Diseases diagnosed in broiler chicken flocks in Victoria, Australia, 1977 to 1984

During the period July 1977 to June 1984, specimens from 1402 broiler chicken flocks were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute, Victoria, Australia for investigation of morbidity, mortality and, or, poor performance. A total of 19,450 post mortem examinations, as well as numerous ancillary tests, were performed. The findings on these flocks are presented and the consequences of some particular diseases noted.     

Correlative biomechanical and histologic study of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs

The mechanical properties of the cranial cruciate ligament were determined, using unilateral bone-ligament-bone preparations from 65 dogs of various ages and body sizes. Tensile loading of the cranial cruciate ligament from 1 of each pair of stifle joints demonstrated a decrease in material properties (modulus, maximum stress, strain energy) with aging. The decreases in maximum stress and strain energy with age were significantly less (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.05, respectively) in the cranial cruciate ligament from dogs weighing less than 15 kg, compared with those weighing 15 kg or more. The cranial cruciate ligament and remaining femorotibial ligaments were collected from the opposite stifle joints and examined microscopically. By 5 years of age, the cranial cruciate ligaments of dogs weighing greater than 15 kg consistently had microscopic evidence of degenerative disease (loss of ligamentocytes, metaplasia of surviving ligamentocytes to chondrocytes, and failure to maintain collagen fibers and primary collagen bundles) which progressed in severity with age. The caudal cruciate ligaments were similarly affected, although the degenerative changes were rarely as severe as in the cranial cruciate ligament. The collateral ligaments underwent minimal degeneration. Sex differences had no bearing on degeneration. The cranial cruciate ligaments in dogs weighing less than 15 kg generally had less severe alterations than those in heavier dogs, and the onset of the degenerative process was delayed by several years. Cranial cruciate ligaments removed from dogs after ligament failure not only had degenerative disease, but also had undergone unsuccessful attempts at repair. In contrast, fibrous repair was rarely present in intact ligaments of asymptomatic dogs with degenerative disease of the cranial cruciate ligament.     

Disease patterns in the Detroit Zoo: a study of reptilian and amphibian populations from 1973 through 1983

A retrospective study was conducted to determine disease patterns in reptilian and amphibian populations at the Detroit Zoo from 1973 through 1983. In the reptilian population (mean +/- SD = 285.2 +/- 28), overall annual mortality rates were 1% to 40%. Mortality rates were highest in the fall months (20%) and lowest in the winter months (6%). The most frequently affected reptiles were iguana (Iguana iguana), reticulated python (Python reticulatus), rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp), common boa (Constrictor constrictor), and lizards (various genera of suborder Lacertilia). Of the 1,300 reptilian deaths from 1973 through 1983, 36.6% were caused by microbial agents, 12% by parasites, 11.6% by trauma, and 9.3% by nutritional deficiencies. The main microbial organisms that caused death were Aeromonas spp, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp, and Edwardsiella spp. The main parasites that caused death were Entamoeba spp and lungworms. Among amphibians, frogs and toads were the most frequently affected, and starvation and trauma were the most frequent causes of death.     

Nonsurgical removal of a catheter embolus from the heart of a dog

A fragment of an 18-gauge catheter was inadvertently severed during catheterization of the cephalic vein in a 7-year-old Golden Retriever. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the fragment was retrieved successfully from the right ventricle, using a self-constructed, loop-snare catheter.     

Mitogenic responses of baboon (Papio cynocephalus) peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A possible role for monocytes

Removal of carbonyl iron-adherent/phagocytic cells from baboon peripheral blood mononuclear cells generally resulted in a depressed blastogenic response to both pokeweed mitogen and concanavalin A. In the majority of cases, no alteration in dose requirement nor shift in kinetics was apparent. Staining for peroxidase activity indicated a reduced proportion of monocytes in the population of cells treated with iron. Therefore, the results of this study strongly suggest a potentiating role for monocytes in lectin stimulation of baboon lymphocytes.     

