Cystoscopy in cattle--a valuable additional tool for clinical examination

Based on the findings of physical examination and on laboratory findings the urinary bladder of 23 cows was examined endoscopically in order to investigate the application of cystoscopy in cattle. The endoscopic findings of all examined cows were compared with the findings of physical examination and the results of macroscopic and microscopic urinalysis and the bacteriological culture of the urine. By physical examination only 3 cows were diagnosed to have urinary tract disease, whereas all other cows were suspected of having an urinary tract disease. Bacteriological culture of the urine revealed Corynebacterium renale and Escherichia coli infection in 18 cows, while the remaining 5 cows were negative. By cystoscopy catarrhal cystitis was diagnosed in 2 cases, haemorrhagic cystitis in 5 cases, and fibrinous-purulent and fibrinous-haemorrhagic cystitis in 13 cases. Three cows showed no pathological changes of the urinary bladder mucosa by endoscopic examination. Cystoscopy facilitates diagnosis through the direct visualisation of mucosal lesions and makes it possible to give a more accurate prognosis based upon the findings.     

Use of endoscopy for examination of the sacral epidural space in standing cattle

OBJECTIVE: To develop an epiduroscopic technique for use in standing cattle and describe the endoscopically visible anatomic structures of the epidural space in the sacrococcygeal area. ANIMALS: 6 healthy nonlactating, nonpregnant cows (mean +/- SD age, 60 +/- 18.5 months; mean weight, 599.7 +/- 63.87 kg) and 3 bovine cadavers. PROCEDURES: Cadavers were used to allow familiarization with the equipment and refinement of the technique. Following these experiences, procedures were performed in live animals. Each cow was restrained in a stock. After sedation with xylazine (0.03 mg/kg, IV), 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (0.25 mg/kg) was injected epidurally in the first intercoccygeal or the sacrococcygeal intervertebral space. By use of an introducer set (guidewire and dilation trocar and shaft), a flexible endoscope (length, 75 cm; diameter, 2.3 mm) was inserted through the dilation shaft into the epidural space. To obtain an optimal view, small amounts of air were insufflated into the epidural space through the working channel of the endoscope via a syringe with special filter. RESULTS: Anatomic structures of the epidural space that were viewed by means of the endoscopic procedure included blood vessels, connective tissue, fat, nerves, and the spinal dura mater. No adverse events were detected during epiduroscopy, and it was tolerated well by all 6 cows. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In ruminants, epidural structures can be viewed via endoscopy. Such epiduroscopic procedures may be useful in anatomic studies as well as for the diagnosis of disease or therapeutic interventions in ruminants.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF A GIANT CELL TUMOR AFFECTING THE MANDIBLE IN A PYGMY GOAT

A 3‐year‐old male neutered pygmy goat presented for evaluation of a progressive mandibular swelling and inappetence. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the head and thorax was performed under general anesthesia. Computed tomography revealed an extensive multiloculated, markedly expansile lesion within the right hemimandible, which involved the articular surface of the temporomandibular joint. The goat was euthanased due to a poor prognosis and postmortem examination confirmed the diagnostic imaging findings. Histopathology was strongly suggestive of a multinucleated giant cell tumor, therefore this condition should be considered as a differential diagnosis in goats presenting with expansile mandibular mass lesions.     

Sequentially Extracted Arsenic from Different Size Fractions of Contaminated Soils

Five soils from Austria that have high contents of arsenic (As)due to anthropogenic and/or geogenic sources were separated intosand, silt, and clay fractions. The distribution of As among theparticle-size fractions was clay >> silt > sand. Theparticle-size fractions were analysed according to an 8-stepsequential extraction procedure (SEP) designed to assess theprimary reservoirs and extractability of As. Steps 1 and 2,(i.e. NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄) extractedthe least As, while considerably greater amounts were extractedin steps 3, 4 and 5 (i.e. NH₄H₂PO₄,NH₂OH-HCl, and NH₄F). The greatest amounts of As wereextracted in steps 6 and 7, both NH₄-oxalate extractantstargeting the amorphous and crystalline oxide fractions. Theresidual fraction (step 8) was typically low. The extraction ofthe clays contained generally more As in steps 3 to 8, while Asrelease in the first two steps was typically highest in the sandand silt fractions. These findings are in accord with factoranalysis indicating that the extractants of the SEP areseparated into weak (steps 1 and 2) and strong (steps 3 to 8)extractants. SEP data along with microprobe analyses (X-raymicroanalyses) indicate that most As is associated with Fe andis therefore not readily mobile. Anyhow, As could be releasedupon changes in redox potential or pH. The greaterextractability of As from sand fractions using weak extractantsmay explain the higher toxicity of As in coarse-textured soils,as found in previous studies.     

