Effects of intramuscular and intranasal administration of midazolam–dexmedetomidine on sedation and some cardiopulmonary variables in New Zealand White rabbits

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) administration of dexmedetomidine and midazolam combination in New Zealand White rabbits.Study designA randomized, crossover experimental study.AnimalsA total of eight healthy New Zealand White rabbits, aged 6–12 months, weighing 3.1 ± 0.3 kg (mean ± standard deviation).MethodsThe animals were randomly assigned to administration of dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg kg^–1) with midazolam (2 mg kg^–1) by either IN or IM route separated by 2 weeks. The electrocardiogram, pulse rate (PR), peripheral haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂), mean noninvasive arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory frequency (f_R) and rectal temperature were measured before drug administration (baseline), T₀ (onset of sedation) and at 5 minute intervals until recovery. The onset of sedation, duration of sedation and sedation score (SS) were also recorded.ResultsThe PR was significantly lower in treatment IM than in treatment IN over time (p = 0.027). MAP < 60 mmHg developed in two and four rabbits in treatments IN and IM, respectively. SpO₂ progressively decreased over time in both treatments. f_R was lower than baseline at several time points in both treatments. Onset of sedation was shorter in treatment IN (90 ± 21 seconds) than in treatment IM (300 ± 68 seconds) (p = 0.036). Duration of sedation was longer in treatment IM (55.2 ± 8.7 minutes) than in treatment IN (39.6 ± 2.1 minutes) (p = 0.047). No significant difference in SS was observed between treatments (p > 0.05).Conclusions and clinical relevanceCombination of dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg kg^–1) and midazolam (2 mg kg^–1) decreased f_R, PR and SpO₂ regardless of the administration route in New Zealand White rabbits. A more rapid action and shorter duration of sedation were observed after treatment IN than after treatment IM administration.     

Comparison of the sedative effects of intranasal or intramuscular dexmedetomidine at low doses in healthy dogs: a randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine administered either intranasally or intramuscularly to healthy dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial.AnimalsA group of 16 client-owned healthy dogs.MethodsDogs were randomly allocated to one of two groups that were administered dexmedetomidine 5 μg kg^–1 via either the intranasal route (IN_Dex), through a mucosal atomization device in one nostril, or the intramuscular route (IM_Dex), into the epaxial muscles. Ease of intranasal administration, sedation score, onset of sedation, cardiopulmonary variables, mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and response to venous catheterization were recorded at 0 (baseline), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 minutes, following drug administration. Data were compared with the one-way anova, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test, where appropriate.ResultsGroups were not different for age, sex, weight, body condition score or temperament. Sedation scores, MNTs and response to intravenous catheter placement were not different when dexmedetomidine was administered by either route (p = 0.691; p = 0.630 and p = 0.435, respectively). Onset of sedation was not different between groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex reaching a score of 4.2 ± 0.9 and 5.5 ± 1.2 at 9 ± 5 and 8 ± 4 minutes, respectively (p = 0.467). The highest sedation score was achieved at 30 and 35 minutes and sedation scores were 9.7 ± 2.0 and 9.5 ± 2.3 in groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex, respectively (p = 0.799). Respiratory rate was higher in group IN_Dex (p = 0.014), while there were no differences between routes in heart rate (p = 0.275), systolic (p = 0.957), diastolic (p = 0.837) or mean arterial pressure (p = 0.921).Conclusions and clinical relevanceIntranasal administration of dexmedetomidine at 5 μg kg^–1 provides effective sedation in healthy dogs.     

Protectivity conferred by immunization with intranasal recombinant outer membrane protein H from Pasteurella multocida serovar A:1 in chickens

Recombinant outer membrane protein H (rOmpH) is a potential fowl cholera vaccine candidate. The present study was aimed at developing rOmpH formulations for intranasal administration. The rOmpH was purified and formulated with either Escherichia coli enterotoxin B (LTB) or CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) as an adjuvant. Antibody responses in chickens intranasally immunized with rOmpH in combination with 2 different adjuvants were significantly increased (P<0.05) post immunization. Chicken survival rates showed that rOmpH formulated with ODN and LTB elicited 90% and 70% protection, respectively. Our findings indicated that rOmpH formulated with ODN elicited protection better than that formulated with LTB. Therefore, the vaccines formulations in the present study can be considered new intranasal vaccine formulations for fowl cholera in chickens.     

