Arytenoidectomy for Advanced Unilateral Chondropathy with Accompanying Lesions

A noncurrent prospective study of nonworking horses with arytenoid chondropathy was conducted to confirm a clinical impression that horses with unilateral chondropathy and accompanying lesions had a poorer prognosis after arytenoidectomy than horses with bilateral or uncomplicated unilateral chondropathy. Surgical failure was defined as death, euthanasia, permanent tracheostomy, or reoperation. Survival to surgical failure and clinical improvement data were compared between horses with and without accompanying lesions treated by arytenoidectomy. The probability of surgical failure was significantly higher and times to surgical failure were significantly shorter for horses with unilateral chondropathy and accompanying lesions than for horses with bilateral or uncomplicated unilateral chondropathy. Clinical improvement at the median follow-up time of 6 months was significantly less likely in horses with than without accompanying lesions. Horses with endoscopic evidence of inflammation and paralyzed opposite cartilage were significantly less likely to improve clinically than horses with pharyngeal cicatrix.     

Occurrence of Verticillium dahliae on linseed (Linum usitatissimum) in the UK and Germany

In July and August 1990, symptoms of verticilliosis were common in maturing crops of linseed sampled in Hertfordshire, UK and throughout Germany. Grey chlorotic or brown stripes were observed on green stems; on maturing, light brown stems the stripes were dark brown. Symptoms frequently extended along the whole length of the stems and branches up to the capsules, and often spread completely round the stems. Black microsclerotia developed abundantly in stems with these symptoms and Vertkillium dahliae was consistently isolated from them. The incidence of verticilliosis increased from 50 to 100% in untreated plots (cv. Antares) between 8 and 22 August at Rothamsted, UK and was not decreased greatly by fungicide treatments. The incidence ranged from 49 to 98% on cultivars and breeding lines in trials at Thüle, Germany on 9 September. V. dahliae was isolated from seed from Rothamsted plots at an incidence of < 10%.     

A model system for rapid selection for resistance and investigation of resistance mechanisms in Fusarium wilt of oil palm

Fusarium wilt ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp elaeidis ) is the most serious disease of oil palm in Africa. Control measures are dependent upon breeding for resistance, but the lack of a rapid screen for resistance and lack of understanding of the underlying resistance mechanisms has constrained breeding programmes. A novel petiole infusion technique is reported that exploits the ability of the majority of petiole cells to express disease resistance or susceptibility. A clear correlation was found between disease resistance or susceptibility of six clones and external symptoms and fungal colonization in petioles. Antifungal compounds accumulated in resistant but not in susceptible clones in response to inoculation; there was also some evidence of preformed antifungal compounds in resistant clones. Further investigation of resistance mechanisms can be undertaken using this model system. The use of this novel technique, both as a potential rapid replacement for current nursery selection methods (time reduced from 8 months to 8 days) and as an assessment of resistance in individual field palms, is discussed. *     

IOHEXOL PLASMA CLEARANCE IN HEALTHY DOGS AND CATS

Iohexol plasma clearance as a measure of glomerular filtration was determined in 31 dogs and 19 cats after an intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection. All animals were healthy and privately owned. Serial blood samples were taken before and up to 4 h after tracer injection. Iohexol plasma concentration was determined using X-ray fluorescence. A plasma tracer elimination curve was generated and clearance was calculated by dividing the injected dose by the area under the curve estimated using a two-compartment pharmacological model. Clearance was normalized to body weight (BW), body surface area (BSA), and extracellular fluid volume (ECFV). Mean, SD, and coefficient of variation of plasma clearance, before and after normalization, were calculated. Linear regression analyses were performed between body size and normalized plasma clearances. No significant linear relation was found between BSA and clearance normalized to BSA in dogs, and between BSA, BW, ECFV and clearance normalized to BSA, BW, and ECFV in cats. The optimal method for normalization of iohexol plasma clearance in dogs was by using BSA. In cats, all three methods tested were considered satisfactory. Normalization to BSA appears to be superior to normalization to BW and ECFV in dogs, and can be recommended for clinical use.     

