Actinomycin D for Reinduction of Remission in Dogs With Resistant Lymphoma

Twenty-five dogs with malignant lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy were treated with actinomycin D at a median dose of 0.7 mg/m² (range, 0.5 to 0.9 mg/m²) every 3 weeks. The dogs treated had received between 2 and 8 chemotherapeutic agents (median 7), for a median of 266 days before being treated with actinomycin D. For 23 of the 25 dogs, previous chemotherapy included doxorubicin. No dog responded to actinomycin D chemotherapy.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF ALIMENTARY LYMPHOSARCOMA IN THE CAT

Clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic findings from 22 cats with gastrointestinal lymphosarcoma were reviewed. The most common clinical findings were anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy, depression, fever, anemia and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal radiographs of 12 cats revealed a mass associated with the gastrointestinal tract and/or mesentery, and decreased serosal detail, suggestive of peritoneal effusion. The most common ultrasonographic finding was transmural gastric or intestinal thickening associated with loss of normal wall layering, reduced wall echogenicity and localized hypomotility. As is noted in people, other patterns such as transmural-segmental, transmural-nodular, transmural-bulky and mucosal infiltration were represented. In 3 cats, mesenteric lymph-adenopathy was responsible for most of the mass-effect. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy, automated microcore biopsy, endoscopic biopsy or necropsy confirmed the diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in all cats. Chemotherapy was instituted in 19 cats. Only 6 cats had a complete response to treatment. The results of this study indicate that ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of feline alimentary lymphosarcoma and that biopsies can be obtained under ultrasonographic guidance.     

Effect of xylazine on cerebrospinal fluid pressure in conscious horses.

Lumbosacral CSF pressure was measured in 6 horses via a catheter inserted through the lumbosacral space. Heart rate, facial artery pressure, central venous pressure, and CSF pressure were measured before IV injection of a saline solution control, for 15 minutes after saline solution injection, and for 60 minutes after the IV injection of 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg of body weight. Arterial pH and blood gases were analyzed before saline solution injection, 15 minutes after saline solution injection, and at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after xylazine injection. Constant craniocervical posture was maintained during sedation. Lumbosacral CSF pressure was significantly decreased for 15 minutes after xylazine injection. Diastolic arterial pressure was significantly increased 4 minutes after xylazine administration and diastolic and mean arterial pressure were increased at 6 and 8 minutes after xylazine administration. Small increases in systolic arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure, and a small decrease in heart rate were observed. There were no significant differences in the arterial blood gas values. It was concluded that IV injection of xylazine causes a decrease in intracranial pressure in healthy conscious horses. The effects may be different in horses with neurologic disease or cerebral trauma.     

Effects of dopamine administration on cecal mechanical activity and cecal blood flow in conscious healthy horses

Lateral cecal arterial blood flow, carotid arterial pressure, heart rate, and mechanical activity of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the cecal body were measured in 7 conscious healthy horses during IV infusion of physiologic saline solution for 60 minutes (control), during a 60-minute IV infusion of dopamine (at dosages of 1, 2.5, and 5 micrograms/kg/min), and for 60 minutes after IV infusion of dopamine. The mean values for lateral cecal arterial blood flow during IV infusion of dopamine at a dosage of either 1 or 2.5 micrograms/kg/min were not significantly different from the mean values for lateral cecal arterial blood flow during IV infusion of saline solution. The mean values for lateral cecal arterial blood flow, however, were significantly greater during IV infusion of dopamine at a dosage of 5 micrograms/kg/min than the mean values for lateral cecal arterial blood flow during IV infusion of saline solution. Intravenous infusion of dopamine at 1 and 2.5 micrograms/kg/min did not significantly change the mean values for carotid arterial pressure. In contrast, the mean values for carotid arterial pressure were significantly less during IV infusion of dopamine at dosages of 2.5 and 5 micrograms/kg/min than during infusion of saline solution. The mean values for heart rate were not significantly altered by infusion of dopamine at a dosage of either 1 or 2.5 micrograms/kg/min, but infusion of dopamine at a dosage of 5 micrograms/kg/min significantly increased heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Control of Johne's disease in four commercial dairy herds in Iowa

A 6-year study was conducted in 4 dairy herds in Iowa in which Johne's disease was diagnosed previously. Fecal specimens were collected at 6-month intervals from animals 2 years of age and over for mycobacteriologic examination. Serum samples were obtained at 3-month intervals and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antigen used in the ELISA was a potassium chloride extract of a field strain of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The ELISA reactions were observed in 87% of the cows from which M. paratuberculosis was isolated. Dairy producers that participated in the Johne's control program reported reduced economic losses. Increased income was attributed to improved milk production, increased value of vaccinated animals sold as replacements to other dairy herds in which Johne's disease had been diagnosed, and the increased market value of slaughter animals removed from the herd.     

