Isolation of group eugonic fermenter-4 bacteria from a cat with multifocal suppurative pneumonia

A pure growth of Group Eugonic Fermenter-4 bacteria (gram-negative) was isolated from the lungs of an 11-year-old male domestic cat that had been ill for 2 days before death. Clinical signs included anorexia, severe dyspnea, and salivation. The lungs contained several firm, slightly raised, yellowish-gray, spherical nodules of various sizes. Purulent exudate was found in the pericardial sac and left pleural cavity. Histologic evaluation revealed multifocal suppurative pneumonia.     

Sulfur influences on rumen microorganisms in vitro and in sheep and calves

When continuously cultured ruminal microbes were given orchardgrass hay and sufficient sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to maintain a pH of 5.5, fermentation and numbers of protozoa were reduced compared with cultures whose pH was controlled with phosphoric acid. Likewise, when sulfur-deficient, purified diets were supplied to cultures, less methane (mmol X liter-1 X d-1), 3.2 vs 32.6, was produced and fewer cellulolytic bacteria (log10/ml), 5.8 vs 7.2 were present than when cultures were given the same diet supplemented with .3% elemental sulfur. The rumen of sheep fed the .04% sulfur diet had reduced digesta weights (1.69 vs 3.2 kg) compared with sheep fed the diet with .34% sulfur at the same intake. There also was reduced methanogenesis 12.3 vs 25.8 mmol X liter-1 X d-1) and reduced numbers of cellulolytic bacteria (7.4 vs 8.4 log10/ml) in sulfur-deficient sheep in comparison to sulfur-supplemented sheep. In growing calves, the same types of bacteria predominated in the rumen, but more facultative anaerobic bacteria were isolated from calves fed .04% sulfur than from calves fed diets with .34 to 1.72% sulfur. None of the dietary levels of sulfur appeared toxic. Regardless of treatment, volatile fatty acids were more predominant than lactic acid as end-products of fermentation of ruminal microbes in fermenters, sheep and calves. The greater methanogenesis and the greater cellulolytic bacterial numbers of sulfur-supplemented sheep compared with sulfur-deficient in vitro cultures, is interpreted to be the result of recycling of sulfur to the rumen in sheep where it is efficiently scavengered by ruminal bacteria.     

Effect of various veterinary procedures on plasma concentrations of cortisol, luteinising hormone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite in the cow

Five commonly practised veterinary procedures were studied: Palpation per rectum of the reproductive tract, intramuscular injection, single venepuncture, repeated venepuncture and jugular vein catheterisation. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased from baseline values of approximately 2 ng/ml to maximum mean values between 6.5 +/- 2.5 ng/ml and 13.8 +/- 5.6 ng/ml approximately 13 to 27 minutes after each manipulation. Baseline values occurred approximately 80 minutes later. In the control bleeding periods unacclimatised cows initially had high values of plasma cortisol (5 to 10 ng/ml) which returned to baseline after two hours, ie, before beginning any procedure. There were no statistically significant changes in luteinising hormone concentrations. The concentration of 13,14 dihydro, 15-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) increased from 61.0 +/- 4.6 pg/ml to 209.8 +/- 152.1 pg/ml in three out of five cows palpated on days 16 and 19 of the oestrous cycle. Increases did not occur in five other cows palpated during the follicular phase, nor in five cows palpated on day 12. However, after palpation on day 8, one animal did have concentrations of PGFM similar to those occurring during spontaneous release on days 18 to 20 of the oestrous cycle.     

Osteochondrosis-like lesion of the anconeal process in two horses

A suspected lesion of osteochondrosis dissecans involving the anconeal process of the humeroradial joint (elbow) was found in 2 horses. In horse 1, the lesion was found during routine lameness examination, during which alleviation of the lameness was achieved after intra-articular anesthesia of the elbow. In horse 2, the lesion was found at necropsy. Horse 1 responded satisfactorily to intra-articular treatment with hyaluronic acid. Both horses also had other joints affected with osteochondrosis dissecans.     

An evaluation of an oral glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution for the treatment of experimentally induced dehydration in the horse

Five standardbred geldings were given 1 mg/kg bodyweight of frusemide by intramuscular injection to induce mild dehydration. After food and water deprivation overnight, the mean weight loss was 24.4 +/- 1.8 kg (5.5 per cent of bodyweight). The horses were then given an equivalent volume of an oral glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution by stomach tube. No more than 10 litres was given every 30 minutes until the calculated bodyweight loss had been replaced. Measurements made before, during and after the fluid administration included bodyweight, arterial blood haematocrit, PCO2, pH, standard bicarbonate, base excess and plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, total protein, glucose, urea and creatinine. The final measurement was taken eight hours after the last dose of fluid and no food or water was offered to the horses during this time. Administration of the solution caused a rapid correction of the frusemide-induced dehydration and metabolic alkalosis. Absorption of the fluid from the gastrointestinal tract appeared to be very rapid because by 30 minutes after the last dose of the solution, plasma protein values were not significantly different from those before administration of frusemide. Plasma glucose concentrations became significantly increased for up to three hours after the fluid was given and an increase in creatinine and urea concentrations, which was observed after the administration of frusemide, was still evident at eight hours. The glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution was well retained, there being a mean bodyweight loss of 2.8 kg at three hours and 6.2 kg at eight hours after the last dose of fluid.     

Effect of immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour on E-rosette counts in horn cancer-affected cattle

The mean percentage of cells forming rosettes with 2-aminoethyl isothiouronium bromide-treated sheep erythrocytes (EAETRFC) in the peripheral blood of 10 horn cancer-affected cattle (40.05 +/- 2.91) was significantly low in comparison to the value in unaffected control animals (58.61 +/- 1.68). Immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour tissue resulted in a gradual increase in the mean percentage of EAETRFC on each subsequent week. The increase was statistically significant from the second week onwards and on the sixth week, the percentage of EAETRFC in horn cancer affected cattle (56.80 +/- 1.38) closely approximated the value in unaffected controls.     

Cellular morphology of Clostridium spiroforme

The helically-coiled bacterium, Clostridium spiroforme, has been shown to consist of an ordered aggregation of numerous individual semi-circular cells joined end to end.