Traumatic avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter in a dog

A 15-month-old 25 kg female spayed American Staffordshire Terrier was examined to determine the cause of a six month period of lameness of the left pelvic limb. Signs of severe pain were evident on hyperextension and simultaneous internal rotation or abduction of the left hip joint; crepitus or instabiltiy was not detected. The diagnosis of avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter was based on radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), supported by initial findings such as lameness and hip joint pain in extension. The dog was treated with strict confinement for eight weeks followed by a gradual increase in activity; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were given for one month. Three months later, the dog was clinically sound and unrestricted activity was resumed. Soundness was confirmed on follow-up 18 months after injury. CT and especially MRI were powerful diagnostic tools to identify chronic iliopsoas strains with an avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter. Complete recovery ensued following conservative treatment only, despite the proximal diplacement of an avulsed segment of the lesser trochanter. Thus, traumatic injury to the iliopsoas muscle and to the lesser trochanter should be included as differential diagnosis in cases of hind leg lameness.

Traumatic avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter in a dog

A 15-month-old 25 kg female spayed American Staffordshire Terrier was examined to determine the cause of a six month period of lameness of the left pelvic limb. Signs of severe pain were evident on hyperextension and simultaneous internal rotation or abduction of the left hip joint; crepitus or instabiltiy was not detected. The diagnosis of avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter was based on radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), supported by initial findings such as lameness and hip joint pain in extension. The dog was treated with strict confinement for eight weeks followed by a gradual increase in activity; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were given for one month. Three months later, the dog was clinically sound and unrestricted activity was resumed. Soundness was confirmed on follow-up 18 months after injury. CT and especially MRI were powerful diagnostic tools to identify chronic iliopsoas strains with an avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter. Complete recovery ensued following conservative treatment only, despite the proximal diplacement of an avulsed segment of the lesser trochanter. Thus, traumatic injury to the iliopsoas muscle and to the lesser trochanter should be included as differential diagnosis in cases of hind leg lameness.

Use of computed tomography in the diseased feline thorax

Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the thorax is gaining more attention in veterinary medicine as therapeutic possibilities increase. Plain and contrast-enhanced CT images of the thorax of five referred cats with signs of respiratory disease were evaluated using soft tissue (pleural) and lung windows. The common CT pattern in all cats was involvement of the lung lobes, either as a homogeneous or heterogeneous single lobe hyperdensity. It involved the main bronchus, invaded the cranial or caudal mediastinum, and crossed the border to the opposite lung. Right lung atelectasis and mediastinal shift caused left lung overinflation. Bronchial lymph node enlargement was found unilaterally or bilaterally. CT-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lobar lung lesion was performed in four cats; in three cases it revealed carcinoma and in one inflammation, although the cat with suspected inflammation was subsequently found to have a carcinoma on lung lobectomy. Histopathology confirmed lung metastasis in one case and bronchial adenocarcinoma in four cases. A protocol for systematic examination of thoracic CT images is proposed.

Psittacine paranasal sinus--a new definition of compartments

Documentation of the psittacine paranasal sinuses has been limited. To provide more published detail, spiral computed tomography (CT) was used to scan the cephalic and cervical region from cadavers of 10 psittacine birds (Ara ararauna, Ara chloroptera, Ara macao, and Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Skeletal studies, histologic examinations, and evaluation of deep-frozen sections and anatomic preparations confirmed the results of the CT scans. New morphologic details of the paranasal sinus and some compartments were discovered. The paranasal sinuses of these macaws consist of two unpaired rostral compartments, followed caudally by eight paired compartments. Histologic examinations revealed that the walls of the paranasal sinuses consist of flat or cubic monolayer epithelium with underlying connective tissue. The described method of CT examination of these macaws, especially the positioning, scan orientation and parameters, and documentation of the normal paranasal sinus, provides a basis for future clinical use of CT.

Diagnosis of atrophic rhinitis in a Simmental heifer by computed tomography

Atrophic rhinitis was diagnosed in a 10-month-old heifer with the assistance of computed tomography. The aetiology of the condition in cattle is uncertain and the clinical disease may be overlooked owing to the lack of signs such as the shortening or deformity of the snout observed in pigs.

