Perivascular wall tumour presenting as pastern mass in a Standardbred gelding

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for a mass on the palmaromedial right front pastern which was accompanied by progressively worsening lameness. The mass was firm to palpation and covered by normal skin. Ultrasonographically, a smooth encapsulated mass was present, medial to the flexor tendons and palmar to the neurovascular bundle. Because of a poor prognosis for future athletic performance without surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention and economic constraints preventing further diagnostics and treatment, the horse was euthanised. Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be a perivascular wall tumour, the first record of such a neoplasia in the horse.     

Performance of Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,Reared in Zero‐Exchange Tank Systems Exposed to Different Light Sources and Intensities

The development of biofloc production technology has generated significant commercial and research interest directed toward the inland culture of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Most work to date has been conducted in greenhouses, where photoautotrophic organisms are significant contributors to system functionality. In more temperate locations, operations in insulated buildings would reduce heating costs. This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of light on shrimp cultured in intensive biofloc systems. A 92‐d experiment was conducted in 3.8‐m³ tanks. There were five light treatments: (1) natural sunlight (SUN) as a control (midday: 718 lx); (2) one metal halide light (MHL) (1074 lx); (3) one fluorescent light (1FL) (214 lx); (4) two fluorescent lights (2FL) (428 lx); and (5) three fluorescent lights (3FL) (642 lx). Artificial light treatments operated on a 12:12 daily cycle. There were three replicate tanks per treatment and each was separated by black plastic to prevent light transmission between replicates. Each tank was stocked at 465 shrimp/m² of tank bottom (initial mean weight = 0.4 g). Light treatment had a significant (P≤ 0.05) impact on average individual weight, survival, harvest yield (kg/m²), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Harvest yield and survival among shrimp in the SUN, MHL, and 1FL treatments were not significantly different. However, there was an inverse linear relationship (P≤ 0.05; R² = 0.76) between the number of fluorescent fixtures and survival, which was related to greater concentrations of filamentous bacteria as the intensity of fluorescent light increased, causing gill fouling. Natural light and MHL did not result in high concentrations of filamentous bacteria. These results indicate that natural light, metal halide lighting, and/or relatively low levels of fluorescent lighting are suitable for indoor production of Pacific white shrimp in biofloc systems. Light spectrum and intensity can affect bacterial community structure, which has a profound effect on shrimp survival and production.     

Neutrophil function and plasma opsonic capacity in colostrum-fed and colostrum-deprived neonatal kittens

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether passive transfer of IgG in neonatal kittens affects plasma opsonic capacity and neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst responses to bacteria in vitro. ANIMALS: 22 kittens from 6 specific pathogen-free queens. PROCEDURE: Kittens were randomized at birth into the following treatment groups: colostrum-fed, colostrum-deprived, or colostrum-deprived supplemented with feline or equine IgG. Blood samples were collected at intervals from birth to 56 days of age. Plasma IgG concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion assay. Neutrophil function was assessed by a flow cytometry assay providing simultaneous measurement of bacteria-induced phagocytosis and oxidative burst. The opsonic capacity of kitten plasma was determined in an opsonophagocytosis assay with bacteria incubated in untreated or heat-inactivated plasma. RESULTS: Among treatment groups, there were no significant differences in neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst responses to bacteria or opsonic capacity of plasma. In all samples of plasma, inactivation of complement and other heat-labile opsonins significantly reduced the opsonic capacity. Plasma IgG concentrations in kittens did not correlate with neutrophil function or plasma opsonic capacity before or after inactivation of complement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The plasma opsonic capacity and neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst responses in vitro of kittens receiving passive transfer of IgG via colostrum intake or IgG supplementation and those deprived of colostrum were similar. The alternate complement pathway or other heat-labile opsonins may be more important than IgG in bacterial opsonization and phagocytosis.     

Efficacy of cobalt-60 radiation therapy for the treatment of nasal cavity nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma in the dog

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of cobalt-60 radiotherapy in the treatment of nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity in dogs and to compare this treatment group to historical controls. Six dogs with histopathologically confirmed nasal cavity nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma were treated with cobalt-60 radiotherapy to a total dose of either 63 Gy or 54 Gy. Overall survival times ranged from 30 days to 330 days, with a median survival time of 165 days. Nasal cavity nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma in the dog is an aggressive tumor that responds poorly to radiotherapy.     

Examination of the relationship between the estrogen receptor gene and reproductive traits in swine

The relationship between estrogen receptor (ESR) genotype and reproductive traits in a population of Yorkshire, Large White, and crossbred animals was studied. Reproductive tract and litter data were analyzed for associations with ESR genotype, parity, and breed. Forty-six Yorkshire, 31 Large White, and 70 crossbred females from the above population were mated to Hampshire boars and slaughtered at 75 d of gestation. Data collected included ovulation rate, uterine horn length, number of fetuses, fetal weight, uterine weight, number of mummies, fetal sex, fetal placement, fetal survival, and fetal space. Data were analyzed using a model that included the fixed effects of ESR genotype, breed, parity, and all significant two-way interactions. Litter data representing 212 litter records were analyzed in a model that included the fixed effects of ESR genotype of dam, parity, farrowing month, dam breed, sire breed, and all significant two-way interactions. The ESR genotype was significantly associated with the total litter weight of piglets born and total litter weight of piglets born alive. Dams with the AA genotype had significantly (P = 0.04) heavier litters at birth (14.44 +/- 0.36 kg) than dams with the BB genotype (13.43 +/- 0.47 kg). Ovulation rate was significantly (P < 0.05) different between animals of parity 1 (17.22 +/- 0.41) and parity > or = 3 (19.92 +/- 0.85). Significant breed effects were observed for fetal weight, with purebred Large White animals having a greater fetal weight per horn (3,909 +/- 114 g) than purebred Yorkshire animals (3,553 +/- 92 g). Notable, but nonsignificant, trends with respect to ESR genotype were also observed for number of piglets alive at weaning and total litter weight at weaning. The ESR gene is positively associated with several previously uninvestigated reproductive traits.