Showing papers in "Veterinary Record in 1979"
TL;DR: Inhibition of haemagglutination by specific antiserum prepared in specific-pathogen-free beagles provided a convenient method for viral identification and protected dogs against challenge with virulent canine parvo-like virus.
Abstract: A newly recognised canine parvo like virus was isolated from faeces of dogs with haemorrhagic enteritis. Cell cultures from several species were susceptible to it. Virus infected cells could be demonstrated by staining with fluorescent antibody reagents (prepared against canine virus or feline panleucopenia virus) or by haemagglutination with pig or rhesus monkey red blood cells. Inhibition of haemagglutination by specific antiserum prepared in specific-pathogen-free beagles provided a convenient method for viral identification. Experimental inoculation of specific-pathogen-free beagles resulted in elevated body temperatures and caused lymphopenia lasting one to three days. Feline panleucopenia virus vaccines protected dogs against challenge with virulent canine parvo-like virus.
337Â citations
TL;DR: A disease causing increased mortality and abortion in domestic animals during a 1977 epizootic in Egypt was identified as Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus.
Abstract: A disease causing increased mortality and abortion in domestic animals during a 1977 epizootic in Egypt was identified as Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus. The epizootic included extensive human involvement reflected clinically as either an acute febrile, ocular, encephalitic, or fatal haemorrhagic form of RVF disease. The virus was again isolated from humans and animals during a second RVF epizootic in the summer of 1978.
176Â citations
TL;DR: Bedding used by birds given vaccine A was shown to be capable of transmitting vaccinal virus to susceptible chickens, causing severe bursal damage, but only vaccine A protected the groups of maternally immune chickens.
Abstract: Two infectious bursal disease vaccines were administered to separate groups of maternally immune and susceptible chickens at various ages. Vaccine B caused no damage to the bursae of chickens examined histologically at nine and 20 days after vaccination. The bursae of chickens given vaccine A were shown to be severely damaged when similarly examined. Both vaccines protected all the susceptible groups against challenge, but only vaccine A protected the groups of maternally immune chickens. Susceptible chickens vaccinated at one day of age with vaccine A showed a lowered response to Hitchner B1 Newcastle disease vaccine given at 14 days of age, judged by the haemagglutination-inhibition response and Newcastle disease challenge. The performance of the Newcastle disease vaccine was not affected in chickens given vaccine B. Bedding used by birds given vaccine A was shown to be capable of transmitting vaccinal virus to susceptible chickens, causing severe bursal damage.
95Â citations
TL;DR: Tuberculosis was the major cause of natural death, killing 39 per cent of the natural death cases, followed by bite wounding and starvation, and road traffic accidents were the greatest single cause of death.
Abstract: During the period 1973 to 1976 inclusive, 1206 badger carcases were examined for evidence of tuberculosis and other diseases. Tuberculosis was the major cause of natural death, killing 39 per cent of the natural death cases, followed by bite wounding and starvation. Road traffic accidents were the greatest single cause of death.
85Â citations
TL;DR: It seems that although young cattle acquire a good immunity to Ostertagia ostertagi after one season at grass the small infections established in the early part of the second season are capable of contaminating the pasture to levels which could be dangerous for susceptible stock.
Abstract: The epidemiology of ostertagiasis in south west Scotland was studied in groups of cattle grazed through two successive grazing seasons separated by a period of winter housing. Towards the end of the first grazing season (September) the numbers of infective larvae (L3) on the pasture had increased to high levels (up to 24,000 L3 per kg) which resulted in high faecal egg counts, worm burdens, plasma pepsinogen levels and the occurrence of clinical ostertagiasis in the calves. By late spring (May) at the onset of the second grazing season, there was an almost complete mortality of the overwintered L3 on the pasture followed by the appearance of moderately high numbers of a new population of L3 in September (up to 9000 L3 per kg). The latter increase in the numbers of L3 was reflected by negligible faecal egg counts, low worm burdens and a moderate elevation of plasma pepsinogens in the second year animals. It therefore seems that although young cattle acquire a good immunity to Ostertagia ostertagi after one season at grass the small infections established in the early part of the second season are capable of contaminating the pasture to levels which could be dangerous for susceptible stock. An allergic reaction in the abomasal mucosa could be the basis of the elevated pepsinogens present in the second year animals.
