Bronchial cartilage dysplasia with multifocal lobar bullous emphysema and lung torsions in a pup.

Bronchial cartilage dysplasia is believed to have caused lobar bullous emphysema in a 5-month-old Chow Chow that had exercise intolerance, progressive dyspnea, and episodic cough. Radiography of the thorax revealed hyperlucency of the left hemithorax, displacement of the mediastinum and heart to the right, and flattening of the diaphragm. The pup died shortly after the radiographs were obtained. Necropsy revealed massive hyperinflation with 180 degrees torsion of the cranial portion of the left cranial lung lobe, and hyperinflation with less than 180 degrees torsion of the right accessory lung lobe. Histologic examination of the affected lung lobes revealed a lack of bronchial cartilage, loss and displacement of alveolar walls, and bulla formation that resembled congenital (infantile) lobar emphysema of human beings. In this pup, lung lobe torsions may have been predisposed by bronchial cartilage dysplasia.     

Experimental Paragonimus kellicotti infection in dogs

The life cycle of Paragonimus kellicotti was studied in dogs fed 25 or 50 metacercariae obtained from the hearts of naturally infected crayfish. Young flukes excysted in the intestines and appeared in the peritoneal cavity within 7–14 days after inoculation (DAI) and in the pleural cavity from 7 to 43 DAI. Immature flukes penetrated the pulmonary parenchyma between 7 and 10 DAI and became sexually mature between 28 and 35 DAI. Virtually all growth of the flukes occurred in the lungs. Eggs first appeared in feces 30 DAI. Pulmonary lesions were caused by the penetration and growth of flukes and the lesions were first detected by thoracic radiography 3 weeks after inoculation. Clinical signs were generally mild and consisted of an intermittent cough. Two dogs died suddenly of pneumothorax due to the rupture of cysts 32 and 35 DAI, respectively.     

Clinical evaluation of American river otters in a reintroduction study

Ten American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were evaluated clinically before release into Oklahoma waterways. Otters were immobilized for physical, radiographic, and electrocardiographic examinations and for collection of blood samples. Hematologic and serum biochemical analyses, urinalyses, parasitologic examinations, surgical omental biopsies, and necropsy findings were included. Respiratory tract disease, bacterial and parasitic infections, and starvation apparently were contributing causes of postrelease mortality in 4 of the otters.     

Evaluation of von Willebrand Factor During Pregnancy,Lactation and Oestrous Cycle in Bitches Affected and Unaffected by von Willebrand Disease

Plasmatic concentrations of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) increase during pregnancy in humans and dogs; however the mechanism of such increase is still not well defined. The aims of this study were: (i) to evaluate changes in vWF concentration during pregnancy and during the subsequent oestrous cycle in bitches affected and unaffected by von Willebrand Disease (vWD); (ii) to correlate the vWF levels and cortisol levels in both groups. Seven vWD affected (GI) and nine unaffected (GII) bitches were used. The animals were assessed during pregnancy, parturition, lactation and non‐gestational oestrous cycle in 11 moments (Pregnancy 1, Pregnancy 2, Parturition, Lactation 1, Lactation 2, Lactation 3, Anestrus, Proestrus, Oestrus, Diestrus 1, and Diestrus 2). The following tests were performed; measurement of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), albumin and cortisol. In both groups, vWF concentration remained stable during the non‐gestational oestrous cycle, but increased during pregnancy, with the highest value observed at parturition. Increases of 70% and 124% in vWF were seen in GI and GII, respectively, compared to anestrus. No correlation was found between vWF and cortisol. Values of vWF:Ag changed during pregnancy, with a peak at parturition, both in vWD affected and unaffected animals. Values of vWF were not altered in the different phases of the oestrous cycle following pregnancy in both groups. Evaluation of vWF during pregnancy can cause false negative results for vWD, but assessment can be performed at any point in the oestrous cycle of non‐pregnant bitches.     

Pregnancy Loss in Dairy Cattle: Relationship of Ultrasound,Blood Pregnancy‐Specific Protein B,Progesterone and Production Variables

Objectives were to determine associations between percentage pregnancy loss (PPL) in dairy cattle and: (i) pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography; (ii) pregnancy diagnosis by serum pregnancy‐specific protein B (PSPB) concentrations, with or without serum progesterone concentrations; and (iii) production and environmental factors. This study included 149 822 pregnancy diagnoses conducted over 13 years in Holstein‐Friesian cows in Hungarian dairy herds. The following were determined: PPL in cows diagnosed pregnant by transrectal ultrasonography 29–42 days after artificial insemination (AI; n = 11 457); PPL in cows diagnosed pregnant by serum PSPB 29–35 days after AI (n = 138 365); and PPL and its association with serum progesterone concentrations, PSPB and production/environmental variables. The definition of PPL was percentage of cows initially diagnosed pregnant based on ultrasonography or PSPB, but not pregnant when examined by transrectal palpation 60 –70 days after AI. The PPL was lower (p < 0.001) in cows following ultrasonographic vs PSPB diagnosis of pregnancy at 29–35 days (8.1 vs 19.3%, respectively), but was higher in cows following ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis on 29–35 vs 36–42 days (8.1 vs 7.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). Furthermore, 72.9% of pregnancies with ultrasound‐detected morphological abnormalities resulted in pregnancy loss. As a subset of PSPB data, a fully quantitative PSPB assay was used for 20 430 samples; PPL in cows with a high PSPB concentration (>1.1 ng/ml) was lowest (15.0%), whereas cows with low concentrations of both PSPB and progesterone (0.6–1.1 and <2 ng/ml, respectively) had the highest PPL (76.3%; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, PPL was higher in cows with advanced parity and with high milk production, when ambient temperatures were high, although body condition score (BCS) had no effect on PPL. Finally, there were no significant associations between serum PSPB and environmental temperatures or number of post‐partum uterine treatments.     

Tracking the evolution of a hydrothermal event plume with a RAFOS neutrally buoyant drifter

The migration and evolution of a deep ocean hydrothermal event plume were tracked with a neutrally buoyant RAFOS float. The float remained entrained in the plume for 60 days, and the plume vorticity was calculated directly from the anticyclonic motion of the float. Concentrations of suspended particles, particulate iron, and dissolved manganese in the plume did not decay significantly during the 60 days, which indicates that event plumes would be easily detectable a year after formation.