Tonographic effects of pilocarpine and pilocarpineepinephrine in dogs

Topical pilocarpine (1·0, 2·0 and 4·0 per cent) and 2·0 per cent pilocarpine plus 1·0 per cent epinephrine markedly increased conventional aqueous humour outflow, as measured by noninvasive tonography, in both normal beagles and beagles with inherited glaucoma. Pilocarpine in normal eyes increased the coefficient of outflow from 0·33 μl/min/mmHg (pre-drug) to 0·55 μl/min/mmHg (1·0 per cent), 0·57 μl/min/mmHg (2·0 per cent), and 0·61 μl/min/mmHg (4·0 per cent). In beagles with inherited glaucoma, topical pilocarpine increased the coefficient of outflow from 0·15 μl/min/mmHg (pre-drug) to 0·24 μl/min/mmHg (1·0 per cent), 0·21 μl/min/mrnHg (2·0 per cent) and 0·38 μl/min/mmHg (4·0 per cent). The 2·0 per cent pilocarpine plus 1·0 per cent epinephrine solution in normal eyes increased the coefficient of outflow from 0·27 μl/min/mmHg to 0·36 μl/min/mmHg. In the glaucomatous eyes the 2 per cent pilocarpine plus 1 per cent epinephrine combination increased the coefficient outflow from 0·20 μl/min/mmHg to 0·30 μl/min/mmHg.     

Comparison of measurements of 18 analytes in canine and feline blood samples using the in-practice Falcor 350 and the reference KoneLab 30i analysers

Objectives : Falcor 350 (A. Menarini Diagnostics) is a wet‐reagent biochemistry analyser that is available for in‐house use. The aim of this study was to compare the results produced by this analyser with those obtained by a wet‐reagent analyser (KoneLab 30i; Thermo Clinical Labsystems) that served as the reference instrument. Methods : Blood samples from 120 clinical cases (60 dogs and 60 cats) were analysed for 18 analytes (urea, creatinine, total proteins, albumin, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, amylase, lipase, glucose, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, total calcium, phosphate, sodium and potassium) using both the reference and Falcor instruments. Results : Good to excellent correlations (r_s value) (canine/feline) were identified for urea (0·87/0·86), creatinine (0·96/0·99), total proteins (0·91/0·95), albumin (0·96/0·93), creatine kinase (0·98/0·99), aspartate aminotransferase (0·95/0·98), alanine aminotransferase (0·99/0·99), alkaline phosphatase (0·99/0·98), total bilirubin in dogs (0·88), amylase (0·99/0·87), lipase in dogs (0·88), glucose (0·97/0·98), triacylglycerol (0·93/0·97), cholesterol (0·99/0·99), total calcium (0·88/0·89), phosphate (0·94/0·97) and potassium (0·96/0·97). The correlations for sodium (0·41/0·61), total bilirubin in cats (0·78) and lipase in cats (0·25) were considered unacceptable. Clinical Significance : For 13 of the 18 analytes (creatinine, total proteins, albumin, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase, glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, phosphate, potassium and urea) in both canine and feline samples, the two instruments produce values that are closely related to each other (excellent correlation) and are sufficiently similar to allow them to be used interchangeably without the need for additional correction factor computations (good agreement). Because of differences in the methodologies, the Falcor results for alkaline phosphatase, total calcium, sodium, lipase and total bilirubin cannot be used interchangeably with those generated by the KoneLab and should be interpreted using reference intervals established from the Falcor analyser.     

In this issue – October 2011

AVA Policies · Unilateral uterine torsion in a bitch · Q fever in dogs in Townsville · Purchase price and racing performance of Thoroughbred yearlings · Review of genetic neurological defects in cattle · Bovine salmonellosis and antibiotic sensitivity · Chlamydial load and infectious disease in koalas · History of endemic disease regulation in Australia     

In this issue – April 2012

Financial effect of bovine Johne's disease · Detection of rotavirus and coronavirus in calf faeces · Canine vector‐borne diseases · Parvovirus in the bone marrow of cats · Toxoplasmosis in flying foxes · Poxvirus infection in common ringtails · Inferior alveolar nerve blocks in horses · Chewing disease in grazing horses     

In this issue – November 2010

Management and preventive health care in aged horses · Echocardiographs in healthy Thoroughbred foals · Surgical stapling technique for caecal impaction in horses · MRI of the second phalanx in horses · Radiotransmitters in snakes · Nasotracheal intubation of a kangaroo · Avian tracheal resection and anastomosis · Nasal bot fly in a cat · First report of Cryptosporidium andersoni in Australian cattle     

