An unusual case of feline acute corneal hydrops: atypical disease presentation and possible in vivo detection of Descemet's membrane detachment in the cat's unaffected eye

A 1‐year‐old, female spayed, domestic shorthair cat presented for blepharospasm of the right eye. Slit‐lamp biomicroscopic examination showed focal corneal ulceration and presumptive keratomalacia of the right eye. Examination of the left eye was normal apart from a focal endothelial opacity. Within the first 24 h of medical management, the right eye developed marked corneal edema and globular anterior protrusion of the corneal surface consistent with feline acute corneal hydrops (FACH). Surgical management consisted of a bridge conjunctival graft, nictitating membrane flap, and temporary tarsorrhaphy. Resolution of corneal edema and pain occurred in the right eye within 24 days. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) of the anterior segment was performed in both eyes. Conjunctival tissue from the bridge graft precluded examination of deeper corneal structures in the right eye. The left eye displayed a focal separation of the corneal endothelium and Descemet's membrane from the overlying stroma. These SD‐OCT findings are similar to the analogous syndrome found in humans and represent a potential etiology for FACH of the right eye in the case presented here. Unfortunately, the cat was lost to follow‐up and the progression of this lesion to FACH in the left eye could not be determined.     

Effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide on inflammatory responses,milk production and milk quality in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory responses and milk production and quality in lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in a cross‐over experimental design. Cows were infused intravenously either with saline solution or with saline solution containing LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 at a dose of 0.01 μg LPS/kg body weight for approximately 6 hr each day during a seven‐day trial. The clinical symptoms and milk production performance were observed. Milk samples were analysed for conventional components, fatty acids and amino acids. And jugular vein and mammary vein plasma samples were analysed for concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins. LPS infusion decreased feed intake and milk yield. An increase in body temperature was observed after LPS infusion. LPS infusion also increased plasma concentrations of interleukin‐1β, serum amyloid A, LPS‐binding protein, C‐reactive protein and haptoglobin. LPS infusion decreased the contents of some fatty acids, such as C17:1, C18:0, C18:1n9 (trans) and C18:2n6 (trans), and most amino acids except for methionine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, tyrosine and proline in the milk. The results indicated that a continued low dose infusion of LPS can induce an inflammatory response, decrease milk production and reduce milk quality.     

猪油酸-急性肺损伤模型的建立

试验以猪为试验对象建立油酸-急性肺损伤模型。对油酸的注射剂量、宰杀方式进行比较优选;然后选取12头50日龄的猪,随机分为对照组和油酸组;处理后观察猪的呼吸状况,并在处理后不同时相点（1、3和6 h）宰杀猪,对肺组织的结构变化和肺含水量进行观察分析。结果表明,与对照组相比,注射适量油酸后,猪呼吸方式由胸腹式呼吸变为急促的腹式呼吸,呼吸频率明显升高;在注射后的3个时相点剖检发现,油酸组猪的肺组织出现典型急性肺损伤的病理形态。因此,在本试验条件下,以0.05 ml/kg体重,少量分次,耳静脉注射油酸成功建立了油酸-急性肺损伤模型,为进一步开展有关猪肺损伤及肺免疫防御的研究奠定了基础。     

Response to lipopolysaccharide in Octodon degus pups produces age‐related sickness behavior but does not have effects in juveniles

During vertebrate development, the immune function is inefficient and is mainly controlled by innate defense. While there have been detailed studies of various aspects of innate immune function, the effects of this function in the growth of vertebrates is still not well known. Similarly, there is little information regarding how early endotoxin exposure would affect juvenile phenotypes, specifically in a non‐model mammal like a precocial rodent. We evaluated the response to an antigen and its cost in offspring of the rodent Octodon degus. We inoculated pups at 4 different ages (8, 15, 22 and 30 days after birth) with an antigen to determine the ontogeny and costs of the response to an endotoxin. We assessed changes in body mass, body temperature, sickness behavior and the levels of a key mediator of the inflammatory response, the cytokine interleukin‐1β. We also determined the effects of early endotoxin exposure on the resting metabolic rate of juvenile animals (i.e. 90 days after birth). The cytokine levels, body mass and body temperature were unaffected by time of inoculation and treatment. However, pups subjected to inoculation at 22 days after birth with the antigen showed reduced locomotion. Juvenile resting metabolic rate was not affected by early endotoxin exposure. These results suggest that the magnitude of O. degus responses would not change with age. We discuss whether the lack of effect of the response on body mass or body condition is caused by environmental variables or by the precocial characteristics of O. degus.     

