Chronic renal failure in young dogs–possible renal dysplasia

The clinico-pathological findings are described in thirteen young dogs with advanced renal disease. All but three dogs were less than 2 years old. Some had signs of renal dysfunction since birth. Presenting signs were variable but anorexia, lethargy and weight loss were most frequent. All dogs had raised blood urea levels and most passed dilute urine; proteinuria and anaemia were variable findings. At necropsy all dogs had extra-renal lesions of renal failure and finely granular or lobulated, shrunken kidneys. The microscopical appearances of the kidneys were not those of amyloidosis, inflammatory or glomerular disease but were considered likely to be of developmental origin. The renal lesions were divided into three histologically distinct groups.

• 1 Predominantly cystic and connective tissue changes, characterized by striking dilatation of glomerular capsular spaces and cortical tubules.
• 2 Atypical connective tissue changes in which there were segmental bands of fibrous tissue containing primitive glomerular and tubular structures.
• 3 Predominantly glomerular and connective tissue changes, characterized by varying degrees of glomerulosclerosis and widespread calcification of glomeruli, tubules and blood vessels.

All groups had cortical and medullary interstitial fibrosis but minimal inflammatory cell infiltrates.     

A review of feline serum protein electrophoresis

A review of the current literature available on feline serum proteins is presented. Early studies concentrated on comparative aspects of species variations in the electrophoretic pattern. The feline electrophoretogram was divided into five basic regions: albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta and gamma. Different subdivisions of these areas were recognized depending on the support medium used. Current papers have compared the relative migration distances of each globulin peak to the migration of albumin. This "Rf" value enables reliable peak identification. To date, no data exists identifying the individual proteins responsible for the peaks in the alpha and beta regions. The only feline globulin to be studied is haptolobin; however its precise location on the electrophoretic strip was not identified.     

Use of monoclonal antibodies to identify outer membrane antigens of Actinobacillus species

Three monoclonal antibodies (LG17, LG30, and LG33) were used to identify outer membrane antigens of Actinobacillus sp (As8C isolate) cultured from the epididymides of an infected ram lamb. Specificity of the 3 antibodies to As8C antigens was determined by use of bacterial agglutination, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Results of immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that each antibody was specific for epitopes on As8C outer membrane antigens. Evaluation by use of enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot indicated that target antigens for LG17 and LG33 antibodies had molecular weights of 10 kilodaltons and 43 kilodaltons, respectively. Multiple-band staining was observed with the LG33 antibody. The target antigen for the LG30 antibody could not be discerned by use of enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot. For each of the 3 monoclonal antibodies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers were obtained for Actinobacillus seminis, A actinomycetemcomitans, and 10 field isolates of Actinobacillus spp. Target antigens for LG17 and LG30 antibodies occurred infrequently or were absent on these bacteria. However, the target antigen for the LG33 antibody was shared by Actinobacillus seminis, A actinomycetemcomitans, and the 10 field isolates of Actinobacillus spp, indicating some diversity of outer membrane antigens between isolates.     

Effect of level of protein and supplemental choline on reproductive performance of gilts fed sorghum diets

A total of 214 gilts was used (two trials) to determine the effect of protein level and choline supplementation during gestation on weight gain, conception rate and subsequent reproductive performance. The gilts were fed either a 12 or 16% crude protein sorghum-soybean meal diet containing either a high supplemental choline level or no supplemental choline in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Conception rate was not influenced by either protein or choline level. Choline supplementation increased pig weight at 42 d of age (P less than .14) and litter weight at 21 (P less than .12) and 42 d (P less than .1). Gilts fed the 16% protein diet produced larger pigs at 42 d (P less than .13) and heavier litters at birth, (P less than .1) 21 d (P less than .14) and 42 d (P less than .05) than gilts fed the 12% protein diet. A larger choline effect on litter size and pig and litter weight was observed for gilts fed the 12% protein diet than for those fed the 16% gestation diet, although the protein-choline interaction was not significant for any traits measured. The incidence of spraddle leg condition was low and was not affected by level of dietary protein or supplemental choline.     

Comparison of maize,wheat and triticale in broiler diets

1. Wheat, triticale 131 or triticale 72‐S could replace up to half the maize in broiler diets without affecting performance. Replacing more of the maize on either an equal nitrogen basis or a weight basis adversely affected performance.

2. Triticale 72‐S appeared to be superior to triticale 131 as a direct replacement for maize, but both grains were inferior to maize as energy sources.     

