Uterine carcinoma in a 10-month-old golden retriever

A 10-month-old golden retriever was presented for investigation of reduced appetite, occasional vomiting and general dullness. Abdominal radiography demonstrated a large mid-abdominal soft tissue mass. Exploratory laparotomy identified a uterine mass, which was removed surgically. Histopathology confirmed uterine adenocarcinoma. Adjunctive chemotherapy with epirubicin was performed. The dog remained clinically normal without evidence of metastatic disease 24 months after surgery. Canine uterine adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare tumour and, as far as the authors are aware, this is the youngest reported case to date.     

An evaluation of thermo-assisted drying and decontamination for the elimination of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from contaminated livestock transport vehicles

The purpose of this report is to validate a new protocol, the thermo-assisted drying and decontamination (TADD) system, for eliminating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from contaminated transport vehicles. Scale models of weaned pig trailers were used. The principle of TADD is to raise the interior temperature of trailers to 71 degrees C for 30 min to promote drying and degradation of PRRSV. Trailer interiors were artificially contaminated with 5 x 10(5) TCID50 of PRRSV strain MN 30-100, then treated with 1 of 4 treatments: 1) TADD; 2) air only (no supplemental heat); 3) overnight (8 h) drying; and 4) washing only. Following treatment, swabs were collected from the trailer interiors at 0, 10, 20, and 30 min post-treatment and from the overnight group after 8 h. Swabs were tested for PRRSV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As a measure of the presence of infectious PRRSV, sentinel pigs were housed in treated trailers for 2 h post-treatment and supernatants from swabs were injected IM into naive pigs (bioassay), the recipient pigs were then tested for PRRSV infection. All trailers were PRRSV positive by PCR immediately after washing, prior to treatment (pt). At 10 min pt, 7/10 swabs were positive from the TADD trailers; however, all swabs collected at 20 and 30 min pt were PRRSV negative by PCR, and trailer interiors were visibly dry. In contrast, 9/19, 6/10, and 6/10 swabs collected at 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively, from trailers treated with air only were positive and visibly wet. All swabs (10/10) collected from trailers treated with washing only were PRRSV positive by PCR and all swabs collected at 8 h of drying were PRRSV negative by PCR. All tests for the presence of infectious PRRSV were negative for trailers treated with TADD and overnight drying, while infectious PRRSV was detected in sentinel pigs and bioassay pigs in the other groups. Under the conditions of this study, the efficacy of the TADD system was equal to that of the overnight drying treatment, and it required a shorter period of time to complete its objective.     

Distribution and excretion of [14CH3S]methamidophos after intravenous administration of a toxic dose and the relationship with anticholinesterase activity

The tissue distribution and excretion of [¹⁴CH₃S]methamidophos was followed in female Sprague-Dawley rats after intravenous injection at a toxic, but nonlethal, dose (8 mg/kg). Radiolabel was rapidly distributed to all tissues at approximately equal concentrations. Peak tissue levels were achieved within 1–10 min except in the central and peripheral nervous system where peak levels (40 nmol/g) were found between 20 and 60 min, corresponding to peak signs of toxicity. Within 24 hr of dosing, 47% of the radioactivity was recovered in the urine and 34% as ¹⁴CO₂ with <5% in the feces over 7 days. Cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition was measured in erythrocytes, plasma, and various regions of the central nervous system (CNS) at selected times after administration of methamidophos at 8 mg/kg. The degree of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in the three CNS regions was similar, reaching a minimum of 15–20% of control values at 30–60 min, when toxicity was most severe. The degree of erythrocyte AChE inhibition was less than that of the CNS although the time course was similar. Plasma ChE inhibition was more rapid than that of the CNS or erythrocytes and reactivation was slower. When similar concentrations of methamidophos to those found in vivo were incubated with CNS homogenates, plasma, or erythrocytes in vitro (5 × 10^?5M) a similar degree of inhibition occurred over the same time course. It is, therefore, concluded that the cholinergic toxicity produced by methamidophos is a result of the in vivo stability of this compound combined with its entry into the nervous system in sufficiently high concentrations to inhibit AChE.     

