Pyogranulomatous lesion causing neurological signs localised to the sacral region in a horse

This case report describes neurological signs associated with a pyogranulomatous lesion within the sacral vertebral canal of a horse. The clinical findings included urinary overflow incontinence and reduced anal, perianal and tail tone. The horse failed to respond to medical management and a guarded prognosis for return to athletic performance initiated the decision for euthanasia.     

西北寒旱地区舍饲湖羊生长发育特征研究

湖羊是世界上稀有的绵羊地方品种,以多胎、早熟、早期生长发育快、宜舍饲等优良性能而著名。为系统了解湖羊生长发育的基本规律,更好地开发利用湖羊这一优良地方品种资源,本研究以3,6,12和24月龄湖羊公羊为对象,每个时间点随机选择6只,共24只,测定其体重、组织器官及消化道各个部分重量、肠道长度及肉品质相关参数。结果表明,3~6月龄湖羊生长速率最快,6月龄之后逐渐降低;3~6月龄之间心、肝、脾、肺、肾、头蹄和皮的增长强度随着日龄的增大而增长,除头、蹄、皮外,其他内脏器官的生长强度逐渐降低,12月龄之后趋于稳定;头、蹄、皮的生长在6月龄之后趋于稳定,仍然保持较高的生长强度;瘤胃的生长强度始终大于体重生长强度,小肠的生长始终小于体重,而除直肠外,大肠的生长强度与体重相近。6月龄湖羊公羔与12月龄相比屠宰率、眼肌面积无显著差异,而6月龄湖羊公羔背膘厚极显著增高,随着年龄的增长肉色逐渐变暗。综合以上各项指标认为,本试验条件下,6月龄为肥羔生产最佳屠宰日龄。     

Variation in cardiac glycoside content of monarch butterflies from natural populations in eastern North America

A new spectrophotometric assay has been used to determine the gross concentration of cardiac glycoside in individual monarch butterflies. Adults sampled during the fall migration in four areas of eastern North America exhibited a wide variation in cardiac glycoside concentration. The correlation between spectrophotometrically measured concentrations and emetic dose determinations supports the existence of a broad palatability spectrum in wild monarch butterflies. The cardiac gylcoside concentration is greater in females than in males and is independent of the dry weight of the butterflies; contrary to prediction, both the concentration mean and variance decrease southward. The defensive advantage of incorporating cardiac glycosides may be balanced by detrimental effects on individual viability.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF NORMAL AND ABNORMAL CANINE SUPERFICIAL LYMPH NODES USING GRAY-SCALE B-MODE, COLOR FLOW MAPPING, POWER, AND SPECTRAL DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY: A MULTIVARIATE STUDY

The objective of this study was to characterize the ultrasonographic patterns of normal superficial lymph nodes and to evaluate whether ultrasonography can help discriminate between different lymphadenopathies (reactive, lymphoma, and metastases) in dogs. Three hundred and eighteen superficial lymph nodes in 142 dogs were studied by B-mode, color flow mapping, power, and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. Size, echogenicity, nodal border definition, presence of a nodal hilus, acoustic enhancement and distribution of vascular flow, as well as perfusion indices were measured. Multivariate statistics using discriminant analysis was used to determine which parameters can be used to predict the diagnosis of the lymph node. The size of the lymph node, distribution of vascular flow within the lymph node, and pulsatility index (PI) in combination gave a classification error of 23% for the four groups of lymph nodes. This was improved to 11% if the nodes were divided into two groups: benign and malignant. There was a significant difference in resistive index (RI) and PI between benign and malignant nodes. Cut-off values were determined using receiver operator curves, 0.68 RI and 1.49 PI.     

Brachyspina syndrome in a Holstein calf.

A stillborn premature Holstein calf was necropsied. The calf had severely reduced body weight and shortening of the vertebral column. The limbs appeared long and thin. Radiography and computer tomography scanning were performed, demonstrating malformation of the vertebral column. In addition, malformation of the kidneys, testicles, and heart was found at necropsy. Histologically, absence or incomplete development of intervertebral discs and complete or partial fusion of the epiphyses of adjacent vertebrae were found. In some areas, diaphyses of adjacent vertebrae were fused due to absence of epiphyses and intervertebral discs. Disturbed ossification of epiphyses in the appendicular skeleton was also present. The etiology of this syndrome was not identified. An inherited cause is possible due to a close relationship between the parents.     

Infertility in a Dog due to Proximal Cytoplasmic Droplets in the Ejaculate: Investigation of the Significance for Sperm Functionality In Vitro

A 4-year-old Basque Shepherd male dog was presented for breeding soundness evaluation after the dog failed to impregnate the three bitches he had mated. Clinical examination showed no anomaly of the reproductive system. Semen evaluation showed normal sperm count (640 x 10(6)), 80% had progressively motile spermatozoa, and 96% had morphologically abnormal sperm of which 84% had proximal cytoplasmic droplet and 12% had proximal droplet plus other anomaly. A zona pellucida-binding assay, using canine oocytes derived from frozen-thawed ovaries, was performed in order to investigate the zona-binding ability of dog spermatozoa with proximal cytoplasmic droplets. For the zona pellucida-binding assay, ovaries were thawed and minced in phosphate-buffered saline + 0.4% bovine serum albumin, the oocytes recovered were divided into two groups of 35-40 oocytes to be, respectively, used with the infertile dog and with a control fertile dog. Spermatozoa were capacitated in Canine Capacitating Medium (CCM) at 38.5 degrees C and 5% CO(2) in air for 2 h before oocyte insemination. Groups of five to six oocytes placed in 45 microl droplets of CCM were incubated for 1 h. Afterwards, 5 microl of CCM containing 25,000 spermatozoa were added to each droplet and co-incubated for 2 h before fixation and evaluation of the complexes. After oocyte insemination, sperm motility and viability were evaluated: the sample from the infertile dog had 85% sperm motility with fast and linear progressive movement, and sperm viability of 92%. The sample from the control dog showed 40% sperm motility with fast and highly curvilinear and erratic movement, high degree of sperm agglutination and sperm viability of 32%. For the infertile dog the mean number of bound spermatozoa/oocyte was 0.33 whereas for the control dog it was 1.80. It was concluded that dog sperm with proximal cytoplasmic droplets seem to lack normal capacitating ability in vitro, and consequently, they may have reduced capacity to bind to the zona pellucida of canine oocytes.     

Relationship between bone strength and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements in pigs

Computed tomography and a 3-point bending test were performed on the metacarpal bones of adult production pigs to test the hypothesis that bone strength is strongly correlated with areal bone mineral density (BMD) in this population. The aim of the study was to subject material from adult production pigs grouped by BMD to 3-point bending, to test this hypothesis and determine any correlations. In all, 168 individual computed tomography scans and mechanical tests were performed on the collected material. For evaluation purposes, the material was divided into the categories low, medium, and high BMD (<1, 1 to 1.4, and >1.4 g/cm(2), respectively). The results showed a difference in the maximum load, in the stress at maximum load, and stiffness among each BMD group (P < 0.001) and in elastic modulus between the low BMD group and the 2 other groups (P < 0.001). A correlation between both intrinsic and extrinsic measures of bone strength and BMD was thus demonstrated. The projected change in each of the variables reported, for a 0.1 g/cm(2) alteration in BMD (within the BMD range evaluated in this study), is as follows: maximum load, 708 N; stress at maximum load, 50 N/mm(2); stiffness, 391.6 N/mm; and elastic modulus, 108 N/mm(2) (P < 0.001). The results confirm the relationship between BMD and bone strength and indicate that BMD screening can be used in fracture risk assessments in production pigs.