Relationships between stride length, stride frequency, velocity, and morphometrics of foals

Velocity-dependent changes in stride length and frequency were studied in 19 male foals, 6 to 8 months of age, and were related to body morphometrics. Eighteen distance and 8 angle measurements were digitized from 16-mm films of standing foals. The total mass and the percentage of total mass acting through the forelimbs were also recorded. Stride length and frequency data were extracted from 16-mm films of 239 strides of the walk, trot, and canter-gallop. Polynomial-regression analysis was used to determine the equation that best described the relationship between data of stride length or frequency vs velocity and stride length vs stride frequency for each foal, for the total population, and for the walk, trot, and canter-gallop data from the total population. Stepwise-regression analysis was done of stride length, or slope of the stride length-velocity line (frequency-1) vs distance, angle, and mass measurements. The stride length for each foal was calculated for a stride frequency of 2 strides/s. The maximum recorded velocity was 11.45 m/s. There was overlap in the velocity ranges at which gaits were used: the walk or trot were used at velocities between 1.7 to 2.0 m/s and a trot or canter were used over a wider velocity range of 3.2 to 5.8 m/s. Stride length did not exceed 4.72 m. The mean stride length at a frequency of 2 strides/s was 2.57 m and was significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated to total mass (r = 0.6335) and length of the metacarpus (r = -0.5115), but not to wither height.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characteristics of Salmonella isolated from animals at a veterinary medical teaching hospital

Salmonella belonging to 47 serotypes was isolated from animals at the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital during the years 1974 to 1983. Salmonella belonging to 12 serotypes accounted for 89% of the 725 isolates. Salmonella typhimurium (including var copenhagen) was the most commonly isolated serotype, but during 1981 to 1983, S krefeld and S saint-paul were predominant. Certain serotypes seemed to be isolated more frequently from extraintestinal sources (S typhi-suis, S dublin). Although resistance to ampicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, and sulfonamides was common (greater than 60% of the isolates were resistant), resistance to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and trimethoprim-sulfonamides was infrequent, except for isolates of S krefeld and S saint-paul.     

Trichostrongylus angistris n. sp. from the red duiker Cephalophus natalensis A. Smith, 1834 and a redescription of Trichostrongylus minor M?nnig, 1932

Trichostrongylus angistris n. sp. was found in the abomasa of 13 red duiker Cephalophus natalensis A. Smith, 1834, culled in the Charter's Creek Nature Reserve, Natal. The species is closely related to Trichostrongylus minor M?nnig, 1932 and can be differentiated from it by the shorter dorsal ray and the different shape of the gubernaculum and spicules. The shoes of the spicules of T. minor are set at an angle to the long axis, while those of T. angistris are curved. Upon re-examination, the Trichostrongylus spp., tentatively identified as Trichostrongylus capricola Ransom, 1907 and Trichostrongylus vitrinus Looss, 1905, proved to be T. angistris. In this paper, T. angistris is compared with T. capricola and T. vitrinus and T. minor is redescribed.     

The effect of parturition on the blood picture of sheep

Parturition in sheep was associated with significant increases in the packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red cell counts. Subsequently these values gradually declined, attaining prepartum levels by the seventh day post partum. Blood leucocyte counts were also elevated at parturition and this was associated with marked neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia and mild eosinopenia. These changes were gradually reversed thereafter, with normal values being attained by the fourteenth day post partum.     

Pretaping of the Aorta Prior to Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation

SURGICAL repair of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common cardiovascular procedures performed in veterinary and human medicine.^1–3 The techniques have been well documented and used successfully.^2–5     

A progressive axonopathy of Boxer dogs affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems

Five Boxer dogs with a new neurological disease are described. There is a progressive ataxia and weakness, initially in the hind-legs but later involving forelegs. The onset of signs is usually around 6 months of age although an older dog was affected. Proprioceptive function, muscle tone and tendon reflexes are diminished or absent while pedal reflexes and pain sensation are preserved. Muscle atrophy is minimal. The peripheral nerves are depleted in myelinated fibres. Nerve roots and, to a lesser extent, peripheral nerves show demyelination/remyelination changes and in the cervical ventral roots in particular, regenerative clusters are present. Forelimb muscles show evidence of re-innervation. In the CNS numerous swollen axons are present. The dorsolateral and ventral columns of the spinal cord are affected throughout their length. In the brain a number of nuclei and tracts, particularly in the lower brain stem, are affected and the superior olives are severely involved. The cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter appear normal. Various portions of the auditory and optic pathways are affected pathologically as are a number of cranial nerves. The axonal swellings contain a number of organelles including smooth endoplasmic reticulum, disordered neurofilaments, vesicles and mitochondria. The disease may be specific to Boxer dogs and may be inherited.     

Epidemiologic study of campylobacteriosis in Iowa cattle and the possible role of unpasteurized milk as a vehicle of infection

Bile samples were collected from 477 Iowa dairy cows and were cultured for thermophilic campylobacters. The prevalence of thermophilic campylobacters in the bile was 15.5%. Campylobacter jejuni and C coli from dairy cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, and human beings were serotyped to develop host-species profiles. Human and cattle serologic profiles were the most similar, and human and chicken profiles shared several similarities. Epidemiologic data from 168 human cases of campylobacteriosis indicated that 23% of the cases were associated with consumption of unpasteurized milk.