A survey of the causes of mortality in adult mink, with emphasis on the lactation period

A study of the pattern and relative frequency of diseases in adult female mink during the lactation period was undertaken. All adult females that died between parturition (April/May) and July 1, 1990, from 48 farms in southern Ontario were selected for study, and the cause of death was determined by gross necropsy. In addition, the cause of death was determined by gross necropsy for all adults and weaned kits that died on one farm between April 1988 and March 1989.

The mortality rate among farms in the 1990 study, for adult females during the lactation period, ranged from 0.2% to 10.1%, with a median of 1.9%. Nursing disease (56%) was the most common diagnosis, followed by mastitis (11%), metritis (8%), and dystocia (7%). Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. were the most frequent isolates from the cases of mastitis. In the 1988/1989 study, the mortality rate was highest from May to July, with a large increase in June as a result of nursing disease.

     

The control of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand

Mycobacterium bovis was probably introduced into New Zealand with cattle imported in the early 19th century. A tuberculosis control programme was introduced for cattle in 1945. However, the control of tuberculosis in cattle and deer in New Zealand over the past two decades has been hampered by the presence of an important wildlife reservoir, the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). While the importance of this source of infection has been suspected by the Ministry of Agriculture for some time, scientific proof has been lacking until recently. A new control programme is currently being finalized with the following objectives: to reduce the prevalence of herd infection in vector free areas to internationally accepted levels, to prevent the establishment of tuberculous vectors in new areas, to decrease the number and size of existing areas where tuberculous vectors exist, and to encourage land-owners to take action against tuberculosis on their properties and in their herds.     

The structure of bovine secretory component

Bovine secretory component (SC) has been cleaved with trypsin into a series of fragments and their N-terminal amino acid sequences have been determined. The close homology with the known sequence of human SC has enabled the sequential order of the fragments to be deduced. The results indicate that bovine SC consists of a single glycosylated polypeptide chain (Mr 74,000) folded into five globular immunoglobulin-like domains. A protein (Mr 94,000) has been isolated from detergent solubilised bovine epithelial membranes from liver, intestine and mammary gland. This membrane protein is specific for the binding of J-chain linked IgM and IgA dimers. It can be proteolytically cleaved into a water soluble SC-like portion and a detergent soluble hydrophobic portion. Bovine SC is therefore most likely to be the extracellular part of an epithelial receptor which mediates the transport of IgA dimers to mucosal surfaces. The various tryptic fragments from bovine SC have been shown to differ in their relative binding affinities for IgM and IgA dimers. The results imply that the first three domains of bovine SC are most involved in binding and domains 4 and 5 play subsidiary roles. Computerized prediction and modelling methods have been used to deduce possible tertiary and quaternary structures for SC. There are good indications that the molecule has an elonaged "zig-zag" structure stabilized by longitudinal inter-domain contacts. A model of SC bound to IgA dimer is presented.     

Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline hydrochloride in rabbits

Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline HCl (OTC) was studied in rabbits. After 10 mg of OTC/kg of body weight was administered IV, the distribution half-life was 0.06 hour, terminal half-life was 1.32 hours, volume of distribution area was 0.861 L/kg, and total body clearance was 0.434 L/kg/h. After 10 mg of OTC/kg was given IM, the absorption half-life was 2.09 hours, extent of absorption was 71.4%, and total body clearance of the absorbed fraction was 0.576 L/kg/h. Based on these kinetic data, a dosage of 15 mg of OTC/kg, every 8 hours was developed. This dose given IM for 7 consecutive days resulted in observed steady-state maximum and minimum concentrations (mean +/- SD) of 4.7 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml and 3.2 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml, respectively. Twice this dose (30 mg of OTC/kg, every 8 hours) given IM caused anorexia and diarrhea.     

