Serum Progesterone Concentrations and Blood Neutrophil Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Cows Following Normal and Abnormal Parturition

Serum progesterone concentrations and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of blood neutrophils were determined in 3 groups of cows (n = 5 each) on days 1 and 2 and then at 3-day intervals up to 32 days post-partum. Group I cows had a normal delivery, Group II cows had dexamethasone-induced parturition and Group III cows were subjected to a caesarian section. All cows in Group III and 2 cows in Group II retained their fetal membranes. Mean serum progesterone concentrations declined the second day after calving (to < 0.67 ng/ml) and remained at low levels (< 0.54 ng/ml) throughout the observation period, except for the values in Group III, which were elevated on day 16 (0.94 ng/ml), declined again on day 26 (0.46 ng/ml) and peaked (1.05 ng/ml) on day 32 portpartum. Significant (P < 0.01) differences were found between serum progesterone concentrations on day 1 and on each of the other sampling days in Groups I and III. Day X parturition group interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for the progesterone concentrations. No significant differences were found between the overall means of ALP activity of blood neutrophils in the 3 parturition groups nor between days of the experiment. No significant correlation was found between serum progesterone concentrations and ALP activity values of blood PMN during the first 32 days post-partum. Inhalt: Serum Progesteron Konzentrat und Aktivität der alkalischen Phosphatase in neutrophilen Blutzellen bei Küken mit normalem und abnormalen Geburtsverlauf Serum-Progesteronkonzentrationen und alkalische Phosphatase- (ALP) Aktivität von neutrophilen Granulozysten, nach der Abkalbung am Tag 1 und 2 und dann im Abstand von 3 Tagen bis zum 32. Tag p.p. bei Kühen untersucht, die in drei Untersuchungsgruppen (n = 5) eingeteilt waren. Gruppe I kalbte normal ab, in Gruppe II wurde die Geburt durch Dexamethason eingeleitet, und Kälber der Gruppe III wurden via Kaiserschnitt gewonnen. Alle Tiere der Gruppe III und 2 Kühe der Gruppe II wiesen Nachgeburtsverhaltungen auf Der mittlere Serum-Progesterongehalt sank am 2. Tag p.p. auf < 0,67 ng/ml ab und blieb auf niederigem Niveau (< 0,54 ng/ml) während der gesamten Untersuchungs-periode. Lediglich in Gruppe III, mit erhöhten Werten (0,94 ng/ml) an Tag 16 p.p., sanken die Werte wieder an Tag 26 p.p. (0,46 ng/ml) und erreichten einen Maximalwert an Tag 32 p.p. mit 1,05 ng/ml. Signifikante (P 0,01) Unterschiede in der Serum-Progesteronkonrentration wurden zwischen Tag 1 p.p. und allen anderen Untersuchungstagen in den Gruppen I und III gefunden. Interaktionen zwischen den Gruppen für Tag X waren signifikant (P 0,05). Keine signifikanten Unterschiede wurden für den Gesamtmittelwert der ALP-Aktivität in den neutrophilen Granulorysten zwischen den Gruppen und im Vergleich der Untersuchungstage gefunden. Es wurden auch keine signifikanten Korrelationen zwischen den Serum-Progesteronkonzentrationen und der ALP-Aktivität der PMN während der ersten 32 Tage p.p. nachgewiesen.     

Management of dietary hypersensitivity in the dog

Dietary hypersensitivity is an uncommon condition which can result in a variety of dermato-logical and gastrointestinal signs. The major emphasis in management is on elimination of the causative agent from the diet. Correct diagnosis and implication of the offending allergen are prerequisites for optimal therapy. If this proves impossible, or if multiple sensitivities preclude formulation of an appropriate diet, corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory agents must be employed and are variably effective.     

Oral-dental disease in cats. A feline practitioner's perspective.

The impact and relevance of dentistry in a general feline practice is detailed. Hospital policy and protocol are described for client education, preanesthetic evaluation, dental procedures, and recall programs. A discussion of commonly observed feline dental problems is included.     

Comparative susceptibility of caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys to Pasteurella multocida.

When susceptibility to virulent Pasteurella multocida was compared, there was no significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between caponized and uncaponized tom turkeys. Neither was there any significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between the surviving caponized and uncaponized toms in the development of serum anti-P. multocida antibody. However, at 28 weeks of age, the average live body weight of the caponized toms was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than that of the uncaponized toms. Turkeys were caponized when 9 weeks old, and different groups were exposed to P. multocida when 13, 18, 23, and 28 weeks old.     

Our educational institution has 50 years in the service of veterinary medicine

The paper gives an overview of the history of the school of vet. med. technicians at the School of Veterinary medicine Hannover.     