Dog Tear Secretion and Tear Proteins

Abstract— Methods of collecting, analyzing and interpreting tear secretion of dogs is described.
The rate of tear secretion in normal and abnormal dogs was measured by means of Schirmer filter papers. The tear samples collected on filter papers were subjected to electrophoretic analysis.
It was found that dogs with epiphora have consistently low protein concentration in the tear fluid. This does not appear to result from dilution alone. Dogs with chronic kerato-conjunctivitis have low tear fluid rates. In such "dry" eyes the proportion of protein is greatly increased.
Lysozyme concentrations in all dog tear samples were very low or absent.
Tear fluid rates below 2·5 μl/min should be considered inadequate in the dog.
Zusammenfassung— Es werden Methoden und analyse der Traenenfluessigkeit des Hundes beschrieben.
Der Grad der Traenenausscheidung normaler und abnormaler Hunde wurde mittels der Schirmer schen Filtrierpapiermethode gemessen. Proben von Traenenfluessigkeit wurden auf dem Filtrierpapier gesammelt und einer elektrophoretischen Analyse unterworfen.
Es zeigte sich dass Hunde mit Epiphora durchwegs einen geringen Proteingehalt in der Traenenfluessigkeit aufwiesen. Das scheint nicht allein eine Folge der Verduennung zu sein. Bei Hunden mit chronischer Keratokonjunktivitis war der Grad der Traenenausscheidung gering. In solchen "trockenen" Augen ist die Konzentration des Proteins wesentlich erhoeht.
In saemtlichen Proben der Traenenfluessigkeit von Hunden war Konzentration von Lysozym entweder sehr gering oder es war ueberhaupt nicht nachweisbar.
Traenenfluessigkeitsmengen unter 2·5 μl/Min beim Hund sind als abnormal zu betrachten.     

Anti-predator behaviour of adult red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) tutors improves the defensive responses of farm-reared broods

1. The aim of this work was to improve natural anti-predator behaviour of farm-reared gamebirds.

2. We evaluated the anti-predator behaviour of reared red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa chicks kept in brooder houses in large groups (>350 chicks), trained and not trained by parent red-legged partridges acting as experienced tutors.

3. The experiment consisted of two conditioned tests (a raptor model and a human) and two control tests, which were conducted during three consecutive phases of life (1–4, 15–17 and 30–32 d after hatching). The motor anti-predator behaviour, its duration, the intensity of response in chicks and alarm calls elicited by adults were recorded.

4. Tutors elicited aerial alarm calls (76% of tests) and showed prolonged crouching (59% of tests) in response to the raptor model whereas uttering the ground alarm call (73% of tests) and showing vigilance behaviour (78% of tests) was the main pattern during the human test.

5. Trained and not trained chicks showed similar motor behaviour in response to the raptor model (crouching) and the human test (escaping), but frequency of strong responses (all chicks responding) from chicks trained with tutors was double that of chicks trained without them, and chicks trained with tutors showed a higher frequency of long responses (41–60 s).

6. This study indicates that anti-predator training programmes before release may improve behaviour of farm-reared partridges which may confer benefits to survival of birds.

     

Effect of banding or burdizzo castration on plasma testosterone, acute-phase proteins, scrotal circumference, growth, and health of bulls

The objective was to assess the effect of banding or burdizzo castration performed on farms on plasma testosterone, acute-phase proteins, scrotal circumferences, growth, and well-being of bulls. 243 Continental bulls (12 months; 399.2 ± 5.72 kg) from three different farms were allocated at random, after stratification on weight within breed type, to one of three treatment groups: banding castration (BAND; n = 80), burdizzo castration (BURD; n = 83), or controls (CON; n = 80). The castration methods were conducted under local anaesthesia, and tetanus toxoid vaccine and antibiotic were also injected at castration. BAND and BURD castrates had lower (P < 0.001) plasma testosterone concentration than control bulls, with no difference between BAND and BURD castrates on 28 d post-castration. From days 0 to 14 post-castration, BAND (P = 0.0002) and BURD (P < 0.0001) castrates had lower average daily gain (ADG) than CON bulls, no difference (P = 0.46) was found between BAND and BURD castrates. From days 15 to 28, BAND castrates had lower ADG compared with BURD castrates (P = 0.03) and CON bulls (P = 0.01), while no difference (P = 0.76) was found between BURD and CON. From days 29 to 56, BAND (P = 0.01) and BURD (P = 0.002) castrates had lower ADG than CON bulls, no difference (P = 0.55) was found between BAND and BURD. From days 57 to 84, the ADG of BAND castrates was not different compared with BURD castrates (P = 0.12) and CON bulls (P = 0.38), while BURD had lower (P = 0.02) ADG compared with CON. The integrated ADG from day 0 to 112 of BAND (P = 0.0001) and BURD (P = 0.02) groups were lower compared with CON, while there was no difference (P = 0.09) between BAND and BURD castrates. On d 14 post-castration, BAND castrates had lower scrotal temperature than BURD (P < 0.0001) and CON (P < 0.0001), and BURD castrates had greater (P < 0.006) scrotal temperature than CON; BAND castrates had lower scrotal latitudinal and longitudinal circumferences than BURD castrates (P < 0.001) and CON bulls (P < 0.001), and BURD castrates had greater (P < 0.001) scrotal latitudinal and longitudinal circumferences than CON bulls. BAND (P < 0.0001) and BURD (P = 0.01) castrates had greater glucose concentration than CON bulls, and BAND castrates had greater (P = 0.04) glucose concentration than BURD. In conclusion, BAND or BURD castration significantly reduced plasma testosterone concentration; reduced average daily weight gain mainly during the first 2 weeks, which was not compensated during the subsequent 16 weeks; increased withdrawal of stored energy and increased plasma protein concentration. BURD showed an advantage over BAND in growth during days 15 to 28 following castration.