Observations on transplacental infection with bluetongue virus in sheep

Twenty-four ewes were inoculated with 1 of 2 strains of bluetongue virus type 4 at 40, 60, or 80 days of gestation. Two ewes aborted, 2 ewes died, and 1 was killed during the experiment, but their fetuses were recovered. At term, 2 mummified fetuses, 4 dead lambs, and 17 clinically healthy lambs were produced by 12 sheep, and the remaining 7 sheep were barren. Porencephaly and cerebellar dysgenesis were found in term lambs born to sheep inoculated at 40 and 60 days of gestation. Radiographic examination of 12 fetuses showed developmental ages far less than their chronologic age; 8 fetuses had skeletal growth-retardation lines, which were also observed in the dead lambs. A systemic lymphoreticular hyperplasia was observed in the dead lambs and in all lambs at 12 weeks of age; in 4 of the latter, granulomatous reactions were present in the liver and kidney. Lungs of the full-term lambs were reduced in weight and showed poor alveolar development and mononuclear cell infiltration, which persisted in the 12-week-old lambs. It was concluded that bluetongue virus is capable of causing not only gross abnormalities of the CNS, but also generalized growth retardation and fetal lymphoreticular hyperplasia.     

Neutrophil function in the dog: shape change and response to a synthetic tripeptide

Isolated dog neutrophils exposed to known chemotactic factors assumed a bipolar configuration in suspension. This response was initiated within 2 minutes with a gradual return to spherical shape. The rate of return to sphere was positively correlated with the dose of stimulant. Dog neutrophils exposed to N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) did not adapt to bipolar conformation and did not bind radiolabeled fMLP. These findings are consistent with other species (pig and cow) that also did not respond to fMLP.     

Crystalluria. Observations, interpretations, and misinterpretations

Crystalluria results from oversaturation of urine with crystallogenic substance. However, oversaturation may occur as a result of in vitro as well as in vivo events. The microscopic appearance of crystals only represents a tentative identification of their composition because variable conditions associated with their formation, growth, and dissolution may alter their appearance. Definitive identification is dependent on physical methods such as optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic analysis.     

Evaluation of a Swedish steam-dryer for treatment of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in pine chips

A steam-dryer, designed and manufactured in Sweden, was evaluated for destroying Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in pine chips from southern USA. In a trial, pine chips were treated at different temperature and pressure regimes for 5 or 10min. The lowest time/temperature/pressure combination was to increase the vessel temperature from 85 to 104°C in 5 min at low pressure. Samples of pine chips were assayed for nematodes in laboratories in USA, Sweden, and Finland. No nematodes of any species were recovered from any of the treated pine-chip samples. Large and heterogeneous pieces of wood in the treated samples were also nematode-free. The apparatus was a prototype capable of handling about 400 kg h^-1. The final version would have to be able to process 100-200 th^-1.     

Inherited hyperchylomicro-naemia in the cat: Lipoprotein lipase function and gene structure

Hyperchylomicronaemia was identified in a four-week-old Siamese kitten with lethargy, in-appetence, hindlimb ataxia and profound anaemia. The kitten was euthanased and at necropsy a thrombus was found occluding the caudal aorta. Two littermates later presented with lethargy, inappetence and hypertriglyceri-daemia which resolved after being weaned on to a low fat diet. A similar condition was subsequently diagnosed in a kitten born to the same sire but a different queen. The expression of hyperchylomicronaemia in two related litters was suggestive of an inherited, familial defect in the function of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). The activity of this enzyme was reduced in all three parents, the two recovered cases and two related, but apparently unaffected kittens, compared with a control group of unrelated cats belonging to the breeder. This reduction in activity was not attributable to defective activation of LPL by its serum cofactor apolipoprotein C-II or the presence in plasma of a factor that inhibited LPL. The gene that codes for LPL was examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using a human LPL cDNA probe. The results showed that the cat has a similar, but not identical, LPL gene to man. However, there were no differences in the restriction fragment patterns obtained from affected, unaffected and control animals.     

Estrogen and progesterone receptor status of mammary carcinomas and correlation with clinical outcome in dogs.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) were measured in cytosol fractions from 18 primary canine mammary carcinomas by use of biochemical assays. One or both receptors were detected (> 10 fmol/mg of cytosol protein) in 11 tumors: 5 ER and PR; 2 ER only; 4 PR only. Mean cytoplasmic receptor concentrations (fmol/mg of cytosol protein) were 22.8 +/- 2.9 (SEM) for ER and 51.0 +/- 10.3 for PR in tumors containing ER and PR, 28.8 +/- 12.1 for ER in tumors containing only ER and 13.2 +/- 1.5 for PR in tumors containing only PR. Estrogen or progesterone receptors or both were identified in 6 of 9 tubular adenocarcinomas, 4 of 5 papillary adenocarcinomas, and 1 of 1 squamous cell carcinoma. These receptors were not identified in solid carcinomas (n = 2) or a single spindle cell carcinoma. Although the number of cases was limited, survival times of dogs tended to be longest in those with tumors containing ER alone or in combination with PR, intermediate in those with tumors containing only PR, and shortest in those with tumors without ER or PR. A correlation was not apparent between receptor status and age, presence of ovaries, tumor size, or histologic classification of the tumor. In the analysis of this series, the extent of surgery (mastectomy of the involved gland vs unilateral or bilateral mastectomy) did not appear to influence the outcome of the disease, and metastasis to regional lymph nodes did not appear to be a reliable prognostic indicator.     

Rhinoscopy in dogs and cats]

Rostral and caudal rhinoscopy in dogs and cats facilitates the investigation of the nasal cavity and accurate biopsy. Rostral rhinoscopy can be performed by rigid endoscopes; caudal rhinoscopy requires flexible endoscopes. Deep anaesthesia or additional analgesia with local anaesthesia is necessary. The nasal cavity is assessed by its form, colour, surface of the mucous membrane, hyperemia, plaques, lesions, and the secretion is assessed by its quantity, colour and viscosity. Foreign bodies and neoplasia must also be looked for. Case reports with abnormal findings are described.