Clinical use of tissue plasminogen activator for systemic thrombolysis in dogs and cats

IntroductionSystemic administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is seldomly reported in dogs and cats.AnimalsClient-owned animals receiving tPA (2010–2020).Materials and methodsMedical records of dogs and cats receiving tPA for distant known/suspected thrombus were reviewed. Fourteen dog visits (24 injections) and five cat visits (six injections) were included.ResultsCanine known/suspected thrombus included pulmonary thromboembolism (n=6), intracardiac thrombus (n=4), aortic thrombus (n=1), cranial vena cava thrombus (n=2), and femoral and iliac veins thrombus (n=1). Various canine primary diseases were represented, but open-heart surgery was the most common cause. Median time between diagnosis/suspicion of thrombus and tPA injection was 24.5 h (range, 3–150 h). Mean total tPA dose was 1.0±0.78 mg/kg.Clinical improvement occurred in 93% of dogs. Non-fatal complications were reported in 14% of dogs. Dogs’ survival to discharge was 78.6% without identifiable non-survivor characteristics. Feline known/suspected thrombus included unilateral feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE) (n=2), bilateral FATE (n=2), and right renal artery thrombus. Feline primary diseases included cardiomyopathy (n=5). Median time between diagnosis/suspicion of thrombus and tPA injection was 4 h (range, 2–17 h) and median total tPA dose was 1.0 mg/kg (range, 0.6–1.4 mg/kg).Clinical improvement occurred during 40% of the visits. All cats (n=3) with acute kidney injury (AKI) at admission developed worsening AKI and reperfusion injury. Of the remaining two visits, one developed a non-fatal AKI. Cats’ survival to discharge was 40%.ConclusionsSystemic thrombolysis with tPA seems to be effective and safe in dogs. More investigation is needed in cats.     

First record of autochthonous canine ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis in Romania

This case study describes the first genetically confirmed and clinically manifested autochthonous Ehrlichia canis infection in a 9‐year‐old female mixed‐breed dog from Romania. Health screening of the dog included clinical examination, evaluation of stained peripheral blood smear and hematologic variables, as well as serologic testing and molecular analysis. Clinical signs included fever, apathy, dehydration, pale mucous membranes, and weakness. The microscopic examination of the blood smear and immunologic assays for Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and E canis antibodies, and for Dirofilaria immitis antigen yielded negative results. Hematologic abnormalities included moderate nonregenerative anemia, leucopenia with neutropenia, and moderate thrombocytopenia. The biochemical abnormalities identified were hypoalbuminemia, and mildly increased serum enzyme activities of AST and ALT. In addition, increased urea and creatinine levels associated with low urine specific gravity and proteinuria were also present. Nested PCR amplification of the partial E canis 16S rRNA gene demonstrated the presence of this rickettsial pathogen in the dog's blood, which subsequently was confirmed through sequencing based on the 100% homology with GenBank deposited E canis isolates. After specific treatment with doxycycline (10 mg/kg, orally, SID) for one month, the proteinuria, and hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities with the exception of mild azotemia resolved. This report supports the geographical expansion of canine ehrlichiosis caused by E canis in nonendemic regions of Europe.     

铁苋菜提取物对仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标及肠道菌群的影响

目的:本试验旨在研究铁苋菜提取物对仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标及粪样菌群的影响.方法:选取同一批次的25日龄健康的外三元断乳仔猪120头,平均体重为9.60+0.65 kg/头,随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复10头,公母各半;试验组分别为铁苋菜提取物组Ⅰ和组Ⅱ、抗生素组及对照组,铁苋菜提取物组Ⅰ和组Ⅱ在基础日粮中分...     

Effect of lipid source and bile salts in diet of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., on astaxanthin blood levels

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary lipid and bile acids on astaxanthin absorption in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fish with an average weight of 1500 g were fitted with a dorsal aorta cannula and fed diets containing herring oil, soybean lecithin, lard, or herring oil supplemented with taurocholic acid (2.5 g/kg diet). Each fish was fed all of the experimental diets in successive order to minimize the effect of individual variation. At a given time following the feeding of each diet, blood was collected and analyzed for astaxanthin. Soybean lecithin significantly lowered the absorption of astaxanthin compared to fish fed herring oil. A 20% (p < 0.12) increase in blood astaxanthin was observed when the fish were fed the diet supplemented with taurocholic acid. Feeding lard significantly increased the blood astaxanthin level compared to the control group. It appears that altering the micellar structure by stimulating micellar (taurocholic acid) or mixed micellar (lecithin) systems did not increase the apparent absorption of astaxanthin. However, increasing the phospholipid level may have actually decreased the absorption possibly by lowering the astaxanthin solubility in the micelles. The increased apparent absorption of astaxanthin with lard is possibly linked to the increased content of 16:0, 18:1n − 9 or 18:2n − 6 fatty acids in this diet, or a reduction in very long chain monoenes (20:1n − 9 and 22:1n − 9). This suggests that the solubility of astaxanthin is higher in diets containing higher levels of 16:0 or 18:1n − 1, or alternatively, that reductions in longer chain monoenes (20:1n − 9 and 22:1n − 9) increase the micellar solubility of this pigment.     

