370 SHUPE
of each case, careful consideration was given to the animal's existing clinical
symptoms and its past history of systemic disorders or infectious diseases. Practi-
cally all animals were clinically observed and examined before necropsies were
done. The joints and tissues from all animals were subjected to gross and micros-
copic studies and evaluations. All sections taken were X-rayed before being
prepared for macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Longitudinal and
transverse sections of articular and sub-chondral bone were taken for evaluation
and study. The specimens were fixed in 10% neutral formalin. Routine decalcify-
ing, embedding, and staining procedures were used to prepare sections for
microscopic evaluation. Hand-ground macerated sections of bone were prepared
and examined grossly and histologically.
ANAMNESIS AND SYMPTOMS
The inflammatory group of arthritic disorders can be attributed to a number
of known causes. Specific infective agents such as Brucella abortus, Erysipelas
spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., PPLO, and Pneumococcus spp.
have been isolated from infected joints. These infectious agents can localize in
joints and elicit typical inflammatory reactions (3). In severe cases they may
even be part of a more generalized septicemia. Such acute or subacute processes
localize mainly in the periarticular tissue and hence primarily involve the capsule
of the joint. Later stages may develop into more degenerative conditions which
go under the name of osteoarthritis.
The clinical diagnosis presents few difficulties to anyone familiar with the
syndromes of diseases of the joints (2). A complete history of the case when
combined with clinical findings helps in making a differential diagnosis. In
addition, when distinguishing between inflammatory and degenerative arthritis,
one should realize that a spastic paresis of the hind limbs can be confused with
the more mechanical impairments of the joint which are seen in arthritis.
~ ~ .1I|{lSlowprogressivelamenessesinvolvingthelarger,freelymovable,weight-
bearing joints of cattle over five years of age appear to be the most constant signs
associated with degenerative arthrosis. The condition is rarely limited to one
joint or limb (6). A prominent sign is pain on moving and standing which is
relieved when the animal is recumbent (fig. 1). Signs such as elevated body
Figure 1. Eight-year-old Guernsey cow depicting abnormal stance resulting from
an advanced case of degenerative arthritis.