Epidemiological studies on the expectation of life for cats computed from animal cemetery records

Based on the Chiang's method, the life table for cats was constructed from the death data of 3936 cats. They died in the Kanto area and were buried in an animal cemetery in Tokyo from June 1981 through May 1982. This life table seems to be the first one for domestic pet cats. The expectation of life for cats was 4.2 years at age 0, 5.0 years at age 1, 5.4 years at age 4, 5.3 years at age 5, 3.5 years at age 10, and 2.2 years at age 15. The maximum age at death was 22 years. From age 0 to age 5, the probability of dying for cats was higher than that for dogs, but over 6 years of age it seemed that Gompertz's equation was applicable to this life table for cats. From these results, if the probability of dying for cats at early ages decreases, the fundamental pattern of dying curve for cats seems to be a similar figure of dogs. The life table was constructed for different breeds and localities. Comparing the expectation of life at age 1 (e1) of the two populations divided by breeds or localities, there was significant difference in the e1 among different localities but not among different breeds. These facts suggest the existence of some factors which may influence the life span of cats among different localities.     

Correlated Responses in Two Traits when Selection is Practised on their Ratio

In many fields of application in plant breeding and crop science, ratios of two component traits X and Y are of interest (harvest index in cereals, leaf-to-stem ratio in forage legumes, height-to-diameter ratio in forest trees etc.). When selection is practised on the ratio X/Y of two traits X and Y, the experimenter may be interested in the resulting changes of both trait means. Based on improved approximations for the covariances between X and X/Y and between Y and X/Y and for the variance of X/Y the changes in the means of X and Y can be predicted by applying the regression approach from conventional selection theory. Explicit expressions for these correlated responses in X and Y when selection is practised on their ratio X/Y are derived and discussed. The different outcomes (decrease, zero change or increase) for the selection pressures on X and Y are characterized by phenotypic coefficients of variation of X and Y, phenotypic and genotypic correlations between X and Y and heritabilities of X and Y.     

Determination of the protease activity in a Cuban strain of Babesia bovis]

The attenuation of a Babesia bovis strain depends on its protease content. The present work evaluates this parameter on a virulent strain, before and after attenuation by quick passages on splenectomized calves. The protease activity at different pH values was determined in protein fractions from the blood of calves. The enzymatic test showed marked differences between the protease content of both substrains.     

Lupus-Type "Anticoagulant" in a Dog With Hemolysis and Thrombosis

A circulating anticoagulant was detected in a 2-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever with hemolytic anemia, nephrotic syndrome, thrombocytopenia, polyarthropathy, and pulmonary thromboembolism. A persistent prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was detected, and it did not correct with repeated administration of fresh frozen plasma. The aPTT was still prolonged, with a 1:1 mixture of patient's plasma and normal dog plasma in vitro, suggesting the presence of a circulating inhibitor. Results of assays to characterize the inhibitor were compatible with those described for the lupus anticoagulant in human patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Paradoxically, patients having the lupus anticoagulant are at increased risk for thrombosis. Pulmonary thromboembolism has been described as a frequent complication of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in the dog, and the presence of a circulating anticoagulant should be considered as a potential mechanism.     

Two cases of colitis cystica profunda in dogs

Colitis cystica profunda in dogs has been diagnosed in one case only. The two own cases were characterized by repeated, partly bloody diarrhea, vomitus, and painful defecation. The disease was diagnosed by clinical examination and colonoscopy with the ensuing histological examination of biopsy specimens. The disease could be managed by administration of a diet, sulfasalazine and corticosteroids.     

Effect of inoculum density of Macrophomina phaseolina on seedling susceptibility of six conifer species

The severity of charcoal root disease of conifer seedlings (Abies concolor, A. magnified, Pinus jeffreyi, P. lambertiana, and Pseudotsuga menziesii) was a power function of the sclerotial density of the fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina) in nursery soil.     

