Malignant lymphoma in a Sinclair miniature pig.

Malignant lymphoma was diagnosed in a 3-year-old, male Sinclair(S-1) miniature pig with acute anorexia, depression, fever, and markedly enlarged inguinal lymph nodes. Results of an initial hemogram indicated a leukocyte count of 121,489 cells/mm3. Most of the leukocytes were mononuclear cells of various sizes, nuclear chromatin pattern, number of nucleoli, amount of cytoplasm, and amount of staining. Cytochemical staining and flow cytometric evaluation of the leukocytes indicated a large number of hypodiploid lymphoblasts in the peripheral blood. Gross necropsy findings included enlargement of all lymph nodes, a pale liver, and multifocal pale areas scattered throughout the kidneys. Microscopic examination indicated massive infiltration of abnormal lymphoid cells into most major organs and complete loss of normal morphologic features of all lymph nodes.

Naturally occurring Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas).

Two cases of Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia occurred in a breeding group of 22 adult patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). Affected animals had acute clinical signs of depression, weakness, dehydration, hypothermia, hepatomegaly and pronounced leukopenia. Both animals died a few hours after treatment was initiated. Gross necropsy findings included jaundice, fluid in body cavities, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, multiple white foci within the liver and spleen, generalized lymph node enlargement and numerous mucosal ulcerations in the colon. Primary histopathological lesions were multifocal hepatic necrosis, splenic necrosis, chronic ulcerative enteritis and diaphragmatic myositis with necrosis and edema. Yersinia enterocolitica was cultured from the liver, spleen, lung, jejunum and rectum. Wild rodents, particularly mice, may have been a source of infection for these animals, as the monkeys were housed in a rural, indoor-outdoor facility. A preliminary culture survey showed that some clinically normal patas monkeys harbored the organism in their intestinal tracts.

Campylobacter jejuni isolated from patas monkeys with diarrhea.

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 11 (46%) of 24 patas monkeys with chronic diarrhea. Eight of these 11 (73%) monkey were characterized clinically by mucohemorrhagic diarrhea for periods up to a month followed by loose, semi-formed feces for a 12-month period. Half of the monkeys were treated with erythromycin for 10 days and the other half with tetracycline for 10 days, with all responding to treatment. Despite treatment, all monkeys again had an outbreak of mucohemorrhagic diarrhea. Biopsy specimens were taken from all eight monkeys over a period of 3 months. The clinical signs, treatment, and the gross and microscopic lesions seen in these monkeys were similar to those reported in humans and animals infected with Campylobacter jejuni.

Comparison of the offspring of three serial pregnancies during voluntary alcohol consumption in Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine.

The offspring of serial breedings of voluntary alcohol consuming Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine have been evaluated over the past three years. The first and second litters of 12 dams and the third litter of 6 dams were examined. All study animals had been consuming alcohol for at least 18 months prior to the first breeding. Alcohol consumption was continuous throughout the ninth study. Twelve non-alcohol-consuming sows were used as controls. The results of the study revealed a progressive decrease in mean litter size from controls of 6.66 in the control litters to 1.8 piglets per litter in the third litter born to alcohol-consuming dams. Perinatal deaths showed a progressive increase from 10% in the controls to 36.4% in the L3 litter. The birth weight showed a decline from a mean of 719 +/- 186 g in the control group to 467 +/- 122 g in the L3 litter. Abortions were not seen in control, first litter or second litter; however, there were 3 aborted fetuses in the third litter. Observation revealed no additional anomalies beyond the previous reports of anomalies seen in litters of alcohol-consuming S-1 miniature swine dams.

Atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a low cholesterol diet for five years.

