Tierarztliche Praxis最新文献

A surgical method for the treatment of purulent inflammation of the fetlock joint in cattle is reported. The method involves opening of the diseased joint and complete removal of diseased tissues (articular resection). Three of four cattle with purulent inflammation of the fetlock joint could be successfully treated using this procedure. Following complete removal of the fetlock joint ossification took place. The use of the limb was little affected in all gait types following the ossification of the fetlock joint. One cow was not healed, since it was not possible to resect the affected tissues completely.

Six commercial hedgehog feedstuffs were evaluated (palatability, composition and digestibility of crude nutrients and minerals). 14 healthy adult hedgehogs were fed these products and one self mixed diet based on minced beef and egg. The composition of all commercial diets was very similar. The components used mostly were cereal products but also animals like insects and prawns were seen. Gross energy was between 1.9 and 2.3 MJ/100 g DM. The concentrations of the minerals were partly very low (Ca, P) and in some products the relation between Ca and P was unsuitable. Even with individual differences between the animals the palatability of the self mixed diet was generally higher. Contrary to the self mixed diet the digestibility of crude protein of the commercial feed was moderate (93 vs. 73-77%). Crude fat was highly digestible (80-92%). In spite of a low activity of amylase in pancreas and chyme the digestibility of the nitrogen free extracts was very high (67-86%), probably due to thermal processing of the cereals. Since crude fibre has a negative effect on total digestibility (r = -0.78) its concentration should be under 3% in the whole diet. The average net absorption rates of minerals were: Ca: +/-0%; P: 50%; Mg: 24%; K: 85% and Na: 80%. Based on this knowledge first recommendations for the composition of nutritionally balanced complete feeds are given.

Between January 1993 and September 1995 Leishmania infections were detected in 236 dogs in Germany. Of the 132 epidemiologically evaluable dogs, 35 animals had travelled with their owners abroad in endemic areas and 97 dogs had been brought from these regions to Germany by animal lovers. As regards to the possible location of infection it has been registered that these dogs have been taken to countries of the Mediterranean Sea (Spain, France, Italy, Turkey) or to Portugal or had been imported from there. Therapeutic trials with allopurinol revealed that this drug administered at daily doses of 20 mg/kg bodyweight p.o. over weeks disposes of a sufficient therapeutic efficacy against canine leishmaniosis.

Earliest husbandry in Bulgaria is investigated by the example of the Early Neolithic settlement of Koprivec. There was no domestication activity in the region. Pig-keeping was of no importance during the earliest period. Numerous bone-findings from the Aeneolithic up to the Bronze Age settlement of Durankulak build the base of a reconstruction of wildlife. Most of the larger mammals were species that lived in forests. Remarkable is the occurrence of the lion. A rich avifauna shows several species living near inland water or at the coast, different birds of prey as well as in the Aeneolithic layer bones of Otis tarda, which only occurs in the steppe. During the Bronze Age the spectrum of species has changed.

With the increasing fungal affections in humans and animals, the veterinary laboratories will have to reckon with more fungal specimens. A reliable and rapid identification of the etiologic agents will be required. The procedure with mould cultures is described in the general part. In the specific part, the general steps to differenciate medical important moulds (dermatophyes, zygomycetes, dematiaceous fungi, Aspergillus, etc.) are delineated. The identification of some fungal pathogens is possible by the means of the schematic representations.

Histological investigations were made on uteri of 61 cattle (27 of them after intrauterine treatment). The response activated by 0.2% peracetic acid in the bovine endometrium was a primary inflammatory process, however, necrotising within clearly pronounced limits. Degenerative alterations were the major histological findings 35 minutes from application of 0.2% peracetic acid. They were recordable from the epithelium but at that point in time could easily affect the entire cellular stratum. Histopathological phenomena on the fourth day from application of 0.2% peracetic acid were clearly less strongly pronounced than on the third day. Histiocyte infiltrates of moderate and rarely high intensity reflected increased phagocytosis in the process of endometrial regeneration.

During the last decades intensive breeding of pigs has improved the growth rate, food conversion and the ratio between meat and fat. However, this improvement is very often associated in certain breeds of pig with the porcine stress syndrome, a higher incidence of muscle diseases and a reduced meat quality referred to as pale, soft exudative pork (PSE). These problems are well known since decades and are obviously caused by a variety of factors. The discovery of a mutation in the ryanodine receptor or Ca-release channel in the striated muscles of affected pigs has concentrated research on the function of this protein. The mutation of the ryanodine receptor or Ca-release channel may account for the problems mentioned above because the changed ryanodine receptor can be activated much easier and there is no doubt that the inactivation is delayed or-under some circumstances-even impossible. Consequently, the cytosolic Ca concentration in skeletal muscle cells will increase and induce uncontrolled muscle activity. The recommendation is given to breed out this mutation for elimination of a major reason of the porcine stress syndrome and PSE.

The first detection of circovirus infection in pigeons in Germany is described. The existing experiences with this still little known pigeon disease are summarized and similarities to circovirus infections in other species are shown.

All of the established methods of electrotherapy are based on-at least-one of the following three scientifically and clinically confirmed working principles: electro-analgesia, muscle stimulation and tissue heating. The well defined indications for the different electrotherapeutical currents are inferred from these three principles, which are briefly described-together with their principal indications-in this contribution. At present some "complementary" forms of electrotherapy are being increasingly advocated. They are not clinically confirmed and, moreover, they lack a rationally founded working principle. These methods, so called "electromythology", are based on hypothetical and often clearly erroneous assumptions. Their therapeutic objective seems to be an unspecific stimulation of the cell metabolism, and their diagnostic goal is equally unspecific and universal. Frequently, these applications surmise an universal healing power inherent in the electric current as such. Because "electromythology" currently invades veterinary medicine, this contribution should help the reader to distinguish between realistic and excessive expectations.

Teat endoscopy as a diagnostic procedure in the goat is described in a clinical case of a proliferation in the wall of the teat cisterna. Modifications in proceeding and equipment compared to the common use of endoscopy in the teat of cattle are shown and the additional amount of information in comparison to palpation, sounding and sonography is evaluated.