Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome in a Miniature Schnauzer Dog with Signs of Feminization and a Sertoli Cell Tumour

A 5‐year‐old male Miniature Schnauzer was presented with unilateral cryptorchidism and signs of feminization. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged right testis and a large, fluid‐filled cavity that appeared to arise from the prostate. Computed tomography revealed the cavity to be consistent with an enlarged uterine body, arising from the prostate, and showed two structures resembling uterine horns that terminated close to the adjacent testes. The dog had a normal male karyotype, 78 XY. Gonadohysterectomy was performed and both the surgical and the histological findings confirmed the presence of a uterus in this male animal, resulting in a diagnosis of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS). The enlarged intra‐abdominal testis contained a Sertoli cell tumour. Computed tomography proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool for PMDS.     

Morphometry,Morphology and Ultrastructure of Ring‐tailed Coati Sperm (Nasua nasua Linnaeus, 1766)

The ring‐tailed coati (Nasua nasua) is a procyonid whose population is in sharp decline. Therefore, studies are needed to better understand the reproduction of this animal. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the morphology, morphometry and sperm ultrastructure of ring‐tailed coati sperm. Four captive adult males were used for this study. Slides stained with Bengal Rose were used for the morphometric and morphologic analyses. The length and width of the head were measured, as well as the length of the midpiece and tail and the total length of the sperm. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used for the ultrastructural analyses. The most obvious morphological abnormalities observed were coiled tails (6.1 ± 8.7%) and the lack of acrosomes (5.4 ± 4.4%). Regarding the morphometry, the measurements of the head (length × width), midpiece (length) and tail (length) were (mean ± SD) 6.2 ± 0.4 × 8.1 ± 0.6 μm, 14.1 ± 0.5 and 63.9 ± 4.1 μm, respectively, and the total length of the sperm was 86.1 ± 4.3 μm. Through electron microscopy, the presence of electron‐lucent points in the nucleus and the presence of approximately 55 mitochondrial spirals in the midpiece were identified. The data obtained in this study provide detailed information on the sperm characteristics of coatis and may inform future research on germplasm conservation, both for this species and other threatened procyonids.     

Effects of Clinical Mastitis on Ovarian Function in Post-partum Dairy Cows

Mastitis-induced ovarian abnormalities were studied in a field trial. At 1-3 day after calving, > or = 2 parity cows not affected with chronic recurrent mastitis and yielding < 400,000/ml somatic cell count (SCC) individual milk in the previous lactation, were enrolled in the study. Thereafter milk samples were collected three times weekly for 95-100 day for progesterone (P4) assay. Individual P4 profiles were used to monitor ovarian cyclicity. When mastitis was diagnosed in the first 80 day post-partum (pp), clinical signs were recorded and scored, and aseptic milk samples were taken to identify the mastitis pathogens. Depending on the isolated pathogens the cows were blocked into one of the three sub-groups affected by either Gram-positive (GP), or Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, or of those with no detected pathogens (NDP). Cows suffering from any type of mastitis between days 15 and 28 (n = 27) showed a delay in the onset of ovarian cyclicity, and estrus was postponed compared to cows affected during the first 14 day pp (n = 59) and controls (n = 175) (38.6 +/- 2.3 vs 33.4 +/- 2.1 and 32.0 +/- 1.0 day, respectively, for onset of ovarian cyclicity and 90.7 +/- 2.5 vs 80.2 +/- 2.8 and 83.9 +/- 2.1 day, respectively, for estrus; both p < 0.05). The percentage of cows ovulating by day 28 was lower in those affected by mastitis between days 14 and 28 compared to cows between days 1 and 14 and controls (22.2% vs 47.5 and 50.3%, respectively; p < 0.05). A significantly higher rate of premature luteolysis was observed in GN + NDP compared to GP mastitis and healthy cows (46.7% vs 8.3 and 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). If the mastitis outbreak occurred during the follicular phase, the duration of this cycle segment was lengthened in GN + NDP mastitis compared to GP mastitis and healthy cows (10.8 +/- 0.9 vs 7.9 +/- 0.1 and 7.2 +/- 0.1, respectively; p < 0.001). The results indicate that mastitis can affect the resumption of ovarian activity in pp dairy cows. Mastitis may also impair reproduction also in cyclic cows: this effect can be the consequence of premature luteolysis or a prolonged follicular phase.     

