Serum amyloid A protein concentration measured by radial immunodiffusion in Abyssinian and non-Abyssinian cats

Serum amyloid A (SAA) protein concentration was determined by use of radial immunodiffusion (RID) in 4 groups of cats: Abyssinian cats with amyloidosis, healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis, hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats, and clinically normal non-Abyssinian cats. Mean SAA concentration in Abyssinian cats with amyloidosis was significantly (P = 0.05) higher than mean SAA concentration in healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis and in hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats. Mean SAA concentration in clinically normal non-Abyssinian cats was significantly (P = 0.05) lower than mean SAA concentration in healthy Abyssinian cats without clinical evidence of amyloidosis and in hospitalized non-Abyssinian cats. Affected and healthy Abyssinian cats, however, could not reliably be distinguished on the basis of SAA concentration, because of the wide range of SAA values in these 2 groups of cats.     

Season and location effects on serum and liver mineral concentrations of Senepol cattle on St Croix,virgin islands

Summary Serum and liver concentrations of selected macro-and trace minerals were determined in Senepol cattle at 8 sites (4 each in a high and low rainfall region) during the dry and wet season on St Croix. At each site an average of 15 mature, lactating cows, grazing native grass/legume pastures without supplementation were blood sampled each season. Liver samples were collected (n=51) at slaughter from mature animals originating from the same sites. A preliminary analysis indicated no differences in serum mineral concentrations between mature lactating cows and growing heifers. There were differences between sites for serum magnesium (Mg) (P<0·001), copper (Cu) (P<0·05) selenium (Se) (P<0·001) and zinc (Zn) (P<0·01) in the dry season, and for Cu (P<0·01), iron (Fe) (P<0·001) and Zn (P<0·01) in the wet season. Higher (P<0·001) serum concentrations of Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn were observed in the dry season, while Se was higher (P<0·001) in the wet season. Liver concentrations of Cu and Fe were lower (P<0·01) and liver molybdenum (Mo) (P<0·001) and Se (P<0·05) higher during the dry season. The seasonal differences in serum Cu, Se and Zn concentrations have not been observed in other studies in the Central American region. More than 50% of serum samples were deficient in phosphorus (P) regardless of season, and in Cu and Zn during the wet season. Mineral supplementation should be considered.

---

Resumen Se determinó la concentración de minerales (macro y trazas) seleccionados, en ganado Senepol en ocho sitios: cuatro de ellos en una región de alta precipitación y los otros cuatro en regiones de baja precipitación pluvial, durante la estación seca y lluviosa en la isla de Sta Cruz. En cada sitio, un promedio de 15 vacas lactantes, pastoreando pasto nativo y pasturas con leguminosas sin suplementación, se sangraron en cada estación. Se colectó tejido hepático (n=51) en el matadero local, de animales maduros provenientes de los sitios estudiados. Un análisis preliminar, no indicó diferencias en concentraciones séricas de minerales entre animales maduros lactandos y novillas en crecimiento. Hubo diferencias en cuanto a localización respecto al magnesio sérico (Mg) (P<0·001), cobre (Cu) (P<0·05) selenio (Se) (P<0·001) y zinc (Zn) (P<0·01) en la estación seca y para Cu (P<0·01), hierro (Fe) (P<0·001) y Zn (P<0·01) en la estación lluviosa. Se observaron concentracionas séricas màs altas (P<0·001) de Mg, Cu, Fe y Zn en la estación seca, mientras que el Se fue más alto (P<0·001) en la estación lluviosa. Las concentraciones hepáticas de Cu y Fe fueron bajas (P<0·01) y las de molibdeno hepático (Mo) (P<0·001) y Se (P<0·05), fueron altas durante la estación seca. Las diferencias estacionales en concentraciones de Cu, Se, y Zn sérico, no habian sido observadas en otros estudios en la región centroamericana. Mas de 50 por ciento de las muestras de suero fueron deficientes en fósforo (P) sin tener en cuenta la estación y en Cu y Zn durante la estación lluviosa. Se sugiere la necesidas de suplementación mineral.

