No abstract

W t h 9jigum.r (Received forpubhationJanua3, 17, 1996) s-aiy Oleander poisoning has been reported in man and animals. The present experiments address the gross and microscopic changes due to oleander poisoning in cattle. Minimum lethal doses (50 mg&) of oleander leaves were orally administered to three calves in a single dose and each of the other three animals received the same lethal dose in three equal parts with 24-h intervals. The lesions in the three animals which received 50 mg/kg in a single dose resulted from the direct effect of the toxin on the vascular endothelial bed and demonstrated as petechial and diffused haemorrhages, congestion, oedema, cell degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs, heart, mesentry, kidneys, serosal and mucosal surfaces of omasum, abomasum and the intestine. The lungs also showed atelectasis, emphysema and disseminated intravascular coagulation. On the other hand, the animals which received divided doses showed lesions due to long-term exposure to the toxic agent and/or as the result of tissue ischaemia. The lungs also showed cell necrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration in the interstitial tissue, and some of the cardiac muscle fibres rather showed fibromyolysis and cell infiltration between muscle fibres, epicardium and endocardium. The intestinal villi showed haemorrhagic, degenerative and necrotic changes and the eosinophils were infiltrated in mucosal and submucosal layers of this organ. Multifocal degenerative and necrotic changes with inflammatory ceU infiltration were also present in the liver parenchyma.

Forty-three adult one-humped Iranian camels (Camelus dmmehriur) were studied to determine their physical, cellular and biochemical parameters of synovial fluid and blood. All the animals were clinically normal with no clinical signs of locomotion problem. Synovial fluid samples were taken from both elbow joints, and blood samples were also obtained from the jugular vein immediately prior to arthrocentesis. The synovial fluid appeared pale, creamy, and clear with no debris. No clot formation was observed at room temperature. Mucin clot test in all samples was normal. The percentage of neutrophils and eosinophds in the synovial fluid was lower than that in blood (P < 0.05). In contrast, the percentage of lymphocytes and monocytes in the synovial fluid was higher than that in blood (P < 0.05). The concentration of protein, glucose, uric acid, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and the activities of AST, ALT, ALP, CK and LDH was higher in the serum than in the synovial fluid (P < 0.05). Nonetheless, the concentration of chloride in the synovial fluid was higher than in the serum (P < 0.05). The concentration of urea nitrogen in the synovial fluid was similar to that of the serum. Comparing the values of the synovial fluid constituents of the left and the right elbow joint showed that there was no significant difference in any of the physical, cellular and biochemical parameters. No significant difference was found in any of the cellular and biochemical parameters of male and female camels' blood except in red blood cell counts, which was lower in females than males. Comparing the values of the synovial fluid of male and female camels showed that there was no significant difference in any of the physical, cellular and biochemical parameters.

SUMMARY The paper describes a case of dissecting aortic aneurysm which had ruptured into the left pulmonary artery. The horse presented with atrial fibrillation and peripheral oedema. The condition is compared with reports of a similar syndrome in man. RÉSUMÉ L'auteur décrit un cas de formation puis de rupture d'anéurysme aortique dans l'artère pulmonaire gauche. Le cheval montrait une fibrillation auriculaire et un oedème periphérique. Ce cas est comparéà des cas semblables rapportés chez l'homme. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dieser Artikel beschreibt einen Fall von Aneurysma dissecans der Aorta, das in die linke Pulmonalarterie hinein rupturierte. Das Pferd wies Vorhofflattern und periphere Oedeme auf. Der Zustand wird verglichen mit Berichten über ein ähnliches Syndrom beim Menschen.

SUMMARY The paper describes changes observed in the T wave and T vectorcardiogram in horses after various periods of exercise. Using radiotelemetry and a bipole lead all horses showed negative T waves immediately after exercise. In some of them this was followed by a markedly positive T deflection. Possible reasons for these changes are briefly discussed. RÉSUMÉ Cet article décrit les variations de l'onde T tant pour l'ECG que pour le vectocardiograme, sur des chevaux soumis à divers efforts. En utilisant la radiotélémetrie et une dérivation bipolaire, on constata que tous les chevaux montraient une onde T Négative immédiatement après exercice. Chez quelques animaux une déflection T positive faisait suite à cette onde négative. Une interprétation de ces phénomènes est donnée. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Arbeit beschreibt Veränderungen der T‐Zacke und des T‐Vektorkardiogramms beim Pferd nach unter‐schiedlich harter, körperlicher Arbeit. Mit Radiotelemetrie und einer bipolaren Ableitung zeigten alle Pferde eine negative T‐Zacke kurz nach Anstrengung. Bei einigen Tieren schloss sich dann eine Phase mit deutlich positiver T‐Zacke an. Die möglichen Ursachen für diese Veränderungen werden kurz diskutiert.