Production and preliminary characterization of monoclonal antibodies to chicken anemia agent

Mice were immunized with partially purified preparations of the Cux-1 isolate of chicken anemia agent (CAA), and their splenocytes were fused with NSO myeloma cells. Three patterns of staining of CAA-infected cells were recognized when the resulting hybridomas were screened by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Hybridomas representative of each staining pattern were cloned, and the monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were characterized. Type 1 staining was indistinguishable from that produced by polyclonal chicken antisera to CAA. Type 2 staining was confined to large nuclear inclusions. Type 3 staining was predominantly nuclear and granular, and differed from type 1 in being more intense and occurring in a higher proportion of nuclei. Three MAbs producing type 1 staining were predominantly Cux-1-specific by IIF; they also reacted to lower titers with the Gifu-1 isolate but not at all with three other CAA isolates. These MAbs had very slight neutralizing activity against Cux-1. Another MAb giving type 1 staining reacted with all CAA isolates tested to high titers in IIF and neutralization tests. MAbs with type 2 and type 3 staining reacted by IIF with all CAA isolates tested but possessed no neutralizing activity. The availability of MABs to CAA should facilitate development of diagnostic tests for the virus.     

The toxicity of Castanospermum australe seeds for cattle

Two calves given a mean of 16.1 g and 16.4 g ripe Castanospermum australe seeds/kg body weight daily for 13 and 16 days respectively developed haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The first calf died. The second calf had mild myocardial degeneration and necrosis and mild nephrosis at necropsy. Two calves given a mean of 16.8 g unripe C. australe seeds/kg body weight daily for 18 days remained clinically normal and had mild gastritis at necropsy. The activity of alpha-glucosidase was reduced in the mononuclear cells of peripheral blood and in skeletal muscle. This was attributed to the presence of the indolizidine alkaloid, castanospermine, in the seeds. The toxin causing the gastroenteritis and other lesions is unknown.     

PROVIDES: A Complete Veterinary Medical Information System

The desirable attributes of a computer-based diagnostic aid are proposed. These include ease of use, ready accessibility, sound reasoning, completeness, the ability to justify its recommendations, and a system for updating. These principles are illustrated by examples from the authors' diagnostic system (PROVIDES).

PROVIDES is a computer-aided diagnosis and medical information system designed for in-office use on a wide variety of microcomputers using the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems. It is organized by the clinical problems frequently encountered in practice. Relevant historical, physical, and routine laboratory findings are collected through a series of menus. These findings are used to generate a ranked differential diagnostic list. Up-to-date information on diagnostic tests, recommended treatments, and expected outcomes is available for each suggested disease.

     

Repeat laparotomy for the treatment of septic peritonitis in a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus)

A 9-yr-old female Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) presented with a 48-hr history of depression, lethargy, anorexia, and mucoid discharge from the rectum. Clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examination demonstrated the presence of multiple distended loops of intestine, intestinal adhesions, and free gas within the abdomen. During exploratory laparotomy, fibrinopurulent diffuse peritonitis as a result of a ruptured intrapelvic abscess with associated large bowel adhesions was evident. The abdomen was thoroughly lavaged, necrotic debris and abscess wall removed, and fibrinous adhesions disrupted. The orangutan was kept sedated for 48 hr to allow for intensive care. Six months later, when the orangutan presented with similar clinical signs, ultrasonographic examination demonstrated the presence of a pelvic abscess. The previous procedure was repeated with the addition of a hysterectomy. This report is the first documentation of long-term management following surgical intervention for internal abdominal abscessation and septic peritonitis in a great ape.     

Emergency medicine of the ferret.

Common emergency conditions seen in the ferret include insulinoma, cardiomyopathy, and urethral obstruction. When developing a diagnostic and therapeutic plan, the ferret veterinarian must seek a balance between species-specific information and information extrapolated from cat and dog medicine. The therapeutic plan must always include close and careful monitoring. Significant changes in the status of these small patients can occur extremely quickly in the course of providing basic supportive care, such as intravenous fluids or supplemental heat.     

Early growth and quality of radiata pine in a silvopastoral system in New Zealand

The effect of different understoreys on the early growth and quality of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) in a silvopastoral system was evaluated in Canterbury, New Zealand. Fitted models successfully represented the effect of understorey on the growth (basal area and height) and a quality of trees (diameter over stubs). Basal area, diameter, height and volume growth were affected by understorey competition. Trees growing with no-understorey had 34%and 29% higher volume than trees growing with lucerne (Medicagosativa) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata)understoreys, respectively. However, the height of trees at age 10 grown without understorey competition was only 9% and 15% more than trees grown with grass and lucerne understorey, respectively. Understorey competition effects on growth became more evident during the summer and early autumn months when water deficits occurred. The quality of trees was also affected by understorey competition. While trees grown in bare ground had higher growth than trees grown with understorey competition, they had the poorest stem quality with higher diameters over stubs, branch size, sweep and proportion of stem defects. This will have an impact on the agroforestry system profitability by affecting the net harvest revenue. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fungal sinusitis resulting in suspected trigeminal neuropathy as a cause of headshaking in five horses

Primary fungal sinusitis was identified in 5 horses displaying signs of headshaking. All 5 horses had fungal plaques adhered to the infraorbital canal (IOC). Headshaking signs were exhibited by 3 horses prior to treatment and 2 horses after treatment. Standing computed tomography (CT) identified erosion of the IOC in the 2 cases in which it was performed. Fungal culture and PCR identified 3 species of fungi, Rhizomucor pusillus, Scedosporium apiospermum and Aspergillus nidulans which have not previously been described as a cause of sinusitis in horses. Surgical debridement followed by topical antifungal therapy was used in all 5 horses. Recurrence of the fungal plaques in 4 horses necessitated further treatment. The headshaking signs and nasal discharge resolved in 3 horses allowing a return to their previous use. Two horses developed persistent headshaking signs despite multiple treatments. Primary fungal sinusitis should be considered as a cause of headshaking signs in horses, due to a suspected trigeminal neuropathy. Computed tomography is valuable in identifying erosion of the IOC which is not identified with conventional radiography. Three out of the 5 cases were treated successfully but permanent resolution of the fungal infection is difficult to achieve once the bone overlying the infraorbital nerve has been eroded.     

Effects of surgery on the acute phase response in clinically normal and diseased horses

The serum concentrations of serum amyloid A, haptoglobin and fibrinogen were measured in a group of horses before and at intervals after elective and non-elective surgery, and in a control group of normal horses. There was a significant, rapid and repeatable increase in the concentration of serum amyloid A in response to both elective and non-elective surgery. In the control horses its serum concentration was within the normal range, from 0 to 0.2 microg/ml. Twenty-four hours after elective surgery its mean peak concentration was 16.4 microg/ml, and after non-elective surgery it was 27.3 microg/ml. In contrast, the serum concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen increased more slowly after surgery and had not decreased by 72 hours after surgery.