Practice relevant rapid tests for milk progesterone in cattle compared with a laboratory-connected routine method

Four commercially available semiquantitative milk progesterone tests (Ovucheck-Praxistest: Cambridge Veterinary Science/Smith Kline), Progestassay-Milchprogesteron (Pitman-Moore/Janssen), Reprostrip-Progesteron-Schnelltest (Noctech/Albrecht), Enzygnost-Milchprogesteron (IQ, 'Bio' UK/Hoechst Veterin?r) were examined for their accuracy by using them for the determination of progesterone levels of 64 milk samples, i.e. 1556 single assays. Several test series were performed, using codified samples and changing sequences. Three or four test persons respectively, performed the tests independently and classified the samples semiquantitatively. These test results were then compared to the results acquired by measuring the progesterone levels of the same samples by means of an approved quantitative, labor-bound progesterone test (Hormonost: Biolab). These control tests were performed at a specialized routine labor, by different personnel and at a different location. Lastly, in 48 out of the 64 sampled animals the reproductive status could be evaluated clinically and was taken into account as well. Samples yielding high progesterone levels, i.e. greater than or equal to 9 ng/ml were classified correctly in 84.4 to 96.5% of the cases, whereas samples with low levels (less than or equal to 2.5 ng/ml) were classified correctly in 68.8 to 90.0% of the cases only. Samples ranging between this spectrum (greater than 2.5 less than 9 ng/ml) were classified correctly only in 42.1 to 52.6% of the cases. However, this range appears to be of the most interest for the veterinary practitioner since cows in proestrus or early interestrus tend to have mild progesterone levels within these values. On the other hand, clinical findings are often insufficient for a proper diagnosis just in these animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Soil mixing in the East Anglian fens

Abstract. Experiments were started in 1967 to investigate the effects of soil mixing on fen peat soil. Peaty topsoil was mixed with mineral subsoil to a maximum depth of 80 cm at two sites, one with a clay subsoil, the other sand. Mixing was done on a commercial scale with a range of implements. After initial increases, yields of arable crops on both mixed soils were subsequently similar to those on unmixed soil. Residual herbicide activity was enhanced on mixed soils, and evidence of peat conservation was obtained at one site. The practice has not been taken up commercially because of the high capital cost of mixing and lack of serious problems which had been predicted following peat wastage.     

Two cases of colitis cystica profunda in dogs

Colitis cystica profunda in dogs has been diagnosed in one case only. The two own cases were characterized by repeated, partly bloody diarrhea, vomitus, and painful defecation. The disease was diagnosed by clinical examination and colonoscopy with the ensuing histological examination of biopsy specimens. The disease could be managed by administration of a diet, sulfasalazine and corticosteroids.     

Surgery of hepatic cysts in a cat.

A 2-year-old female Japanese domestic cat weighing 3.6 kg was presented due to marked abdominal distention and was diagnosed as hepatic cyst. The bile acid concentration of the hepatic cyst was as low as the serum bile acid concentration. The membrane of the cysts was excised from the edge of the compressed hepatic tissue and no other surgical manipulation was performed. This surgical procedure is simple and quick compared to hepatic lobectomy, however, it is necessary to evaluate the fluid of the cyst before performing this procedure.     

The effectiveness of the combined treatment of thrombocytic hemorrhagic diathesis of dogs with prednisolone and blood transfusion in the model of an aspirin-produced thrombocytopathy

The administration of 20 mg/kg of acetylsalicylic acid in 18 clinically healthy dogs resulted in a thrombocytopathy with lengthened capillary bleeding time and irreversible aggregation inhibition. Through the set up of individual dilution series, one could conclude the proportional percentage of aggregation functional transfused thrombocytes. The capillary bleeding time was shortened after the intravenous injection of prednisolone (5 mg/kg) without measurable influence on the thrombocytes. Compared to the singular use of cortisone or blood transfusion alone, the effect on capillary bleeding time became magnified when one combined transfusion and corticosteroids. The fresh blood conserves (12 hours) were, with respect to the haemostyptical properties, superior to blood stored for 5 days. The component of aggregation-functional thrombocytes was, due to the prophylactic cortisone application prior to transfusion, not increased.     

Cross protection studies on Bordetella bronchiseptica in mice using an intracerebral challenge model.

Protective activities of heat-inactivated (60 degrees C for 30 min) merthiolate preserved Bordetella bronchiseptica and B. pertussis bacterins were compared in intraperitoneally immunized mice challenged intracerebrally (i.p./i.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p./i.p.). In the i.p./i.c. assay (Kendrick test), a B. pertussis bacterin protected mice against challenge with B. pertussis 18-323, as well as against phase I cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic strains of B. bronchiseptica. A B. bronchiseptica bacterin, prepared from a phase I cytotoxic strain, gave protection against two phase I B. bronchiseptica strains, irrespective of their cytotoxin-production. A non-cytotoxic phase I strain of B. bronchiseptica elicited protection against the homologous strain only. Neither cytotoxic nor non-cytotoxic B. bronchiseptica strains protected mice challenged with B. pertussis 18-323. Vaccines prepared from phase III strains of B. bronchiseptica were not protective at all against any of the challenge strains. No such differences in the protective activities of the bacterins could be detected by the i.p./i.p. method. They seem to cross-protect equally well. The results indicate that the Kendrick test may be useful in testing potency of different B. bronchiseptica bacterins.