Effects of dexamethasone infusion on the plasma cortisol response to cosyntropin (synthetic ACTH) injection in normal dogs

Graded dosages of cosyntropin (synthetic corticotropin) were injected into groups of normal dogs on consecutive days. On the first day, cosyntropin was administered alone and, on the second, dogs were infused with dexamethasone three hours before cosyntropin injection. Adrenocortical function was assessed by sequential measurement of plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) concentration. While no response differences were noted to the various amounts of cosyntropin injected with or without dexamethasone pretreatment, the magnitude of adrenocortical response was significantly greater in dogs infused with dexamethasone. It is concluded that dexamethasone pretreatment renders the canine adrenal cortex more responsive to a subsequent injection of cosyntropin. The combined dexamethasone infusion-cosyntropin injection test produces consistent adrenocortical responses in normal dogs, and has potential value in evaluation of adrenopathic dogs.     

A study of the influence of the method of oral administration of ampicillin upon plasma drug levels in calves.

Ampicillin was given orally to five Holstein calves using the following four different methods of administration: via stomach tube, mixed and fed in the calf starter ration, dissolved in milk and pail fed and administered orally as 400 mg commercial calf tablets. In addition, ampicillin was dissolved in milk and pail fed 20 to 30 minutes following intramuscular atropine. Ampicillin was only detected in the plasma of calves which had received the drug, pail fed in milk. Atropine administration slowed the appearance of the drug in the plasma but did not decrease the efficiency of absorption.     

Anti-ttck grasses as the basis for developing practical tropical tick control packages

Summary Of six grass species analysed,Melinis minutiflora (molasses grass) showed the highest anti-tick deterrent properties whileAndropogon gayanus (Gamba grass) exhibited the ability to maintain a defined, constantly low, initial host tick infestation property and lengthy but low to moderate field tick population.It was concluded thatMelinis minutiflora is a species which would best be used in a tick control package within a marginal tick zone whileAndropogon gayanus has the advantage within an endemic tick zone.

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Pastos Anti-Garrapatas Como Base Para El Desarrollo Practico De Paquetes Para El Control De Garrapatas En El Tropico

Resumen De seis pastos analizados,Melinis minutiflora (pasto Gordura) tuvo las propiedades más altas para el control de garrapatas, mientras que elAndropogon gayanus (pasto Gamba), tuvo la abilidad de mantener una población inicial definida y constantemente baja de garrapatas en el huésped, y una prolongada, entre baja y moderada, población de garrapatas en el campo.Se concluyó, que el pasto Gordura, es la mejor especie para el control de garrapatas en una zona marginal, mientras que el pasto Gamba tiene mejores ventajas en zonas endémicas.

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Les Plantes Anti-Tiques Comme Base Du Développement Pratique De La Lutte Contre Les Tiques Dans Les Pâturages

Résumé Des six plantes étudiées c'est leMelinis minutiflora qui a montré l'activité préventive la plus élevée tandis queAndropogon gayanus (Gamba grass) a montré son aptitude à maintenir à un niveau constant et correct une infestation initiale peu élevée.En conclusionMilinis minutiflora est une espèce à utiliser de préférence pour le contrôle des tiques dans les zones où l'infestation est marginale tandis queAndropogon gayanus est à préférer pour lutter dans les zones où l'infestation par les tiques revêt un caractère endémique.

     

Comparison of three serological tests and an interferon-gamma assay for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in experimentally infected sheep

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic performance of a complement fixation test, an agar gel immunodiffusion test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a whole-blood interferon-gamma assay for paratuberculosis in 14 sheep experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Longitudinal study. RESULTS: The IFN-gamma assay detected more experimentally infected sheep, and earlier, than any of the serological tests. None of the antibody assays was able to detect all sheep with histologically confirmed paratuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: The superior performance of the IFN-gamma assay in detecting infected sheep in this small experimental population warrants its further evaluation in a larger population of sheep naturally exposed to M a paratuberculosis.     

Lymphosarcoma of the pharyngeal region in a 7-month-old beef steer

A steer presented for retropharyngeal swelling and dyspnea. Biopsy of the swelling indicated lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma, and necropsy revealed involvement of regional veins and arteries. The tumor was classified as a non-T, non-B lymphoma based on CD3 polyclonal antibody stains. Lymphosarcoma is unusual in this location, but should be considered with retropharyngeal swelling.