Feline leukaemia (lymphosarcoma) symposium. 3. Some comparative aspects of leukaemia in man and animals with particular reference to lymphosarcoma

A review of recent advances made in the study of lymphosarcoma in man and animals has been made. Some aspects of leukaemia are also described.     

An XO/XX mosaic sheep with associated gonadal dysgenesis

A female sheep with an apparent XO/XX karyotype was discovered while screening barren ewes. The animal exhibited a normal phenotype. This is the first reported case of mosaicism associated with gonadal dysgenesis in the sheep.     

Complete diet feeding for cattleAlimentation des bovins avec des rations complètesFütterung mit Milchvieh-Komplettfutter

The complete diet system involves processing the ingredients of cattle diets into a well-mixed blend to which the cattle are given free access. Mixing the diet in this way has often been shown to increase daily intake and to increase the solids content of the milk of cows, although total milk production may not be increased.The necessity for varying forage:concentrate ratio with stage of production in cows is examined in relation to complete diets and for the feeding of separate ingredients. The evidence so far suggests that, where the basic forage is of good quality, there seems little justification for varying diet composition with the consequent necessity for grouping the cows.Specifications are outlined for computer formulation of complete diets showing the main aspects which require further clarification, notably roughage characteristics, protein degradability, amino acid composition of rumen undegradable protein and intake characteristics of mixed feeds.Advantages for complete diets appear to be simplicity of management and full mechanisation, coupled with economy of feeding space, safety and flexibility for inclusion of a wide range of ingredients. Disadvantages, as with most mechanisation, include high capital cost and risks of mechanical breakdown.Future developments envisaged include the use of low forage, straw-based diets for arid areas where the provision of conventional forage is costly.     

Retrospective study of bacterial infective arthritis in 31 dogs

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the presenting signs and pathological changes of canine bacterial infective arthritis in 31 dogs, and to document the response to different treatment regimens. Risk factors that may predispose joints to bacterial infective arthritis and influence the success of treatment were also investigated. METHODS: A retrospective review of cases of bacterial infective arthritis that were presented to three university veterinary referral hospitals over a five-year period (January 1997 to January 2002) was performed. RESULTS: The elbow joint (38 per cent) and stifle joint (44 per cent) were most commonly affected. Radiographic changes consistent with pre-existing osteoarthritis were identified in 14 joints, which had no history of previous surgery (articular or periarticular) or penetrating wound. No significant difference (P = 0.78) was identified between the outcome of combined surgical and medical management, and medical management alone. There were trends for poorer outcomes with increased bodyweight of the dog, longer duration of lameness and a higher nucleated cell count of the affected joint fluid at presentation. The overall infection rate for articular surgical procedures at one institution was 1-3 per cent. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Medical and/or surgical management were usually successful in resolving infection (94 per cent). However, they were frequently unsuccessful in restoring full joint function; this may in part have been due to the nature of the underlying joint