Fifty-three fat Japanese black beef cattles force-fed after calving were superovulated with porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P). Numbers of recovered embryos and transferrable embryos increased following treatment with 15 mg of FSH as compared to 28 mg [9.9 ± 6.1 (mean ± SD) and 7.8 ± 5.2 vs. 6.0 ±3.6 and 2.8 ± 2.1, respectivefly]. The ratio of transferrable embryos to recovered ova and embryos was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cattles treated with 15 mg of FSH (79%, 94/119) than in cattle with 28 mg (46%, 113/246). However, percentages of cattles with no recovered embryos and non-transferrable embryos were 17%(7/41) and 32%(13/41), respectively, when treated with 28 mg of FSH. Transferrable embryos were recovered from all cattles treated with 15 mg of FSH. These results indicate that the low dosage of FSH is useful for superovulation in fat Japanese black donors.

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Seventeen calves with atresia ani were examined for clinical signs, anoplasty and pathological findings. The incidence of atresia ani was rare, occurring in 1.7% of 1000 calves with congenital defects. Clinical features included loss of activity, some defecation from urogenital openings, abdominal ballottement, and skeletal defects. Radiologically, it was difficult to confirm the blind end of the rectum by either oral or vaginal induction of barium. Seven of 10 untreated calves died within 10 days of birth. However, two calves survived in good condition due to sufficient defecation from the vulva. Seven calves which underwent anoplasty on either the perineal or right flank region survived from one to 68 days postoperatively. However, due to lingering debility or retarded growth, anoplasty was not considered to be a complete treatment. Upon necropsy, seven of nine females showed rectovaginal fistula and four of eight males displayed rectourethral fistula. Some calves had complicated defects such as absence of the tail, fused kidney, and skeletal, cardiac or central nervous system defects. It was concluded that calves with atresia ani should be sacrificed from an economic viewpoint.

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Lymphomas showing follicular proliferation in two cows were studied immunohistochemically. Case 1 showed severe leukemia and a positive antibody response to bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Histologically, numerous neoplastic follicular structures were observed in the lymph nodes and spleen. Case 2 showed a slightly increased percentage of peripheral lymphocytes and a negative antibody response to BLV. Neoplastic follicular structures in the spleen and lymph nodes were somewhat smaller than those of case 1. The neoplastic cells were medium-sized lymphoid cells in both cases. Under an electron microscope, the nuclei of neoplastic cells in case 1 were mostly oval in shape, while neoplastic cells in case 2 had cleaved nuclei. Immunohistochomically, intracytoplasmic immunoglobulins were negative in the neoplastic cells in both cases. Follicular dendritic reticular cells decreased in number in the neoplastic follicles. It is considered that these neoplastic cells may originate from follicular center cells.

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A 7-month-old calf died after showing fever, respiratory signs and ruminal tympany. Necropsy revealed a perforated urinary bladder ulcer and severe purulent fibrinous peritonitis. Histopathologically, necrosis, infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, proliferation of connective tissue and formation of thrombi were observed in the periulcerous tissues of the urinary bladder. Numerous hyphae of a fungus were found in the lesions of the urinary bladder and hepatic capsule, and they tested positive to an anti-aspergillus serum. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the liver, spleen and lungs. The infections may attributable to the stress caused by transportation, vaccination and repeated administration of antibiotics.

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Using 41 verminal egg-positive dogs, the vermifugal effects of Milbem cin Oxime granules (Sankyo Co., Ltd.) were examined. Following medication at dosage levels of 0.1 and 0.2 g/kg, determination was made of the number of vermins discharged, negativity rate of verminal eggs, the number of residual vermins, general conditions of health and hematological changes between before and after medication. Dogs parasitized with Trichuris vulpis and Ancylostoma caninum from among those that were mono-parasitic discharged vermins 1-4 days following medication, with a gradual decrease in the number of eggs and finally, residual vermins could hardly be detected. Verminfugal effects were greater at 0.2g/kg compared to 0.1g/kg. Dogs parasitized with Toxocara canis discharged vermins1-3 days following medication regardless of the dosage levels; egg count became negative and there was no residual vermins. Vermifugal effects similar to those noted on mono-parasitic dogs were observed for compound parasitic dogs in that vermin-discharge condition was Virtually the same as that of mono-parasitic dogs. About 86% of 14 microfilaria-positive dogs became negative 4 days following medication. Hematological change before and after medication differed acccording to the dog but not on whether the animal was mono-parasitism (trichuriasis, ancylostomiasis or ascariasis) or compound parasitism. General health conditions were normal following medication.

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A new method of surgical repair of hip joint luxation, “mesoarthroplasty”, was performed in six dogs and six cats, ranging in weight from 3-8 kg. The method consisted of: a) excision of the femoral neck; b) covering of the cut surface of the femur with the capsule of the coxofemoral joint; c) fixing of the ligament from the pit of the femur head to the greater trochanter; and d) fixing of the ligament of the iliopsoas muscle, which was isolated from the lesser trochanter to the biceps femoris.
Use of the hind limbs (from the 1st-5th day after operation) and disappearance of lameness (from the 10th-21st day) in the operated limb were observed earlier than with conventional non-interpositional methods. Futhermore, sequelae such as shortening and talipes supinatus of the operated limb were not observed following treatment with this. technique.

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An ophthalmoscopical survey on Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) was conducted in 27 collies (220 between 1969-1972 and 50 between 1987-1991) kept in the Kanto district of Japan. No difference was observed in total incidence of the anomaly (88.0%) between the two survey periods, which agreed with reports in other countries. The number of severe cases significantly decreased in the second survey as compared to the first, suggesting that there may have been effective genetic selections against CEA, although the genes responsible for CEA remain incorporated in the collie breed genome.

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Thirty heads each of cattle and pigs in a slaughterhouse and dressing facilities were examined for L. monocytogenes and the source of contamination. Contamination with L. monocytogenes was noted in 26.7% of carcasses of the cattle and 13.3% of carcasses of the pigs. This bacterium was not detected on the body surface or intestinal contents of the same individual. L. monocytogenes tests on equipment and materials of dressing facilities were 6.1-and 8.2%-positive in a cattle processing room and 14.6-and 12.5%-positive in a pig processing room before and during work, respectively. L. monocytogenes has already been isolated from the processing facility before the start of work, suggesting that the above facility may be an important source of contamination by L. monocytogenes.

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