COMPARISON OF TWO- VS. THREE-VIEW THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON CONSPICUITY OF STRUCTURED INTERSTITIAL PATTERNS IN DOGS

Three-view thoracic radiography is often used to evaluate patients for pulmonary metastatic disease. Although use of three views has been reported to be more sensitive than two views for focal lung disease, it also requires increased time, effort, and radiographic exposure of patients and personnel. This study was performed to evaluate the conspicuity of lesions on two-view vs. three-view radiographic procedures to determine the proportion of diagnoses that would change. One hundred three-view radiographic studies of the canine thorax were randomized, and four protocols were reviewed for each study: right lateral and ventrodorsal views, left lateral and ventrodorsal views, both lateral views, and all three views. Radiographs were interpreted as either positive or negative for structured interstitial pulmonary disease, and the certainty of the reading was recorded using a visual analog scale. There was 85-88% agreement between each two-view group and the three-view group, with the kapp statistic ranging from 0.698 to 0.758. There were no differences in certainty of diagnosis among the groups, though within each group there was more certainty for positive diagnoses than negative diagnoses. These findings indicate that three-view studies should be continued when evaluating for possible structured interstitial pulmonary disease, including metastatic disease, as eliminating one view from a three-view study would change the diagnosis in 12-15% of patients.     

Dorsal Decompressive Laminectomy for Treatment of Thoracolumbar Disc Disease in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 98 Cases

This study reviews the records of all dogs that underwent dorsal decompressive laminectomy for thoracolumbar disc disease at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital during a 2-year period. Findings as to age, breed, sex, and site of disc protrusion did not differ from those published by others. All dogs were operated on within 36 hours of the onset of inability to walk. The overall recovery rate was 80.6%. The recovery rate of dogs that had preoperative sensory perception was 89.5%, but was only 50.0% for those without sensory perception. The most important factor determining recovery rate was the presence or absence of preoperative sensory perception.     

A study on renal function in the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) in buffalo species ( Bubalus bubalis ) were estimated using a single injection technique. The total body clearances of inulin and para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) served as estimates of GFR and ERPF, respectively. Inulin and PAH were administered to animals as a single i.v. bolus. The time—concentration curves were determined for each compound. Three mathematical models were applied to the data. The two compartment model gave the best fit to the data. The single compartment model gave slightly higher values, but could be used in clinical and certain research situations to estimate renal functions when it is not practical to take large number of samples.     

Effect of Desiccation on Water Status and Forest Performance of Bare-rooted Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir Transplants

Sitka spruce transplants which had been exposed to drying conditionswere assessed for shoot water potential (), shoot moisture content(MC), water saturation deficit (WSD) and root moisture content(RMC) before forest planting. Exposure for 1 hour 44 minuteshad no effect on subsequent survival or growth, but exposurefor 3 hours 18 minutes reduced survival to 68 per cent aftertwo years and significantly reduced height growth. The damagedplants were clearly distinguished at the time of planting by and RMC but not by MC or WSD. After a range of desiccation treatments, survival was high inSitka spruce unless RMC had fallen below 180 per cent but survivalwas reduced in Douglas fir with smaller reductions in RMC or. During the desiccation treatment, Douglas fir started withand maintained a higher RMC than Sitka spruce and reached lowlevels of less rapidly. The poor performance of desiccatedDouglas fir was therefore not the result of an inability toconserve water. After rewetting for one hour in the dark RMC was restored butnot , and there was no significant effect on survival or growthin either species. It may be possible to devise a method to establish when plantsare in poor condition by direct or indirect measurement of RMC,but high levels of RMC can be misleading if rewetting has occurred. Handling systems which involve brief periods of exposure aretolerable for Sitka spruce but not for Douglas fir, and specialmeasures are justified to ensure that the latter species isnever subjected to root desiccation during handling.     

Seasonal variation in the habitat available for 0+ Rutilus rutilus (L.) in a regulated river

1. Habitat availability for 0+ Rutilus rutilus (L.) was determined at four sites in the regulated River Great Ouse, Eastern England, using a modified version of the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology. Discharge–habitat relationships were then calculated using a modified version of the Physical Habitat Simulation (PHABSIM) computer package. A weighted usable area (WUA) time series was generated using the discharge–habitat models. 2. Habitat availability varied between sites and with discharge, although at three of the four sites some suitable habitat remained throughout the year. In general, more habitat was available for juvenile fishes than for young larval fishes and during the winter. 3. As discharge increased habitat availability decreased, primarily as a result of increased velocity and depth. This was exacerbated by the trapezoidal shape of the main channel. In a marina, which was thought to be acting as a flood refuge, WUA decreased as a result of increasing water depth. Only in a modified backwater did WUA increase with discharge. Owing to the morphology of the backwater, there was still a WUA minimum at intermediate discharges. 4. The output of the model indicates the variation in habitat available for small fish in both temporal and spatial dimensions, and reinforces the requirement for spatial heterogeneity in riverine habitats for the preservation of fish stocks. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.