84Â citations
83Â citations
TL;DR: The oral administration of phenylbutazone at a dose rate of approximately 10 mg per kg per day for seven to 14 days resulted in the development of signs of toxicity in seven of eight ponies treated, including anorexia, depression and abdominal oedema, which was considered indicative of water retention.
Abstract: The oral administration of phenylbutazone at a dose rate of approximately 10 mg per kg per day for seven to 14 days resulted in the development of signs of toxicity in seven of eight ponies treated. Clinical signs included anorexia, depression and abdominal oedema. Blood biochemical determinations showed a decrease in total plasma protein and calcium concentrations with an increase in urea concentration. These changes were considered indicative of water retention. Three of the ponies died during treatment following the development of shock. Shock was considered to arise from the submucosal oedema of the large intestine observed on necropsy. Oral ulceration was also found in these animals. In two ponies intravenous administration of phenylbutazone (4.0 mg per kg) for seven days was studied. In one of these ponies a marked decrease in total plasma protein concentration occurred.
73Â citations
TL;DR: The clinical and post mortem changes suggested a diagnosis of malignant catarrhal fever which was consistent with the pantropic lymphoproliferative histopathological lesions observed, and the relation of the vasculitis to the pathogenesis of the disease and the susceptibility of red deer are discussed.
Abstract: Nine of 15 housed red deer developed an acute disease. Six died and three were killed when severely affected. The clinical and post mortem changes suggested a diagnosis of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) which was consistent with the pantropic lymphoproliferative histopathological lesions observed. Attempts to isolate an agent or transmit the condition to cattle failed. The relation of the vasculitis to the pathogenesis of the disease and the susceptibility of red deer are discussed.
66Â citations
TL;DR: Thirty-one strains of spirochaetes from pigs and two strains from poultry were tested in the API ZYM enzyme system and the numerical coding system simplified the interpretation of the results.
Abstract: Thirty-one strains of spirochaetes from pigs and two strains from poultry were tested in the API ZYM enzyme system. The spectrum of enzymatic reactions provided a means of differentiating between strains related to swine dysentery and strains not so related from pigs. The numerical coding system simplified the interpretation of the results.
63Â citations
TL;DR: There was a high incidence of neonatal scours in 38 litters of pigs born at Compton in a four month period during 1978, the most important cause of the disease was an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain which possessed the K88 antigen.
Abstract: There was a high incidence of neonatal scours in 38 litters of pigs born at Compton in a four month period during 1978. The most important cause of the disease was an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain which possessed the K88 antigen. The Compton herd has been bred to produce pigs of three genotypes with respect to the presence or absence of the intestinal receptor for the K88 antigen. These are homozygous dominants (SS) and heterozygotes (Ss) susceptible to infection by virulent K88-positive E coli, and homozygous recessives (ss) resistant to the disease. The highest incidence of diarrhoea was in the susceptible progeny of resistant dams and susceptible sires. There was no K88 associated diarrhoea in resistant progeny or in susceptible progeny of susceptible dams.
61Â citations
TL;DR: A mathematical model based on development and mortality rates, and incorporating data on the infectivity, fecundity and migratory behaviour of Ostertagia ostertagi, was used to predict the level of pasture contamination and the occurrence of clinical ostertagiasis in grazing calves during 1975 and 1976.
