Determination of plasma and skin concentrations of orbifloxacin in dogs with clinically normal skin and dogs with pyoderma

Plasma and skin concentrations of orbifloxacin (Orbax tablets, Schering-Plough Animal Health) were assessed in 14 clinically normal dogs and 14 dogs with pyoderma following oral administration of the drug at 7.5 mg/kg once daily for 5 to 7 days. Skin biopsies and whole blood samples were obtained before dosing and at the time of the expected maximum concentration in skin (3 hours after dosing) on the first and on the fifth to seventh day of dosing. Skin biopsies and plasma were analyzed for orbifloxacin concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Dogs with pyoderma had significantly higher mean skin concentrations of orbifloxacin within 3 hours of administration (Day 0: 7.80 +/- 3.40 mcg/g, Days 4 to 6: 9.47 +/- 6.23 mcg/g) than did dogs with normal skin (Day 0: 3.85 +/- 1.08 mcg/g, Days 4 to 6: 5.43 +/- 1.02 mcg/g). After dosing on Day 0 and after five to seven daily treatments, dogs with pyoderma had significantly higher mean orbifloxacin skin:plasma ratios (1.40 and 1.44, respectively) than did clinically normal dogs (0.81 and 0.96, respectively). The accumulation of orbifloxacin in diseased skin may contribute to the efficacy of this compound for the treatment of bacterial skin infections.     

Free skin grafting for treatment of distal limb skin defects in cats

The technique and results of free skin grafts have been described in dogs, horses, rabbits, goats and mice. The procedure in cats is, however, described only indirectly in papers relating to dogs. A standard technique has been developed by the authors for use in cats, and is reported for 17 grafts in 16 cats with traumatic injury to the legs resulting in large areas of skin loss. This paper describes the preparation of the wound for grafting, the harvesting of the graft, graft placement, postoperative care and the results of the application of this technique. The success rate in this series of cases was high. This was attributed to proper preparation of the recipient site, collection of the graft and postoperative bandaging. The results suggest that the success rate of free skin grafts in cats is considerably higher than that achieved by the present authors in dogs, and reported for dogs by other surgeons in the literature.     

Screening for skin carriage of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus schleiferi in dogs with healthy and inflamed skin

Methicillin resistance rates of 41% for Staphylococcus aureus, 16% for S. intermedius, and 40% for S. schleiferi have recently been reported in canine patients. These were deemed to be reflective of referral and clinician-selection biases, which would imply significantly lower methicillin-resistant staphylococcal carriage rates in less-biased canine populations. In this study, swabs for bacterial culture were collected from five cutaneous sites on each of 50 healthy dogs and 59 dogs with inflammatory skin disease to determine prevalence of carriage and relative frequency of methicillin resistance in coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi. These were identified morphologically and by Gram's staining, catalase and coagulase testing, and biochemical speciation. Coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi were isolated from 88% (52 of 59) of affected dogs. Species identified in the culture-positive dogs were: S. aureus in 12%, S. intermedius (92%), S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi (10%), and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (10%) with methicillin resistance rates of 17%, 8%, 20% and 20%, respectively. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 74% (37 of 50) of healthy dogs: S. aureus (16%), S. intermedius (92%) and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (5%). Methicillin resistance rates were 0%, 3% and 50%, respectively. Of total methicillin-resistant isolates, 11 of 13 were positive for PBP2a via latex agglutination. Methicillin-resistant S. intermedius and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi isolates were all positive for the mecA gene via PCR. There was no significant difference in staphylococcal isolation or methicillin resistance between study groups. While present, methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci are significantly less common in these less-biased populations than in the clinical isolates previously reported from this institution which provided the impetus for this study.     

Virus in sheep's skin

In a double sense, the ovine gamma herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) is a virus in sheep's skin. Not only is it present world wide in all sheep breeds but also it causes malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in cattle pigs, elk, and bison. OvHV-2 cannot be propagated in cell culture. Therefore, new results from OvHV-2 research are based on molecular techniques and may be summarized as follows. OvHV-2 is transmitted by respiratory routes as well as by sexual intercourse. Lambs are infected within the first few months of life. Leucocytes, primarily latently infected lymphocytes, are responsible for disseminating the virus over the entire organism. On rare occasions, virus particles could be visualized by electron microscopy in explanted lymphocyte cultures. Structural antigens were detected by immunohistology in M-cells of diseased rabbits. Immunologically and cell biologically active genes have been detected on the viral genome.The products arising from those are thought to fine balance, the number of latently infected cells in sheep and to keep them alive without causing harm. Thus, it seems that this balance has been found through co-evolution, favoring both virus and natural host. In contrast, other host species that were exclude from the process of co-evolution, are bound to fall from MCF.     

Gamithromycin plasma and skin pharmacokinetics in sheep

This study assessed the plasma kinetics and skin/plasma concentration ratio of the azalide antibiotic gamithromycin (ZACTRAN^®, Merial) in sheep after a single subcutaneous administration at 6 mg/kg bodyweight. Gamithromycin concentrations in plasma samples collected at various intervals up to 21 days following treatment and metacarpal skin obtained from animals at two, five and ten days after treatment were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry methods.     

