Hyperlipemia and Ketonuria in an Alpaca and a Llama

An alpaca and a llama in late stages of gestation were evaluated for lethargy, anorexia, and recumbency. Both camelids had cloudy, white, turbid serum, elevated serum triglyceride (1564, 5658 mg/dL, respectively) and cholesterol (158, 297 mg/dL, respectively) concentrations, and ketonuria. Signs of fetal stress were evident ultrasonographically in the alpaca, and a live cria was delivered by Cesarean section performed under general anesthesia. The alpaca developed severe metabolic acidosis, hepatic lipidosis, and acute renal failure secondary to renal lipidosis and died 36 hours after admission despite medical therapy. Histopathology revealed renal and hepatic lipidosis and neutrophilic pancreatitis. The cria died 72 hours after birth. The llama responded to IV electrolyte, dextrose, and regular crystalline insulin therapy. The pregnancy was maintained, and the llama was discharged from the hospital 20 days after admission. Two months after discharge, the llama gave birth to a live, 5 kg cria. Findings of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, elevated sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, metabolic acidosis, azotemia, and ketonuria occurred in these two camelids. Based on this report, camelids appear to be similar to both horses and cattle in their response to severe energy imbalances in late gestation.     

Conditions for the successful use of science

There is ground for concern that the British research and development effort, which is of considerable size, may not be well distributed. In some areas of intense scientific effort, commercial priorities tend to be forgotten. Too many of the units of the economic system are backward in understanding what science can offer and inefficient in using the opportunities which it provides. Evidence suggests that the successful use of science depends on the overall quality of management rather than specifically on its degree of scientific knowledge.     

The hen's egg: Relationship of mean strain energy at shell fracture to shell compression speed,the nature of the compressing body and the location on the shell of the point of contact

1. The mean energy, E_f, required for fracture of an egg shell at its equator by a flat plate is known to depend on shell compression speed, v_m, for speeds in the range 20 μm/s to 2.lb5 mm/s; analysis of published data shows that E_f bears a linear relationship to log (v_m ) throughout the industrially important speed range from 20 μm/s to 1.lb1 m/s, increasing from 1.lb3 to 5.lb0 mJ.

2. At lower speeds down to 2 μm/s E_f is constant.

3. E_f is reduced if the flat plate is replaced by a sphere or cylinder; the greater its curvature, the smaller E_f.

4. E_f for the narrow pole is greater and for the broad pole smaller than that for the equator but these differences may be due in part to . systematic differences in shell thickness as well as curvature.     

The hen's egg: Evidence on the mechanism relating shell strength to loading rate

1. The decrease in strength of an egg shell which is known to accompany an increase in the period of time over which a load is applied might come about by either of two mechanisms: a decrease in the strength of the material constituting the strong, outer layer of the mineral shell, or a decrease in the thickness of this layer brought about by deepening of the crevices that are normally present between adjacent crystal columns in the weak, inner layer of the shell.

2. Experiments designed to discriminate between these mechanisms are described: the results indicate the second mechanism.

3. This mechanism offers explanations for various other shell phenomena, including delayed fracture under a static, cyclical or recurrent load.

4. The main implication for the poultry industry is that any external insult to a shell is likely to weaken it by doing damage that is local, internal, irreparable and cumulative, even though it may be invisible from the outside.