Rabbits were fed a low cholesterol atherogenic diet for up to 5 years. Arterial lesions during the first 12 months consisted of smooth muscle cell and lipid accumulation in the intima, with smaller amounts of elastin and collagen. By 24 months, considerable degeneration and necrosis of smooth muscle foam cells had occurred, lipid had decreased in relative proportion, and collagen was predominant. These trends continued during the final 3 years. By 48 months most plaques were calcified and a few had hemorrhage. Atherosclerosis was extensive in rabbits with serum cholesterol concentrations greater than 300 mg/100 ml and minimal in rabbits with concentrations consistently less than 150 mg/100 ml. Thicker lesions tended to have more atheromas while thinner ones were more fibrous and less fatty. Significant regression of fatty streaks occurred in a group of rabbits fed the atherogenic diet for 2 years and a stock diet during the third year but more advanced lesions did not regress. This study illustrates the importance of time as a variable in atherogenesis, and demonstrates that modest hypercholesterolemia can lead to atherosclerosis in rabbits that is qualitatively unlike atherosclerosis induced in rabbits by cholesterol rich diets and that resembles several stages of human atherosclerosis.

Urinary cystic calculi in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis): a case report.

An adult female Macaca fascicularis monkey became acutely anorexic and depressed and was found dead approximately 24 hours later. Necropsy revealed three hard brownish-yellow stones within the urinary bladder and urethra, a moderately shrunken left kidney, hemorrhage of the medulla of the left adrenal gland and a yellow liver. The stones, one of which was lodged in the urethra, were 1-2.5 cm in diameter, and their surfaces were rough and covered with spines. Chemical analysis of the stones revealed oxalates, phosphates, carbonates, ammonium salts, magnesium and calcium. Microscopic examination revealed chronic interstitial and glomerular nephritis and papillary hyperplasia of the transitional epithelium of the bladder.

Selected biological values of the African white-tailed sand rat (Mystromys albicaudatus).

Forty-three female and 44 male, sexually mature normal African sand rats (Mystromys albicaudatus) provided serum and urine for determining normal ranges of selected serum chemistry and electrolyte determinations and for routine nonfasted urinalyses. Serum chloride and serum glucose levels were greater and serum sodium levels lower for female rats. An unusually high physiological level of urine protein was detected, and it was determined that standard dipstick methods for determining urine protein levels in this species gave artificially high results. Ketouria and glycosuria were more common in males than in females, but these determinations were not correlated to blood urea nitrogen or to serum glucose levels. No association was found between body weight and any of the serum chemistry, electrolyte or urinalysis variables examined.

Serum electrolyte concentrations in Sinclair(S-1) miniature swine from 1 through 36 months of age.

Venous blood samples were collected monthly from 60 male and 60 female Sinclair(S-1) miniature swine from 1 through 36 months of age. The rate of serum urea nitrogen concentration decreased instantaneously for females and increased instantaneously for males as described in the equation y = aebt. Serum creatinine concentration decreased through 20 months of age and increased from 20 through 36 months of age. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, potassium and sodium concentrations decreased instantaneously through 36 months of age. From 14 through 36 months of age, males had a greater mean serum urea nitrogen concentration than did females.

Organ weights and organ:body weight ratios of the African white-tailed rat (Mystromys albicaudatus).

Fifty-three adult female and 51 adult male white-tailed rats (Mystromys albicaudatus) were killed with ether and weighed; the spleen, kidneys, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, brain and gonads were dissected free of adhering tissue and weighted. The mean absolute organ weight and organ:body weight ratios by sex and organ were calculated and compared. The male rats were significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) heavier. The mean weight of the males was 110.0 +/- 23.8 g versus 82.9 +/- 16.1 g for the females. The absolute weights of the heart, liver and kidneys were significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) greater for the males. The organ:body weight ratios, except for heart and brain (excluding ovary and testicle), were unaffected by sex. The heart to body weight ratio and the brain to body weight ratio were significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) larger in female rats.

Morphologic comparison of piglets from first and second litters in chronic ethanol-consuming Sinclair(S-1) miniature swine.

Piglets (L-1) from 13 litters farrowed by 1-year-old, first litter alcohol-consuming dams were evaluated for altered morphology, A second group of piglets (L-2) farrowed by 6 second litter alcohol-consuming dams also was evaluated. Mean litter size and birth weight for L-1 piglets were 4.85 and 602 +/- 152 g; mean litter size and birth weight for L-2 piglets were 2.00 and 478 +/- 168 g. Fetal mortality rates for L-1 and L-2 piglets were 15 and 25%, respectively. Anomaly rates observed in fetal deaths were 11 and 100% for L-1 and L-2 piglets, respectively. L-1 anomalies were macrocephaly, microphthalmia, necrosis of bowel, nonexternalization of penile tissue, unascended kidney and unilateral renal hypodevelopment. L-2 anomalies were anencephaly, microcephaly, nonfusion of cranial sutures, macrocephaly, microphthalmia, nonfusion of mandibles, cleft palate, imperforate cloaca, sydactyly and polydactyly.

