Akabane disease in sheep

Perinatal lamb mortality, associated with malformations of the CNS due to Akabane viral infection, occurred in 4 of 9 flocks of ewes lambing on 3 farms between 26 May and 14 November, 1976. Cases were restricted to ewes conceiving prior to the second week of March and lambing between 26 May and 19 July. As judged by seroconversion in sentinel flocks on 2 of the farms, field infection with Akabane virus occurred mainly between mid-February and mid-April. Malformations of the CNS occurred in 42.5%, 51.2%, 100% and 31.0% of the dead lambs examined in the affected flocks respectively. Prevalence in the 4 affected flocks, expressed as the proportion of ewes lambing which delivered at least one malformed foetus, was 6.1%, 8.4%, 88.9% and 5.7% respectively. Lamb mortality due to malformations of the CNS was 7.1%, 5.5%, 92.3% and 5.7% of lambs born. Age-specific prevalence was calculated for 3 of the 4 flocks and 2-year-old ewes accounted for 71.4% and 76.9% of total cases respectively in 2 flocks, whereas in one flock malformations occurred at equivalent frequencies throughout several older age groups. Birthweights of affected lambs were usually significantly lighter than those of unaffected lambs of similar sex and birth-type, and their mean duration of gestation was slightly, and significantly, prolonged. Micrencephaly (88.1% of cases) and hydrocephalus (68.7% of cases) were the outstanding pathological features of the malformations with hydranencephaly, microgyria, porencephaly and attenuation of the spinal cord occurring at much lower frequencies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ranitidine, famotidine, pantoprazole, and omeprazole on intragastric pH in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To identify the normal gastric acid secretion profile in dogs and determine the degree of gastric acid suppression associated with 4 gastric acid suppressants. ANIMALS: 12 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: Intragastric pH was measured continuously for 24-hour periods with a digital recording system placed via a gastrostomy tube. Baseline measurements were obtained when food was withheld and when dogs were fed a standard diet. Dogs were then treated with ranitidine (2 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h), famotidine (0.5 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h), pantoprazole (1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h), omeprazole (1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h), or saline solution for 7 days; intragastric pH was recorded on days 0, 2, and 6. Subsequently, the effects of administering famotidine (0.5 mg/kg, IV, q 8 h; 6 dogs) and omeprazole as a suspension (1 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h; 6 dogs) were evaluated. Median 24-hour intragastric pH, percentage of time pH was > or = 3, and percentage of time pH was > or = 4 were determined. RESULTS: Median pH, percentage of time pH was > or = 3, and percentage of time pH was > or = 4 were all significantly higher when food was withheld than when dogs were fed. Famotidine, pantoprazole, and omeprazole significantly suppressed gastric acid secretion, compared with saline solution, as determined on the basis of median 24-hour pH and percentages of time pH was > or = 3 or > or = 4. However, ranitidine did not. Omeprazole suspension suppressed gastric acid secretion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that in healthy dogs, famotidine, pantoprazole, and omeprazole significantly suppress gastric acid secretion. Twice daily administration of a suspension of omeprazole, was the only regimen tested that approached the potential therapeutic efficacy for acid-related disease when assessed by criteria used for human patients.     

Comparison of the standard predictive equation for calculation of resting energy expenditure with indirect calorimetry in hospitalized and healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of clinical agreement between 2 methods for the measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE). DESIGN: Prospective case series. ANIMALS: 77 dogs. PROCEDURE: Oxygen consumption (Vo2) and CO2 production (Vco2) were measured with an open-flow indirect calorimeter in healthy (n = 10) and ill (67) dogs. Measurements were collected at 3 time periods on 2 days. The Vo2 and the Vco2 measurements were then used to calculate the REE values. RESULTS: Mean values of measured (MREE) and predicted (PREE) REEs in healthy dogs and a dog with medical illnesses or trauma were not significantly different. There was a significant difference on day 2 between the MREE and PREE in the group of dogs recovering from major surgery. More importantly, there was significant variation between the PREE and MREE on an individual-dog basis. The PREE only agreed to within +/- 20% of the MREE in 51% to 57% of the dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The level of agreement between these two methods for determining the 24-hour REE was poor in individual dogs. The level of disagreement between the 2 methods indicates that these methods may not be used interchangeably in a clinical setting. Measurement of REE by use of indirect calorimetry may be the only reliable method of determining REE in an individual ill or healthy dog.     

