THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ENHANCEMENT PATTERN OF THE NORMAL CANINE PITUITARY GLAND

Dynamic computed tomography (CT) of the pituitary gland was performed on four healthy male dogs of similar size, weight and age. The pituitary gland region was first identified on lateral scout and transverse non-contrast images. After localization, water soluble iodinated contrast medium was administered intravenously as a bolus at a dose of 1 ml/lb using a pressure injector at an injection rate of 10 ml/sec and a total of 40 post contrast images of the pitutary gland were acquired. No images were made after 400 seconds. The same pituitary region was imaged in each slice. The slice thickness was 1.5 mm, with a two second scan time and an eight second delay between images (resulting in images every ten seconds). The contrast medium injection and initial image were acquired simultaneously, resulting in a non-contrast enhanced initial image. At the completion of the CT scan, a region of interest (ROI) was drawn around the pituitary gland and time density data were obtained. The mean pituitary Hounsfield number was plotted as a function of time. A bi-exponential least squares model was used to derive the best fitting line through the data. The mean relative peak increase in pituitary Hounsfield Units (HU) was 65.9% +/- 2.1%. After the initial increase there was a decrease in pituitary Hounsfield number with a half-time of 16.1 seconds, followed by a slower phase with a half-time of 16.5 minutes. The mean pituitary gland HU value during the period of gradual opacity decline was 35.0% +/- 4.4% above that of the pre-contrast image. Establishing the enhancement pattern in the canine pituitary gland is the precursor to the clinical application of dynamic CT of the pituitary gland to diagnose pituitary microadenomas and/or small macroadenomas before they become exceptionally large.     

PURCHASING SHRIMP FOR AT-HOME CONSUMPTION: THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF CREDENCE VERSUS PHYSICAL PRODUCT FEATURES

Consumers have become increasingly concerned with the quality, safety and production features of food. Certain population segments will pay more for food products carrying a label identifying credence features that consumers cannot evaluate, even after consumption. Seventy-nine market research questionnaires were completed by consumers purchasing live shrimp at two harvest sales at a University of Florida pond aquaculture facility. A conjoint analysis experiment was included to quantify the utility value and relative importance of seven different shrimp product physical and credence features: species, size, refrigeration state, product form, purchase price, country of origin label, and production method label. Both credence features had positive impacts on shrimp product utility, with country of origin label conferring higher positive utility than any other shrimp feature. Utility associated with wild-harvested shrimp was slightly higher than the utility of farm-raised shrimp. These results provide justification of seafood industry support for mandatory country of origin labeling.     

Vegetative endocarditis in six cats

Between 1990 and 1997 vegetative endocarditis was diagnosed in six neutered cats (three males, three females) aged between 3 and 9 years. Two cats were purebred (one Persian and one Tonkinese), the remaining four being domestic short haired cats. The diagnosis was made using echocardiography (five cases) or at necropsy (one case). Concurrent involvement of the aortic and mitral valve was noted in four cats, the aortic valve alone was affected in one case, and the tricuspid valve in another. A likely microbiological diagnosis was obtained in three cats: a Bartonella species in two cats based on positive blood culture and a Streptococcus species in one cat based on Gram stain of valve lesions at necropsy. In another cat, Gram-positive cocci were demonstrated histologically in tricuspid vegetations. Invariably, cats had signs of congestive heart failure (left-sided in five cats, right-sided in one), and this was the major factor contributing to mortality in four cases. Signs referable to sepsis were prominent in only two patients. Appropriate medical therapy, consisting of antimicrobials and drugs to treat congestive heart failure, resulted in survival for 5 and 11 months, respectively, in two cases. The other cats died within 2 weeks of diagnosis, including two which received aggressive treatment in hospital.     