Protein characterization using electrophoresis and immunofixation; a case‐based review of dogs and cats

Protein electrophoresis and immunotyping can be a useful adjunct to the standard biochemical techniques for characterizing serum and urine proteins. This paper reviews currently available and commonly used methods for diagnostic protein electrophoresis, including both agarose gel and capillary zone electrophoretic techniques and total protein assessments. Immunofixation and immunosubtraction methods for identification of immunoglobulin location and class are also presented. Practical application of quality assurance and quality control strategies in compliance with American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) best practices are discussed. Commonly encountered serum and urine electrophoretic diagnostic patterns, including electrophoretically normal, acute‐phase protein responses, polyclonal gammopathies, restricted polyclonal/oligoclonal gammopathies, paraproteinemias (monoclonal or biclonal gammopathies), and Bence‐Jones proteinurias are also reviewed using relevant case material. Cases in which immunofixation electrophoresis are particularly useful are highlighted, and methodologies to more accurately quantify serum monoclonal proteins (M‐proteins), monitoring tests commonly used in human medicine, are discussed.     

急性热应激对山羊血液生化指标及血淋巴细胞热休克蛋白70家族基因表达的影响

旨在研究急性热应激对山羊抗氧化能力、免疫功能和血淋巴细胞热休克蛋白70(HSP70)家族基因表达的影响。本试验选取5只健康、体况接近的(12±0.5)月龄波尔山羊×关中奶山羊杂交F1母羊,饲养于环控舱内(温度维持20℃,相对湿度60%),适应5d。第6天利用环控舱对5只试验羊进行38℃急性热应激处理12h,采集热应激前(0h,20℃)和热应激后2、4、8和12h试验羊血样。分别利用比色法测定血清抗氧化指标(总抗氧化能力、超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性和丙二醛含量),ELISA法测定血清免疫指标(免疫球蛋白和细胞因子含量),实时荧光定量PCR法测定血淋巴细胞HSP70家族基因(HSPA1A、HSPA6和HSPA8)mRNA的表达量。结果显示:1)热应激时间对血清抗氧化指标有显著影响。与热应激前0h相比,血清T-AOC(P<0.05)、SOD(P<0.05)和GSH-Px(P<0.01)活性均在热应激8h后显著下降,MDA含量在热应激4h后显著增加(P<0.05)。2)热应激时间对血清免疫指标有显著影响。与热应激前0h相比,血清TNF-α、IL-1β、IFN-γ和IL-2含量分别在热应激4、8、8和4h后显著增加(P<0.05);IL-4(P<0.01)、IgG(P<0.01)、IgM(P<0.01)和IgA(P<0.05)含量分别在热应激12、4、4和4h后显著下降。3)热应激时间显著提高血淋巴细胞中HSP70家族基因(HSPA1A、HSPA6和HSPA8)的表达量。HSPA1AmRNA表达量呈先升高后下降的趋势,在热应激4h时达到峰值,各检测时间点均显著高于应激前水平(P<0.01);HSPA6mRNA表达量在热应激2h时显著升高(P<0.01),4h后恢复到应激前水平(P>0.05);HSPA8mRNA表达量在热应激4(P<0.05)、8(P<0.01)、12h(P<0.01)时显著高于应激前水平。在本试验条件下,38℃急性热应激能够抑制山羊的免疫和抗氧化功能;提高血淋巴细胞HSPA1A、HSPA6和HSPA8基因的表达量,其中HSPA1A对热应激温度和时间更敏感,可作为山羊热应激早期的分子标志物。     

The effect of intravenous fresh frozen plasma administration on fibrinogen and albumin concentrations in sick neonatal foals

This study investigated the immediate (6 h or less) effects of fibrinogen and albumin contained in transfused equine origin fresh frozen plasma on those proteins when measured in sick neonatal foals. Fibrinogen and albumin concentrations were measured in the administered plasma and in 31 sick foals at admission to a referral neonatal intensive care unit. Additional samples were obtained from the foals at 2 and 6 h following transfusion. No changes in albumin concentration were recognised. The main determinant of fibrinogen concentration following transfusion was the concentration of fibrinogen in the foal at admission. Importantly, intravenous transfusion of equine fresh frozen plasma did not result in immediate (6 h or less) increases or decreases in the fibrinogen concentration in the recipient foals. Fibrinogen from the donor contained within transfused plasma will not directly affect fibrinogen concentrations measured at later times.