[Subclinical alveolar echinococcosis in a dog initially showing clinical features of leptospirosis]. / Subklinische alveoläre Echinokokkose bei einem Hund mit anfänglicher Symptomatik einer Leptospireninfektion.

A 3.5-year-old male Labrador retriever dog showed a short history of illness characterized by vomiting, apathy, and fever. Ultrasonographically, large nodular liver masses of high echogenicity were noted in both left and right liver lobes. Cytological and bacteriological examinations revealed a neutrophilic hepatitis without detectable agents. During treatment with doxycycline a four-fold decrease of serum titers to Leptospira (L.) icterohaemorrhagiae and L. sejroe was detected in paired serum samples by use of the complement-fixation test. The dog remained without clinical signs and no significant biochemical changes were recorded. However, ultrasonsographic examinations showed a progression of the hepatic lesions, presenting now as nodular parts with high echogenicity and cavernous parts with lower echogenicity. Diagnostic laparotomy was performed and the dog was euthanized due to severity of hepatic lesions. Histopathologically, a severe chronic granulomatous hepatitis with numerous parasitic structures was diagnosed. Morphology of the parasitic structures was comparable to the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis.

Chemical basis for host selection byHemileuca oliviae : Role of tannins in preference of C4 grasses.

When provided a choice between grass species with C3 or C4 photosynthetic pathways, larvae of range caterpillar,Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell, selected C4 grasses. The basis for host selection was examined by conducting analyses of moisture, crude protein, total available carbohydrate, sucrose, glucose, astringency, condensed tannin, silica, and pubescence of 14 grass species, and correlating host plant chemical characteristics with host preference. Most of the variation in host preference was explained by tannin characteristics (astringency and condensed tannin); C3 grass species had significantly higher tannin levels than C4 species.