Proctitis associated with chlamydial infection in a koala

Objective To describe proctitis associated with chlamydial infection in a koala.
Design A pathological study  

Animal

A free living, male koala aged 17 years.
Procedure Rectum was examined histologically and chlamydial organisms visualised using Giminez stain and an immunoperoxidase staining method using an anti- Chlamydia lipopolysaccharide (genus specific) antibody.
Results An aged koala presented for euthanasia was found to have asymptomatic chronic proctitis, cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis and conjunctivitis associated with chlamydial infection. Inflammation was severe in the terminal rectum and extended into the proximal common vestibule. Chlamydial organisms were visualised in the rectal surface epithelium using Giminez stain and an immunoperoxidase staining method. Organisms were also detected in the epithelium of the bladder, prostate and urethra.  

Clinical Implications

Possible modes of transmission for the rectal infection are direct sexual transmission or ascending infection by organisms shed from the urogenital tract into the common vestibule. Previously unreported chlamydial proctitis in the koala may represent a potential reservoir of infection for other koalas.     

Responses of Beijing black hogs to porcine somatotropin

Somatotropin treatment of U.S-breed finishing hogs improves feed efficiency, growth rate and carcass lean-to-fat ratio. Because Chinese-bred hogs have poorer feed efficiency, growth rate and lean-to-fat ratio than U.S. bred hogs, the characteristics affected by porcine somatotropin (PST) may respond differently to treatment. In the present experiment, Beijing Black finishing hogs (a composite of a local Chinese, Berkshire and Yorkshire breeds) were treated with PST for 28 d from average initial to final weights of 67.8 to 96.6 kg. In hogs individually fed as much as they would eat four times a day (n = 12/treatment group, six gilts and six barrows), feed efficiency was improved by 22.4 and 29.9% by 2 and 4 mg/d PST, respectively (P less than .01), primarily due to increased growth rate (22.1 and 32.6% greater than control, respectively, P less than .01); feed intake was not affected. Performance of group-housed and group-fed hogs (six/pen, four pens/treatment) administered 2 mg/d PST for 28 d (average initial and final weights of 66.5 +/- 1.7 and 94.0 +/- 2.4 kg, respectively) was similar (22.7% improved feed efficiency, P less than .01; 25% increased growth rate, P less than .01). At slaughter, last rib backfat thickness was decreased an average of 19.2% for hogs treated with 2 and 4 mg/d PST (P less than .01). Percentage of total muscle, obtained by physical separation of the half-carcass, was increased an average of 13.5% (P less than .01), whereas percentage of total fat was decreased 21.8% (P less than .01) in PST-treated hogs. The pH, water-holding capacity and meat color scores of longissimus muscle from PST-treated hogs did not differ from those of control hogs. Growth rate, feed efficiency and muscle weight responses to PST treatment were at least as large as those for U.S. breeds.     

Developmental orthopedic disease.

Developmental orthopedic diseases are a common cause of pain and lameness in young dogs. Most occur in large-breed dogs with rapid growth rates. This article reviews the signalment, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for many of the common developmental orthopedic diseases, including hypertrophic osteodystrophy, panosteitis, osteochondrosis, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and pes verus.