Successful use of an acceleration rate response pacemaker with a transvenous steroid-eluting screw-in lead for third-degree atrioventricular block in a labrador retriever

Permanent pacemakers are commonly used in veterinary practice and can have a dramatic effect on the treatment of heart block. A Labrador Retriever dog suffering from exercise intolerance secondary to third degree atrioventricular block was treated with a new pacemaker system. A steroid-eluting screw-in type lead that has the advantage of being more fixed to the myocardial wall without increasing the pacing threshold was used. The heart rate was regulated with an acceleration sensing pacemaker generator that included several automatic modulation systems. Nineteen months after implantation, the dog has a normal level of activity. The present case suggests that this pacemaker design may offer important advantages for canine patients.     

Correlation of phytoplasma concentration in Hydrangea macrophylla with green-flowering stability

The interaction between phytoplasma concentration and green-flowering stability was studied in hydrangea cultivars. Three green and 18 nongreen cultivars were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to determine Japanese hydrangea phyllody (JHP) phytoplasma infection. The results showed that JHP-phytoplasma was detected only in ‘Midori’ plants, which have green sepals. ‘Midori’ plants were propagated, and from 29 rooted cutting plants, they were grouped into three types on the basis of sepal color, that is, green (75.9%), blue-green (13.8%) and blue (10.3%) sepals. To clarify the variability in the sepal color of ‘Midori’ plants, JHP-phytoplasma concentration in the sepals and leaves of green-, blue-green- and blue-flowering plants was determined by PCR analysis. The semiquantitative PCR comparisons of 370 bp DNA fragments showed that the JHP-phytoplasma concentrations in green sepals were 16 times higher than that in blue-green sepals. JHP-phytoplasma could not be identified by PCR analysis in blue sepals and leaves. These results showed that JHP-phytoplasma concentration correlated with green sepal stability in ‘Midori’ plants. A histological observation of sepals showed that epidermal cells of blue and blue-green sepals had a dome shape. Otherwise, green sepals were leaflike with flat epidermal cells, and palisade parenchyma cells with numerous chloroplasts.     

Concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in dogs with naturally developing and experimentally induced arthropathy

OBJECTIVE: To assay concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in canine sera and synovial fluid (SF), to compare COMP concentrations in clinically normal dogs and dogs with joint disease, and to analyze changes in COMP concentrations in dogs with experimentally induced acute synovitis. ANIMALS: 69 control dogs without joint disease, 23 dogs with naturally occurring aseptic arthropathy, and 6 dogs with experimentally induced synovitis. PROCEDURE: Serum (n = 69) and SF (36) were obtained from control dogs. Samples of serum (n = 23) and SF (13) were obtained from dogs with naturally occurring aseptic arthropathy with or without radiographic features of osteoarthritis (OA). Serum and SF were obtained before and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after induction of synovitis. The COMP concentrations were determined by use of an inhibition ELISA that had canine cartilage COMP and monoclonal antibody against human COMP. RESULTS: Concentrations of COMP in serum and SF of control dogs were 31.3+/-15.3 and 298.7+/-124.7 microg/ml, respectively. In naturally occurring OA, COMP concentrations in serum (44.9+/-177 microg/ml) and SF (401.7+/-74.3 microg/ml) were significantly higher than corresponding concentrations in control dogs. The COMP concentration in SF peaked 24 and 48 hours after induction of synovitis, whereas concentration in serum peaked on day 3. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results supported the hypothesis that COMP concentration in serum and SF of dogs may be altered after cartilage degradation or synovitis. Measurement of COMP concentrations can be useful when differentiating arthropathies in dogs.     

Cryopreservation of the semen collected by electroejaculation from the Hokkaido brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis)

Four adult Hokkaido brown bears were used as semen donors, and semen characteristics were examined before freezing and after thawing. A total of 10 electroejaculates were diluted with Tris-egg yolk extender and cooled to 4 degrees C over 90 min. Spermatozoa were equilibrated with 4.7% glycerol for 80 min. Semen packed in 0.25 ml plastic straws were frozen with liquid nitrogen vapor. Percentages (mean +/- SD) of motile and live sperm were 96+/-2 and 86.5+/-7.2% before freezing, and 43+/-5 and 67.4+/-3.9% after thawing, respectively. Although the number of progressively motile sperm after thawing varied among samples (1.8+/-1.2 x 10(8) cells/ejaculate), frozen semen in the present study might serve for artificial insemination.     

