The central retinal artery and regression of the hyaloid artery in perinatal cattle

The arterial supply to the retina and lens of 10 fetal, 10 neonatal and four adult Zavot-bred cattle of both sexes was studied macroscopically and by stereoscopic microscopy by means of vascular perfusion with latex, giving special emphasis on the hyaloid artery. The central retinal artery ramified in four major retinal arterioles, which formed a compact network throughout the retina (holangiotic or euangiotic pattern). The hyaloid artery was patent in all fetal stages and extended through the vitreous cavity of the eye to the caudal surface of the capsule of the lens. Atrophy of the hyaloid artery began immediately after birth and was completed on day 17 after parturition. No remnant of the hyaloid artery in the vitreous cavity was observed in the adult cattle examined at stereoscopic microscopic level.     

Radiographic Evaluation of the Anconeal Process in Skeletally Immature Dogs

Objective: To determine if a secondary center of ossification (SCO) of the anconeal process is present in skeletally immature dogs that do not develop an ununited anconeal process (UAP). Study Design: Case series. Animals: Dogs 77–154 days of age with conditions other than developmental disease of the elbow (n=78 dogs; total elbows=100). Methods: Mediolateral radiographic projections of the elbow were reviewed for presence or absence of a SCO of the anconeal process. Results: A SCO was radiographically evident in 16% of elbows from breeds that have been reported to be affected by UAP. The appearance of the SCO was different to an UAP fragment. None of the elbows with SCO of the anconeal process developed UAP. A SCO was not present in any small breed dogs. Conclusions: A SCO of the anconeal process is uncommon in medium and large breed dogs and the presence of a SCO does not indicate that UAP will develop. Clinical Relevance: Because radiographic diagnosis of a SCO of the anconeal process and UAP lesions have distinct appearances, an earlier diagnosis of UAP is possible.     

Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in selected districts of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia

To determine the risk factors associated with Taenia solium transmission in humans and pigs in the rural areas of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia, a questionnaire was administered in 788 households from 155 villages. Pigs were examined from 800 households. Tongue examination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) for the detection of circulating antigens of T. solium cysticerci were used to measure infection in pigs. A snowballing technique was utilised to select households with pigs. Prevalence of households with pigs infected with T. solium on tongue examination by district ranged from 12.7% to 32.1% with Ag-ELISA having a range of 30.0-51.7%. Of the total number of households visited, 18.8% and 37.6% had at least one pig positive for porcine cysticercosis on tongue examination and Ag-ELISA, respectively. Risk factors associated with T. solium infection were lack of pork inspection at slaughter (96.7%), consumption of pork with cysts (20.1%), selling of pork infected with T. solium cysticerci (18.3%), free-range husbandry system (83.2%) and absence of latrines (58.0). Free-range husbandry system (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.36-2.07) was a significant risk factor for porcine cysticercosis in the surveyed areas. The result that pigs were mostly kept on free-range and semi-intensive husbandry systems may have permitted them to have access to eating human faeces that could be contaminated with tapeworm eggs. This study has shown that T. solium infection poses a high public health risk in the study areas and urban areas as well. We recommend that a human survey be conducted to verify the human exposure to taeniasis and/or cysticercosis in Zambia.     

Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., verocytotoxic Escherichia coli, and antibiotic resistance in indicator organisms in wild cervids

Faecal samples were collected, as part of the National Health Surveillance Program for Cervids (HOP) in Norway, from wild red deer, roe deer, moose and reindeer during ordinary hunting seasons from 2001 to 2003. Samples from a total of 618 animals were examined for verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC); 611 animals for Salmonella and 324 animals for Campylobacter. A total of 50 samples were cultivated from each cervid species in order to isolate the indicator bacterial species E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis / E. faecium for antibiotic resistance pattern studies. Salmonella and the potentially human pathogenic verocytotoxic E. coli were not isolated, while Campylobacter jejuni jejuni was found in one roe deer sample only. Antibiotic resistance was found in 13 (7.3%) of the 179 E. coli isolates tested, eight of these being resistant against one type of antibiotic only. The proportion of resistant E. coli isolates was higher in wild reindeer (24%) than in the other cervids (2.2%). E. faecalis or E. faecium were isolated from 19 of the samples, none of these being reindeer. All the strains isolated were resistant against one (84%) or more (16%) antibiotics. A total of 14 E. faecalis-strains were resistant to virginiamycin only. The results indicate that the cervid species studied do not constitute an important infectious reservoir for either the human pathogens or the antibiotic resistant microorganisms included in the study.     

Phenylbutazone inhibition of equine platelet function.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs impair platelet aggregation and secretion in man, pigs, and rabbits and inhibit platelet thromboxane/prostaglandin synthesis. The present investigation studied the effects of phenylbutazone on platelet aggregation and bleeding times in the horse. Aggregation responses to adenosine diphosphate and collagen were markedly impaired 15 minutes and 2 hours after treatment, but 4 hours after treatment, platelet responses approximated those prior to treatment. The in vivo effect of phenylbutazone correlated with its plasma concentrations. Phenylbutazone, like aspirin, appeared to exert its effect by inhibiting thromboxane/prostaglandin synthesis, because thrombin-induced malondialdehyde formation was inhibited. However, unlike aspirin, free arachidonate-induced malondialdehyde synthesis was reduced but not eliminated, which suggested that phenylbutazone may have more than one site of action. Although collagen-induced platelet aggregation was impaired, a response was still present, and bleeding times were not altered by phenylbutazone treatment. To account for these findings, it is proposed that equine platelets can respond to collagen by thromboxane/prostaglandin independent pathways. The physiologic and pathophysiologic importance of these findings is discussed.     

Comparison of phenotypic characteristics of Salmonella spp isolated from healthy and ill (infected) chickens

Phenotypic characteristics of 12 paired, Salmonella serotypes isolated from healthy and ill chickens were compared. Variables compared included antibiotic resistance profiles, production of colicins and siderophores, mannose-sensitive hemagglutination of erythrocytes, resistance to serum complement, carbon source utilization, presence and transmissibility of R plasmids, and invasiveness in primary chicken kidney cell culture. Differences were found between pairs for utilization of carbon sources, mannose-sensitive hemagglutination of erythrocytes, and invasiveness in cell culture.     

Structure-activity relationships of insecticidal amides from Piper guineense root

The structure-activity relationships between five amides previously isolated from the root extract of Piper guineense Schum and Thonn were studied. The methyl-terminated amides, pellitorine and kalecide, were found to be more polar and caused higher knockdown, but showed less lethal action against insects than their methylenedioxyphenyl-terminated counterparts, pipercide and guineensine. Guineensinamide showed weak activity and this was correlated with higher unsaturation and the presence of a pyrrolidyl group in the molecule. There was an association between the polarity of the amides and the recovery of the insects from their effects, much more recovery being observed with the methylterminated than with the methylenedioxyphenyl-terminated amides. Electrophysiological investigations of the effects of pellitorine and pipercide on miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (MEPSPs) from the locust retractor unguis nerve-muscle preparation showed that the amides caused a reduction in both the frequency and amplitude of MEPSPs, pipercide being between 100 and 1000 times more effective than pellitorine. An action of the amides on presynaptic transmission is suggested. The effects of pipercide and pellitorine on the isolated nerve-muscle preparation were correlated with the symptoms of poisoning at the whole animal level.