The muscular dystrophic chicken is hypernatremic

1. The E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) gene, the mutation of which causes muscular dystrophy in chickens, is expressed not only in the pectoral muscle, but also in a number of tissues such as the kidney. Therefore, this study examined some parameters related to kidney function in muscular dystrophic (MD) chickens.

2. Plasma osmolality, Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations, aldosterone levels, and the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 2, AQP3, and α subunits of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (αENaC) were analysed in the kidneys of 5-week-old MD chickens and White Leghorn (WL) chickens under physiological conditions or after one day of water deprivation.

3. Plasma osmolality, Na⁺ concentrations, and plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in MD chickens than in WL chickens. αENaC mRNA expression levels were lower in MD chickens than in WL chickens. AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA expression levels were similar in the two strains of chickens.

4. Plasma osmolality correlated with aldosterone levels and AQP2 and αENaC mRNA levels in WL chickens. In MD chickens, plasma osmolality correlated with AQP2 mRNA levels, but not with plasma aldosterone or αENaC mRNA levels.

5. These results suggest that neither water reabsorption nor the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 is impaired in MD chickens and that a WWP1 gene mutation may or may not directly induce an abnormality in Na⁺-reabsorption in the kidneys of MD chickens, potentially through αENaC.     

Coenurosis in New Zealand

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Sir,—During the survey on the cestode problems of food animals and dogs in New Zealand, Multiceps multi-cops (Leske, 1780) and its metacestode Coenurus cerebralis have been observed in the dog and sheep respectively in mid-Canterbury. An unconfirmed case has also been reported recently in a lamb's brain exported to Australia.     

Some investigations into the epidemiology of ovine toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Extract

Infection by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is widespread in sheep in New Zealand and is recognized as the most common cause of intra-uterine infection leading to abortion and stillbirths (Hartley et al., 1954 Hartley, W. J., Jebson, J. L. and McFarlane, D. 1954. New Zealand Type II Abortion in ewes. Aust. vet. J., 30: 216–218.  [Google Scholar]; Hartley and Boyes, 1964 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, B. W. 1964. Incidence of ovine perinatal mortality in New Zealand with particular reference to intra-uterine infections. N.Z. vet. J., 12: 33–36. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). In view of the prevalence of this infection in New Zealand, trials were set up to investigate some aspects of the epidemiology of this perplexing disease.     

A vitamin e response in a young dog

Extract

This subject will be covered in three sections, first, a brief history of how the idea of using trained dogs to help the blind was conceived, then the present-day methods of training guide dogs, and, finally, how the blind person is trained with their guide dog to work together as a team.     

Potentiated trimethoprim for the therapy of calf scours

Abstract

Extract

Trimethoprim became generally available 3 years ago, following its original discovery as a unique antibacterial agent for combating diseases of both man and animals (Hitchings and Bushby, 1961 Hitchings, G. H. and Bushby, S. R. M. 5-Benzyl-2, 4-diaminopyrimidines a new class of systemic anti-bacterial agents. 5th Int. Congr. Biochem. Moscow. pp.165–165.  [Google Scholar]; Pugsley et al., 1969 Pugsley, D. G., Mwanje, L., Pearson, C and Blowers, R. 1969. Use of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in tropical Africa: Typhoid fever; Salmonella typhi carriage and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Postgrad, med. J., 45: 95–99. Nov. 1969, Suppl. [Google Scholar]; McGuinness, 1969 McGuinness, B. W. 1969. A combination of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole in upper respiratory infection. Postgrad, med. J., 45: 99–101. Nov. 1969, Suppl. [Google Scholar]; McCaig, 1970 McCaig, J. 1970. A clinical trial using trimethoprim-sulphadiazine in dogs and cats. Vet. Rec., 87: 265–265.  [Google Scholar]; Barnett and Bushby, 1970 Barnett, Margaret and Bushby, S. R. M. 1970. Trimethoprim and the sulphonamides. Vet. Rec., 87: 43–51.  [Google Scholar]; Rehm and White, 1970 Rehm, W. F. and White, G. 1970. A field trial with trimethoprim and sulphadoxine in bacterial diseases of cattle and pigs. Vet. Rec., 87: 39–42.  [Google Scholar]; Craig 1972 Craig, G. R. 1972. The place of potentiated trimethoprim in the therapy of diseases of the skin in dogs and cats. J. small Anim. Pract., 13: 65–70.  [Google Scholar]).     

Leptospirosis in a lamb

Abstract

Extract

Recently, we reported on outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in newly weaned lambs(1) Vermunt, JJ, West, DM, Cooke, MM, Alley, MR and Collins-Emerson, J. 1994. Observations on three outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in lambs. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 42: 133–6. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. It was suggested that wet environmental conditions played an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in that class of sheep. This communication presents observations on another case of ovine leptospirosis, one that occurred under different circumstances, i.e. different season, age and environmental conditions.     

The relationship between estimates of ovarian size in live cattle and subsequent measurements post mortem

The reproductive tract of each of 122 cows was palpated transrectally by a veterinarian on the day before they were slaughtered, to obtain estimates of ovarian size and to identify palpable ovarian structures. Reproductive tracts were then retrieved post mortem. Ovarian volumes were recorded and compared with in vivo size scores (coded 1–5; 1 being the smallest). Ovarian volumes averaged 4.0 ml (score l), 7.0 ml (2), 10.0 ml (3), 12.9 ml (4) and 15.9 ml (5). There was a linear increase in ovarian volume of 3.0 ± 0.1 ml per score unit (r² = 0.792). The curvilinear regression included a significant quadratic term (p<0.05), but only accounted proportionally for an additional 0.003 of the sums of squares. Ovarian size score was about proportional to volume and could be used as a non-surgical technique to measure ovarian volume in live cattle.