Glomerular lipidosis accompanied by renal tubular oxalosis in wild and laboratory-reared Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus)

Glomerular lipidosis is a disease characterized by lipid accumulation in mesangial cells but that has not been fully investigated in avian species. We examined four wild and two laboratory-reared Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus)--an endangered avian species--presenting vacuolar deposits in the glomeruli. All cases had vacuolar deposits in the glomeruli. In the wild cases, fewer than 30% of all glomeruli were affected, compared with more than 90% in the laboratory-reared cases. In the wild cases, most deposits were mild and restricted to the mesangial areas of glomeruli. In the laboratory-reared cases, nearly all of the deposits covered entire glomeruli. Electron microscopy of mild deposits revealed vacuoles in the cytoplasm of mesangial cells. These vacuoles were positive for Sudan III, Sudan black B, oil red O, Nile blue, periodic acid-Schiff, Schultz test, and digitonin stain and were negative for performaric acid-Schiff stains. Based on these results, we diagnosed the glomerular lesion as glomerular lipidosis caused by uptake of low-density lipoprotein in mesangial cells. Except for one wild case, all cases exhibited renal tubular oxalosis. The severity of tubular oxalosis tended to be related to the severity of glomerular lipidosis: In cases of mild glomerular lipidosis, tubular oxalosis was also mild or absent. We therefore diagnosed the primary lesion as glomerular lipidosis accompanied by tubular oxalosis. The four wild cases came from different zones and therefore had no opportunities to interbreed and no common relatives. We believe these data support the hypothesis that glomerular lipidosis is a disease of the general population ofJapanese rock ptarmigans. This is the first report of glomerular lipidosis accompanied by renal tubular oxalosis in an avian species.     

Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic features of 4 cases of canine congenital thoracic vertebral anomalies

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography features of 4 cases of canine congenital vertebral anomalies (CVAs) are discussed. Two of the cases represent unusual presentations for such anomalies that commonly affect screw-tail or toy breeds. Moreover, the combination of CVAs and a congenital peritoneo-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia has never before been imaged.     

Review of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigen candidates with diagnostic potential

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a slow growing bacterium that can infect ruminants and remain latent for years without development of any clinical signs or disease. Diagnosis is often based on detection of MAP antibodies in milk or serum samples or culture of bacteria from faeces; however, these diagnostic tools are often not applicable until years after infection. Detection of MAP specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses can serve as an alternative and be implemented in a diagnostic tool. CMI responses can be measured at an early stage of infection, prior to development of antibodies and shedding of detectable amounts of MAP. At present, available diagnostic assays are limited by the lack of MAP specific antigens included in these assays resulting in poor specificity. The objective of this review is to provide a systematic overview of diagnostic MAP antigen candidates described to date with special emphasis on antigen candidates tested for CMI responses. Relevant information on 115 different MAP antigens was systematically extracted from literature and summarized in 6 tables of CMI antigens, secreted antigens, cell wall and membrane antigens, lipoprotein antigens, heat shock antigens and hypothetical antigens. Strategies for evaluation of novel antigen candidates are discussed critically. Relatively few of the described antigens were evaluated for their use in CMI based diagnostic assays and so far, no obvious candidate has been identified for this application. Most of the novel diagnostic candidates were evaluated in few animals and it is recommended that an appropriate sample size is included for evaluation of antigen candidates in future studies.     

牛的栎中毒

<正> 作者报道了在南非发生的两次牛的英国栎(Quercus rubor)中毒。首次80头牛中有22头中毒,其后135头牛中有40头也发生中毒。中毒的40头牛,虽经积极治疗,9个月后仅有1头治愈。两次中毒的牛群,群体平均年龄约为6岁,但中毒仅出现在2岁以下的牛。临床症状有:走路摇晃、腹泻和脱水,呈现极度虚弱。有些牛腹胀,或明显消瘦,生长迟缓。3头牛死后肉眼和镜检可见:     

雄蜂聚集区

引言自从1962年Gary发现蜜蜂性诱剂后,亦就有可能证明雄蜂有聚集区.这个观念亦并不新奇.1923年,Buttel—Reepen即推想到雄蜂有聚集区,而女王飞进这聚集区.他并引证Doolittle及其他德国养蜂学家们所听说过和观察过的大量雄蜂飞入这聚集区的记录.这些人亦都同意,雄蜂时常飞入高空,以至高达视线之外,并在安静适宜日子里,     

Pharmacokinetics, stability, and retrospective analysis of use of an oral gel formulation of the bovine injectable enrofloxacin in horses

In many cases of equine infectious disease, long-term administration of antimicrobial drugs is required. Oral agents are preferred because of the relative ease of administration compared with other routes. Enrofloxacin has been shown to be effective against a variety of equine pathogens, but oral administration of this drug has proved difficult in horses. An oral gel formulation made from the injectable cattle product produces blood levels sufficient to resolve infections caused by a variety of common equine pathogens.     

