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.     

Major Gene and Polygenic Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)

The most common and effective way to control phoma stem canker (blackleg) caused by Leptosphaeria maculans in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is through the breeding of resistant cultivars. Race specific major genes that mediate resistance from the seedling stage have been identified in B. napus or have been introgressed from related species. Many race specific major genes have been described and some of them are probably identical in B. napus (allotetraploid AACC) and the parental species B. rapa (diploid AA). More work is needed using a set of well-characterised isolates to determine the number of different major resistance genes available. In some B. napus cultivars, there is resistance which is polygenic (mediated by Quantitative Trait Loci) and postulated to be race non-specific. Many of these major genes and Quantitative Trait Loci for resistance to L. maculans have been located on B. napus genetic maps. Genes involved in race specific and polygenic resistance are generally distinct.     

Trace element levels in liver and kidney from cattle, swine and poultry slaughtered in Canada.

Levels of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury and lead were determined in approximately 650 samples of liver and kidney from cattle, swine and poultry slaughtered in Canada during 1979-81. In addition zinc levels were determined in livers and kidneys from swine, and selenium and zinc levels were determined in the livers and kidneys from cattle. Depending on the element several methods of atomic absorption spectroscopy were used to analyze samples including flame, hydride generation, cold vapour generation and graphite furnace atomization. Analyses were also done by plasma emission spectroscopy. Levels of arsenic over 2.0 micrograms/g were detected in 0.9% of swine livers and 0.3% of swine kidneys. Cadmium levels higher than 1.0 micrograms/g were detected in 0.3% of cattle livers, 10.8% of cattle kidneys, 1.8% of swine kidneys, 0.4% of poultry livers and 0.3% of poultry kidneys. Levels of copper over 150 micrograms/g were detected in 0.4% of cattle and swine livers. Levels of lead over 2.0 micrograms/g were detected in 1.4% of poultry livers and 1.6% of poultry kidneys. The highest level of mercury detected in all species was 0.25 micrograms/g and the highest level of selenium was 1.9 micrograms/g. Zinc levels of over 100 micrograms/g were detected in 1.7% of cattle livers, 0.2% of cattle kidneys and 5.0% of swine livers.     

Impact of Endocrine‐Disrupting Chemicals on Reproductive Function in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The prevalence of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the aquatic environment has been associated with the wide detection of alterations in the development and physiology of vertebrates. Zebrafish, as a model species, has been extensively used in toxicological research. In this review, we focus on recent published evidence of the harmful effects of EDCs on reproductive function in zebrafish, including skewed sex ratio, immature gonads, diminished sexual behaviour, decreased sperm count, reduced spawning and fertilization. These impairments mostly result from disruption to sex‐steroid hormones induced by endocrine disruptors. We also discuss other effects of exposure to EDCs. In EDC exposure research, despite incomplete assessments of altered gonad histopathology and sexual behaviour, these present potential effective biomarkers or pathways for evaluating the reproductive function in zebrafish on EDC exposure. To date, the pernicious effects of some EDCs on the reproductive performance in laboratory zebrafish are well understood; however, similar alterations remain for further determination in wild‐type fish and more kinds of EDCs. More studies should be performed under established scientific regulatory criteria to investigate the impact of EDCs on reproduction in zebrafish. Moreover, further research is required to explain the definite mechanism of sexual differentiation, which helps in understanding the shift of sexual phenotype with EDC exposure.     

A new aid to the diagnosis of Vibrio foetus infection in cattle

This paper describes poisonings that occurred when two cows were fed, small quantities of minced white clover per rumen fistulam over a two-hour period. One animal died; the other survived following treatment with a specific antidote. The level of cyanide found in the leaf material was 200 /g greentissue. It seemsclear from calculations based on this result that the intake of glucosides was sufficient to account for the results observed. Aspects of these cases are discussed in relation to findings of other workers. These cases demonstrate the potential dangers of the high levels of cyanogenetic glucosides in N.Z. white clovers.     

Peritracheal abscess associated with tracheal collapse and bilateral laryngeal paralysis in a dog

Tracheal collapse and bilateral laryngeal paralysis were diagnosed in an 8-month-old Cocker Spaniel that had acute onset of dyspnea and cyanosis. Surgical exploration of the mediastinum revealed an abscess involving the ventral wall of the trachea immediately caudal to the thoracic inlet. Both recurrent laryngeal nerves were entrapped in fibrous tissue surrounding the abscess. The dog recovered after tracheal resection and anastomosis and freeing of the entrapped nerves. The peritracheal abscess was suspected to have been the result of esophageal perforation secondary to foreign body penetration.