Evaluation of heparin for prophylaxis of equine laminitis: 71 cases (1980-1986)

The records of 71 horses with small intestinal disorders requiring surgical correction were disorders requiring surgical correction were reviewed to compare the prevalence of laminitis in those horses treated prophylactically with heparin and the prevalence of horses not treated with heparin. The prevalence of laminitis was 13% (9/71), and there was no significant difference (P less than 0.05) in the prevalence of laminitis between the 2 groups. The lack of significant benefit after treatment with heparin indicates that further work needs to be done on the equine coagulation system before heparin can be advocated for prevention of laminitis.     

Toxicosis in sheep following ingestion of natural gas condensate.

Thirty of 200 ewes died or were euthanatized during a 21-day period following a 1-day accidental exposure to natural gas condensate, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons obtained during collection of natural gas from wells. Despite access to potable well water, the poisoned ewes willingly consumed toxic doses of condensate that contaminated surface water. Eight animals died without premonitory signs; the remainder became ill over the course of a few days to 3 weeks. The principal cause of mortality was aspiration pneumonia, but myocardial degeneration and necrosis, renal tubular damage, gastritis, enteritis, and meningeal edema and hyperemia were also observed. Gas chromatographic analysis identified chemical traces of the hydrocarbons in the tissues, and "fingerprinting," the process of matching chromatographic tracings, provided forensic proof of the contamination source. Atomic absorption spectroscopy and cholinesterase analyses were performed to eliminate the possibility of toxicosis by heavy metal contaminants or other constituents. This appears to be the first reported incidence of natural gas condensate toxicity involving sheep or other ruminants. Although the available literature presents a suggestive pattern of clinical signs and pathologic lesions of petroleum product poisoning, diagnostic investigations should employ detailed analytic examination because each source of petroleum hydrocarbons contains unique sets of components that may produce different toxic effects.     

不同声音对草鱼幼鱼负趋音性行为反应影响研究

声驱鱼技术作为辅助过鱼措施之一,承担着保证鱼类洄游顺利通过过鱼设施,继而保护鱼类资源和恢复河流连通性的重要作用。本研究采用交替播音的形式,以草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)幼鱼为研究对象进行负趋音性实验,旨在探究草鱼幼鱼面对不同声音的行为反应。实验水槽(3.6 m×1.1 m×1.0 m)布置于下牢溪周围水域,平均水深为0.5 m,平均流速为0.06 m/s。实验使用1种单频音(1 000 Hz)和5种复杂音(鱼游动声、引擎声、短吻鳄叫声、打桩声和游艇声),声压级(sound pressure level)为(117.69±2.77) dB re 1 μPa,对照组为未播放声音时草鱼的行为反应数据。结果显示,播放复杂音时,草鱼的反应次数、趋音速度、运动时间比均显著高于单频音和对照组(P<0.001),草鱼的初次反应时间、平均反应时间均显著低于单频音和对照组(P<0.001);复杂音中,受到游艇声刺激的草鱼反应次数和趋音速度最大,受到鱼游动声刺激的草鱼反应次数、趋音速度最小;复杂音中,受到游艇声刺激的草鱼初次反应时间最短,为(23.40±5.13) s;受到引擎声刺激的草鱼初次反应时间最长,为(146.00±7.82) s,显著低于其他复杂音(P<0.05);受到游艇声和打桩声刺激的草鱼平均反应时间最短,分别为(26.52±3.01) s和(28.76±4.07) s;受到鱼游动声刺激的草鱼平均反应时间最长,为(64.76±17.82) s;复杂音中,受到鱼游动声刺激的草鱼运动时间比最高,为(98.47±0.48)%;受到引擎声刺激的草鱼运动时间比最低,为(94.58±0.54)%;播放单频音时,草鱼的反应次数、初次反应时间、平均反应时间、运动时间比均与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05)。本研究表明,5种复杂音(鱼游动声、引擎声、短吻鳄叫声、打桩声和游艇声)对草鱼幼鱼具有驱赶效果。本研究在丰富鱼类负趋音性研究的同时,为实际工程中声驱鱼辅助过鱼设施的设计和优化提供了科学依据。