Subconjunctival bleedings in neonatal calves: a case series report.

BACKGROUND: In animals, only few reports exist about the occurrence and causes of subconjunctival bleedings, especially in newborn calves. Most case reports and studies showed that the major risk factors for subconjunctival bleedings in animals are traumatic events such as birth trauma and traffic accidents, respectively. In neonatal babies, it is suggested that compression of the thorax and abdomen during delivery or forces generated in utero during labor may raise venous pressure to conjunctival vessels and can cause subconjunctival bleedings. RESULTS: The incidence of bleedings in neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves was 2.4 per cent of 289 neonatal calves examined over a six-year period. In general, two types of subconjunctival bleedings were seen. One was usually in a semilunar fashion immediately outside the limbus of the eye. The other type was a stripe or macule of variable size at different positions of the sclera. The subconjunctival bleedings were not related to gestational time. In all cases, affected calves were born without assistance. Multiparous cows were more often involved in the calves with subconjunctival bleedings. Two calves examined haematologically did not show signs of anemia or thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival bleedings in neonatal calves appear not to be incidental findings. Main causes or associated conditions of subconjunctival bleedings were not found.

Amino acid digestibility and metabolisable energy of spring and winter faba beans grown on two sites and effects of dehulling in caecectomised laying hens.

BACKGROUND: The variation in amino acid (AA) digestibility and metabolisable energy (MEN ) in four spring and four winter faba bean genotypes differing in vicine/convicine (V/C) concentrations grown on two sites was investigated in caecectomised LSL-Classic laying hens. Effects of dehulling one faba bean genotype were also examined. Diets containing one out of 17 faba bean variants each and a basal diet were fed to ten caecectomised laying hens in a row-column design to achieve five replicates per diet. RESULTS: Ranges and levels of digestibility of the hulled variants differed widely among AA with the lowest and highest range determined for Arg (90-93%) and Cys (-12-65%), respectively. MEN ranged between 10.3 and 12.3 MJ kg-1 dry matter. Lower MEN and digestibility of Cys, Glx, Phe, Pro, Tyr, and Val (P < 0.050) was determined for the winter genotypes grown in Nimtitz compared to the other variants. Digestibility of Ser was lower for the spring than for the winter genotypes (P < 0.050). Negative correlations with AA digestibility were determined for phytate, but not for tannin and V/C concentrations (P < 0.050). Negative correlations between tannin fractions and MEN were weak (P = 0.082-0.099). Dehulling increased MEN by 1.8 MJ kg-1 dry matter and raised the digestibility of Pro, His, and Glx (P < 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the digestible AA and MEN supply of laying hens was increased by using low phytate faba beans while breeding for low V/C genotypes did not affect AA digestibility or MEN . Dehulling increased MEN and the digestibility of some AA. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative morphological evaluation of domestic animal cornea.

OBJECTIVE: This study described corneal morphology in different domestic animals using histological and immunohistochemical methods. Specifically, we evaluated the species-specific distribution pattern of cytokeratins (CKs) and aquaporins (AQPs) to assess their contribution to the strength and transparency of the cornea, respectively. PROCEDURES: Corneal sections (2 µm thick) were obtained from 28 pigs, 11 cows, two goats, six horses, four dogs, and five cats and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. Immunohistochemistry was also performed using CK1 to 3 and AQP1 and 5 antibodies. RESULTS: Domestic animal corneas were composed of corneal epithelium, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and corneal endothelium. Bowman's layer was not detected using the PAS reaction. The three-layered epithelium was thinnest in carnivores and thickest in equines and bovines. CKs were demonstrated immunohistochemically in all species examined, especially in the most superficial layer of the corneal epithelium. CKs were more widely distributed in canine and feline corneal epithelial cell layers compared to other species. The corneal monolayer endothelium was immunostained with AQP1 in all species examined, and it was also present in stromal keratocytes in a species-specific manner. In contrast, AQP5 was exclusively localized to the corneal epithelium. Epithelial staining patterns varied markedly between species, and the widest distribution of AQP5 was demonstrated in feline epithelial cell layers. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the distribution of CKs and AQPs in various species suggest species differences in the maintenance of structural integrity and fluid balance.

Bulbus Destruction by Choroidal Melanocytoma in a Dog: A 3-Year History.

A 3-year-old male Slovak Hound with retinal detachment was presented. The causative intraocular mass was detected by ultrasonography, and the course of the disease was monitored over a 3-year period. Enucleation was performed due to secondary glaucoma. A benign choroidal melanocytoma was diagnosed by histopathology. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the disease over such a long period of time. The mild course of the disease questions enucleation of eyes with no or minor symptoms. Conventional treatment may be a suitable alternative to surgery for dogs with high anesthesia risks.

Nodular panniculitis in a cat with high alpha tocopherol concentration in serum.

A 5-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat suffered from recurrent solitary nodules in different subcutaneous body regions. Nodules were surgically removed and each time histopathological diagnosis was fat necrosis and fibrosing to pyogranulomatous panniculitis. After the second surgery the alpha (α)-tocopherol concentration in serum of the cat was examined and the result (21 mg/L) exceeded the upper limit of the reference interval (3-11 mg/L). Vitamin E amount in diet fed solely in the past was checked as studies have shown that vitamin E amounts in food significantly influence vitamin E concentrations in serum. For comparative purposes, α-tocopherol concentrations were determined in sera of healthy control cats. Additionally, vitamin E amount in wet food from different manufacturers was analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the diet did not have higher vitamin E amounts compared to other diets. All control cats had similar high serum α-tocopherol concentrations. We conclude that panniculitis can occur despite high serum α-tocopherol concentrations in cats. Further studies are needed to redefine reference values of α-tocopherol in serum of cats.

Detection of Hammondia heydorni-like oocysts in feces of a dog with recurrent diarrhea.

We report a male, 15-month-old American Canadian White Shepherd dog suffering from recurrent diarrhea and anorexia. Fecal analysis revealed coccidian oocysts of small size. Their morphology was similar to those of Hammondia (H.) heydorni and Neospora (N.) caninum isolates. Unsporulated oocysts had a mean length of 11.8 ±â€…0.96 µm and a mean width of 11.9 ±â€…0.96 µm. H. heydorni infection was suggested based on the larger size compared with N. caninum oocysts. Additionally, real time PCR analysis for N. caninum from the fecal sample was negative. After a single anti-coccidian treatment (0.45 mg/kg emodepside + 9 mg/kg toltrazuril) accompanied by amoxicillin (12 mg/kg twice daily for 6 days) the dog recovered very quickly from the disease. This case demonstrates that H. heydorni-like oocysts may be associated with gastrointestinal disease in canine species.