Ultrasonographic imaging and thickness measurement of the sole horn and the underlying soft tissue layer in bovine claws

Ultrasonographic imaging and thickness measurements of sole horn and underlying soft tissue layer were evaluated in 100 bovine claw specimens. The claws were trimmed and examined in longitudinal planes using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. The sole horn, underlying soft tissue layer and distal surface of the distal phalanx of all claws were clearly visualized. The sole horn had a heterogeneous hypoechoic appearance; the underlying soft tissue layer was predominantly anechoic. Corium and subcutis could be differentiated. The best imaging of these structures was achieved in claws with less than 10 mm sole horn thickness and soft sole horn. Imaging of the dorsal wall structures was more difficult. In each claw, B- and A-mode measurements of horn thickness of sole and dorsal wall and distance from outer claw surface to distal phalanx surface were made at three marked points on the weightbearing surface and at one point on the dorsal wall. In 10 claws, CT-images were taken and the horn density was determined. All claws were then frozen, transected and anatomical reference measurements were made after thawing. Statistical correlation coefficients of 0.88 and higher were found for B-mode ultrasonographic and anatomical measurements of sole horn thickness. A-mode proved not to be useful for the sole horn thickness measurement. B-mode ultrasonography was carried out successfully in the claws of five living cattle.

[Anatomic and radiographic examination of the shoulder joint of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)]

Anatomical structures of shoulder joints of five adult cheetahs were examined by dissection, corrosion casts and radiography. The bones, capsules and auxiliary synovial devices were described, as well as ligaments and adjacent muscles. The cheetah shoulder has many similarities with the shoulder joint of the domestic cat, but also considerable differences. Proper osteological features were the large supraglenoid tubercle, the caudally directed coracoid process and the extension of the articular surface of the scapula to the lateral area of the supraglenoid tubercle. On the proximal end of the humerus the width of the head of humerus, the facet of infraspinatus muscle as a shallow cavity with the insertion of the infraspinatus muscle around it and two raised roughnesses on the proximal end of the tricipital line for the insertions of the lateral glenohumeral ligament and the teres minor muscle were noticeable. The insertion of the joint capsule was mainly on the glenoid labrum, only in part of the articular surface on the lateral area of the supraglenoid tubercle laterally on the scapula. The joint capsule formed a supra- and infraspinatus recess laterally, an intertubercular tendon sheet for the biceps brachii muscle cranially, and a bipartited subscapular recess medially. An extracapsular transverse ligament passing the intertubercular groove, a laterally capsular strengthening--called lateral glenohumeral ligament--and an intracapsular medial glenohumeral ligament could be found. The latter one was joined to the capsule by a mesoligament, dividing the subscapular recess into two pouches.

[The significance of the craniolateral acetabular margin for hip dysplasia evaluation]

The weight-bearing part of the canine hip is its dorsocraniolateral portion. On the radiograph the configuration of the craniolateral acetabular rim is important for evaluation of hip dysplasia. Changes in formation of this area should be differentiated from artefacts due to malpositioning. When the pelvis is tilted dorsally, the cranial acetabular rim is superimposed on the cranioventral acetabular contour and the acetabular roof. The craniolateral contour then seems to be missing. The contours of a ventrally tilted pelvis do not overlap, but it is difficult to discern the craniolateral rim. The reference points for Norberg-Olsson's measurements are difficult to choose in both cases and the angles may vary up to 10 degrees. A symmetrically positioned pelvis shows one point of reference for Norberg-Olsson's measurement where the cranial acetabular contour, the cranioventral margin and the acetabular roof intersect. Therefore poor positioning of the pelvis for radiographic evaluation of hip dysplasia should be avoided when using Norberg-Olsson's measurements.

