Concentrations of plasma potassium and sodium during the life of a broiler breeder flock.

Plasma samples were taken from a normal broiler breeder flock during the period 10 to 60 weeks of age. Plasma potassium concentration was variable during maturation, reaching the lowest value at 26 weeks of age. Plasma sodium concentration also declined but with the lowest value at 20 weeks of age.

Investigations of an enteric infection of cockatoos caused by an enterovirus-like agent.

An enteric infection in cockatoos associated with a 30 nm diameter enterovirus-like agent seen in faeces and intestinal epithelial cells is described. The disease is characterised by intractable, profuse, mucoid diarrhoea, weight loss, dehydration and death. Lesions in the intestine consist of villous atrophy, villous fusion, enterocyte hyperplasia and, in some cases, chronic inflammation. Affected birds so far examined have concurrent psittacine beak and feather disease.

The pathology of the avian integument: a review.

A review of the normal structure and the major pathological processes and disease entities of the avian integument is presented. The review has been written primarily as a reference source for those involved in the practice of veterinary pathology.

The influence of dietary calcium and phosphorus on tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler chickens.

The incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler chickens were increased by feeding rations containing high levels of phosphorus relative to the level of calcium. Tibial dyschondroplasia was not eliminated by feeding a ration containing 1.5% calcium and 0.5% available phosphorus. Before typical dyschondroplasia developed, chickens fed a high level of phosphorus had uniformly thickened growth plates at 2 weeks of age. The majority of this thickening was due to an increase in the zone of proliferation, identical to that which occurs in calcium-deficiency rickets.

A papova-like virus infection of splendid parakeets (Neophema splendida).

The lesions associated with a papova-like virus infection in two splendid parakeets (Neophema splendida) are described. The most obvious microscopic lesion in both birds was enlargement of renal medullary collecting-duct epithelial cells. The nuclei of these cells were also enlarged, pleomorphic, and often bizarre, and intranuclear and intracytoplasmic virus-like particles (48 nm in diameter) were demonstrated within them. One bird also had a hepatopathy characterized by hepatocyte enlargement and nuclear pleomorphism.

Chronic rhinitis and sinusitis in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

The microscopic lesions in the nasal cavity, nasal bones, and infraorbital sinuses of five budgerigars with chronic upper respiratory tract infection are described. All five had chronic inflammation of the lining of the air spaces within the bones surrounding the nares and infraorbital sinuses.

Experimental reproduction of psittacine beak and feather disease/French Moult.

Nestling budgerigars and galahs and one-day-old SPF chickens were inoculated with an homogenate prepared from the feathers of a variety of birds with psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), and known to contain virus-like particles 20 nm in diameter. Uninoculated birds were included as in-contact controls and groups of birds were also inoculated with homogenate treated with beta-propriolactone to inactivate any virus present. Typical PBFD developed in many of the inoculated birds and in some in-contact controls but in none of the birds inoculated with inactivated homogenate nor in SPF chickens. It is concluded from these findings that PBFD is an infectious disease of viral aetiology and is identical to the disease in budgerigars commonly referred to as 'French Moult'.

Inclusion bodies and hepatopathies in psittacines.

Intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatic cells of seven Peach-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), two Black-masked Love birds (A. personata) and two galahs (Cacatua roseicapilla) were examined electron microscopically. Thin sections were prepared from formalin-fixed Epon-embedded tissue or from haematoxylin and eosin stained sections that were subsequently embedded in Epon. Discrete and diffuse eosinophilic inclusions in hepatocytes of eight birds were composed of filaments and virus particles were not demonstrated within them. Virus-like particles of at least three types were found in diffuse, lightly basophilic inclusions of similar appearance in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells or endothelial cells in four birds. Particles, 66 nm in diameter which were probably adenovirus were demonstrated in hepatocytes in one A. roseicollis. Particles 26 nm to 39 nm in diameter which resembled papovaviruses were seen in one A. personata and one C. roseicapilla. Particles of 40 nm to 50 nm in diameter were seen in one A. personata but because of the method of preparation it was not possible to state whether they were adenovirus or papovavirus.

Detection of two lectins in haemolymph from the oyster Pinctada maxima.

Two lectins were detected in haemolymph from the oyster Pinctada maxima, a macromolecular (approximately 8 X 10(6) dalton) N-acetyl-galactosamine-binding lectin and a lower molecular weight (approximately 4 X 10(5) dalton) alpha-galactose-binding lectin. The macro-molecular lectin agglutinated human type A erythrocytes to a greater extent than human type B or O erythrocytes and was the major lectin detected in the haemolymph. The 4 X 10(5) dalton lectin agglutinated human type A, B and O erythrocytes to the same extent.

Canine laryngeal rhabdomyoma.

Three canine laryngeal tumors were diagnosed as oncocytomas by light microscopy, but were determined to be rhabdomyomas following ultrastructural and immunocytochemical examination. Tumors consisted of large eosinophilic cells interspersed with smaller dark cells. Large tumor cells had a granular, intensely eosinophilic cytoplasm. Scattered through the tumors were a few elongated cells with cytoplasmic cross striations and multiple nuclei. Tumor cells from all three dogs contained numerous mitochondria and bundles of myofibrils with electron-dense Z-lines typical of striated muscle cells. Intracellular myoglobin and desmin were detected in the tumors by immunocytochemistry. Comparisons are made with a previous report of canine laryngeal oncocytomas.