Feeding exotic and pocket pets

Nutritional diseases are common in exotic species. Some animals fail to thrive in captivity and may die of inanition. At the other end of the scale obesity is frequently seen. Specific deficiencies and imbalances occur - for example, metabolic bone disease, vitamin C deficiency, thiamine deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. Guidelines for feeding exotic and pocket pets are needed. It is particularly important to know and understand the natural history of the species in question, to take into account the importance of acceptability and palatability of food items and to ensure that the diets offered are as varied as possible.     

Diagnosis of hereditary diseases with molecular biology methods

The identification of phenotypically normal carriers of genetic defects is crucial for eliminating recessive defect genes from farm animal populations. Recombinant DNA techniques allow us to identify defect genes on the DNA-basis regardless of the animals age and time of gene expression. Genetic defects also are important as model systems to investigate the regulation of metabolic pathways and the mechanisms of embryonic development.     

A methodology for analyzing rare species distribution patterns utilizing GIS technology: The rare birds of Tanzania

A simple, straightforward, cartographic modelling technique is presented for measuring relations between environmental characteristics and rare species distribution patterns. This approach is corroborated by digitizing rare bird distribution data for Tanzania and statistically analyzing these patterns in relation to geographic and environmental variables. Of the available natural resource data for Africa, only the vegetation and soils data appeared accurate enough to represent regional natural resource distribution patterns. Available data for Tanzania at the regional scale is not currently precise or comprehensive enough to analyze ongoing dynamic ecological processes.Statistical relations, associated with a study quadrangle within Tanzania, are documented for these parameters. Final confirmation of the accuracy of predictions about rare species diversity patterns will ensue from future field observations. When confirmed, this methodology can be used for setting conservation priorities in biologically little known regions of the world.     

Surgical management of urovagina and associated infertility in a cow

Severe urovagina, secondary to a calving injury, was diagnosed as the cause of necrotizing endometritis and infertility in a Holstein cow. Urethral extension surgery resulted in resolution of the urovagina and endometrial recovery. Temporary paresis of the bladder was a postsurgical complication. The cow conceived promptly after insemination, but suffered similar injuries subsequently during calving.     

Control of the development of the ovarian follicular hierarchy in broiler breeder pullets by food restriction during rearing

1. The increase in the numbers of yellow and of white ovarian follicles was studied from 10 weeks of age to sexual maturity in broiler breeder pullets fed ad libitum and on a restricted intake. The growth of follicles greater than 1 mm diameter commenced at 14 to 16 weeks of age in ad libitum birds and at 22 to 24 weeks in those which were restricted. 2. In a second experiment, groups of birds restricted from 4 d of age were transferred to ad libitum feeding at 2-week intervals and examined at first egg. The numbers of yellow follicles at first egg were not affected by restriction to 14 weeks of age but, thereafter, declined linearly with time on restriction. 3. In the second experiment there were no comparable responses in the numbers of white follicles or in the rates of atresia. 4. Food restriction to 22 weeks of age produced about half the response in numbers of yellow follicles as restriction continued to point of lay (27 to 32 weeks of age). In practical situations, the results suggest that food intake should be restricted up to the onset of lay and then increased in relation to the rise in egg production. 5. Atresia was greatest in white follicles 3.15 to 6.30 mm diameter and was less outside this range.     

Nitrogen metabolism in the large intestine of ruminants. 1. Metabolism of i.v. infused 15N-urea without additional carbohydrate supply to the large intestine

The experiments were carried out on 3 bulls (body weight: 172, 229 and 193 kg), equipped with ileo-caecal cannulas and with catheters in the jugular veins on both sides. The offered pelleted ration consisted of straw 73%, molasses 12%, cereals 10%, ammonium hydrogen carbonate 3% and urea 2%. Feed intake amounted to about 3 kg per animal and day. During a preliminary period of 5 days 50% of ileal digesta were collected for 12 hours daily, deep-freezed and stored. In the main experiment 15N-urea was infused intravenously for 24 hours. During this period and during the following 6 hours ileal digesta were collected and replaced by precollected, unlabelled digesta. The urea metabolism was estimated by the 15N-labelling of blood urea, by the 15N-excretion via faeces and urea, by the appearance of 15N in ileal digesta and by the 15N-labelling of faecal NAN, NH3 and bacterial fraction. The time course of the 15N-labelling of plasma urea during infusion can be described by an exponential function. The urea flux rate was estimated from the calculated plateau value. The flux rate for the 3 animals was 28.8, 30.7 and 34.8 mumol per minute per kg0.75, respectively. During the infusion of 15N-urea 1.0-2.4% of the infused amount of 15N' appeared in ileal digesta, half of it in the TCA precipitable fraction. At the same time the 15N-labelling of faecal NH3 increased sharply, however, the 15N-labelling of the faecal bacterial fraction was smaller by one order of magnitude. Deficiency of fermentable substrates and problems of inhomogenity of the NH3 pool are supposed as reasons for this result. 30 to 50% of the urea flux entered the digestive tract, the direct entry of urea into the large intestine seems to be only very low.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING—A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF PRINCIPLES AND EXAMPLES IN VETERINARY NEURODIAGNOSIS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a noninvasive technique that provides accurate, detailed, anatomic images, has had a major impact in the diagnosis of human disease. This technique is based upon the inherent magnetic properties of certain nuclei. Induction of the nuclei into a low energy state is achieved by placing them in a static magnetic field. The nuclei may then be excited into a high energy state by application of a radio frequency pulse. When the second field is stopped, the nuclei return to ground state and emit the absorbed energy in the form of a radio signal. This signal is received by a coil that generally surrounds the specimen and converted to an anatomic image through a process of computer-assisted reconstruction. Contrast is altered by applying the second pulse in different sequences (saturation recovery, inversion recovery, and spin echo) and using enhancing agents such as gadolinium. In this paper, we present an overview of the general principles of MRI and some clinical examples in dogs and cats with central nervous system disease.     

Recommendations for Standards in Transthoracic Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in the Dog and Cat

Recommendations are presented for standardized imaging planes and display conventions for two-dimensional echocardiography in the dog and cat. Three transducer locations ("windows") provide access to consistent imaging planes: the right parasternal location, the left caudal (apical) parasternal location, and the left cranial parasternal location. Recommendations for image display orientations are very similar to those for comparable human cardiac images, with the heart base or cranial aspect of the heart displayed to the examiner's right on the video display. From the right parasternal location, standard views include a long-axis four-chamber view and a long-axis left ventricular outflow view, and short-axis views at the levels of the left ventricular apex, papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, mitral valve, aortic valve, and pulmonary arteries. From the left caudal (apical) location, standard views include long-axis two-chamber and four-chamber views. From the left cranial parasternal location, standard views include a long-axis view of the left ventricular outflow tract and ascending aorta (with variations to image the right atrium and tricuspid valve, and the pulmonary valve and pulmonary artery), and a short-axis view of the aortic root encircled by the right heart. These images are presented by means of idealized line drawings. Adoption of these standards should facilitate consistent performance, recording, teaching, and communicating results of studies obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1993; 7:247–252. Copyright © 1993 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)     

Effects of selection for high and low plasma glucose concentration in chickens

1. Two lines of broilers exhibiting low (LG) or high (HG) plasma glucose concentrations were selected from a pure line of White Rock chickens. 2. Realised heritabilities were close to 0.25 in both lines. 3. The LG line was significantly fatter than the HG line; this difference was more pronounced in females than in males. 4. Food was utilised less efficiently by the LG line than by the HG one.