Transportation of veal calves in Switzerland

The analysis and optimization of transportation routes of calves to slaughterhouses by means of a GIS (geographical information system) route planning and time limitation software for the fleet management in transportation industry was performed. As basic data the farms (last locations of the calves) and the slaughterhouses were available in each case with addresses and coordinates. 150 data records from 258 veal calves could be evaluated. None of the calves was transported longer than 6 hours. Therefore, in all cases the Swiss law for animal protection was obeyed concerning maximum length of transportation time. In the road model, 82% of calves were transported too far.     

Orbito-nasal cyst in a young European short-haired cat

Purpose To describe a case of an orbito‐nasal cyst in a cat. Procedure An 18‐month‐old male European short‐haired cat was presented to the Ophthalmology service of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich for a subcutaneous swelling in the medial canthal region of the right eye (OD). Ophthalmologic, ultrasound and CT examinations, and fine needle aspiration were performed. After lesion excision, the removed tissue was submitted for histopathology. CT examination was repeated 5 months after removal of the cyst. Results Ophthalmologic examination revealed a large fluctuant swelling inferonasal to OD. Despite patent lacrimal puncta, only the first few mm of the lacrimal canaliculi could be cannulated. A normal globe with moderate enophthalmos was present. Ultrasound examination showed a well‐defined lobulated cyst‐like structure in the right orbit, inferonasal and anterior to the eye. CT examination revealed extension of this lesion through the medial orbital wall into the right nasal cavity. Fine needle aspiration confirmed the cystic nature of the lesion. An orbito‐nasal cyst was diagnosed. The orbital part of the cyst was dissected from the surrounding tissue and excised from the periosteum in the medial orbital wall defect. Part of the maxillary bone was removed to allow removal of the cyst from the nasal cavity. Histologically, the cyst wall consisted of a single to multilayered, mostly cuboidal epithelium and surrounding connective tissue. Follow‐up revealed a good functional result and no recurrence 7 months after cyst removal. Conclusions Similar orbito‐nasal cystic structures were reported in dogs but not in cats.     

Differential Rotation and Dynamics of the Solar Interior

Splitting of the sun's global oscillation frequencies by large-scale flows can be used to investigate how rotation varies with radius and latitude within the solar interior. The nearly uninterrupted observations by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) yield oscillation power spectra with high duty cycles and high signal-to-noise ratios. Frequency splittings derived from GONG observations confirm that the variation of rotation rate with latitude seen at the surface carries through much of the convection zone, at the base of which is an adjustment layer leading to latitudinally independent rotation at greater depths. A distinctive shear layer just below the surface is discernible at low to mid-latitudes.     

Experimental Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo infection of pregnant cattle

Objective To observe the effect upon the foetus of experimental infection of pregnant cattle with Leptospira borg-petersenii serovar hardjo .
Design A disease transmission study using pregnant cattle.
Procedure Fourteen heifers serologically negative to L hardjo were artificially inseminated and later challenged with a north-Queensland isolate of L hardjo by conjunctival inoculation. The heifers were serologically monitored and their urine examined for the presence of leptospires using culture and fluorescent-antibody tests at appropriate intervals. Elective caesarean sections were performed on pregnant heifers at 6.5 weeks after the challenge. Foetuses were examined using serological, histopathological, microbiological and fluorescent-antibody tests.
Results Ten of the heifers became pregnant, but three subsequently aborted before challenge. After challenge, all 14 heifers seroconverted and L hardjo was isolated from the urine of 6 of the 7 pregnant heifers. No evidence of foetal L hardjo infection was detected. Two of the foetuses had histopatho-logical lesions consistent with Neospora s p infection.
Conclusion It is likely that the isolate of L hardjo used in this study does not normally infect the foetus. Neospora s p may be a more significant cause of bovine reproductive wastage.     

Chronic eosinophilic keratitis in the cat

A special form of keratitis in the cat is described on the basis of 8 clinical cases. The disease has been known in the United States and the United Kingdom for some time, however, it has, to our knowledge, never been described in Switzerland. This keratitis is characterized by chronicity and infiltration of the cornea by mast cells and eosinophils. It is usually an unilateral and painless condition. We describe the clinical features and diagnostic examinations of the disease. Cytology of a corneal scraping is usually diagnostic. As in the cases described in the literature the cats were successfully treated with oral megestrol acetate. The aetiology of the disease is unknown.     

CASE REPORT: Bilateral vision loss in a captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

The following case report describes a 1‐year‐old female cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) with bilateral blindness and unresponsive pupils. For comparison, a second healthy 2.5‐year‐old male cheetah without visual deficits was also examined. Clinical examination of both animals included biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and electroretinography. The young female cheetah showed no menace response, no direct or indirect pupillary light reflex, and no dazzle reflex in either eye. Fundus lesions, as detected by indirect ophthalmoscopy, are described for the female animal. In both eyes, the fundus color was green/turquoise/yellow with multiple hyperpigmented linear lesions in the tapetal area around the optic nerve. The optic nerve head was dark gray and about half the normal size suggesting bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia and retinal dysplasia or differentially optic nerve atrophy and chorioretinal scarring. The ERG had low amplitudes in the right eye but appeared normal in the left eye compared with the male cheetah. Blood levels did not suggest current taurine deficiency. This is addressed to some degree in the discussion. Bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia or optic nerve atrophy is a rare anomaly in cats and has not yet been described in a cheetah.