Electroencephalogram of Japanese Black calves affected with cerebrocortical necrosis

Electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations were carried out on three Japanese Black calves (1, 2 and 14 week old) affected with cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN) in order to investigate the relationship between EEG abnormalities and encephalic lesions. Some neurologic signs such as circling, astasia, convulsion and opisthotonus appeared in two of the calves (case 1 and 3). The other calf (case 2), however, showed no neurologic signs. The EEGs obtained from the two calves (case 1 and 2), in the awake state, showed constant high amplitude (50-160 microV) and slow (1-4 Hz) activity (HASA). One of these (case 1) had necrosis mainly in the right hemisphere and showed a markedly asymmetric sharp wave. On the other hand, in case 3, the EEG showed diffuse lowered activity, and almost flat in some leads. A decrease in fast activity observed in common with all three animals. These findings suggest that one of the characteristic EEG patterns of CCN patient may be HASA and decreased fast activity. Histopathologic diagnoses of the calves were CCN in various degrees. The degrees of abnormality of the EEGs seemed to accord with the seriousness of the lesions. Because the EEG obtained from the calf having no obvious neurologic signs showed an abnormal pattern, it was considered that EEG examinations in the early stages of disorders are valuable to diagnose CCN.     

Cimetidine for treatment of melanomas in three horses

Cimetidine, an H2 histamine antagonist, was used in the clinical management of progressive, multifocal melanomatosis in 3 adult gray horses. Prior to treatment, the tumors had increased rapidly in size and number in 2 horses (duration of 6 and 27 months, respectively) and slowly in the third horse (duration of 48 months). All 3 horses were treated with cimetidine (2.5 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 8 h) for 2 months to 1 year. During treatment, the number and size of the melanomas decreased substantially (50 to 90%). The progression of the disease was halted in 2 horses and controlled in the third horse, which is still being treated with cimetidine (1.6 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h). The horses in which treatment was terminated have not been treated for 31 and 41 months, respectively, during which time the melanomas have not increased in number or size.     

Relationship between mitogen receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes and blastogenic responses to mitogen

The relationship between the optimum concentration of mitogen which induces lymphocyte blastogenic response and the receptor occupancy by mitogen was investigated. The receptor occupancies which induced maximal blastogenic activity in equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were 31.1 per cent, 26.5 per cent and 38.4 per cent with phytohaemagglutinin-P, and 48.2 per cent, 17.9 per cent and 24.5 per cent with concanavalin A, respectively. The data clearly show that each animal species had its own optimum concentration of mitogen for stimulation of PBL. Optimum concentration for blastogenesis and number of binding sites of each mitogen had a good correlation with each other for all three species.     

Evaluation of full cortical allografts in 25 dogs

Twenty-five dogs received 26 cortical allografts from Apr 9, 1976 through Jan 31, 1982. Cortical allografts were used to reconstruct fractures of the femur, humerus, tibia, radius, and ulna. These grafts were used to replace comminuted fragments; to lengthen bones; to correct malunions, delayed unions, and nonunions; and in one case, to replace bone lost to sequestrum formation in an infected fracture site. All fractures were stabilized by use of standard ASIF techniques and dynamic compression plates. Frozen bone allografts were used in all cases. These were harvested aseptically and stored in a household freezer for 3 days to one year before use. Clinically normal function was achieved in 96% of the dogs.     

Ionophores alter hepatic concentrations of intermediary carbohydrate metabolites in steers

