Angularis oris axial pattern buccal flap for reconstruction of recurrent fistulae of the palate

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of an axial pattern flap based on the angularis oris artery and vein for reconstruction of palate defects. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case report ANIMALS: Two dogs with recurrent oronasal fistulae. METHODS: Oronasal fistulae previously treated by buccal mucosal random pattern flaps that subsequently dehisced were repaired using an angularis oris-based buccal tissue axial pattern flap. This flap was developed by full thickness incision of the cheek tissue, excluding the skin, about the angularis oris vascular pedicle resulting in a vascularized flap covered by oral mucosa on one side. RESULTS: In one dog, the repair was intact and healed 6 months after surgery. In the second dog with a fistula that resulted because of radiation necrosis, approximately 95% of the defect healed with a small (<1.0 cm(2)) area of dehiscence. Repair of this persistent fistula with a random pattern buccal flap failed and this small fistula remained with minimal clinical signs. CONCLUSION: An axial pattern flap based on the angularis oris artery and vein can be used to repair difficult or recurrent palate defects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Angularis oris axial pattern flaps provide an additional effective option for repair of defects in the hard and soft palate to the distal gingival margin of the canine tooth or beyond, depending on skull conformation. Advantages of this flap include its highly vascular and robust character, high degree of mobility and a surface of tough buccal mucosa.     

Effects of the calcium channel antagonist amlodipine in cats with surgically induced hypertensive renal insufficiency

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether amlodipine besylate decreases systemic arterial blood pressure (BP) and reduces the prevalence of complications in cats with induced hypertensive renal insufficiency. ANIMALS: 20 cats with partial nephrectomy. PROCEDURE: Following reduction in renal mass, 10 cats were administered 0.25 mg of amlodipine/kg, PO, q 24 h (group A). Ten cats served as a control group (group C). Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean BP (MBP), physical activity, and pulse rate were measured continuously for 36 days by use of radiotelemetric devices. RESULTS: Compared with values for clinically normal cats, SBP, DBP, and MBP were significantly increased in cats of group C. Cats in group A had significant reductions in SBP, DBP, and MBP, compared with values for cats in group C. Albuminuria but not urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was significantly correlated (R2 = 0.317) with SBP in hypertensive cats. Prevalence of ocular lesions attributable to systemic hypertension in group C (7 cats) was greater than that observed in group A (2). Two cats in group C were euthanatized on day 16 because of nuerologic complications attributed to systemic hypertension. One normotensive cat in group A was euthanatized because of purulent enteritis of unknown cause on day 27. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amlodipine had an antihypertensive effect in cats with coexistent systemic hypertension and renal insufficiency. Its use may improve the prognosis for cats with systemic hypertension by decreasing the risk of ocular injury or neurologic complications induced by high BP.     

Antimicrobial-induced endotoxin and cytokine activity in an in vitro model of septicemia in foals

OBJECTIVE: To determine which antimicrobials that are used to treat neonatal foals with septicemia attributable to Escherichia coli will minimize endotoxin release from bacteria and subsequent activity of inflammatory mediators while maintaining bactericidal efficacy. SAMPLE POPULATION: Blood samples from 10 healthy foals. PROCEDURE: Escherichia coli isolates A and B were isolated from 2 septicemic foals, and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for 9 antimicrobials. Five of these antimicrobials were tested in vitro at 2 and 20 times their respective MIC. Whole blood or mononuclear cells grown in tissue-culture media were incubated with 105 colony-forming units of E. coli and each antimicrobial or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. After 6 hours, number of viable bacteria remaining was determined, and supernatant was tested for endotoxin and tumor necrosis activity. RESULTS: Testing in whole blood was compromised by bactericidal effects of the blood itself. In mononuclear cell suspensions, each antimicrobial significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria to low or undetectable amounts. Antimicrobials did not differ significantly in efficacy of bacterial killing. Amikacin used alone or in combination with ampicillin resulted in significantly less endotoxin activity than did ampicillin, imipenem, or ceftiofur alone. There was a correlation between TNF-alpha and endotoxin activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Aminoglycosides appear less likely to induce endotoxemia and TNF-alpha synthesis during bactericidal treatment of E. coli septicemia, compared with beta-lactam antimicrobials. Use of ampicillin, imipenem, or ceftiofur in the treatment of septicemic neonatal foals should be accompanied by appropriate treatment for endotoxemia.     

