Prevention of Toxoplasma gondii abortion in goats by vaccination with oocysts of Hammondia hammondi

Nineteen does (female goats) were dosed with 500,000 oocytes of Hammondia hammondi prior to breeding. At about 90 days of gestation these, and 18 uninoculated does were challenged with 25,000 Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. The 19 H. hammondi--inoculated does produced 26 live and one dead kid (newborn goat). The 18 does not given H. hammondi produced 12 live and 19 dead kids. However, examination of all of the kids by isolation of T. gondii in mice, serology and histology revealed that they were all infected with T. gondii. Thus, while H. hammondi "vaccination" is protective against the deleterious effects of T. gondii on pregnant does, perhaps by reducing the severity of placental lesions, it does not prevent foetal infection.     

Glossitis of military working dogs in south Vietnam; histopathologic observations.

Glossitis, known clinically as "redtongue," was studied in tissues from 34 military working dogs (MWD) in the Republic of Vietnam. This condition was manifested grossly by loss of lingual papillae on the dorsal margins of the rostral third of the tongue. Microscopically, the principal lesions consisted of loss of filiform papillae, hemorrhage and edema in the lamina propria, acanthosis, and cellular infiltration. The cause of glossitis remains unknown at this time.     

Cholinesterase inhibition by methamidophos and its subsequent reactivation

Methamidophos (O,S-dimethylphosphoramidothioate, Monitor) is an organophosphorus, cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide. The rate constant (k_i) for inhibiting rat plasma cholinesterase (ChE) was 1.57 ± 0.03 × 10³M^?1 min^?1, for rat erythrocyte ChE was 8.86 ± 1.10 × 10³M^?1 min^?1, and for rat brain ChE was 6.58 ± 0.42 M^?1 min^?1. Brain and plasma cholinesterases spontaneously recovered from over 90% inhibition at 30 min to 50% inhibition in 4 and 14 hr, respectively. Pralidoxime increased the rate of reactivation in vitro. In vivo, rats poisoned with methamidophos exhibited signs of cholinergic stimulation. The LD₅₀ of ip methamidophos in male rats was 15 ± 0.7 mg/kg. Pralidoxime (60 mg/kg) and atropine (10 mg/kg) given with the methamidophos increased the LD₅₀ to 52 ± 4.9 mg/kg and 60 ± 0.4 mg/kg, respectively. In rats given 12.5 mg methamidophos (an LD₂₀), ChE activity was depressed 95 ± 12.5% in plasma, 92 ± 0.6% in stomach, and 88 ± 1% in brain at 1 hr after injection. At 48 hr after injection ChE activity had returned to 60% or more of control values in each of the tissues. Administration of a single dose of 60 mg/kg of pralidoxime along with methamidophos did not increase ChE activities at the times and places it was measured.     

The prevalence and significance of hyperglycemia in hospitalized cats

Objective – To report the prevalence of hyperglycemia in cats admitted to a veterinary hospital and to determine if hyperglycemic cats had increased morbidity and mortality when compared with normoglycemic cats.
Design – Retrospective clinical study.
Setting – Community-based referral hospital.
Animals – Nondiabetic cats admitted to the hospital.
Interventions – None.
Measurements and Main Results – The medical records of nondiabetic cats admitted to the hospital over a 1-year period were reviewed. There were 182 cats that met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Information obtained included signalment, length of hospitalization, initial and highest blood glucose measurement, diagnosis, treatment, and final disposition. Sixty-three percent of cats (116/182) were hyperglycemic at the time of presentation. Total incidence of hyperglycemia at any point during hospitalization was 64% (118/182). No association was found between hyperglycemia either initially or at any point during the hospitalization and mortality. However, a significant association was documented between the presence of hyperglycemia and increased length of hospitalization (LOH) ( P =0.04). The duration of LOH was also significantly associated with the degree of hyperglycemia ( P =0.01). A number of different disease processes were represented in the study population. However, the number of cats in each disease category was small and no association could be found between any of them and blood glucose affecting mortality and morbidity.
Conclusion – The prevalence of hyperglycemia in feline patients admitted to a primary referral hospital was 64%. Cats with hyperglycemia had a longer LOH when compared with normoglycemic cats; however, presence of hyperglycemia did not impact mortality in this population of cats.     

Relationship between aggressive and avoidance behaviour by dogs and their experience in the first six months of life

The early experiences of dogs showing signs of avoidance behaviour or aggression were compared with those of dogs from the same clinical population that did not show such behaviour. The occurrence of each behavioural sign was tested for its association with the dog's maternal environment, the environment it experienced between three and six months of age, and the age at which it had been acquired. Non-domestic maternal environments, and a lack of experience of urban environments between three and six months of age, were both significantly associated with aggression towards unfamiliar people and avoidance behaviour. Aggression during a veterinary examination was more likely in dogs from non-domestic maternal environments. There was no significant association with either environment for aggression towards familiar people, or towards dogs.     

Fluoride tolerance of laying hens

1. One thousand Silver Grey Hyline hens were given drinking water containing 5 concentrations of added sodium fluoride (0, 6, 10, 14 and 20 mg/1) over a 17‐week growth and 57‐week laying period. The natural fluoride content of the water was 0–21 mg/1 during the growing period and 0–29 mg/1 throughout lay.

2. During the rearing phase, efficiency of food utilisation and mortality were not significantly affected by the fluoride concentration of the water. Weight gain and food intake decreased in the 10 and 14 mg/1 fluoride treatments.

3. During the laying period, the fluoride content of the water had a significant effect on egg production, but eggshell breaking strength was not significantly influenced.

4. Post mortem analyses, carried out at the end of lay (74 weeks of age), showed that carcase weight and the fluoride content of the os femur increased significantly as the fluoride concentration in the water increased; the increase in bone fluoride followed a linear pattern.

5. Histopathology showed no evidence of changes in the livers or kidneys; liver weights and breaking strength of the os femur were unaffected by the amount of fluoride consumed.

6. The data showed that under commercial conditions, laying birds can tolerate ingesting 4–453 mg fluoride/day for up to 74 weeks.