Hyperlipemia and Ketonuria in an Alpaca and a Llama

An alpaca and a llama in late stages of gestation were evaluated for lethargy, anorexia, and recumbency. Both camelids had cloudy, white, turbid serum, elevated serum triglyceride (1564, 5658 mg/dL, respectively) and cholesterol (158, 297 mg/dL, respectively) concentrations, and ketonuria. Signs of fetal stress were evident ultrasonographically in the alpaca, and a live cria was delivered by Cesarean section performed under general anesthesia. The alpaca developed severe metabolic acidosis, hepatic lipidosis, and acute renal failure secondary to renal lipidosis and died 36 hours after admission despite medical therapy. Histopathology revealed renal and hepatic lipidosis and neutrophilic pancreatitis. The cria died 72 hours after birth. The llama responded to IV electrolyte, dextrose, and regular crystalline insulin therapy. The pregnancy was maintained, and the llama was discharged from the hospital 20 days after admission. Two months after discharge, the llama gave birth to a live, 5 kg cria. Findings of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, elevated sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, metabolic acidosis, azotemia, and ketonuria occurred in these two camelids. Based on this report, camelids appear to be similar to both horses and cattle in their response to severe energy imbalances in late gestation.     

Progressive Dermal Collagenosis of Male Miniature Swine

Abstract— A unique dermatosis of male miniature swine is described. The disease occurs in post-pubertal pigs, and is characterized by symmetrical, indurated, plaques over the truncal region. Histologically, the dermis and panniculus are effaced by thick, interwoven bundles of collagen resulting in an absence of deep dermal elastin. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of superficial dermal vessels, fibroblasts and fibrocytes are accompanied by perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. The pathogenesis of this unusual dermatosis, designated as “progressive dermal collagenosis of male miniature swine” is unknown. Résumé— Une dermatose originale du cochon nain mâle est décrite. La maladie apparait chez des cochons post pubertaires, et est caractérisée par des plaques sur le tronc, indurées et symétriques. Histologliquement, le derme et le pannicule sont envahis par d‘épais falsceaux de collagène, entrainant l'absence d’élastine dermique. Les vaisseaux du derme superficiei sont hyperplasiés et hypertrophiés, des fibroblastes et des fibrocytes sont accompagnés d'un infiltrat inflammatoire périvasculaire de lymphocytes, éosinophiles et plasmocytes. La pathogénie de cette affection peu commune, appelée “collagénose dermique progressive du cochon nain mâle” est inconnue. Zusammenfassung— Es wird eine einzigartige Hauterkrankung beim männlichen Miniaturschwein beschrieben. Die Krankheit tritt bei postpubertären Schweinen auf und wird durch symmetrische, indurierte Plagues im Rumpfbereich gekennzeichnet. Histologisch treten Dermis und Pannikulus gegenüber dicken, verflochtenen Kollagenbündeln in den Hintergrund, wodurch das tiefe, dermale Elastin verschwindet. Die Hypertrophie und Hyperplasie der oberflächlichen Hautgefäße, Fibroblasten und Fibrozyten wird von perivaskulären Infiltraten aus Lymphozyten, Plasmazellen und eosinophilen Granulozyten begleitet. Die Pathogenese dieser ungewöhnlichen Dermatose, die als “progressive dermale Kollagenose des männlichen Miniaturschweins” bezeichnet wird, ist unbekannt. Resumen El presente artículo es una descripción de una dermatosis única del macho cerdo miniatura. Le enfermedad aparece después de la pubertad, y se caracteriza por la aparición de placas simétricas sobre la región del tronco. El exámen histológico de la dermis y del tejido panicular revela la presencia de gruesas bandas de colágeno entrelazadas, lo cual tiene como resultado la ausencia de la capa de elastina profunda. La hipertrofia e hiperplasia de los vasos superficiales dérmicos, fibroblastos y fibrocitos, se ve acompañadas de infiltrados perivasculares de linfocitos, células plasmáticas y eosinófilos. La patogénesis de esta rara dermatosis Ilamada ‘colagenosis dérmica progresiva del cardo macho miniatura’, es desconocida.     

Surgical treatment of lameness.

Digital diseases are commonly seen in cattle. Cattle affected by digital disorders do not always respond to conservative therapy and require surgery. Surgical procedures for the common digital disorders are described, with emphasis on the different approaches to the distal interphalangeal joint.     

