Laryngeal paralysis-polyneuropathy complex in young related Pyrenean mountain dogs

OBJECTIVES: To characterise clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological findings. To analyse pedigree information in six young related Pyrenean mountain dogs with laryngeal paralysis-polyneuropathy complex (LP-PNC). METHODS: A retrospective study of clinical records and pedigrees of six young related Pyrenean mountain dogs with LP-PNC was carried out. RESULTS: All dogs were presented with laryngeal paralysis and concurrent megaoesophagus. Electrodiagnostic testing was performed in three dogs and showed electrophysiological abnormalities in the distal appendicular muscles. Histopathological findings of peripheral nerve samples were dominated by distal axonal degeneration. Clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological findings were supportive of a diagnosis of degenerative, sensorimotor LP-PNC, similar to that reported in young dalmatians and rottweilers. All dogs died or were euthanased by two years of age. An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was suspected based on pedigree analysis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Congenital LP-PNC should be suspected in any young dog presenting with laryngeal dysfunction and other concurrent neurological abnormalities. The prognosis is usually poor.     

Comparison of radiographic assessments of the tibial plateau slope in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of 2 radiographic methods used to assess tibial plateau slope (TPS) in dogs and evaluate effects of film digitization and radiographic beam placement on TPS measurements. SAMPLE POPULATION: 16 hind limbs from dog cadavers weighing > 20 kg. PROCEDURES: Radiographs of tibiae were made with the radiographic beam centered over the stifle joint and midshaft of the tibia. Tibiae were collected, the femorotibial contact area was determined, and slope of the medial tibial condyle in relation to the tibial shaft was measured. Radiographs were digitized. Slope of the medial tibial condyle was measured on printed and digitized radiographs read in random order by 6 examiners unaware of anatomic measurements. Three examiners used a conventional measuring technique, and 3 examiners used an alternative measuring technique. RESULTS: Anatomic measurements were significantly higher than radiographic measurements made by use of the conventional interpretation method but did not differ from radiographic measurements made by use of the alternate method. Measurements from printed radiographs were lower than measurements from digitized radiographs for the 4 most experienced examiners. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurements made by use of a line tangential to the cranial, linear portion of the medial tibial condyle at the femorotibial contact point were accurate measurements of the anatomic TPS. Measurements made by use of the conventional TPS measurement method underestimated the anatomic TPS. Measurements made on digitized radiographs were typically more accurate than measurements made on printed radiographs.     

Divergent selection for postweaning feed conversion in Angus beef cattle: II. Genetic and phenotypic correlations and realized heritability estimate.

A single generation divergent selection study, replicated four times (1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986), was conducted to assess genetic differences between progeny of high and low feed conversion sires in Angus beef cattle and to determine correlated response for weight gain (ADG140), feed intake (AVFD140), and BW (OFFTSTWT) in a time- (140-d) and fat-constant (8.9 mm) period. Realized heritability estimates for unadjusted (feed/gain; FEFF140; .26) and adjusted feed conversion (adjusted as recommended by the BIF, 1986; ADJFDEFF; .46) were obtained. The difference in heritability estimates reflects variation accounted for by adjustment for BW differences, and thus maintenance requirements, of individual progeny. Phenotypic and "pseudo" realized genetic correlations of FEFF140 with ADG140, AVFD 140, and OFFTSTWT were -.33 and -.66, .49 and -.26, and .15 and -.41, respectively. Phenotypic and "pseudo" realized genetic correlations of ADJFDEFF with ADG140, AVFD140, OFFTSTWT, and FEFF140 were -.54 and -.59, .30 and -.23, .27 and -.36, and .97 and .49, respectively. Subcutaneous fat (as estimated by ultrasonic measurement; BF140) had phenotypic and "pseudo" realized genetic correlations with FEFF140 of -.33 and .66, respectively, and with ADJFDEFF of -.44 and -.58, respectively.     

Metastatic mineralisation in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) from Kawau Island

AIMS: To describe the nature and incidence of metastatic mineralisation in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) caught on Kawau Island. METHODS: Wild-caught possums were individually housed in captivity over a 24-month period and fed a cereal-based mash diet. Possums that became debilitated were examined post mortem for evidence of metastatic mineralisation of the heart, major blood vessels and kidneys. Serum and aortic segments were collected from affected animals and were analysed for mineral composition. Non-debilitated animals and possums that were experimentally poisoned with cholecalciferol were examined as a comparison. RESULTS: Fifteen of 42 possums (36%) captured on Kawau Island and housed in captivity were debilitated as a result of metastatic mineralisation of the walls of the aorta and/or of the kidney tubules, with four further possums having evidence of mineralisation when humanely killed. Phosphate and ammonium deposits were found in the aorta, and calcium deposits in the kidney tubules. Serum phosphorus and calcium levels were elevated in the debilitated animals. Similar lesions were found in only one of 288 possums captured from other North Island areas and housed in captivity over the same time period. CONCLUSION: Possums from Kawau Island appear to be more predisposed to metastatic mineralisation than possums from other areas of the North Island. The lesions observed in these possums were similar to those caused by cholecalciferol poisoning.     

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Straws and a Short Gamete Coincubation Time Improves the Efficiency of Porcine IVF

The present study was designed to evaluate three different in vitro fertilization (IVF) systems: a straw‐IVF system with 10 min of coincubation, a straw‐IVF system with 6‐h coincubation and the microdrop‐IVF system with 6‐h coincubation (the traditional IVF system used routinely in most of IVF laboratories) in an attempt to reduce polyspermic penetration ( Experiment 1 ). When the straw‐IVF system was tested in combination with two coincubation times, the use of 10 min of coincubation significantly increased (p < 0.001) the penetration rate and the efficiency of fertilization (67.7 ± 6.4% vs 31.9 ± 6.5% and 41.5 ± 2.5% vs 17.6 ± 2.5% for 10 min and 6 h, respectively), while there were no significant differences in the incidence of monospermy between both systems (64.3 ± 5.1% and 67.7 ± 3.4%, for 10 min and 6 h, respectively). The penetration rate in the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system was higher (93.8 ± 3.6%; p < 0.001) compared with the 10‐min straw‐IVF system (67.7 ± 6.4%), however, monospermy was severely reduced (25.0 ± 4.3% vs 67.7 ± 3.4%, for the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system and 10‐min straw‐IVF system, respectively). The efficiency of the IVF showed similar values between microdrop and 6‐h straw‐IVF systems, but efficiency was significantly improved (p < 0.05) when the 10‐min straw‐IVF system was used. Experiment 2 was designed to compare porcine in vitro embryo production in two IVF systems, the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system (1000 sperm per oocyte) and 10‐min straw‐IVF system (30 000 sperm per oocyte). The blastocyst formation rates tended (p = 0.06) to be higher when the 10‐min straw‐IVF system was used compared with the 6‐h microdrop‐IVF system. In addition, the number of total cells per blastocyst increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 10‐min straw‐IVF system. These results showed that the 10‐min straw‐IVF system is an effective way to decrease polyspermic penetration, and improve the efficiency of fertilization and the quality of blastocysts in terms of cell number per embryo.