Evaluation of oscillometric and Doppler ultrasonic devices for blood pressure measurements in anesthetized and conscious dogs

Two non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) devices (oscillometry and Doppler) were compared to invasive blood pressure using a Bland–Altman analysis, in anesthetized and conscious dogs. When considering the systolic arterial pressure only during general anesthesia, both NIBP devices slightly underestimated the systolic arterial blood pressure however the precision and the limits of agreement for the Doppler were of a greater magnitude. This indicates a worse clinical performance by the Doppler. The performance of both NIBP devices deteriorated as measured in conscious animals. In general, for the oscillometric device, determination of invasive diastolic and mean arterial pressures was better than the invasive systolic arterial pressure. Overall, the oscillometric device satisfied more of the criteria set by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. Based upon these results, the oscillometric device is more reliable than the Doppler in the determination of blood pressure in healthy medium to large breed dogs.     

New method using quantitative PCR to follow the tick blood meal and to assess the anti-feeding effect of topical acaricide against Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs

A 28-day study was conducted to assess the dynamic of blood feeding by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks on dogs treated or not with a novel topical combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene. Dogs were infested weekly through exposure to ticks in crates for 4 h. Ticks were then counted in the crates at 2 h and 4 h post dog exposure. Ticks were also counted and removed from the dogs at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h post tick exposure. The inhibition of blood feeding was assessed by both tick quantification and designing and performing a quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect the canine hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) gene in ticks. The percentage of repellency sensu lato based on the ticks collected in crates at 2 h varied from 4.7% at day 28 to 48.3% at day 7. The immediate mortality rate of the ticks expelled at 2 h varied from 1.5% at day 21 to 31.7% at day 7. The efficacy calculation showed that the acaricidal combination started to kill ticks in as little as 2 h. The average efficacy reached 90.0% at 12 h post crate challenges and 100% at 24 h post exposure in crates. The inclusion of an internal amplification control was used to ensure that no significant template-derived PCR inhibition (≤6.2%) affected the overall results. The reduction of blood feeding was significant at 4 h (>80.0%) and >99.0% at 24 h post tick exposure in the crate. The high repellency rate and the lethal efficacy of CERTIFECT^® resulted in significantly fewer live attached ticks, consequently reducing blood intake and fluid exchanges.     

车前草多糖对雏鸡血液生理生化指标和免疫器官发育的影响

为了研究车前草多糖对雏鸡血液生理生化指标和免疫器官发育的影响,笔者开展了本试验。选择1日龄未免疫白罗曼蛋公鸡100只,随机分为2组(每组50只),即车前草多糖灌喂组和生理盐水对照组。分别于给药后5、10、15、20、28d,每组随机抽取3只鸡,翼下静脉采血并剖杀,采集免疫器官(胸腺、脾脏、法氏囊),进行生理生化指标和免疫器官脏器指数测定及免疫器官组织学观察。试验结果表明,车前草多糖能显著刺激雏鸡的红细胞和白细胞生成,并能显著促进雏鸡免疫器官的发育。     

抗旱王牛的血细胞及生化指标的测定研究

[目的]为了掌握引进的抗旱王牛的血液理化指标。[方法]使用全自动分析仪,选择成年的雌性抗旱王牛和雌性西门塔尔牛各14头,测定了30项血液理化指标,并进行统计分析。[结果]检测结果如下：抗旱王牛的30项血液理化指标中有73.33%（22/30）的指标变异系数小于20%,有20.00%（6/30）的变异系数介于20%～30%,有6.67%（2/30）的变异系数超过30%;西门塔尔的30项血液理化指标中有70.00%（21/30）的指标变异系数小于20%,有20.00%（6/30）的变异系数介于20%～30%,有10.00%（3/30）的变异系数超过30%。西门塔尔牛的LYM水平显著高于抗旱王牛（P〈0.05）;抗旱王牛的GGT、TCHOL、BU、TG水平显著高于西门塔尔牛（P〈0.05）。其他指标差异不显著。[结论]抗旱王牛血液理化测定指标相对较稳定,初步体现了其抗旱耐热的品种特性,但其他特性与优点的体现仍需进一步研究。