A Stenosis of the Isthmus Aortae Concurrent with Multiple Defects in a Calfheart An Attempt at an Embryological and Phylogenetical Explanation

The findings in a calfheart with multiple ventricular septum defects and an isthmus stenosis in an aorta with its origin in the right ventricle have been described and discussed. The anomalies are explained embryogenetically as well as phylogenetically. No choice could be made between the theories. The author states: The phylogenetic theory needs more attention in future comparative studies of anomalies of the heart.     

OSTEOCHONDROSIS LESIONS OF THE CANINE SHOULDER: CORRELATION OF POSITIVE CONTRAST ARTHROGRAPHY AND ARTHROSCOPY

In this study the correlation between positive contrast arthrography and arthroscopy was evaluated in a series of 20 shoulder joints (12 dogs) with radiographic and clinical evidence of osteochondrosis. The joints were consecutively examined by arthrography and arthroscopy. In 12 joints arthrography revealed the presence of a cartilage flap, and this finding was confirmed by arthroscopy. In 3 out of 8 joints where arthrography failed to demonstrate rupture of the cartilage, arthroscopy revealed the presence of a distinct fissure line. In 2 joints arthroscopy demonstrated a lesion comparable with chondromalacia and in 3 only a dimple in the articular cartilage was found. In 2 joints arthroscopy revealed the presence of small joint mice not detected by arthrography. Kissing lesions on the surface of the glenoid cavity opposite to cartilage flaps could be demonstrated as well. Evaluation of synovial inflammation, judged by the aspect and pattern of the synovial villi, correlated well with histologic findings. These results indicate that arthroscopy is a complementary examination in painful joints where arthrography fails to demonstrate rupture of the articular cartilage. It could be the procedure of choice if diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy can be combined. However, arthrography remains the technique of choice to demonstrate joint mice within the bicipital tendon sheath.     

Antibodies to immunoglobulin-G in dog sera, synovial fluids and aqueous humor: a comparative study of rheumatoid factor assays, suitable for routine application

The incidence of anti-IgG antibodies (rheumatoid factors, RF) in body fluids (sera, synovial fluids and aqueous humor) selected from 62 normal and 275 diseased dogs was studied. Fluids were assayed by canine versions of standard agglutinating and/or precipitating RF assays with routine application in human practice. The number of RF detected by dog IgG-coated particles was substantially higher by latex fixation test (LFT) than by modified Rose-Waaler (RW) test (61/144 vs. 14/144). This did not result from false positives by LFT since latex activity was completely inhibited by aggregated dog IgG. Some evidence is presented indicating that results obtained by standard RW in particular, but also those obtained by standard LFT, might be improved by modifying testing conditions currently used. Body fluids were further studied for the presence of precipitins to aggregated dog IgG in 0.6% agarose (gel precipitation test (GPT]. The frequency of RF was higher by GPT than by LFT, both in normal control fluids (for sera 26/52 vs. 19/52) and patient material (for sera 135/197 vs. 95/197). Thus, the canine RF appear to be a serum component with an unexpectedly high frequency in both normal and diseased dogs, but grossly underestimated by the recommended routine RF assays based on agglutination. The GPT, which combines a superior detection rate of theoretically also agglutinating RF with an inability to detect RF quantitatively, seems an ideal RF 'indicator' test to dictate improvements to the quantitative LFT/RW assays so as to facilitate RF detection at clinically relevant concentrations. Thus optimized, RW/LFT would provide the optimal detection apparatus for the ultimate isolation of the relevant 'RF' repertoire present, for comparative studies aimed ultimately at unraveling the etiopathogenesis of the 'real' RF.     

The problem of escalating resistance of Haemonchus contortus to the modern anthelmintics in South Africa

During the past decade in South Africa there has been a continual increase in sheep of strains of gastrointestinal helminths resistant to the modern anthelmintics. Five strains of Haemonchus contortus are described in this paper. Despite the fact that 2 of the 5 strains were tested for susceptibility only to ivermectin, a total of 10 instances of resistance were found. Four of the 5 strains were resistant to ivermectin, 2 to closantel, 2 to rafoxanide and 2 to the benzimidazoles. One of these strains was concurrently resistant to 3 different anthelmintic groups, namely, the ivermectins, the benzimidazoles and the salicylanilides. Resistance to ivermectin developed in 2 strains of H. contortus after a history of only 3 treatments with this compound in one instance and 11 treatments in the other. In the latter case drenching with ivermectin was well interspersed with that of other anthelmintics. This rapid development of resistance suggests that there may be cross-resistance between ivermectin and another anthelmintic group. Two of the ivermectin resistant strains were recovered from separate properties in the south-western Cape Province, where Ostertagia circumcincta, which is usually the dominant parasite in this region, was virtually eliminated by the anthelmintic treatment. On each of these properties it was apparently replaced by a resistant strain of H. contortus. A serious threat to control is the dissemination of worm strains with multiple resistance to anthelmintics. The strain of H. contortus resistant to 3 anthelmintic groups has already been widely dispersed, as the farmer concerned suddenly decided to give up farming with sheep and to sell his flock.     