Penicillin therapy of spontaneous streptococcal meningitis in pigs

Oral prophylactic medication with either procaine penicillin G or a mixture of chlortetracycline, sulphadimidine and procaine penicillin G reduced the incidence of streptococcal meningitis in a herd of pigs with a high recorded prevalence of the disease, but to a significant extent (P less than 0.01) only in those pigs receiving procaine penicillin G. Subsequent studies showed that after oral administration of procaine penicillin G, benzylpenicillin was detectable in plasma only at very low concentration and similar results were obtained using the potassium salt of penicillin G. However, phenoxymethyl penicillin administered orally provided high plasma concentrations of this drug. A further investigation demonstrated that despite the low plasma concentrations of penicillin after oral administration of the procaine salt, gastrointestinal and urinary concentrations of the drug were relatively high for up to five hours.     

Evaluation of the Krupin-Denver valve implant in normotensive and glaucomatous beagles

The Krupin-Denver valve was implanted unilaterally in 2 normotensive and in 6 glaucomatous Beagles. The fellow eye of each dog had an external trabeculectomy. Before and after surgery, all dogs were evaluated serially by gonioscopy, biomicroscopy, tonometry, and tonography. The valve implant remained patent in 2 normotensive and in 2 glaucomatous Beagles throughout the 12 months of observation. Valve function was lost in 4 glaucomatous Beagles 4 to 6 weeks (3 dogs) and 6 months (1 dog) after implantation. Light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic evaluations of early loss of implant function revealed occlusion of the lumen and/or valve mechanism by inflammatory debris and cells. The late loss of valve function was related to chronic inflammatory response and fibrosis about the valve mechanism and tubing within the sclera.     

Comparison of radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay for the measurement of progestogen in equine plasma and milk

Milk and plasma samples were obtained every 48 hours from eight pony mares for 40 days after foaling. Progestogen concentrations in milk and plasma were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and compared with radioimmunoassay of the plasma. In general the three assays showed similar trends in progestogen concentration changes but absolute values varied considerably. Difficulty could occur in interpreting the results from single samples taken at times when progestogen concentrations were either rising (ie, after ovulation) or falling. ELISA could be used on plasma obtained by allowing the erythrocytes to settle for 30 minutes at room temperature or for two days at 4 degrees C.     

Radiographic and Histologic Changes After Thoracolumbar Disc Curettage

Forty-eight thoracolumbar disc spaces were approached by a dorsolateral muscle-separating technique in six mature dogs. Twenty-four of the discs were fenestrated and curetted, and the changes were followed radiographically and histologically for 16 weeks. Disc space collapse was visible radiographically immediately after the surgical procedure, and those disc spaces remained narrow throughout the observation period. Histologically, there was evidence of chondrocyte activation within 2 weeks in the excavated disc spaces. By 16 weeks, fibrocartilage had filled the void in the curetted disc spaces.     

Adrenal gland function in the horse: effects of cosyntropin (synthetic) and corticotropin (natural) stimulation.

The plasma concentration of hydrocortisone was determined in mares given either cosyntropin (100 IU, given IV) or corticotropin (200 IU, given IM). Plasma hydrocortisone concentrations of the mares treated with cosyntropin increased by 46%, 57% and 80% at 30, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively, when compared with base-line values; these values returned to base line at 240 minutes. In mares treated with corticotropin, mean plasma hydrocortisone concentrations increased by 42%, 143%, 101% and 155% at 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes, respectively, when compared with base-line values. Differences in total leukocyte count, total eosinophil count, and plasma concentrations of electrolytes (calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium) of cosyntropin- and corticotropin-treated mares, and these values in control animals were not significant. Results of the present study indicated that the horse responds to small dosages of cosyntropin (IV) in a prompt and reproducible manner as determined by plasma hydrocortisone values. Response to corticotropin was slow and less consistent. Thus, administration of cosyntropin to the horse, according to test results with paired samples collected (before administration and again at 2 hours after injection), was found to be a prompt and meaningful test of adrenal gland function.