Traumatic intracerebral hematoma in a dog: MR images and clinical findings

A nine-year-old, male, mongrel dog was unsteady after falling down a set of stairs. The dog exhibited a mildly abnormal gait 2 days after injury, and was not able to stand, with spasticity of the right limbs, 4 days after injury. MR imaging revealed a clearly demarcated mass on the top of the left lateral ventricle that showed mild hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. The authors diagnosed the dog as having a traumatic intracerebral hematoma. This type of case, in which the clinical signs deteriorated due to edema associated with hematoma, is extremely rare.     

Computer tomography diagnosis of meningoencephalocele in a calf

A 24-day-old female Holstein calf had a soft, painless fluctuating swelling on the median plane in the frontal region, but did not show any clinical symptoms including neurological signs. Computer tomography (CT) distinctly showed the cyst filled with fluid and part of the encephalon. Hence, this swelling was diagnosed as meningoencephalocele, but not meningocele. The meningoencephalocele was successfully repaired surgically. Meningoencephalocele can thus be easily recognised by CT in a calf.     

Pedigree analysis of factor XI deficiency in Japanese black cattle

Using a DNA-based diagnostic test for factor XI deficiency in Japanese black cattle, we surveyed 123 cattle (42 sires and 81 dams) in Gifu and Hyogo prefectures, and calculated gene frequencies. In sires, we drew up the pedigree network of the cattle with the factor XI deficiency. Results showed that the mutated allele of factor XI deficiency was retroactive in at least 6 or more generations of sires. Frequencies of the mutant gene were higher at 26.4% in total, and at 33.3% in sires. All 7 cattle with the homozygote of mutated allele were clinically normal, and showed no bleeding episodes. The mutated allele of factor XI deficiency might be widespread among Japanese black cattle.     

Clinical improvement in two dogs with hydrocephalus and syringohydromyelia after ventriculoperitoneal shunting

Two young Miniature Dachshunds were presented with abnormal gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed, hydrocephalus with expanding fourth ventricle, and syringohydromyelia in the cervical spinal cord. These dogs underwent ventricle-peritoneal shunting, after which hydrocephalus, syringohydromyelia, and their clinical signs, improved.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in a border collie

A castrated male border collie 23 months of age weighing 19.4 kg was referred to the Animal Medical Center of Nihon University with complaints of visual disturbance and behavioral abnormality, hyperacusis and morbid fear. The MRI examination revealed the slight dilated cerebral sulci and cerebellar fissures and left ventricular enlargement. This is the first report of MRI findings of canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.     

Plasma renin activities, angiotensin II concentrations, atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations and cardiopulmonary function values in dogs with severe heartworm disease

Relationships among plasma renin activities (PRA), plasma angiotensin II (ATII) concentrations, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations and cardiopulmonary function values were examined in dogs with ascitic pulmonary heartworm disease and acute- and chronic-vena caval syndrome (CS). PRA, plasma ATII concentration and plasma ANP concentration tended to be higher or were significantly higher in dogs with ascites, acute- and chronic-CS. PRA correlated significantly with plasma ATII concentration, WBC count, ALP activity, plasma concentrations of urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, potassium, and chloride, right ventricular endodiastolic pressure and right atrial pressure. Plasma ATII concentration correlated significantly with WBC count, plasma concentrations of urea nitrogen, sodium, and potassium, right ventricular endodiastolic pressure and right atrial pressure. Plasma ANP concentration did not correlate with PRA or ATII concentration, but correlated significantly only with pulmonary arterial pressure.     

Sensitive enzyme immunoassay of colistin and its application to detect residual colistin in rainbow trout tissue

An antibody against colistin (CL), an antibiotic effective for gram-negative bacteria, was produced in rabbits immunized with a colistin-protein conjugate. The conjugate was prepared by a novel and convenient procedure devised to couple an amino group of CL to thiol groups of bovine serum albumin (BSA) introduced by thiol exchange reduction of its disulfide bonds with dithiothreitol, using N-(m-maleimidobenzoyloxy)succinimide (MBS) as a cross-linker. Enzyme labeling of CL with beta-D-galactosidase was performed by utilizing another cross-linker, N-(gamma-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide, by means of a convenient labeling method. A double antibody enzyme immunoassay of CL, which could determine as little as 30 ng/mL of CL, was developed using labeled CL and anti-CL antiserum. With this assay, drug levels were easily determined in fish tissue after CL administration. The enzyme immunoassay should provide a useful tool for detection and quantitation of residual drugs in foods and related products.     

The effect of water temperature on habitat use of young Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis in the East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   Immature Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis , tagged with archival tags, were released near Tsushima Island in the East China Sea (ECS) during the winters of 1995, 1996 and 1997. Geolocations were estimated using the archival tags from recovered fish. These data, together with sea surface temperature (SST) data from satellite remote sensing, are used to describe the habitat used by these bluefin in the ECS from January to June for 3 years (1996, 1997, 1998), and to asses the effect of water temperature on fish distribution and movement. The results indicate that their geolocations ranged from the area north-east of Tsushima Island to the offshore area in the south-west. However, the area of highest density differed among years, being furthest south in 1996 and furthest north in 1998. The differences were probably caused by changes in SST associated with La Niña (1996) and El Niño (1998) events. Another densely populated area was identified in offshore waters of latitude 28–30 °N in 1996 (only), on the cold side of the Kuroshio front. These fish may have been prevented from moving northwards by an intrusion of Kuroshio water of approximately 25°C into the region immediately to the north-east.