The diagnosis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in the dog]

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is characterized by polyuria, hyposthenuria and compensatory polydipsia. With conventional clinical and laboratory examinations the diagnosis can be established and the differential diagnostic diseases excluded. In order to verify the diagnosis, differentiate the condition from central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and rule out psychogenic polydipsia, additional laboratory studies are required: of these, the concentration test, modified Carter-Robbins test and AVP stimulation test are described.     

Some Comments on Gerechte Designs

In a companion paper we derived the correct analysis for gerechte designs with uncorrected errors. Here we show that this correct analysis cannot be justified by the usual randomization argument. However, when the regions are rectangular there is a randomization procedure which validates an analysis with three separate error terms. We also outline other developments in design and analysis that may be more satisfactory.     

Matching spatial databases and quantitative models in land resource assessment

Abstract. Good land management needs information about land resources and the processes taking place in the landscape. In practical land evaluation this information is often expressed in terms of land qualities. The original survey data are stored in geographical information systems where they can be used to estimate the values of appropriate land qualities. Land qualities are complex attributes of land used in planning that may be derived from the original attributes through empirical threshold or regression models, or from process-based deterministic or stochastic simulation models. In order to improve estimates of the distribution of land qualities in space and time, and hence to improve planning decisions, the models require data with a much better spatial resolution than is usually available. The problems and dangers associated with the ad hoc linkage of simulation models and GIS are discussed. Particular attention needs to be paid to the problems of error propagation and costs and benefits when using models.     

On the genetic basis of equine allergic diseases: II. Insect bite dermal hypersensitivity.

The horses studied were of the Swiss Warmblood breed and most were ELA-typed to assess a possible association of dermal hypersensitivity to insect bites with the major histocompatibility complex. Firstly, the occurrence of the condition was examined in 304 half-siblings sired by six stallions (A to F). Fourteen cases of dermal hypersensitivity were recognized and all were in the 153 offspring of Stallions C, E and F. Most animals of this group were also investigated for chronic hypersensitivity bronchitis: none of the sires displayed clinical signs of dermal hypersensitivity, but Stallions D, E and F were affected by chronic bronchitis. Among the animals investigated for both conditions only one horse showed coincidence of the two diseases as can be expected when the diseases are not correlated. The frequency of manifest dermal hypersensitivity and/or chronic hypersensitivity bronchitis varied in the half-sibling groups of individual sires. These findings suggest that the allergic conditions are independent entities. Secondly, the occurrence of dermal hypersensitivity was studied in three generations of horses at a stud at which Stallion C had exerted a particularly strong influence. A total of 302 animals, all born and raised at this stud, were surveyed over a period of 12 years. The descendants of Stallion C showed a significantly higher incidence (P less than 0.01) of dermal hypersensitivity (two daughters out of 19; eight second generation offspring out of 103; one third generation offspring out of 85) than did the controls of the same age classes but unrelated to Stallion C at the same stud (0 out of 95).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

High-resolution computed tomography of the mammalian lung.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed in 21 isolated animal lungs, from 4 mammalian species (pigs, rabbits, dogs, sheep). Gross and subgross central and peripheral lung morphology was determined by HRCT. Three distinct types of lungs can be identified, principally based on the extent of interlobular septal development; the relationship of major vessels to airways; and the thickness of the visceral pleura. Type-I lung is found in pigs, sheep, and cattle; type-II lung is found in rabbits, dogs, cats, and monkeys; and type-III lung is found in human beings and horses. These mammalian lungs were compared with human lungs. The potential use of HRCT to investigate specific human lung diseases in the aforementioned species also was considered.     

Effect of initial restraint, weaning, and transport stress on baseline and ACTH-stimulated cortisol responses in beef calves of different genotypes.

The productivity and well-being of animals can be substantially affected by stress. This is particularly true in the case of beef calves that are subjected to a multitude of stressors over a short period during the first year of life. Perhaps the most often studied stress-responsive variable has been blood corticosteroid concentrations. Factors such as age, gender, genetics, and degree of prior experience, can influence how an animal perceives and responds to a given stressor. Few studies have tried to control these variables, and accordingly, many conflicting results have been published regarding the impact of various stressors on cortisol response. We measured baseline plasma cortisol concentration over a 44-day study in Bos indicus and Bos taurus calves. Plasma cortisol values in Bos indicus calves were higher (32.60 +/- 0.66 ng/ml) than values in calves of Bos taurus (25.81 +/- 0.76) breeding. A precipitous decrease in cortisol concentration was observed 7 days after transport stress in all calves. Baseline cortisol concentration did not provide any indication of the intensity of the various stressors. However, significant differences were readily observed after ACTH administration. On the basis of cortisol secretion, stresses of transport and weaning were similar and were the most stressful to calves, regardless of genotype.     