Investigation of Cervical Patency and Uterine Appearance in Domestic Cats by Fluoroscopy and Scintigraphy

The cervical patency of six domestic female cats was monitored under sedation by infusion of contrast medium (Omnipaque) into the cranial vagina during early oestrus, mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and interoestrus or a radiopharmaceutical (^99mTc‐HSA) during mid‐ and interoestrus in a non‐ovulatory oestrous cycle. The transport of the contrast medium or the radiopharmaceutical through the cervix and within the uterine horns was observed under fluoroscopy and with the aid of scintigraphy. In three of the queens, transcervical transport of contrast medium was demonstrated in all stages of oestrus, in one queen during mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and 1 day after oestrus, and in two queens only during late oestrus. The relations between the cervical patency to the contrast medium and the oestrous behaviour, cornification of the vaginal cells and the serum oestradiol‐17β concentration were evaluated, and a relationship was found between the cervical patency and the degree of vaginal cornification. Transcervical transport of the radiopharmaceutical was observed in three queens during mid‐oestrus. When the cervix was open, hysterography under a fluoroscope and hysteroscintigraphy were performed. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic recordings revealed the patterns of the uterine contractions during oestrus in both ascending and descending directions, and the movement of the uterine contents back and forth between the uterine horns. The hysterograms were classified according to the shape of the uterine horns and the appearance of the endometrial lining. Spiral‐shaped uterine horns with a smooth inner contour were observed in two queens, and a corkscrew appearance with irregular filling defects in the uterine lumen was shown in two queens that had developed subclinical cystic endometrial hyperplasia. These findings demonstrated that fluids or particles deposited in the cranial vagina of the cat can be transported into the uterus during some stages of the oestrous cycle. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic techniques developed in this study may be further modified to permit more detailed studies of uterine contractile patterns and sperm transport in the feline female reproductive tract. Hysterography proved useful to diagnose uterine disease. The information on cervical patency is of value also for the development of techniques for artificial insemination in this species, and should be studied also in the ovulatory cycle.     

The Effect of Diet on the Biochemical Composition of Juvenile Artemia: Potential Formulations for Rock Lobster Aquaculture

The lipid class and fatty acid (FA) composition of juvenile Artemia fed continuously on four diets—the microalga Tetraselmis suecica , a mix of oat bran-wheat germ-lecithin (OWL), OwL-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and OWL-EPA-arachidonic acid (AA)—were examined over a 9-d experiment in an attempt to approximate the FA profile of phyllosoma larvae of wild southern rock lobster Jasus edwardrii . The main difference in lipid class composition of Artemia fed the four diets was the relative level of polar lipid (PL) and triacylglycerol (TAG). By day 9, the algal-fed Artemia were highest in PL (95% of total lipid) and lowest in TAG (2%), whereas the remaining diets resulted in Artemia with 16–30% PL and 41–82% TAG. After 2 d, the relative FA composition of all Artemia treatments closely reflected those of the diets, with no marked change after further feeding (to day 9). In terms of the content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), by day 5 Artemia fed: 1) with the algal diet contained 7 mg/g FA dry mass (0.3% DHA, 6.3% EPA, 3.4% AA of total FA); 2) with the OWL diet contained 3 mg/g (0.3% DHA, 0.9% EPA, 0.7% AA); 3) with the OWL-EPA diet contained 55 mg/g (6.2% DHA, 11.6% EPA, 1.1% AA); and 4) with the OWL-EPA-AA contained 83 mg/g (3.8% DHA, 7.5% EPA, 17.4% AA). The PUFA profiles of Artemia using the OWL-oil diets were similar to wild rock lobster phyllmmata, although levels of doco-sahexaenoic acid (DHA) were lower (10% DHA) than in J. edwardsii larvae. On the basis of PUFA composition data alone, the results suggest the suitability of the OWL-oil mixed diets for consideration for feeding to Artemia used in the culture of southern rock lobster larvae, particularly if the level of DHA can be further enhanced.     