In this issue – November 2011

H1N1 influenza in pigs in Australia · Postnatal neurogenetic disorders · Deltamethrin collar for paralysis ticks in dogs · Myocardial laceration from sewing needle · Physiotherapy for tetanus in a foal · Morbillivirus in a bottle‐nosed dolphin · Sarcoptic manage in a swamp wallaby · Psychological health of veterinarians in Australia · History of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists     

SCIENTIFIC AND CLINICAL: In this issue – September 2010

Agricultural shows and communicable disease transmission in poultry · Capsule endoscopy in horse small intestine · Acute lameness from a bone metastasis in a horse · Tidal breathing flow volume loop in dogs with tracheal masses · Intracranial meningioma and facial myokymia in a dog · Caudal epidural flank anaesthesia using multiport catheters in cattle · Needle-free vaccination in sheep · Smoking vets in Australia     

Pharmacokinetic analysis of cefquinome in healthy chickens

1. The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome (CEQ) in chickens was determined after intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administration of 2?mg/kg body weight. Plasma concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography assay with an ultraviolet detector at 265?nm wavelength.

2. Plasma concentration–time data after IV administration were best fitted by a two-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters following IV injection were distribution half-life 0·43?±?0·19?h, elimination half-life 1·29?±?0·10?h, total body clearance 0·35?±?0·04?l/kg/h, area under curve 5·33?±?0·55?µg/h/ml and volume of distribution at steady state 0·49?±?0·05?l/kg.

3. Plasma concentration–time data after IM administration were best described by a two-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters after IM administration were absorption half-life 0·07?±?0·02?h, distribution half-life 0·58?±?0·27?h, elimination half-life 1·35?±?0·20?h, peak concentration 3·04?±?0·71?µg/ml and bioavailability 95·81?±?5·81%.

4. Cefquinome kinetics in chicken and data from other species were summarised and analysed to provide a comprehensive understanding of CEQ pharmacokinetics.     

IN THIS ISSUE – August

Seroconversion to avian influenza virus in chickens in Victoria · Feeding of prohibited swill to pigs in Australia · Long distance dispersal of vectors for bovine ephemeral fever · Risk of poisoning from sorghum infected with ergot · Effects on bovine embryos of oxidative stress in sperm · Muscle strain injuries of the hindlimb in eight horses · T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon in foal · Zolpidem poisoning in a cat · Cutaneous trombidiosis in a Lesueur's tree frog     

In this issue – December 2011

Overview of the Australian sheep industry · The first incisor eruption in Angora goats · Hepatitis E in pigs in New Caledonia · Thromboelastography in neonatal foals · Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in dogs · Harmonic scalpel for soft palate surgery in dogs · Fungal dermatitis in coastal bearded dragons · Osteosarcoma in a python     

In this issue – May 2010

Flea-associated infectious agents in cats in Eastern Australia · Complications of barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres · Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses · GPS tracking collars to monitor horses · Correction of vesicovaginal reflux in mares · Antibodies to Lawsonia intracellularis in Australian pig herds · Mucormycosis in the platypus · Panniculitis from Mycobacterium mageritense in a Tasmanian devil     

In this issue – March 2011

Wound healing after breech flystrike control methods in lambs · Resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in buffalo flies · Auditory function in older horses · Cutaneous asthenia in a foal · Avian trichomoniasis in an Australian avian practice · Infectious laryngotracheitis in poultry in Australia · Hepatotoxicosis in dogs eating contaminated camel meat · Pulmonary aspergillosis in a cat     

In this issue – December 2010

Aged horses in Queensland · Pressor therapy in neonatal foals · Fluoroscopic stents for feline urethral obstruction · Intradermal sodium lauryl sulfate as an alternative to mulesing in lambs · Monepantel faecal residues and dung fauna · Surgical spaying in yearling Brahman heifers · Anthelmintic resistance in cattle nematodes     

Food of the Black-Backed Jackal: A Preliminary Report

A study was made of the food habits of the black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas by analysis of stomach contents. Two hundred and one stomachs were collected between May 1961 and May 1963, most being obtained in the Transvaal. Percentage occurrence and percentage by volume were calculated for the various foods found in 185 stomachs. Vegetable food (excluding grass) occurred in 18 · 9 per cent of the stomachs, vertebrates in 84 · 9 per cent and invertebrates in 47 · 6 per cent. The most frequent food groups were insects (45 · 5 per cent), rodents and birds (both 32 · 4 per cent), carrion (27 · 0 per cent), hoofed domestic stock (17 · 3 per cent), wild vegetable food (16 · 2 per cent), hares (15 · 7 per cent) and antelope (9 · 7 per cent). A large variety of foods was found in individual stomachs.

Volumetrically, vegetable food amounted to 4 · 5 per cent of the diet, animal food made up 95 · 5 per cent, vertebrates 54 · 2 per cent and invertebrates 8 · 2 per cent. By volume, the major food groups were carrion (28 · 7 per cent), domestic stock (18 · 5 per cent), antelope (9 · 7 per cent), hares (9 · 4 per cent), rodents (9 · 0 per cent), insects (8 · 0 per cent) and birds (4 · 5 per cent).

