Frustrating case presentations in canine theriogenology.

The practice of small animal theriogenology is rewarding, but frustrations exist concerning technologic advances as compared with other species. Reproductive clinicians striving to practice good quality medicine readily identify topics of common concern: causes that are not identified or therapeutics that are not available or applicable. Improved collaboration among theriogenologists specializing in small animal practice is evidenced by growing attendance at national and international scientific meetings, increased scientific publications, and internet communications.     

Feline lameness.

Feline lameness is an increasingly recognized clinical problem. Today's veterinary practitioner must be comfortable with his/her ability to diagnose the various conditions responsible for lameness in the cat and be able to discuss the significance of their findings with the client. Disease of the feline musculoskeletal system can be grouped into broad categories, including: trauma, arthritis, infectious causes, developmental disorders, neoplasia, and muscular problems. Specific diseases from each of these categories will be discussed, particularly those that differ in their presentation or clinical behavior from that same disease in the canine patient.     

Acute infection of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus in Syrian hamsters.

One-month-old Syrian hamsters of the APA and Std: golden strains were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(5) PFU/head of the D variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and examined virologically and pathologically up to 7 days after inoculation. APA hamsters developed apparent hyperglycemia due to pancreatic islet cell damage while Std:golden hamsters did not. Hamsters of both strains showed clear histopathologic changes in the testis with prominent viral replication as well as in the brain, heart and exocrine pancreas. The susceptibility to EMC virus-infection was higher in males than in females and in APA than in Std: golden hamsters.     

Association between solar radiation and ocular squamous cell carcinoma in cattle

The association between ocular squamous cell tumors and various measures of solar radiation was evaluated for 2,775 contemporaneous Hereford cattle. The animals were from 34 herds located in 21 states in the United States and in one Canadian province. Examinations and photographs were made of the eyes of all cows and heifers in a herd; 33 herds were examined between June and August 1957 and 1 herd was examined in 1958. Solar radiation was measured by altitude and mean annual hours of sunshine applying to an individual herd, and global radiation, a cloudiness index, and elevation of nearby National Weather Service stations. All measures of solar radiation provided evidence of a significant association between increasing risks of developing cancer eye and increasing levels of radiation; adjustments were made for possible confounding effects of age and corneoscleral pigmentation. Associations were evident whether affliction was defined as the occurrence of any type of tumor (ie, plaque, papilloma, or carcinoma), or as the occurrence of only papilloma or carcinoma. Average ages of affected cattle also tended to be lower at high radiation levels than at low levels, further supporting the hypothesis that solar radiation has an important role in the development of this disease. In view of the heritability of eye pigmentation and its inhibitory effect on lesions, cancer eye may be controlled by selective breeding for increased pigmentation in and around the eye to afford protection against the harmful effects of incident UV radiation.     

Intracavitary Cisplatin Chemotherapy Experience with Six Dogs

Six dogs with a median age of 7 years (range = 5-14 years) were presented for signs referable to thoracic or abdominal effusion associated with neoplasia of the body cavities. Intracavitary cisplatin was administered at 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for a median of 2.5 treatments (mean = 3, range = 1-6). Three dogs with pleural mesothelioma had complete resolution of effusion for 289, 129, and greater than 306 days without evidence of tumor growth. Resolution of effusion occurred after one treatment in two dogs and after two treatments in one dog. In three dogs with carcinomatosis of unknown origin, complete responses was seen in two dogs after one treatment for 255 and greater than 807 days, respectively. Intracavitary chemotherapy with cisplatin was associated with palliation and control of malignant pleural and/or abdominal effusion in five of six dogs. Toxicity was minimal, and this method of therapy should be further explored in dogs with similar malignancies.     

Acute and chronic hormone and metabolite changes in lambs fed the beta-agonist, cimaterol

The objective of this study was to determine if acute and chronic changes in circulating metabolic hormone and metabolite concentrations are associated with β-agonist-induced nutrient repartitioning in young growing lambs. Two groups of 12 Dorset and Dorset-Finn cross ram lambs weighing 36 or 33 kg live weight were assigned to 3- or 6-week treatment intervals, respectively, to achieve similar slaughter weights. Six lambs within each treatment interval were fed ad libitum a complete mixed high-concentrate diet containing either 0 or 10 ppm cimaterol. During the first 12 hr of cimaterol administration plasma somatotropin (ST), thyroxine (T₄), and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations were not altered by treatment, but plasma insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol concentrations were elevated 2 hr after ingestion. These acute responses suggest direct stimulation of glycogenolysis and lipolysis by cimaterol, which is characteristic of β-adrenergic alteration of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chronic administration of cimaterol significantly decreased insulin concentrations by 36% and 52% at 3 and 6 weeks, respectively, while glucose concentrations remained unchanged. Serum IGF-I concentrations were not significantly altered by cimaterol. T₄ levels were reduced 22.1% after 3 weeks of cimaterol treatment. Although plasma NEFA concentrations were chronically elevated 56% to 65% in lambs fed cimaterol, plasma glycerol concentrations remained at baseline levels. The relative changes in plasma NEFA and glycerol concentrations are consistent with a decreased rate of lipogenesis, rather than an increase in lipolysis.