A rapid monoclonal immunofluorescence assay for Chlamydia psittaci in fecal smears from psittacine birds

One hundred two fecal specimens from psittacine birds submitted to Veterinary Laboratory Services of the California Department of Food and Agriculture at Petaluma were screened for Chlamydia psittaci by a direct immunofluorescence assay using a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody conjugate specific for Chlamydia sp. Results were compared with those obtained by isolation of chlamydia in cultures of McCoy mouse cells. The relative specificity of the direct fluorescent antibody test on fecal smears was 98.9% and the relative sensitivity was 62.5%. The results of this study suggested that the direct fluorescent antibody test was highly specific, and it proved to be a useful same-day antemortem diagnostic test for birds with symptomatic chlamydial infection. The use of centrifugation in the cell culture assay was found to significantly enhance the level of chlamydial infection in cell culture.     

Quantitative Aspects of Thyroid Scintigraphy With Pertechnetate (99mTcO4) in Cats

Thyroidal ^99mTcO₄(pertechnetate) uptake percentages were determined in unanesthetized euthyroid (n = 13) and hyperthyroid (n = 18) cats. Maximal uptakes were observed 60 minutes after IV injection of the radionuclide and ranged from 0.3 to 3.9% of the dose in euthyroid cats (median 2.23%) and from 5.2% to 23.9% of the dose in hyperthyroid cats (median 14.8%) ( P < .05). There were no overlaps in pertechnetate uptake percentages during any of the intervals evaluated. It is concluded that the optimal time for visualization of the thyroid by ^99mTcO₄-scanning is 60 minutes after IV injection of the radionuclide. Calculation of the percentage uptake is of additional diagnostic value.     

Necrotizing typhlocolitis associated with a spirochete in rheas (Rhea americana).

Necrotizing typhlocolitis was diagnosed in 13 juvenile common rheas (Rhea americana) from three separate of geographically isolated Ohio flocks, with mortality ranging from 25% to 80%. At postmortem examination, a diphtheritic membrane covered ulcerated cecal mucosa. Histologically, cecal sections showed necrosis and granulomatous-to-suppurative inflammation that extended into the submucosa and often surrounded large eosinophilic colonies of bacteria. Warthin-Starry staining showed these colonies to be composed of entangled spirochetes that invaded the submucosa and frequently were present transmurally. Similar organisms were identified by Warthin-Starry staining in the cecum of a juvenile rhea from a fourth flock that histologically had mild lymphocytic typhlitis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of a spirochete in the ceca. Anaerobic culture yielded a gram-negative, beta-hemolytic spirochete. Coccidia, histomonads, and Salmonella spp. were consistently absent.     

Effects of recombinant canine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on white blood cell production in clinically normal and neutropenic dogs.

Recombinant canine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rcG-CSF) was administered to clinically normal dogs, cyclic-hematopoietic dogs, and dogs undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation, to determine whether rcG-CSF could be used to stimulate WBC production and function in normal and neutropenic dogs. To the normal dogs, rcG-CSF was administered by SC injection at rates of 1 microgram/kg of body weight, q 12 h; 2 micrograms/kg, q 12 h; or 5 micrograms/kg, q 12 h. A significant dose-dependent increase in the WBC count resulted from the stimulation of bone marrow progenitor cells. The increased WBC count was characterized by mature neutrophilia and monocytosis. Neutrophil myeloperoxidase and phagocytic activity were normal in rcG-CSF-treated normal dogs, demonstrating the production of normal functional neutrophils in response to rcG-CSF treatment. Recombinant canine G-CSF prevented neutropenia and associated clinical signs but did not completely eliminate the cycling of neutrophils in cyclic-hematopoietic dogs when it was administered at rates of 1 microgram/kg, q 12 h, and 2.5 micrograms/kg, q 12 h. The time to bone marrow reconstitution was not decreased in dogs treated with rcG-CSF at a rate of 2.5 micrograms/kg, q 12 h, for 13 days following autologous bone marrow transplantation. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that treatment with rcG-CSF is an effective way to stimulate myelopoiesis in dogs, but that the dose of rcG-CSF required to stimulate WBC production will vary depending on the cause of neutropenia. Recombinant canine G-CSF should be useful in stimulating production and maintaining function of WBC for treatment of clinical diseases seen commonly in veterinary practice.