Evaluation of concurrent perineal hernia in adult male dogs presenting with nontraumatic,acquired inguinal hernias

A possible association between the development of nontraumatic, acquired inguinal hernias (NAIH) and perineal hernias (PH) has been postulated in adult dogs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of concurrent diagnosis of PH in dogs presented with NAIH and determine potential risk factors for concurrent PH and NAIH. Medical records of adult male dogs presented for NAIH to 4 hospitals between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-one dogs with NAIH were included, 8 of which had concurrent PH. There were no significant differences between dogs with and without PH; however, among dogs with both conditions, intact dogs (8.1 ± 1.4 years) were younger than neutered dogs (11.7 ± 1.0 years; P = 0.007). Thirty-eight percent of male dogs presenting for NAIH had concurrent PH, indicating that these conditions commonly occur together. Dogs presenting for NAIH should be carefully evaluated for concurrent PH before surgical intervention.     

Aberrant heartworm migration to the abdominal aorta and systemic arteriolitis in a dog presenting with vomiting and hemorrhagic diarrhea

A 2-year-old Dachshund was presented for vomiting and diarrhea. Abdominal ultrasound revealed Dirofilaria immitis in the abdominal aorta and an avascular segment of small intestine. The dog was euthanized. Necropsy revealed D. immitis in the abdominal aorta and widespread necrotizing arteriolitis. This is a unique presentation of aberrant migration of D. immitis.     

The virulence and protective efficacy for chickens of pasteurella multocida administered by different routes

The relative virulence for chickens of five strains of Pasteurella multocida was evaluated. Twenty groups, each of ten chickens, were inoculated with a standard dose of 10(5) of each of five strains by the intramuscular (I.m.), intravenous (I.v.), intratracheal (I.tr.) or conjunctival (Co) routes. The highest mortality occurred in the groups dosed I.m. and I.v., followed by I.tr. inoculation. The relative virulence of each strain did not change when inoculated by the different routes. The most virulent strain, VP161, caused 100% mortality by all except the Co route. The least virulent strain, VP17, caused a single mortality by the I.v. route, but gave a high level of protection to birds inoculated by both the I.m. and I.v. routes, when challenged by intramuscular injection with (VP161). There was no protection against I.m. challenge in the birds inoculated by the I.tr. or Co routes. Serum antibody levels measured by ELISA correlated with the level of protection against virulent challenge for groups inoculated I.m. or I.v., but not I.tr. Western blots of pooled sera from each group did not show any specific antigen recognition that might explain the observed differences in protection. Inoculation with strain VP17, (both I.m. and I.tr.) also gave a high level of protection to birds challenged with strain VP161 by intratracheal instillation.     

Congenital cataracts in an Ayrshire herd: a herd case report

Background

Microbiological standards within pork slaughter processing plants in the European Union are currently governed by Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005, which describes detailed performance criteria at specific stages of the procedure (following carcass dressing and before chilling) for total viable counts (TVC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB) and Salmonella spp. In this study, 95 carcasses from an Irish pork slaughter plant were sampled by swabbing 100 cm² of surface at three sites (belly, ham, jowl) to examine the effects of eight processing stages (stunning, bleeding, scalding, singeing, polishing, evisceration, final inspection and chilling) on contamination levels.

Results

TVC ranged from approximately 1.7–6.3 log cfu cm² during sampling. There were significant reductions in TVC for all sites after scalding and singeing (p < 0.05), whilst there was a significant increase in counts after polishing and evisceration (p < 0.05) compared with preceding stages. EB counts indicated hygienic weak points in the examined slaughter plant leading to faecal (cross)-contamination, with elevated counts after stunning, bleeding and evisceration (p < 0.05), compared with final counts after chilling.

Conclusions

Although the bacterial numbers reported in this study may reflect specific plant practices and temporal influences, results show that contamination can be introduced at various steps in the process and highlight the importance of monitoring locations other than those required by legislation within the process. Monitoring can be used to establish baseline levels for high-risk stages specific to each plant and to assess the effectiveness of additional interventions.     

Influence oF Pseudomonas putida on nodulation of Phaseolus vulgaris

The effect of Pseudomonas putida (isolate M17) on Rhizobium phaseoli nodulation of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, was investigated under field and greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that P. putida markedly increased nodulation compared to R. phaseoli controls. Furthermore, 2-ketogluconic acid, a phosphate-solubiliring compound, was detected in P. putida M17. This could imply an increased P supply to roots of P. vutgaris, which may function to increase nodules. Bean yields and shoot fresh weight were not significantly altered by the addition of P. putida M17.     

OBSERVATIONS ON SALMONELLA INFECTIONS OF BIRDS

During the period 1961 to 1976, 29 species of Salmonella other than Salmonella pullorum were isolated from 180 accessions of birds examined at the Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly. These birds were submitted to the laboratory from flocks with disease or production problems. S. typhimurium was the most frequently isolated serotype being obtained from 63% of accessions. Outbreaks of systemic salmonellosis occurred most frequently in young birds and although pathological changes were most commonly observed in visceral organs they were also seen in eyes, joints and the brain. Diseases other than salmonellosis were identified in many accessions of birds with systemic or enteric salmonella infections.     

Survey of clinical psittacine bird sera for Salmonella typhimurium agglutinins.

Of 2407 serum samples from various kinds of psittacine birds submitted for Chlamydia serology, 2343 (97.4%) were negative, 25 (1.0%) were equivocal, and 39 (1.6%) were positive for Salmonella typhimurium agglutinins. In additional serum samples from two groups of African gray parrots, the prevalence of agglutinins was 0.0% (0/38) in the Timneh variety and 24.0% (6/25) in the Congo variety. In sera from one macaw, one cockatoo, and one Amazon parrot, which were negative for chlamydial antibody activity, there were strongly reactive agglutinins for S. typhimurium. Two Amazon parrots had antibody activity against Salmonella and Chlamydia antigens.