Nonweightbearing lameness secondary to synovial sarcoma in a young dog

Synovial sarcoma was diagnosed in the right carpus of a 2 1/2-year-old mixed-breed dog. The dog had developed a right forelimb lameness before one year of age. The lameness was progressive for nearly 2 years, resulting in severe disuse atrophy of the right forelimb musculature and pronounced osteopenia. A definitive diagnosis was not made until the dog was referred after 2 years of conservative treatment was ineffectual. Right forelimb amputation was done and the dog survived an additional 15 months. The protracted clinical course before definitive diagnosis underscores the need for aggressive pursuit of a diagnosis when conservative treatment of a lameness is not efficacious.     

Ruminal evacuation's effect on microbial activity and ruminal function

The influence of evacuating, mixing and returning ruminal contents on microbial populations, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and liquid flow rate was investigated with four ruminal-cannulated Hereford steers (247 kg avg wt). Ruminoreticular contents were sampled, then completely removed, mixed for 5 min and returned to the rumen. Subsequent samples were taken immediately, 1 h and 4 h later. Non-evacuated steers were sampled at identical time intervals either 1 d before or after evacuation. Averaged over time, there was no significant difference between evacuated and non-evacuated steers in total anaerobic, cellulolytic and facultative bacteria, protozoa, oxidation-reduction potential, VFA concentrations, and liquid flow rates. There were no treatment X time interactions and, except for holotrich protozoa and VFA, no differences from time of sampling. Ruminal evacuation does not appear disruptive to anaerobiosis or detrimental to ruminal microorganisms and digestive processes.     

Effect of electroimmobilisation on ovine plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin/beta-lipotrophin, cortisol and prolactin

The effect of electroimmobilisation on the plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin/beta-lipotrophin (beta-EP/beta-LPH), cortisol and prolactin (PRL) has been assessed in sheep. Serial blood samples were collected from control and electroimmobilised animals during the first and fourth of a series of four repeated treatments over two days. After electroimmobilisation the mean (+/- SEM) plasma concentrations of beta-EP/beta-LPH increased significantly from 132 +/- 19 pg ml-1 to 545 +/- 111 pg ml-1; the plasma concentrations of cortisol also increased significantly from 22.3 +/- 3.5 ng ml-1 to 108.0 +/- 12.9 ng ml-1. There was no significant change in plasma PRL concentrations after electroimmobilisation and also no significant difference between the plasma concentrations of PRL in the control and electroimmobilised animals. There was no significant difference between the effects of the first and fourth exposure to electroimmobilisation on the plasma concentrations of beta-EP/beta-LPH, cortisol and PRL. These results suggest that the endocrine response to electroimmobilisation may be specific to the pituitary-adrenal axis.     

Surface proteins of Breda virus

The serotypes 1 and 2 of Breda virus from feces of experimentally infected gnotobiotic calves were studied with respect to their sedimentation and density properties in sucrose gradients and their structural polypeptides; Berne virus, the proposed prototype of the new family Toroviridae, was included for comparison. After Breda-1 virus had been stored at 4 C for a prolonged period, it showed a heterogeneous sedimentation behavior (480 to 520 Svedberg units [S]) and density (1.18 to 1.21 g/ml) indicative of its poor state of preservation. In contrast, freshly prepared Breda-2 virus sedimented at 350 S and showed a buoyant density of 1.18 g/ml; these values compare well with those of Berne virus (400 S and 1.16 g/ml, respectively). Efficient purification of the Breda viruses could be achieved by a 2-step method, involving pelleting by ultracentrifugation followed by isokinetic and isopyknic sucrose gradient centrifugation. Radioiodinated purified virus showed polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 105,000, 85,000 37,000, and 20,000; another labeled protein of 65,000 D is of doubtful virus specificity. Mouse immune serum raised against Breda-2 virus recognized the polypeptides of the homologous virus and the 2 highest molecular weight proteins of Breda 1 virus in radioimmune precipitation. The same serum inhibited hemagglutination of the heterologous serotype to a low, but significant, degree and efficiently neutralized the infectivity of Berne virus. These observations are taken as indications that the 105,000- and 85,000-D polypeptides represent surface structures of torovirions, probably peplomeric proteins.     

Primary isolation and identification of avian rotaviruses from turkeys exhibiting signs of clinical enteritis in a continuous MA 104 cell line

Avian rotaviruses were isolated from turkeys with enteritis using MA 104 cell line. MA 104 cells were suitable for primary isolation and propagation of avian rotaviruses. Trypsin appeared essential for the enhancement of infectivity and the occurrence of cytopathic effect (CPE). Serum neutralization (SN), electron microscopy (EM), and analysis of genomic RNA were done to identify and confirm the identity of rotaviruses. Electrophoretic migration patterns of genomic RNA from avian rotaviruses were examined, and they were compared with those from mammalian rotaviruses. The migration patterns differed between these groups.     

Bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to endometriosis managed by endoscopic ureteral stent placement in a captive Guinea baboon (Papio papio)

Spontaneous endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, progressive and painful disease that affects a variety of nonhuman primates, including several species of baboons (Papio sp.). This case documents multimodal management of severe endometriosis in a captive female baboon within a zoological institution. An 18-yr-old, intact female Guinea baboon (Papio papio) was found to have an enlarged uterus. Fifteen months post ovariohysterctomy, scarring associated with endometrial tissue resulted in ureteral strictures, bilateral hydronephrosis, and azotemia. Cystoscopic placement of bilateral ureteral stents with fluoroscopy was performed and resulted in short-term clinical improvement. The animal's condition declined and euthanasia was elected 4 mo after ureteral stent placement. Severe endometriosis with secondary inflammation resulting in bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis, as well as concurrent cystitis, ureteritis, and pyelonephritis were confirmed at necropsy. Despite possible complications, ureteral stents can be considered a useful therapeutic option in patients with ureteral disease.     

Failure of nebulized irritant, acidic, or hypotonic solutions or external mechanical stimulation of the trachea to consistently induce coughing in healthy, awake dogs

A useful approach for evaluating antitussive drugs in humans is to determine the sensitivity of the cough reflex to a standard challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine if methods used to induce coughing in humans would be effective when used on awake, untrained, healthy dogs for future application in therapeutic trials involving dogs with spontaneous disease. Methods tested were: mechanically stimulating the trachea by digital compression as well as by vibration from an electric shaver, neck massager, and palm sander (11 dogs), and administering nebulized irritant (3000 μM capsaicin), acidic (1 M citric acid), and hypotonic (deionized water) solutions using face masks (4 dogs). The threshold for success was defined as induction of at least 2 moderate or strong coughs in at least 75% of the dogs. None of the methods tested was successful. Digital compression induced soft (n = 2) or moderate (n = 1) coughing in 3 of 11 dogs tested. Nebulization of citric acid induced 1 soft cough in 1 of 4 dogs. It was concluded that coughing cannot be successfully induced in awake, healthy dogs using methods that are successful in humans. Other strategies must be developed so that cough sensitivity can be objectively and non-invasively measured in dogs for clinical research purposes.     

Blastomycotic osteomyelitis associated with severe lameness in a horse

A 12-year-old Quarter horse gelding was presented for evaluation of severe right forelimb lameness, 2 draining tracts over the lateral aspect of the right proximal antebrachium, and weight loss. A presumptive diagnosis of blastomycotic osteomyelitis was established based on radiographs and cytology of the exudate. This diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy.     

The Incidence of Aeromonas Species in the Feces of Nondiarrheic Horses

Aeromonas species have been isolated from the feces of diarrheic adult horses and foals. However, Aeromonas species have also been isolated from the feces of approximately 5% of clinically normal adult horses outside the United States. The objectives of this study were to determine whether Aeromonas species can be shed in the feces of nondiarrheic adult horses and identify any effects of season of year, transportation, and hospitalization on possible fecal shedding of Aeromonas species. Feces were cultured for Aeromonas and Salmonella species from 138 nondiarrheic adult horses examined in the hospital and by field services for complaints other than gastrointestinal disease. Fecal Aeromonas and Salmonella species were isolated from 6.5% and 2.2% of nondiarrheic horses, respectively. All Aeromonas isolates were identified as A caviae. There were no apparent effects on time of year, hospitalization, or transport on isolation of Aeromonas species from feces. Isolation of Aeromonas species from diarrheic horses in the absence of other possible enteric pathogens indicates intestinal disease as a result of Aeromonas infection, but Aeromonas species can also occur as copathogens with Salmonella infections.     

Effects of dietary yeast extract on turkey stress response and heterophil oxidative burst activity

1. Effective nutritional approaches to counteract the negative effects of stress may provide food animal producers with useful alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, turkeys were fed on a standard diet, or the same diet supplemented with yeast extract (YE), to determine if YE would improve disease resistance in a stress model.

2. At 16 weeks of age, half of the birds were exposed to a bacterial challenge using a coarse spray of the pen environment. A subset of control and challenged birds was also treated with dexamethasone (Dex) prior to challenge (Dex/challenge). At 18 weeks, another subset was subjected to a 12?h transport stress protocol (Challenge/transport). All birds were bled and necropsied the morning after transport. The numbers and proportions of blood cells and the heterophil oxidative burst activity (OBA) were determined. Serum corticosterone (Cort) levels of male birds were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Body weight and gain were increased by YE during week 1.

3. YE decreased mortality and bacterial isolation following Dex/challenge only in females. Cort levels in male turkeys were decreased by YE and Dex treatment. OBA was higher in males and in birds given YE and was reduced by challenge and transport.

4. These results suggest there may be gender differences in the turkey stress response and that dietary YE has potential for modulating the impact of stress on innate immunity of turkeys.