographic abnormalities in canine multicentric lymphoma: A review of 84 cases

The thoracic and abdominal radiographs of 84 dogs with multlcentric lymphoma were examined to identlfy the radiological abnormalities. The frequency of occurrence of individual changes, role of radiography in diagnosis, relationship of radiographic changes to hypercalcaemla and prognostic relevance of radiographic flndlngs were assessed. Multiple abnormalities were more commonly seen than solitary changes. No radiographic abnormalities were seen In approximately one quarter of thoracic radiographs and one fifth of abdominal radiographs. Lymphoma could not be diagnosed on the basis of radiographs alone. Many of the features of lymphoma were non-speclflc, having numerous possible causes. Cranial mediastinai disease was neither a prerequisite for, nor a disproportionately common flnding in, hypercaicaemic patients. The absence of radiological abnormalities may be a positive prognostic indicator but, in general, radiology had no place as a prognostic Indicator for the Individual patient. The differential diagnoses for the radlographlc abnormalities seen in lymphoma are discussed.     

Characterization of Fusarium spp. responsible for causing dry rot of potato in Great Britain

A 3-year survey was undertaken to establish the relative frequency of different Fusarium spp. present as inoculum on potato tubers collected from four regions of Great Britain. A total of 219 samples (comprising 10 950 tubers) were collected from the 2000, 2001 and 2002 crops and processed to recover dry rot-producing isolates. In total, 228 isolates of Fusarium spp. were recovered. Most (94·7%) of these isolates were attributed to one of four Fusarium species: F. coeruleum, F. avenaceum, F. culmorum and F. sambucinum (formerly F. sulphureum) . The incidence of the combined Fusarium spp. increased the further south the crops had been grown. Fusarium coeruleum was the most commonly isolated species in each survey year, comprising 37 to 52% of the total Fusarium species. Selected isolates of each species were evaluated for their ability to produce rots in potato tubers. Fusarium sambucinum was a more aggressive pathogen than the other Fusarium species in eight out of 10 cultivars. Fusarium avenaceum and F. culmorum were relatively weaker pathogens. However, these species were aggressive on some cultivars, notably Hermes. The selected isolates were also assessed for their sensitivity to the fungicides thiabendazole and imazalil. Using in vitro tests, 65% of F. sambucinum isolates were resistant to thiabendazole and 7% of F. avenaceum isolates were resistant to imazalil. Tubers treated with imazalil yielded a higher proportion of isolates of F. avenaceum than those that were untreated. Similarly, a higher proportion of F. sambucinum isolates were recovered from tubers treated with thiabendazole than from those that were not treated.     

Thiamine deficiency in dogs due to the feeding of sulphite preserved meat

A 6-year-old dog, a 4-year-old dog and three 7-week-old puppies were diagnosed with thiamine deficiency caused by feeding sulphite treated meat. The 6-year-old dog presented with a history of inappetence, weight loss and vomiting that rapidly progressed to signs of multifocal intracranial disease including mental dullness, paresis, seizures, spontaneous nystagmus and strabismus. Thiamine pyrophosphate effect was elevated at 58% and magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilaterally symmetrical hyperintensity of the caudate nucleus and rostral colliculi. The dog recovered with thiamine supplementation. The 4-year-old dog and three 7-week-old puppies also presented with rapidly progressive multifocal central nervous system signs including ataxia, paresis, increased muscle tone, seizures, nystagmus and exophthalmos. The 4-year-old dog made a rapid recovery with thiamine supplementation. Euthanasia and necropsy of a puppy revealed malacia of multiple brainstem nuclei and oedema of the cerebral cortex. These findings were consistent with thiamine deficiency.     

IMAGING OF THE CANINE AND FELINE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT: A REVIEW

The radiographic anatomy of the temporomandibular joint in the dog and cat is described in dorsoventral and oblique projections. The positioning for different oblique views in conventional radiography and technical details of computed tomography are reviewed. Typical radiographic features of craniomandibular osteopathy, dysplasia, luxation, subluxation, fractures, ankylosis, degenerative joint disease, infection, and neoplasia involving the temporomandibular joint are discussed.     

Effect of feeding slowly fermentable grains on productive variables and amelioration of heat stress in lactating dairy cows in a sub-tropical summer

Feeding low-fiber and high-energy diets to dairy cows is one approach to ameliorate heat stress (HS) by reducing heat increment (HI) during digestion. However, rapidly and slowly fermentable cereal grains differ in their HI. The aim of this experiment was to quantify if feeding slowly fermentable grains ameliorated the physiological responses to HS and improved milk production (MP) in dairy cows. Holstein-Friesian lactating dairy cows were housed in shaded pens and were fed either a total mixed ration (TMR) plus wheat (TMRW), a TMR plus wheat treated with 2% of a commercial starch-binding agent (TMRB), or a TMR plus corn (TMRC) (n?=?8 cows per diet) during summer in Queensland, Australia. Respiration rate (RR) and panting score (PS) were measured four times a day; rumen temperature (RuT) was recorded every 20 min, and rectal temperature (RT) and milk samples were obtained every 4 days. Cows fed slowly fermentable grains had higher milk production (MP) than cows fed TMRW, and cows fed TMRC had lower RT than those fed TMRW and TMRB (P?<?0.001). Rumen temperature was positively correlated with temperature-humidity index and negatively correlated with MP (P?<?0.05). In summary, feeding TMRC ameliorated HS as indicated by lower RT and improved MP in dairy cows. Milk production was improved with starch-binding agents; however, this was not associated with efficient thermoregulatory responses. Furthermore, determination of RuT enabled the prediction of changes in physiological variables and productive responses due to HS in lactating dairy cows.     

