Hypervitaminosis A in the dog.

Toxic effects of excessive vitamin A and of excessive vitamin ADE were studied in 9 mixed Labrador Retriever pups. Clinical signs were loss of body weight, dullness, emaciation, roughened coat, evident pain in limb joints, and retarded growth. Radiologic changes were decreases in overall length and thickness of long bones, development of osteophytes, periosteal reaction, and premature closure of epiphyses. Pathologic changes were degenerative epiphyseal plate, hemorrhage and exostotic proliferation of periosteum, fatty liver, and microcalculi in kidney. Toxic effects of excessive vitamin A did not appear to be so great when it was administered as vitamin ADE.     

Effects of IgY antibody on the development of Marek's disease.

The effects of passive immunization with immunoglobulin Y (IgY) on the pathogenesis of Marek's disease (MD) were examined in an experimental line of White Leghorn chickens highly susceptible to MD. Purified IgY with anti-MDV antibody activity, when injected into chicks, delayed the development of MDV viremia and lesions until 9 days postinoculation (PI) with Marek's disease virus (MDV). The blastogenic response of spleen cells to concanavallin-A was depressed at 6 days PI in the birds without passive immunization, whereas it was not totally depressed until 17 days in birds passively immunized with IgY anti-MDV antibody.     

Effect of NH4+ Nitrogen on Phosphorus Uptake by Canola, Lentils, Soybeans and Wheat

Phosphorus and ammonium nitrogen placed together has been shown to increase P uptake by crops, especially cereals, Thus, the objective of this study was to compare this effect on four crops grown in Manitoba. Plants harvested at flowering indicated greater P uptake in lentils, soybean and wheat, when P and NH₄⁺-N were placed on the same band. In contrast, canola did not respond to this treatment. Possible relationships of these ions are presented.     

Isolation of feline herpesvirus 1 from a young kitten

Five kittens exposed neonatally to older cats exhibiting fever with nasal and ocular discharge became ill and died within 10 days of the onset of illness. One kitten which died at 16 days old was examined post mortem and feline herpesvirus 1 was isolated from the brain, liver, lung and spleen.     

Agenesis of corpus callosum in calves

Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a rare brain defect in cattle, and was described in two calves. It was characterized by the total absence of the corpus callosum, septum pellucidum and hippocampal commissure. Fornices were present but separated. Both calves also had moderate internal hydrocephalus, micrencephaly and a CSF-filled cyst in the longitudinal fissure dorsal to the thalamus. Clinical signs were not specific. Etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. No evidence of inflammation or inheritance was found as cause of the defect.     

Perianal malignant melanoma in a dog

Melanocytic tumors are relatively common in dogs and most often occur in the oral cavity, lip, skin, digit, and eye. There are notable differences in the behavior of these tumors, depending on their anatomical location. The majority of oral melanomas and two-thirds of melanomas arising from the digit are malignant, whereas most of melanomas originating from the haired skin are benign. The anus and perianal areas are very uncommon sites for melanocytic tumors in domestic animals except horses, and most of those tumors in horses are malignant. To our knowledge, perianal malignant melanoma has not been reported in the dog and its prognosis is unknown.     

Changes in orexin-A and neuropeptide y expression in the hypothalamus of obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of orexin-A (OXA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the hypothalamus of the obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats which have a missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene. The mean body weights (MBW) between the obese and lean ZDF rats were significantly different at 28 and 70 postnatal days. However, at 14 postnatal day, there was no significant difference in the MBW between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both male and female. The OXA immunoreactivities were not significantly different between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both sexes at 14, 28, and 70 postnatal days, respectively. The NPY immunoreactivity was higher in the obese than in the lean ZDF rats in both male and female at 28 and 70 postnatal days, whereas there was no significant difference between the obese and lean ZDF rats at 14 postnatal day. These results indicate that both OXA and NPY might halt their roles for food intake in the obese phenotype of the male and female ZDF rats in the preweaning period of 14 postnatal day, whereas NPY might play a main role in the obesity of these rats in the weaning period of 28 and 70 postnatal days.     

Ultrasonic measurement of fetal parameters for estimation of gestational age in Korean black goats

The objective of this study was to determine relationship of gestational age with measurement of diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein in Korean black goats. In this study, ten pregnant Korean black goats (Capra hircus aegagrus) were used. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with a 5 MHz linear transducer and ultrasonographic scan were performed at 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 days after mating with a 4-9 MHz convex transducer. For accurate measurement, all fetal organs were measured at least 3 times. The diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein were significantly increased with the gestational age (p<0.05). Of these parameters, trunk (r=0.8876; p<0.001), long axis of heart (r=0.9168; p<0.001) and short axis of heart (r=0.8819; p<0.001) proved to be the more effective measurements than other parameters, as it correlated well with gestational age. Results indicate that ultrasonic measurements of these parameters were useful methods to estimate gestational age in Korean black goat.     

Congestive cardiomyopathy in a dog associated with pregnancy

A two-year-old, six-week postpartum female dog was presented with acute congestive heart failure for treatment. The patient collapsed and suddenly died. Postmortem examination revealed an enlarged, dilated heart with thin ventricular walls. Histologically, scattered multifocal areas of myocardial degeneration and necrosis with fibrosis were seen in the myocardium. This case of acute cardiomyopathy in a female dog six weeks postpartum is similar to the well-described, postpartum cardiomyopathy in man. The etiology of this case was not ascertained.