Surgical removing of an ectopic tooth in an Iceland mare

Ectopic teeth occur because of failure of the first branchial cleft to close during development and are found mostly in young horses. Such dentigerous cysts are often located at the base of the ear, forming a notable swelling with a fistula, as it was the case with the two year old Iceland mare ?Runa?. In order to confirm the diagnosis, x-ray images were taken, which is also necessary to locate the ectopic tooth correctly. While operating, the whole cystic membrane should be removed and it is important to prevent adjacent nerves and blood vessels from damage. Prognosis for complete healing after removing an ectopic tooth is excellent.     

Intersex condition of shoal bass in the Flint River, Georgia

We examined male shoal bass Micropterus cataractae from the Flint River, Georgia, to determine the prevalence of intersex. During March and April 2010, we sampled 61 shoal bass from six sites along the Flint River. Testes were examined histologically and classified as intersex if the presence of oocytes was noted. Using a severity index, we compared samples collected on different dates and from different locations according to age and testis weight. No significant variations were noted among any of the groupings. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the intersex condition in shoal bass is severe enough to warrant concern and whether it is a natural phenomenon.     

Radiosensitivity and capacity for radiation-induced sublethal damage repair of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines

Understanding the inherent radiosensitivity and repair capacity of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) can aid in optimizing radiation protocols to treat this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF(2) ), α/β ratio and capacity for sublethal damage repair (SLDR) in response to radiation. Dose-response and split-dose studies were performed using the clonogenic assay. The mean SF(2) for three established TCC cell lines was high at 0.61. All the three cell lines exhibited a low to moderate α/β ratio, with the mean being 3.27. Two cell lines exhibited statistically increased survival at 4 and 24 h in the dose-response assay. Overall, our results indicate that the cell lines are moderately radioresistant, have a high repair capacity and behave similarly to a late-responding normal tissue. These findings indicate that the radiation protocols utilizing higher doses with less fractionation may be more effective for treating TCC.     

Use of soybean hulls as a replacement for dry rolled corn in beef cattle feedlot receiving diets

Consecutive receiving studies were used to evaluate the replacement of starch (dry rolled corn; DRC) with a nonforage fiber source (soybean hulls; SBH) on performance, mineral, and blood metabolite status of newly arrived feedlot steer calves. Steers in yr 1 (Y1; 9 pens/diet, 8 to 10 animals/pen) and yr 2 (Y2; 6 pens/diet, 9 to 10 animals/pen) were blocked by weaning management, and then stratified by BW and randomly assigned to pens. Pens were randomly assigned to an oat silage-based diet containing starch (HS) from DRC or digestible fiber (HF) from SBH. Diets were formulated for 12% CP (DM basis) and to meet or exceed NRC (1996) nutrient requirements for Ca, P, and vitamins A and E. Mineral status was assessed in Y1 only via liver biopsies and serum samples collected on d 3 and 28. Mineral concentrations on d 28 were compared using d 3 concentrations as a covariate. Glucose, NEFA, and plasma urea N status were assessed in Y2 only via blood collections on d 0, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 59. Morbidity (<10%) and mortality rates were not different (P > 0.10) between treatments across years. Daily BW gain was similar (P > 0.10) between treatments both during the receiving period and cumulatively across years. Overall, feed intake was greater (P = 0.007) for steers fed HF compared with steers fed HS in Y1, but was not different in Y2 (P = 0.13). Steers consuming the HS diet tended (P = 0.07) to have better BW gain efficiency in Y1 only. Across years, BW gain efficiency and ADG were similar between treatments (P > 0.10), although DMI was greater for steers fed HF (P = 0.003). Based on 2 yr of performance, the calculated ME content of SBH was estimated at 92.5% of the ME value of DRC (2.74 vs. 2.96 Mcal/kg, respectively). Mineral concentrations on d 28 were similar (P > 0.10) for most minerals assayed. There was a steeper (P = 0.005) decline in hepatic Cu concentrations early in the feeding period for steers fed HF, resulting in decreased (P = 0.001) d 28 hepatic concentrations. Hepatic Mn was greater (P = 0.003) in steers fed HF on d 28 as a result of greater (P = 0.006) Mn accumulation during the initial 28 d on feed. Blood metabolites in Y2 (using d 0 values as a covariate) were similar (P > 0.10) across treatments, except for reduced (P = 0.025) plasma urea N concentrations on d 7 and greater (P = 0.050) NEFA concentrations on d 28 for steers fed HS. These studies indicate that the use of SBH in receiving diets can support BW gain similar to the use of DRC.     

Evaluation of mechlorethamine,vinblastine, procarbazine,and prednisone for the treatment of resistant multicentric canine lymphoma

Multi-agent chemotherapy successfully induces remission in most naïve, high-grade canine lymphoma patients; however, disease recurrence is common. MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) is an effective rescue protocol used to re-induce remission, but is associated with gastrointestinal toxicity and can be a less desirable option for patients that previously failed vincristine-containing protocols. Therefore, alternative members of the vinca alkaloid family, such as vinblastine, could be potentially advantageous as substitutes for vincristine to reduce gastrointestinal toxicity and chemoresistance. The objective of this study was to report the clinical outcomes and toxicity of 36 dogs with relapsed or refractory multicentric lymphoma treated with a modified MOPP protocol whereby vincristine was replaced with vinblastine (MVPP). The overall response rate to MVPP was 25% with a median progression free survival of 15 days and a median overall survival of 45 days. MVPP at the prescribed doses resulted in modest and transient clinical benefit, but was well tolerated with no treatment delays or hospitalizations secondary to side effects. Given the minimal toxicity, dose intensification could be considered to improve clinical responses.     

Porcine encephalomyelitis caused by hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus.

Six epizootics of encephalomyeltis in suckling pigs in Minnesota were attributed to infection with hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus. The disease occurred in 74 litters of pigs and was characterized by sudden onset of tremors, inappetence, weakness, atazia, and hyperesthesia, with high morbidity and case fatality rate. Pathologic changes consisted of marked nonsuppurative, nondemyelinating encephalomyelitis characterized by perivascular mononuclear cuffing, gliosis, neuronal death, and satellitosis. Clinical disease was limited principally to suckling pigs during a single farrowing period and did not recur in the herds involved during the ensuing 18 months.