Inflammatory oral cavity diseases of the cat.

There is a great deal of frustration among veterinarians about the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity of the cat. This frustration is due to both the high frequency of feline oral inflammatory lesions and our poor understanding of their causes. This poor understanding can be blamed on several things: (1) a rapidly emerging, but still relatively poor, understanding of feline diseases in general and nutrition in particular; (2) a tendency to lump rather than separate specific oral inflammations; (3) a tendency not to use a thorough and systematic approach to diagnosing oral cavity disease; and (4) the reluctance of veterinarians to apply what is already known about human oral cavity diseases to cats. When problems 2 through 4 are adequately addressed, it becomes apparent that we really know more about oral cavity disease in the cat than we thought we knew and that great progress has been made. The task ahead is to define, in precise medical terms, those remaining disease entities of the oral cavity that pose the greatest health risk to cats, to apply what has been already been discovered from human disease counterparts, and to study them systematically.     

Synthesis and insecticidal properties of derivatives of propane-1, 3-dithiol (analogues of the insecticidal derivatives of dithiolane and trithiane from the alga Chara globularis Thuillier)

Functional derivatives of 2-(methylthio)propane-1, 3-dithiol (open chain analogues of the insecticidal 4-methyithio-1, 2-dithiolane and 5-methylthio-1, 2, 3-trithiane from the alga Chara globularis) possess insecticidal properties similar to those of the structurally related nereistoxin. Some derivatives of propane-1, 3-dithiol, bearing 2-substituents different from the methylthio group, have also been shown to have insecticidal pioperties.     

Lactic acid bacteria for mink. Colonization and persistence of Enterococcus faecium Cernelle 68 in the digestive tract of mink.

A method was developed to follow a lactic acid bacterial strain, Enterococcus faecium Cernelle 68, with respect to adhesion, multiplication, colonization, and persistence in the digestive tract of mink. Also the spread of the strain in the cage was examined. When adding 5 x 10(9) c.f.u. of a rifampicin resistant mutant per kg feed, high viable counts were registered throughout the digestive tract, apart from the oesophagus. Counts were increasing in the aboral direction, suggesting some multiplication in the intestine. It was possible to detect the strain in the intestinal tract 4 days after discontinuation of administration. Neither culture nor scanning electron microscopy gave evidence to suggest that E. faecium Cernelle 68 adhered to the mucosa. The spread of the E. faecium strain was observed in the environment. Counts of E. coli, lactobacilli, staphylococci, and clostridia were low, and none of these bacteria were constant findings.     

Cross-protection studies between feline infectious peritonitis and porcine transmissible gastroenteritis viruses

Cross-protection studies between the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and the porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) viruses were conducted in cats, pigs and pregnant gilts. Cats vaccinated with TGE virus developed neutralizing antibodies against TGE virus and low titer antibody against FIP virus detected by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique but were not protected against a virulent FIP virus challenge. Baby pigs and pregnant gilts vaccinated with FIP virus did not develop detectable antibodies to TGE virus. Nevertheless, it appeared that vaccination of swine with FIP virus conferred some immunity against TGE virus infection. Seventeen-day-old pigs vaccinated with two doses of FIP virus had a 67% survival rate following a virulent TGE virus challenge, and 75% of the 3-day-old pigs suckling either FIP or TGE-virus-vaccinated gilts survived virulent TGE virus infection in contrast to 0% survival of baby pigs suckling unvaccinated gilts.     

Immunofluorescent immunoglobulin differentiation of vibrio fetus antibodies from bovine cervico-vaginal secretions

Reports on discrepancies between local and systemic immunity started to appear about 50 years ago (cf. Tomasi & Bienenstock 1968). Protection against infections has been shown in many cases to be closely related to the antibody content of external secretions and more or less independent from the serum antibody level.     

Specific heart muscle disease secondary to lymphosarcoma in a dog

This case report describes the clinical, imaging, clinical pathology and necropsy findings in a five-year-old male Border collie with low output cardiac failure. The heart was enlarged by infiltrative lymphosarcoma.     

Cohort study of natural transmission and two methods for control of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus infection in goats on a California dairy.

A prospective observational cohort study of 361 dairy goat kids was conducted to compare 2 methods of controlling caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus infection under commercial dairy conditions. To compare effectiveness of feeding kids pasteurized milk vs serologic testing and segregation in addition to pasteurized milk feeding, goats were monitored up to the age of 30 months by use of monthly agar gel immunodiffusion testing. Survival analysis methods were used to determine whether age at seroconversion differed between the 2 groups. Significantly lower rates of seroconversion were observed in the segregated group (P < 0.001), compared with the nonsegregated group. Of 193 goats in the pasteurized milk-only group, 146 (75.6%) seroconverted within the 30-month study period, whereas infection was detected in 39 (23.2%) of 168 goats in the test/segregated group. Nonsegregated goats were 3.37 times more likely to seroconvert by 24 months of age, and 70.3% of seroconversions by 24 months of age could be attributed to nonsegregation. For age-specific intervals beyond 180 days of age, 70 to 100% of seroconversions could be attributed to lack of segregation. Cohort life tables for age at seroconversion were reported for each group. Type of colostrum fed, sex, and weaning group (season) were not significantly associated with age at seroconversion. Saanen goats had lower age-specific risk of seroconversion in the nonsegregated group alone and overall. Non-Saanen goats wee 1.5 times more likely to seroconvert than were Saanen goats, when adjusted for a possible confounding effect of weaning group. Results indicate that pasteurized milk feeding and routine test and segregation would be a substantially more effective means of control of the disease in dairy goat herds than would pasteurized milk feeding alone.     

Common virus infections in cats, before and after being placed in shelters, with emphasis on feline enteric coronavirus

The purpose of this study was to determine the origin and subsequent spread of feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) in cats relinquished to shelters. FCV was isolated from the oral fauces of 11% of healthy cats upon entry, and isolation rates were highest for kittens (33%). FHV shedding was very low (4%) at the time of entry and occurred mainly in juveniles. FECV shedding was also common among newly relinquished cats (33%), especially older kittens and juveniles (90%). The subsequent spread of all three viruses was rapid and efficient in the shelter environment. Fifteen percent of cats were shedding FCV, 52% FHV, and 60% FECV after 1 week. More detailed studies were done with FECV shedding, which could be accurately quantitated. The amounts of FECV shed by infected cats ranged from 10(2)to 10(16)particles/swab of feces. FECV shedding was several logs higher in young kittens with primary infection than adult cats with primary infections. The mean levels of FECV shedding among adults were the same for primary and chronic infections. Although shelters were not the primary source of these viruses for many relinquished cats, factors intrinsic to the shelter environment were critical in amplifying shedding and spread to susceptible individuals. Extrinsic factors were especially important for the spread of FHV and FECV. FHV shedding rates increased from 4% to 50% in 1 week's time. The speed and magnitude of the increase in FHV shedding suggested that there was reactivation of latent infections as well as acquisition of new infections. FECV shedding increased 10 to 1,000,000 fold in 1 week among cats that were already infected at entry, and more than one-half of initially negative cats were shedding FECV a week later. Feline calicivirus infection was the least likely to spread in the shelter. The infection rate only increased from 11 to 15% in 1 week.