Dogs with chronic or recurrent dermatitides, caused by mycosis or demodicosis, had markedly reduced serum concentrations of IgA in comparison with healthy control-dogs. In most cases the IgA-deficiency was associated with a significant decrease of chemotactic and phagocytic capacities of the polymorphonuclear granulocytes of the affected dogs.
Results of meat inspection of more than 400.000 sheep slaughtered at the former meat factory in Erfurt between 1981 and 1990 were analysed regarding liverfluke infection. A map of the distribution of dicrocoeliosis in NW-Thuringia considering the prevalence was drawn. The examination of gall sediments from suitable for consumption assessed livers showed that not all cases of dicrocoeliosis are recognizable by meat inspection. The saefety of meat inspection is decreasing in rising prevalences. Thickness and ectasia of gallducts as well as induration are the most significant macroscopically visible pathological changes in livers with dicrocoeliosis. 16 snail and 6 ant species known as intermediate hosts of D. dendriticum were found at sheep pastures in NW-Thuringia. Dicrocoelium development stages were present only in G. frumentum, B. fructicum, C. unifasciata, H. itala, H. obvia, E. strigella and F. pratensis.
To verify the sensitivity and specifity of commercial latex reagents to canine fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) as well as for investigations concerning the influence of canine FDP on different in vitro tests of haemostasis, the isolation of the individual canine fibrinogen fragments would be essential. This requires knowledge of the time course of the in vitro-degradation of canine fibrinogen by plasmin. For this reason canine and in comparison human fibrinogen were degraded in the present study by the addition of different acitivities of plasmin (0.1 or 0.2 CU/mg fibrinogen) or plasminogen and urokinase (0.1 CU plasminogen and 50 U urokinase or 0.2 CU and 100 U/mg fibrinogen), respectively. The degradation kinetics was stopped at 18 points of time (5 s-360 min) by addition of aprotinin. Non-reducing SDS-PAGE was used for the analytical separation of FDP at the different points of time. Only small differences between the molecular weights of the resulting fibrinogen fragments in dogs and humans were seen (molecular weights (kD): fibrinogen: 342 (dog)/340 (human), fragment X1-4/1-3: 254-319/255-315, Y1: 196/191, Y2: 156/146, D1-4: 85 112/79-104, E1-4: 44 52/49 55, F1-7/1-6: 31-42/29-40). Using identical activities of human plasmin the degradation kinetics of canine fibrinogen approximated to that of human, too.
An account is given on an infection experiment with Mycobacterium (M.) intracellulare in 50 dairy cows. The immunological and biochemical responses of animal organism to this microbe are described. The epizootiological mechanism of this infection, which often is difficult to demarcate in diagnosis from tuberculosis, is explained.
With several possible approaches to detection of staphylococcal haemolysins, reference to their synergistic or antagonistic interaction with metabolic products of other bacterial species appaers to be promising (staphylococcal beta-haemolysin, Streptococcus agalactiae-CAMP factor or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis exosubstance). Proper detectability of haemolysins was found to depend on a adequate environment that must be provided to enable clearly visible haemolysis, such as erythrocyte washing and incubation along with increased CO2 tension. Poor haemolysin formation, of frequent occurrence in connection with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), will be detectable only under such specific conditions and with due consideration of haemolysis synergisms. The test system described in this paper, together with maintenance of the specific conditions, is capable of providing unambiguous information on the presence of haemolysin in Micrococcaceae isolates.
Diarrhoea-related dehydration of calf is the most important indication for therapeutic infusion. A 1:1 mixture of isoionic and isotonic whole-electrolyte solution with six-percent dextrane solution, amounting to one sixth of the calculated extracellular compartment deficit, should be used to stabilize circulation in animals with strongly pronounced hypovolaemia. This would have to be followed by eight hours of continuous intravenous drip, using isotonic and iso-ionic whole-electrolyte solution. The infusion volume should be equivalent to 50 percent of the calculated extracellular compartment deficit. Infusion rates should be between 7 ml/kg B. W. and 10 ml/kg per hour Additional reference is made in this paper to other variants of rehydration (solution according to Roussel and Kasari, rehydration solution according to Tromp). Six to eight hours should be allowed to pass from clearly discernible clinical improvement, before treatment is continued by oral administration of electrolyte solutions. In case of no recordable clinical improvement infusion should be continued at a rate of 5 ml/kg/hr.
