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Biomedical subjects

H N Erb

Publications and source records attributed to H N Erb.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Diagnostic value of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities in hepatobiliary disease in the cat.

The diagnostic value of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the detection of liver disease in the cat (n = 69) was compared. On the basis of histologic examination of the liver, cats were assigned to 8 groups: group 1--complete extrahepatic bile duct obstruction (n = 5), group 2--cholangiohepatitis-cholangitis syndrome (n = 11), group 3--hepatic lipidosis (n = 15), group 4--neoplasia, including lymphosarcoma and myeloproliferative disease (n = 9), group 5--hepatic necrosis (n = 7), group 6--cirrhosis (n = 3), group 7--portosystemic vascular anomaly (n = 4), and group 8--miscellaneous (n = 15). Cats assigned to group 8 lacked substantial histologic abnormalities of the liver. The mean value +/- SD of GGT in 20 clinically normal cats was 0.44 +/- 0.26 IU/L. The highest GGT activity in clinical patients developed in groups 1, 2, and 6. The highest ALP activity developed in groups 1 to 4. Significant correlations between GGT and ALP activities were detected only in groups 2 (P less than 0.001) and 5 (P less than 0.10). Among 54 cats with hepatic disease, only 11% had both the GGT and ALP activities within the normal ranges. Comparatively, 52% had ALP activities within the normal range, and 17% had GGT activities within the normal range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1986

Gastric rupture in horses: a review of 54 cases.

The historical, clinical, laboratory, surgical and necropsy findings in 54 cases of gastric rupture in horses are described. Eleven per cent of the deaths of horses undergoing exploratory coeliotomy for colic during the period of the study were a result of gastric rupture. Comparison with all horses which had exploratory coeliotomies for colic over an eight year period did not show that horses with gastric rupture were different from these reference horses regarding age, breed or season. There were fewer stallions than expected in the gastric rupture group. Horses with histories of both acute and chronic (more than 36 h) colic were susceptible to gastric rupture. Primary and idiopathic causes of gastric dilation and rupture accounted for about one-third of the horses. All but one of these cases resulting from secondary causes fell into three aetiologically-related groups: obstructive, peritoneal and enteric, with approximately equal numbers of horses in each group. Most of the ruptures occurred along the greater curvature of the stomach. At least six horses ruptured their stomachs postoperatively in the presence of an indwelling nasogastric tube. The presence or absence of gastric reflux following nasogastric intubation was not a reliable indicator, on its own, of gastric dilation. Horses that later died from gastric rupture had markedly elevated heart rate, hypochloraemia, peritoneal exudative effusion (particularly with evidence of sepsis), pre- and/or postoperative gastric reflux and small or large intestinal disease. However, no distinctive feature of these horses was shown to place them at risk of gastric rupture.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Milk iodine residues in herds practicing iodophor premilking teat disinfection.

The objective was to determine effects of different concentrations of iodophor teat dips on milk iodine residues, when teat dips were used both premilking and postmilking. Eighty cows in each of seven herds were assigned to one of four treatments. Each treatment received postmilking teat dip at .1 or 1% iodophor concentration. Two groups received no premilking dip, and the other two groups received premilking teat dip at the same concentration as the postmilking teat dip. Premilking teat dipping was followed by manual drying of teats. Noniodophor postmilking dips and no premilking inodophor udder sanitizers were used during an 8-d adjustment period. Milk was collected for milk iodine determination from each cow from weigh jars or milk meters at p.m. milkings during the last 3 d of the adjustment period and d 4, 6, and 8 of the treatment period. Premilking and postmilking teat dipping with .1% iodophor dip did not significantly increase milk iodine residue above postmilking teat dipping with .1% iodophor dip alone. However, 1% iodophor postmilking teat dip significantly increased milk iodine residue over use of .1% iodophor dip used as a premilking and postmilking teat dip. Adding a 1% iodophor premilking teat dip significantly increased iodine residues.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Echocardiography, electrocardiography, and radiography of cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and hyperthyroidism.

