Search

Infectious sinusitis, a common condition seen in adult pheasants, is primarily caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The aims of the present study were to investigate the pathogenicity of M. gallisepticum in 14-day-old pheasants and evaluate the macrolide antibiotic tylvalosin (TVN) as a treatment for infectious sinusitis. The minimum inhibitory concentration of TVN for five isolates of M. gallisepticum taken from pheasants confirmed their susceptibility to TVN (range: 0.002 to 0.008 µg/ml). One of the isolates (G87/02) was inoculated intranasally into 72 pheasants (two groups of 36) at 14 days of age. Eight days later, when 18/72 (25%) of the pheasants showed clinical signs, one group was treated with 25 mg TVN/kg bodyweight daily in drinking water for three consecutive days. An uninfected, unmedicated control group (n=12) was also included. In contrast to the uninfected control group, a range of clinical signs typical of infectious sinusitis with varying severity was observed in challenged birds and M. gallisepticum was re-isolated from the infraorbital sinus and the eye/conjunctiva at necropsy, 22 days post challenge. In comparison with untreated birds, medication with TVN significantly reduced clinical signs and the re-isolation/detection of M. gallisepticum (P≤0.0021). The daily liveweight gain of treated birds was significantly increased in comparison with untreated birds (P=0.0002), and similar to daily liveweight gains observed in the uninfected control group. In conclusion, TVN at 25 mg/kg bodyweight daily for three consecutive days in drinking water was efficacious in the treatment of M. gallisepticum infection induced by challenging 14-day-old pheasants.

Malignant histiocytosis was diagnosed in a 4-year-old-dog. Major clinicopathologic findings included multiple cutaneous tumors, peripheral lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, lytic bone lesions, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and monoclonal IgA gammopathy. Pathologic findings included multi-systemic infiltration of erythrophagocytic malignant histiocytes. Chemotherapy was unsuccessful.

Polyuria in a herd of forty-five dairy cattle was the chief complaint in the first case. Polydipsia was the principle sign in a second case involving one dairy cow. Less conspicuous clinical findings included salt hunger, pica, weight loss and decreased milk production. Clinicopathologic investigation included monitoring the concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloiride in urine, parotid saliva and plasma. These analyses indicated a primary sodium deficiency which responded to sodium chloride ad libitum.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from the atlanto-occipital (AO) and lumbosacral (LS) subarachnoid spaces of 24 horses and 21 ponies that had no clinical evidence of neurologic disease. Depth of needle insertion, pressures, refractive index, rapid reagent strip test (protein, glucose, blood, pH) results, cell counts, content of protein, glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, urea nitrogen, and cholesterol, and activities of creatine phosphokinase, aspartate transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were determined. The resulting clinical reference values obtained were discussed in light of the published normal values for CSF from horses, other animals, and man. White cell counts in CSF were found to be from 0 to 6/microliters. Values for protein content were distributed between wider limits than previously reported values. The LS-AO difference is proposed as a criterion for clinical evaluation of CSF protein content. Ponies were found to have more protein in their CSF than did the horses, and CSF from the LS site contained more glucose than that from the AO site. The CSF electrolyte composition was similar to that of previous reports. Enzyme activities in equine CSF are reported for the 1st time.

Reference (normal) ranges were established for clinical chemistry results obtained from the Coulter Chemistry instrument on specimens from dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. These results, in general, are very similar to those reported in the current veterinary literature. The specimens obtained from horses and cows were subdivided according to age and lactation status, respectively. Significant differences were noted between the subgroups in the results of certain tests.

A study was done to determine the variations in clinical chemistry test results that might be due to day-to-day changes in laboratory testing conditions or to variations in specimens submitted. Laboratory precision and specimen storage conditions had relatively little effect on the test results, except for a few specific instances. Other variables, such as the presence of anticoagulants in the specimen and sample discoloration due to hemolysis, hyperbilirubinemia or lipemia were more often responsible for inconsistencies in test results.

The following topics are discussed in this presentation: A. Recent advances in the use and interpretation and methodology of antibiotic susceptibility testing. B. Improvements in sample submittal to obtain accurate results from your laboratory. C. Staining blood, bone marrow, and cytology specimens in the office laboratory. D. Pathogenesis and differential diagnosis of lipemia. E. Differential diagnosis of abdominal effusions.

Chronic active hepatitis with increased hepatic copper concentration was diagnosed in 25 female and 1 male Doberman Pinscher dogs. Common clinical signs included polyuria/polydipsia, weight loss, anorexia, icterus, and ascites. Increased liver enzyme activities and abnormal liver function test results were the most consistent clinicopathologic changes. The dogs were assigned to 3 groups on the basis of clinical course of the disease. Group 1 dogs (n = 12) had clinical signs of advanced liver failure and died within one week. Group 2 dogs (n = 7) had less severe clinical signs of liver disease and died within one month. Group 3 dogs (n = 5) did not have clinical signs of illness or had mild clinical signs of liver disease and died 1 to 42 months after initial evaluation. One dog could not be reevaluated and another dog was alive 3 months after initial examination. Treatments consisted of supportive care for dogs in group 1, and dietary manipulations and corticosteroids for dogs in groups 2 and 3. The association of increased liver copper concentration and chronic active hepatitis is not known.

Congenital hemolytic anemia in the Basenji dog resembles pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency in man as it is characterized by an abbreviated erythrocyte life span, an intense reticulocytosis, type II autohemolysis and splenomegaly. Glucose utilization and lactate production were inadequate with respect to the immature cell population. Analysis of enzymes involved in erythrocyte glycolysis revealed a deficiency of pyruvate kinase.