The influence of stoniness and canopy properties on soil water content distribution: simulation of water movement in forest stony soil

Mountainous forest soils usually contain a large number of rock fragments (particle diameter >2?mm), which influence soil properties. Data characterizing hydraulic properties of these soils usually describe only the fine soil fraction (particle diameter <2?mm) properties. To quantitatively describe soil water movement in stony soils, it is necessary to evaluate effective hydrophysical characteristics, involving the influence of stones, that is, the effective hydraulic conductivity and retention capacity should be known. Properties of evaporating surface (plant canopy) also play important role in formation of soil water movement and retention. This work presents results of the study of rock fragments (stoniness) effect on soil water content profiles and soil water dynamics during the season. Stony and homogeneous soil behavior is compared. The effect of different canopies (spruce forest, low vegetation) and bare soil in both types of soils on soil water dynamics is also studied. Stones as a part of soil are decreasing its water capacity and hydraulic conductivity as well. This is expressing in the decrease of stony soil water content retention capacity. High interception capacity of trees, followed by the low undercanopy precipitation, leads to the decreased soil water content of the upper soil layer. Combination of stony soil and dense forest canopy led to the low undercanopy precipitation, to relatively low infiltration totals into soil, and to decreased outflow.     

Possible parachordoma in a dog

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A 15-mm diameter mass developed in the S/C tissue overlying the right lateral gluteal muscle of a 6½-year-old female Flat-coated Retriever.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Cytological preparations following aspiration of the mass were highly cellular and consisted of a population of large polygonal cells containing single to multiple nuclei, large prominent nucleoli, and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Histologically, the neoplasm consisted of similar large cells surrounded by thick fibrous connective tissue trabeculae. The large polygonal cells reacted positively with antibodies against vimentin, low- and high-molecular-weight variants of cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), but not with antibodies to desmin or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

DIAGNOSIS: The clinical, gross, histological and immunohistochemical findings are similar to those reported for parachordomas in humans. Neither recurrence nor metastases were noted 18 months after surgical excision of the mass.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first reported case of a possible parachordoma in a dog, a benign tumour with cytological features of malignancy.     

Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog

CASE HISTORY: A 14-year-old neutered male Bearded Collie was presented with a history of recurrent, intermittent urinary incontinence of 7 years duration.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: A large, firm, non-painful mass was found in the mid-abdominal region on palpation. Ultrasonography of the mass revealed a compartmentalised structure with mixed echogenicity, and which did not appear to be associated with any of the abdominal organs. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates contained several clusters of epithelial cells with cytological features of hepatocytes. At exploratory laparotomy, the mass was found in the gastrosplenic ligament within the greater omentum.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Histopathologically, the mass consisted of sheets of hepatocytes, but without the characteristic hepatic architecture. The cells showed moderate variation in nuclear size and were sometimes binucle- ate. A diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the mesentery was made.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of ectopic hepatic tissue has been reported rarely in man and cats, but not in the dog. Neoplastic transformation of ectopic hepatic tissue is seen in man. This is the first report of the presentation, clinical findings and treatment of a dog with ectopic HCC.     

The toxicity of Castanospermum australe seeds for cattle

Two calves given a mean of 16.1 g and 16.4 g ripe Castanospermum australe seeds/kg body weight daily for 13 and 16 days respectively developed haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The first calf died. The second calf had mild myocardial degeneration and necrosis and mild nephrosis at necropsy. Two calves given a mean of 16.8 g unripe C. australe seeds/kg body weight daily for 18 days remained clinically normal and had mild gastritis at necropsy. The activity of alpha-glucosidase was reduced in the mononuclear cells of peripheral blood and in skeletal muscle. This was attributed to the presence of the indolizidine alkaloid, castanospermine, in the seeds. The toxin causing the gastroenteritis and other lesions is unknown.     

Relativistic projectile fragment interactions: anomalons

Interaction mean free paths are calculated for projectile fragments from relativistic heavy-ion interactions in emulsions and plastic. There are important discrepancies between emulsion results and those from other techniques. "Anomalous" secondaries (anomalons) may prove to be interpretable by conventional nuclear physics: short mean free paths may be due to convoys of collinear light fragments from peripheral interactions (for example, with neutrons) or from low-excitation particle-unbound fragments that decay in flight.     

Determination of Young’s and shear moduli of common yew and Norway spruce by means of ultrasonic waves

Despite the exceptional position of yew among the gymnosperms concerning its elastomechanical properties, no reference values for its elastic constants apart from the longitudinal Young’s modulus have been available from literature so far. Hence, this study’s objective was to determine the Young’s moduli E _L, E _R and E _T and the shear moduli G _LR, G _LT and G _RT of yew wood. For that purpose, we measured the ultrasound velocities of longitudinal and transversal waves applied to small cubic specimens and derived the elastic constants from the results. The tests were carried out at varying wood moisture contents and were applied to spruce specimens as well in order to put the results into perspective. Results indicate that E _L is in the same order of magnitude for both species, which means that a high-density wood species like yew does not inevitably have to have a high longitudinal Young’s modulus. For the transverse Young’s moduli of yew, however, we obtained 1.5–2 times, for the shear moduli even 3–6 times higher values compared to spruce. The variation of moisture content primarily revealed differences between both species concerning the shear modulus of the RT plane. We concluded that anatomical features such as the microfibril angle, the high ray percentage and presumably the large amount of extractives must fulfil important functions for the extraordinary elastomechanical behaviour of yew wood which still has to be investigated in subsequent micromechanical studies.