Course of experimental infection of canine leishmaniosis: Follow-up and utility of noninvasive diagnostic techniques

This study compares the utility of a molecular diagnosis of experimental CanL on non-invasive samples (urine, conjunctival (CS), oral (OS) and vulvar (VS) swabs) with that of traditional invasive techniques during the course of infection. Eight dogs were experimentally infected with Leishmania infantum and followed monthly for 12 months to assess clinical, clinicopathological, immunological and parasitological variables. Active infection was produced in 100% of the dogs. The animals showed positive bone marrow (BM) cytologies and cultures, clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities and a high specific humoral immune response. The infection was detected at 90 days post-infection (p.i.) by real-time quantitative PCR (rtQ-PCR) on BM in all dogs and in blood in 2 dogs, while anti-L. infantum antibody seroconversion occurred between Days 120 and 180 days p.i. The tissue with the highest L. infantum kDNA load, as detected by rtQ-PCR, was BM (range 381.5–70,000 parasites/ml at the study end), this sample type showing greater sensitivity than peripheral blood (PB). The vulvar swabs used here for the first time to quantify parasite loads in dogs revealed a greater load than oral and conjunctival swabs at one year p.i. Urine samples showed the lowest concentrations of L. infantum DNA (maximum: 8.57 parasites/ml). Our results suggest that for the early detection of infection, adding to serology a test such as rtQ-PCR on OS or VS improves sensitivity and specificity.     

兽医临床上几种无损伤骨矿测定方法简介

无损伤骨矿测定法是活体测定动物或人的骨密度和骨矿含量的一种先进技术。它具有辐射量低或无辐射、精确度高、准确性好的特点 ,已广泛应用于医学临床 ,有的已用于兽医临床。本文简要介绍几种无损伤骨矿测定技术及其在兽医临床上的应用 ,比较其优劣 ,为畜禽骨骼营养代谢、生理、生长发育的研究及其疾病的诊断提供可靠依据     

Veterinary e-CPD: a new model for providing online continuing professional development for the veterinary profession

Continuing professional development (CPD) is widely recognized as an important element in effective lifelong learning for veterinary surgeons. Traditional methods of CPD do not suit all learners, as issues such as location, time, cost, and structure sometimes prevent individuals from completing the required number of CPD study hours per year. The rapid development of the Internet, and with it the increasing scope and sophistication of e-learning, provides new opportunities to address some of these constraints on the provision of CPD. This article describes one way in which e-learning has been deployed effectively to support veterinary surgeons in practice. Since 2003, a series of six-week e-CPD courses has been offered by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in an online format, with no face-to-face teaching component. Participants enrolled in courses from May 2006 to January 2007 were found to come from 23 different countries. Analysis of feedback forms indicates a general satisfaction with this new way of studying, with a significant majority of participants stating that they would wish to use this approach again in future. The feedback indicates that e-learning can offer an effective alternative to traditional face-to-face courses and that its popularity is likely to grow in future as veterinarians become increasing familiar with and confident about working online.     

New perspectives in cardiology: pharmacodynamic classification of antiarrhythmic drugs

Recent advancements in cardiac pharmacology and physiology have led to the identification of many new antiarrhythmic drugs and a better understanding of basic arrhythmogenic mechanisms. These parallel developments prompted a new nomenclature system for classifying the clinically important antiarrhythmic drugs according to their predominant electrophysiologic actions in cardiac cells. Antiarrhythmic drugs are now grouped into 4 main classes: classes I through IV. Class I agents comprise the standard membrane-stabilizing drugs such as lidocaine, quinidine, and procainamide; newer class I agents include disopyramide, aprindine, tocainide, and flecainide. Class II agents decrease sympathoadrenal excitation of the heart, and the clinically relevant members of this type act through blockade of the cardiac beta 1-adrenergic receptors; propranolol is the prototype. Class III agents selectively prolong the cardiac action potential and refractory period, and bretylium and amiodarone represent this group. Class IV agents are the calcium entry blocking drugs such as verapamil. An understanding of this classification system is essential to the internist and cardiologist who are beset with an emerging array of new antiarrhythmic drugs and affiliated pharmacodynamic terminologies.     

New perspectives in cardiology: recent advances in antiarrhythmic drug therapy

During the past decade, advances in basic and applied cardiology have led to the introduction of several new antiarrhythmic drugs that have distinct clinical advantages over their older counterparts. These therapeutic advantages comprise either a more favorable pharmacokinetic disposition in the patient or new and perhaps novel mechanisms of antiarrhythmic actions. The class IV agent verapamil, for example, selectively blocks the slow inward Ca++ current in excitable tissues and this action is proving to be quite effective in controlling supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Tocainide is a newly approved class I agent that exerts lidocaine-like effectiveness in treating serious ventricular arrhythmias. Unlike lidocaine, however, tocainide is not restricted to intensive care because it is effective after oral administration and has comparatively longer duration of antiarrhythmic action. Other recently approved or investigational agents include bretylium and amiodarone (class III), and aprindine, mexiletine, and disopyramide (class I). Along with clinical advantages, however, each drug has a characteristic pharmacologic-toxicologic profile and resulting spectrum of therapeutic application for only particular cardiac dysrhythmias. The advantages and disadvantages of each compound should be weighed equally when the new antiarrhythmic drugs are assessed as therapeutic alternatives for the older ones.     

A novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide providing heterologous protection in mice

Swine influenza viruses (SwIVs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs, resulting in a significant economic burden. Moreover, pigs have been considered to be a possible mixing vessel in which novel strains loom. Here, we developed and evaluated a novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide (M2e-MAP) as a supplemental antigen for inactivated H3N2 vaccine to provide cross-protection against two main subtypes of SwIVs, H1N1 and H3N2. The novel tetra-branched MAP was constructed by fusing four copies of M2e to one copy of foreign T helper cell epitopes. A high-yield reassortant H3N2 virus was generated by plasmid based reverse genetics. The efficacy of the novel H3N2 inactivated vaccines with or without M2e-MAP supplementation was evaluated in a mouse model. M2e-MAP conjugated vaccine induced strong antibody responses in mice. Complete protection against the heterologous swine H1N1 virus was observed in mice vaccinated with M2e-MAP combined vaccine. Moreover, this novel peptide confers protection against lethal challenge of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). Taken together, our results suggest the combined immunization of reassortant inactivated H3N2 vaccine and the novel M2e-MAP provided cross-protection against swine and human viruses and may serve as a promising approach for influenza vaccine development.     

Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in the dog and cat: A review

Literature concerning anaesthesia for Caesarean section in the dog and cat is reviewed. The maternal and foetal requirements for a successful method of anaesthesia are discussed with reference to general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, neuroleptanaesthesia and dissociative anaesthesia. A method for evaluating the technique used is described.     

半胱胺——一种新型前生素

国内多项试验表明反刍动物口服适量半胱胺,可提高不同年龄、性别的绵羊增重和泌乳牛的奶产量。已证明与单胃动物一样,通过耗竭脑肠肽生长抑素,除了使生长激素及相关代谢激素水平升高外,同时还增强了瘤胃代谢。因此,本文认为半胱胺促进反刍动物和猪的生产性能,可能是神经内分泌和胃肠道微生物共同整合的结果;半胱胺可认为是一种新型的强化的前生素(益生元)。     

Application of Campylobacter molecular classification and typing techniques in veterinary medicine: old-established methods and new perspectives

In this review the application and usefulness of Campylobacter genotypical classification and typing in veterinary medicine will be discussed.While there is a large area of overlapping applications between the veterinary and the medical field, several differences exist, as the spectrum of veterinary pathogens is different from the human and contaminated food of healthy animal origin may cause disease in man. In general, genotyping in the veterinary field can be applied in three different areas: (a) purely diagnostic purposes for classification of Campylobacter species and subspecies, (b) typing methods useful for monitoring or surveillance of animals as well as food products of animal origin, and (c) typing methods that can be applied during outbreaks and for source tracing. In addition, typing methods applied in areas (b) and (c) should be distinguished in regard to local short-term and global long-term epidemiology, respectively. While a whole plethora of discriminative typing methods are available, classification tools of certain species and subspecies are still missing. Perspectively, as the genomes of many relevant Campylobacter species have now been sequenced, this will help to identify several species specific loci, the products of which should be available to develop easy and fast applicable diagnostic tools. Global cooperation, sharing of strains and databases should close the currently existing gaps in Campylobacter identification tools.     

Radionuclides in lung diagnostics: A new approach

Summary

With a ^99mTc‐labelled aerosol an inhalation (ventilation) image of the lungs was obtained. A lung perfusion image was obtained with ^99mTc‐labelled macro‐aggregates. The data from the gamma camera were stored in a computer and the inhalation‐perfusion (I/P) ratio was calculated for the total lung as well as for one half another selected region, and a local (pixel) area. In the anaesthetised dog in sternal recumbency, the I/P ratio decreased from the cranial to the caudal lung regions. Hence in the dog gravity is not the only determinant of the I/P ratio distribution, as it is assumed to be in man. Position and anaesthesia appeared to influence the distribution of I/P ratios within the lung.     

Cardiovascular Disease in Hamsters: Review and Retrospective Study

A considerable literature on hamsters and their diseases is available, primarily pertaining to laboratory hamsters, and more particularly to the Syrian (golden) hamster (Mesocritecus auratus). Because hamsters sold in the pet trade are essentially of similar strains, this article will review diseases and lesions of the heart reported in hamsters and will present data on conditions submitted to our diagnostic pathology service. The literature review is not meant to be comprehensive but will cover commonly reported natural disease conditions and a few experimentally produced diseases.     

应用新技术提高规模化猪场猪群健康水平

疫病复杂而难以防治是当前影响规模化猪场生猪生产发展的大问题。采用常规的饲养管理和药物防治也难以完全奏效。有条件的猪场采用新的技术,如人工授精、全进全出、早期隔离断奶、多点隔离饲养、母猪分胎次饲养、无特定病原猪培育技术等,都能较好地阻断疫病传染链,达到控制、净化疫病,提高猪群健康的目的。