Plasma Steroid Variations in Bull Calves Repeatedly Treated with Testosterone,Nortestosterone and Oestradiol Administered Alone or in Combination

The aim of this work was to investigate the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E) as biological markers in response to illegal administration of testosterone, 19-nortestosterone (N) and oestradiol, either alone or in combination. Twenty male Friesian calves (age 13-14 months) were allotted to a control group (n = 5), and five experimental groups (n = 3) each. Each experimental animal was repeatedly injected with one of the following hormonal treatments: E, T, N, T+E and N+E. Circulating DHEA, T, DHT and E were determined by radioimmunoassay. The administration of T alone did not induce any variation in plasma DHEA, T, DHT and E, which were similar to those in the control group. In contrast, DHEA, T and DHT were on average significantly lower in the T+E and N-treated groups (p < 0.01), whereas the administration of N+E resulted in the reduction of plasma T and DHT without any modification of plasma DHEA. The administration of E alone or in combination increased circulating levels of E but did not affect androgen plasma profiles. The results indicate that plasma levels of T do not permit detection of illegal treatments because plasma androgens always remained within the physiological range. Illegal E treatment could be detected in blood samples when they were collected at least every 20 days.     

Localization of endothelin receptor subtype-A in the testis of rats, dogs, and monkeys

In order to evaluate the physiological roles of the testicular endothelin (Edn) signaling via Edn receptor subtype-A (Ednra) in mammals, the localization of Ednra was investigated by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in the testis of rats, dogs, and monkeys. For in situ hybridization, a rat Ednra RNA probe which is highly homologous to the subcloned canine and monkey Ednra (88.7% and 87.9% identical, respectively) was used. Both Ednra mRNA and protein were detected in interstitial cells and cells in the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules, mainly Sertoli cells, as well as spermatogonia and some early spermatocytes, but not spermatids. The localization pattern of Ednra was exhibited in a same manner among species, indicating that the physiological role of Edn signaling throughout Ednra was maintained in the mammalian testis.     

Thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy for treatment of chronic disk herniation: technique description and use in 15 dogs

OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique for thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy and to evaluate its use for treatment of chronic thoracolumbar disk disease in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Fifteen dogs with signs of chronic thoracolumbar disk herniation. METHODS: After a dorsal or lateral approach to the spine, a lateral slot was created in 2 adjacent vertebral bodies on either side of the herniated disk and extruded/protruded material was removed. Data collected included history, duration of clinical signs, presurgical assessment of neurologic status, postsurgical neurologic status, complications, and outcome. RESULTS: Ambulatory capacity was maintained or regained, and neurologic status improved by 1 grade (3 dogs), 2 grades (8), 3 grades (2), or 4 grades (2). Eleven dogs were considered free of disease. A seroma in 1 dog was the sole complication observed. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral corpectomy permits relatively easy removal of protruded-extruded disk material from within the vertebral canal in chronic disk disease without further iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lateral corpectomy is an alternative to dorsal decompression for treatment of ventral and lateroventral thoracolumbar chronic disk disease in dogs.     

植酸酶替代产蛋鸡饲料中磷酸氢钙的研究

本试验目的是利用植酸酶可以水解饲料中植酸的原理，探讨在国内蛋鸡的实际生产条件下，商品植酸酶替代磷酸氢钙的效果和评价实际可应用性。试验选用22─46周龄北京红鸡，在饲料中用300FTU植酸酶替代2.2克无机磷（相当于在每吨饲料中添加60克商品植酸酶替代13.8公斤磷酸氢钙─DCP，或1.54公斤可利用磷），观测植酸酶对产蛋鸡生产性能和体况的影响。结果表明：用300FTU植酸酶替代2.2克无机磷至少可以保持产蛋鸡的生产性能不变。其中：产蛋率（＋2.2％）、日耗料量（＋l.4％）、饲料报酬（一2.0％）、破蛋率（一2．0％）、死淘率（一4.l％）和胫骨总灰分含量（＋3.6％）均优于对照组，但差异不显著；而日产蛋量（＋4.1％）、体增重（十47％）、胫骨钙含量（＋4.8％）则显著优于对照组（P＜0.05）。根据试验结果，认为可以在产蛋鸡饲料中用商品植酸酶替代目前使用的磷酸氢钙。还可以认为，根据我国目前的磷酸氢钙品质（含氟量）状况，在蛋鸡饲料中使用植酸酶能够大幅度减轻以至于杜绝磷酸氢钙导致的氟中毒问题。同时能够预见，使用植酸酶可以大幅度降低排泄物的含磷量，减少磷对自然环境的污染。植酸酶在产蛋鸡饲料中具有重要的现实应用意义。