Gross Morphometry of the Bovine Placentome during Gestation

Forty-seven pregnant uteri were collected from an abattoir at eight chronological stages of gestation. Assessments were made of placentome number, weight, length shape and ratio of foetal to maternal tissue by weight. The study showed that there was a great variation in number, size, weight and shape of placentomes. There was no significant change in the total number of placentomes during gestation. Both mean weight and length increased significantly during gestation, but there was a significant change in the relationship between the two as gestation progressed. There was no correlation between the number of placentomes and the mean weight or length of the placentomes. The development of the placenta in the non-pregnant horn was significantly different from that of the pregnant horn, with fewer, smaller, lighter placentomes. However, there was no evidence that placentome development in the non-pregnant horn was affected by placentome development in the pregnant horn. The proportion of the placentome that was maternal tissue increased during gestation, but there was no significant effect of placentome number, or individual placentome weight or length on this proportion. Two placentome shapes were identified, but no effect on foeto-maternal proportion or relationship between shape and total placentome number or weight was identified.     

Survey of internal parasites in Western Australian pig herds. 1. Prevalence

Between September 1982 and March 1984, 101 Western Australian piggeries with 15 or more sows were surveyed to determine the prevalence of internal parasites and examine the relationship between parasitism and management practices. Faecal samples were collected from 20 pigs in 4 age groups in randomly selected piggeries, and examined for the presence of eggs of helminth parasites and protozoan cysts. Evidence of nematode parasites was found in 79% of piggeries. Sows were more commonly affected than other classes of pigs with worm eggs being found in 68% of herds. Oesophagostomum spp was the most prevalent worm species, being found in pigs from 65% of piggeries and in sows in 60% of herds. Ascaris suum was the most common species of worm found in growing pigs. There was no evidence of infection with either Metastrongylus spp or Strongyloides spp in any of the herds sampled. Oocysts of coccidia were found in pigs from 56% of piggeries and Balantidium coli cysts were detected in pigs from 42% of piggeries sampled.     

Ultrathin films of a polyelectrolyte with layered architecture

Posttransfer modification of preformed Langmuir-Blodgett films of poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) and poly(tert-butyl acrylate) by gaseous hydrochloric acid yields films with layered architecture of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid), respectively. X-ray reflectivity and infrared spectroscopy confirm monolayer by monolayer transfer of the source polymers and their transformation to acid multilayer assemblies with retention of low surface roughnesses. The incorporation of cross-linking groups into the system offers the possibility for further chemical modification to produce ultrathin films of model networks desirable for bioadsorption studies and as hydrophilic spacing layers for tethered membranes.     

Tunnel grafting for wound repair in horses: a novel technique in graft production and placement

There are several skin grafting methods described in the human and animal literature. Currently, there are five types of free grafts used in horses: pinch and punch grafts, split and full-thickness sheet or mesh grafts and tunnel grafts. Published methods of tunnel grafting describe the use of alligator forceps. The alligator forceps create a poor tunnel and are excessively traumatic to the granulation bed. This technique utilised a 13G Jamshidi needle that was placed across the granulation bed and created a uniform tunnel. The Jamshidi needle was atraumatic to the granulation bed increasing the opportunity for graft survival. A twin bladed scalpel allowed for the quick creation of uniform width grafts. Removal of the overlying tunnel ‘roof’ took place 5–14 days later to allow graft expansion. This case series included five horses with distal limb wounds and one with a wither injury. Four horses required general anaesthesia for graft placement and three required general anaesthesia for the removal of the tunnel roof. The acceptance of the grafts varied from 70% to 100%. Graft expansion to cover the granulation tissue took 2–5 months. This case series demonstrates that this technique of graft production and placement is an easy method for achieving successful skin grafting. Compared to other graft types, tunnel grafts are more readily accepted. Cosmetic and functional results achieved are better than those with pinch and punch grafts. Tunnel grafting does not require expensive equipment or advanced training, and in some cases can be performed under standing sedation.     

Coral record of equatorial sea-surface temperatures during the penultimate deglaciation at huon peninsula

Uplifted coral terraces at Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea, preserve a record of sea level, sea-surface temperature, and salinity from the penultimate deglaciation. Remnants have been found of a shallow-water reef that formed during a pause, similar to the Younger Dryas, in the penultimate deglaciation at 130,000 +/- 2000 years ago, when sea level was 60 to 80 meters lower than it is today. Porites coral, which grew during this period, has oxygen isotopic values and strontium/calcium ratios that indicate that sea-surface temperatures were much cooler (22 degrees +/- 2 degreesC) than either Last Interglacial or present-day tropical temperatures (29 degrees +/- 1 degreesC). These observations provide further evidence for a major cooling of the equatorial western Pacific followed by an extremely rapid rise in sea level during the latter stages of Termination II.