Influence of litter chemistry and stoichiometry on glucan depolymerization during decomposition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) litter

Glucans like cellulose and starch are a major source of carbon for decomposer food webs, especially during early- and intermediate-stages of decomposition. Litter quality has previously been suggested to notably influence decomposition processes as it determines the decomposability of organic material and the nutrient availability to the decomposer community. To study the impact of chemical and elemental composition of resources on glucan decomposition, a laboratory experiment was carried out using beech (Fagus sylvatica, L.) litter from four different locations in Austria, differing in composition (concentration of starch, cellulose and acid unhydrolyzable residue or AUR fraction) and elemental stoichiometry (C:N:P ratio). Leaf litter was incubated in mesocosms for six months in the laboratory under controlled conditions. To investigate the process of glucan decomposition and its controls, we developed an isotope pool dilution (IPD) assay using (13)C-glucose to label the pool of free glucose in the litter, and subsequently measured the dilution of label over time. This enabled us to calculate gross rates of glucose production through glucan depolymerization, and glucose consumption by the microbial community. In addition, potential activities of extracellular cellulases and ligninases (peroxidases and phenoloxidases) were measured to identify effects of resource chemistry and stoichiometry on microbial enzyme production. Gross rates of glucan depolymerization and glucose consumption were highly correlated, indicating that both processes are co-regulated and intrinsically linked by the microbial demand for C and energy and thereby to resource allocation to enzymes that depolymerize glucans. At early stages of decomposition, glucan depolymerization rates were correlated with starch content, indicating that starch was the primary source for glucose. With progressing litter decomposition, the correlation with starch diminished and glucan depolymerization rates were highly correlated to cellulase activities, suggesting that cellulose was the primary substrate for glucan depolymerization at this stage of decomposition. Litter stoichiometry did not affect glucan depolymerization or glucose consumption rates early in decomposition. At later stages, however, we found significant negative relationships between glucan depolymerization and litter C:N and AUR:N ratio and a positive relationship between glucan depolymerization and litter N concentration. Litter C:N and C:P ratios were negatively related to cellulase, peroxidase and phenoloxidase activities three and six months after incubation, further corroborating the importance of resource stoichiometry for glucan depolymerization after the initial pulse of starch degradation.     

Ralstonia solanacearum as a potato pathogen in Serbia: Characterization of strains and influence on peroxidase activity in tubers

Since 2011, the outbreaks of brown rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum race 3, biovar 2, phylotype IIB-1 (R3/B2/PIIB-1) have significantly compromised potato production in Serbia. During 6 years of monitoring (2013–2018) among 3,524 potato tuber samples, 344 were found positive for brown rot disease. R. solanacearum R3/B2/PIIB-1 was isolated from seven cultivars among 12 monitored, and in five localities among 17 monitored. Cultivar Lady Claire was found to have the highest disease frequency (31.98%). A total of 78 isolates were identified by R. solanacearum-specific primer pairs (PS-1/PS-2 and OLI-1/Y-2), as well as the following tests: restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, biovar determination, immunofluorescence, biochemical analysis, and pathogenicity. The genetic composition of 36 selected isolates assessed using multilocus sequence analysis with seven genes (adk, gapA, gdhA, gyrB, ppsA, hrpB, and fliC) showed that all isolates originating from Serbian potato were homogeneous. By using the TCS algorithm of concatenated sequences to get insight into the phylogeography of isolates and other R. solanacearum strains deposited in the NCBI database, we showed that their origin is undetermined. Peroxidase (POD) activity was measured in brown rotted potato tubers. A positive correlation was found between POD activity and disease severity rated on the analysed tubers. In general, POD activity increased by 2–22 times in vascular necrotic tissues compared to non-necrotic ones, and depended on disease severity but not on cultivar. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of POD profiles resulted in a total of 10 distinct POD isoforms, of which PODs 3–5 were highly intensified in response to R. solanacearum.     

Antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities of Teucrium montanum

The antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water extracts of Teucrium montanum were investigated. Ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-butanol extracts expressed a wide range of inhibiting activity against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria. n-Butanol extract possessed potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity.     

Stenotic nasopharyngeal dysgenesis in the dachshund: seven cases (2002-2004)

Medical records of seven dachshunds with congenital nasopharyngeal stenosis from abnormally thickened palatopharyngeal muscles were reviewed. The intrapharyngeal ostium in all cases consisted of only a narrow slit. Dogs were presented with various clinical signs--the most common being dyspnea, expiratory cheek puff, salivation, pharyngeal dysphagia, oral dysphagia (to a lesser extent), and macroglossia. Diagnostic procedures included direct pharyngeal inspection, pharyngeal and thoracic radiography, fluoroscopy, lingual ultrasonography, biopsies in two dogs, and a postmortem examination in one dog. Diagnoses were readily made with radiographs and visual examinations. Macroglossia was confirmed with transcutaneous ultrasonography or a transmandibular finger test.