Congenital internal hydrocephalus in a quarter horse foal

Since the normal absorption of CSF occurs in the cerebral veins and venous sinuses, any obstruction to the normal flow and absorption of CSF will result in accumulation of CSF central to the site of obstruction. Such accumulation within the cranium is defined as hydrocephalus.A foal was presented with an enlarged and an abnormally-shaped skull, but with normal behavior. The filly's condition deteriorated. Radiographs showed a domeshaped cranial vault with compression of the frontal sinus region. Massive hydrocephalus with little normal cerebral tissue left was diagnosed with ultrasound.Surgery was attempted to relieve the pressure. Eventually the foal was euthanized. Post-mortem confirmed the radiographic and ultrasound diagnosis. Since there was a lack of demonstrable obstruction, the authors suspected the foal had suffered from the Arnold-Chiari syndrome.     

Penetration of the small intestine by an unusual foreign body resulting in colic in a horse: A case report

A nine-year-old Arabian gelding was evaluated for acute abdominal pain. Based on clinical signs and the results of the diagnostic work-up, surgical exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed. An adhesion was found involving a section of jejunum, its mesentery, and the omentum. Passage of gas and/or ingesta was obstructed at that point. On closer examination of the involved bowel, a porcupine quill which had perforated throught the intestinal wall from the lumen was identified. This was believed to have been the inciting cause for the formation of the adhesion and subsequent intestinal obstruction.     

Surgical techniques for the liver and biliary tract

Surgical treatment of hepatic and biliary disease requires a thorough knowledge of pertinent anatomy and pathophysiology. Proper attention to both preoperative and postoperative care is important. This article describes many of the more common surgical manipulations of the liver and biliary tract, as well as pre- and postoperative considerations.     

Microtechnique for quantitative platelet isolation from blood enabling electronic counting and sizing of animal and human platelets

A technique for rapidly separating platelets from small quantities of whole blood is described. The isolation method allowed for counting and sizing platelets by electronic means, and counts with this new method were closely correlated with those obtained by phase microscopy. Platelet sizing was possible because of the inert and isotonic nature of the density-gradient medium used in the procedure. The technique was applicable to samples of blood from persons, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The isolation of platelets from whole blood of various species of animals was necessary for electronic counting because of the great variation in sizes of platelets and erythrocytes and the variable sedimentation properties of animal blood.     

The occurrence of and organisms concerned with bovine mycotic abortion in some counties of Ireland

Bovine mycotic abortion in some counties of the Irish provinces of Leinster and Ulster was estimated at 1–2% of all abortions for which a causal agent was identified in the years from 1969 to 1978. The organism most commonly isolated from diseased specimens wasAspergillus fumigatus, followed byAbsidia corymbifera. There was no relationship between the incidence of the disease in any year and the rainfall or number of raindays during the previous summer. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the occurrence of the disease in the United Kingdom.     

Pathogenesis of canine parvovirus-2 in dogs: histopathology and antigen identification in tissues

The pathogenesis of canine parvovirus-2 was studied in orally inoculated conventional dogs using histopathological and peroxidase anti-peroxidase staining techniques. Lymphoid necrosis and depletion of lymphocytes from lymphoid tissues were most notable on days 5 and 6 after exposure. Lymphocyte hyperplasia occurred following day 7. Epithelial cell changes in segments of the small intestine were more severe on days 6 to 9 after exposure in areas associated with Peyer's patches and in the upper segments of the small intestine. The lymphocyte was the primary infected cell. Virus infected cryptal epithelial cells were not detected until 24 hours after the identification of infected cells in lymphoid tissues on day 4 after exposure. The majority of virus infected epithelial cells were found in crypts intimately associated with or adjacent to Peyer's patches in the upper segments of the small intestine.     

Breed-related risk factors for canine parvovirus enteritis

Case records of 305 dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis, seen at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from July 1, 1981 to Aug 31, 1982, were selected on the basis of admitting diagnoses or signs of diarrhea and vomiting. The case records were subdivided into 3 diagnostic categories, based on final diagnoses and laboratory test results. There were 96 dogs with definite CPV enteritis, 139 with possible CPV enteritis, and 70 with unlikely CPV enteritis. These cases were then stratified by animal's age (less than or equal to 6 months or greater than 6 months) and specific hospital service (medicine or emergency). A control group was selected from all canine case records from the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for conditions other than the criteria used in selecting the case group. Approximately 2 hospital patients were selected for each CPV enteritis case by frequency matching for hospital service and age. The proportion of dogs with definite CPV enteritis that had each of the clinical signs that were studied was greater than that of dogs in the other CPV enteritis diagnostic categories. The overall survival rate for dogs with definite CPV enteritis was 64.0%; survival was not associated with any given clinical sign of disease. Odds ratios (OR) for the risk of CPV enteritis were calculated for breeds with 3 or more dogs with definite CPV enteritis. The Doberman Pinschers (OR = 3.1), Rottweilers (OR = 6.0), and English Springer Spaniels (OR = 8.1) had a significantly increased risk of CPV enteritis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stimulation of swine growth by porcine growth hormone

Highly purified porcine growth hormone (pGH; USDA-B1) was administered by im injection (22 micrograms X kg body weight-1 X d-1) to rapidly growing Yorkshire barrows for 30 d. Growth hormone significantly increased growth rate (10%), feed efficiency (4%), cartilage growth and muscle mass. However, pGH did not affect carcass adipose tissue mass. Intramuscular lipid content of the longissimus was increased 50% by pGH administration. Plasma pGH concentration was elevated (7- to 11-fold) for 3 to 5 h post-injection. Chronic administration of pGH depressed pituitary GH content and concentration approximately 45%. No GH antibodies were detected in the plasma of GH-treated swine. Plasma somatomedin-C concentration was increased 55% by GH treatment 3 h post-injection. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were both significantly increased in GH-treated swine, suggesting that the animals had developed a state of insulin resistance. Plasma-free fatty acid concentration tended to be higher in GH-treated animals. Treatment of swine with pGH significantly decreased plasma blood urea nitrogen. Assessment of animal health during the trial and postmortem indicated that pGH administration did not have any adverse effects. In summary, treatment of young, rapidly growing swine with pGH stimulated growth performance without affecting animal health or inducing the production of GH antibodies.