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Biomedical subjects

A I Wright

Publications and source records attributed to A I Wright.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Prevalence of chlamydia, toxoplasma, toxocara and ringworm in farm cats in south-west England.

The prevalence of infection with Chlamydia psittaci, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocara cati and Microsporum canis was examined in 51 cats on 22 sheep farms in the Bristol area. Serum antibody to C psittaci and T gondii was present in 45 per cent and 47 per cent of cats, respectively. At the time of sampling C psittaci was isolated from 6 per cent of the cats, T cati was identified in 63 per cent of faecal samples but neither T gondii nor M canis was isolated. When examined according to the farm of origin, 22.7 per cent of farms had cat populations with no evidence of infection with C psittaci or T gondii. Of the remainder, 45.5 per cent supported cat populations with evidence of both infections and 31.8 per cent had evidence of T gondii infection alone. None of the farms had cat populations with evidence of C psittaci infection alone. Two of the cats infected with C psittaci were excreting viable organisms in the faeces. The possible significance of this to the epidemiology of ovine enzootic abortion is discussed.

Animals

Parasitic laryngeal papillomatosis in a horse.

Papillomatous lesions intruding into the laryngeal airway were identified in an imported polo pony during a routine neurological examination for partial quadriplegia. Histological examination established a diagnosis of laryngeal besnoitiosis but it is unlikely that the laryngeal parasitism was associated with the cerebellar neuropathy which was also present.

Animals

Glycosaminoglycans in the touch corpuscle of the dog.

Alcian Blue staining of the touch corpuscle of dog skin indicates that glycosaminoglycans are present as globular masses in some of the basal cells and are also seen in high concentration in the connective tissue core. The function of these basal cells is not clear but they may be responsible for the production of the large amount of glycosaminoglycan present in the underlying dermis.

Alcian Blue

Deformed kittens.

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Abnormalities, Drug-Induced

An investigation into the aetiology of 'wool slip': alopecia in ewes which are housed and shorn in winter.

Alopecia in housed ewes which are shorn in winter, 'wool slip', was investigated by taking wool and blood samples, skin scrapings and biopsies from affected and unaffected animals. Epidemiological information was also obtained from farm records, and reports from a local weather station. No pathological lesions were seen and no ectoparasites or forage mites were seen in wool samples or skin scrapings. The plasma zinc and copper concentrations of both groups were within the normal range but the copper concentrations were significantly lower in the unaffected animals. There was no difference between the prevalence of the disease in ewes of different breeds or between those producing single or twin lambs. A comparison of the mean temperatures during years of summer and winter shearing suggested that cold stress alone was not involved. Skin biopsies revealed that the wool follicles of affected animals were in an early growth phase (anagen) whereas those of unaffected animals were in the inactive phase (telogen). The clinical and histological signs of the disease were similar to those seen experimentally when corticosteroids are used as chemical depilatory agents. It is suggested that wool slip is due to the high levels of corticosteroids which occur as a result of the combination of housing and shearing and on this basis methods of control are proposed.

Alopecia