Persistent left cranial vena cava associated with multiple congenital anomalies in a six-week-old puppy

A six-week-old male puppy was presented with a distended abdomen, dypsnoea and cyanosis. Auscultation revealed a grade II/VI systolic murmur. Thoracic radiographs showed gross cardiomegaly. An electrocardiogram revealed a narrow-complex tachycardia, deep S waves in leads I, II, III and aVF, and negative P a waves in lead III. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a high ventricular septal defect and marked dilation of the right-sided chambers. There was also an echolucent structure lateral to the left atrium at a site corresponding to the coronary sinus. Contrast echocardiography revealed right-to-left shunting through the septal defect. Necropsy confirmed the existence of a septal defect in the membranous part of the septum and a persistent left cranial vena cava with dilation of the coronary sinus. In addition, a small patent t ductus arteriosus and tricuspid dysplasia were present.     

Epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniosis in the endemic area of Montes Claros Municipality,Minas Gerais State,Brazil

The Montes Claros City is located in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniosis in the Minas Gerais State, Brazil. With the implementation of a program for the control of visceral leishmaniosis in 1994, a sectional study was carried out to evaluate the infection by viscerotropic Leishmania in the population of dogs from Montes Claros, basically using indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Blood samples were collected on filter paper from 33,937 dogs, representing 96.1% of the canine local population. The prevalence for visceral leishmaniosis was found to be 9.7% in the municipality, being 9.9% in the urban area and 8.8% in the rural area. The annual incidence showed to be 64.3/1000 dogs. Prevalence of infection was not correlated with dogs age. The most affected breeds were: Boxer (24.6%) and Cocker (26.9%); Mongrel dogs had a prevalence of 7.8%. Short-hair animals had a prevalence of 11.9%, while long-furred animals had a prevalence of 8.9%. The isoenzymatic profile indicated that Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi was the visceral leishmaniosis etiological agent in Montes Claros City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The main geographical areas for the parasite transmission were identified, and control measures were immediately started. The role of the dog as a reservoir for L. chagasi was confirmed. It was demonstrated that short-furred animals are at a higher risk of acquiring visceral leishmaniosis than the long-furred dogs.     

Typing of Haemophilus parasuis strains by PCR-RFLP analysis of the tbpA gene

On the basis of a species-specific PCR assay, a RFLP analysis for typing of Haemophilus parasuis strains was developed and evaluated. Amplification was based on the gene tbpA, encoding a transferrin-binding protein. RFLP analysis of the 1.9-kb tbpA-amplicon using TaqI, AvaI and RsaI endonucleases produced 12 different patterns for the reference strains of the 15 known H. parasuis serovars, and showed a high heterogeneity (33 RFLP groups) for 101 H. parasuis clinical isolates tested. The sensitivity, typeability (100% versus 65% for immunodiffusion), high degree of discrimination (0.93 versus 0.84 for immunodiffusion), simplicity and low cost per test make this PCR-RFLP assay a useful method for typing H. parasuis and, therefore, for studying the epidemiology of outbreaks of Gl?sser's disease.     

Determinants of adoption and euthanasia of shelter dogs spayed or neutered in the university of california veterinary student surgery program compared to other shelter dogs

Limited economic resources and pet overpopulation force animals shelters to consider euthanasia of adoptable animals every day. Veterinary medical schools can play a positive role in increasing pet adoption and combating overpopulation by providing free neutering for shelter animals. This retrospective cohort study illustrated that the cooperative efforts of a veterinary medicine surgical teaching program and local animal shelters decreases euthanasia of adoptable pets. At the University of California, Davis (UCD), shelter dogs are neutered by veterinary students and then returned to the shelter for adoption. The rates of adoption and euthanasia of the dogs neutered at UCD were contrasted with a comparison shelter group to determine the effect of pre-adoption neutering. The UCD-neutered dogs had a lower rate of euthanasia than the comparison shelter group at the shelters investigated. At Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, 73% of the UCD group but only 36% of the comparison group were adopted. At Yolo County Animal Services, 71% of the UCD group and 45% of the comparison group were adopted. The sex of an animal did not significantly affect the rate of euthanasia. Dogs that were predominantly pit bull, rottweiler, or chow chow breeds had higher rates of euthanasia than other breeds, independent of neuter status. Also, juveniles (less than one year old) had lower rates of euthanasia than adults, independent of neuter status. UCD adult dogs had lower rates of euthanasia than comparison adults. Post-surgical UCD dogs spent a longer average time in the shelter before adoption (15 days at Sacramento; 16 days at Yolo) than the comparison dogs (11 and 12 days, respectively). UCD dogs also spent a longer average time in the shelter before euthanasia (18 and 25 days, respectively) than the comparison dogs (13 days at both shelters). Lower probabilities of euthanasia for behavioral or medical reasons were found for UCD dogs than for the comparison dogs. The probability of euthanasia for reasons of space limitations increased with time in shelter for both groups. In this study, pre-adoption neutering increased adoptions without increasing the probability of medical or behavioral euthanasia.     

Factors influencing the incidence and prognosis of canine mammary tumours

Factors relating to the incidence of canine mammary tumours are reviewed. Increased age, intact status or ovariectomy after 2.5 years of age, as well as progestagen treatment, can all lead to an increased risk of mammary neoplasia in the bitch. In addition, obesity early in life, and a habitual diet based on home-made food (rich in beef and pork, and poor in chicken) as opposed to commercial food, are also associated with the occurrence of mammary tumours. Other aspects related to incidence are also discussed. Increased age at diagnosis, invasive growth (fixed to adjacent tissues), large tumour size, ulceration of skin, and axillary or inguinal node involvement are clinical parameters associated with a low chance of survival after surgical excision of mammary tumours. Histological typing and grading of the tumour allows the establishment of a prognosis, which is poor where there is tumour proliferation as measured by S-phase fraction determination and Ki-67 immunostaining.     

Immunoglobulin classes synthesised by the chicken Harderian gland after local immunisation.

The immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in tears and sera were compared after antigen administration (salmonella O antigen) by eyedrop and injection into the nictitating membrane, to determine the Ig classes synthesised by the plasma cells in the chicken Harderian gland. Samples of tears and sera were collected from immunised and control birds between 24 hours and 24 days after the antigen or sterile saline was administered. Samples were assayed for IgA, IgG and IgM concentrations using radial immunodiffusion. It is suggested that most of the IgG found in tears after local immunisation has an extraglandular origin.     

Likening Between the Effect of Drought and Terminal Water-stress Simulated by a Senescing Agent in Triticale

In 1994 four field experiments were conducted at two sites (northern and southern Spain), and in two environments at each site (irrigated and dryland conditions) in order to compare the effect of drought with the stress caused by chemical treatment with a senescing agent (potassium iodide, KI). A concentration of 0.3 % of KI was applied 10 days after anthesis on triticale Trujillo (X Tnticosecale Wittmack), and four nearisogenic lines derived from it.
The effect of the senescing agent on grain yield was higher in irrigated conditions than in dryland. The reduction in grain yield due to drought was higher than that caused by KI treatment, but both responses were correlated.
Drought and KI treatment had a different effect on yield components since water stress previous to anthesis markedly reduced the number of spikes per m². The effect of the chemical on the number of grains per spike was similar and correlated significantly with the reduction caused by drought. Dry matter accumulation of the grains decreased rapidly following chemical spray due to an important effect of KI on the grain filling rate. No association was found between the reduction in grain weight caused by drought and by KI treatment.