Potential as an aerosol vaccine of an improved Newcastle disease vaccine derived from the LaSota strain—II. In vivo studies

Aerosol administrations of RIT 4030 and other available vaccine strains have been carried out in SPF and in conventional chickens. The results indicate that the RIT 4030 and Ulster 2C strains are significantly less reactogenic than the LaSota and the Hitchner B1 strains.The RIT 4030 strain produces an immune response even when administered to chickens with maternal antibodies and induces a better protection to challenge than the Ulster 2C strain.The replication of the RIT 4030 strain in the respiratory tract will be discussed with respect to its attenuation and transmissibility.     

CpG-ODN不同免疫途径对仔猪免疫增强效果的研究

以不同途径进行CpG-ODN免疫仔猪后,再以活的肠毒素大肠杆菌为模式病毒对仔猪进行攻毒,观察各组新生仔猪的腹泻情况,并测定血液中特异性抗体的含量、肠道中大肠杆菌数量的变化。结果表明,100μg/kg CpG-ODN+20%苦杏仁苷酶(Em)通过滴鼻免疫后,血液中特异性抗体含量约为对照组的3倍,肠道大肠杆菌数量显著下降,与对照组差异显著,同时腹泻症状明显减轻,仔猪体重增加明显。这显示了CpG-ODN通过滴鼻免疫能够显著提高新生仔猪对肠道病原细菌感染的抵抗能力。     

皂树皂苷QS21增强猪支原体肺炎活疫苗滴鼻免疫小鼠效果评价

为提高猪支原体肺炎活疫苗的滴鼻免疫效果,以猪支原体肺炎(168株)活疫苗为抗原,以QS21为免疫佐剂混合后滴鼻免疫小鼠,ELISA 法检测免疫效果,包括血清和支气管肺泡灌洗液中抗原特异性抗体水平,并测定了Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ、Th2型细胞因子IL-4和Th17型细胞因子IL-17的分泌情况。结果表明,QS21能激活黏膜和全身性的体液免疫,显著升高血清和支气管肺泡灌洗液中IgG,IgG1、IgG2a抗体含量,并能提高支气管肺泡灌洗液中黏膜免疫抗体sIgA的含量。QS21还能显著增加支气管肺泡灌洗液中IL-4、IFN-γ和IL-17的分泌,激活Th1、Th2和Th17型细胞免疫应答。以上结果表明QS21能全面激活免疫系统,具有开发为猪支原体肺炎活疫苗黏膜免疫佐剂的应用前景。     

Sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of intranasal atomized alfaxalone in Japanese White rabbits

ObjectiveTo investigate the sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of intranasal atomization (INA) of alfaxalone using a mucosal atomization device in Japanese White rabbits.Study designRandomized, prospective, crossover study.AnimalsA total of eight healthy female rabbits, weighing 3.6–4.3 kg and aged 12–24 months.MethodsEach rabbit was randomly assigned to four INA treatments administered 7 days apart: Control treatment, 0.15 mL 0.9% saline in both nostrils; treatment INA0.3, 0.15 mL 4% alfaxalone in both nostrils; treatment INA0.6, 0.3 mL 4% alfaxalone in both nostrils; treatment INA0.9, 0.3 mL 4% alfaxalone in left, then right, then left nostril. Sedation was scored 0–13 using a composite measure scoring system for rabbits. Simultaneously, pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (f_R), noninvasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and arterial blood gases were measured until 120 minutes. The rabbits breathed room air during the experiment and were administered flow-by oxygen when hypoxemia (SpO₂ <90% or PaO₂ <60 mmHg; 8.0 kPa) developed. Data were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test and the Friedman test (p < 0.05).ResultsNo rabbit was sedated in treatments Control and INA0.3. All rabbits in treatment INA0.9 developed loss of righting reflex for 15 (10–20) minutes [median (25th–75th percentile)]. Sedation score significantly increased from 5 to 30 minutes in treatments INA0.6 and INA0.9 with maximum scores of 2 (1–4) and 9 (9–9), respectively. f_R decreased in an alfaxalone dose-dependent manner and one rabbit developed hypoxemia in treatment INA0.9. No significant changes were observed in PR and MAP.Conclusions and clinical relevanceINA alfaxalone resulted in dose-dependent sedation and respiratory depression in Japanese White rabbits to values considered not clinically relevant. Further investigation of INA alfaxalone in combination with other drugs is warranted.     