Hypogammaglobulinemia in Racing Alaskan Sled Dogs

Background: Serum immunoglobulin dynamics have not been studied in racing sled dogs, despite hypoglobulinemia having been reported during racing events.
Hypothesis/Objectives: Hypoglobulinemia in racing sled dogs is associated with decreases in serum IgA, IgE, IgG, and IgM concentrations during prolonged exercise.
Animals: One hundred and fifty-seven Alaskan sled dogs that successfully completed a 1,000 mile race.
Methods: Serum was obtained from 118 sled dogs within 1 month before the race and within 12 hours after completing the race. Serum also was obtained after 4 months of rest from 51 dogs that successfully completed the race, including 12 previously sampled dogs. Serum total protein ([TP]), albumin, and globulin ([Gl]) were measured, and serum IgA, IgE, IgG, and IgM were quantified by ELISA.
Results: The proportion of dogs with [Gl] ≤ 2.2 g/dL was significantly greater immediately after racing (38 of 118 dogs, 32.2%) than before racing (21 of 118 dogs, 17.8%, P = .005). Four months after racing, [Gl] was ≤ 2.2 g/dL in 23.5% (12 of 51) of dogs. [IgG] was significantly lower before (8.21 ± 4.95 mg/mL) and immediately after (7.97 ± 5.62) racing compared with 4 months after racing (18.88 ± 5.76). Serum [IgM] and [IgE] were higher and [IgA] was lower before racing compared with immediately after racing.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Sled dogs participating in long-distance racing have substantial decreases in [IgG] in addition to decreases in [IgM] and [IgE]. The pronounced hypogammaglobulinemia observed in a large proportion of racing sled dogs might predispose them to infectious disease.     

Characterization of the glycoprotein D gene products of equine herpesvirus 1 using a prokaryotic cell expression vector

The gene encoding equine herpesvirus 1 (equine abortion virus; EHV-1) glycoprotein D was engineered into the prokaryotic vector pEX, and expressed as a β-galactosidase fusion product, which was recognized by pooled equine sera and anti-EHV-1 rabbit sera. Antibodies raised against the EHV-1 gD fusion product identified strong bands in infected cells at 66 and 68 K and at 138 K in purified virus, thus characterizing the several forms of this major envelope glycoprotein which is an important candidate for inclusion in subunit vaccines.     

Chromosomal DNA probes for the identification of asaccharolytic anaerobic pigmented bacterial rods from the oral cavity of cats.

A dot-blot hybridisation assay using isolated high molecular weight DNA as whole chromosomal probes of the cat pigmented asaccharolytic Bacteroides/Porphyromonas species was used against both purified high molecular weight DNA and DNA released on membranes from whole cells for the identification of B. salivosus and for its differentiation from the other anaerobic species isolated from normal and diseased mouths of cats and horses. 32P-labelled probes were compared with digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled probes (Boehringer-Mannheim). The whole chromosomal probes were specific--differentiating B. salivosus from a variety of species (including members of the genera Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, and Prevotella) found in normal and abnormal mouths of cats and horses. Likewise, asaccharolytic black pigmented Group 2 strains were distinguishable from all strains tested. However, cat strains of P. gingivalis which show 68-76% DNA-DNA homology with human strain P. gingivalis ATCC 33277T, were not distinguishable from each other using either 32P-labelled or DIG-labelled probes. The minimum amount of pure Bacteroides DNA which could be detected by the 32P-labelled probe was 100-300 pg, while the amount of pure DNA detected by the DIG system was 1-3 mg after room temperature colour development for 1 h and 100-300 pg after 6 h colour development.     

Effects of changes to the stable environment on the exhalation of ethane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen peroxide by horses with respiratory inflammation

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of changes to the stable environment on exhaled markers of respiratory inflammation in six horses with clinical histories of recurrent airway obstruction. The horses were maintained for two weeks under conventional stable management (straw bedding and hay) and for two weeks on a reduced-dust regimen (paper bedding and ensiled grass), in a crossover study design. Exhaled ethane and carbon monoxide (CO) and exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) were measured every three days under each regimen. The presence of clinical signs of airway inflammation (nasal discharge and cough) was monitored daily. The reduced-dust regimen was associated with fewer clinical signs of airway inflammation than the conventional regimen. Exhaled ethane and CO were significantly lower on the reduced-dust regimen and these markers were correlated with clinical signs of respiratory inflammation, but exhaled H(2)O(2) was not affected by the management regimen.     

Lymphoma(s) showing epitheliotropism and diffuse skeletal muscle involvement presenting as a polymyopathy in a young dog

A 3-year-old dog presented with a severe polymyopathy and subsequently developed nodular skin lesions. The disease in this dog was caused by lymphoma, showing cutaneous epitheliotropism as well as infiltration of skeletal muscle in conjunction with polymyositis.