Evaluation of phagocytic function of canine peripheral polymorphonuclear leucocytes by whole blood chemiluminescence.

Zymosan-induced and luminol-aided chemiluminescence (CL) of whole blood from beagle dogs was estimated for the function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). Whole blood (0.1 ml) was examined directly and results were obtained within 20 min. A phagocytic function of PMNs can be estimated from the peak CL counts and the number of PMNs in a specimen, and the opsonic activity can also be estimated by the peak time showing peak CL after the addition of non-opsonized zymosan. The optimal temperatures to keep diluted whole blood for the CL measurement was around 13 degrees C. Thus, this method offers information concerning the functions of phagocytic cells in whole blood.     

Hematological parameters and visceral lesions relationships in rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease.

Twenty rabbits were inoculated with a suspension of Viral Hemorrhagic Disease virus. Hemostatic functions were assessed every sixth hour from 6 to 60 hours post-inoculation. Tissue samples obtained at the same intervals allowed the study of the development of lesions throughout the experiment. Biological signs of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) were detected on and after 30 h post-inoculation and consisted of prolonged One Stage Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thrombin Time, the decrease of factors V, VII, and X and high levels of soluble fibrin monomer complexes and D-dimers. A reduction of thrombocyte numbers, heterophils and lymphocytes was associated. The close association of DIC and necrotizing hepatitis lesions suggested the hepatic lesions to be the most important DIC triggering factor. Other mechanisms are discussed.     

Specificity of the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma infections.

A rapid and low cost procedure, the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test, was evaluated for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infections. Using a closely related parasite (Besnoitia jellisoni) as antigen, and homologous or heterologous immune sera, it was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy that CIA is a very reliable and specific test. As it is neither expensive nor time-consuming, it can be recommended for general and routine laboratory use.     

Dietary Lysine Requirement of Juvenile Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus

The dietary lysine requirement of juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was reevaluated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, lyophilized red drum muscle was combined with an L-form crystalline amino acid premix to yield diets containing approximately 35% protein on a dry-matter basis. Gradations (0.25%) of L-lysine HCl were added to the basal diet containing approximately 1.0% lysine. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile red drum initially weighing 6–7 g for 8 weeks. Based on growth and feed efficiency data, the lysine requirement (±SE) was determined to be 1.55% (±0.079%) of dry diet or 4.430% of dietary protein. In a second experiment, the lysine requirement of red drum was investigated with diets containing 35% intact protein from zein and red drum muscle. Each of the zein-based diets containing incremental levels of lysine was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile red drum initially weighing 1–2 g for 8 weeks. A crystalline amino acid test diet serving as a control in this experiment significantly outperformed the zein-based diets, and palatability of those diets was questionable due to an obvious change in feeding behavior of the fish. Due to the inferior performance of the fish fed the zein-based diets, the authors were not successful in determining a requirement with these diets. Thus, a lysine requirement of 1.55% of dry diet (4.43% of dietary protein) as determined in the first experiment is recommended for juvenile red drum.     

Legal regulations and practical implementation of inspection of slaughter animals and their meat, concerning fur-bearing game

Meat regulations also involve game inspection. This publication deals with the regulations concerning furred game intended for slaughter and furred game hunted for food.     

Management of rectal injuries

Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the various grades of rectal tears is discussed. Surgical techniques, which include direct closure, diverting colostomies, and placement of temporary rectal liners, are detailed. Also, rectal prolapses and various methods of repair are outlined.     

Cytological, Immunocytochemical and Ultrastructural Study of the Adenohypophyseal Pars Distalis of the Kid (Capra hircus): The TSH cell

The structure and ultrastructure of the adenohypophyseal pars distalis in kids of the Murciano-granadiana breed (18 males and 12 females), aged 2-3 months and with an average carcass weight of 8 kg has been studied. Techniques of staining (Tetrachrome Herlant's, and Cleveland-Wolfe) and histochemistry (PAS, PAS-OG and BA-PAS-OG) contrasted with immunolabelling (PAP) have been used. In addition an ultrastructural study has been made and nucleus and cytoplasm, secretory granules, mitochondria and lysosomes have been measured with a semiautomatic image analyzer (IBAS-1). TSH cells are found in sagittal section in the anterior area and in an antero-caudodorsal band, and transversally in the ventral and medial region; they are 6% and their average size is 14.15 microns. Ultrastructurally they are a single cellular type with spherical granules whose size is 195 nm in males and 149 in females; these granules are characterized by a clear halo and a variable electronic density. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is found as slightly enlarged vesicles with a homogeneous and moderately electro-dense content or in concentric stratifications.     

Evaluation of three strip tests for measuring electrolytes in mares' pre-partum mammary secretions and for predicting parturition

Three strip test kits which measure calcium and/or magnesium in mares' mammary secretions were compared and assessed for their accuracy in:- 1) measuring these electrolytes compared to standard laboratory measurements, and 2) predicting the time of parturition. Daily samples of mammary secretions were obtained pre-partum from 35 Thoroughbred mares and allocated a score. Measurement of mammary secretion calcium and/or magnesium by the strip tests and laboratory methods correlated significantly (P less than 0.001). The results obtained for prediction of parturition were analysed by two methods. Method i) indicated that the majority of mares had a maximum score on the day of birth. However, the second method of analysis included all prepartum scores and this demonstrated that maximum scores occurred on more occasions prior to the day of birth than on the day of birth itself. The number of nights spent attending mares, and the percentage of occasions when foaling was missed, were also calculated for given strip test scores. The results indicate that the test kits are not particularly accurate in predicting time of parturition although they are a reliable means of measuring mammary secretion calcium and/or magnesium. It is suggested that the test kits may be more helpful by indicating when it is not necessary to attend mares at night.     

Mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine in experimental infection with the coccidium Isospora suis in piglets

The state of mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine was studied in conventional piglets infected with a dose of 200,000 oocytes of the coccidium Isospora suis the first and fifth day after parturition. The synthesis of mucus and its chemical characteristics undergo significant changes during the third and fourth day after infection. The activity of acid and neutral mucous substances declines; their level and the physiological synthetic function of goblet cells begin to return to the normal during the period starting on the eight to tenth day after infection. However, there were no fully functioning goblet cells in the broken numerical ratio even at the end of the period of investigation, i.e. the 13th day after infection. The thin surface layer of mucus remained almost unchanged within the whole extent of the small intestine parts studied.     

Response of the lactating and postweaning sow to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Clinical and endocrinological responses to administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (LH-RH-A) during the lactation period and postweaning in the sow were investigated. Plasma LH concentrations in lactating sows rose immediately after administration of LH-RH-A. However, in postweaning sows the increase of LH level was more slowly. Three of 5 postweaning sows came into estrus and ovulated after LH-RH-A treatment. One sow exhibited a distinct LH response, but her ovaries remained quiescent. The remaining one with feeble estrus for a short period became cystic ovaries. Thus, LH response to GnRH in the sow seems to be higher during early lactation than at 2 days postweaning.