A survey of bone fractures in the cat

A survey of 108 bone fractures in the cat was made over a 1 year period in a city practice in south west England. Seventy-three per cent involved the pelvic limb. The three bones most commonly affected were femur (38%), pelvis/sacrum (22%) and mandible (16%). Forty-five cases were the result of road accidents and 75% of cats were 2 years old or less.
Treatment of femoral shaft fractures by intramedullary pinning gave good results. The majority of proximal epiphyseal separations and femoral neck fractures responded well to conservative treatment. 'Cage rest' was used successfully to treat severely comminuted femoral shaft fractures. All cases of pelvic fracture were treated conservatively (up to 3 weeks 'cage rest'). Separation of the mandibular symphysis and fracture of the horizontal ramus healed readily. Repair of tibial (10%) and humeral (5%) fractures was without complications.     

Influence of picolinic acid on the uptake of 65zinc-amino acid complexes by the everted rat gut

Three hundred fifty rats were used in three experiments to: 1) validate the everted gut procedure as an in vitro technique for estimating Zn absorption, 2) determine the effect of increasing ratios of picolinic acid (PA) to Zn on Zn absorption and 3) determine the effect of PA on absorption of Zn and amino acid complexes at pH 6, 7 and 8. In the first experiment the time delay between tissue collection with subsequent storage in ice-cold saline and start of tissue incubation was 0, 10, 20 or 30 min. A linear decrease was observed for 65Zn uptake with increasing delay time. Lysine absorption was not affected by delay time. In the second experiment, molar ratios of PA:Zn of 0, .5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 with Zn held constant were evaluated. A linear decrease in 65Zn absorption from 65ZnCl2 occurred as the molar ratio of PA to Zn increased. In the third experiment, 0 and 5 molar ratios of PA to a constant Zn level were evaluated using 65ZnCl2, 65Zn-14C-methionine (ZnMet) and 65Zn-3H-lysine (ZnLys) at pH 6, 7 and 8. The addition of PA decreased Zn absorption regardless of Zn source. The data suggest that the Zn sources used were of similar biological value. The data do not support the theory that PA facilitates Zn absorption.     

Vaccination of mice and swine with a pseudorabies virus mutant lacking thymidine kinase activity.

A thymidine kinase deficient mutant of the Indiana-Funkhauser strain of pseudorabies virus was tested for its ability to stimulate protective immunity in mice and young pigs. Mice vaccinated intraperitoneally were protected from morbidity and mortality when challenged with 50 LD50 of virulent pseudorabies virus. Eight week old pigs were protected from serious morbidity and mortality when challenged with virulent pseudorabies virus. The thymidine kinase mutant was not shed from the nasal passages of pigs vaccinated intramuscularly, but did not prevent shedding of challenge virus.     

Application of in vitro fertilisation techniques to obtain calves from valuable cows after slaughter.

The ovaries of two infertile cows of high breeding value were recovered after slaughter, and a total of 222 oocytes were obtained. Of these, 156 were classified as of good or fair quality and were subjected to in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilisation (using frozen semen from three bulls of high breeding value) and in vitro culture procedures. After eight days, 27 embryos were obtained, of which 13 were transferred fresh, and 14 were frozen. Three recipients of fresh embryos became pregnant; two calved and one aborted at four months. One of eight recipients of frozen-thawed embryos became pregnant but aborted at three months.     

Comparative microscopic lesions in reoviral and staphylococcal tenosynovitis

Experimental inoculation of 1-day-old male broiler chickens with avian reo-virus or Staphylococcus aureus caused tenosynovitis of the gastrocnemius and digital flexor tendons. Reovirus inoculation by either the oral or footpad route initiated a diffuse lymphocytic infiltration in the peritendineum, synovial membrane, and epitenon from 1 to 5 weeks postinoculation (PI). Heterophils were not a predominant feature of the inflammatory response, but when present they were localized with fibrin in and around synovial spaces. The prevalence of microscopic tendon lesions was less common with staphylococcal infection than with reovirus infection. With staphylococcus, lesions were localized to the synovial space and membranes and were characterized by heterophils and fibrin but few lymphocytes. Synovial cell hyperplasia and bursal atrophy were common in both groups. From 10 to 20 weeks PI, both groups developed progressive tendon fibrosis. These results indicate that tenosynovitis due to inoculation with reovirus or staphylococcus may be differentiated histologically from 1 through 5 weeks PI. After 10 weeks, this may not be possible, because diffuse fibrosis was the major lesion with both. Perhaps fibrosis predisposes older, heavier broilers to tendon failure and rupture.     

The experimental transmission of various mycoplasmas of feline origin to domestic cats (Felis catus)

Mycoplasma felis and M. gatae recovered from domestic cats, M. arginini from a cheetah, an unidentified glucose-fermenting mycoplasma from a lion, and M. pulmonis from a rat were inoculated into specific pathogen free (SPF) kittens by the oral, ocular and nasal routes. During the 21-day experimental period a persistent infection was established in a proportion of the kittens challenged with M. felis, M. gatae and M. arginini. The mycoplasma isolated from the lion created a transitory infection in one kitten, but M. pulmonis could not be recovered even 24 hr after inoculation. None of the organisms investigated showed any pathological effect. The implications of this work in relation to the host-specificity and pathogenicity of the feline mycoplasmas are discussed. Résumé. On a inoculé à des chatons axéniques par les voies orales, oculaires et nasales, un Myco-plasmafelis et un M. gatae recueillis de chats domestiques, un M. arginini recueilli d'un guépard, un mycoplasme non identifié à glucose fermentant recueilli d'un lion et un M. pulmonis recueilli d'un rat. Durant la période expérimentale de 21 jours, on a établi une infection persistante dans une proportion des chatons soumis aux tests de Mycoplasma felis, de M. gatae et de M. agrinini. Le mycoplasma isolé recueilli du lion a créé une infection transitoire chez un chaton, mais le M. pulmonis n'a pu être recueilli, même 24 heures après l'inoculation. Aucun des organismes sous investigation n'a montré d'effets pathologiques. On a discuté des implications de ce travail en relation avec la spécifité d'hôtes et la pathogénicité de mycoplasmes félins. Zusammenfassung. Mycoplasma felis und M. gatae von Hauskatzen erlangt, M. arginini von einem Tschita, ein unidentifiziertes Glukose-fermentierendes Mycoplasma von einem Löwen, und M. pulmonis von einer Ratte wurden in keimfreie (SPF) junge Katzen geimpft, auf oralem, Augen- und Nasenweg. Während der 21 tägigen Versuchsperiode wurde eine anhaltende Infektion in den Katzen festgestellt, die dem M. felis, M. gatae und dem M. agrinini ausgesetzt waren. Das Mycoplasma von dem Löwen abgesondert, verursachte eine vorübergehende Infektion eines Kätzchens, aber M. pulmonis konnte selbst 24 Stunden nach der Impfung nicht gefunden werden. Keines der untersuchten Organismen zeigte irgendwelche pathologischen Effekte. Die Folgerungen dieser Arbeit im Verhältnis zu der Gast-Spezifität und Pathogenizität des Katzen-mycoplasmas sind diskutiert.