Actinomycin D for Reinduction of Remission in Dogs With Resistant Lymphoma

Twenty-five dogs with malignant lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy were treated with actinomycin D at a median dose of 0.7 mg/m² (range, 0.5 to 0.9 mg/m²) every 3 weeks. The dogs treated had received between 2 and 8 chemotherapeutic agents (median 7), for a median of 266 days before being treated with actinomycin D. For 23 of the 25 dogs, previous chemotherapy included doxorubicin. No dog responded to actinomycin D chemotherapy.     

Efficacy of abamectin against natural infections of gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworm of cattle with special emphasis on inhibited, early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi.

The anthelmintic efficacy of abamectin (avermectin B1) was evaluated against gastrointestinal nematodes, including Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited larvae and lungworm, in yearling crossbred beef heifers during late spring. The calves were grazed on contaminated pasture for 10 weeks and then held under conditions free of nematode infection for 3 weeks prior to allotment and treatment on 5 June. Thirteen calves were randomly assigned to two groups of six by restricted randomization on body weights; the extra lightest calf was assigned to the non-treated control group. Group 1 calves were treated with abamectin at 200 micrograms kg-1 body weight by s.c. injection and Group 2 calves were not treated; all were killed at 14 days after treatment. Ostertagia ostertagi was present in all controls; arithmetic mean numbers of adults, developing fourth stage larvae (L4) and inhibited EL4 were 7683, 605 and 36,102, respectively. Other nematode genera present in controls in sufficient numbers for the experiment were Haemonchus placei adults, Trichostrongylus axei adults, Cooperia spp. adults, Oesophagostomum radiatum adults, Bunostomum phlebotomum adults, Dictyocaulus viviparus adults and E5 (immature adults). Abamectin was highly effective (consistently greater than 99% efficacy and P less than 0.05) in removing all nematodes present in treated calves as represented in non-treated controls, including the primary target of Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited EL4. The lowest efficacy was 93.8%, against D. viviparus E5.     

Cardiopathological observation on a case of persistent ventricular tachycardia in a pony mare.

A 20-year-old pony mare with persistent ventricular tachycardia (VT) was examined cardiopathologically. At necropsy, the heart was enlarged and rounded with both ventricular dilatation. In a longitudinal section of the ventricular septum, a large grayish white patchy lesion (5 x 25 mm) was detected in the relatively higher portion. Microscopically, the lesion was extensive myocardial fibrosis located in the vicinity of the proximal part of the left bundle branch. Partially the fibrotic lesion was in contact with the branch. Such a lesion might play an important role in creating a suitable background for the development of VT via automaticity or reentry mechanism.     

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp in equids in Louisiana

In 1985, 22 pony foals reared in a helminth-free environment were tested daily for oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp by use of fecal flotation. Oocysts were found in all foals. Oocysts were first observed in feces collected from foals 9 to 28 days after birth. The mean period of oocyst shedding was 10 days and ranged from 2 to 18 days in individual foals. Diarrhea was observed in 14 of 22 (64%) foals and began before the period of oocyst shedding. Fecal samples also were examined for other infective agents. Salmonella poona was isolated from 1 foal that did not have diarrhea, and coronavirus particles were observed in the feces of 2 foals with diarrhea. Cryptosporidium sp oocysts also were observed in feces of 2 of 17 Thoroughbred foals, 3 of 14 Quarter Horse foals, and 3 of 26 pony foals reared on pastures with their dams. Samples from pasture-reared foals were collected at irregular intervals. Of the 11 Cryptosporidium-positive fecal samples collected from pastured foals, 2 were from foals with diarrhea. A similar survey was conducted during the 1986 foaling season, using the same procedures. Examination of 300 samples from 58 Quarter Horse, Arabian, and pony foals did not detect oocysts. Daily examination of feces from 10 pony foals reared under helminth-free conditions for 30 days also failed to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts.