Eleven cases of congenital scoliosis in calves were observed from October 1988 to March 1992 in Fukuoka Prefecture, and Neutralizing antibody to Aino virus was detected in sera from the nine precolostral and two post colostral calves. Nine of the eleven cases showed arthrogryposis, while five and two hydrocephalus and cerebellar hypoplasia, respectively. Non-suppurative encephalomyelitis and regressive changes in the skeletal muscles were seen histopathologically. Serological survey using sentinel calves disclosed that epizootics of Aino virus had occurred during August to October, in 1988 and 1990.

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Neospora-like protozoa were found in the central nervous system (CNS) of 8 aborted fetuses of dairy cattle ranging in fetal age from 143 to 247 days. These abortions occurred in Okayama Prefecture from August 1991 to November 1992. Histological examination of the fetuses revealed multiple focal necrosis and meningitis in CNS, and non-purulent myositis in the heart and skeletal muscles. One fetus of 150 days old had also the organisms in the heart and skeletal muscles. Immunohistochemical examination using antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis crusi was conducted on 4 of the 8 fetusee examined. The Neospora-like organisms positively reacted only with the antibody against Neospora caninum. These results suggested that the 8 fetuses were aborted due to the infection of Neospora like organism.

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Three 2-to 3-month-old lambs with cerebrocortical necrosis, showing mainly recumbency, opisthotonus, nystagmus and convulsion, were examined for thiamine levels in blood and organs. Thiamine concentrations in organs, such as cerebrum, cerebellum, liver and heart, and in rumen fluid were significantly low, accompanying markedly elevated pyruvic acid concentration and no abnormal thiamine level in blood. Pathologically, the bilateral cerebral cortex with laminar or focal areas with discoloration showed severe degeneration of neurons and spongy areas of neuropils.

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Two canine cases with traumatic rupture of diaphragm were subjected to surgical operation by flapgrafting of the abdominal external oblique muscle to close the diaphragm defect. The operation was quite successful, resulting in complete recovery without any difficulty in respiration and exercise.

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Dogs and cats clinically suspected of dermatophytosis in Kagoshima Prefecture were mycologically examined. M. canis was isolated from 6 (12%) canine and 33 (44%) feline cases, while M. gypseum from 3 canine cases. The incidences in puppys and kittens aged one year or less were 36% and 59%, respectively. Thirtynine M. canis isolates were sensitve to clotrimazole (minimum inhibition concentration: 0.1μg/ml), cloconazole (0.39μg/ml), miconazole (0.7μg/ml), itraconazole (0.78μg/ml), griseofulvin (0.78μg/ml), and bifonazole (3.13μg/ml), showing a single peak of sensitivity distribution.

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Of 51 Japanese domstic cats the number of vertebrae, the distance between the occipital bone and the 1st cervical vertebra (C₁), and that between C₁ and the 2nd cervical vertebra (C₂), as well as the sizes of the cardiac and local great vessels and kidneys were measured rediographically. The proportion of the C₁ vertebral canal to the distance between the caudal margin of the occipital bone and C₁ was 1 0.61, and that of the C₁ diameter to the minimum distance between C₁ and C₂ was 1 0.19. The diameters of the trachea, thoracic aorta and caudal vena cave were almost similar and the diameters of the both pulmonary trank and pulmonary vein were almost equivalent to the smallest diameters of the 8th and 10th ribs, respectively. The depth of the thorax was greater in Japanese domestic cats than in the American mixed breed (Hamlin et al., 1963). The V-D view of the abdominal region showed that the proportions of L2 to the longitudinal length of the right and left kidneys were 1: 2.49 and 1: 2.38, respectively. The ratio of L2 to the transversal length of the right and left kidneys were 1 3.05 and 1 3.03, respectively. On the lateral view, the proportions of L 2 length to the longitudinal length of the right and left kidneys were 1 2.39, while those to the transversal length of the right and left kidneys were 1 5.25 and 1 5.20, respectively.

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Neutrophils of the heparinized whole blood from 46 normal dogs aged 1 to 6 years were tested for phagocytic function of latex by incubating the mixtures of blood neutrophils and latex beads (1: 100 to 1: 200 in number) at 37°C for 40min. The percentage of neutrophils ingesting latex was 49.5±9.6%.

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Isolation and enumeration of zoonotic organisms were investigated in the feces of 606 dogs. Of them, 495 were captured dogs brought to the Administration Center for Animals, 102 were pet dogs, and 9 were guide dogs. Incidences of Campylobacter, Yersinia, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens in the captured dogs were 43.4, 28.9, 16.0, and 99.8%, respectively, and those in pet dogs were 8.9, 14.3, 7.5, and 88.6% respectively. The respective average numbers of the organisms per gram in the captured dogs were 8.8× 10⁴, 1.3×10⁴, 1.9×10⁴, and 9.9×10⁵ (CFU/g). Incidences of Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma canium, and Trichuris vulpis in the captured dogs were 38.0, 21.0, and 31.0%, respectively. The average egg numbers of the parasites per gram were 1.1×10⁴, 3.8×10⁴, and 1.3×10⁴, respectively. In the guide dogs, C. jejuni and C. perfringens were detected at the rates of 11.1 and 86.2%, respectively, and no other organisms mentioned above were detected.

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