Evaluation of Lameness Associated with Arthroscopy and Arthrotomy of the Normal Canine Cubital Joint

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate gait, range of motion (ROM), and lameness in normal dogs after arthroscopy or arthrotomy of the cubital joint. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: Fourteen mature, healthy dogs. METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Seven underwent arthrotomy and 7 underwent arthroscopy of the left cubital joint. Dogs were evaluated using kinetic gait assessment, subjective evaluation scores, and cubital joint ROM. Evaluations were performed before and on days 2, 4, 7, 15, 22, and 29 after surgery. Radiographs made before and after the surgical procedures were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant differences in peak vertical force and vertical impulse force were not observed between surgery groups (P =.88 and.49, respectively). Joint ROM was not significantly different between groups (P =.09 for flexion and.91 for extension). For all dogs, joint ROM and radiographic evaluations remained normal throughout the study period. Significant differences in subjective lameness scores, weight bearing, or pain were not observed between groups (P >/ or =.19 for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, significant differences between dogs undergoing arthroscopy or arthrotomy of the cubital joint with respect to postoperative pain, weight bearing, joint ROM, or temporal improvement of ground reaction forces were not observed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study suggest that postoperative morbidity should not be a factor when making a decision to perform either arthroscopy or arthrotomy for exploration of the medial compartment of the canine cubital joint.     

益生菌牙膏缓解犬牙菌斑和牙结石的研究

[目的] 评价某公司生产的一款宠物用益生菌牙膏对犬牙菌斑和牙结石形成的缓解功效。[方法] 选取口腔健康、体况良好的成年比格犬10只,配对设计随机分为阴性对照组（n=5）和益生菌牙膏组（n=5）;阴性对照组仅饲喂犬粮,益生菌牙膏组每次餐后给予约4 g/只益生菌牙膏,每天2次,连续使用28 d;试验第0天对所有试验犬牙齿进行洁牙抛光处理,试验第14天和第29天分别对比格犬牙菌斑进行评分,第29天对牙结石进行评分并检测口腔气体挥发性化合物（H₂S+CH₃SH）浓度;当牙菌斑和牙结石评分均值以及口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度≥15%时,定义为益生菌牙膏效果显著。[结果] 与阴性对照组相比,益生菌牙膏组在给予益生菌牙膏第14天时,牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为-0.36%（P>0.05）,第29天牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为21.47%（P<0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组牙结石评分均值减少幅度为6.54%（P>0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组犬口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度为-44.59% （P>0.05）。[结论] 在试验期内,该款益生菌牙膏能够有效抑制犬牙菌斑的形成,但不具有减少牙结石形成和降低口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度的功效。     

Field Safety and Efficacy of Protamine Zinc Recombinant Human Insulin for Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in Cats

Background: This study describes the efficacy of a new protamine zinc recombinant human insulin (PZIR) preparation for treating diabetic cats. Objective: To evaluate effects of PZIR on control of glycemia in cats with newly diagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Animals: One hundred and thirty‐three diabetic cats 120 newly diagnosed and 13 previously treated. Methods: Prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial. Cats were treated with PZIR twice daily for 45 days. Control of glycemia was assessed on days 7, 14, 30, and 45 by evaluation of change in water consumption, frequency of urination, appetite, and body weight, serum fructosamine concentration, and blood glucose concentrations determined 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 hours after administration of PZIR. Adjustments in dosage of PZIR were made as needed to control glycemia. Results: PZIR administration resulted in a significant decrease in 9‐hour mean blood glucose (199 ± 114 versus 417 ± 83 mg/dL, X± SD, P < .001) and serum fructosamine (375 ± 117 versus 505 ± 96 μmol/L, P < .001) concentration and a significant increase in mean body weight (5.9 ± 1.4 versus 5.4 ± 1.5 kg, P= .017) in 133 diabetic cats at day 45 compared with day 0, respectively. By day 45, polyuria and polydipsia had improved in 79% (105 of 133), 89% (118 of 133) had a good body condition, and 9‐hour mean blood glucose concentration, serum fructosamine concentration, or both had improved in 84% (112 of 133) of the cats compared with day 0. Hypoglycemia (<80 mg/dL) was identified in 151 of 678, 9‐hour serial blood glucose determinations and in 85 of 133 diabetic cats. Hypoglycemia causing clinical signs was confirmed in 2 diabetic cats. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: PZIR is effective for controlling glycemia in diabetic cats and can be used as an initial treatment or as an alternative treatment in diabetic cats that do not respond to treatment with other insulin preparations.     

