Ultrasonographic examination of the liver in sheep.

The purpose of the study reported here was to get detailed information about the normal size and texture of the liver in sheep by means of ultrasonographic examinations. Structure, location, and shape of the liver, gallbladder, portal vein, and caudal vena cava were examined ultrasonographically in 100 sheep. Furthermore, 10 sheep were scanned 10 times within 2 weeks to determine reproducibility of findings. Examinations were performed on the right side of the abdomen in the seventh through twelfth intercostal spaces. In each intercostal space, the dimensions of the liver, and, if visible, the location and diameter of the caudal vena cava and portal vein were determined. The angle of the liver, and location and size of the gallbladder also were determined. Ultrasonographic measurements of liver size and location in healthy sheep can be used as references for changes in liver size attributable to illness.

[Hoflund syndrome due to anterior functional stenosis in 20 cows]. / Hoflund-Syndrom infolge vorderer funktioneller Stenose bei 20 Kühen.

This study gives a comprehensive survey on 20 cows with vagus indigestion due to cranial functional stenosis (failure of omasal transport). The most important clinical findings were distension of the entire lateral abdominal wall on the left side and partially of the right ventral area as well, severely distended rumen, reduced or missing appetite and reduced defaecation. Nine animals had bradycardia. The dominant laboratory findings were increased concentrations of total protein and fibrinogen. Sixteen cows were slaughtered at the clinic. Six of these had signs of peritonitis in the cranial part of the abdomen, which had started from foreign body peritonitis. Six cows had abscesses between reticulum and liver, also starting from a foreign body, one cow had one isolated abscess in the liver and one cow severe fatty degeneration of the liver. In 2 cows no pathological changes could be found on the occasion of slaughter.

Clinical findings in cattle with dilatation and torsion of the caecum.

Dilatation and torsion of the caecum is usually an acute illness with signs of ileus and this paper presents the clinical findings from 111 heifers and cows with the condition. On admission 61 per cent of the animals had been ill for less than 24 hours; the general condition was disturbed in 58 per cent of the animals, 39 per cent showed signs of colic; the rectal temperature was abnormal in 55 per cent, the heart rate in 40 per cent and the respiration rate in 52 per cent of the animals; rumen motility was reduced or absent in 85 per cent. One or more tests for foreign bodies were positive in 58 per cent, and swinging auscultation and percussion auscultation on the right side, either alone or in combination, were positive in 83 per cent of the animals. On rectal examination it was possible to palpate a pathologically distended, displaced or twisted caecum in 95 per cent of the animals. In 87 per cent defecation was reduced or absent. The most reliable diagnostic investigations were rectal examination and swinging and percussion auscultation on the right side.

Reflux of bile acids from the duodenum into the rumen of cows with a reduced intestinal passage.

The purpose of this study was to find out whether the concentration of bile acids in the rumen of healthy cows differs from that of cows with a reduced gastrointestinal passage. The investigations were performed on 277 heifers and cows of the Swiss Braunvieh, Simmental and Swiss Holstein breeds. Forty of these had traumatic reticuloperitonitis, 30 had right or left abomasal displacement, 14 had an ileus of the duodenum, 36 had an ileus of the jejunum and 54 had a caecal dilatation. The other 103 animals had disorders which did not affect the digestive system and were used as controls. The mean (+/- se) bile acid concentration in the rumen fluid of the control animals was 1.0 +/- 0.30 mumol/litre. The bile acid concentrations in the rumen fluid of the cows with a duodenal or jejunal ileus were significantly higher than those of the other groups, demonstrating that bile acids may reflux from the duodenum into the rumen of cows with an ileus in the small intestine.

A method for continuous 24 hour cable EEG- and brain temperature-recording in the rat.

A cable technique is described which allows continuous, unsupervised recording of cortical EEG and neck muscle EMG in rats over long periods. In addition, brain temperature is measured with an NTC-thermistor. After suitable adaptation the signals are computed for selected 8 s epochs into Hjorth parameters by means of a Normalised-Slope-Descriptor. These parameters are stored continuously on a digital magnetic tape. Off-line computer analysis of these parameters is used to examine changes in the EEG, EMG and brain temperature during waking and sleeping.