Neurological Manifestations of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C in Cats

Seven Domestic shorthair cats with a lysosomal storage disorder analogous to human Niemann-Pick disease type C, from a breeding colony were studied to characterize the neurological manifestations of this disorder. Affected cats were identified by means of liver biopsies at 4 to 6 weeks of age. Neurological examinations were performed at 2 week intervals from the onset of clinical signs. All cats displayed signs referrable to the cerebellum, with a subtle intention tremor noticed initially at 8 to 12 weeks of age; the disease was rapidly progressive. The tremor became more pronounced, menace response was lost, and severe dysmetria and ataxia developed. Three cats also had signs referrable to other areas of the central nervous system. Cats died or were euthanized between 12 and 43 weeks of age. Pathological findings included accumulation of substrate within neurons throughout the central nervous system, and axonal spheroid formation. The clinical and pathological findings in these cats are comparable to those in the human form of the disease.     

A simple field method for spinal cord removal demonstrated in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

Removal of the spinal cord is considered time consuming and difficult. A delay in the necropsy procedure, especially in the central nervous system, can result in significant tissue autolysis and subsequent diagnostic difficulties. In the field, where many necropsies are performed, suitable electric saws are mostly unavailable. A technically simple and rapid method for spinal cord removal, requiring only a straightforward tool, has been devised. No necropsy-induced structural damage has been noted on histopathologic examination.     

Use of space by bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in a polish farm landscape

Movements of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were studied in a farmland mosaic in Poland. Distances crossed by animals in short-time periods are significantly longer in heterogenous than in homogenous habitats. In long-time and large-spatial scales, a significant portion of the animals in a population travel among habitat elements of the mosaic, reducing the degree of isolation of patch populations and decreasing the probability of local extinction.     

PERINATAL FOAL MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH A HERPESVIRUS

An outbreak of perinatal foal mortality associated with a herpesvirus is described. Twenty two foals either were still-born, or died soon after birth, or were weak and soon developed severe respiratory signs, or were normal at birth and developed respiratory symptoms 18 to 24 hours later. Elevated temperatures, heart and respiratory rates were constant features. The animals were severely leucopaenic, and showed an absolute neutropaenia. At autopsy the lungs were enlarged, and showed varying degrees of aeration and moderate to severe oedema and congestion. Histopathology showed an acute focal necrotising bronchiolitis with the presence of intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Herpesvirus was recovered from 9 foals in cell culture and identified by electron microscopy.     

Electrophoresis of avian muscle proteins

1. The electrophoretic patterns of water‐soluble proteins of avian muscle showed differences due both to species and to muscle type.

2. Each muscle pattern within a species showed a unique protein band which distinguished that species from other species.     

Management of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically important arrhythmia in veterinary medicine. Electrical cardioversion of AF to sinus rhythm is feasible, but pharmacologic rate control is an effective and achievable treatment strategy for most veterinary patients. Recent human trials suggest that rate control and rhythm control are almost equally beneficial. Nevertheless, AF can be a challenging arrhythmia to manage, because most affected animal shave numerous other concurring problems associated with the underlying heart disease that dictate or influence the clinician's choice of treatment and monitoring strategy for each patient.     

Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.