Studies on Macaca mulatta infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Acid-base alterations and changes in other selected serum constituents (free fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol, copper, cortisol, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, and albumin) were measured during a study of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in 16 male rhesus macaques. Blood samples were taken from nonanesthetized macaques conditioned to repeated handling. Arterial pH increased and PCO2 decreased during the febrile period. Free fatty acids, triglycerides, copper, cortisol, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, and haptoglobin increased, whereas albumin decreased during the disease. Significant changes were not observed in arterial PO2. Cholesterol remained unchanged. The increase in arterial pH and decrease in PaCO2 indicated that respiratory alkalosis was present in macaques acutely affected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.     

Intra-uterine absorption of sodium benzylpenicillin in the cow

Twenty-six experiments were performed on six healthy, non-lactating cows with normal oestrous cycles. Absorption of sodium benzylpenicillin from the uterus in oestrus and on day 12 following oestrus was compared with intravenous injection. Absorption, as shown in plasma from the uterus of six cows in oestrus, occurred to a greater extent (mean peak 12.80 ± S.E.M. 3.36 i.u./ml) than from the uterus in the luteal phase on nine occasions (mean peak 3.92±0.75 i.u./ml.). Intrauterine infusion of 10% Lugol's iodine solution before the administration of antibiotic did not significantly alter absorption on day 12 in six cases (mean peak 5.07±1.51 i.u./ml).     

Pain in small animals – its recognition and control

The importance of appreciating the presence of pain in small animals is discussed, and an outline of current concepts in the physiology of pain is presented. The clinical use of therapeutic agents in the control of pain is described. Some discussion on the mechanisms of action of acupuncture is included.     

Testicular neoplasia in the retained testicles of an intersex male dog

This case describes the presentation and management of an 8 yr old phenotypically female intersex male dog presented for evaluation of a mass in the right inguinal region. The right inguinal space was surgically explored, and a large irregular mass resembling a fully developed testicle was identified in the right vaginal tunic. A second mass resembling an atrophied, but anatomically mature testicle, was identified in the left tunic. The larger mass was identified as a Sertoli cell tumor that had replaced all normal testicular tissue. The smaller mass was identified as a testicle that contained a small intratubular seminoma. The patient was diagnosed as having a phenotypic female sex, chromosomal male sex, and a gonadal male sex. Hormone assays completed before and after the gonadectomy and mass removal document an elevation of circulating progesterone presurgically that returned to baseline by 1 mo postsurgically. The source of the progesterone was identified to be the Leydig cells of the atrophied testicle.