To measure tracheal mucociliary transport rate (TMTR) in awake dogs, restrained in dorsal recumbency, 99mtechnetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin was administered by tracheal injection, and the cephalic movement of boluses containing the radiopharmaceutical was detected by a gamma camera positioned lateral to the dog's head and neck. The distance traveled by each bolus was measured, relative to external markers placed a known distance apart. Tracheal mucociliary transport rates were calculated by dividing the measured distance of radiopharmaceutical movement by elapsed time. The technique was efficient and well tolerated. Mean (+/- SD) TMTR was 35.3 +/- 15.9 mm/min. Significant (P = 0.029) difference in TMTR was found between males and females, but significant difference attributable to age of the dog was not detected. This method of measuring TMTR in awake dogs has potential for evaluation of clinical animal patients with suspected tracheal mucociliary abnormalities.

Paired CSF and serum samples were obtained from 109 rhesus macaques aged 1 to 18 years. The CSF and serum IgG and albumin concentrations were determined, using radial immunodiffusion; CSF total protein and glucose were determined, using colorimetric methods; and Na, K, and Cl concentrations were determined, using ion-specific electrodes. The CSF protein values were lower than those reported for nonhuman primates, and this finding was confirmed by results of agar gel electrophoresis. Animal age and sex had no significant effects on CSF composition, but serum IgG concentration increased with age. Concentrations of total protein, albumin, and IgG were greater, and concentrations of glucose and potassium were lower in CSF obtained from the lumbar rather than the cisternal site. Composition of CSF was not significantly altered by contamination with blood at values up to 10,000 RBC/microliter. The CSF albumin quotient, IgG quotient, and IgG index were determined and differed markedly from values reported for human beings, indicating that the properties and specificity of the blood-brain barrier may be species-specific.

Rectal swab specimens were collected from 362 apparently healthy dogs of different origin, age, breed, and sex. Specimens were obtained in summer, autumn, and winter. Ninety-five thermophilic Campylobacter spp were isolated: C jejuni biotype I, n = 57, C jejuni biotype II, n = 1, C coli, n = 36, and C laridis, n = 1. Biotypes of C jejuni recovered were the same as those associated with Campylobacter-induced enteritis in human beings. Prevalence of C jejuni was significantly (P < 0.05) greater: in dogs < 6 months old than in adult dogs; in dogs living under high density and cohabitation housing conditions for long periods; and in autumn.

The influence of the QT, TQ, and ST intervals, and heart score on both cardiac cycle duration (RR) and diastole/systole (D/S) quotient were analyzed during the neonatal (1 day and 5 days) pigs belonging to 2 crossbreeds of different rusticity, Landrace X Belgian White (LBW) and Landrace X Duroc Jersey (LDJ). Our findings indicate that the shortening of the RR interval in 5-day-old pigs of both crossbreeds was determined by different variables in each breed. In LDJ pigs, this shortening was only associated with a shortening of ventricular activation, and in each age group, the systole and the diastole contributed equally to the RR value. The D/S quotient did not differ significantly in 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs, and at both ages, the quotient was only determined by the TQ value. In LBW pigs, the RR, QT, TQ, and ST were shortened, but only the shortening of QT was significant as a result of an acceleration of the ventricular recuperation process. Moreover, differences were found between 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs with regard to the contribution of the different intervals to the RR duration. In 1-day-old pigs, the RR depended closely on the TQ, whereas in 5-day-old pigs, all intervals contributed significantly to its duration. The D/S quotient was not significantly different in 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs, but a different contribution of the variables studied was observed at the 2 ages selected. In 1-day-old pigs, D/S quotient depended on the diastole duration, whereas in 5-day-old pigs, the diastole and systole contributed to its variation.

Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, superior peripheral, and temporal peripheral corneal thickness of 35 cats (70 eyes) with normal corneas, anterior chambers, and intraocular pressures. Mean central corneal thickness for both eyes in 3 locations for 35 cats was 578 +/- 64 micrometers. Significant differences did not exist between central and peripheral corneal thickness. Corneal thickness increased significantly (P < 0.0001) with age up to 100 months. There was no significant difference in corneal thickness with regard to sex of the cats when adjusted for age.

