Optimal filling solution for silicone Foley catheter balloons

We assessed whether saline, sterile water, or air better maintained filling volume and diameter in a veterinary silicone Foley bulb. The bulbs of 45 8-French silicone Foley catheters were inflated: 15 with 5 mL of sterile water (SW bulbs), 15 with 0.9% saline (S bulbs), and 15 with air (A bulbs). The bulbs were submerged in 30 mL of synthetic urine in a 50 mL conical tube in a 38°C water bath. Five catheters from each group were removed on days 3, 5, and 10 to measure bulb volume and diameter. On days 3 and 5, volume and diameter of SW or S bulbs were significantly greater than those of A bulbs, but were not significantly different from one another. At day 10, only 1 S bulb remained intact, 4 of the 5 SW bulbs were intact, the average volume of the SW bulbs was 2.8 mL, and the A bulbs were all deflated. We conclude that sterile water and 0.9% saline are both acceptable for Foley bulb inflation of 5 d or less, but sterile water might be preferred if bulb inflation must be maintained for more than 5 d.     

A case of congenital unilateral hip dysplasia in a newborn calf

We describe the case of a Simmental calf with congenital unilateral hip dysplasia. In the initial physical exam, the calf was able to stand unsteady when helped and showed severe swinging lameness in the left hind limb. Unilateral hip laxity and a positive Ortolani sign indicated subluxation of the femur within the hip joint. This finding was further confirmed by radiographic examination which also showed malformation of the left femoral head and acetabulum. After a short period of clinical improvement the calf's health deteriorated and it was euthanized due to signs of severe coxarthrosis. Pathological examination of the affected hip joint revealed a severe acetabular and femoral dysplasia with an incomplete formation of the epiphysis of the femoral head and a chronic granulating coxarthritis without evidence of primary infectious events.     

Biodiversity and ecosystem function of tropical forest dung beetles under contrasting logging regimes

A key challenge for tropical conservation biologists is to assess how forest management practices affect biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) provide an ideal focal guild for such studies. We compared dung beetle assemblages and experimentally assessed rates of dung removal and seed burial in undisturbed forest, low-intensity selectively logged forest under sustainable forest management, and high-intensity logged forest, not under sustainable management in Malaysian Borneo. In total, 7923 individuals from 39 species of dung beetle were collected. There were no significant differences in abundance, biomass or diversity across sites. Species richness was significantly lower in the high-intensity logged sites. Beta diversity was low: of 35 species recorded in undisturbed forest sites, 32 were also captured in low-intensity sites and 29 in high-intensity sites. The environmental and vegetation variables measured had little influence on species composition. An average of 63–99% of dung was removed over 24 h. Mean dung and seed removal were significantly lower in the high-intensity logged sites. Dung removal rates were significantly and positively correlated with dung beetle species richness, but not with dung beetle biomass or abundance. However, the biomass of large-bodied, nocturnal dung beetles was positively correlated with dung removal. In contrast to previous studies, dung beetle biomass and abundance were not correlated with species richness, indicative of density compensation. Overall, dung beetle communities and associated ecosystem functions were robust to low-intensity but not high-intensity selective logging. These differences may be related to changes in the abundance and biomass of particular dung beetle species or guilds rather than community-wide measures of abundance and biomass, highlighting the need to move beyond simplistic biodiversity-ecosystem functioning correlations to understand the functional consequences of habitat modification in high-diversity ecosystems.     

Serum testosterone and estradiol 17-beta concentrations in 15 dogs with perineal hernia

Serum testosterone and estradiol 17-beta concentrations, and serum testosterone-to-estradiol ratio were evaluated in 15 dogs (greater than or equal to 5 years old) with perineal hernia (9 sexually intact males and 6 castrated males) and in 9 clinically normal sexually intact male dogs greater than or equal to 5 years old. There was no significant difference in serum testosterone-to-estradiol ratio between sexually intact male dogs with perineal hernia and clinically normal sexually intact male dogs. In castrated dogs with perineal hernia, serum testosterone concentration and testosterone-to-estradiol ratio were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower, compared with those values in sexually intact dogs with perineal hernia and in clinically normal sexually intact male dogs. There was no significant difference in serum estradiol 17-beta concentration among sexually intact male dogs with perineal hernia, castrated dogs with perineal hernia, and clinically normal sexually intact male dogs. Serum testosterone and estradiol 17-beta concentrations in dogs with perineal hernia did not differ from those values in clinically normal male dogs of the same age. Castration cannot be recommended for the treatment of perineal hernia unless a castration-responsive contributing factor such as prostatomegaly is identified, unless the pelvic diaphragm of dogs with perineal hernia has high sensitivity to normal or low serum testosterone and estradiol 17-beta concentrations, or unless there is documentation that other androgens and/or estrogens are involved.     

Evaluation of a bulk-milk ELISA test for the classification of herd-level bovine leukemia virus status

The results of a commercial bulk-milk enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for herd-level bovine leukemia virus (BLV) status were compared to results obtained from individual agar-gel immunodiffussion (AGID) testing on sampled cattle. A positive herd was defined as a herd having one or more AGID-positive animals. The estimated true herd status was based on the sensitivity and specificity of the AGID test and the number of cattle sampled per herd. Ninety-seven herds were used, with a mean of 13 cows sampled per herd. The AGID test indicated an apparent herd prevalence of 70.1%. After accounting for the number of cows sampled and the sensitivity and specificity of the AGID test, the estimated true herd prevalence of BLV was 52.3%. The ELISA test identified 79.4% of herds as positive for BLV, and had an apparent sensitivity and specificity of 0.97 and 0.62, respectively. However, after accounting for the sensitivity and specificity of the AGID test in individual animals, the specificity of the ELISA test was 0.44. The ELISA test was useful for identifying BLV-negative herds (i.e., ruling out the presence of BLV infection in test negative herds). With the moderately low specificity, herds identified as positive by the ELISA test would require further testing at the individual or herd level to definitively establish their BLV status.     

A computer-based advisory system for control of the summer pests of winter oilseed rape in Britain

A computer-based interactive model that can aid farmers in the control of summer pests on winter oilseed rape is described. The model uses details on the growth characteristics of oilseed rape, together with predictions of the damage caused by the pests, to determine whether a spray application is required. The model was validated using field trials in 1986 and 1987. These trials showed that the model performed very well when compared with other popular types of advice available. Economic comparison of the model with current ADAS (MAFF) advice showed that the model performed as well or better. The model also had the advantage that it used the economics of the situation, as well as the size of the pest population, in calculating advice.     

Phage Patterns of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Dogs

One hundred and thirty-seven coagulase-positive strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from dogs, were tested against three synthetic penicillins (cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, and ampicillin) and also phage typed using bacteriophages which are employed in typing staphylococci isolated from man.     

Prevalence of Salmonella contamination in market-ready geese in Manitoba

Salmonella contamination is a major problem in the poultry industry, but no data are available on the prevalence in geese. From two slaughter facilities in Manitoba, 130 carcass rinsings and 315 cloacal swabs from a total of 17 flocks of domestic geese were examined for salmonellae. Sixty percent of the carcass rinsings and 18.4% of the cloacal swabs were positive. Most of the isolates were serotyped, and some analysis of the results is presented. Three culture media were compared, and a modified dulcitol brilliant-green novobiocin medium was found to be more selective than brilliant-green and brilliant-green sulfa agars.