Research Progress on the Evaluation Methods of Safety and Efficacy of Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms. When they are administrated in adequate amounts, they can have beneficial effects on the host. They are widely applied in food fermentation and feed industry. With the appearance of commercial probiotics, more concerns are raised on the safety and efficacy evaluation of probiotics. At present, the evaluation of probiotics are mainly about the safety and efficacy, and both of them can be done in vivo and in vitro. When developing probiotic products, many companies rarely make a comprehensive safety evaluation of strains, and the evaluation index and methods used by various researchers from different countries are different. Besides, standards in efficacy evaluation of probiotics are not uniform either. In order to solve the problems of probiotics evaluation, it is necessary for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the probiotics systematically and scientifically to establish a comprehensive evaluation method. From the aspects of potential harm and efficacy of probiotics, the authors summarizes recent developments in some aspects of safety evaluation in vitro including hemolytic, evaluation of virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and toxic metabolites-producing ability, in functional characteristics evaluation including resistance to acid and bile, tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal tract, adhesion capacity to gastrointestinal mucosa and epithelial cells, antimicrobial activity, and in safety and functional characteristics in vivo. The aim of this paper is to provide references to build a comprehensive technical system and standard of evaluation of probiotics.     

益生菌安全性和有效性评价方法的研究进展

益生菌是指一类活的、摄入足够量就能够对人体产生有益作用的微生物,目前广泛应用于食品和饲料工业领域。随着市场上商品化益生菌的不断出现,如何评价一个菌株的安全性及有效性成为人们关注的问题。目前,益生菌的评价主要从安全性和有效性入手,安全性和有效性评价又包括体内和体外的评价。很多企业在开发益生菌产品时很少对菌株做出全面的安全性评价,而且各国研究者采用的评价指标和评价方法也不尽相同。对于有效性评价,同样也没有统一的评价标准。针对目前益生菌评价存在的问题,亟需建立一套完善的评价方法,对益生菌的安全性和有效性进行系统、科学地评价。作者从益生菌可能产生的潜在危害及功效方面出发,着重论述了益生菌的溶血性、毒力因子、抗生素抗性和产有毒代谢产物的体外安全性评价方法,耐酸、耐胆盐、耐人工胃肠液、胃肠黏膜黏附性和抑菌活性的体外有效性评价方法,及体内的安全性和有效性评价方法的研究进展,期望为建立完善的益生菌评价技术体系和标准提供参考。     

中药精液消毒剂的消杀效果及安全性评价研究

为了解新研制的中药精液消毒剂的消毒效果和安全性,本研究开展了体外抑菌杀毒和安全性综合评价实验。体外药效学实验显示:该消毒剂对大肠杆菌高敏,对门氏菌、禽巴氏杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌均中敏,4种菌的体外MIC值分别为31.3、62.5、62.5和31.3 mg/mL;消毒剂按1∶400及以上浓度与新城疫病毒互作,可在5 min内对该病毒有100%杀灭率。安全性评价实验显示:该消毒剂的小鼠急性毒性LD50值>5000 mg/Kg,无毒性;对兔子的皮肤和眼睛染毒,无刺激;消毒剂按1∶10浓度及以下,对常温稀释保存的种公鸡精液中精子生存指数影响不大。临床应用实验显示:在冻融条件下,该消毒剂1∶10浓度组的种公鸡精液中精子存活率要显著高于其它试验组(P<0.01);消毒剂按1∶10浓度对种公鸡精液稀释消毒,种蛋受精率和孵化率都有明显提高,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果表明:该消毒剂不仅对种公鸡精液中常见病原微生物具有较好的杀灭效果,而且安全无刺激、无毒,对种鸡繁育无不良影响。     

水貂犬瘟热Vero细胞活疫苗(CDV3-CL株,悬浮培养)临床安全性和免疫效力评价

为评价水貂犬瘟热Vero细胞活疫苗(CDV₃-CL株,悬浮培养)冻干制剂在临床应用中的安全性和免疫效果,分别在吉林、辽宁两省选择饲养规模相似的3个毛皮兽场进行疫苗安全性(10头份)和免疫效力实验(1头份)研究,接种后观察动物的临床症状,检测抗体水平并随机选择部分水貂进行攻毒试验。结果显示,超剂量接种水貂未见有明显的临床症状,对水貂的生产性能无明显影响;水貂免疫疫苗后21 d即可获得达到免疫保护的抗体水平;免疫180 d仍能维持较高水平的抗体,且能够保护动物抵抗强毒攻击。试验表明,水貂犬瘟热Vero细胞活疫苗(CDV₃-CL株,悬浮培养)冻干制剂具有较好的临床保护效果。     

Evaluation of Hemostatic Abnormalities in Canine Spirocercosis and Its Association with Systemic Inflammation

Background

Canine spirocercosis is caused by the nematode Spirocerca lupi and is characterized by esophageal fibro‐inflammatory nodules that may undergo neoplastic transformation. No sensitive and specific laboratory assays other than histopathology have been reported to differentiate non‐neoplastic from neoplastic disease.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Dogs with spirocercosis will have evidence of hypercoagulability based on thromboelastography (TEG)‐derived maximal amplitude (MA); increased MA will be correlated with increased acute phase protein (APP) concentrations (C‐reactive protein [CRP] and fibrinogen); increased MA and APPs will be exacerbated with neoplastic spirocercosis.

