Causes of diarrhea, pneumonia, and abortion in 1991 cattle submissions to the KSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Causes of diarrhea, pneumonia, and abortion in Kansas cattle submissions to the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory during 1991 were summarized. Antimicrobial susceptibility results for Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Hemophilus somnus, and Salmonella spp., the common causes of pneumonia and/or diarrhea in cattle with increasing antibiotic resistance patterns, were also summarized. The most commonly diagnosed causes of diarrhea in young calves (under 1 month of age) were coronavirus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. The three most common causes of diarrhea in 1 to 18 month-old cattle were BVD virus, coccidia, and Salmonella. Most respiratory submissions were 7- to 18-month-old cattle. P. haemolytica and P. multocida were the most commonly identified pathogens from these cattle. In 20% of the cases, more than one pathogen was identified. The most commonly diagnosed cause of abortion was bacterial infection (20%), but a cause was not identified in nearly 70% of abortion submissions

Causes of diarrhea, pneumonia, and septicemia in swine for 1991 submissions to the KSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Causes of pre- and postweaning diarrhea, pneumonia, and bacterial septicemia in pigs were summarized for fiscal year 1991 (July, 1990 to June, 1991) for submissions to the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Escherichia coli was the most common cause of both pre- and postweaning diarrhea in pigs (33.5% and 25.0%, respectively, of submissions for diarrhea). Other commonly diagnosed causes included transmissible gastroenteritis (24.4%) and coccidiosis (16.5%) for preweaning diarrhea, and proliferative enteritis (19.2 %) and salmonellosis (13.2 %) for postweaning diarrhea. The most commonly diagnosed causes of pneumonia in nursing, growing, and finishing pigs were Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma, and Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae. Streptococcus and Salmonella were common causes of bacterial septicemia in Kansas pigs

Non-invasive Investigations for the Diagnosis of Fontan-Associated Liver Disease in Pediatric and Adult Fontan Patients

Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) is a serious complication related to the chronically elevated venous pressure and low cardiac output of this abnormal circulation. However, diagnostic markers for this condition are limited. We hypothesized that specific tests for fibrosis developed for other chronic liver diseases would identify a higher prevalence of FALD than ultrasound and standard laboratory tests and that identified abnormalities would correlate with time post-Fontan. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed 19 children (average age 8.4 ± 4.3 and 5.4 ± 4.1 years post-Fontan) and 8 adults (average age 31.5 ± 8.9 and 21.1 ± 4 years post-Fontan) using standard serum laboratory investigations assessing hepatic integrity and function, the FibroTest, liver ultrasound, and transient elastography (FibroScan). In adult Fontan patients, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly increased, and white blood cell and platelet counts were significantly decreased in comparison to the pediatric cohort. International normalized ratio was mildly elevated in both children and adults. FibroTest results were suggestive of fibrosis regardless of time post-Fontan. FibroScan measurements were significantly correlated with time post-Fontan, but the incidence of ultrasound-detected liver abnormalities was variable. No cases of hepatocellular carcinoma were identified. Abnormalities suggestive of FALD occur in both children and adults post-Fontan. Select laboratory tests, and possibly ultrasound and FibroScan in some patients, appear to have the most promise for the non-invasive detection of FALD