UNILATERAL PERINEPHRIC PSEUDOCYST OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN IN A DOG

Unilateral perinephric pseudocyst of undetermined origin was diagnosed in a 13^1/2 year old dog with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections. A presumptive diagnosis of pseudocyst was based on radiographic and sonographic findings. In survey radiographs, asymmetrical unilateral renomegaly was seen. The mass was anechoic. There was absence of opacification of the mass during excretory urography. A celiotomy was performed for removal of the perinephric mass, and histologic review of this structure confirmed it to be a pseudocyst. Perinephric accumulation of fluid is a rare condition in domestic animals. Seven examples of perinephric pseudocysts have been previously reported in the cat. Predominant clinical findings include progressive abdominal distension and nonspecific signs of renal disease. The presence of unilateral or bilateral renomegaly is a characteristic radiographic feature. This clinical report describes the first case of perinephric pseudocyst diagnosed in the dog.     

Pesticide usage in some vegetable crops in Great Britain: real on-farm applications

The last decade has seen an increasing requirement throughout the United Kingdom (UK) for accurate, timely information on pesticide usage on fresh produce such as vegetables to satisfy government legislation and provide data as part of the registration and review process of pesticides. These data, collected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair's Pesticide Usage Survey Group (PUSG), provide information on current and past usage patterns and allow the impact of use on the environment, operator and consumer to be more accurately assessed from actual usage patterns rather than worst-case scenarios. Surveys of commercially grown carrot, Brussels sprouts and onion crops in Great Britain were undertaken at regular intervals between 1986 and 1999, using fully stratified samples of growers. Only on Brussels sprouts was there a significant decline in pesticide use over this period, but the frequency of treatments increased on all three crops, reflecting the recent introduction of more active molecules and lower dose rates. The implications for growers of EU Directive 91/44 are discussed if active ingredients are lost because they fail to achieve Annex 1 listing.     

Association of 3-methyleneindolenine, a toxic metabolite of 3-methylindole, with acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot cattle

OBJECTIVE: To compare concentrations of 3-methyleneindolenine (3MEIN) in lung tissues obtained from feedlot cattle that died as a result of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) and cattle that died as a result of other causes and to compare blood concentrations of 3MEIN in healthy feedlot cattle and feedlot cattle with AIP. STUDY POPULATION: Blood samples and lung tissues collected from 186 cattle housed in 14 feedlots in the western United States. PROCEDURE: Samples of lung tissues were collected during routine postmortem examination and submitted for histologic, microbiologic, and toxicologic examination. Blood samples were collected from cattle with clinical manifestations of AIP and healthy penmates. Histologic diagnoses were categorized as AIP, bronchopneumonia (BP), control samples, and other disorders. Concentrations of 3MEIN were determined in lung tissues and blood samples, using an ELISA. RESULTS: Concentrations of 3MEIN in lung tissues were significantly greater in AIP and BP samples, compared with control samples. Absorbance per microgram of protein did not differ between BP and AIP samples. Blood concentrations of 3MEIN were significantly greater in cattle with AIP, compared with healthy cattle or cattle with BP. Odds of an animal with AIP being a heifer was 3.1 times greater than the odds of that animal being a steer. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased pulmonary production of 3MEIN may be an important etiologic factor in feedlot-associated AIP.     

Coinfection of specific-pathogen-free chickens with Marek's disease virus (MDV) and chicken infectious anemia virus: effect of MDV pathotype

