Angiosarcoma of the face and scalp

A case of angiosarcoma of the head and neck is presented. A review of the clinical and histopathologic features of this tumor is presented.

The influence of intensively managed rotational grazing, traditional continuous grazing, and confinement housing on bulk tank milk quality and udder health

Monthly bulk tank milk samples and veterinary records were analyzed for 1 yr on 15 Vermont dairy farms. Data were evaluated using ANOVA to compare effects of grazing management systems on milk quality and udder health. Systems evaluated were intensively managed rotational grazing, traditional continuous grazing, and confinement housing. Bulk tank samples were evaluated for standard plate count, bacterial type counts on tryptose-blood-esculin agar, and SCC. Veterinary records were evaluated for incidence of clinical mastitis, udder edema, and teat injuries. Within- and between-treatment group analyses were conducted by season, herd size, and udder sanitation systems. Mean standard plate counts were lower in rotationally grazed herds than counts of confined herds during the grazing season. Similarly, rotationally grazed herds with fewer than 60 cows had lower standard plate counts than confined herds of similar size. Mean bulk tank counts of streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae during the grazing season differed among treatments. The lowest counts occurred in rotationally grazed herds. Among herd using predip products recognized as efficacious, fewer streptococci other than S. agalactiae were isolated from bulk tank milk of rotationally grazed herds than confined herds. Rotationally grazed herds using postdips recognized as efficacious had lower SCC than those using unrecognized postdips. No udder health differences were observed among grazing treatments.

Effect of stocking rate, grazing system, and fenbendazole treatment on subclinical parasitism in dairy heifers

Average daily weight and fecal parasitic egg count were compared among sixty 7- to 15-month-old Holstein heifers randomly assigned to 8 groups. The following variables were examined: grazing system (continuous vs rotational), stocking rate (3.5 vs 5 heifers/ha), and treatment [control vs dosing with a 10% suspension of fenbendazole (5 mg/kg of body weight) given orally 21 and 49 days after heifers were placed on pasture]. Two heifers from each group were euthanatized 4 weeks after the completion of the 148-day trial to determine the number of parasitic larvae and adults in the abomasum and intestine. Heifers treated with fenbendazole had significantly (P less than 0.001) fewer fecal ova and fewer inhibited abomasal larvae (P less than 0.05) than did controls. Mean total weight gain and mean daily rate of gain of fenbendazole-dosed heifers were significantly (P less than 0.01) increased by 17.3 kg or 0.12 kg/day, respectively, compared with those of nontreated heifers. Seemingly, stocking rate and grazing systems had no marked effect on subclinical parasitism in heifers.

Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bulk milk

The prevalence of mycoplasma in Vermont dairy farms was determined by two surveys conducted in March 1983 and January 1984. Bulk tank milk samples representing 74% and 62% of the herds respectively were cultured. Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 3 of the 2,346 bulk samples collected in the initial survey. The infection rate was 1.3 herds per thousand (95% confidence interval: 0.6-2.0 herds per thousand). No positive cultures were obtained in the second survey.

In vitro susceptibility of selected isolates of Brucella abortus to penicillin

Brucella abortus isolates (n = 134) from 38 dairy herds in Vermont, Florida, and Canada exhibited 2 growth patterns on medium containing 5 U of penicillin/ml. The B abortus isolates from 7 herds in Vermont were always susceptible to the antibiotic at that concentration. Eleven of 12 isolates from 1 herd in Florida and 25 isolates (biotypes 1 and 4) from 30 Canadian herds grew at greater than or equal to 5 U of penicillin/ml, as determined using a gradient plate method. Penicillin susceptibility may be of value in identifying the source of infections in cattle.

BrucELISA: an enzyme-antibody immunoassay for detection of Brucella abortus antibodies in milk: correlation with the Brucella ring test and with shedding of viable organisms

An indirect enzyme-antibody immunosorbent assay (BrucELISA) is described for the detection of antibody to Brucella abortus in cow's milk. Three series of milk samples were obtained from an adult-vaccinated dairy herd infected with B. abortus. The BrucELISA system was used as a screening test for individual milks diluted 1:200 (BE 200 test), for undiluted bulk milks, and to determine antibody titer (BrucELISA titration assay). The BrucELISA results correlated highly with positive Brucella ring test reactions and culture positivity, eliminated false-positive Brucella ring test reactions, detected antibody in some samples which were Brucella ring test negative, and distinguished between vaccinated and infected animals. BrucELISA titration assay titers of greater than 1:800 were correlated with shedding, or were prognostic for animals which eventually became shedders. Binding of the enzyme-antibody conjugate to bovine immunoglobulin in the absence of rabbit anti-bovine immunoglobulin occurred with culture-positive or -negative milks showing titers of greater than 1:1,600 (the beta effect); the effect was also of predictive value in identifying eventual shedders. The BrucELISA system is a sensitive, specific, and inexpensive method for screening large numbers of individual or bulk milk samples for the presence of antibody to B. abortus.