The clinical pattern of foot rot was experimentally reproduced in domestic sheep, using Bacteroides (B.) nodosus isolates from moufflon. Malignant foot rot could be induced only by means of mixed cultures of B. nodosus and Fusobacterium (F.) necrophorum or B. nodosus with B. levii. These were the most common anaerobic germs reisolated. Aetiology and pathogenesis of this important infectious disease in moufflon and domestic sheep are discussed in some detail.
Studies for major and trace elements, i.e. sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc, in blood plasma of fallow deer are conducted with a view to widening general knowledge in a relatively new field of farming, that is agricultural game management. Parameters were investigated for sex-specific differences or for differences among various dates of measurements. Significant differences between males and females were not recordable from any of the parameters involved. At least partially secured differences were found to exist between dates of measurement for nearly all minerals tested, but seasonal variations were recordable only from magnesium, phosphorus and copper.
The concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca(i)) in blood and of total calcium (Ca(t)), inorganic phosphorus (P(i)) and magnesium (Mg) in blood plasma were determined in the peripartal period in 23 dairy cows of the breed "Schwarzbuntes Milchrind" from the fourth lactation onward with negative history of parturient paresis and in 18 cows which fell ill at the occasion of the last parturition. To the last-mentioned animals were injected intramuscularly 70 mug (n - 10), 210 mug1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1 alpha-OHD3) alone or together with 2 mg 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3)(n = 4) or 420 mug1 alpha-OHD3 (n = 4) 2 to 3 days before the calculated time of parturition. Measurement of Ca(i) was made with an ionselective electrode. In all groups the administration of 1 alpha-OHD3 resulted in a significant increase in the plasma concentrations of Ca(t), Ca(i) and P(i), whereas the level of Mg decreased. After administration of 420 mug 1 alpha-OHD3 significantly higher concentrations of Ca(t), Ca(i) and P(i) were measured until 24 h after parturition compared to untreated control animals. In cows receiving lower doses of 1 alpha-OHD3, at birth significantly smaller concentrations of Cat (after 70 and 210 mug 1 alpha-OHD3), Ca(i) (after 210 mug 1 alpha-OH D3) and of P(i) (after 70 mug 1 alpha-OHD3) compared to the cows to which 420 mug 1 alpha-OHD3 were injected, were measured. Thereby, the portion of Ca(i) from Ca(t) was not altered. Only in 3 control animals which fell ill, but not in those 3 cows suffering from paresis puerperalis after injection of 70 mug 1 alpha-OHD3, the concentrations of Ca(i) decresed to a greater extent compared to Ca(i). Taken together it can be concluded that by prepartal administration of 70 mug1 alpha-OHD3, even if the behaviour of the plasma concentration of Ca(i) is taken into consideration, it is not possible to prevent peripartal hypocalcaemia and parturient paresis with sufficient safety.
It exist only a few case reports about pathogenity of Anoplocephalosis in equines. The diagnosis is difficult because there are problems in the judgement of tape-worm-infections, the non-specific clinical symptoms and rare signs during laparotomy too. From 1990 to 1993 five horses died or were euthanasized with an Anoplocephalosis responsible for pathological-anatomical damages. An attempt is made to explain the causal relationship. Indications for prophylaxis and therapy are given.
Traumatology of exotic pets is considered to be more problematic even to the skilled veterinary surgeon. In general diagnosis and therapy might be compared with the dog and cat, but species specific differences are important to recognize. The difficulties and less desirable results of fracture treatment depend on the fragility of long bones and missing or less accustomed implants and instruments.
