Antibiotic residue release at the beginning of lactation following dry cow therapy

In response to farmer complaints about unfair penalties, for the presence of inhibitory substances in early lactation following the use of dry-cow antibiotic therapy, a two-part study was carried out to try and establish why these unexplained grades occur. A survey of instructions supplied with each of 13 registered dry-cow products suggested that the directions for drug use were in some cases inappropriate for long-acting antibiotics. A residue release study was conducted at the beginning of lactation following antibiotic therapy at various times during the dry period. The results showed, for the-three dry-cow preparations studied, that treatment during the dry period, especially within six weeks of calving, could lead to detectable residues in milk from treated quarters.     

Erosion of the non-occlusal surfaces of sheeps' deciduous teeth

Major erosion of the labial or lingual surfaces was seen in histological sections of deciduous teeth from three of 208 sheep from two farms. In one, the erosion extended through both the enamel and the dentine and thus exposed the pulp cavity which had developed pulpitis. In the other cases the erosion affected the cementum and dentine of the tooth root, and did not penetrate as far as the pulp cavity. Dentine proliferation occurred on the adjacent pulpal surface, however, although pulpitis was not evident.     

Plasma cell sarcoma in a cat

Lytic lesions occurring in conjunction with plasma cell sarcoma (multiple myeloma) have rarely been reported in cats.

A plasma cell sarcoma was diagnosed in a 13 year old castrated male Siamese cat with hind limb paresis resulting from osteolysis of the second lumbar vertebra. Serum electrophoresis showed a monoclonal gammopathy. A uniform population of plasma cells was found in and around the second lumbar vertebra and in the bone marrow of the femora, humeri, pelvis and the fifth lumbar vertebra. The neoplastic cells were identified as IgA and kappa chain specific by direct immunofluorescence.

     

Fascioloides magna: Occurrence in Saskatchewan and Distribution in Canada

Infection with Fascioloides magna, the large American liver fluke, was diagnosed in two moose (Alces alces) and six wapiti (Cervus elaphus) from central Saskatchewan. This is believed to be the first record of the parasite in the province. Fecal samples collected from wild wapiti at five sites in the commercial forest zone in Saskatchewan contained eggs believed to be those of F. magna. Trematode eggs were not found in feces from five captive herds of wapiti in the province, nor in samples from wild wapiti in Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Operculate eggs were found in feces of wild wapiti from Cypress Hills, but these were believed to be from trematodes other than F. magna. The distribution and significance of F. magna in Canada, based partially on responses to a mail questionnaire, are reviewed.     

A uterocervical anomaly (Uterus bicorpor bicollis) in a mare, and the manual disruption of early bilateral pregnancies

A developmental anomaly, resulting from partial segmental aplasia of the Mullerian ducts, was present in a Clydesdale mare. She had complete double cervices and a divided uterine body. In this mare, bilateral pregnancies were destroyed in sequence by squeezing them per rectum 25 and 29 days after insemination.     

Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder in a Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

A transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was found in a beluga whale stranded in the St. Lawrence middle estuary. Various organs of this animal were submitted to high resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. High frequency of urinary bladder cancer in the human population of the same area and the presence of carcinogenic compounds in the marine environment of this animal are discussed.

Concurrent isolation of Edwardsiella tarda from various organs of this whale is also reported.

     

Behaviour of roaster chickens towards an automatic weighing perch

1. Automatic weighing equipment was tested on a flock of 752 roaster chickens reared on litter to 10 weeks of age.

2. Mean body weights obtained automatically were lower than those obtained manually, mainly because of birds perching on the automatic weighing perch with part of their body in contact with the floor.

3. Birds observed on the weighing perch on one day of the week were 3–5 times more likely to use the perch again on the following 2 d than expected on the basis of random perch use by flock members. These birds were also more likely to be seen in the area immediately surrounding the perch than in similar areas elsewhere in the pen.     

Caprine beta-Mannosidosis in Kids from an Ontario Herd

Caprine β-mannosidosis, a fatal inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme β-mannosidase, was diagnosed in neonatal female Nubian crossbred twin kids from a small herd near Guelph, Ontario. The kids had been tetraplegic since birth, with whole body tremors, abnormal nystagmus and an intention tremor of the head.