The echocardiographic, ECG, and radiographic findings of sequentially examined cats with dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 7), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8), and hyperthyroidism (HT, n = 20) were compared with those of healthy control cats (n = 11). Cats with DCM were easily differentiated from healthy cats by echocardiography and from cats with HCM and HT by a dilated left ventricle at end-diastole with a mean +/- SD of 2.20 +/- 0.36 cm, reduced fractional shortening (2.9% +/- 3.7%), reduced aortic amplitude (0.07 +/- 0.05 cm), reduced left ventricular wall amplitude (0.09 +/- 0.09 cm), and increased E-point septal separation (0.83 +/- 0.29 cm). The cats with HCM were most consistently recognized echocardiographically by increased left ventricular wall thickness at end-diastole (0.75 +/- 0.12 cm). Some cats with HT had abnormal echocardiograms with left ventricular wall hypertrophy. These cats could usually be differentiated from the cats with HCM because of normal or increased ventricular wall amplitude, aortic amplitude, or percentage of thickening of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum. Left atrial enlargement (left atrial diameter greater than 1.57 cm or left atrium/aorta greater than 1.75) was commonly detected by the echocardiogram in cats with DCM, HCM, or HT. The echocardiogram was helpful in differentiating the type of cardiomyopathy (DCM, HCM, or HT) when plain thoracic radiographs indicated that cardiomegaly existed. The ECG may have indicated incorrectly that there was left ventricular enlargement in some cats with HT, and it did not indicate consistently that left ventricular enlargement existed when present in cats with DCM or HCM. The ECG was a poor indicator of left atrial enlargement in all cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Parasites of the laboratory woodchuck (Marmota monax).

The parasite burden of captive and colony-born woodchucks maintained in laboratory animal facilities was determined and compared to woodchucks recently trapped. Microfilariae of Ackertia marmotae in blood or dermis were most commonly observed in trapped woodchucks. There was a linear decrease in woodchucks positive for microfilariae after introduction in the laboratory colony, but even after 39 months, 53% were positive. Microfilaremia or microfilariderma were never observed in colony born woodchucks. Eggs or oocysts of Obeliscoides cuniculi, Citellina triradiata and Eimeria sp. were found by fecal flotation. The O. cuniculi population declined exponentially in captive woodchucks following colony entry, and this nematode was never found in colony-born woodchucks. However, low rates of infection with Citellina and Eimeria sp. were found in the colony-born group. Ixodes cookei, Oropsylla sp., and Androlaelaps sp. ectoparasites were observed commonly in recently trapped woodchucks, but were not present in any woodchucks maintained in the colony. Clinical disease associated with parasitic infection was not observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Bile acid concentrations in the diagnosis of hepatobiliary disease in the dog.

The clinical usefulness of measuring serum bile acid concentrations as a diagnostic test for hepatobiliary disease, was examined in 150 dogs that were suspected of having hepatic disease. Serum values of total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), and albumin were also measured. Fasting serum bile acid (FSBA) values were determined, using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for total conjugated bile acids or a direct enzymatic spectrophotometric method. A definitive diagnosis was established by histologic examination of the liver. On the basis of histologic findings, dogs were assigned to groups (1 to 8, respectively) including: extrahepatic bile duct obstruction, cirrhosis, portal systemic vascular anastomosis (PSVA), hepatic necrosis, intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, neoplasia, and secondary disease. Dogs in group 8 had no morphologic evidence of hepatobiliary disease or had mild hepatic lesions. Test efficacies of FSBA, TB, ALP, ALT, and albumin were expressed using 4 indices: sensitivity, specificity, and positive-predictive and negative-predictive values. The diagnostic efficacy of FSBA was examined alone and in combinations with the other tests. There was wide overlapping of FSBA values among dogs in groups 1 to 7, and there was wide overlapping of ALT and ALP values among dogs in all groups. The specificity of FSBA for the diagnosis of liver disease exceeded 90% at values greater than or equal to 30 mumol/L and reached 100% at greater than or equal to 50 mumol/L. Individual liver tests with the best sensitivity for each group were:FSBA and ALP for extrahepatic bile duct obstruction; FSBA for cirrhosis and PSVA; ALT for hepatic necrosis; and ALP for intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, and neoplasia. Combinations of tests with the best sensitivity for each group were: FSBA + ALP for extrahepatic bile duct obstruction; FSBA + ALT for cirrhosis and PSVA; FSBA + ALT and TB + ALT for hepatic necrosis; and FSBA + ALP for intrahepatic cholestasis, steroid hepatopathy, and neoplasia. Individual tests had the best sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Review of idiopathic feline vestibular syndrome in 75 cats.

Idiopathic feline vestibular syndrome, a peripheral vestibular deficit of unknown cause, was diagnosed in 75 cats at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital from July 1975 to October 1984. Review of the medical records of these cats indicated that the syndrome was seen in more cats in July and August (P less than 0.001) than in other months. Clinical signs included head tilt, ataxia, rolling, rotatory or horizontal nystagmus, and occasional vomiting.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Duration of retained fetal membranes and subsequent fertility in dairy cows.