---

Résumé Les auteurs ont déterminé les concentrations sériques et hépatiques d'un certain nombre d'oligo éléments et de sels minéraux sur des bovins Senepol éléves sur 8 sites (quatre pour chaque région à forte et faible pluviométrie) pendant la saison humide et la saison sèche sur l'lle Sainte Croix. Sur chaque site, des prélèvements de sang ont été effectués pendant chaque saison sur la base d'une moyenne de 15 vaches adultes en lactation, paturant sur des parcours naturels de graminées/légumineuses, sans complémentation. Les prélèvements de foie (n=51) ont été collectés à l'abattoir sur des animaux adultes originaires de ces mêmes endroits. Une analyse préliminaire n'a indiqué aucune différence dans les concentrations minérales du sérum entre les vaches adultes en lactation et les génisses en cours de croissance. Il y avait des différences entre les sites pour le magnésium sérique (Mg) (P<0,001), le cuivre (Cu) (P<0,05), le sélénium (Se) (P<0,001) et le zinc (Zn) (P<0,01) en saison sèche et pour le cuivre (Cu) (P<0,01), le fer (Fe) (P<0,001) et le zinc (Zn) (P<0,01) en saison humide. En saison sèche, des concentrations plus élevées (P<0,001) on été observées pour Mg, Cu, Fe et Zn alors que le sélénium (Se) était plus abondant en saison humide. Les concentrations hépatiques en Cu et Fe étaient plus basses (P<0,01) mais celles en Molybdène (Mo) (P<0,001) et en sélénium (P<0,05) plus élevées au cours de la saison sèche. Les différences saisonnières entre les concentrations sériques de Cu, Se et Zn n'ont pas été observées en Amérique centrale par d'autres auteurs. Plus de 50 p. 100 des échantillons de sérum étaient carencés en phosphore (P) quelle que soit la saison, et en Cu et Zn pendant la saison humide. Il conviendrait de prendre en considération la complémentation minérale.

     

Serological survey of the incidence of Hypoderma bovis in cattle in 1988

Sera from 74,502 cattle from 3087 farms in England and Wales were tested for the presence of antibodies against Hypoderma bovis in the spring of 1988. Twenty-nine positive sera were identified on 18 premises and these animals were treated; an examination of 6030 sera taken from 108 neighbouring herds identified another 17 seropositive animals on 10 farms in Devon, Cornwall, Lancashire, Shropshire and Powys, indicating that these counties still harbour populations of warble fly.     

Treatment of Humeroulnar Subluxation with a Dynamic Proximal Ulnar Osteotomy A Review of 13 Cases

Humeroulnar subluxation was treated surgically in 13 dogs with 18 affected elbows using a proximal osteotomy of the ulna that allowed the ulna to elongate dynamically. Distal humeroulnar subluxation was secondary to premature closure of the distal ulnar physis in 16 elbows. One distal subluxation was secondary to a radioulnar synostosis, and one proximal subluxation developed after premature closure of the distal radial physis. The mean follow-up time was 22 months. Twenty-eight percent of the elbows were judged to have excellent results, 22% good results, 50% fair results, and none was judged to have a poor outcome. The presenting lameness grade and the severity of preoperative and postoperative humeroulnar subluxation had significant correlations with the prognosis. Associated orthopedic abnormalities and complications of concurrent surgical procedures affected the outcome in several dogs. Overall, the dynamic proximal ulnar osteotomy was a simple and effective technique for the treatment of uncomplicated humeroulnar subluxation.     

Economic Assessment of Alternative Aquaculture Aeration Strategies

Oxygen depletion is a serious problem for the catfish industry, especially as producers attempt to increase their production intensity. Aeration, either emergency or continuous, is the most common method used to address oxygen depletion.
A risk-programming model using Target MOTAD methodology was developed to study the aquacultural producer's aeration decision-making process. Effects of stocking rate, aeration yield response and availability of labor, capital and electricity on the selection of aeration strategy were analyzed.
Continuous aeration with electric paddlewheels was most often selected as the best aeration strategy. However, as farmers become increasingly concerned with financial risk, they apply continuous aeration with pump sprayers first, then no aeration and lastly emergency aeration with tractor-powered paddlewheels. Emergency aeration was only used when: 1) electricity was not available and the producer desired a highly conservative financial strategy, and 2) the relative efficiency of continuous aeration in the field was dramatically reduced from experimental results.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to budgerigar fledgling disease virus major capsid protein VP.

Eleven hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against intact budgerigar fledgling disease (BFD) virions were produced and characterized. These antibodies were selected for their ability to react with BFD virions in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each of these antibodies was reactive in the immunofluorescent detection of BFD virus-infected cells. These antibodies immunoprecipitated intact virions and specifically recognized the major capsid protein, VP1, of the dissociated virion. The MAbs were found to preferentially recognize native BFD virus capsid protein when compared with denatured virus protein. These MAbs were capable of detecting BFD virus protein in chicken embryonated cell-culture lysates by dot-blot analysis.     

Comparative susceptibility of caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys to Pasteurella multocida.

When susceptibility to virulent Pasteurella multocida was compared, there was no significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys. Neither was there any significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between the surviving caponized and uncaponized toms in the development of serum anti-P. multocida antibody. However, at 28 weeks of age, the average live body weight of the caponized toms was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than that of the uncaponized toms. Turkeys were caponized when 9 weeks old, and different groups were exposed to P. multocida when 13, 18, 23, and 28 weeks old.