Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet

A previously undocumented hypokalaemic condition with a cyclical nature, comprising acute bouts of polymyopathy followed by spontaneous recoveries, is described in the cat. Cats being fed a high protein vegetarian diet developed recurrent episodes of polymyopathy, characterised by ventroflexion of the head and neck, stiff forelimb gait, lateral head-resting and generalised muscle weakness. Plasma potassium concentrations (mean +/- standard deviation) were reduced from 3.28 +/- 0.33 mmol/l at the beginning of the experiment to 2.45 +/- 0.24 mmol/l during bouts of myopathy. This hypokalaemia was associated with increased creatine kinase activities indicative of muscle damage, and decreased urinary potassium concentrations, and was caused by insufficient dietary potassium. Cats that received the same diet supplemented with potassium did not develop hypokalaemic polymyopathy. Spontaneous recoveries of affected cats were not associated consistently with increases in plasma potassium concentrations. Plasma taurine concentrations decreased and glutamic acid increased markedly in all cats fed the experimental diet. There was no evidence of thiamin deficiency associated with the high glutamic acid intake. Veterinarians should be aware that hypokalaemic cats, and in particular those on potassium-deficient diets, may show cyclical disease with episodes of polymyopathy recurring after periods of spontaneous clinical recovery. This condition in cats may be a useful animal model for familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in humans.     

Lyophilised bovine serum as a substitute for frozen serum in the cultivation of Babesia bigemina and B bovis.

Lyophilised serum offers significant advantages over frozen serum when it comes to shipping such material over long distances. Babesia bigemina and B bovis were cultured in medium supplemented by either frozen-thawed or lyophilised-rehydrated serum. There were no significant differences between the two types of medium in the growth of parasites and percentage of infected cells during subcultivation for 18 days.     

Diagnosis and treatment of a cerebral infarct in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A 29-yr-old chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presented after an acute onset of right facial and forearm paresis that progressed to paralysis within 24 hr, with subsequent development of right leg paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed an abnormal region of increased signal intensity in the left frontal, parietal, and temporal cerebral hemispheres, corresponding to the vascular territory of the middle cerebral artery, with resultant compression of the left lateral ventricle. The findings were consistent with a cerebral infarct (stroke). MRI is the most sensitive test for early detection of cerebral changes due to ischemia and was essential in obtaining a diagnosis in this case. The chimpanzee responded well to treatment with long-term anticoagulant aspirin and a short, tapered course of prednisone and regained full gross motor function.     

丁雌核发育鱼的异源精子诱导及其与亲本的RAPD比较分析

鱼类人工雌核发育的研究始于20世纪50年代,在随后的50年里发展迅速。雌核发育可以为纯系建立、性别控制、基因定位等研究提供一种有效途径,乃鱼类遗传育种研究工作活跃领域之一[1-3]。丁(Tincatinca)隶属于鲤科、雅罗鱼亚科、丁属,是一种广温性鱼类(0～37℃)。主要分布于欧洲,在我国仅分布于新疆额尔齐斯河流域[4]。由于丁雌鱼生长比雄鱼快,Linhart等[5]对其人工诱导雌核发育和雌核发育子代性逆转进行了研究。但到目前为止,与其他大多数鱼类雌核发育研究工作一样,尚未获得功能性雄鱼。本研究旨在对丁人工雌核发育条件进行探索,…     

Sulfamethazine residues in uncooked edible tissues of port following recommended oral administration and withdrawal.

Commercial feed rations containing sulfamethazine at the level of 110 ppm were fed for a period of 65 days to market pigs in a study simulating normal farm practices. The levels of sulfamethazine at the end of medication were in excess of 10 ppm in liver and kidney and up to 2.6 ppm in muscle tissues. Concentrations of sulfamethazine in tissues from pigs after withdrawal of medicated feed depleted to 0.1 ppm within nine days. The rate of depletion was similar for all tissues. It was observed that storage of tissue samples at freezer temperature (-20 degrees C) for 30 days further reduces sulfamethazine levels by 3 to 20% of their original value.