RADIATION AND CISPLATIN FOR TREATMENT OF CANINE URINARY BLADDER CARCINOMA

Two cases of canine urinary bladder carcinoma were treated with combined radiation and cisplatin. Total radiation dose was 4400 cGy for one dog and 4800 cCy for the other. Cobalt 60 radiation was fractioned using 400 cGy per fraction. Cisplatin was administered intraarterially at a dose of 50 mg/m² divided equally six to seven hours before the first three radiation fractions. Cisplatin was administered before the last three radiation fractions at the same dose and time, but was infused intravenously. Objective evaluation using double contrast cystograms revealed reduction in tumor size in both dogs. The therapy was well-tolerated with minimal side effects.     

Effect of Melatonin Implantation to Sperm Donor Rams on Post-thaw Viability and Acrosomal Integrity of Sperm Cells in the Breeding and Non-breeding Season

The influence of melatonin administration to sperm donors on the freezability of ram semen and enzyme leakage through sperm cells during different steps of the cryopreservation process were evaluated in the breeding and non-breeding season. Melatonin implantation to rams in the breeding season improved post-thaw sperm viability and intact acrosome rates without influencing the motility rate (p   < 0.05). Likewise, the post-thaw alkaline phosphatase release through sperm cells was significantly lower in the melatonin-treated group in comparison with untreated controls (p   < 0.05). In the non-breeding season, melatonin administration enhanced intact acrosome rates (p   < 0.05) and reduced aspartate aminotransferase activity (p   < 0.05) post-thaw in the offseason ejaculates. Melatonin implantation twice in the breeding and non-breeding season did not produce any further improvement in the post-thaw sperm parameters in the non-breeding season ejaculates. It was concluded that melatonin administration to sperm donors improved freezability of ram semen collected from these rams and reduced enzyme leakage through sperm cells during cryopreservation.     

Cloned Cauliflower Mosaic Virus DNA Infects Turnips (Brassica rapa)

Cauliflower mosaic virus DNA cloned in the Sal I site of bacterial plasmid pBR322 infects turnip plants. The cloned viral DNA must be excised from the recombinant plasmid to infect, but need not be circularized and ligated in vitro. The cloned viral DNA lacks site-specific single-strand breaks found in DNA obtained directly from the virus. However, these breaks are reintroduced into the viral genome during multiplication of the virus in the plant host.     

Knowledge,attitudes and management of bovine viral diarrhoea virus among eastern Australian cattle producers: results from a 2013 cross-sectional study

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is an economically significant disease affecting the Australian cattle industry, with losses stemming from decreased production and reproductive performance and control costs. However, these losses can be difficult to appreciate, particularly in endemic regions. Overall, there is a variable but high herd-level seroprevalence in Australia. Despite a potentially high financial burden of the disease, the onus for control ultimately falls on producers and strategies employed will vary between regions. A cross-sectional study, using a postal survey, was conducted in 2013 to evaluate the BVDV knowledge, attitudes and management practices utilised by Australian cattle producers. A total of 192 producers participated in the study, and results indicate that knowledge and attitudes towards disease risk are variable and can be improved. Producer knowledge of how persistently infected (PI) animals are produced was higher than that of disease outcomes or transmission pathways. Implementation of biosecurity practices was limited, with approximately half of respondents employing quarantine procedures for introduced stock and only 2% indicating they would antigen test introduced stock for BVDV. Approximately a third (36%) of producers reported engaging in BVDV control, with the majority of these using vaccination strategies over deliberate exposure to a PI. Knowledge of and engagement with BVDV control was positively influenced by the producer relationships with veterinarians. Findings from this study suggest that building on education and delivering a consistent message among stakeholders would likely improve producer awareness and understanding in relation to BVDV and support decision making in BVDV management.     

Diagnosis and management of ureteroceles in two female dogs

Two intact female dogs were examined for refractory pollakiuria and stranguria. One of these two dogs also exhibited urinary incontinence. Ectopic ureteroceles were diagnosed via ultrasonography and cystoscopy in both dogs. Both dogs were taken to surgery for ureterocele resection and neoureterostomy, resulting in complete resolution of clinical signs. Although uncommonly reported in the veterinary literature, ectopic ureteroceles can be associated with recurrent lower urinary tract infection with and without urinary incontinence. With a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, prognosis for ectopic ureteroceles can be good provided there is not a concurrent significant loss of renal function.