DOPPLER SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE DIGITAL BLOOD FLOW IN HORSES WITH LAMINITIS OR SEPTIC PODODERMATITIS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Doppler ultrasonography to monitor vascular blood flow dynamics in defined diseases of the equine digit in a noninvasive way. Doppler sonography was used to evaluate medial digital artery blood flow in eight horses with septic pododermatitis and four horses with laminitis in comparison with 10 horses of a control group. Doppler sonographic measurement and lameness examinations were performed in lame horses before treatment (day 0) and at 3, 6, and 9 days following treatment. Before treatment, blood flow velocities, arterial diameter, and flow volume were significantly higher in the lame horses, while pulsatility indices (PIs) were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference of resistive indices (RI) in the septic pododermatitis group, but these indices were significantly lower in the laminitis group. No significant difference between the two lame groups was recorded. After treatment, blood flow velocities and flow volume decreased significantly and PIs increased significantly in both lame groups, while RI and arterial diameter did not change. No correlation between Doppler parameters and the degree of lameness was found. Doppler sonography can be used to monitor vascular blood flow dynamics in horses suffering from septic pododermatitis and laminitis, while blood flow velocities and PI can serve as parameters for monitoring the course of the disease.     

Benzydamine as a useful substrate of hepatic flavin‐containing monooxygenase activity in veterinary species

Capolongo, F., Santi, A., Anfossi, P., Montesissa, C. Benzydamine as a useful substrate of hepatic flavin‐containing monooxygenase activity in veterinary species. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2885.2009.01145.x. Benzydamine (BZ), a weak base and an indazole derivative with analgesic and antipyretic properties used in human and veterinary medicine, is metabolized in human, rat, cattle and rabbit to a wide range of metabolites. One of the main metabolites, BZ N‐oxide (BZ‐NO), is produced in the liver and brain by flavin‐containing monooxigenases (FMOs), by liver and brain enzymes. To evaluate the suitability of BZ as an FMO probe in veterinary species, BZ metabolism was studied in vitro using liver microsomes from bovine, rabbit and swine. Kinetic parameters, K_m and V_max, of BZ‐NO production, were evaluated to corroborate the pivotal role of FMOs. Inhibition studies were carried out by heat inactivation and by specific FMO chemical inhibitors: trimethylamine and methimazole. The results confirmed the presence of FMO activity in the liver and the role of BZ as a suitable marker of FMO enzyme activities for the veterinary species considered.     

Immunohistochemical characterization of malignant lymphoma in northern pike, Esox lucius L., from Estonian Baltic waters

Abstract. Twenty malignant lymphomas of northern pike, Esox lucius L., from the Baltic coast of Estonia were investigated immunohistochemically using rabbit anti-human polyclonal antibodies against lysozyme (LYS), alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and S-100 protein. Based on the strongly positive reactions to LYS, ACT and S-100 found in a great number of histiocytes, two of these tumours were classified as histocytic diffuse malignant lymphomas. Furthermore, the weaker positive reaction to these antibodies detected in some of the histocytes in 10 other cases of diffuse malignant lymphoma indicates their histocytoid-lymphocytic origin. In addition, the lack of reaction to all antibodies used found in the remaining eight tumours, as well as their general morphological structure, allowed their diagnosis as lymphocytic diffuse malignant lymphomas. Thus, the immunohistochemical reactions to LYS, ACT and S-100 served as a tool for precisely distinguishing between the different types of lymphomas as well as for better understanding their origin.