The effects of induced parturition in dairy cows on the incidence of mortality in calves from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY The effects of induced parturition on calf mortality rates were studied in 24 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from cows in the same herds in which calving was not induced. The incidence of mortality within 7 days of birth was much higher among calves from cows in induced groups relative to those in control groups (estimated median herd mortality incidence 72% and 7%, respectively). The incidence of calf mortality was high among groups induced at all stages of pregnancy that were investigated. However, differences in calf mortality incidence, relative to controls, were increased among groups induced at earlier stages of pregnancy.     

Differential Diagnosis of Some Conditions of the Canine and Feline Thorax : (First Installment)

Routine clinical examination of the chest is described.

The basic principles of viewing X-ray plates are mentioned.

The conditions of the canine and feline thorax dealt with are mostly those which can be confirmed radiologically during life.

The major points of differential diagnosis of each condition are dealt with within groups determined by some cardinal clinical sign. For convenience each condition is dealt with only under one groupheading, although it may have additional signs of some of the other groups.

The groups and conditions are as follows:

Gross Dyspnoea

Hydrothorax

Pyothorax

Pneumothorax

Diaphragmatic hernia

Pneumonia

Cough

Distemper

Tuberculosis

Secondary lung tumour

Filaroides osleri infestation of the trachea

Kennel cough

Feline influenza

Tiring on exercise

Cardiac valvular disease

Congenital cardiac disease

Difficulty in swallowing

Oesophageal foreign body

Feline oesophageal annular carcinoma

Oesophageal diverticulum

Mega-oesophagus (Achalasia)

Oesophageal dilatation associated with

vascular anomalies of the right aortic arch.

     

The use of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride for sedation of the mountain brushtail possun Trichosurus caninus Ogilby (Phalangeridae: Marsupialia)

SUMMARY A combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride in a 1:1 ratio by weight was used successfully to sedate mountain brushtail possums, Trichosurus caninus, in the field. A standard total dose of 50 to 60 mg provided adequate sedation for the completion of a range of handling procedures. We describe the induction time, dose rate and side-effects associated with the use of tiletamine and zolazepam in T caninus.     

Demonstration of a new intracellular antigen in porcine intestinal adenomatosis and hamster proliferative ileitis

In the proliferate enteropathies of the pig, intracellular Campylobacter-like organisms can be demonstrated in the apical cytoplasm of affected cells. A new antigen (omega) can be visualised at the site of bacterial parasitism using certain rabbit sera in a sandwich immunofluorescence test; the rabbit sera tested were largely derived from rabbits immunised with bacterial antigens including Campylobacter spp., but it appeared that the reaction was not related to the immunisation procedure and was also present in at least one "normal" rabbit serum. Rabbits immunised with bacteria extracted from the tissues sero-converted to omega-antigen yet did not react with Campylobacter spp., cultured from pig intestine. The omega-antigen was also present in the lesions of hamster proliferative ileitis.