Both Marek's disease virus (MDV) and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) infections are prevalent in chickens throughout the world. In the past decade, MDV strains with increased virulence (very virulent plus MDV pathotype [vv+MDV]) have been isolated. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of coinfection of chickens with CIAV and a vv+MDV isolate. Specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated at 1 day posthatch with RB1B (very virulent MDV pathotype [vvMDV]) only, 584A (vv+MDV) only, CIAV only, RB1B + CIAV, 584A + CIAV, or nothing. Samples of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius were collected at 4, 7, 10, and 13 days postinoculation (DPI). Thymic and bursal atrophy at 13 DPI and final mortality at 30 DPI were significantly greater in chickens inoculated with 584A with or without added CIAV, or with RB1B plus CIAV, compared with birds inoculated with RB1B alone. Both amounts of virus reisolated and levels of virus detected by quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction were greater at 4 DPI in 584A inoculates compared with RB1B inoculates. To monitor the early cytolytic infection, northern analysis was done with a probe for the MDV immediate early gene ICP4 (infected cell protein 4). In the absence of CIAV, ICP4 expression was more apparent in chickens inoculated with 584A than in those inoculated with RB1B. CIAV coinfection increased ICP4 expression in the spleens of chickens infected with RB1B. These results indicated that inoculation of chickens with the 584A isolate caused a more robust early cytolytic infection compared with inoculation with RB1B alone and support the classification of 584A as a vv+MDV strain. Coinfection with CIAV exacerbated vvMDV strain RB1B infection. The extent of this exacerbation was less evident when birds were coinfected with 584A and CIAV.     

Methionine, choline and sulfate interrelationships in the diet of weanling swine

Experiments were conducted to examine the interrelationships between methionine, choline and inorganic sulfate in the diet of weanling pigs, and to evaluate the selenium (Se) status of pigs fed diets with or without supplemental sulfate. Two trials utilized 288 weanling (3-wk-old) pigs allotted to dietary treatment based on weight, sex and litter origin. There were six pigs/pen and three replicate pens/treatment in each trial. The basal corn-soybean meal diet was formulated to supply .55% sulfur amino acids and contained a choline and sulfur-free vitamin and mineral premix. Lysine was added to provide a total of 1.13% lysine. Seven additional treatments were formulated by substituting for corn .17% DL-methionine, .29% choline dihydrogen citrate or .25% Na2SO4 to create a 2(3) factorial arrangement of treatments. There were methionine X choline X sulfate interactions for average daily gain (P less than .001) and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G; P less than .05). Adding choline, methionine, Na2SO4 or choline plus methionine to the basal diet did not improve gains. However, when Na2SO4 plus methionine or Na2SO4 plus choline were added, daily gains were increased (P less than .05) and F:G was improved (P less than .1). Addition of all three supplements did not result in a further increase in gain. Pigs fed choline-supplemented diets had higher (P less than .01) hematocrit and tended (P = .07) to have increased hemoglobin concentration. There was no effect on serum triglycerides or alkaline phosphatase activity due to dietary treatment. The concentration of Se in muscle, liver, kidney and blood was not influenced by sulfate content of the diet.     

ATYPICAL LYTIC PROLIFERATIVE SKELETAL LESIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PLASMA CELL MYELOMA IN A DOG

A 10-year-old female Labrador Retriever with intermittent lameness, lethargy, pancytopenia, hyper-calcemia, and severe hyperproteinemia was diagnosed as having plasma cell myeloma. Diagnosis was confirmed by finding a monoclonal gammopathy, extensive plasmacytic bone marrow infiltration, and radiographic evidence of skeletal disease. Survey radiography revealed atypical lytic proliferative osseous lesions involving the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebrae, left third rib, and both left and right fifth ribs. Nutritional support and specific chemotherapy with Melphalan have resulted in long-term clinical remission. This report describes the radiographic and clinicopathologic features of plasma cell myeloma in the dog. A discussion of the previously reported radiographic features of this neoplasm is also included.     

以组织锌、金属硫蛋白及其基因表达指标评价肉仔鸡对锌源的相对生物学利用率

研究了有机锌源和无机锌源条件下肉仔鸡组织中金属硫蛋白(MT)的基因表达。在肉仔鸡饲粮中以锌蛋白盐或硫酸锌形式添加锌200mg/kg饲喂6d或12d,比较肝、小肠MT和MTmRNA与骨锌作为评价锌源利用率的指标。3种指标均随锌量的增加而增加(P<0 001)。以骨锌为指标,锌蛋白盐的相对生物利用率为124%。此值在一定范围内类似于以几种组织MT和MTmRNA水平为指标的测定结果,对于肉仔鸡,MT基因的调控可能是评价锌相对生物利用率的敏感指标。这种方法可减少试验所需的时间和动物数量。