Half-Body Radiotherapy

Eight healthy mongrel dogs were treated with half-body irradiation (HBI) in a pilot study to evaluate the technique and radiotolerance of different organs. Cranial and caudal half-body fields were established using the 13th thoracic vertebra as the dividing point. Under general anesthesia, either 7 or 8 Gray (Gy) were delivered to one half of the body using opposing radiation portals. The other half of the body was similarly treated 28 days later. The dogs were monitored for 12 months. Significant radiation effects included transient bone marrow suppression and radiation sickness. There were no serious or life-threatening problems, but the 8 Gy group consistently showed more severe clinical signs and histologic changes than the 7 Gy group. Total body irradiation in two fractions of 7 or 8 Gy given 1 month apart appears to be a safe treatment that can be developed for therapy in veterinary oncology.     

Sequential histopathologic changes of type I, pre-type II and type II ostertagiasis in cattle

Yearling cattle in Louisiana were examined at monthly intervals for abomasal nematode burdens and histological lesions over a year. Tracer calves were grazed for 3 to 4 weeks and removed from pasture for 2 to 3 weeks, then slaughtered; a few animals were killed in extremis shortly after removal from pasture. Histological changes were correlated with worm burdens and characterized according to the type of Ostertagia ostertagi infection present. In cattle with acute Type I ostertagiasis, changes varied from eosinophil infiltration to glandular dilation and slight mucous cell hyperplasia with submucosal edema. During the summer months the cattle had worm burdens that were primarily early 4th stage larvae (EL4), with changes characterized by minimal glandular dilation and mucous cell metaplasia and moderate lymphoid cell proliferation and with intramucosal migration of EL4. In the autumn, the maturation of EL4 produced the Type II syndrome with severe glandular changes, prominent mucosal hyperplasia and marked lymphoid cell accumulation. With increased duration of the pre-Type II interval, there was greater development of the subepithelial lymphoid tissue and increased frequency of epithelial globule leukocytes. The lymphoproliferation which occurred during the prolonged pre-Type II interval appeared to be related to the increased severity and mortality seen with the Type II ostertagiasis syndrome.     

Comparison of exploited and unexploited yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) populations in Nebraska Sandhill lakes

Exploitation can have a pronounced effect on fish populations. Yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), populations in Nebraska Sandhill lakes were sampled in 1998 and 1999. Three of the 29 lakes containing yellow perch have been closed to fishing for at least 10 years. Unexploited yellow perch populations had fast growth rates, but age structure was similar to exploited populations. For unexploited lakes combined, mortality and condition were not different from exploited lakes. However, one unexploited lake, Marsh Lake, had the fastest growth, highest proportion of older fish and highest condition of all populations sampled. This lake had low interspecific competition and high invertebrate abundance, which likely resulted in fast growth and high condition. However, size structure and growth were also related to lake productivity. Although exploitation may affect yellow perch populations, other factors (food availability, predators and lake productivity) also play an important role in structuring these populations. Regardless, these results indicate the potential of yellow perch in Nebraska Sandhill lakes given no exploitation.     

Environmental characteristics of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) nesting sites in two South Dakota waters

Abstract— A biotelemetry study was undertaken during spring 1995 to identify black crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus ) nesting sites in two South Dakota water bodies. Individually coded ultrasonic transmitters were implanted into the body cavity of 15 adult male black crappie in each water body prior to spawning. Available habitat characteristics were recorded at 75 randomly selected sites within each water body, and habitat characteristics at nesting sites were recorded for each male black crappie believed to be nesting. Of the habitat characteristics analyzed, only substrate firmness did not differ ( P =0.79) between water bodies. In Richmond Lake, black crappie selected nesting sites with live cattails ( Typha spp.) that were protected from prevailing south winds. In Brant Lake, black crappie selected nest sites with vegetation (usually woody debris) and silty substrate that had warmer water and were protected from wind and waves. It appeared that black crappie nested in the most protected areas available.     