Tuberculosis in wild seals and characterisation of the seal bacillus

SUMMARY Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 3 otariid seals found dead on beaches at 3 locations on the south coast of Western Australian between May 1990 and March 1991. This confirms that tuberculosis is present in the 2 native seals (Neophoca cinerea and Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australian waters. Mycobacterium sp isolated from the lungs of 2 of the seals were studied to determine the similarity of the strains to each other, to the strains isolated during 1986 from Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals kept in captivity at a marine park near Perth, Western Australia, and to a strain isolated in 1988 from a seal trainer who worked with the infected captive seals for 3 years. After restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with the endonucleases Bst Ell, Bcl I and Pvu II, one of the wild seal strains appeared to have identical DNA fragment patterns to the strains from the captive seals and the seal trainer. The other wild seal isolate had identical REA profiles using Bst EII and Bcl I, but a minor difference was detected using Pvu II. Differences in these isolates were more clearly seen in restriction fragment length polymorphisms after hybridisation with two DNA probes. The secretory protein MPB70, present in M bovis, was not detected in wild seal isolates using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. Analysis of protein and DNA fragment profiles indicated that seal tuberculosis isolates form a unique cluster within the M tuberculosis complex.     

The Effect of Detopping the Field Bean Plants (Vicia faba L. minor) and Lack of the Pod Setting on the Symbiosis with Root Nodule Bacteria

The plants of field bean var. Nadwiślaνski were detopped after about 1 month since the beginning of flowering and after that all flower buds were removed from some plants. The effect of a change in the trophic balance on the setting and subsequent growth of root nodules was studied.
The removal of pods had the greater effect on the increase in the weight of the remaining organs than the detopping of plants. Detopping retarded the ageing of the plants and delayed the phase of the greatest reduction of the number of pods. The detopping of plants revealed their considerable compensative possibilities in terms of production of the pod weight and the potential of leaves for biomass production. The data obtained indicate that plant detopping may disturb the root–bacteria exchange of signals, necessary to initiate the nodule development, while the further growth of nodules depends, above all, on the amount of available photosynthates.
A very high correlation between the dry weight of the whole plant to the dry weight of leaves ratio and the weight of nodules was observed. It proves the importance of the trophic balance of the plant for the root nodule weight production.     

Plasma Cell Myeloma in the Horse

Plasma cell myelomas in horses have been reported infrequently. Data from 10 cases, 9 from the literature and 1 new case, are used to characterize the disease in the horse. Hot-blooded horses (7/10), specifically Quarter Horses (4/10), were most often affected. Median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range, 3 mo-22 yr) and both male (5) and female horses (5) were represented equally. Clinical findings included weight loss (6/8), anorexia (4/8), fever (4/8), limb edema (4/8), pneumonia (3/8), rear leg paresis/ataxia (3/8), epistaxis (3/8), palpable lymphadenopathy (2/8), and bone pain (2/8). Anemia (8/8) was present routinely, and in three horses, RBCs were macrocytic. Leukopenia (2/8), thrombocy-topenia (2/8), and circulating plasma cells (3/8) were variable findings. Except for abnormal protein concentrations and hyponatremia (3), abnormal results from serum biochemical analysis including hypo-cholesterolemia (1), hypercalcemia (1), and azotemia (1) were reported infrequently. Hyperproteinemia (8/9), hypoalbuminemia (7/9), and hyperglobulinemia (8/9) were characteristic but not invariable findings. Monoclonal proteins (7/7) were detected in the α₂, β, or γ region by serum electrophoresis. The paraprotein's heavy chain, determined in four horses, was a subclass of IgG. Three horses had decreased concentrations of normal immunoglobulins. Variable proteinuria (trace to 4+) was detected by routine urinalysis in four of six horses. Bence Jones proteinuria was detected in one of five horses (heat precipitation) and monoclonal proteins were detected in two of three electrophoresed urine samples. Three of the horses had lytic bone lesions detected radiographically. Bone marrow aspirates were diagnostic in two of five horses. Atypical plasma cells or increased numbers of plasma cells or both were present in histologic sections of bone marrow in six of eight horses. Common extraosseous sites of plasma cell infiltration included lymph nodes (8/8), kidney (5/8), spleen (5/8), liver (3/8), lung (3/8), brain (2/8), and orbit (2/8). Two horses had intracellular and extracellular crystalline deposits.     

Apocrine adenocarcinoma in a golden hamster.

An apocrine adenocarcinoma was observed in the subcutis of the abdomen of golden hamster. Histologically, the tumor cells irregularly formed multiple layers of cysts and some detached cells were presented in the cystic space. PAS stain with alpha-amylase digestion revealed PAS-positive alpha-amylase-resistant granules in the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was demonstrated in the tumor cells. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells had an oval nucleus with invagination, abundant cytoplasmic organelles and microvilli protruding into the intercellular spaces.