Anesthesia for neonatal foals

A brief discussion of those aspects of neonatal physiology that pertain to anesthetic risk and selection of anesthetic techniques is followed by discussion of suggested techniques for anesthetic management in healthy foals. Preoperative preparation and management of foals with selected serious surgical conditions are also considered.     

High-resolution computed tomography of the mammalian lung.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed in 21 isolated animal lungs, from 4 mammalian species (pigs, rabbits, dogs, sheep). Gross and subgross central and peripheral lung morphology was determined by HRCT. Three distinct types of lungs can be identified, principally based on the extent of interlobular septal development; the relationship of major vessels to airways; and the thickness of the visceral pleura. Type-I lung is found in pigs, sheep, and cattle; type-II lung is found in rabbits, dogs, cats, and monkeys; and type-III lung is found in human beings and horses. These mammalian lungs were compared with human lungs. The potential use of HRCT to investigate specific human lung diseases in the aforementioned species also was considered.     

Leptospira infection in two black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis michaeli).

Two black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis michaeli) developed clinical leptospirosis without hemolytic crises. The first rhinoceros presented with peracute depression, anorexia, rear leg trembling, dysuria, glucosuria, gastrointestinal discomfort, and decreased fecal output and died within 12 hr. Necropsy and histopathology revealed lesions within multiple organs. Leptospirosis was diagnosed postmortem based on positive fluorescent antibody staining of liver. The second rhinoceros presented 2 mo later with similar signs. It survived with treatment and was diagnosed with leptospirosis based on serology using microscopic agglutination testing and detection of urinary antigen using a fluorescent antibody technique. Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa was postulated as the etiologic agent, with transmission probably occurring through wallow contamination by wild raccoons (Procyon lotor).     

The effect of some benzoyl phenylureas on the larvae of earias insulana

Diflubenzuron, PH 60-38, PH 6043, penfluron (PH 60-44), PH 6045, triflumuron, chlorfuazuron (IKI-7899), teflubenzuron (CME 134), XRD473 and Dowco 439 were tested for their efficacy against the larvae of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), in laboratory experiments. The compounds were incorporated at different concentrations in an artificial diet and 5-day-old larvae were introduced and grown on the treated diets until pupation and adult emergence. Teflubenzuron was active at 0.1 ppm, chlorfuazuron at 0.75 ppm and PH 60-38 at 10 ppm; triflumuron and diflubenzuron were active only at 50 ppm; all the rest of the compounds were even less active. When cotton bolls were dipped in teflubenzuron and offered to 6-day-old larvae in the laboratory, only 4% and 10% of the larvae penetrated inside the bolls treated with 50 and 25 ppm a.i., respectively, whereas 68% penetrated inside untreated bolls.     

Effects of transportation on the tonic immobility fear reactions of broilers

1. The fear levels of broilers arriving from slaughter at 4 commercial processing plants were assessed using tonic immobility (TI) tests. The relative effects of selected variables were also examined.

2. Neither the position of the birds on the lorry, nor their sex, nor the ambient temperature nor the identity of the experimeter exerted any significant effects on tonic immobility reactions.

3. Although the longest and shortest immobility responses followed transportation in the fixed crates and metal modules respectively, system comparisons may be confounded by variations in the birds’ genetic and/or experiential backgrounds.

4. Both journey duration and waiting time before transport bore an unambiguous and positive linear relationship with mean TI duration. The duration of transit was the major factor determining fear levels following both commercial and simulated journeys.     

Balance of conversion of [14C]lindane in lettuce in hydroponic culture

After application of [¹⁴C]lindane to the nutrient medium (1.45 ppm), 14.1% of the radioactivity was taken up by 12 lettuce plants during 4 weeks; in the nutrient medium, 7.8% was recovered after the same time interval. The radioactivity in the nutrient extract comprised: unchanged lindane (about 82%); free 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, free pentachlorophenol, conjugates of pentachlorophenol, and an unidentified polar compound (a total of 15%); 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohex-1-ene, and probably 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene (a total of 3%). The radioactivity extracted from plants consisted of unchanged lindane (about 77%); free 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, conjugates of a tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, and a strongly hydrophilic compound that was not identified (a total of 20%); 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohex-1-ene, and probably 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene (a total of 3%). Identification was carried out by means of comparisons of chromatographic properties and of the mass spectra with those of authentic reference compounds. The significance of hexachlorobenzene as a metabolite of lindane is discussed.     

Storage of hatching eggs: The effect on total incubation period

1. A time‐lapse photographic technique has been developed which enables routine recording of the hatching times of up to 192 chicken embryos.

2. Storage of eggs for 14 d caused a delay of 134 h in the mean total incubation period.

3. Female embryos hatched about 3 h earlier than males in the non‐stored eggs but there was no difference between the sexes in eggs stored for 14 d.

4. Rate of weight loss during incubation was similar in both non‐stored and stored eggs: there was no relationship between weight loss at 19 d incubation and total incubation period.

5. Hatchability of fertile eggs was 19.5% lower in eggs stored for 14 d and proportionately more embryos died between 4 d and 18 d incubation than in the non‐stored eggs.     

Conversion of the aldrin/dieldrin metabolite dihydrochlordene dicarboxylic acid-14C in rats

Upon intravenous application of dihydrochlordene dicarboxylic acid-¹⁴C to rats, the radioactivity is quickly excreted, and 44% of the excreted radioactivity consists of metabolites. Nine metabolites have been isolated from feces and urine extracts. Three metabolites could be identified by means of authentic samples by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry: two isomers of dechlorodihydrochlordene-dicarboxylic acid (metabolites I and II, total 22.5%) and dihydrochlordene-dicarboxylic acid-dimethyl-ester (metabolite III, 11.3%).