Persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium DT120 in abattoir paddocks holding sheep

In the summer of 1999 there was an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT120 in people in the north of England which was unusual in being sensitive to antimicrobial drugs. The outbreak was linked to mutton and lamb from a local abattoir, and attention focused on four holding paddocks used to retain sheep before slaughter. In November 1999, samples of soil and faeces were taken from these paddocks and samples of faeces were taken from the concrete race leading from them. Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from 59 of the 100 samples. Between January 2000 and October 2000 seven visits were made to the abattoir at each of which 100 samples were taken from the paddocks and concrete race and examined for the presence of Salmonella. The paddocks remained heavily contaminated with S Typhimurium DT120 until April when there was a marked reduction in the recovery of the organism. By June the contamination was minimal and by August it had disappeared, and the organism was not recovered in September or October.     

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after intravenous,intramuscular and oral administration of a single dose to African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug commonly used in avian species. In this study, the pharmacokinetic parameters for meloxicam were determined following single intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral (p.o.) administrations of the drug (1 mg/kg·b.w.) in adult African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus; n = 6). Serial plasma samples were collected and meloxicam concentrations were determined using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography assay. A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. No undesirable side effects were observed during the study. After i.v. administration, the volume of distribution, clearance and elimination half‐life were 90.6 ± 4.1 mL/kg, 2.18 ± 0.25 mL/h/kg and 31.4 ± 4.6 h, respectively. The peak mean ± SD plasma concentration was 8.32 ± 0.95 μg/mL at 30 min after i.m. administration. Oral administration resulted in a slower absorption (t_max = 13.2 ± 3.5 h; C_max = 4.69 ± 0.75 μg/mL) and a lower bioavailability (38.1 ± 3.6%) than for i.m. (78.4 ± 5.5%) route. At 24 h, concentrations were 5.90 ± 0.28 μg/mL for i.v., 4.59 ± 0.36 μg/mL for i.m. and 3.21 ± 0.34 μg/mL for p.o. administrations and were higher than those published for Hispaniolan Amazon parrots at 12 h with predicted analgesic effects.     

THE USE OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF POOR RACING PERFORMANCE IN THE HORSE

Electrocardiograms were reocrded from 153 racehorses and 10 Olympic three-day-event horses. The horses were then grouped into those presented for routine examination, those in which there was a complaint of poor performance, those going to the Montreal Olympics, and those with upper respiratory tract abnormalities. When the ECGs of the four groups were compared on the basis of detection of abnormality, it was found that 93.2% of the poor performance group showed abnormalities of various types. The routine examination group showed 21.1% of horses with abnormal ECGs, and over half of these have been followed to the point where it can be said they raced unsuccessfully. In particular, this applied to those horses with T wave abnormalities in 4 or more leads, and to those with intraatrial block. There were significant T wave changes in 50% of the Olympic horses, and 43.7% of horses with laryngeal hemiplegia showed abnormality. While it can be concluded that T wave changes are highly significant findings in an ECG, it is also true that modification of the training programme is a way of helping trainers to get the best out of horses which might otherwise have a serious limitation of their performance potential.     

Computed tomography of testicular torsion in a juvenile dog with unilateral cryptorchidism

A 14-week-old male unilaterally cryptorchid Clumber spaniel was presented for acute lethargy. Physical examination revealed abdominal pain, and a single testis was palpated in the scrotum. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) revealed a poorly vascularized, ovoid structure immediately caudal to the left kidney with scant regional peritoneal effusion. Left intra-abdominal testicular torsion was confirmed at surgery, and routine cryptorchidectomy was performed. The patient recovered uneventfully from anesthesia and surgery.Key clinical message:The most common CT characteristics of testicular torsion were present in this case and correlated well with sonographic findings to allow for rapid, accurate diagnosis and surgical planning of unilateral, non-neoplastic, intra-abdominal cryptorchid testicular torsion in a juvenile dog. Contrast enhanced CT facilitated accurate localization of the undescended testis and evaluation of testicular perfusion and may be a useful alternative to ultrasound for diagnosing testicular torsion, especially in indeterminate cases.     

