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Selected aspects pertaining to the cause and pathogenesis of diskospondylitis were investigated in a kennel of 45 Airedale Terriers. Diskospondylitis was detected via spinal radiography in 17 male and 14 female dogs. Bacteria isolated from the coat, vagina, and urine of affected Airedales were not statistically different from those isolated from clinically normal Airedales. Serologic evidence of Brucella canis infection was not detected. There was no difference in response to thyrotropin stimulation tests between affected and clinically normal dogs. Necropsy findings in affected dogs included hypercellular renal glomeruli and pulmonary arterial thrombi.

The purpose of this research was to identify the relationship between attending an ICU family support group and the family's appraisal of stress, social support, and hope. In addition, the family members' perceived benefits of attending an ICU family support family support group session does not significantly change stress levels, feelings of hope, and social support. Analysis of data reconfirms that family members of critically ill patients have a tremendous need for information. Although findings revealed that the majority of the family members who attended the support session would recommend attending again, it is unclear whether the support session method is the most beneficial and cost-effective means to support families of critically ill patients.

On the basis of history, electrodiagnostic and neuropharmacologic studies, and results of laboratory testing and necropsy, a seizure disorder of 1.5 years' duration in an 8-year-old Hereford cow was diagnosed as primary generalized epilepsy. Evidence of metabolic, toxicologic, head trauma, or genetic cause of the seizures was not found. A morphologic cause for the convulsions also was not detected. One naturally occurring seizure was recorded electroencephalographically, but interictal EEG abnormalities were not seen. Attempts to evoke a seizure with photostimulation or therapeutic doses of acepromazine, ketamine, tripelennamine, and estradiol cypionate were unsuccessful. The seizure threshold for the CNS stimulant pentylenetetrazol was found to be less than 6 mg/kg, IV; the seizure threshold in a control cow was found to be greater than 12 mg/kg, IV. The pharmacologic protocol used for this cow may be useful for diagnosis of epilepsy in other animals.

Studies of rabies virus in several animal models consistently showed hypothalamic infection, hypophyseal infection, dramatic growth impairment (in the form of failure to thrive), wasting syndrome, and immune depletion. Rabies virus infection was studied through routine monoclonal antinucleocapsid antibody immunofluorescence and through a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunoperoxidase method. The latter was modified to detect the in situ production of growth hormone by uninfected and rabies virus-infected adeno-a-pituicytes (with confirmation of the results both in vivo and in vitro). Infection with rabies virus made the specialized pituicytes produce less growth hormone. Growth before rabies virus infection and its reduction due to infection were investigated in a linear regression model. The fit was statistically significant (P less than .05) in all species studied: mouse, rat, rabbit, cow, and cat. Immune depression was studied in terms of alterations in the immunotopography of the thymus and also the specific T- and B-cell homing areas of the spleen (although spleen data are not presented here). On the basis of these results and a thorough review of wasting syndromes encountered in other diseases, a primary failure to thrive and an ensuing wasting syndrome were described and characterized for rabies, and their origin was assigned to a dysfunction of the hypophyseal/hypothalamic/thymic axis associated with at least (but not necessarily only) one of the centrally controlled growth hormones.

Hookworm infected dogs had higher blood basophil counts than hookworm negative dogs. Dogs with occult heartworm infection (i.e., without microfilaremia) had higher blood neutrophil counts than heartworm negative dogs. The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral lymph nodes was higher in heartworm infected, microfilaremic dogs than in both occult infected dogs and heartworm negative dogs. Heartworm or intestinal parasitic infection had no other significant effects on hematologic parameters or peripheral lymph node cytology.

Colonic anastomoses were performed on two groups of 13 dogs each. Epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia were performed in one group and general anesthesia only in the other. Intraoperatively, the epidural-general anesthesia dogs tended to bleed less, making the anastomosis less difficult. Histologic comparisons showed healing to be more advanced in the epidural-general anesthesia dogs compared to the general anesthesia dogs 24 hours and 7 days postoperatively. Differences were not noticed 14 and 28 days postoperatively. Bursting pressures were determined 24 hours after surgery. Differences between the groups were not noticed. Leakage occurred at 72% of the pressure determined to cause leakage in normal colons.

Radiofrequency hyperthermia was used to induce axial corneal lesions in the eyes of 10 dogs. Clinical observations were continued for up to 6 months, using biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Eyes were harvested at intervals for light and electron microscopic evaluation. Clinical alterations included immediate corneal opacification and epithelial disruption at the site of electrode contact. Ulcerative keratitis persisted for 4 to 6 days, accompanied by anterior uveitis. Additional corneal changes included stromal thinning, edema, and vascularization. Final evaluation revealed negligible alterations in corneal contour or clarity 6 months after treatment. Microscopically, epithelial and superficial stromal necrosis preceded epithelial loss. Stromal alterations included edema (associated with focal endothelial detachments), vascularization, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Recovery was characterized by keratocytic hyperplasia and hypertrophy, epithelial proliferation, and stromal condensation.