Fourty-eight lambs 5 to 14 months of age reared in Tokachi district, Hokkaido, were investigated for thyroid weight, serum thyroid hormone levels and histopathology. Goiter was detected in 9 cases, 4 diffuse hyperplastic goiters (D. H. G.) and 5 colloid goiters (C. G.), and 2 cases showed markedly increased thyroid weight. In the 4 D. H. G. cases serum thyroxine (T₄) levels were lower, and triiodothyronine (T₃) levels were significantly higher, resulting in significantly lower T₄/T₃ ratios, as compared with the normal range. On the other hand, the T₄/T₃ ratio was significantly higher in the 5 cases of C. G. The goiter lambs from 3 farms were fed with diets marginally low in iodine.

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All genes of classical swine fever viruses (CSFV) and bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) were detected by RT-PCR using primers located in the 5' non-coding region. Discrimination between CSFV and BVDV was performed easily by restriction endonuclease (>Bgl I andPstI) analysis of amplified PCR fragments.

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Of 10 thoroughbred horses premedicated and anesthetized with intravenous injections of 1.1mg/kg xylazine, 50g guaifenesin and 2.5g sodium thiopental, 5 were subjected to general anesthesia maintained with oxygen-sevoflurane (OS) inhalation while the remaining 5 with OS anesthesia combined with continuous intravenous infusion of a mixture of 12.5 mg/ml guaifenesin-0.5mg/ml ketamine-0.125mg/ml xylazine at an infusion rate 2.4ml/kg/hr (GKX-OS). The mean durations of general anesthesia were 151min (120-190min) with OS and 173min (125-250min) with GKX-OS. End-expiratory sevoflurane concentrations during surgery ranged from 2.3 to 3.0% and from 1.5 to 2.1% in OS and GKX-OS anesthesia, respectively. Respiratory rate and arterial blood pressure were comparatively higher with GKX-OS than OS, with smooth recovery (Score 4-5) in both cases. The time required for standing-up ranged from 23 to 36min and from 30 to 45 min in OS and GKX-OS anesthesia, respectively. GKX-OS anesthesia is thought to be useful in equine practices.

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A Holstein Friesian cow with a human head-sized mass at the left frank showed severe hypoalbuminemia (0.29g/dl), showing no edema. Immunoelectrophoresis and SDS-PAGE of serum protein suggested that hypoalbuminemia was induced by suppression of albumin synthesis.

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A 7-year-old dog, manifesting immediate regurgitation after food ingestion, was revealed by radiography and endoscopy to have thoracic esophageal stricture with cicatrization in the adventitia and muscular layers. After surgery removing fibrous tissue with some vessels and esophagomyotomy, the esophageal lumen at the stricture site was increased in diameter and obstruction totally disappeared without recurrence at 82 days postoperation.

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A 7-month-old male mongrel dog showed induration and pain in the both distal ear lobes in winter. The both distal pinnae were surgically removed and histopathology revealed embolism in the necrotized ear lesions. The patient blood plasma was tested for cold agglutinin and showed partial precipitation at 4°C and disappearance at 37°C. The case was diagnosed as cryofibrinogenemia, and without exposing to cold, the dog was being in favorable condition for one year after operation.

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An 8-year-old female Japanese Chin presented with a 5-year history of nonseasonal pruritic dermatosis and chronic diarrhea. After feeding with a commercial hypoallergenic diet made of chicken and rice, instead of home cooked one containing soy sauce, the symptoms were completely ameliorated. Diarrhea recurred by adding soy sauce to the diet, and then disappeared without soy sauce. The dog remained healthy on the commercial diet for two year thereafter.

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Of 4, 810 bovine carcasses examined at slaughter houses, 9 (0.2%) were positive for verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). The isolates were of serotypes O26: H11 (1 strain), O111: H8 (4 strains), O128: H2 (1strain) and O157: H7 (3 strains). A total of 21 VTEC isolates, 9 fecal and 12 carcass strains, were examined for eaeA and bfp genes and 60MDa plasmid, revealing eaeA gene and 60MDa plasmid in 8 strais with O157: H7 and 4 strains each with O26: H11 and O111: H8. One strain each with O26: H11 and O128: H2 had only eaeA and 60MDa plasmid, respectively. No bfp gene was detectable, and VTEC with O6: H+, OUT: H+ or OUT: H- had no pathogenic factors.

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A 3-year-old Japanese-black cow had malignant mesothelioma on the pleura and granulosa cell tumor of the left ovary. The pleural surface was disseminated with numerous small neoplastic nodules, and the tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and negative for vimentin and CEA, while cultured epithelioid cells derived from the tumor were positive for vimentin. The left ovary was entirely replaced by a neoplastic growth showing insular and follicular patterns, and the neoplastic cell clusters with some inter cellular spaces were separated by connective tissue septa. The tumor cells were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin and CEA.

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