[Survival capacity of genetically altered Escherichia coli strains. 2. Survival of pure cultures in different water and soil matrices]

The survival of two genetically engineered E. coli strains (L+, CAG+) compared to that of 4 control strains (N0, K12, L-, CAG-), was investigated in drinking water, surface water, sewage and soil under different conditions. Both genetically manipulated strains are able to produce Prourokinase, an anticoagulant. It was found, that all strains died off inspite of high inoculated bacterial densities. In drinking water, no bacteria could be recultivated immediately following inoculation. Upon inoculation in surface water, the genetically manipulated strains L+ and CAG+ were more sensitive than the other strains. The same was found for sewage under aerobic conditions, whereby, the control strains N0 and K12 as well as the wild-strains of the genetically manipulated organisms, L- and CAG- survived the whole experimental period and kept their numbers at a level between 100 and 1000 CFU/ml. Under anaerobic conditions, a die-off of all tested strains was similarly registered with time. The influence of the autochthonous microflora of sewage water could be documented in that, under these conditions, all test strains survived the whole experimental period of 31 days with the exception of the genetically manipulated strain CAG+. In soil experiments, it was found that the humus-rich garden soil was more effective in eliminating the E. coli strains than sand. The antagonistic effect of the autochthonous soil microflora was only clearly seen in experiments with garden soil. However, these results did not meet the expectations for the two CAG strains, for which a longer survival period had been previously established for in nutrient rich soil. In contrast to the E. coli control strains N0 and K12, the two L strains and the CAG+ strain survived the whole test period of 36 days. It can be concluded that under these simulated environmental conditions, all tested strains of E. coli die off more or less in a short period of time following inoculation with the autochthonous microflora of environmental samples.

[Survival ability of genetically engineered strains of Escherichia coli. 1. Physiological characterization and the effect of different physiochemical conditions]

Two genetically engineered E. coli strains L+ and CAG+ possessing the ability to produce the enzyme Pro-urokinase and showing additionally ampicillin resistance, and wild-strains L- and CAG-, were characterized using 328 physiological tests. Their test profiles were compared with those of 30 clinical and nonclinical E. coli isolates. This biotyping made a differentiation and recognition of the genetically manipulated strains possible. It also allowed distinguishing them from the other tested isolates. The genetically engineered strains showed a narrower activity spectrum compared with their wild-strains. However, based on differentiating characteristics, all strains could be clearly biochemically identified as E. coli. Under different laboratory test conditions (organic load, pH, salt content, temperature), the E. coli strains showed no striking features or peculiarities with respect to their survival compared to data from literature. However, low pH (pH less than 5), high salt content (greater than 7%) as well as low (less than 8 degrees C) and high (greater than 37 degrees C) incubation temperatures clearly reduced their ability to survive. Apart from a few exceptions (e.g. survival of strain L+ at 44 degrees C and pH 7 with high cell densities), the survival of the genetically engineered strains corresponded to that of the control and wild-strains. Both CAG strains, especially the genetically manipulated strain CAG+, showed in many cases reduced viability compared with the other strains.

Bacterial elimination and therapeutic effectiveness under different schedules of amoxicillin administration

Bacterial elimination kinetics under different simulated administration schedules of amoxicillin was followed in vitro by using a simple model for simulation of pharmacokinetic parameters. The results were compared to those obtained in lethally infected mice by determining the viable bacterial count in the blood at various times post-infection and under different schedules of amoxicillin administration. A satisfactory correlation could be established between the in vitro and in vivo results. Multiple administration of amoxicillin was found to induce a beta-lactamase in vitro as well as in vivo in the Escherichia coli strain used. No difference was however found between the various administration schedules of amoxicillin in terms of surviving animals. Taking into account the lasting elimination of viable bacteria from the blood, the best treatment of E. coli-infected mice was found to be a twice daily administration of the higher amoxicillin dose.

[Kluyveromyces blattae sp. n., a new multispored yeast for Blatta orientalis (author's transl)]

A new hitherto undescribed species of yeast of the genus Kluyveromyces has been isolated for the intestinal tract of the oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis). A description of the new species including latin diagnosis is given.

Torulopsis spandovensis sp. n., a new yeast from beer

A new species of the genus Torulopsis has been isolated from several different samples of German Pilsener Beer. A description of the new species is given.

[Pichia lindnerii sp. n., a new methanol assimilating yeast from soil (author's transl)]

A new undescribed species of yeast could be detected in forest soils in the area of Berlin, Germany. A description of the new homothallic species including latin diagnosis is given.