Repair of Bovine and Equine Mandibular Fractures

Clinical findings, surgical repair and postsurgical care of a unilateral fracture of the mandible of a bull and of a bilateral mandibular fracture in a horse are described. Compression plating limited the pain suffered by the animals and resulted in a quick return to function of the mandibles.     

Feed consumption, nutrient utilization and serum metabolite profile of captive blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra) fed diets varying in crude protein content

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum level of crude protein (CP) in the diet of captive blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) in which feed consumption and nutrient utilization are maximal. Fifteen blackbucks (BW 25-34 kg) were distributed into three groups of five each in an experiment of 75-days duration including a digestion trial of 5-day collection period. All the animals were offered 200 g of concentrates and fresh maize fodder ad libitum. The overall CP content of the three respective diets was 6.9%, 10.4% and 12.7%. Blood samples were collected on the last day of the experiment. Intake and digestibility of CP increased (p < 0.01) with the increased level of CP in the diet. Feed consumption and nutrient intake were not significantly different among the groups. However, digestibilities of most of the nutrients were higher in the 10.4% CP diet than in the 6.9% CP diet. The endogenous loss of nitrogen was similar among the groups. Based on the endogenous losses, minimum N requirement was calculated to be 776 mg/kg BW(0.75) /day, and to meet this requirement, diet must contain at least 8.27% CP. Serum urea nitrogen concentration increased (p < 0.01) with increased level of dietary CP. Serum level of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase was higher (p < 0.05) in the group fed 6.9% CP diet. Animals in the group fed low protein diet also lost body mass during the experimental period. It was concluded that a diet containing 10.4% CP was optimum for maximizing nutrient utilization without any adverse effect on voluntary feed consumption and serum metabolite profile of blackbucks.     

Effects of ammonium and inorganic carbon enrichment on growth and yield of a hydroponic tomato crop

Effects of varying the proportions of NO₃^— and NH₄⁺ in the growth medium on seedling growth and tomato fruit yield (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Trust F1) were investigated in greenhouse hydroponic experiments. The presence of NH₄⁺ as the sole N source (11 mM) was toxic: it curtailed growth and decreased chlorophyll content of the leaves. However, at low concentration (10 % of total N), the presence of NH₄⁺, with or without added dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), increased vegetative growth and fruit yield by ˜ 15 %, and enhanced taste/flavor of the fruits. In DIC‐enriched treatment, pH was maintained at 5.8 by addition of KHCO₃ or as CaCO₃. The presence of NH₄⁺, at 10 % of total N, inhibited NO₃^— uptake rates by ˜ 27 %. The rates of uptake of NO₃^— and NH₄⁺ were comparable (13.3 and 14.2 mmol plant^—1 d^—1, respectively, in the presence of DIC, and 14.7 and 14.0 mmol plant^—1 d^—1, respectively, in the absence of DIC), despite such a large difference in their concentrations in the nutrient feed solution. A higher proportion of NH₄⁺ (up to 50 % of total N) had no further significant effect upon early vegetative growth, but in a long‐term experiment resulted in a high incidence of blossom end‐rot (BER) disease, thereby severely curtailing fruit yield. The presence of even 1.1 mM NH₄⁺ reduced Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ accumulation in the leaves as well as in fruits.     

Hip dysplasia in a 6-year-old Salz ram

A 6-year old Salz ram was presented with a history of poor body condition, progressive gait abnormalities, pelvic limb lameness, and difficulty with copulation. Based on the history, clinical signs, hip palpation, and radiography, a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, previously unreported in sheep, was made.     

Isolation of a subgroup two adenovirus from calf with weak calf syndrome.

A viral agent, designated Id-1, was isolated from the buffy coat of a calf suffering from weak calf syndrome. The virus replicated on bovine salivary gland cells and caused cytopathic effect within four days after infection-Cytopathic effect was characterized by rounding and clumping of cells. Stained preparations of infected monolayers revealed multiple intranuclear inclusions. The agent was found to be resistant to chloroform, ether, trypsin, sodium desoxycholate, oxytetracycline and a pH range of three to nine. The virus was sensitive to 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and to a temperature of 70 degrees C. Cross neutralization tests with Id-1 antiserum and bovine adenovirus type 7 (strain Fujuroi) antiserum resulted in complete neutralilation of both viruses with four or less antibody units of homologous or heterologous antiserum.