Abstract: A mathematical model based on development and mortality rates, and incorporating data on the infectivity, fecundity and migratory behaviour of Ostertagia ostertagi, was used to predict the level of pasture contamination and the occurrence of clinical ostertagiasis in grazing calves during 1975 and 1976. A comparison of the predicted and observed events showed a good correlation.
TL;DR: The reproductive performance of five large, intensive pig breeding units was monitored over a period of 930 days and it is suggested that ambient temperature stress, a hitherto unidentified arbortifacient factor, and a seasonal tendency towards suboestrus may have been contributory factors.
Abstract: The reproductive performance of five large, intensive pig breeding units was monitored over a period of 930 days. During this time three periods of reproductive inefficiency were noted, these mainly involving animals served during the summer months of July and August. Manifestations of this inefficiency were returns of oestrus, abortions and animals reaching 95 days of presumed gestation not-in-pig. It is suggested that ambient temperature stress, a hitherto unidentified arbortifacient factor, and a seasonal tendency towards suboestrus may have been contributory factors.
TL;DR: Increased selenium deficiency from the increasing use of home grown feeds as a major constituent of livestock rations may be causally related to the increase of white muscle disease and other seenium responsive diseases in Britain.
Abstract: The reliability of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity as an indicator of selenium status in livestock is discussed. Based on this measurement, a survey is described of the biological selenium status of sheep on each of 329 farms in Britain. Results showed that 47 per cent of these farms were probably unable to provide grazing livestock with sufficient selenium to maintain blood levels greater than 0.075 microgram per ml. Increased selenium deficiency from the increasing use of home grown feeds as a major constituent of livestock rations may be causally related to the increase of white muscle disease and other selenium responsive diseases in Britain.
TL;DR: In four outbreaks of indoor calf pneumonia, dyspnoea was a prominent clinical finding and at necropsy it was associated with pneumonia involving the cranial lobes of the lung and severe pulmonary emphysema.
Abstract: In four outbreaks of indoor calf pneumonia, dyspnoea was a prominent clinical finding. At necropsy it was associated with pneumonia involving the cranial lobes of the lung and severe pulmonary emphysema. Histological examination of lung tissue revealed bronchiolitis and alveolitis with alveolar epithelial cell hyperplasia and multinucleate syncytium formation. Intraalveolar haemorrhage, intra-alveolar oedema and hyaline membrane formation were also noted. In all cases parainfluenza type 3 (PI3) virus was isolated from the lungs. In each of the four outbreaks there was evidence of PI3 virus and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infection.
TL;DR: There is evidence that, in some flocks in south east Scotland, the efficacy of the vaccine against EAE is unsatisfactory and the reasons for this are discussed.
Abstract: Statistical data were collected from 20 sheep flocks in which enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) was diagnosed by examination of fetal material and maternal blood samples. The abortion rate in the 10,645 ewes in these flocks was 7.6 per cent. Thirteen of the flocks were fully vaccinated against EAE but the abortion rate in these was still in the order of 6.5 per cent. EAE was the major cause of the problem as ascertained from the laboratory examination of samples from a wide range of cases of abortion. There is therefore evidence that, in some flocks in south east Scotland, the efficacy of the vaccine against EAE is unsatisfactory. The reasons for this are discussed.
TL;DR: It was found that the size of the second litter was significantly greater in those sows with a prolonged weaning to oestrus interval of more than 15 days and deliberate delaying mating until at least 12 days after weaning produced a similar increase in second litter size.
Abstract: An investigation of the reproductive performance of first parity sows is described. In a retrospective study it was found that the size of the second litter was significantly greater in those sows with a prolonged weaning to oestrus interval of more than 15 days. Deliberately delaying mating until at least 12 days after weaning produced a similar increase in second litter size. This improvement was not associated with an increase in ovulation rate.
TL;DR: Erosions and discoloration of the navicular bone are therefore of no significance in navicular disease and preliminary experience with the use of anticoagulant therapy may indicate another alternative form of treatment, but the long term results have yet to be assessed.
