Rapid fluorogenic enumeration of Escherichia coli in selected, naturally contaminated high moisture foods

An assay for the enzyme glucuronidase was used to determine the presence of Escherichia coli in selected, naturally contaminated high moisture foods. Raw pork sausage, ground turkey, and ground beef were inoculated into tubes containing the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) in lauryl tryptose (LT) medium. After incubation at 35 degrees C for 24 h, the inoculated LT-MUG tubes were examined under longwave ultraviolet light for the presence of a fluorogenic glucuronidase end product. A fluorescing tube indicated the presumptive presence of E. coli. The 10 day most probable number method of the AOAC and the LT-MUG procedure gave comparable recoveries of E. coli.     

Treatment and prevention of equine gastric ulcer syndrome.

EGUS is a common problem in horses and foals. Acids are the important causative factors and current therapy targets the suppression of gastric HCl and creation of a permissive environment for ulcer healing. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, gastroscopy, and response to treatment. Of the products available, only GastroGard (FDA approved) and ranitidine have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of EGUS. Ranitidine is often associated with treatment failure as a result of incorrect dosing and lack of owner compliance, because of the three times daily dosing required. Also, EGUS occurs in critically ill neonatal foals, but the pathogenesis may be different than in adult horses and acid-suppressive therapy may not be as effective.     

Blood Viscosity in Horses With Colic

Whole blood viscosity (WBV) was measured on six healthy horses and ten horses presented for colic surgery. A Wells-Brookfield cone-and-plate microviscometer at 6 rpm was used to determine WBV and WBV was adjusted for packed cell volume (PCV). The ten colic horses were divided into two groups: five horses that died or were euthanatized (group 1) and five horses that were discharged after surgery and medical therapy (group 2). The mean WBV for each group was compared using analysis of variance followed by Duncan multiple-range tests. Mean WBV of group 2 (5.81 +/- 1.48 centipoise [cp]) and normal horses (7.1 +/- 2.3 cp) was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than group 1 (17.15 +/- 5.71 cp). This preliminary trial shows that horses that died or were euthanatized had a significantly higher WBV than horses surviving. Since viscosity was adjusted for PCV, the differences may represent changes in other factors such as fibrinogen, rouleaux formation, red blood cell deformability, PaO2, or intracellular calcium ion concentration. Thus, increases in WBV in horses with colic may indicate severely compromised regional perfusion that may lead to significant tissue damage. In this preliminary study, it appears that WBV may be a prognostic aid in horses with colic.     

Measurement of velocity with a kinematic system versus a photocell system in the collection of canine ground reaction forces.

Velocities obtained from a five photocell system were compared to velocities of nine anatomical points on a handler and canine subject as reported by a kinematic system over the same distance. There was not a statistically significant difference between the velocities of the markers on the dogs' occipital protuberance and interscapular region compared with the velocity as reported by the photocell system. The average velocities of the three markers on the forelimb of the dogs and three markers on the handler's leg and one on the sacrum had statistically different values than the photocell system. Given these results, photocell systems with the same configuration in this study can be trusted to report accurate trunk velocities of canine subjects during the collection of ground reaction forces.     

Mammary neoplasia in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).

Mammary tumors are reported in four guinea pigs and the literature is reviewed. It is concluded that mammary adenocarcinomas are second only to pulmonary adenomas as the most common epithelial tumors in the guinea pig. The sex incidence of mammary tumors is almost equal and both young and old animals are susceptible. Mammary tumors are generally locally invasive, rarely metastasize, are often quite large, and very vascular. Surgical excision of mammary tumors is possible but recurrence should be expected if the primary tumor is incompletely removed.     

Factors affecting the incidence of pneumonia in growing bulls.

The occurrence of respiratory disease at two Meat and Livestock Commission bull performance test centres over a period of three years is assessed. During this period a change in the system of testing was introduced so as to allow younger bulls to enter the centre and also to increase their throughput. This resulted in an increase in the incidence of pneumonia of more than five times. The management at one centre was changed to counteract this disease problem and the level of pneumonia was greatly reduced. Most respiratory disease occurred within the first month of entry to the centres. There was more infection during the second half of the year and especially in the October to December quarter. There appeared to be some relationship between the time bulls were weaned prior to entry to the centres and the incidence of pneumonia.