Intracranial germ cell tumours in two dogs

Intracranial germ cell tumours were identified in two middle-aged, male dogs. The predominant clinical signs were progressive visual and pupillary abnormalities; one dog was blind. At post mortem examination a discrete extramedullary tumour was found at the base of the brain in each dog. Expansion of the mass had produced severe destruction of the diencephalon and brain stem. Histopathological examination revealed a mixed cellular pattern, consistent with a neoplasm derived from germ cells.     

Has bovine somatotropin (BST) an effect upon drug disposition? Comparative studies in goats and cattle with sulphadimidine and antipyrine after parenteral administration of BST,zeranol and proligestone

Daily subcutaneous BST injection in lactating cows, bulls and castrated male dwarf goats did not induce significant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of antipyrine (AP) and sulphadimidine (SDD). Similarly, no changes were obtained after injection of slow-release BST formulations in lactating cows and non-lactating female goats. In contrast to androgenic hormones, both zeranol and proligestone had no effect upon the disposition of AP and SDD, although both synthetic hormones did induce enhanced plasma somatotropin concentrations. In goats, metabolic effects induced by zeranol and BST included significant reductions in plasma urea values, whereas plasma creatinine levels were somewhat lower after daily BST administration.     

Primary vertebral hemangiosarcoma in a dog

A 7-year-old spayed Cocker Spaniel was evaluated for recurrent hind limb paraplegia. Radiography and myelography revealed a compression fracture of T-9 secondary to a lytic process. Findings at necropsy and histologic and immunohistochemical examinations revealed 3 sites of hemangiosarcoma in each of the bodies of T-9 to T-11. Primary vertebral hemangiosarcoma is rare, and in this dog may have represented a multicentric occurrence or a primary neoplasm with adjacent metastatic foci.     

Influence of helminth parasite exposure and strategic application of anthelmintics on the development of immunity and growth of swine

Infection of pigs with the intestinal roundworm parasite Ascaris suum and strategic application of anthelmintic drugs during the growing phase of development were observed for specific effects on 1) development of immunity in feeder pigs and 2) growth rate during the finishing phase. Management treatments included maintenance in a parasite-free concrete environment, maintenance in a concrete environment and inoculation with 1,000 infective A. suum eggs every other day over a 52-d period, and maintenance on a dirtlot contaminated with A. suum and Trichuris suis eggs. Within each management environment, pigs were either untreated, treated with ivermectin or treated with fenbenzadole at strategic times during parasite exposure. Protective immunity, assessed by a challenge inoculation with A. suum eggs following management treatments, was not affected by ivermectin or fenbenzadole treatment during exposure, but adult worm burdens were reduced and the pattern of A. suum larval antigen serum antibody responses were different from those in control pigs not treated with drugs. Exposure to A. suum and treatment with anthelmintics during the growing phase reduced adult worm burdens following the finishing phase of growth. Rate, but not efficiency, of gain was significantly improved by anthelmintic treatment following natural exposure to parasites. Strategic treatment of pigs with anthelmintics following inoculation with A. suum eggs in a concrete management environment had no effect on rate of gain. Results suggest that natural exposure to parasites during the growing phase without therapeutic treatment causes permanent damage to growth potential.     

Antibiotic persistence and tolerance in the lactating sheep following a course of intramammary therapy

The commercial use of sheep for the production of milk and milk products is attractive to farmers actively diversifying their dairy interests due to the impact of the quota system. As intensification of milking increases, flock sizes will enlarge and the incidence of ovine mastitis will inevitably increase. The pharmaceutical industry and the veterinary practitioner will be required to provide advice and data upon the performance of currently available bovine intramammary preparations for the sheep. This study produces evidence to confirm that one available bovine intramammary preparation, when infused into milking sheep, produced a withholding time approximately three times as long as that defined for the cow. Following a course of three infusions over a period of 24 hours after consecutive milkings, milk was not acceptable for human consumption or for the production of cheese and yoghurts until 136 hours following the final infusion. This situation is likely to be representative of that which will occur with other intramammary products used in the ovine species following infusion with bovine intramammary preparations.     

