Online small animal case simulations, a.k.a. the Virtual Veterinary Clinic

Six years of experience at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine using an online, asynchronous, problem-solving small animal case simulation tool are presented. Student satisfaction with the online problem-solving experience was high, and the majority of students felt that the experience was realistic and worthwhile. The effort required to keep the experience realistic required a large investment of time by instructors, which ultimately led to discontinuation of the online course. A summary of features to consider when creating case simulations is presented.     

Ivomec, a treatment against rabbit mange.

The trial with Ivomec as a treatment against sarcoptic mange in rabbits gave very encouraging results. There was 100% clinical recovery in 31 rabbits that were treated with no cases of reinfestation. Even though there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in weight gain between the treated and untreated groups, the efficacy of Ivomec was visually appreciated. Pruritus ceased one week post-treatment while total hair regrowth occurred after 6 weeks.     

P-15 Identification of Malassezia spp. isolated from a cat and cattle, including a new species, M. nana

Preliminary studies showed that lufenuron inhibits chitin synthesis, a dermatophyte cell wall constituent, and may be effective in the treatment of dermatophytosis. Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of lufenuron in the treatment of feline dermatophytosis. Forty-six cats (Persians and mixed-breed cats from 1-month to 4-years old) naturally infected with Microsporum canis were included in this study. Fifteen cats were treated isolated in cages in the veterinary hospital and 31 were treated in their home environment (some with access to the outdoors). Dermatophyte skin lesions were seen in 29 animals while 17 other cats were asymptomatic carriers. Wood's lamp, direct microscopic examination of hairs, fungal culture and skin biopsies were used for the diagnosis. Affected cats and all in-contact animals received lufenuron at a dose of 120 mg/kg every 21 days for four treatments. Of the 29 symptomatic cats treated with lufenuron, 70% recovered within 21 days and 28% within 42 days of initiation of therapy. One cat had only partial recovery and another was euthanized. Negative fungal culture was recorded only after the fourth dose of lufenuron in 98% of affected cats and 100% of asymptomatic carriers. There was no difference in clinical response to lufenuron between the cats treated in their home environment and those treated in the veterinary hospital. Side effects were not observed, thus the drug proved to be safe and effective for the treatment of dermatophytosis.
Funding: Novartis.     

Anterior crossbite correction in a dog using a lingual bar, a labial bow, lingual buttons, and elastic threads.

Anterior crossbite occurs as a result of several conditions. These conditions include retained deciduous teeth, over-crowding, trauma to developing permanent tooth buds, and trauma to erupted teeth. Treatment includes the use of orthodontic appliances and materials to correct the occlusal relationship. This case illustrates the use of a maxillary labial bow, a mandibular lingual bar and lingual buttons to correct an anterior crossbite in a dog.     

Efficacy of a cold-adapted, intranasal, equine influenza vaccine: challenge trials.

A randomised, controlled, double-blind, influenza virus, aerosol challenge of horses was undertaken to determine the efficacy of a cold-adapted, temperature sensitive, modified-live virus, intranasal, equine influenza vaccine. Ninety 11-month-old influenza-na?ve foals were assigned randomly to 3 groups (20 vaccinates and 10 controls per group) and challenged 5 weeks, 6 and 12 months after a single vaccination. Challenges were performed on Day 0 in a plastic-lined chamber. Between Days 1 and 10, animals were examined daily for evidence of clinical signs of influenza. Nasal swabs for virus isolation were obtained on Day 1 and Days 1 to 8 and blood samples for serology were collected on Days 1, 7 and 14. There was no adverse response to vaccination in any animal. Following challenge at 5 weeks and 6 months, vaccinates had significantly lower clinical scores (P = 0.0001 and 0.005, respectively), experienced smaller increases in rectal temperature (P = 0.0008 and 0.0007, respectively) and shed less virus (P<0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively) over fewer days (P<0.0001 and P = 0.002, respectively) than did the controls. After the 12 month challenge, rectal temperatures (P = 0.006) as well as the duration (P = 0.03) and concentration of virus shed (P = 0.04) were significantly reduced among vaccinated animals. The results of this study showed that 6 months after a single dose of vaccine the duration and severity of clinical signs were markedly reduced amongst vaccinated animals exposed to a severe live-virus challenge. Appropriate use of this vaccine should lead to a marked reduction in the frequency, severity and duration of outbreaks of equine influenza in North America.     

Cardiorespiratory effects of a combination of medetomidine, midazolam, and butorphanol in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize cardiorespiratory effects for a combination of medetomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam and to compare magnitude of cardiorespiratory depression with that induced by a commonly used inhalation anesthetic regimen (acepromazine-butorphanol-thiopental-halothane). ANIMALS: 10 clinically normal dogs (2 groups of 5). PROCEDURE: In treated dogs, medetomidine was administered (time, 0 minutes); midazolam and butorphanol were administered when effects of medetomidine were maximal (time, 20), and atipamezole was administered subsequently (time 60). In control dogs, drugs were administered after allowing effects of each agent to be achieved: acepromazine was given at time 0, butorphanol and thiopental were administered at time 35, and halothane was administered from time 45 until 110. Various cardiorespiratory and hematologic variables were measured or calculated. RESULTS: Respiratory rate, arterial and venous pH, venous oxygen content, oxygen consumption, and oxygen delivery decreased significantly below baseline values for treated dogs; end-tidal CO2, arterial and venous P(CO)2, and O2 extraction increased significantly above baseline values. Compared with data obtained after anesthesia, arterial HCO3- concentration, venous P(O2) and S(O2), cardiac output, oxygen extraction, and oxygen delivery appeared more modified in treated dogs. Oxygen consumption and physiologic shunt fraction were less modified in treated dogs than control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Medetomidine-butorphanol-midazolam combination induced respiratory depression, comparable in magnitude to that induced by a widely used inhalation anesthetic regimen. Respiratory variables remained within acceptable limits during anesthesia; however, those associated with cardiovascular function were more severely affected.