Lactations from 1,111 heifers and 2,493 cows were evaluated for the effects of the duration of retained fetal membranes on subsequent fertility. Cows or heifers with metritis, ovarian cyst, both metritis and cyst, or neither were evaluated in separate strata in order to control for the effects of parity, metritis, and cyst on fertility. Duration of retention had no effect on fertility if an animal had metritis or cyst. There was a suggestion that retained fetal membranes in heifers free of metritis and cyst decreased conception rate at first service. In multiparous cows free of metritis and cyst there was a significant decrease in conception rate at first service when retention exceeded 5 days, and delays of +18 days to 1st service and +57 days to conception when retention exceeded 7 days.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Path analysis of dry period nutrition, postpartum metabolic and reproductive disorders, and mastitis in Holstein cows.

Path analysis and logistic regression were used to model direct and indirect relationships among clinical periparturient (within 30 d after calving) retained placenta, metritis, veterinary-assisted dystocia, uncomplicated and complicated ketosis, left displaced abomasum, parturient paresis, mastitis, and estimated nutrient intakes (protein, calcium, phosphorus, energy; coded into terciles) in the last 3 wk of the dry period. Data were from 1,374 multiparous Holstein lactations for calvings from March 1981 through February 1982 in 31 commercial herds in central New York. Periparturient disorders occurred as a complex. Odds ratios for the multiplicative effects of parturient paresis on incidence of veterinary-assisted dystocia, retained placenta, complicated ketosis, and clinical mastitis were 7.2, 4.0, 23.6, and 5.4, respectively. Reproductive disorders were interrelated. Retained placenta, left displaced abomasum, and parturient paresis directly increased risk of complicated ketosis (odds ratios were 16.4, 53.5, and 23.6, respectively). Higher terciles of estimated energy intake in the last 3 wk of the dry period decreased risk of veterinary-assisted dystocia and left displaced abomasum, while higher terciles of estimated protein intake decreased risk of retained placenta and uncomplicated ketosis. Estimated nutrient intakes were directly related to subsequent metabolic disorders and directly and indirectly related (mediated by metabolic disorders) to reproductive disorders. The study suggests that feeding higher intakes (relative to National Research Council recommendations) of protein and energy in the last 3 week of the dry period may reduce the incidence of metabolic and reproductive disorders. Exact recommendations as to the amounts and types of feed cannot be made from our results.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1985

Path model of reproductive disorders and performance, milk fever, mastitis, milk yield, and culling in Holstein cows.

Path analysis was used to model the direct and indirect relationships among age, previous lactation yield or estimated transmitting ability for milk, body weight, days dry, reproductive disorders, milk fever, mastitis, reproductive performance, current milk yield, and culling. Prospective data were from 784 primiparous and 2,066 multiparous Holstein lactations from 33 herds. Heifers that were older, of lighter weight, or who had lower estimated transmitting ability for milk had more problems, less milk, and poorer survival. Dystocia in heifers had several detrimental consequences including 2.9 to 4 times more retained placenta, metritis, and culling and +7.4 d more to first service. Cystic ovaries were associated directly with 376 kg greater milk yield and with a 16.5-d delay in first service. Failure to conceive at first service and mastitis increased risk of culling 5.2 to 10 times. In multiparous cows, milk fever increased risk of reproductive disorders by 1.6 to 4.2 times and indirectly contributed to poor breeding performance and increased culling. Risk of culling was increased 2.1 to 3.7 times directly by mastitis and dystocia and by poor breeding performance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Base excess as a prognostic and diagnostic indicator in cows with abomasal volvulus or right displacement of the abomasum.

The case records of 102 cows with abomasal volvulus and 71 cows with right-side displacement of the abomasum (RDA) were examined to determine whether the preoperative base-excess concentration of the extracellular fluid could be used both as a prognostic indicator for post-operative recovery in cattle with abomasal volvulus and as an aid in differentiating between abomasal volvulus and RDA. The survival rate of cows with abomasal volvulus decreased as the base excess concentration decreased (P = 0.08); the lowest survival rate was observed in cows with base excess less than or equal to -0.1 mEq/L. There was a significant difference (0.01 less than P less than 0.025) among base excess ranges between abomasal volvulus and RDA. All cows with preoperative base-excess concentrations less than or equal to -5.0 mEq/L had abomasal volvulus, rather than RDA.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1984

Prostaglandin treatment and subsequent cystic ovarian disease in Holstein cows.

