Characterization of endotoxin from the rumen bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii.

Phenol-water extraction of Megasphaera elsdenii, a predominant gram-negative coccus in rumens of cattle fed high-grain diets, yielded material that exhibited typical characteristics of endotoxin. The extract was lethal to mice and to chicken embryos, caused biphasic fever in rabbits, leukopenia in mice, and local and generalized Shwartzman reactions; and induced tolerance to the lethal effect of the endotoxin in mice. The material contained carbohydrate, protein, lipid, phosphorus, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, but no nucleic acid. The beta-hydroxymyristic acid was absent. Results imply that M elsdenii endotoxin has many biological and chemical characteristics common to enterobacterial endotoxin. However, the median lethal doses in mice and in chicken embryos, and minimal dose required to elicit a local Shwartzman reaction, indicate that M elsdenii endotoxin's potency is low, which may explain why the large gram-negative bacterial population in the rumen of cattle is generally innocuous.     

Primary hyperparathyroidism in a dog.

A 6-year-old male Standard Poodle had hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and a urinary concentrating defect. A parathyroid adenoma involving the left caudal parathyroid gland was surgically removed. Transient hypocalcemia followed, which resolved without treatment. A renal biopsy did not demonstrate renal parenchymal mineral deposition. Urinary concentrating ability returned after surgery.     

Bromocyclen poisoning in the dog.

An 18-week-old male German shepherd dog had a convulsion following the accidental ingestion of bromocyclen two hours previously. The dog then vomited and had a second convulsion. A pulse rate of 150 per minute and a respiratory rate of 54 per minute were recorded. The dog was treated with 2mg acepromazine and 0.6mg atropine administered intramuscularly (im) and repeated every four hours, 10ml of 20 per cent calcium borogluconate administered subcutaneously and 2ml penicillin and streptomycin im. Eighteen hours later, the respiratory rate was in excess of 60 per minute, and penicillin and streptomycin plus 2mg betamethasone were administered im. Only atropine was administered over the next 12 hours and then discontinued. Forty hours after the original convulsion, the respiratory rate had fallen to 30 per minute and the pulse rate to 84 per minute. A day later, the dog had fully recovered.     

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.     

Pyometra in the dog. III.--A pathophysiological investigation. III. Plasma progesterone levels and ovarian morphology.

The peripheral plasma progesterone levels in bitches with spontaneously developed pyometra did not differ significantly from those in normally cycling or pregnant bitches. The macroscopic ovarian morphology gave no indication of an increased corpus luteum activity. Ovarian follicular cysts were found in 4 out of 31 cases. There was no detectable difference of results between 14 bitches that had received hormonal medication 10 years to 1 week previous to the pyometra diagnosis, and the other patients.     

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.     

A Livestock Disease Survey from Auction Mart Inspection in Saskatchewan

The data on health problems from visual livestock inspection at an auction mart in Saskatchewan during a two year period were tabulated for swine, cattle and calves. The major conditions seen in swine were underweight animals, infectious diseases or congenital abnormalities. Infectious diseases such as Hypoderma spp. infestations, ringworm or eye infections were the primary troubles in older cattle. Young calves demonstrated a predominance of congenital (herniation) and infectious (enteritis or navel infection) diseases.