Percutaneous biopsy of abdominal organs under ultrasound guidance

Percutaneous sampling of one or more abdominal organs was performed under ultrasound guidance in 89 dogs and 16 cats. Tissue core samples were considered to be of diagnostic quality in 92 per cent of hepatic and 100 per cent of renal biopsies. Core biopsies were collected from the prostate in only three cases but each was adjudged of diagnostic quality. The technique allowed a definitive diagnosis or normal tissue to be confirmed in 65 per cent of animals undergoing hepatic biopsy, 83 per cent undergoing renal biopsy and 82 per cent undergoing prostatic biopsy or aspiration. Few complications occurred which could be ascribed with certainty to the procedure. One dog with extensive hepatic necrosis died one week after the biopsy, but necropsy examination was denied. One severely debilitated cat did not recover from general anaesthesia. One dog underwent aspiration of a sterile intraprostatic cyst, and developed prostatic abscessation one week later; prostatic carcinoma was subsequently found. Careful selection and preparation of patients for biopsy are essential. With this caveat, ultrasound-guided sampling of abdominal organs is a useful technique allowing a definitive diagnosis in a high proportion of cases. The technique is minimally invasive and the complication rate low.     

Distribution of Topical Agents in the Frontal Sinuses and Nasal Cavity of Dogs: Comparison Between Current Protocols for Treatment of Nasal Aspergillosis and a New Noninvasive Technique

To document and compare patterns of distribution of topically applied antifungal medication, heads from 42 canine cadavers were assigned to seven treatment groups which included two current surgical treatment protocols for nasal aspergillosis, and a new, noninvasive method. Catheters (8 Fr) were placed through trephine holes into the frontal sinuses and nasal cavity. Dilute dye was injected through the catheters and the heads were sectioned sagittally. The administration of 5 mL of dye into the lateral frontal sinus and nasal cavity (group IA, 10 mL total) was compared with 25 mL injected through catheters placed bilaterally in the lateral frontal sinus and nasal cavity (group II, 100 mL total). Both were compared with the administration of 50 mL of dye through a catheter placed in the dorsal nasal meatus via each nostril (group III). The heads in group III had significantly ( P <.05) better dye distribution to all cavities than group IA and better distribution to the rostral frontal sinus than group II. Groups IV to VI were designed to show the pattern of distribution of dye to the contralateral nasal cavity and frontal sinuses. In all groups, dye injected into the lateral frontal sinus did not cross into the ipsilateral rostral frontal sinus or vice versa unless the transverse septum dividing the compartments had been penetrated during trephination.     

Borreliosis in equids in northeastern United States

During 1982 and 1985, blood samples from 705 equids were examined for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. By indirect immunofluorescence staining, IgM and total immunoglobulin (IgM and IgG) antibodies were detected in 37 (5.3%) and 90 (12.8%) serum specimens, respectively. The geometric mean titer for IgM antibody (140.4) was highest during July, whereas total immunoglobulin ranged from 94.1 in October to 338 in May. Eighty-six equids with total immunoglobulin to B burgdorferi lived in areas of Connecticut where the primary tick vector, Ixodes dammini, was present. Of the 86 equids, 9 from Lyme, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York had antibodies to B burgdorferi and developed limb or joint disorders that resulted in single or recurrent episodes of lameness.     

Indication and use of electrodiagnostic aids in neurologic disease

Electrodiagnostic aids, electromyography, auditory brainstem response testing, and electroencephalography are extensions of the neurologic examination and provide valuable information about the nervous system. This article discusses the use and interpretation of electrodiagnostic aids in equine neurology as well as the equipment that is employed. It is hoped that with a better understanding of the available electrodiagnostic aids, they will come into greater use.