The EOS sprint system (Jaeger, Wurzburg) was used in pneumotachographic and indirect calorimetric determination of respiratory and metabolic variables in swine. Investigations were made under defined conditions (without anaesthesia nor sedation but with moderate fixation of probands, locomotor rest and after 18 hours of fasting). Two series of measurements were run under experimental conditions to establish normal values of respiratory rate, respiratory minute and tidal volumes, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, quotient of respiration and energy conversion. Results were affected by lenght of testing or habituation of probands as well as by body weight of the pigs involved. These results were compared with literature data.
Students in medical subjects, sometimes, have considerable problems in communication as far as medical terminology is concerned. During preclinical studies, great emphasis ist put on the Latin nomenclature in anatomy, histology, and embryology. In clinical teaching, however, one is only partially successful in keeping with this precise language. Apart from specific technical terms in Latin and Greek, names and expressions in contemporary languages, mainly in English, find their way into the vocabulary. Further, advertizing campaigns for medical drugs have contributed much to a wild linguistic outgrowth during the last decades. Appealing slogans are supposed to impress the physician in order to induce his prescription of a certain product. Very often, information in the style of an appropiate statement of facts seems not to be regarded necessary or it is "printed in small letters", at best.
Parenteral nutrition can play a life-saving role when it comes to calf with inanition and anorexia. A preferred procedure includes continuous infusion for twelve to 24 hours and at a rate of 0,3 to 0,5 g/kg B.W./hr of a mixture of 40-percent glucose and 0,9-percent sodium chloride solution. Use of amino acids and lipids will add considerably to the cost of treatment and, therfore, should be reserved to exceptional cases.
Two Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica live vaccines, Rhinicell(TM) and Borvicell-Dessau, were tested for their biological properties, colonizing capability on nasal mucosa of guinea pig and rabbit as well as for their protective potentials for mouse, guinea pig and rabbit. The above B. bronchiseptica strains differed from each other particularly by phase stability in vivo. Borcivell-Dessau proved to be of high marker and phase stability in all model investigations. Mouse and guinea pig, for their inherent purine limitation, should not be used in tests of purine-auxotrophic bacterial strains. Intranasal Borvicell-Dessau immunization did not protect rabbit from Phase-I strain challenge infection, since the vaccine strain was present in a stable Phase III.
The content of ACTH and of cortisol in the blood plasma of healthy cats is influenced by the degree of stress during the collection of the blood samples. The M. Cushing is caused by adenomas and carcinomas of the pituitary gland and the adrenal cortex. In cases of an adenoma of the pituitary gland the concentration of ACTH in the blood plasma was increased to values of 90 to 490 pg/ml. The M. Cushing mostly induces a diabetes mellitus; there exist an immunosuppression and bad wound-healing.
It was reported about an outbreak of a massiv fibrinous Polyserositis by roaster chickens from 14 d old to the slaughter on the 40. d of age with a mortality rate of 20 % per flock. The pathological findings consisted in multifocal necrosis, macrophages infiltrates mainly into the portal triads, granuloms, basophilic intranuclear inclusions bodies, and hydropic swelling in the liver, intense infiltrations of lympho-histiocyts into the Lamina propria in good maintenance of the Lamina epithelialis in the bronchus, and the bronchioli, and pneumonia, fibrinous pericarditis, myocarditis perihepatitis, and perisplenitis. An adenovirus was detected by electron microscopical investigations. The epizootiological factors for the outbreak, and the role of the detected virus were discussed.
We tried to estimate which morphometric parameters are suitable to demonstrate the antispermatogenic effects to the testes tissue. The nitrofuranderivat furazolidon was administered orally to male Wistar rats. By means of tissue sections we detected the following parameters: the diameter, the perimeter and the area of the Tubuli seminiferi contorti, area/frame (meaning the area refered to the frame), the number of Tubuli seminiferi contorti per mm2, the percentage of Tubuli seminiferi contorti of the total testes tissue, the volume of the nuclei of the Leydig-cells.
