An evaluation of the clinical, cytological, infectious and histopathological features of feline acne

Clinical, cytological, microbial and histopathological features of feline acne were investigated in 22 cats referred or volunteered to a veterinary dermatology practice in the south-west region of the USA. For comparison, same parameters were evaluated in five unaffected pet cats. Additionally, all cats were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the presence of feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpes virus (FHV-1) in acne lesions. The age of onset of acne in affected cats ranged from 6 months to 14 years with a median of 4 years. The most common dermatologic lesions were comedones (73%), alopecia (68%), crusts (55%), papules (45%) and erythema (41%). Pruritus was reported in 35% of the affected cats. Cytological evidence of Malassezia pachydermatitis was present on 4/22 (18%) of affected cats. Microsporum canis was isolated from a single affected cat. Bacteria were isolated from 10 of the 22 (45%) affected cats; coagulase-positive staphylococci and alpha-haemolytic streptococci were most common. Histopathological features included lymphoplasmacytic periductal inflammation (86%), sebaceous gland duct dilatation (73%), follicular keratosis with plugging and dilatation (59%), epitrichial gland occlusion and dilatation (32%), folliculitis (27%), pyogranulomatous sebaceous adenitis (23%) and furunculosis (23%). In one affected cat from a household with five cats, simultaneously having feline acne, FCV antigen was detected in the biopsy of the chin by IHC. Chin tissue samples from all other affected cats, as well as the five healthy cats, were negative by IHC for FCV and FHV-1 antigens.     

Prevalence and risk factors for Giardia and coccidia species of pet cats in 2003-2004

Prevalence and risk factors for feline coccidia and Giardia species infections were estimated for cats visiting 434 Banfield hospitals in 40 states in 2003-2004. Evaluated were 631,021 cats making 1,456,712 office visits (encounters) and having 211,105 fecal examinations. The overall fecal prevalences of coccidia and Giardia species were 1.4% and 0.58%, respectively. Cats at increased risk of coccidia infection were under 4 years of age, intact, and seen during the summer, fall, and spring months compared to winter. Cats at increased risk of Giardia species infection were under 4 years of age. Those at decreased risk were mixed breed and seen during the summer, fall, and spring. The highest regional risk of coccidia and Giardia species infection was for cats in the East South Central region and Mountain region, respectively, compared to the South Pacific region.     

Hairy shaker disease of lambs: Further studies on acquired immunity,abortion and effects on foetal growth

The one-stage prothrombin times of 100 lambs from ten different farms varied from 13 to 24 seconds with a mean of 16.6 seconds. The extent and severity of subcutaneous haemorrhagic speckling of carcases was assessed in 775 animals from the same farms and the prevalence of this lesion was similar to that found at the same works during the 1977/78 season. The means of both one-stage prothrombin times and speckling varied significantly between groups of Iambs from different farms but there was no statistical association between the prevalence of speckling and the one-stage prothrombin times.     

Successful Treatment for Subinvolution of Placental Sites in the Bitch with Low Oral Doses of Progestagen

Subinvolution of placental sites (SIPS) is the major cause of persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge after parturition in the bitch. Spontaneous remission is common but may take several months, and hence, medical therapy to end the discharge is often requested. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of treatment for SIPS with low oral doses of a progestagen. Nine bitches with SIPS, but otherwise clinically healthy, were found in the computer database of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals. Seven of these bitches were treated with low oral doses of a progestagen (megestrol acetate, 0.1 mg/kg body weight (bw) once daily for the 1st week, then 0.05 mg/kg bw once daily for the 2nd week). The other two bitches were untreated. Treatment results were evaluated by a telephone questionnaire. Progestagen treatment was successful in all of the treated dogs; sanguineous vaginal discharge stopped within the treatment period. One of the two untreated dogs remained symptomatic until the next oestrus, approximately 120 days after parturition, and the other remained symptomatic until 6 weeks before the start of the next pro‐oestrus, 270 days after parturition. No side effects of the progestagen treatment were observed. Subsequent gestations, parturitions and puerperal periods of 5 mated bitches were uneventful. One bitch did not become pregnant after mating. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that oral administration of low doses of progestagen for 2 weeks is effective in stopping persistent sanguineous vaginal discharge in bitches with SIPS, with neither side effects nor reduced subsequent fertility.     