Using computerized herd health data, a prospective cohort study was devised to determine whether cows treated with prostaglandins had a higher incidence of cystic ovarian disease than comparable cows not treated. Of 744 cows selected as having diseases for which prostaglandin administration may be indicated, 240 received prostaglandin. Sixteen cows had cystic ovarian disease following prostaglandin administration. Chi-square analysis showed no association (P greater than 0.10) between cystic ovarian disease and the use of prostaglandin. Incidence of cystic ovarian disease within 150 days of calving in clinically normal cows was compared with that of cows with reproductive disorders. Cows with reproductive disorders had a significantly (P less than 0.01) higher incidence of cystic ovarian disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Epidemiology of parturient paresis: predisposing factors with emphasis on dry cow feeding and management.

Dry cow feeding and management were examined for predisposing factors for parturient paresis in 1,983 Holstein cows from New York Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative records, monthly technician visits to 31 farms, and questionnaires. Variables were estimated transmitting ability, season of calving, lactation number, parturient paresis, estimated potential hours per day of exercise, and estimated nutrient intakes (protein, calcium, phosphorus, and energy) during the preceding dry period. Nutrient intakes were estimated by farmers for the average dry cow (season dependent) in their herd for the early (greater than or equal to 3 wk prepartum) and late portions of the dry period. Intakes were percentages of National Research Council requirements for a 550 kg dry cow in the last 2 mo of gestation. Nutrient intakes were coded by ranking the herds by percentage of each requirement. Codes represented the approximate lower third, middle third, and top third of the herds. Individual cows were assigned their herd nutrition codes by their season of calving. For stepwise discriminant analysis, the group variable was parturient paresis (94 cases, 1,889 controls). As lactation number (most important) and estimated transmitting ability (second most important) increased, incidence of parturient paresis increased. Parturient paresis was reduced with high dietary protein fed during the early stage of the dry period, with low phosphorus and high energy (lead feeding) closer to calving, and with decreased opportunity for exercise. Most cows were overfed calcium, especially in the late stage of the dry period, but calcium intake was not important when phosphorus was low.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Rates of diagnosis of six diseases of Holstein cows during 15-day and 21-day intervals.

The lactations of 3,172 Holstein dairy cows were divided into intervals of 15 and 21 days. The numbers of new diagnosis of metritis, cystic ovary, miscellaneous reproductive disorders, mastitis, left displaced abomasum, and milk fever in each interval were counted. The numbers of cows at risk in each interval were also counted. A cow was at risk if she was still milking, in the herd, and a diagnosis had not already been made for that condition in that lactation. A cow was also only at risk of a reproductive diagnosis if she was not pregnant. For each interval, the incidence rate of new diagnosis was calculated by dividing the number of new diagnoses by the number of cows at risk.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1983

Association of parturient hypocalcemia with eight periparturient disorders in Holstein cows.

The association between parturient hypocalcemia and 8 periparturient disorders (dystocia, retained fetal placenta, metritis, left displaced abomasum, foot problems, ketosis, mastitis, and coliform mastitis) was evaluated in 33 Holstein dairy herds (2,190 cows) that calved from March 1981 through February 1982. There were highly significant (P less than 0.0001) associations between parturient hypocalcemia and dystocia, retained fetal placenta, ketosis, and mastitis. The odds ratios (multiplicative increases in occurrence) for these associations were 6.5, 3.2, 8.9, and 8.1, respectively. There was a significantly (P less than 0.03) association between parturient paresis and coliform mastitis (odds ratio, 9.0). There was a tendency for association with left displaced abomasum (odds ratio, 3.4; P less than 0.06).

Abomasum↗
PubMed1983

Cost benefit analysis of lactation therapy with somatic cell counts as indications for treatment.

Lactating dairy cows (487) from five commercial herds were in a study of benefits from lactation therapy of sub-clinical mastitis. Bacterial isolations and composite milk samples for somatic cell counts were taken from each cow each month for 15 mo. Cows (254) in the experimental group were infused with cephapirin in all quarters for two consecutive milkings if somatic cell counts rose above 400,000 cells/ml; 103 cows were so treated. Stepwise regression showed that lactation number, somatic cell counts, days in milk, and percent quarters infected explained variation in milk production, but treatment group, herd, and season did not. Also, there were no significant differences between production of infected experimental and control cows with high somatic cell counts on test dates after treatment. With the experimental program, there was a net loss of +19.65/cow. Intramammary lactation therapy based on somatic cell counts less than 400,000 cells/ml is not recommended.

Animals↗