The use of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride for sedation of the mountain brushtail possun Trichosurus caninus Ogilby (Phalangeridae: Marsupialia)

SUMMARY A combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride in a 1:1 ratio by weight was used successfully to sedate mountain brushtail possums, Trichosurus caninus, in the field. A standard total dose of 50 to 60 mg provided adequate sedation for the completion of a range of handling procedures. We describe the induction time, dose rate and side-effects associated with the use of tiletamine and zolazepam in T caninus.     

An assessment of carbon dioxide stunning in pigs

The vocalisation patterns of pigs subjected to stunning in 86 per cent carbon dioxide in a commercial abattoir suggested that narcosis began 30 to 39 seconds after the start of the immersion procedure. The spontaneous and reflex physical behaviour of the pigs after immersion indicated that they were effectively stunned, but the majority of the animals were not considered to be brain-stem dead. None of the carcases showed pale soft exudative meat.     

Food intake,digestibility and gut size in red grouse

1. Fully‐grown captive red grouse were fed 4 increasingly fibrous diets which incorporated ling heather (Calluna vulgaris), their main natural food, at rates of 50, 200, 400 and 600 g/kg. The rest of each diet was a grouse maintenance ration.

2. Gizzard weights showed a close linear relationship with voluntary food intake. Previously published data for wild grouse fell close to the regression line.

3. Birds eating the 600 g heather/kg diet digested it more efficiently than expected by extrapolation from the three lower‐fibre diets. Their voluntary intakes of food varied more and they had longer caeca than birds on the lower‐fibre diets.

4. It was concluded that grouse began to show increased gut lengths and increased abilities to digest fibrous food when the intrinsic digestibility of their diet dropped below a certain, predictable, point. This may have been when bulk began to limit intake.     

Management of equine skull fractures using fixation with polydioxanone sutures

Ten horses presented with severe distortion of the facial contour, crepitus on palpation and mild to moderate epistaxis. Individual horses also showed ocular damage, ptosis, severe dyspnoea and movement of the facial bones concurrent with respiration. The fracture fragments were exposed using a large curvilinear incision and elevated using a retractor, periosteal elevator, chisel or Steinmann pin. The fracture fragments were unstable following reduction and fixation was necessary. Stabilisation was achieved with polydioxanone sutures placed through holes drilled in opposing sides of the fracture lines. Polydioxanone sutures provided good stability and had better handling properties than wire. There was good apposition of fracture edges and minimal complications. Use of polydioxanone sutures can also avoid the expense and complexity of plate fixation in selected cases, and should be considered as an alternative to fixation with stainless steel wire in any facial fracture that adjoins stable bone.     

The Anti‐Müllerian Hormone Profile is Linked with the In Vitro Embryo Production Capacity and Embryo Viability after Transfer but Cannot Predict Pregnancy Outcome

The current study investigated the possibility of using the AMH concentration as a predictor of the ability of Korean Hanwoo cows to produce cumulus‐oocyte complexes, embryos that survive after transfer as well as the pregnancy outcome of surrogates. Eight sessions of ovum pick‐up (OPU) were performed with 19 donor cows at an interval of 3–4 days. Antral follicle count (AFC), oocyte quality and in vitro embryo development were recorded for each cow. Embryos produced from cows with different AMH profiles were transferred into recipients (n = 96). Cows in the high (≥0.25 ng/ml) and intermediate (0.1≥ to <0.25 ng/ml) AMH groups had a significantly higher AFC per OPU session (20.40 ± 1.36 and 16.91 ± 1.52, respectively; mean ± standard deviation) than cows in the low AMH group (<0.1 ng/ml; 12.19 ± 2.14). In addition, more cumulus‐oocyte complexes per donor were recovered in the high (11.46 ± 1.22) and intermediate (7.38 ± 0.83) AMH groups than in the low AMH group (4.77 ± 0.44). The percentage of oocytes reached blastocyst stage was significantly higher in the intermediate (47.0%) and high (38.5%) AMH groups than in the low AMH group (32.3%). The number of embryos produced per cow was higher in the high (3.9 ± 0.2) and intermediate (6.9 ± 0.6) AMH groups than in the low AMH group (2.2 ± 0.3). The percentage of embryos that gave birth to viable calves when transferred into recipients was higher for those derived from cows in the intermediate AMH group (50.7%) than for those derived from cows in the low (35.7%) and high (36.4%) AMH groups. In conclusion, a single measurement of AMH concentration predicted the in vitro embryo production potential of donor Korean native cows before OPU and is linked with embryo viability after transfer into recipients.     

CASE REPORT AND CLINICAL REVIEW: Acute lameness associated with osseous metastasis of a peri-renal carcinoma in a horse

We present a case of aggressive metastatic carcinoma in a horse that was initially presented for shoulder lameness. Although radiography and scintigraphy were useful for localising a lesion in the proximal humerus, subsequent development of non-specific signs of systemic disease prompted further evaluation. Haematology and blood biochemistry, urinalysis and ultrasonography were all instrumental in identifying renal involvement. A diagnosis of a peri-renal mass causing secondary renal failure prompted euthanasia of the horse because of the poor prognosis. Antemortem findings were supported by necropsy, with secondary lesions also identified in the spleen, liver, 8th left rib and proximal humerus. Histological examination yielded a diagnosis of undifferentiated metastatic carcinoma.     

Effect of Irrigation Water Contaminated with Uranium Mill Tailings on Sudan Grass,Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense,and Fourwing Saltbush,Atriplex canescens

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to estimate the effects of irrigation water quality on chemical uptake and productivity of Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense) and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Water and soil were obtained from an inactive U ore processing site near Tuba City, Arizona. Two observation wells provided the irrigation water. One was located upgradient from the contaminated site, and was located in the center of the plume downgradient from the area contaminated by the milling operations. A 50/50 mix of the two well waters was used as a third treatment. Concentrations of Se and U in aboveground tissues of saltbush were significantly (< 0.05) elevated when irrigated with the undiluted contaminated water, but not to unacceptable levels. In the case of Sudan grass, Mo, Se, U, NO3 -N, and S were significantly (< 0.05) elevated in the contaminated water treatment, and all except NO3 -N were elevated with the diluted contaminated water, but again within acceptable limits. Saltbush productivity was not significantly (< 0.05) affected by the three irrigation treatments. Sudan grass aboveground biomass results suggest that the undiluted contaminated plume water could be used for effective crop production, although productivity was significantly better with the nutrient-amended baseline water and the diluted contaminated water. Root biomass was significantly greater in the baseline water irrigation.