Long-term application of animal slurries to grassland alters soil cation balance

Abstract. Soil samples from a 32-year grassland field experiment were taken from 0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm soil depths in February 2002. Plots received annual treatments of unamended control, mineral fertilizer, three rates of pig slurry and three rates of cow slurry, each with six replicates. Samples were analysed for cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), pH and Olsen P. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was calculated as a sodicity indicator. Mean ESP was generally greater for slurry treatments than the control, with a trend of increasing ESP with application rate. This was particularly marked for cow slurry. At 0–5 cm depth ESP increased from 1.18 in the control to 1.75 at the highest rate of pig slurry and 5.60 at the highest rate of cow slurry. Similar trends were shown for CEC, exchangeable Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Olsen P. The build-up of soil P due to slurry applications, together with this combination of physical and chemical factors, may increase the risk of P loss to surface waters, particularly from soils receiving high rates of cow slurry.     

Analysis of the Impact of Alfalfa Forage Production under Summer Water-Limiting Circumstances on Productivity, Agricultural and Growers Returns and Plant Stand

The trade-off between summer water conservation from alfalfa production and the effects on plant growth, agricultural crop value, and grower returns in the low desert area (Imperial, Palo Verde, Parker and Yuma Valleys of California and Arizona) was analysed using an experimental plot in the Palo Verde Valley. The purpose was to provide a basis for evaluating water conservation decisions and policies. Four summer dry-down periods (withdrawing water for a predetermined period) of 0 days (control), 35 days, 70 days, and 105 days were analysed. Our results show that whereas the various dry-down periods would provide water conservation ranging from 254 to 944 million m³, the region would experience agricultural income decline by US $16 to US $73 million. For growers, benefits of dry-down would be effective only if the water price exceeds US $0.045 m⁻³ in California and US $0.036 m⁻³ in Arizona. Also dry-down would have possible adverse effects in the following areas including declines in plant stand density, long-term productivity, service industry sales, employment and biological benefits of soil fertility and organic matter that is attributed by the alfalfa plant in which case agriculture's and growers monetary losses could increase.     

P‐20 Clinical,cytopathological and histopathological evaluation of sporotrichosis in experimentally infected cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological aspects of experimental sporotrichosis in cats and compare the sensitivity of cytopathology, histopathology and culture as diagnostic tools in different phases of the infection. Twenty adult, mixed‐breed cats (10 males and 10 females) were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁶ fungal microorganisms. Clinical examination was performed weekly. Cytopathologic, histopathologic and culture examinations were performed at 15, 30 and 60 days postinoculation. Culture of multiple organs was performed after euthanasia at 30 (10 cats) and 60 (10 cats) days postinoculation. Friedman parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis were applied to the results. The nodular, tumoral and necrotic lesionsprogressed significantly until day 30 postinoculation, and partial spontaneous regression occurred at day 60, particularly in males. An intense inflammatory pyogranulatomous and lymphocytic infiltrate with rare giant cells and sparse fibrosis associated with numerous, pleomorphic, intra‐ and extracellular fungal cells were observed on day 30. These findings gradually decreased by day 60. Despite the inflammatory granuloma associated with feline sporotrichosis, a tendency for dissemination was observed, with fungal isolation in the lymph nodes, spleen and liver at the 30 and 60 days postinoculation. No significant differences were observed between cytopathology, histopathology and fungal culture during the different phases of the disease. Therefore, cytological examination was considered a simple, rapid and inexpensive diagnostic method at all stages of this disease. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Physiological Basis of Irrigation Scheduling for Seed Production in Egyptian Clover Syn. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted to find out the critical physiological stages of irrigation schedules inducing better growth, physiological efficiency and seed yield potential of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Var. S-99-1). For this purpose eight irrigation treatments were made comprised of four treatments of three irrigation (W₁, W₂, W₃ and W₄), three treatments of four irrigation (W₅, W₇ and W₈) and one treatment of five irrigation (W₆) at various physiological stages i. e. regeneration, flower initiation, full bloom, seed initiation and advance seed development stage.
Thus based on the experimental results the physiological role of watering in berseem seed production could be discussed as:
With-holding of irrigation either at regeneration or at full bloom stage developed potential water stress in plants as indicated by high proline content of irrigation treatments — W₄, W₁ and W₇; and further brought out disturbance on the formation of carotene, synthesis of water soluble sugar and translocation of sugar towards reproductive organs during grain development stage. These stresses adversely affected the plant growth and flowering behaviour. The irrigation at seed initiation stage increased the seed yield. Continuous irrigation did not appear to be useful. Thus it can be concluded that irrigation at three critical physiological stages i. e. regeneration, full bloom and seed initiation was found to be essential for obtaining potential seed yield of berseem.