The clinical pathology of heartwater. I. Haematology and blood chemistry

Clinical pathological studies were undertaken in 5 calves with experimentally-induced heartwater. The most important findings include a progressive anaemia which may be associated with bone marrow depression and fluctuations in the total and differential white cell count, of which an eosinopenia and a lymphocytosis were the most marked. A severe drop in serum protein, especially in the albumin levels, was observed in all 5 cases. This disease is probably associated with an increased capillary permeability, as the protein content of the pericardial fluid in 1 case that died, approximated that of the serum. The osmolality of the effused fluid was also higher than that of the blood. No significant changes in the serum electrolyte levels occurred, except for total calcium levels which tended to decrease to below normal during the acute stage of the disease. Marked increases in total bilirubin were recorded. This, however, was not associated with liver pathology or haemolysis and may possibly be ascribed to a fasting hyperbilirubinaemia. Darkening of plasma colour was associated with peak rises in total bilirubin. Increases in both blood urea and creatinine levels indicate interference with renal glomerular filtration during the acute stage of the disease.     

Immunological studies with liposome-bound corynetoxins

Attempts were made to raise antibodies against corynetoxins, a family of toxins responsible for annual ryegrass toxicity. The glycolipid nature of corynetoxins made them ideally suited for incorporation into the structure of small unilamellar liposomes. Sheep were injected with corynetoxin liposomes with and without adjuvants such as lipid A and muramyl dipeptide, and the sera tested for anti-corynetoxin antibody. Similarly, rabbits were injected with hydrolysed corynetoxin coupled to human IgG and keyhole limpet haemocyanin and with corynetoxin coupled to bovine serum albumin. These preparations were administered with complete Freund's adjuvant. The failure of any of these preparations to elicit an anti-corynetoxin antibody response in either sheep or rabbits is discussed.     

Biochemical analysis by SDS-PAGE and western blotting of the antigenic relationship between Leptospira and equine ocular tissues.

The antigenic relationship between Leptospira interrogans, equine cornea and lens was previously noted in our studies. Serum antibodies from horses inoculated with serovars wolffi, pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae, and tarassovi, were able to bind to five antigenic fractions from both cornea and lens, as demonstrated by immunoblotting. These antigens seem to be made up of protein and carbohydrates. After treatment with periodate for cleavage of glycoside ring structures, those fractions kept their condition of target for anti-Leptospira antibodies. Nevertheless, all fractions lost that condition after being subjected to peptide hydrolysis.     

Isoleucine requirement of broiler chicks as affected by the concentrations of leucine and valine in practical diets.

1. Chicks were fed on an isoleucine-deficient diet, with 6 added concentrations of isoleucine to determine their isoleucine requirement and an additional 6 treatments were devised to determine their isoleucine requirement when dietary leucine and valine contents were increased. 2. The diet deficient in isoleucine contained 5.6 g/kg isoleucine with leucine and valine contents of 20.1 and 10.3 g/kg, respectively. Supplementation with leucine and valine increased these to 24.7 and 12.6 g/kg, respectively. 3. The isoleucine requirement was not affected by dietary leucine and valine contents in a diet with 13.4 MJ of ME per kg. Analysis of variance and Least Significant Difference of means indicated an isoleucine requirement of 7.2 g/kg. Non-linear regression of the same data indicated an isoleucine requirement of 8.44 g/kg, based on weight gain, or 8.19 g/kg based on food efficiency. 4. Reasons for the failure to find an imbalancing effect of branched chain amino acids in practical diets are discussed.     

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.     

Blood types in cattle of Iberian ancestry and in Holsteins at various altitudes.

