Hepatic Lobe Torsion as a Cause of Colic in a Horse

A 14-year-old Arabian gelding was examined for colic. An exploratory celiotomy was subsequently performed and the left lobe of the liver was found to be twisted. The lobe was resected using a TA-90 surgical stapling instrument. Histologic examination of the resected liver indicated portal vein and sinusoid dilation and congestion with blood. There were focal areas of necrosis and bacterial cocci and rods throughout the section. The histologic findings were consistent with hepatic lobe torsion. After surgery, the horse was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, heparin, and intravenous fluids. The horse recovered without complications, although serum liver enzymes remained elevated for more than 1 week after surgery. Seven months after surgery the horse showed no adverse affects from the disease.     

PUPPY LINE, METAPHYSEAL SCLEROSIS, AND CAUDOLATERAL CURVILINEAR AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL FEMORAL HEAD OSTEOPHYTES IN EARLY DETECTION OF CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA

Ventrodorsal extended hip radiographs were analyzed from Foxhounds, Irish setters, Greyhounds, and Labrador retrievers radiographed four to seven times between 8 and 110 weeks of age. Occurrence in these 91 dogs of a puppy line, an ill-defined zone of proximal femoral metaphyseal sclerosis, a femoral neck linear sclerosis, or circumferential linear femoral head osteophytosis at 15–17 weeks of age were compared with hip joint laxity, as measured by distraction index, and to later findings of caudal curvilinear femoral neck osteophytes, circumferential femoral head osteophytes, hip incongruity consistent with hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease by 52 weeks of age. A puppy line and/or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis was common at 15–17 weeks of age for dogs at mimimal risk (Greyhounds) and high risk (Foxhounds) of developing early degenerative joint disease associated with canine hip dysplasia. Though 44% of Greyhound hips had puppy lines and 28% had femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks of age, no Greyhound had a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte or circumferential femoral head osteophyte at 24–27 or 52 weeks of age. No significant relationship was found between occurrence of a puppy line, a circumferential femoral head osteophyte or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks and canine hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disease incidence at 42–52 weeks. Presence of a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte in at least one hip at 24–27 weeks was significantly related to the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia by 42–52 weeks. When both a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte and a circumferential femoral head osteophyte were present in a hip at 24–27 weeks, degenerative joint disease was evident in all such hips by 42–52 weeks of age.     

PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF TUMOR HISTOLOGY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC STAGING FOR RADIATION TREATMENT RESPONSE OF CANINE NASAL TUMORS

Prognostic significance of tumor histology and four computed tomography (CT) staging methods was tested retrospectively in dogs from three treatment centers that underwent intent-to-cure-radiotherapy for intranasal neoplasia. Disease-free and overall survival times were available for 94 dogs. A grouping of anaplastic, squamous cell, and undifferentiated carcinomas had a significantly shorter median disease-free survival (4.4 mo) than a grouping of all sarcomas (10.6 months). Disease-free survivals were not significantly different, when all carcinomas were compared with all sarcomas. The published original and modified WHO staging methods did not significantly relate to either survival endpoint. A modified human maxillary tumor staging system previously applied to canine nasal tumors was prognostically significant for both survival endpoints; a further modified version of that CT-based staging system resulted in improved significance for both survival endpoints. Dogs with unilateral intranasal involvement without bone destruction beyond the turbinates on CT, had longest median survival (23.4 months); CT evidence of cribriform plate involvement was associated with shortest median survival (6.7 months). Combining CT and histology statistically improved prognostic significance for both survival endpoints over the proposed CT staging method alone. Significance was lost when CT stages were collapsed to 相似文献   

The in vitro resistance of canine staphylococci to trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole alone and in combination

The in vitro resistance of 40 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dogs to trimethoprim, sulphamethoxazole and co-trimoxazole (SXT) was assessed using the disc diffusion technique on Diagnostic Sensitivity Test Agar (DSTA), DSTA with 5% lysed horse blood (DSTA + B), IsoSensitest Agar (ISTA) and Wellcotest Sensitivity Test Agar (WSTA).
When sensitivity was based on a zone width of ≥4 mm all 40 strains were sensitive to SXT on DSTA + B and ISTA, 39 were sensitive on WSTA while only 31 (77.5%) were sensitive on DSTA.
A comparison of the results obtained for each strain for trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole with those obtained with the Oxford strain of S. aureus and using a scheme for interpretation recommended by Garrod & O'Grady (1971) indicated that the proportion of strains classed as sensitive for therapeutic purposes was 5%, 55%, 47.5% and 15% respectively on DSTA, DSTA + B, ISTA and WSTA.     

