Necrotizing hepatitis associated with a reo-like virus infection in a parrot

A young African grey parrot was presented for necropsy following a 3-to-4-day illness consisting of lethargy, anorexia, and diarrhea. A disseminated necrotizing hepatopathy was evident upon histologic examination of the liver. Aggregates of approximately 70-nm-diameter viral particles having morphology consistent with the family Reoviridae were demonstrated by thin-section and negative-staining electron microscopy.     

The effect of severe dietary protein restriction on skeletal muscle fiber number, area and composition in weanling rats

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effects of severe dietary protein restriction on soleus (S) and tibialis anterior (TA) fiber number and S muscle fiber area, composition and length. The S and TA muscles were removed from one leg of 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats at 21 d of age. Six of these animals were placed on a 1% protein diet until 42 d of age, while six served as age-matched controls. Muscle fiber number was determined by the nitric acid digestion method for S muscles and the mean fiber dry-weight estimation method for the TA muscles. Mean fiber numbers for the S muscles were 2,655 +/- 42 and 2,669 +/- 71 for the treatment group at 21 and 42 d of age, respectively, and 15,989 +/- 899 and 16,067 +/- 695 at 21 and 42 d of age, respectively, for the TA muscle. For the age-matched control group, fiber numbers for the S muscle were 2,928 +/- 78 and 2,949 +/- 76 at 21 and 42 d, respectively, and 17,964 +/- 281 and 18,445 +/- 296 at 21 and 42 d, respectively, for the TA muscle. The S muscle fiber area, composition and length were studied using 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Six animals were placed on the 1% protein diet from 21 to 42 d of age, while six animals served as age-matched controls. The S muscle fiber area was 33.1 and 51.5% smaller for type I and type II fibers, respectively, for animals fed the 1% protein diet. The S fiber length was 27.9% less in animals fed the 1% protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hematologic and biochemical abnormalities associated with induced extrahepatic bile duct obstruction in the cat

Bile duct obstruction was induced in 6 cats by surgical ligation and transection of the common bile duct. Clinical and laboratory changes were monitored weekly for 25 to 54 days. Clinical signs of obstruction were similar in all cats and included anorexia, pyrexia, lethargy, intermittent vomiting, weight loss, palpable gallbladder, hepatomegaly, and bleeding tendencies. Tissue jaundice and acholic feces were evident grossly as early as postsurgical day (PSD) 4 with a mean onset of jaundice at PSD 5.3 +/- 0.4. Hematologic changes were initially characterized by a mild neutrophilic leukocytosis that increased with the chronicity of bile duct obstruction. Regenerative anemia developed in 4 cats associated with gastrointestinal blood loss. Acute serum biochemical changes were characterized by a marked increase in the mean values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, and copper. Comparatively, only moderate increases in mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity were observed. Mean total bilirubin values increased remarkably at postsurgical week (PSW) 1, reaching a maximal value of 23.1 +/- 4.4 mg/dl at PSW 3 with 71.6 +/- 2.7% direct bilirubin. With chronicity of bile duct obstruction ranging from PSW 3 to PSW 7, the mean serum values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, serum alkaline phosphatase, and total and direct bilirubin stabilized and then declined, whereas the increased mean serum copper values persisted. At PSD 25 to 54, hepatic copper values and serum bile acids were markedly increased. Seemingly, clinicopathologic changes of induced cholestatic hepatic injury depended largely on the duration of biliary obstruction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of oil adjuvant and aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid for the passive immunization of lambs against tetanus

Immunization of ewes with oil emulsion toxoid followed by an aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid both containing 10 Lf per dose, resulted in a very high antitoxin level in their lambs. Two injections of aluminium phosphate-adsorbed toxoid also imparted a passive immunity to lambs which is considered to be adequate to protect them against tetanus for 4 weeks after birth.     

Net absorption of 3-methylindole and indole in cattle after oral administration of L-tryptophan

The time course and quantity of 3-methylindole (3MI) and indole absorbed after oral administration of L-tryptophan (TRP) was determined in 2 steers. The relationship between the appearance of 3MI and indole in the rumen and blood plasma to absorption of 3MI and indole was also studied. Two Hereford X Angus steers with portal vein, mesenteric vein, and femoral (steer 1) or iliac (steer 2) artery catheters were used. Absorption rates from the portal drained viscera (net absorption) of 3MI and indole were determined by the product of portal and arterial concentration difference and blood flow. Blood flow was determined by primed continuous infusion of p-aminohippuric acid into a mesenteric vein. Three absorption measurements 30 minutes apart were taken at midpoint times of 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after oral administration of 0.4 g of TRP/kg of body weight. Steer 1 was dosed twice resulting in a total of 45 absorption measurements. Net absorption of 3MI and indole peaked at an average of 1.05 and 0.81 g/hr, respectively. By 48 hours, 29.2% and 15.3% of the TRP dose were accounted for by 3MI and indole absorption, respectively. Closed system in vitro incubations of TRP with ruminal fluid from the same 2 steers resulted in a TRP to 3MI conversion of 23.2% and a TRP to indole conversion of 10.7%. Net absorption of 3MI and indole closely followed and was correlated with concentration of 3MI and indole in ruminal fluid and blood plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Genetic-economic evaluation of traits in a broiler enterprise: reduction of food intake due to increased growth rate

Separate mathematical models for food consumption and growth pattern of broilers were used to derive a combined model to estimate food consumption during the growth period. The model was used to show that each reduction of one day in reaching a fixed body weight would reduce food consumption per bird by 50 to 60 g. Broiler lines with a slow growth rate at an early age and rapid growth rate near market age require appreciably less food overall. This feature should be considered in breeding and feeding programmes.     

Comparative evaluation of commercial latex agglutination and coagglutination reagents for groups B, C, and D mastitis streptococci

A total of 144 strains of mastitis streptococci (groups B, C, and D) were grouped by conventional technique (Lancefield precipitin test) latex agglutination (LA), and coagglutination (CA). The LA correctly grouped 98% and the CA grouped 100% of strains on the test when the instructions of the manufacturers were followed. Sensitivity of both tests was improved for strains belonging to group D when extracts from colonies grown on sheep blood agar plates were used for grouping. Nonspecific reactions between groups C and B were observed only with one kit of LA reagents, whereas cross-reactions were recorded with all groups when CA reagents were used.