The effects of ionophores on liver weight and function were determined in finishing steers (n = 24; avg weight 440 kg). Steers were group-fed one of three treatments (control, lasalocid or monensin at 33 mg/kg feed) for 46 d prior to slaughter. Three days prior to slaughter, blood was collected for the determination of serum Ca and Mg. At slaughter, the liver was removed, weighed, sampled, frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of carbohydrate metabolites and minerals. Liver weight (5.9 kg) was unaffected by treatment. Serum and hepatic Ca and Mg were not affected by ionophore treatment. Hepatic glycogen levels in steers fed ionophores were unaffected by treatment. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was 21% lower (P less than .10) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores, whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate was 15 to 37% greater in hepatic tissue of steers fed monensin (P less than .20) or lasalocid (P less than .10). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was elevated more extensively by lasalocid than by monensin with increases of 72 (P less than .05) and 132% (P less than .001), respectively, over controls. Glycerol 3-phosphate levels were 37% (P less than .05) and 12% (NS) greater with these ionophores. Hepatic levels of pyruvate were elevated 12 (NS) to 36% (P less than .17) for monensin and lasalocid. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were 25% lower (P less than .25) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores than in hepatic tissue from control steers. Other metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism in hepatic tissue were not altered appreciably. Changes in levels of intermediary metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism suggest alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism favoring gluconeogenesis in steers fed ionophores.     

Detection of colonies of Anaplasma marginale in salivary glands of three Dermacentor spp infected as nymphs or adults

Salivary glands from males of 3 Dermacentor species (D andersoni, D variabilis and D occidentalis) that were infected with either the Virginia or Idaho isolate of Anaplasma marginale as nymphs or adults were examined for colonies of A marginale by use of light and electron microscopy. Prior to dissection of salivary glands, exposed ticks were held at 25 C for 15 to 18 days, followed by a 3-day incubation at 37 C. Ticks of 2 species transmitted A marginale to calves; the third tick species was confirmed infected by demonstration of typical colonies in tick gut cells, but transmission was not attempted; Colonies of A marginale were seen with light microscopy in salivary glands of all 3 species of ticks; they were located in acinar cells that contained simple granules. Colonies varied morphologically from small, compact ones to larger structures that contained distinct organisms and often were adjacent to the host cell nucleus. Electron microscopy confirmed that the colonies were rickettsial organisms. Morphologic features of A marginale varied and included reticulated forms, forms with electron-dense centers, and small particles; these various forms were similar to those described previously in midgut epithelial cells of ticks. We believe that the organism seen within tick salivary glands may replicate in the glands before its transmission to the vertebrate host.     

Secretion of Homoarginine into the Gut of Chickens

Angkanaporn, K., Ravindran, V., Mollah, Y. and Bryden, W.L., 1997. Secretion of homoarginine into the gut of chickens. Veterinary Research Communications, 21(3), 161-167A technique, based on the homoarginine present in guanidinated proteins, has been used to distinguish between endogenous secretions and exogenous dietary amino acids in the ileal digesta of monogastric animals. This technique assumes that the ingested homoarginine is not recycled into the small intestine after absorption, but this assumption is yet to be experimentally validated in chickens. The secretion of homoarginine into the gut of broilers that were intravenously infused with 20 and 40 mmol/L homoarginine solutions was assessed. The plasma concentrations of homoarginine increased with increasing concentrations of homoarginine infused. However, only negligible levels of homoarginine (7.0 to 45.2 µg/g dry matter) were found in the digesta. Less than 0.01% of the intravenously infused homoarginine was recovered in the intestinal digesta, indicating that the secretion of homoarginine into the gut of chickens was insignificant.     

Associations between yearling body measurements and career racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses

Yearling morphometric measurements and variables related to career racing performance were collected on 260 Thoroughbreds to determine correlations between and among these traits. Morphometric measurements were adjusted to 365 days based on interpolation from adjacent age points and included wither and hip height, body length, distal limb length, cannon circumference, heartgirth circumference, and chest width. Measures of career racing ability included total earnings, win percentage, and Standard Starts Index (SSI). Wither height and hip height were favorably correlated with lifetime earnings, SSI, and win percentage. Body length and heartgirth were positively correlated with SSI and win percentage. Leg traits were not correlated with any performance parameters. Horses that had placed in or won a stakes race tended to be taller at the wither and hip as yearlings. Horses categorized as preferring turf tended to be taller at the wither and hip at 365 days than those that preferred to run on dirt. No significant difference in yearling morphometric measurements between sprinters and routers was detected. In addition to phenotype and pedigree information, morphometric measurements taken in the yearling year may allow for more accurate estimation of future performance in the Thoroughbred racehorse.