Induction of diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis, in domestic ruminants with cultures of indigenous and exotic isolates of Diplodia maydis

Diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis, principally of cattle, which is characterized by ataxia, paresis and paralysis, was induced in 13 cattle, 16 sheep and 3 goats, by dosing them with Diplodia maydis [= D. zeae (Schw.) Lév.] cultured on sterilized maize seeds. The results of these experiments confirmed the findings of earlier workers that diplodiosis is a mycotoxicosis caused by D. maydis. The intoxication was induced with cultures of South African isolates of D. maydis obtained from local maize, one of which was associated with a suspected field outbreak, and with cultures of isolates from maize imported from the United States of America and Argentina. Other findings emerging from the experiments were, inter alia, that cultures incubated for less than 8 weeks were seemingly non-toxic, that there was little individual variation in response of cattle to cultures of the different toxic isolates or batches of the isolates, that apparent relapses of clinical signs can occur several weeks after dosing had ceased and that a small percentage of animals can show permanent locomotory disturbance. Light microscopical examination revealed no lesions in acutely affected animals, but an extensive laminar subcortical status spongiosis was evident in the cerebrum and cerebellum of a sheep that had been long paralysed and a steer that had permanent locomotory disturbance.     

Ocular changes in a cat with disseminated blastomycosis

A domestic shorthair cat examined because of dyspnea was found to have ophthalmoscopic and radiographic changes suggestive of systemic mycosis. The cat died despite antifungal therapy. Histologic examination revealed Blastomyces dermatitidis in the eyes, brain, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and adrenal glands. The pathologic changes were similar, but more widespread than those typically seen with canine blastomycosis.     

Inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion in macrophages by soluble extracts of virulent Brucella abortus

Water extracts of virulent Brucella abortus were able to inhibit phagosome-lysosome fusion in unelicited murine peritoneal macrophages following ingestion of yeast. Extracts from an avirulent strain were unable to produce a similar effect. Lipopolysaccharide from B abortus did not appear to be involved with the ability of the extracts to inhibit fusion.     

Response of growing-finishing pigs to decreasing floor space allowance and(or) virginiamycin in diet

Five hundred forty crossbred pigs were utilized in four trials (10 replications) at two stations to determine the separate and interacting effects of decreasing floor space allowance with or without the addition of virginiamycin to the diet on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were allowed .37, .33 or .28 m2/pig during the growing phase (23 to 55 kg) and .74, .66, .56 m2/pig during the finishing phase (55 to 100 kg) and fed either a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet plus 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg of diet. Floor space allowances were achieved by varying pen size, so the number of pigs and feeder space per pig were constant for all pens. During the growing phase, daily gain (P less than .01) daily feed intake (P less than .05) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) decreased as floor space allowance decreased. During the finishing phase and for the total test period, daily gain (P less than .01) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) were reduced but daily feed intake was not affected (P greater than .05) by restricted floor space allowance. The addition of virginiamycin to the diet had no effect on pig performance. The virginiamycin X floor space allowance interaction was not significant, suggesting that pigs fed a diet with or without virginiamycin responded similarly to restricted floor space allowance. The data suggest that the addition of virginiamycin to the diet was ineffective in overcoming the decrease in performance of growing-finishing pigs caused by crowded conditions.     

Hemorrhage from the cosmetic otoplasty of Doberman Pinschers with von Willebrand's disease

The hemorrhagic tendencies of 23 Doberman Pinscher pups were observed during cosmetic otoplasty and were ranked by a +1 to +4 grading system (+1 = least hemorrhage, and +4 = most hemorrhage). A second estimate of the hemostatic competencies of these dogs was made by counting the gauze sponges used in the otoplasties. Factor VIII-related antigen concentrations and coagglutinin cofactor concentrations were measured in plasma samples from blood drawn not more than 30 hours before the surgical procedures were done. The factor VIII-related antigen concentrations were between 9% and 147% of the concentration in a normal plasma pool, and the coagglutinin cofactor concentrations were between 1% and 165%, indicating that some of these dogs had von Willebrand's disease. The hemorrhagic tendencies of 12 pups were graded +1. This group had a mean antigen concentration of 75% (min-max, 38% to 147%) and a mean coagglutinin cofactor concentration of 89% (min-max, 42% to 165%). These were significantly greater than the antigen and cofactor concentrations of the grades +2 (n = 5), +3 (n = 3), or +4 (n = 3) dogs. Significant differences were not found when antigen concentrations of the grade +2 dogs (mean, 16%; min-max, 11% to 22%), grade +3 dogs (mean, 13%; 12% to 16%), and grade +4 dogs (mean, 11%; 9% to 12%) were compared with each other, nor were significant differences seen among the coagglutinin cofactor concentrations of the grade +2 dogs (mean, 7%; min-max, 1% to 11%), grade +3 dogs (mean, 6%, 4% to 8%), and grade +4 dogs (mean, 5%; 2% to 9%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)