Abstract: In a survey of 95 control horses and 16 horses with navicular disease, the incidence of erosions and discoloration of the flexor cartilage of the navicular bone was no different between the control horses and those with navicular disease. All cases of navicular disease showed thrombosis of the distal navicular nutrient arteries and this could be related to a change to a rounded or flask shape of the distal nutrient foramen of the navicular bone. Erosions and discoloration of the navicular bone are therefore of no significance in navicular disease. Previously described lines of treatment are of little value in the treatment of navicular disease. Preliminary experience with the use of anticoagulant therapy may indicate another alternative form of treatment, but the long term results have yet to be assessed.
TL;DR: In all experiments the majority of infested animals developed a generalised hypersensitivity to sarcoptes mites and performed significantly less efficiently than non-infested littermates and developed a more severe hypersensitivity reaction than poorly fed, extensively housed pigs.
Abstract: A study on the development and effect of experimental Sarcoptes scabiei var suis infestations in growing pigs is described. Pigs were infested at either weekly or fortnightly intervals throughout each experimental and individual growth rates and feed conversion ratios were determined. The animals were fed diets which contained either optimal or sub-optimal levels of protein. They were housed either intensively or extensively. In all experiments the majority of infested animals developed a generalised hypersensitivity to sarcoptes mites and performed significantly less efficiently than non-infested littermates. Mean growth rates were depressed from 9.2 to 12.5 per cent and feed conversion efficiencies by a similar margin. Well fed, intensively housed pigs developed a more severe hypersensitivity reaction than poorly fed, extensively housed pigs.
TL;DR: All lambs showed some degree of osteoporosis; this was most severe in the control lambs which had less dense bones and were also more susceptible to bone fractures and to disease.
Abstract: One member of each pair of twin lambs from 37 five-and six-year-old Scottish blackface ewes, grazing reseeded pasture suspected of causing a molybdenum-sulphur induced copper deficiency in sheep, was given an injection of 12.5 mg copper calcium edetate at about eight weeks of age. Plasma copper concentrations of these lambs were maintained in the normal range by further injections of copper as required (treatment group). The remaining member of each twin pair received no copper therapy (control group). The control lambs and all ewes showed marked hypocupraemia throughout lactation, whereas the plasma copper concentrations of the treatment lambs, and also of single lambs with continuous access to unimproved hill grazings, remained normal. The live-weight gain of the treatment lambs was significantly greater than that of the control lambs, the difference in mean live-weights after 12 weeks being 2.5 kg. All lambs showed some degree of osteoporosis; this was most severe in the control lambs which had less dense bones and were also more susceptible to bone fractures and to disease. Differences between treatment and control lambs were also observed in haematological parameters and in fleece characteristics.
TL;DR: A series of infections in a herd of dairy cows by different salmonella serotypes over a seven year period is described, the source of infection appeared to be the private water supply contaminated by seagulls.
Abstract: A series of infections in a herd of dairy cows by different salmonella serotypes over a seven year period is described. The source of infection appeared to be the private water supply contaminated by seagulls.
TL;DR: Observations on a series of 38 cases of the canine wobbler syndrome suggest that with time, secondary changes of the disc degeneration and prolapse and vertebral body malformation causing stenosis of the vertebral canal occur, and cord decompression by dorsal laminectomy appears necessary.
Abstract: Observations on a series of 38 cases (35 Doberman Pinschers and three Great Danes) of the canine wobbler syndrome are described. Radiographic examinations suggested that the primary lesion is an intervertebral instability at C6/7, but with time, secondary changes of the disc degeneration and prolapse and vertebral body malformation causing stenosis of the vertebral canal occur. Cases detected at a young age and showing only the primary lesion were treated successfully, by disc fenestration alone or by disc fenestration and intervertebral screwing. The success rate in older cases with secondary lesions was poor and in this type of case, cord decompression by dorsal laminectomy appears necessary.