An ethogram of post-anesthetic recovery behaviors in horses: comparison of pre- and post-anesthetic behaviors

Pain management is an important post-operative concern. Pain scales may rely on the observer's subjective assessment of the level of discomfort and may not correlate with physiologic or pharmacologic measures of pain. The purpose of this study was to develop an objective measure of behavior in healthy pain-free horses recovering from anesthesia that could be used for comparison with the behavior of horses recovering from a surgical procedure.
Focal sampling with videotape and observation was done on five healthy horses before anesthesia to establish baselines. Behavioral measures included head turns, tail swishes, eyelid aperture/size, ear position, angle of neck, weight shifts, and ambulation. Physiologic measures included heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. The horses were anesthetized for 2 hours with isoflurane, and in the recovery stall, data were collected continuously on videotape from the time of extubation to standing. Focal sampling of 15 minutes was repeated at 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours after the horses returned to their stalls. Video data were analyzed using the Noldus Observer Video Analysis System.
A wide variation in behavior was observed between horses in the recovery stall. Observations at 1, 2, and 4 hours revealed change from the up/forward ear position to the down ear position, and a decrease in weight bearing of the hind limb from a baseline of 11–12 minutes out of 15 minutes to 7–9 minutes with an increase in toe pointing. Time spent standing was similar to baseline of 93.8%, and the neck angle was not changed from baseline of 173.5°. Values had returned to baseline at 24 hours.
Changes in behavior were induced by anesthesia alone and must be taken into consideration when evaluating analgesic treatments.     

Field comparison of the interferon-gamma assay and the intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis

An extensive field comparison of the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) assay and the single intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis was conducted in Australia. The specificity of the IFN-gamma assay was determined by testing more than 6000 cattle from tuberculosis-free herds and varied from 96.2% to 98.1%, depending on the cut-off point chosen to define a positive reactor. For the sensitivity trial, cattle from herds being de-populated because of bovine tuberculosis were examined with both assays. The sensitivity of the IFN-gamma assay was shown to be significantly higher than the single intradermal tuberculin test and varied from 76.8% to 93.6% depending on the method of interpretation. A maximum overall sensitivity of 95.2% was obtained by testing with the IFN-gamma and the tuberculin test in parallel. The superior sensitivity of the IFN-gamma assay and the ability to adjust the sensitivity of the system depending on the task involved, will provide the Australian Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign with a valuable additional test to enable it to accomplish its goals.     

A survey for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in deer and other wildlife on a sheep range.

Blood samples were obtained from native mammals and birds on a sheep range (Hopland Field Station) in northern California. Serums were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the indirect hemagglutination test. Of 382 deer that were tested from 1964 to 1973, 77 (20%) were seropositive for T gondii. Among 36 serums representing 6 species of wild carnivores (badgers, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks), 18 (50%) were seropositive. All of the 5 bobcats tested were seropositive, with antibody titers ranging from 1:65,536. The testing of 175 serums from small wild mammals indicated antibody prevalence of 8% among jackrabbits, 6% among brush rabbits, and 2% among squirrels. None of the native mice tested was seropositive for T gondii. Of 120 native birds tested, 6 (5%) were seropositive. Of the resident domestic species of animals tested, antibodies were found in 1 of 7 domestic cats, 1 of 5 feral cats, 1 of 2 dogs, and 54 (13%) of 405 sheep.     

Association of Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion with Survival Time in Boxer Dogs with Ventricular Arrhythmias

Background

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a useful estimate of right ventricular function in humans. Reference intervals for dogs have been generated, but the value of measuring TAPSE in other diseases, or investigating the association between TAPSE and outcome, is unknown.

Hypothesis

TAPSE is lower in Boxer dogs with ≥50 VPCs/24 h on Holter than in dogs with fewer ventricular ectopics, and lower TAPSE is associated with a shorter survival time.

Animals

Fifty Boxer dogs that presented for investigation of syncope or suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) at a veterinary teaching hospital (2004–2011).

Methods

Retrospective study. Clinical records, Holter, and echocardiographic data were reviewed. TAPSE was measured in a blinded manner on stored echocardiographic cine‐loops using anatomic M‐mode. Outcome information was obtained and death was classified as cardiac or noncardiac. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

TAPSE was lower in Boxers with ≥50 VPCs/24 h (13.9 ± 4.04 mm) than Boxers with <50 VPCs/24 h (16.8 ± 3.21 mm; P < .001). TAPSE <15.1 mm was associated with shorter cardiac survival time in all dogs (P = .004) and also in dogs without left ventricular dysfunction (P = .035). When controlling for other variables, including ventricular tachycardia on Holter and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, multivariable analysis showed that TAPSE remained an independent predictor of time to cardiac death (HR >4.09, 95%CI 1.15–16.9, P < .029).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

TAPSE offers prognostic value for Boxer dogs, including those with apparently normal systolic function and ≥50 VPCs/24 h on Holter analysis.     

