Congenital hypothyroidism in Scottish Deerhound puppies.

Two Scottish Deerhound puppies had clinical and pathological features consistent with the diagnosis of congenital non-goitrous hypothyroidism. They were from separate litters, but were the progeny of the same sire and dam. The puppies were smaller, had shorter limbs and shorter, broader heads than their littermates. They also had histories of weakness, difficulty in walking and somnolence. A characteristic radiographic feature was the absence of epiphyseal growth centres. Both had depressed serum thyroxine (T4) levels and one did not respond to exogenous thyroid stimulating hormone. On necropsy, the thyroid glands were small, the follicles varied in size and contained little or no colloid. The adenohypophysis contained many cells with markedly vacuolated cytoplasm. It is suggested that the clinicopathological pattern is the result of a primary thyroid abnormality. Possible mechanisms include either primary thyroid hypoplasia or an unresponsiveness to thyroid stimulating hormone.

Left abomasal displacement and ulceration in an eight-week-old calf.

Left displacement of the abomasum was diagnosed radiographically in an 8-week-old female Friesian calf. At surgery, a 4 cm ulcer was repaired and an abomasopexy performed during closure of the abdomen. Recovery from surgery was slow, and regurgitation of rumen contents occurred. Despite medical treatment, the calf died 4 days later. Left abomasal displacement is a well documented disease of dairy cattle (Robertson 1968; Coppock 1974; Martin et al 1978a; Poulsen 1976), but in young calves the condition is rare (Dirksen 1981). This report describes a case of left abomasal displacement with ulceration in an 8-week-old female Friesian calf.

Disseminated aspergillosis in dogs.

Clinical and pathological findings are reported from a series of 12 cases of disseminated aspergillosis (A. terreus) in 11 German Shepherd dogs and one Dalmatian referred to Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital (MUVH) over the period 1980 to 1984. A preliminary study of humoral and cell mediated immune components and complement levels revealed no consistent abnormality in 9 dogs tested apart from raised IgG levels. Serum IgA levels were depressed in 30% of cases. Serial data from one extensively monitored case is presented. The unusual epidemiological and pathogenetic features of the disease are discussed.

Electromyographic events in the stomach and small intestine of a small kangaroo, the Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

The extracellular electrical activity of the stomach and small intestine of a macropodid marsupial was studied using chronically implanted bipolar electrodes. Recordings from the elongate, tubular, haustrated stomach showed triphasic slow waves with a frequency of 5.5/min, an amplitude of 120 microV and an aborad propagation rate of 3 mm/sec. Action potentials were recorded only from the pylorus. These occurred as bursts of six to fourteen consecutive spikes. Shortly after the period of regular spike activity occurred in the adjacent duodenum action potentials in the pylorus ceased, leaving only the slow wave present for up to 20 min. Both slow waves and action potentials were recorded from the small intestine. There was no decrease in the frequency of the slow wave from the duodenum to the ileum. The slow wave frequency was 26/min on the duodenum and 25/min on the ileum. These frequencies were not affected by fasting the animals. Migrating myoelectric complex activity of the small intestine comprising three distinct electrical patterns, occurred at regular intervals. This was only slightly affected by feeding.

Hemimelia and low marking percentage in a flock of Merino ewes and lambs.

Hemimelia at a prevalence of 11% of lambs marked, and low marking percentage (51%) was observed in a flock of mixed age Merino ewes and their lambs. Hemimelia occurred in one or 2 limbs of affected lambs. Lambs from other flocks on the farm were unaffected, and the condition was not reported from other farms. The condition had not occurred in the past, and has not recurred. No infectious or hereditary factors were implicated in the aetiology of the condition. Grazing Western Australian Blue Lupin stubble by the affected flock during and after joining was the only known difference between this flock and others on the farm.