Plasma and synovial fluid endothelin-1 and nitric oxide concentrations in horses with and without joint disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma and synovial fluid endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in clinically normal horses and horses with joint disease. ANIMALS: 36 horses with joint disease, and 15 horses without joint disease. PROCEDURE: Horses with joint disease were assigned to 1 of the 3 groups (ie, synovitis, degenerative joint disease [DJD], or joint sepsis groups) on the basis of findings on clinical and radiographic examination and synovial fluid analysis. Endothelin-1 and NO concentrations were measured in plasma from blood samples, collected from the jugular vein and ipsilateral cephalic or saphenous vein of the limb with an affected or unaffected joint, as well as in synovial fluid samples obtained via arthrocentesis from the involved joint. RESULTS: Plasma ET-1 concentrations between affected and unaffected groups were not significantly different. Median concentration and concentration range of ET-1 in synovial fluid obtained from the joint sepsis group (35.830 pg/mL, 7926 to 86.614 pg/mL; n = 7) were significantly greater than values from the synovitis (17.531 pg/mL, 0.01 to 46.908 pg/mL; 18), DJD (22.858 pg/mL, 0.01 to 49.990 pg/mL; 10), and unaffected (10.547 pg/mL, 0.01 to 35.927 pg/mL; 10) groups. Plasma and synovial fluid NO concentrations between affected and unaffected groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Endothelin-1 is locally synthesized in the joints of horses with various types of joint disease. Synovial fluid concentrations of ET-1 varied among horses with joint disease, with concentrations significantly higher in the synovial fluid of horses with joint sepsis. These results indicate that ET-1 may play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanism of joint disease in horses.     

Relationship between incidence of gastric dilatation-volvulus and biometeorologic events in a population of military working dogs

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the monthly incidence of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in a population of military working dogs during a 5-year period and determine whether there was an association with synoptic climatologic indices. SAMPLE POPULATION: Medical records of all military working dogs housed at Lackland Air Force Base,Tex, from Jan 1, 1993 to Dec 31, 1997. PROCEDURE: Confirmed cases of GDV were identified from evaluation of medical records and used to calculate incidence of GDV. Factor analysis of local climatologic data was used to classify each day into 1 of 8 meteorologically homogeneous types of days for this location. Occurrence of GDV was compared with frequency of occurrence of synoptic climatologic days. RESULTS: 48 cases of GDV were identified from January 1993 through December 1997 Mean monthly incidence was 2.5 cases/1,000 dogs at risk (range, 0 to 18.5 cases/1,000 dogs; median, 2.5 cases/1,000 dogs). A seasonal increase in incidence of GDV was detected, because half of the episodes were during November, December, and January. An association with a specific synoptic climatologic day was not detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Seasonal fluctuations in incidence of GDV may be associated with external factors that precipitate physiologic changes resulting in GDV. Although a specific cause-effect relationship was not documented, clinicians must be alert for the potential of seasonal variation in incidence of GDV and accordingly heighten their index of suspicion for the condition, particularly in populations of dogs that are predisposed to development of GDV.     

Comparison of hematologic and biochemical values for blood samples obtained via jugular venipuncture and via vascular access ports in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hematologic and serum biochemical values for blood samples obtained from cats via vascular access ports (VAP) are comparable to those for samples obtained by direct venipuncture. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 14 healthy cats. PROCEDURE: A VAP was surgically implanted in a jugular vein in each cat. Blood samples were obtained from the VAP and by direct venipuncture of the contralateral jugular vein 10 weeks after VAP placement. Results of hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were compared by use of a paired t-test. The Pvalue to reject the null hypothesis was adjusted to account for multiple comparisons by using the Bonferroni procedure in which the nominal P-to-reject value is divided by the number of comparisons (0.05/24 = 0.002). RESULTS: Paired samples (VAP and venipuncture) obtained 10 weeks after VAP placement were evaluated for each cat. Of the 24 measured analytes, only potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations differed significantly (P< 0.001 for all 3) between VAP and venipuncture samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that samples obtained from VAP are suitable for routine hematologic monitoring of feline cancer patients. Sample hemolysis may account for a slight increase in potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations obtained from VAP samples. However, the values of variables most critical for monitoring of patients receiving chemotherapy (ie, mature neutrophil and platelet counts) are comparable. If proper techniques are used, VAP may be used for administration of chemotherapy as well as for blood collection in cats undergoing cancer treatment.     

Prevalence of Faecal Pathogens in Calves of Racing Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Characterization of a feline homologue of the alphaE integrin subunit (CD103) reveals high specificity for intra-epithelial lymphocytes

The characteristics of a feline homologue of the alphaE integrin (CD103), defined by two murine monoclonal antibodies, Fe7.1B8 (IgG1) and Fe7.2D8 (IgG1), are described. These antibodies recognized 75% of intra-epithelial (range 59-88%) and 40% of lamina proprial (range 28-46%) T cells of the intestinal mucosal tissue of the small intestine in contrast with approximately 2% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Both antibodies immunoprecipitated a 180 kDa protein from biotinylated feline intra-epithelial mucosal leukocytes consistent with the alphaE integrin subunit in conjunction with a 120 kDa protein consistent with the beta7 subunit. The nucleotide sequence of feline alphaE integrin, generated from molecular cloning of the feline alphaE encoding cDNA, is also reported. This feline molecule shares 72% sequence homology with human and 69% homology with murine and rat counterparts. Homology includes the presence of an X (extra) domain, that appears unique to alphaE molecules as described for human, rat and mouse, as well as areas of homology common to other alpha integrins. Of note is a typical I (inserted) domain, the presence of seven repeat regions, and highly conserved sequences in the cytoplasmic tail. Transfection studies demonstrated that both antibodies recognized an extracellular component which encompassed the X and I domains of the cloned alphaE integrin subunit. These studies demonstrate that the pattern of tissue distribution, biochemical characteristics, and cDNA sequence of the feline alphaE integrin subunit are largely similar to that described for other species.