South-west England grassland survey 1983. 2. Trends in cropping pattern, reseeding and sward composition 1970–83

Seventy-eight farms in south-west England, originally visited in 1970–72, were revisited in 1983 in order to identify changes in land use and re-seeding over the c. 12-year period; changes in sward composition were assessed on fifty-nine of these farms. The results were also compared with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) Census results and MAFF Seeds Branch data.
The proportion of tillage had declined from 29 to 24%. This was in agreement with census results for the south-western counties, but contrasted with those for England and Wales as a whole, which showed an increase from 38.8 to 41.7% tillage. It is indicative of grass becoming more predominant in south-west England as east England has become more dominated by tillage cropping.
There had also been a decline in the amount of short-term grassland. In 1970–72 17% of the grassland was intended to last from 1 to 4 years; in 1983 the proportion was only 10%. That these intentions were being carried out was confirmed by the fact that in 1983 there was more grassland in each of the age categories 5·8,9·20 and over 20 years. The trend towards older grassland confirms that shown by regional and national census data, and the trend away from short-term swards is in line with deliveries of herbage seed which indicate reduced use of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum).
Botanical composition had changed appreciably, with the proportion of Lolium perenne having increased in swards of all ages, e.g. from 35 to 51% in swards 5–8 years old and from 17 to 31% in those aged over 20 years. Other sown species, predominantly Dactylis glomerata and Phleum pratense , had declined markedly in swards over 4 years old. The proportions of Agrostis spp., Festuca spp. and Poa trivialis had fallen, but Holcus lanatus had increased slightly. There had been a marked reduction in infestations of perennial broad-leaved weeds, particularly Ranunculus , but also Rumex and Cirsium spp.     

The rate of water loss from cut grass of different species dried at 20°C

The water loss from tall fescue cv. S170, perennial ryegrass cv. S24, Italian ryegrass cv. R v P and timothy cv. S352 when dried as a thin layer under controlled conditions at 20°C and r.h. 50% is described. Comparisons were made on six occasions between mid-April and mid-June. Tall fescue dried faster than the other species and the time to reach a water concentration of 0·2 g water per g dry matter varied little between the six harvests. In contrast, the drying time for the ryegrasses and timothy increased to maximal values in mid-May and then fell. Drying time was dependent on the initial water concentration of the grass, the ratio of leaf to stem and on the amount of true stem exposed to the drying environment. The practical implications in relation to haymaking are discussed.     

Dental Composite for the Fixation of Mandibular Fractures and Luxations in 11 Cats and 6 Dogs

Twenty-one mandibular fractures in 11 cats and 6 dogs were repaired during a 20-month period. A new technique using dental composite was used to stabilize the mandible. The canine teeth were pumiced, acid etched, and aligned with dental composite, leaving the mouth opened approximately 1 cm. Six weeks after surgery the composite was removed so that radiographs of the mandible could be made with the animal under general anesthesia. In 1 dog in which the fracture had not healed, the composite was replaced. The composite broke before 6 weeks in 8 animals; 2 required replacement of the dental composite. There were no other complications. The median time for fracture healing was 6 weeks. All fractures healed with anatomic dental occlusion. The advantages of this technique are that no further damage is caused to the teeth or to the blood supply of the bone, the occlusion is anatomic, dermatitis (which is seen with tape muzzles) is not a complication, and the technique is easy to use in brachycephalic breeds, cats, and animals with poor bone quality. The limiting factor of this technique is that it does require four salvageable canine teeth. This repair technique is still a viable option even if one or more of the canine teeth are fractured. Dental composite stabilization is fast, easy, inexpensive, and, in our series, it was 100% effective for the repair of mandibular fractures.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CHARACTERISTICS OF CANINE TRACHEOBRONCHIAL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS

Tracheobronchial lymph node evaluation is critical for accurate staging of canine thoracic neoplasia and is more accurately achieved with computed tomography (CT) than radiography. Thoracic CT scans of 18 canine patients with known tracheobronchial lymph node histopathology and 10 clinically normal dogs were compared to establish if enlargement or contrast enhancement pattern correlated with metastatic status. Absolute lymph node size and three anatomically normalized lymph node ratios were significantly correlated with metastasis or severe granulomatous lymphadenitis (P<0.0003). Transverse maximum lymph node diameter of 12 mm or lymph node to thoracic body ratio of 1.05 are proposed cutoffs, above which metastatic involvement is very likely; however, only minimal accuracy was gained with normalized ratios. Lymph node contrast enhancement pattern was also significantly correlated to disease. A heterogenous and/or ring pattern was related to metastatic disease (P=0.03). Recommended protocol for CT examination of the tracheobronchial lymph nodes is 1–1.5 mm slices and intervals, intravenous contrast, and control of respiratory motion.     

Effects of colony location and nekton abundance on the at-sea distribution of four seabird species

Although seabirds are locally superabundant in the vicinity of breeding colonies, abundance farther offshore is patchy in both space and time. The present study examines the fine-scale (i.e. 1 km unit) distribution and abundance of four seabird species as a function of distance from a breeding colony (for three of the four species) and nekton density determined hydroacoustically. We found that density of the breeding species was significantly associated with nekton density, after controlling for island effects. In addition, nekton density associated with foraging aggregations of seabirds was significantly higher than that under resting aggregations. These results provide some of the clearest evidence of seabird-nekton association, albeit on an extremely close spatial scale.