Effect of virginiamycin on carbohydrate and protein metabolism in the rumen in vitro

The effect of virginiamycin in incubations of rumen fluid with carbohydrate or protein substrate was investigated. In carbohydrate incubations, methane production was partially inhibited while propionate proportions increased. Total microbial growth was slightly decreased, but net microbial growth was considerably lower. Protein degradation was slightly lowered after addition of virginiamycin. These effects were compared with results obtained with other rumen manipulating additives.     

Influence of time of transition from night to day temperature regimes on incidence of Didymella bryoniae and influence of the disease on growth and yield of glasshouse cucumbers

The influence of transition from night to day temperature 3 h before, 1 h before, 1h after and 3 h after sunrise on the incidence ofDidymella bryoniae was studied both on inoculated and on uninoculated glasshouse-grown cucumber plants. The effect of inoculation on plant growth and fruit production was studied as well.The later the transition to day temperature took place, the longer were the periods with a high relative air humidity and of condensation of water on fruits.The time of transition had no effect on plant growth, yield, disease incidence on growing tips, number of lesions on the main stems of uninoculated plants and external fruit rot. The later the transition to day temperature took place, the more lesions on the main stem of inoculated plants appeared and the higher was the incidence of internal fruit rot.Inoculation of plants increased the number of lesions on the main stem, the disease incidence on growing tips, the production of misshapen fruits and the internal and external fruit rot. The number of secondary side shoots was incrreased but the total number of their internodes was reduced by inoculation.Inoculation caused an 18% reduction in number of internodes over a period of four weeks and a 10% reduction in number of fruits in the corresponding harvest period.The consequences of a more humid glasshouse climate and of a high infection pressure ofD. bryoniae for the grower are briefly discussed.Samenvatting De invloed van het 3 uur vóór, 1 urr vóór, 1 uur na en 3 uur na zonsopgang overgaan van de nacht-naar de dagtemperatuur op het optreden vanDidymella bryoniae werd zowel op geïnoculleerde als op niet-geïnocullerde planten van kaskomkommers onderzocht. De invloed van inoculatie op de groei van de planten en de produktie van vruchten werd eveneens nagegaan.Hoe later naar de dagtemperatuur werd overgegaan, hoe langer de perioden met een hoge relatieve luchtvochtigheid waren en hoe langer de perioden waarin condensatie van water op vruchten optrad.Het tijdstip van overgang had geen effect op de groei van de planten, de opbrengst, de aantasting van groeipunten, het aantal lesies op de hoofdstengel van niet geïnoculeerde planten en uitwendig vruchtrot. Hoe later naar de dagtemperatuur werd overgegaan, hoe meer lesies na vier weken op de hoofdstengel van geïnoculeerde planten en hoe meer vruchten met inwendig rot voorkwamen.Door inoculatie van de planten nam het aantal lesies op de hoofdstengel, de aantasting van groeipunten, de produktie van stekvruchten en het aantal vruchten met inen uitwendig rot toe. Het aantal zijscheuten van de tweede orde nam toe, maar het totaal aantal internodiën ervan nam door inoculatie af. Inoculatie reduceerde het aantal internodiën met 18% over een periode van vier weken en die van het aantal vruchten met 10% in de overeenkomstige oogstperiode. De praktische consequenties van eenSeconded to the Glashouse Crops Research and Experiment Station, Zuidweg 38, 2671 MN Naaldwijk, the Netherlands     

Effect of primary and recurrent infections bovine rhinotracheitis virus infection on the bovine ovary

Six heifers were inoculated IV at estrus with the Iowa or Colorado isolates of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). Subsequent measurements of plasma progesterone indicated that corpus luteum function was depressed in all heifers. In the 1st estrous cycle after inoculation, progesterone values did not exceed 2 ng/ml in 3 heifers given the Iowa isolate. Although maximal progesterone values were greater than or equal to 2 ng/ml in 3 heifers given the Colorado isolate, values were lower than those in later cycles. Five heifers had maximal diestrual progesterone values greater than or equal to 5 ng/ml within 5 weeks after inoculation, but in the 6th heifer, this amount of progesterone was not present until 8 weeks after inoculation. Three to 5 months after inoculation, all heifers were given 5 daily injections of dexamethasone, 2 heifers each during metestrus, diestrus, or proestrus. Subsequent recrudescence of IBRV was demonstrated in all heifers by the isolation of virus from vaginal or nasal swab samples. The heifers were killed 10 to 17 days after initiation of dexamethasone treatment and their reproductive organs were examined for lesions and IBRV. Lesions were not seen, and IBRV was isolated only from the corpus luteum of a heifer given dexamethasone during diestrus.     

Levamisole pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in dogs

Levamisole was given intravenously and orally (with and without food) to six dogs. All dogs reacted adversely to intravenous dosage and one died. For the remaining five, intravenous data fitted a one compartment model with first order elimination and a mean half-time of elimination of 1.8 hours. In fasting dogs drug absorption from the gut was rapid and the mean fraction absorbed (F) was 0.64. When levamisole was given with food, drug bioavailability was impaired, as absorption was slowed and possibly reduced (F = 0.49). The effect of ingesta on bioavailability of levamisole could affect treatment efficacy and side effects.