Gene frequencies of RBC antigens were determined in Holsteins and Colombian (criollas) cattle living at 3,000 m, and in cattle descended from fighting bulls (Vacas de lidia) living at 2,500 m. These frequencies were compared with those of Holsteins, cattle native to Florida (scrub cattle), longhorns, and native cattle from Brazil (caracu cattle) living at sea level. The criollas, Vacas de lidia, scrub cows, longhorns, and caracu are descendants of original Iberian stock introduced to the Americas. We found that despite common ancestry (scrub cattle, long-horns, criollas, and caracu), genetic differences may have been derived through years of demographic isolation. The most remarkable blood-group differences were found in the high prevalence of the B system phenogroup (heritable group of antigenic factors) BQA'G'34 in the Vacas de lidia, and of the S system phenogroup U1H' in these cattle and in caracu. Furthermore, the gene frequencies differed in the Holsteins maintained at moderately high altitude (descended from Holsteins kept at sea level), and may have been reflective of the need to adapt to moderately high altitude and chronic hypoxemic conditions. Blood group polymorphism was found in all groups of cattle, although it was reduced in the Vacas de lidia, possibly because their breeding has been carefully controlled and they appear to be highly inbred.     

Morbidity and mortality in pups from pet stores and private sources: 968 cases (1987-1988).

Morbidity (greater than or equal to 1 disease condition) for pups sold from 3 pet stores from January 1987 through December 1988 ranged from 54 to 68%. In 1 store, morbidity was higher for store pups, compared with pups originating from private parties, for such disease conditions as "kennel cough," diarrhea, and several species of gastrointestinal parasites. In-store mortality ranged from 5 to 9.5% of pups arriving for sale.     

Effects of alternative lamb production systems, maternal line, and culling strategy on flock age structure.

The 5-yr attrition of 1/4 (n = 411) or 1/2 (n = 403) Finnsheep (Finn) ewes exposed to terminal sire breeds in either an accelerated or semi-intensive annual lambing system was recorded to test the effects of system and percentage Finn on flock age structure at equilibrium. Ewes were culled for discernible ailments and failure to lamb after two consecutive non-spring exposures in yr 3, 4, or 5 only. Additionally, four progressively more intensive culling strategies for nonconception were practiced in retrospect. Flock productivity (kilograms of lamb weaned per ewe maintained per year) at age structure equilibrium was estimated for all culling strategies. The majority of all systems (cull strategy x lambing system x percentage Finn combination) were composed of ewes less than or equal to 3 yr old. Replacement requirements ranged from 24 to 38% in the accelerated system and 22 to 26% in the annual system. Quarter-Finns yielded greater replacement needs and shorter productive lives in accelerated lambing but fewer replacement requirements and longer productive lives than 1/2 Finns in annual lambing. Replacement requirements greatly increased with culling intensity in accelerated lambing (up to 54% above original levels) but only slightly in annual lambing (up to 8% above original levels). Mean (reproductive) lifetime estimated from fitted Weibull survival curves ranged from 3.1 to 5.1 yr in accelerated lambing and 4.5 to 5.4 yr in annual lambing. Increased culling for non-lambing decreased productivity at flock age structure equilibrium in accelerated lambing but did not change productivity in annual lambing. Repeatability of ewe effects on conception was generally low. Overall, system, percentage Finn, and culling strategy interact to influence system productivity through flock age structure. Intensive culling for non-lambing and replacement with ewe lambs of equal genetic merit should not be practiced in accelerated lambing systems.     

Bacterial endocarditis and inflammatory joint disease in the dog

The main clinical features of 12 cases of bacterial endocarditis were lameness, pyrexia, lethargy, anorexia and systolic cardiac murmurs. The lameness varied from generalised stiffness to an inability to stand and walk. Multiple joint involvement was typical. Two types of joint pathology were identified. A marked synovitis with granulation tissue sometimes covering the articular cartilage was present in some joints associated with the presence of bacterial organisms. Other joints proved sterile and showed a milder synovial pathology. In many dogs both an infective arthritis and a non-infective arthritis co-existed. Bilaterally symmetrical joint involvement was typical of the non-infective arthritis. The pathogenesis of the latter was likely to involve the deposition of circulating immune complexes (bacterial antigens, antibody and complement) in the synovium. The infective arthritis was presumed to be secondary to embolic disease, ie, the spread of infected emboli from the heart valve to the joints. Treatment was unsuccessful in all cases.