Subcutaneous infection of Lagochilascaris minor in domestic cats from Uruguay

The nematode Lagochilascaris minor was collected from subcutaneous abscesses on the face and neck of three female cats aged 8 months, and 1 and 2 years. These cats were born in the Department of Maldonado, Uruguay. Female and male nematodes were 10.1-14.4 and 10.0-14.3mm long, respectively. The lips were one dorsal lip and two subventral lips separated from the body by a deep post-labial groove, and were separated from each other by triangular interlabial projections. The width of the lips was almost equal to the width of the post-labial collar. The vulva was near the middle of the female body. The eggs were oval or spherical and measured 0.059-0.073 mm long and 0.045-0.065 mm wide. Irregular-shaped pits were on the egg surface; 20-32 pits were around the equator of the eggs. The male posterior region was ventrally curved. Each spicule was about three quarters of the ejaculator duct length. From these findings, the nematodes were identified as L. minor. We believe this is the first report of its infection in Uruguay.     

Immunological determination of faecal haemoglobin concentrations in dogs

Faecal haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in apparently healthy experimental Beagle dogs and in dogs of various breeds kept in private households or at breeders were measured by reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an effort to define the physiological concentrations of faecal Hb in the dog. In 88% (53) of 60 experimental Beagle dogs (30 males and 30 females), the RPLA titres were 1:2 and 1:8 and the faecal Hb concentrations ranged from 40.0 to 431.5 (mean 184.1±92.6) g/g faeces by ELISA. No significant difference was found in Hb levels or RPLA titres between males and females. Seven dogs (12%) had significantly greater RPLA titres and Hb concentrations by ELISA than the remaining dogs. In 84% (45) of the 53 dogs kept in private households or at breeders, the RPLA titres were >1:1 to 1:8 and the faecal Hb concentrations ranged from 7.1 to 456.7 (mean 137.5±128.7) g/g faeces in ELISA. Eight of these dogs (15.1% of 53 dogs) had significantly greater RPLA titres and Hb concentrations by ELISA than the remaining dogs. There were no significant differences between the Beagles and dogs kept in private households or at breeders. In conclusion, in 98 (86.7% of 113) dogs the physiological concentrations of RPLA titres were >1:1 to 1:8 and the faecal Hb concentrations were 143.5–185.1 g/g (95% confidence level). Approximately 13.3% of apparently healthy dogs had higher faecal Hb concentrations, suggesting the presence of subclinical haemorrhages. Four dogs suffering from colorectal cancer also had high faecal Hb concentrations.     

Effects of recloning on the efficiency of production of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout pigs

Obtaining sufficient transgenic cells via selective cultivation of genetically manipulated somatic cells is difficult due to the limited number of cell divisions. Additionally, if irreversible mutations in a cell's chromosomes occur during selective cultivation and the cell is used as the nuclear donor, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos often exhibit abnormal development. On the other hand, a SCNT method in which fetal cells derived from SCNT embryos are used as the nuclear donor (recloning method) is an effective technique for obtaining large quantities of transgenic cells. In this study, we compared the in vivo development rate of SCNT embryos produced from porcine alpha1-3 galactosyltransferase gene knockout (GTKO) cells by a recloning method with that of SCNT embryos produced without recloning from porcine GTKO cells (direct method). In the direct method, 557 and 462 cloned embryos were produced using two types of activation methods, the two-step activation (TA) method and the delayed activation (DA) method, and then transferred into 6 and 4 recipients, respectively, but no piglets were born from these recipients. In the recloning method, 956 and 1038 cloned embryos were produced using the TA and DA methods, respectively, and then transferred to 8 and 7 recipients, respectively. Two piglets were born from one recipient in the TA group and 6 piglets were born from 3 recipients in the DA group. This report indicates that the recloning method improved the developmental capacity of SCNT embryos reconstructed with gene-targeted somatic cells.     

Laxity of canine hip joint in two positions with computed tomography

Computed tomographic (CT) examination of 20 canine hip joints was carried out in two positions, normal-standing and weight-bearing. In normal (dorsal acetabular rim angle: DARA < 15 degrees ) or slightly abnormal (DARA, 15 degrees to 20 degrees ) hip joints, the values of parameters to laxity were evaluated as more severe in the weight-bearing position. Comparisons of results using various indicators, including the center distance (CD) index, dorsolateral subluxation score, and lateral center edge angle, revealed that the CD index may be a useful marker of functional laxity in the canine hip joint under CT scanning. Further, CT scanning in the weight-bearing position was more sensitive than in the normal-standing position for the detection of laxity in hips with normal or only slightly abnormal DARA.