山羊咽扁桃体和咽鼓管扁桃体的组织结构观察

选取健康10月龄奶山羊10头,断头宰杀后取咽扁桃体和咽鼓管扁桃体,应用组织学光镜和电镜制片技术研究咽扁桃体和咽鼓管扁桃体的显微和亚显微组织结构.结果表明:山羊咽扁桃体和咽鼓管扁桃体的黏膜上皮主要由2～3层多边形上皮细胞组成,部分区域只有单层扁平细胞,相邻上皮细胞间空隙很大,上皮细胞表面有丰富的微绒毛.上皮细胞之间和黏膜上皮下方固有层内有大量淋巴细胞浸润.扁桃体的实质部分由数个次级淋巴小结和弥散淋巴组织构成,弥散淋巴组织中有大量分布的淋巴管和毛细血管后微静脉.此外,在紧贴黏膜上皮细胞下方的固有层和淋巴滤泡中可观察到少量的树突状细胞.结果提示山羊的咽扁桃体和咽鼓管扁桃体可作为鼻腔免疫的主要诱导位点和效应部位.     

鼻腔免疫禽流感灭活疫苗对鸡呼吸道肥大细胞分布的影响

用添加CpG的禽流感病毒（H5亚型）灭活疫苗对7日龄罗曼公鸡进行鼻腔免疫，14日龄加强免疫一次；分别于首免后第3、5、7周剖杀，取鼻腔、喉部、气管、气管叉及肺组织，通过甲苯胺蓝染色法显示肥大细胞，观察呼吸道各部位肥大细胞的分布及数量变化。结果显示，首免后第3周气管和气管叉黏膜中的肥大细胞数量显著增加（P〈0．05），第5周时喉部和气管叉黏膜中的肥大细胞数量显著增加（P〈0．05），气管黏膜中肥大细胞数量也极显著增加（P〈0．01），第7周肺中的肥大细胞数量显著增加（P〈0．05）；肥大细胞的数量在喉部最多，气管叉次之，气管和肺较少。试验结果表明，局部黏膜免疫可增加呼吸道肥大细胞的数量，肥大细胞可能参与黏膜免疫反应。     

High-dose-rate brachytherapy for intranasal tumours in dogs: results of a pilot study

This prospective study describes the feasibility and toxicity of ¹⁹²Iridium high‐dose‐rate (HDR) brachytherapy as an alternative strategy for the treatment of canine intranasal tumours. Fifteen dogs with malignant intranasal tumours were treated twice weekly using a hypofractionated protocol with eight fractions, 5 Gy per fraction, resulting in a total dose of 40 Gy. Acute and chronic adverse side‐effects appeared to be rare. Only 7% of the acute side‐effects and 5% of the chronic were classified as severe (grade 3). Eight dogs showed clinical complete remission, and five dogs had partial remission, with a resolution of tumour‐related symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a reduced tumour mass in 12 cases. Median survival time was 17 months (range 4–48 months), with four dogs (three without disease) still alive. Median time to recurrence of these dogs was 14 months. In nine dogs, progression or recurrence of the tumour was the cause of death. This study suggests that HDR brachytherapy is feasible and well tolerated.