One hundred and five stomachs from male jackals contained an average of 171 · 6 cc. of food while 90 females gave an average of 129 · 3 cc. The average food volume for all stomachs was 150 · 7 cc. Average food volumes were greater in spring and summer than for the autumn-winter period, suggesting a lesser availability of food from March to August. The merits of the two analysis methods used are discussed and the difficulty in identifying carrion is emphasised. Further investigation is necessary for an understanding of the ecological significance of the jackal’s diet and its economic importance to the sheep farmer. The black-backed jackal is a highly omnivorous feeder; although a confirmed sheep-killer at times, it also feeds on many harmful pest species.     

Energy and nitrogen metabolism of broilers selected over ten generations for increased growth rate,food consumption and conversion of food to gain

1. Energy and nitrogen (N) metabolism were studied in 6‐week‐old male birds taken from 4 lines of chickens selected for 10 generations for increased weight gain (line W), increased food consumption (line F), increased conversion of food to gain (line E) or at random (controls, line C).

2. Calorimetric measurements were made 8 times on each line while fed ad libitum in large open‐circuit respiration chambers for 3 d, and 11 to 13 times without food in smaller closed‐circuit respiration chambers for 24 h.

3. The F line ate 60% more food, produced 90% more excreta and 34% more heat and retained 80% more energy and 35% more N in their bodies than lines E and C. Line W was intermediate.

4. When differences in body weight were taken into account, the E and W lines had lower heat production than the C line, while the F line ate 40% more food, produced 30% more heat and retained 70% more energy and 30% more N than the E line.

5. In lines W, F, E and C respectively, the mean metabolisability of dietary energy (%) was 69·4, 62·9, 70·1 and 67·8 ; the fasting heat production (mean ± SE) was 481 ±9, 569 ± 10, 485 ± 9, and 508 ± 9 kJ/kgW d; the net availability of metabolisable energy (NAME) was 0·68 ± 0·05, 0·76 ± 0·04, 0·85 ± 0·06 and 0·73 ± 0·04; the estimated daily maintenance energy requirements were 671 + 15, 866 ± 14, 701 ± 13, and 742 ± 11 kJ ME/ kgW; and the proportion of N retained per unit increase in N intake was 0·38 ± 0·08, 0·50 ± 0·06, 0·56 ± 0·10 and 0·53 ± 0·06. 6. The contribution of line differences in the above traits to large line differences in efficiency of food utilisation is discussed.

     

In this issue – October 2010

Computed tomography diagnosis of brain infarction in dogs · Tibial tuberosity advancement in canine stifles · Holter monitoring in dogs with mitral valve disease · Staggers in horses grazing paspalum infected with Claviceps paspali · Distal luxation of the patella in a horse · Escherichia coli and Salmonella serotypes in sheep at slaughter · Alzheimer type II astrocytes in the brains of pigs with salt poisoning · Classification of infectious bronchitis viruses in poultry field specimens · Mortality events in sea-caged yellowtail kingfish     

In this issue: September 2011

Racing 2‐year‐old Standardbred horses · Review of viral infections affecting the CNS in ruminants · Subacute rumen acidosis in beef cattle · Intralesional amphotericin B for feline sporotrichosis · Market for companion animal veterinary services in Australia · Blood parameters of lace monitors · Development of quarantine services in Australia     

In this issue – March 2010

Topical anaesthesia for castration and tail docking in lambs · Disease surveillance activities for saleyard pigs · Reproductive effects of time on prepartum transition diets in dairy cows · Bovine herpesvirus type 5 in bull semen · Rib osteomyelitis in three foals · Mycobacterium ulcerans in two horses · Nasal vascular hamartoma in a cat     

In this year of the veterinarian, we are including a series of papers on the history of veterinary medicine in Australia

Disease control during the colonial period in Australia · Neurological diseases of ruminant livestock in Australia · Coxiella burnetii in beef cattle in Queensland · Desmotomy for flexural deformity in Thoroughbreds · Acute myeloid leukaemia in a Thoroughbred foal · Growth variants of Avibacterium paragallinarum · Volvulus in a dugong     

IN THIS ISSUE – July 2010

Presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in raw milk · Profiling of Haemophilus parasuis in live pigs · Cysticercus bovis in Australian cattle · Thoracoscopy for lung lobectomy in the dog · Common bile duct cyst in a cat · Caecal intussusceptions in horses in New Zealand · Improving access to the oral cavity of the wombat · Mycobacterium in a Tasmanian devil · Surgical treatment of osteomyelitis in an alpaca cria