Animal well-being and animal care

To know how to care for animals, one must understand their needs. Physiologic and safety needs of farm animals are reasonably well fulfilled. Behavioral needs have yet to be determined and used as bases for animal care. The concept of the welfare plateau is important for the design and operation of facilities for agricultural animals. Current issues in the care of farm animals include standard agricultural practices, stockmanship and the human-animal bond, and standards of design for animal-production equipment.     

Physicochemical structure-activity relationship of DDT congeners and the inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase

Structure-activity relationships were used to determine the physicochemical properties of DDT that are important in the inhibition of oligomycin-sensitive mitochondrial ATPase activity of red coxal muscle tissue homogenates of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). The results were compared with structure-activity relationships derived from toxicity values for houseflies (Musca domestica) and blowflies (Phormia regina), reported in the literature. Toxicity was found to be promoted by hydrophobicity and electron donation. Toxicity was concluded to be a route of action process involving the distribution and partitioning of insecticide to active sites and apart from them. Enzyme inhibition, in contrast to factors contributing to toxicity, was determined to be a mode of action process predicted by the lipophilic parameter (π) and the steric constant, van der Waals radii (VWR), and represents action upon a sterically sensitive, hydrophobic site in the membrane sector of mitochondrial ATPase.     

Analysis of early calfhood health status and subsequent dairy herd survivorship and productivity

Heifer calves contracting a navel-joint illness within their first 4 months of life exhibited a significantly poorer survival distribution pattern than their other 4 cohort groups in a study of 460 calves born into 2 institutional dairy herds from January 1, 1971 to December 1, 1978 inclusive. The cohorts of calves identified as having either respiratory, gastrointestinal, septicemia, or ‘other’ diseases did not have a survival function significantly different from each other, or from the control group. Also, on a per lactation basis, all 4 disease cohorts did not have a significantly different milk production or reproductive performance than the control group.These observations suggest that a selective culling program can maintain similar productivity and breeding performances on a lactation basis regardless of early calfhood health status. However, heifer calves contracting a navel-joint illness cannot survive as well as other calves under such a management program and hence, from a biological point of view, may warrant culling immediately upon diagnosis.     

The effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on lysosomal enzymes in the domestic fowl.

During the 2 h following the injection of chickens (aged nine to 11 weeks) with endotoxin isolated from a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli (O78) there was a transient rise in the activity of acid phosphatase, aryl sulphatase and beta-glucuronidase in the plasma, suggesting increased release of these enzymes from lysosomes. This was followed by a fall in their activity which may have been due largely to stabilisation of the lysosomal membrane brought about by increased secretion of adrenocortical hormones and/or accelerated removal of the enzymes from circulation by the reticuloendothelial system.     

ULTRASONIC DETECTION OF SPLENIC NECROSIS IN THE DOG

Ultrasonographic findings of splenic infarction and necrosis in three dogs are presented. Two previously unreported ultrasonographic patterns are identified: (1) Focal, hypoechoic or isoechoic, circular, wellmarginated nodular masses with peripheral lesions causing deformation of the splenic margin. (2) Diffuse hypoechoic or heteroechoic coarse/"lacy" parenchymal pattern with no deformation of margin. The presence of gas within the splenic parenchyma of one dog was detected by both radiography and ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic patterns of splenic infarction in both man and the dog are discussed     

Bacterial culture of blood from critically ill dogs and cats: 100 cases (1985-1987)

Of 100 critically ill dogs and cats, 49 (39 dogs, 10 cats) had bacteremia. Gram-negative bacilli were the most common isolates from the bloodstream of dogs with bacteremia (46%), and gram-positive cocci and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 36% and 31% of positive cultures, respectively; 15% of positive cultures were polymicrobial. In cats, gram-negative bacilli (especially Salmonella enteritidis) and anaerobic bacteria were the most common isolates, and 30% of positive cultures were polymicrobial. Gram-positive cocci were not isolated from the blood-stream of cats. Odds ratios, adjusted for the combined effects of disease status (severe vs nonsevere), results of bacterial culture of blood result (positive vs negative), and species (dog vs cat) were calculated for mortality in animals in the study. In animals with bacteremia, severe disease increased the risk of death 11.6-fold, compared with the risk in animals with nonsevere disease. Bacteremia increased mortality 10-fold in animals with severe disease, compared with mortality in animals with severe disease without bacteremia. Animals with severe disease and bacteremia were 15.6 times more likely to die than were those with nonsevere disease and negative culture results. In animals with nonsevere disease, culture results (positive vs negative) were not related significantly to mortality. Disease status (severe vs nonsevere) in animals without bacteremia also was not significantly related to mortality. There was no significant difference in overall mortality in dogs, compared with that in cats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Current trends in the treatment of Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella and Otodectes mite infestations in dogs and cats

Abstract   For a number of reasons, several of the more 'traditional' ectoparasiticides in the small animal veterinarian's armoury have been withdrawn over the past few years. New, safer products which are long-acting and easier to apply than the conventional dips, rinses and aerosol sprays of the past have replaced them. However, relatively few such novel acaricidal preparations have become commercially available. Consequently, practitioners and researchers frequently experiment with the drugs they have at their disposal to assess their efficacy against a variety of target acarids when used at different dosages and/or via different routes of administration, compared with those recommended by the manufacturer. This paper reviews the anecdotal and peer-reviewed reports describing the use of modern acaricides in dogs and cats that have recently appeared in the veterinary literature. It should be stressed, however, that no medicine should be prescribed for extra-label use without the informed consent of the owner.