Pathological and bacteriological examinations were performed on two farm cows, aged seven years, suffering simultaneously from panarteritis and Klebsiella mastitis. Their mastitis had been treated with ampicillin, cloxacillin, and cefazolin. The affected udder quarters were swollen and indurated. There were several necrotic lesions on the cut surfaces. In histological terms, panarteritis in various stages was detected in small and medium arteries throughout the bodies of both animals. In one animal, IgM antigens were present in some affected arterial walls. Mastitis was characterized by extensive coagulative necrosis with edema and fibrin thrombi in the interstitial tissues and by fibrinopurulent inflammation in the mammary ducts in and around the necrotic lesions. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in pure culture from udder lesions in both animals.

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In June 2003, at an equestrian club in Ishikawa Prefecture, euthanasia was performed on a 10-year-old thoroughbred gelding demonstrating lassitude, fever, ataxia, and a tendency to fall. Necropsy revealed 2 granulomatous masses (5×5×3cm) in the right kidney. They were firm, gray, and partially fused. Microscopic evaluation revealed multifocal granulomatous nephritis with nematodes, a condition compatible with Malicephahbus gingivalis. Similar lesions were seen in the brain and superficial cervical lymph nodes as well. This is the third case report of Halicephalobus infection in Japan. Because the second of the incidents occurred at the same equestrian club in March 2000, the morphology of the nematodes in the case reported on here were compared with that of nematodes obtained from local soil samples. The numerous nematodes manifested various shapes: some corresponded to renal nematodes. Their number in the soil suggested that free-living environmental nematodes could be a potential source of equine Halicephalobus infection.

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Eighteen dogs with demodicosis including 7 puppyhood-onset and 11 adult-onset were examined on subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes by flow cytometric analysis and serum protein by electrophoresis. No significant differences were observed between the puppyhood-onset and the adult-onset groups in the ratio of the CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte (CD4/CD8). However, in adult-onset animals, except 4 dogs suspected of steroid-onset, the ratio was significantly lower than those in normal and puppyhood-onset dogs. Treatment for demodicosis did not alter the CD4/CD8 ratio. Before treatment, values of serum protein, gamma globulin, and beta globulin were higher in dogs with demodicosis than those in normal dogs. These levels decreased after treatment. These data suggest that in dogs with demodicosis showing a low CD4/CD8 ratio, the disease is refractory.

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An immunochromatography test kit for detecting theHelicobacter pyloriantiboby was used to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter infection in dogs. Of 100 dogs in Shizuoka area, 79 (79%) were seropositive. The prevalence in young dogs bellow 6 months, those between 6 months and 1 year, and those more than 1 year, were 20, 75 and 85%, respectively. Clinical and housing conditions were not related to the ratio of seropositive animals. The same samples were tested using a latex agglutination test and resulted in a lower ratio than the immunochromatography test. Samples from three other areas in Japan including Miyagi, Tokyo and Kumamoto revealed that more than 70% of dogs were seropositive.

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Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) was diagnosed in a mixed-breed cat which had insulinresistant diabetes and skin fragility. Though the cat died 469 days after the diagnosis, serum cortisol concentration and diabetes were improved by trial administration of either metyrapone or mitotane. It was suggested that use of metyrapone or mitotane should be considered as an option of therapy for PDH in cats.

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A helminthological survey revealed the following helminths in waterfowl in Kanagawa Prefecture. Trematodes: Clinostomum complanatum, Metagonimus yokogawai, Aphargostrigea ardeolina, Echinostoma fulicae, E. miyagawai, Echinophariphium recurvatum, Posilorchis seekhphari, Cotylurus flabelliformis, C. japonicus, Apatemon faligula, A. gracilis, Tracheophilus sisowi, Trichobilharzia brevis, Notocotylus pacifer, Cercarioides aharonii, Aephallus sp., Ophiosoma sp., Pegosomum sp., Tracheophilus sp., Nematodes: Porrocaecum angusticolle, P.reticulatum, Contracaecum rudolphi, C. microcephalium, Synhimantus groffi, S. invaginatus, Mirotetrameres sp., Cestodes: Tetrabothrius cylindraceus, Liga sp., and Ancanthocepha: Centrorhynchus elongates, porrorchis elongatus. Among the observed parasites, only M. yokogawai, T. brevis, E. recurvatum, and C. complanatum were implicated as zoonotic.

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