Vascular permeability factor, an endothelial cell mitogen related to PDGF

Vascular permeability factor (VPF) is a 40-kilodalton disulfide-linked dimeric glycoprotein that is active in increasing blood vessel permeability, endothelial cell growth, and angiogenesis. These properties suggest that the expression of VPF by tumor cells could contribute to the increased neovascularization and vessel permeability that are associated with tumor vasculature. The cDNA sequence of VPF from human U937 cells was shown to code for a 189-amino acid polypeptide that is similar in structure to the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-B) and other PDGF-B-related proteins. The overall identity with PDGF-B is 18%. However, all eight of the cysteines in PDGF-B were found to be conserved in human VPF, an indication that the folding of the two proteins is probably similar. Clusters of basic amino acids in the COOH-terminal halves of human VPF and PDGF-B are also prevalent. Thus, VPF appears to be related to the PDGF/v-sis family of proteins.     

Prevalence and clonal diversity of Campylobacter jejuni from dairy farms and urban sources

AIM: To investigate the role of free-living animals such as spar- rows, rodents and flies as potential reservoirs of Campylobacter spp on a dairy farm, and to assess the genetic diversity among Campylobacter isolates from the farm and an urban source.

METHODS: A total of 290 samples (bovine, passerine and ro- dent faeces, and whole flies) were collected from a large com- mercial dairy farm in the Manawatu district in New Zealand, and from faeces from urban sparrows in a nearby city. Other samples collected from the dairy farm included five from silage, two from aprons worn by workers during milking, two from workers' boots and two from water in troughs in a paddock. Isolates of thermophilic Campylobacter spp were identified mor- phologically and phenotypically and further characterised mo- lecularly using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the restriction enzyme SmaI.

RESULTS: Campylobacter jejuni was the only Campylobacter species isolated from all samples. The highest prevalence was found in faeces from dairy cows (54%), followed by faeces from sparrows from the urban area (40%) and the farm (38%), and from rodents (11%) and whole flies (9%). Other samples from the farm environment such as silage, trough water, and work- ers' aprons and boots were also positive for C. jejuni. Of the 22 restriction patterns obtained, seven were common to more than one source.

CONCLUSIONS: Cattle, sparrows, rodents and flies are po- tential reservoirs of C. jejuni on dairy farms. Identical clones of C. jejuni carried by cattle, sparrows, flies and rodents prob- ably indicate a common source of infection. The high level of asymptomatic carriage of C. jejuni by healthy dairy cows could be sufficient to maintain infections within the dairy farm sur- roundings via environmental contamination.     

The effect of the maturity and prior breeding activity of rams and body condition score of ewe hoggets on the reproductive performance of ewe hoggets

Abstract

AIM: To determine the effect of age and prior use of mature rams at a given ram-to-ewe ratio, and the effect of body condition on breeding performance and pregnancy rate of ewe hoggets.

METHODS: Ewe hoggets (n=733) aged 7–8 months were weighed and their body condition scored, then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (Day 0) and joined with either four two-tooth rams (20 months of age) not used previously (n=244; Two-tooth), four mixed-aged mature rams that had not been used earlier in the season (n=244; Mature-fresh), or four mixed-aged mature rams that had been used with mature ewes immediately prior to joining with hoggets (n=245; Mature-used). The breeding period was 34 days. Ewe hoggets were identified as having been marked during the first 17 days only, during both 17-day periods, during the second 17 days only, or not marked. Hoggets were re-weighed on Day 34, and pregnancy status determined using ultrasound on Day 92. The breeding soundness of the rams was assessed on Days ?34 and ?1.

RESULTS: Semen samples obtained from the rams did not differ significantly in any of the parameters measured (p>0.05). Ewe hoggets joined with Mature-fresh rams were less likely (p<0.05) to be marked in the second 17 days of breeding only than those joined with either Two-tooth or Mature-used rams. No other breeding parameters were affected by breeding group (p>0.05). Hoggets marked in the first 17 days only were heavier (p<0.05) at Day 0 than those marked in the second 17 days only or not marked. Hoggets diagnosed as twin-bearing were heavier (p<0.05) than non-pregnant or single-bearing hoggets. Those hoggets marked in the first 17 days only had a greater (p<0.05) body condition score (BCS) than those marked in the second 17 days only or not marked at all. These differences were no longer apparent after correction for liveweight (LW).Correction for LW at Day 0 or change in LW during the breeding period did not affect the results for breeding performance.

CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, two-tooth rams and mature rams that had been used previously were just as suitable as mature rams that had not been used previously for breeding with ewe hoggets. Further studies are warranted to verify this result. The re-use of rams without reducing breeding performance would reduce breeding costs and may make breeding hoggets a more viable option for farmers. The BCS of ewe hoggets affected breeding performance, and can thus be used to identify those animals most suitable for breeding.     

Dual infection with Pythium insidiosum and Blastomyces dermatitidis in a dog

A 4-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever with severe gastrointestinal signs, but no respiratory signs, was diagnosed with multifocal pyogranulomatous gastritis, enteritis, and lymphadenitis with intralesional hyphae and multifocal pyogranulomatous pneumonia with intralesional yeast. Based on cytologic evaluation, histologic examination with special stains, and immunohistochemical analysis of tissues collected antemortem or at necropsy, dual infections with Pythium insidiosum and Blastomyces dermatitidis were detected and are reported for the first time.