Wound healing in skin

Wound healing in mammals occurs by a process of regeneration and scar tissue production. In particular, epithelium has marked regenerative capacity. Healing is an active process from the moment the wound is inflicted--a "lag" phase does not exist. In surgery the important factors affecting wound healing are protein deficiency, uremia, corticosteroids, and local tissue injury. Stimulants to wound healing are not available for clinical application.     

Effect of skin graft preparation and graft survival on the secondary contraction of full-thickness skin grafts in dogs

The effects of 4 skin grafting techniques and graft survival on the secondary contraction of full-thickness skin grafts were evaluated. A total of 48 skin grafts were done on 12 dogs, with 2 skin grafts placed on both sides of the thorax of each dog. The grafting techniques included the sheet graft, sheet graft with continuous low-level suction provided by a butterfly catheter and evacuated glass tube, pie-crust graft, and nonexpanded mesh graft. Graft viability was assessed by visual inspection 10 days after surgical operation. Thirty skin grafts (64%) had a viability of 90% or greater. The final area of these grafts ranged from 73% to 119% of the original area. The secondary graft contraction followed a similar pattern for all graft types. During the first 10 days after surgical operation, the grafts contracted to 83% of their original area. Enlargement of the grafts began between 10 and 21 days after surgical operation. By 12 weeks, the grafts had attained a mean value of 96% of the original area. A significant difference in final area was not observed among graft types. Grafts with a high percentage of viability generally contracted less than those with larger areas of necrosis, but statistical relationship between viability and degree of contraction could not be proven. The results of the present study indicate that full-thickness skin grafts may be successfully done in dogs and that the grafts can be expected to undergo minimal postoperative contraction when graft survival is nearly complete.     

马皮肤成纤维细胞的分离与体外培养

研究用小组织块直接培养法和酶消化法成功地分离了马皮肤成纤维细胞,并对其进行了体外培养,同时筛选出消化马皮肤组织块的适宜酶及酶浓度,获得了马皮肤成纤维细胞的生长曲线,并发现至少在传至第12代时有81.3%的染色体还保持正常的倍数(2n=64)。     

犬常见皮肤病的日常诊护

犬皮肤病是犬临床诊治中常见病之一。犬因品种、年龄、个体、营养、生活环境等不同而引起的皮肤病有很大的差异。本文就几种常见的犬皮肤病的不同的临床症状进行了简要综述,旨在给饲养者提供一些早期的、简单的鉴别及诊断,能尽快做出相应的预防和护理措施,并及时就诊。     

仔猪油皮病的预防与治疗

仔猪油皮病即仔猪渗出性皮炎,病原是葡萄球菌,多见于5～6日龄哺乳仔猪、育成猪和母猪乳房.本病可通过各种途径传染,损伤的皮肤黏膜是主要的入侵门户.严重病例死亡率可达60%以上.本病在仔猪中呈低发病率,以散发性为主,也可引起一些猪群仔猪流行性发作.     

Pathology of skin diseases in crocodiles

Objective To establish which skin diseases occur in crocodiles, particularly those on farms, to indicate the relative frequency of each particular disease and to provide information on pathogenesis, especially in regard to lesions with two or more pathogens present.
Design A gross and microscopic retrospective (period of 1989 to 1995) and current (1996 to 1997) examination of skin lesions in crocodiles in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Result Skin lesions were obtained from crocodiles on nine farms, from a group of experimental animals and from one adult found dead in the wild. A total of 203 lesions from 180, mostly young, crocodiles was examined; 119 lesions were from retrospectively examined cases and 84 were recent. The relative frequencies of four presumed primary pathogens in lesions were Dermatophilus s p 28.1 %, fungi 14.8%, poxvirus 3.4% and probable Mycobacterium s p 2.5%. In addition, other bacteria of unknown significance were present in many lesions, and there was one case of presumed Paratrichosoma crocodilus infection. In 32.5% of lesions, multiple pathogens were identified.
Conclusion Dermatophilosis is the most common and probably the most important skin disease of crocodiles in Australia, but it is frequently complicated by concurrent infection with fungi or other microorganisms.     

牛皮肤霉菌病的诊断与防制

皮肤霉菌病是由多种皮肤霉菌引起的畜禽及人的毛发、羽毛、皮肤、指（趾）甲、爪和蹄等角质化组织的损害，形成癣斑，表现为脱毛、脱屑、渗出、痂块及痒感等症状，俗称“钱癣”。牛皮肤霉菌病多发生于冬、春季节，尤其在1～4月份发病较多。     

Distant abdominal and thoracic pedicle skin flaps for treatment of distal limb skin defects

The treatment of large skin defects of the distal limbs of dogs and cats can be difficult due to the lack of skin available for primary wound closure or the creation of local skin flaps. Distant pedicle skin flaps provide an acceptable alternative for wound closure with full thickness skin and provide a cosmetic result. Fourteen animals (10 dogs and four cats) that had distant pedicle skin flaps are reviewed. The technique allowed 100 per cent wound coverage in 10 of 14 animals and greater than 95 per cent skin flap survival occurred in 12 of 14 animals. Complications associated with the procedure were most commonly wound infection and partial suture line dehiscence, however these did not detract from the final outcome. Flap release was in one or two stages, however the outcomes did not appear to be affected by the release protocol.