Comparing oral and intramuscular administration of medetomidine in cats

Medetomidine (200 μg/kg) was administered orally and, on a seperate occasion, im to 7 cats. Peak serum drug concentrations were reached more slowly after oral (43.6 ± 14.3 min) than after im administration (21.6 ± 10.0 min). The onset of sedation and recumbency lagged after oral administration. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 routes of administration in peak serum concentrations, systemic drug availability or extent of sedation. However, there was considerable variation in these parameters between individuals after oral administration. The extent of salivation correlated negatively with systemic drug availability after oral administration. Where excessive salivation did not occur, systemic drug availability and the depth of sedation were comparable to, or even higher than, were obtained after the corresponding im administrations. In conclusion, oral administration of medetomidine induced a clinical sedation but, when accurate dosing is a necessity, the oral route may not be very reliable due to possible drug losses through salivation.     

Canine toxocariasis and the associated environmental contamination of urban areas in eastern Nigeria

The prevalence of canine toxocariasis in pet dogs in two urban towns in eastern Nigeria and the associated environmental contamination were studied through examination of 262 faecal and 400 soil samples. Infection rates in dogs varied from 6.67% to 42.35%, the prevalence rate being inversely related to the age of dogs. Sex and breed of dogs had no significant influence (P greater than 0.05) on the prevalence of infection. There was no evidence of widespread contamination of public places, as Toxocara ova were recovered only from some private premises, namely, those of a dog owner and the kennel of a veterinary hospital.     

Asynchronous growth of the canine radius and ulna: effects of retardation of longitudinal growth of the radius.

After 2,000 rads of x-radiation to the right distal radial physis of eight 70-day-old dogs, the longitudinal growth of the right radius was retarded 42.1% when compared with the growth of the nonirradiated left radius. Asynchronous growth of the right radius and ulna resulted. The gross and radiographic changes that occurred over the subsequent 75 days were described. Subluxation of the humeroradial and humeroulnar joints occurred and was first observed 31 days after irradiation. By 75 days after irradiation, the radius was puller 7.8 mm distally by the radioulnar ligament. However, subluxation of the humeroradial joint was minimized by accelerated growth from the proximal radial physis and articular cartilage. Acceleration of growth also occurred at the distal radial articular cartilage. Growth from the distal ulnar physis and styloid process was retarded. It was thus apparent that after retardation of growth from the distal radial physis, considerable adjustment occurred in the relationship between the radius and the ulna and also in growth from their other physes, which reduced the deleterious effects of the growth retardation.     

Acute viral hepatitis in California sea lions

Acute viral hepatitis was diagnosed in five California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) stranded along the Los Angeles coast. Light microscopy revealed large nuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. Electron microscopy provided evidence that these inclusion bodies were composed of adenovirus-like virions. Attempts to grow the virus in cell culture systems were unsuccessful.     

Pathological Lesions in Swine at Slaughter: I. Baconers

An extended disease recording programme in pigs has been carried out by the meat inspection service at Sentralslakteriet, Forus, Stavanger. A data system including 57 disease codes has been applied. In the period 1975–1977 an average of 85,000 baconers were slaughtered yearly. About 39 % of these were given disease remarks; 42–47 % of the lesions were directly related to the parasites Sarcoptes scabiei (rind lesions) and Ascaris suum (white spots in the livers). The thoracic cavity was the most commonly affected part of the body with 30–35 % of all recorded lesions.Sixteen disease codes occurred at frequencies above 0.3 %, and they encompassed approx. 97 % of all recorded lesions. Scabies occurred at an average of 12 % of the fatteners. Parasitic hepatitis of severe and moderate degrees were seen in about 11 %, pleurisy in 7 %, pneumonia — severe and moderate — in 5.4 %, pericarditis in 4.3 %, pyaemia and abscess/-es in 2.5 %, tail lesions in 2.3 %, perihepatitis and other non-parasitic liver lesions in 2.2 %, polyarthritis and arthritis in 1.7 %, tuberculous lesions in the cervical lymph nodes in 0.9 %, peritonitis in 0.9 % and atrophic rhinitis — external lesions — in 0.8 % of the carcasses. The majority of the other 41 disease codes occurred at frequencies below 0.1 %.A seasonal variation was pronounced in scabies, numerous white spots in the liver, and tuberculous lesions in the cervical lymph nodes. It could be noted in pleurisy, pericarditis, perihepatitis and other non-parasitic liver lesions, arthritis and atrophic rhinitis, but not in pneumonias, moderate number of white spots in the liver, tail lesions, pyaemia, abscess/-es, peritonitis and polyarthritis.     

Isolation and biological properties of virulent subpopulations from lentogenic Newcastle disease virus strains

From each of two lentogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains of the type LaSota and Hitchner B1 a virulent subpopulation could be obtained. The two subpopulations were—in comparison to the two parent viruses—more resistant to the lipid solvent chloroform and more stable against thermal degradation. Also, the glycoproteins haemagglutinin and F (fusion) were more stable against thermal inactivation. Electron microscopic observations revealed in terms of size and morphology all of the characteristics of NDV. Both subpopulations possessed, however, the same elution kinetics as their respective parent strains. The intracerebral and intravenous pathogenicity indices as well as the mean death times of the two subpopulations allow to classify these viruses as virulent Newcastle disease viruses.