Combined Influence of Mulches and Transplanting on Earliness and Yield of Muskmelon,Cucumis Melo L.

An investigation of the combined effect of mulching and transplanting muskmelons showed that transplanting increased early yield appreciably; mulching in conjunction with transplanting further increased earliness. Total yield also was increased by some treatments. Clear polyethylene (polythene), black polythene, and Kraft paper coated with clear polythene were evaluated as mulches on transplanted and field-seeded melons. Clear polythene generally induced greater early yields in field-seeded melons, but the response to black polythene, clear polythene and polythene-coated paper was comparable for transplanted melons. Waxed paper and aluminium foil also were tested as mulches for transplanted melons.     

Temporal Relationships and Repeatability of Follicle Diameters and Hormone Concentrations within Individuals in Mares

Data were collected daily from 23 mares during two consecutive interovulatory intervals (IOIs). Several significant (p < 0.05) new observations on temporal relationships were made. The FSH increase that begins before ovulation temporarily plateaued on the day of discharge of follicular fluid into the peritoneal cavity in association with ovulation. During the declining portion of the pre-ovulatory oestradiol surge, an abrupt reduction in the rate of decrease occurred in synchrony with the peak of the LH surge and is consistent with a negative effect of LH on oestradiol. Repeatability within mares was based on the following positive and significant correlations between the two IOIs: (i) length of the interval between ovulations and between ovulation and the beginning of follicle deviation; (ii) diameter of the pre-ovulatory follicle on days -3 to -1; (iii) number of follicles in diameter classes of 2–5 mm (correlation for 22/23 days of the IOI), 5.1–10 mm (18/23 days), 10.1–15 mm (12/23 days) and 15.1–20 mm (12/23 days) and (iv) concentrations of FSH (18/23 days) and LH (22/23 days). The greatest repeatability for the follicle-diameter classes occurred in the 2–5 mm class, and thereafter the repeatability progressively decreased as the diameters for the classes increased. Results demonstrated measurable repeatability within mares for several end points between consecutive IOIs.     

Recovery and Cryopreservation of Epididymal Sperm of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) as a Model for Salvaging the Genetics of Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae)

The objective of this study was to optimize recovery and cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from plains bison, as a model for wood bison. In Phase 1, cauda epididymides were recovered from bison (n = 14) immediately after slaughter, minced and incubated in Sp-TALPH buffer for 3 h at 36°C. The resulting sperm suspensions were cryopreserved in Triladyl^®, using a protocol for bovine semen. In Phase 2, epididymal sperm were cryopreserved in either Triladyl^® or Andromed^®. The mean (±SD) estimated number of sperm recovered was 468 ± 207 × 10⁶. There was an increase (p < 0.05) in the proportion of sperm with normal morphology between initial recovery and after extension (52.4 ± 4.6 vs 69.7 ± 2.4%), with a concurrent decrease (p < 0.05) in the proportion of sperm with distal droplets. Median values for progressively motile sperm in post-thaw samples (60%) were lower (p < 0.05) than that after extension or after chilling (70% for both). The mean percentages of viable sperm and of sperm with an intact acrosome were lower (p < 0.05) for frozen-thawed samples (38.7 ± 2.8 and 85.2 ± 1.1) compared with extended (66.2 ± 2.2 and 92.4 ± 0.9) or chilled (63.7 ± 2.5 and 90.0 ± 1.0) samples. Rates of cleavage, morulae and blastocyst production were not significantly different for chilled (70.9, 38.7 and 8.0%) vs post-thaw sperm (73.0, 46.0 and 6.3%). There was no significant difference between extenders for most sperm characteristics. In conclusion, we developed a functional protocol for the recovery and cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from plains bison, which may have implications for the genetic preservation of wood bison.