Tracheal perforation secondary to suture irritation in a dog following a ventral slot procedure

An eight-year-old springer spaniel was presented with acute-onset subcutaneous emphysema of five days' duration. The dog had undergone ventral slot decompression of the C5-C6 intervertebral disc space eight weeks before presentation. Cervical tracheoscopy demonstrated perforation of the dorsal tracheal membrane of the distal cervical trachea. Perforation of the dorsal tracheal membrane secondary to suture knot irritation was confirmed by exploratory surgery. Repair of the perforation was performed by plication of the dorsal tracheal membrane. The dog was re-presented nine days after the initial surgery with acute recurrence of subcutaneous emphysema. Air leakage at the plicated dorsal tracheal membrane was observed at exploratory surgery, and a bipedicle sternothyroideus muscle flap was used to support the plicated membrane. Recovery was uneventful and 10 months postoperatively there had been no recurrence of clinical signs.     

Hormone Induced Spawning of Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus

During their first year in captivity, summer flounder Paralicthys denratus were induced to spawn with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) implants, injected carp pituitary extract (CPE) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections. The percentage of fertile eggs was greatest (69%) in CPE-treated females. CPE, but not GnRHa or hCG, was capable of stimulating oocyte growth (increased follicle diameter during vitellogenesis) followed by ovulation. Fish with maximum ovarian follicle diameters between 180 and 435 μm at the initiation of CPE injections produced the greatest percentage of fertile eggs. For most females, fertilization rate was greatest for the first batch of eggs ovulated. The mean fertilization rate for the first spawn of CPE-treated fish was 42% compared with 14% for the second spawn from the same fish. Fish with maximum initial follicle diameters of 585 40 μm that were implanted with GnRHa ovulated the greatest number of eggs, but fertility was low and variable. Approximately 35% of females injected with hCG ovulated a limited number of eggs, but only one hCG-treated female produced fertile eggs. Only a limited number of spermiating males were available for spawning trials. Hormone treatments used on females were ineffective for inducing or maintaining spermiation in male summer flounder.     

The effects of equine somatotropin (eST) on follicular development and circulating plasma hormone profiles in cyclic mares treated during different stages of the estrous cycle

The effects of exogenous equine somatotropin (eST) administration on ovarian activity and plasma hormone levels were evaluated on horse and pony mares. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of eST on follicular development and circulating concentrations of leutinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in cyclic horse and pony mares. Sixteen mares received daily injections (i.m.) of eST at a concentration of 25 micrograms/kg body weight on either Days 6 through 12 (Treatment A) or 13 through 19 (Treatment B) postovulation. In addition, contemporary mares were similarly given the carrier vehicle and served as controls (Treatments C and D). Blood samples were collected at 24-hr intervals and ultrasonographic evaluations were performed on the ovaries of each mare at 48-hr intervals beginning on the first day of treatment and ending either on the day of ovulation or 5 d postovulation. Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were increased in treated mares by Day 3 post-treatment (P < 0.05). Also, mares in Treatment B exhibited a decrease in plasma estradiol concentrations (P < 0.05) when compared with control mares on Days 1 through 5 postovulation of the post-treated estrous cycle. In addition, circulating leutinizing hormone levels were different for mares in Treatment A compared with controls on Days--8 through--1 pre-ovulation (P < 0.05). All follicles present on the ovaries of each mare were measured and placed into one of five categories based on their diameter. Neither the mean number of follicles per size category > or = 8 mm in diameter nor the mean follicular diameter within each size category differed among treatment and control mares. However, eST treatment significantly increased the number of follicles < or = 7 mm on the ovaries of mares treated early in the estrous cycle when compared with control mares on Days 3 and 7 post-treatment and at the onset of standing estrus.     

THE EFFECTS OF AGE AND DIET ON THE ABSORPTION OF LEAD FROM THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF DOGS

SUMMARY Two groups of young growing dogs (one group maintained on balanced commercial diet and the other on high-fat-low-calcium diet) and one group of adult dogs on balanced commercial diet were given lead orally at 4 different dose levels. Post-treatment blood lead levels did not reveal any significant difference between the young and adult dogs maintained on balanced commercial diet. However, dogs on the high-fat-low-calcium diet showed marked elevation in blood lead at each of the 4 dose levels used. The results emphasise the importance of dietary factors in absorption of lead from the alimentary tract and suggest that the influence of age on lead uptake from the gut requires further evaluation.     

Simulation of production systems in East Africa by use of interfaced forage and cattle models

A forage model and a cattle production model were interfaced and adapted for tropical production conditions in East Africa. The objectives of the modelling were to structure and conceptualise a complex system for better comprehension, thereby determining constraints on a traditional African grazing system. The model was designed to simulate the physical linkages between the scarce resource of forage and the outputs of cattle, meat and milk. The effects of improved management practices were examined for a traditional village livestock grazing system. Verification and validation for the baseline village herd were carried out using several different sources of data. A combination of a restricted breeding season, supplemental feeding during the dry season and a seasonal sales policy resulted in a 40% increase in net revenue to village producers above the baseline for a ten-year period.