Gastric pH was monitored in neonatal foals from birth to 3 months of age. Background pH decreased, especially during the first week of life. Milk had complex effects that depended on pH prior to sucking, confounded by the age of the foal: nearly neutral background pH tended to be acidified after milk intake; moderately acid background pH tended to be neutralized; low background pH was only slightly increased by milk. Absolute magnitude of the effects of milk decreased with age. Existence of a proulcerative intragastric environment in preweaning foals is postulated, but this must be considered in the context of what probably is a multifactorial pathogenesis.

Concentration of total proteins was measured and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel disk electrophoresis was performed on tear and plasma samples obtained from 26 healthy dogs, and the results were compared. Mean +/- SEM concentration of total proteins in tears was 0.63 +/- 0.04 g/dl, and significant effects of age or gender were not found. The protein composition of tears in dogs was complex, and bands from light and heavy chains of immunoglobulins were identified by electrophoresis.

A commercially available Salmonella bacterin was administered to Holstein calves starting at 1 to 19 weeks of age. Serum samples were obtained before administering bacterin and at 2-week intervals thereafter. An ELISA with Salmonella dublin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or S dublin whole cells as antigen, was used to measure specific IgG and IgM responses. Antibody responses to LPS were not detected from calves < 12 weeks old inoculated with killed bacterin. Immunoglobulin responses to whole-cell antigen were detected from all age groups of calves inoculated with the same killed Salmonella bacterin. Calves < 11 weeks old are able to produce immunoglobulins to some whole-cell antigens, but are unable to produce anti-LPS immunoglobulins when inoculated with killed Salmonella bacterin. This age-related response to killed Salmonella antigens may account, in part, for increased susceptibility to salmonellosis in calves < 12 weeks old. In comparison to the response for killed antigen, 8 calves given modified-live aromatic-dependent S dublin bacterin at 1 to 3 weeks of age had detectable anti-LPS immunoglobulin after immunization, although the response was not as rapid and was of a lesser magnitude than that of older calves given killed Salmonella bacterin.

Histomorphometric and scanning electron microscopic analyses were carried out on 74 embryos and fetuses and 20 sheep (early postnatal to adult age). Histodifferentiation of the rumen took place at 33 days of fetal fife. Ruminal pillars were observed at 42 days, and at 61 days, ruminal papillae appeared as evaginations of the epithelial stratum basale. Neutral mucopolysaccharides first appeared in epithelial cells at 46 days of fetal life; thereafter, numbers decreased gradually and subsequently stabilized in postnatal life. Acid mucopolysaccharides, mucins, and mucoid compounds were not detected. Age and diet were recognized as factors that determine the structure of the ruminal mucosa. Growth curves and formulas were set out for each tissue layer.

Suspensory ligaments (SL) from 32 Thoroughbreds and 32 Standardbreds were collected to evaluate the variation in muscle content with respect to age, breed, sex, limb, and use. Six transverse sections, each 3 to 5 mm thick, were obtained from each SL. Four sections were taken from the body of the SL and 1 from the midportion of each branch. Sections were stained with van Gieson picric acid-fuchsin solution, then photographed, and black-and-white slides were made from the processed negatives. The transverse-sectional area of the SL and the contained muscle were determined by use of a computer with a color monitor and a digitizing device with its associated software. The percentage of muscle was then calculated for each section, for the entire ligament, and for each horse. Results were analyzed by multiple-regression analysis and Duncan multiple-range test, using the General Linear Model of SAS. Standardbreds had 40% more muscle in their SL than did Thoroughbreds. There was no significant difference in the percentage of SL muscle among sex, age, use, individual limb, or forelimb vs hind limb. For Standardbred horses, females had significantly greater muscle area content than intact males. Also, hind limb muscle area content was significantly greater than forelimb muscle content. Thoroughbred horses between 2 and 10 years of age not in training had significantly more muscle content than horses of the same age not in training. The reasons for these differences remain unclear.