Microneurovascular Free Digital Pad Transfer in the Dog

By cadaver dissections, the fifth digit of the canine hind limb was determined to have a consistent neurovascular anatomy, and therefore be a suitable donor for an axial pattern digital pad flap. The defined digital pad flap was transferred to the region of an excised metacarpal pad by microneurovascular anastomoses in five operations on four dogs. One flap failure was considered to result from failure of the venous anastomosis. In all four successful transfers, cutaneous sensation was reestablished on average in 78 days. There was histologic evidence of nerve regeneration across the anastomosis in one dog at week 24. The transferred pads of three dogs monitored for 15 months underwent hypertrophic changes. There were no complications in two active dogs. In one dog, superficial ulceration of a region of the flap adjacent to the pad required surgical revision. This dog continued to show mild lameness after daily runs of 3 to 4 km.     

Sutured End-to-End and Stapled Side-to-Side Jejunal Anastomoses in the Horse

Hand sutured end-to-end (EE) and stapled side-to-side (SS) small intestinal anastomoses were performed in 10 healthy adult horses. In five SS anastomoses, staple lines on the blind ends of the jejunum were inverted (SSI) and in five they were not (SSNI). Five EE anastomoses were sutured with polydioxanone and five were sutured with polyglyconate. All horses were euthanatized on day 30. Intra-abdominal adhesions were graded (0-4), and stomal areas were calculated from contrast radiographs made with the bowel distended. Histopathology scores for the anastomoses were based on the degree of inflammation (0-3), fibrosis (0-3), and alignment and healing of intestinal layers (0-3). Mean surgery times +/- standard deviations for EE, SSI, and SSNI techniques were 33.9 +/- 5.4, 36.2 +/- 5.6, and 29.6 +/- 5.9 minutes, respectively. Mean and median stomal areas were 9.4 +/- 5.5 and 8.9 cm2 for EE anastomoses and 17.2 +/- 16.5 and 12.1 cm2 for SS anastomoses. Intra-abdominal adhesions developed in three horses, one of which had clinical signs of colic. Mean histopathology scores for EE and SS anastomoses were 4.8 +/- 2.0 (median = 5) and 4.4 +/- 1.8 (median = 4), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in surgery times, intra-abdominal adhesion scores, stomal areas, or histopathology scores between small intestinal EE and SS anastomoses in these horses.     

II. Detection of the Virus in Swine Tissues by Means of the Modified Direct Complement-Fixation Test

The modified direct complement-fixation test, supplemented with unheated normal calf serum, was used to demonstrate antibodies in sera of swine immunized to African swine fever virus. These antibodies did not react in the ordinary direct non-supplemented complement-fixation test.

African swine fever complement-fixing antigen in infected swine tissue is not denatured by extraction with fat solvents. Consequently, good antigens devoid of non-specific reactivity were obtained by extraction with a mixture of acetone and ether.

The virus was detected in infected swine tissue harvested one day after beginning of pyrexia. The modified direct complement-fixation test demonstrated cross-reactions between the six strains of virus studied.

     

I. Antiserum Production

These studies report on the production of African swine fever antiserum for use in serological tests. The first attempt to obtain antiserum was made by inoculating ASF virus - infected pig blood into the lactiferous sinus of lactating bovines. This failed to result in the development of detectable antibody, but resulted in propagation of the virus over a 14 to 21 day period.

In the second attempt use was made of a tissue culture - attenuated virus to produce resistance in normal pigs. Clinical response to inoculation with the attenuated virus was limited to a one day increase of temperature. These pigs were subsequently orally exposed to virulent ASF virus and later challenged by intramuscular injection. The sera were subjected to testing by the modified direct complement-fixation test and the agar gel double-diffusion technique in order to follow the development of antibodies. Some sera were also conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate and used for the detection of viral antigen by the fluorescent antibody technique.

It was found that inoculation with the attenuated virus brought about the development of low antibody levels in the pigs. This antibody level did not increase following oral exposure. One pig following intramuscular challenge underwent a series of ascending temperature peaks, coinciding with increased complement-fixing titres.

     

Differences in susceptibility of soya bean cultivars to metribuzin

Experiments were established in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Limestone Valley and Mountain areas of Georgia in 1972. Following pre-emergence field applications of metribuzin at 0.56, 0.84, 1.12 and 1.68 kg a.i./ha, cv. Semmes was generally more susceptible to injury than were cv. Pickett, Bossier or York. The injury, first manifested as a typical chlorotic response of soya beans to triazine herbicides, caused reduced soya bean stands, heights, harvest yields and seed weights.