Vitamin E, antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in experimental atherosclerosis of rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of large amounts of dietary vitamin E and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in rabbits fed a low-cholesterol, atherogenic diet, and to seek for evidence of lipid peroxidation in the atherosclerotic lesions. Rabbits were fed a purified atherogenic diet, containing butter or the basal diet supplemented with either 1.0% of vitamin E or 0.1% each of BHA and BHT for periods up to 3 years; a negative control group was fed the basal diet with corn oil replacing butter. Aortic and coronary atherosclerosis were more frequent and extensive in rabbits fed either the basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with BHA and BHT than in rabbits fed either the basal diet supplemented with vitamin E or the negative control diet. Dietary vitamin E inhibited atherogenesis by preventing hypercholesterolemia. No evidence of lipid peroxidation was detected in the arterial lesions.

Trichophytobezoars in miniature swine.

Miniature swine confined indoors on concrete developed gastric trichophytobezoars that resulted in gradual weight loss and debilitation. The ability to maintain the swine on a chronic research project was threatened by premature deaths associated with the trichophytobezoar formation. The predisposing husbandry practices and history of the development of the trichophytobezoars included confinement for several years and consumption of pelleted feed directly from the concrete floor. Gastrotomy performed on 3 sows and 5 boars avoided the progression of complications leading toward starvation and resulted in clinical improvement.

Age and sex related changes of hematologic parameters in Sinclair(S-1) miniature swine.

Venous blood samples were collected monthly from 60 male and 60 female Sinclair(S-1) miniature swine from 1 through 36 months of age. Hematologic parameters evaluated included: erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte count and differential leukocyte counts. Mean erythrocyte count increased from 3 through 9 months of age and declined thereafter. Mean packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration decreased from 1 to 3 months of age, increased from 3 through 10 months of age and remained stable thereafter. From 7 through 36 months of age, females had greater mean packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration than did males. Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin increased linearly from 3 through 24 months of age and remained stable thereafter with females having greater mean corpuscular volumes and mean corpuscular hemoglobins than did males. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration increased linearly from 1 through 30 months of age. Mean leukocyte count decreased from 1 through 9 months of age and remained stable thereafter. From 10 through 36 months of age, mean leukocyte count was greater for males than for females. From 6 through 24 months of age, mean per cent lymphocytes was greater for females than for males; whereas, mean per cent neutrophils was greater for males than for females.

Serum protein concentrations and enzyme activities, as functions of age and sex, in Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine.

Venous blood samples were collected monthly from 60 male and 60 female Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine from 1 through 36 months of age. Serum total protein concentration increased linearly from 1 through 10 months of age and remained stable thereafter with no sex related difference. Serum albumin concentration decreased from 1 through 3 months, increased from 3 through 8 months and decreased from 14 through 36 months. From 2 through 36 months, serum alpha-globulin concentration decreased; whereas, serum beta-globulin concentration increased. Serum gamma-globulin concentration increased markedly from 1 through 3 months and continued to increase through 36 months of age. From 10 through 36 months, males had a greater mean serum gamma-globulin concentration than did females. Serum total globulin concentration increased most rapidly from 1 through 3 months, less rapidly from 3 through 18 months and remained stable thereafter. Serum albumin/globulin ratio decreased sharply from 1 through 3 months and continued to decrease from 6 through 36 months with females having a greater mean concentration than males. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity decreased from 1 through 30 months with males having a greater mean activity than females from 7 through 36 months of age. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity decreased from 1 through 36 months of age with no sex related difference. Serum lactic dehydrogenase activity decreased from 1 through 30 months with females having a greater mean activity than males from 24 through 36 months of age.