Animals

Thirty‐nine client‐owned dogs with naturally occurring spirocercosis and 15 sex‐matched healthy controls.

Methods

A prospective comparative study evaluating TEG, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, antithrombin (AT) activity, platelet count and D‐dimer concentration, and APPs of dogs with non‐neoplastic (n = 24) and neoplastic (n = 15) spirocercosis compared to control dogs.

Results

Median MA was significantly increased in the non‐neoplastic group (P < .01) and neoplastic group (P < .01) compared to the controls. Both APPs were significantly increased in the neoplastic group compared to the non‐neoplastic and control groups. MA was strongly correlated with fibrinogen (r = 0.85, P < .001) and CRP (r = 0.73, P < .001). An MA >76 mm provided 96% specificity and 73% sensitivity for differentiation of disease state.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Canine spirocercosis is associated with increased TEG variables, MA and α, and decreased AT activity, which may indicate a hypercoagulable state seemingly more severe with neoplastic transformation. MA was correlated with APP in dogs with spirocercosis and can be used as an adjunctive test to support the suspicion of neoplastic transformation.     

Evaluation of Prognostic Factors and Sequential Combination Chemotherapy With Doxorubicin for Canine Lymphoma

Fifty-five dogs with lymphoma were treated using a doxorubicin-based sequential combination chemotherapy protocol. Complete response, partial response, and no response were seen in 46, 4, and 5 dogs, respectively. The overall median remission duration and survival times were 36 and 51 weeks, respectively. Age, sex, weight, World Health Organization stage, World Health Organization substage (i.e., a = not ill, b = ill), serum calcium concentration, blood urea nitrogen concentration, breed, and protocol alteration secondary to toxicity were evaluated for prognostic significance. Univariate analysis of prognostic factors identified sex, World Health Organization substage, and serum calcium as statistically significant ( P ≤ .05) variables for both survival and remission duration. Upon multivariate analysis, only substage ( P = .036) was a significant prognostic factor for remission duration, whereas, both substage ( P = .006) and sex ( P = .005) were significant prognostic factors for survival. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1993; 7:289–295. Copyright © 1993 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)     

Laboratory and Clinical Evaluation of a Feia Method for Canine Serum Progesterone Assay

The evaluation of progesterone (P4) concentration is a valuable tool in assessing physiological reproductive events and reproductive disorders in bitches. A reliable and rapid (preferable, point of care) determination of P4 is advisable in most cases. Aims of this study were to evaluate a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay (FEIA) for canine serum P4 concentration by (i) the agreement with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), (ii) the association with vaginal cytology and (iii) the accuracy in the prediction of the parturition date calculated from the estimated day of ovulation. Serum samples were collected from client‐owned bitches presented between 2011 and 2014 for the evaluation of their oestrous cycle, pregnancy or reproductive disorders. The agreement between FEIA and LC/MS/MS, evaluated on 19 samples, was statistically significant (R² = 95.7%, p < 0.001), although FEIA showed significantly higher values than LC/MS/MS (p < 0.05). In the different phases of oestrous cycle, as determined by vaginal cytology, P4 concentrations (by FEIA) were statistically different (p < 0.05): anoestrus (n = 7) 0.38 ± 0.14 ng/ml, proestrus (n = 14) 1.04 ± 0.67 ng/ml and oestrus (n = 72) 6.8 ± 7.26 ng/ml. Mean pregnancy length from the estimated day of ovulation was 62.9 ± 1.8 days. In 13 of 22 (59.1%), 19 of 22 (86.3%) and 21 of 22 (95.5%) bitches pregnancy lasted 63 ± 1, 63 ± 2 and 63 ± 3 days, respectively. Three pregnancies were outside the 61–65 days range (60, 60 and 67 days). In conclusion, the FEIA method employed can be considered reliable and, in association with vaginal cytology, effective in evaluating the canine oestrous cycle.     

Efficacy of Florfenicol for Control of Mortality Associated with Edwardsiella ictaluri in Three Species of Catfish

The efficacy of florfenicol for control of mortality associated with Edwardsiella icatluri was studied in fingerlings of Channel Catfish Ictalurus puntatus (Delta strain), Blue Catfish I. furcatus (D&B strain), and a hybrid catfish (Delta strain Channel Catfish × D&B strain Blue Catfish). On day 0, fish were immersion challenged in 65-L aquaria. For each of the three species of catfish, 10 aquaria were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, either treated with florfenicol at 0 mg/kg of body weight (unmedicated feed) or at 10 mg/kg (medicated feed). Fish were treated for 10 consecutive days, monitored for mortality during this treatment period, and observed for 14 d afterwards. Post observation, all survivors were humanely euthanized in tricaine methanesulfonate, cultured for E. ictaluri, and examined for gross pathology. The mean cumulative percent mortality from enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) challenge among the three genotypes of catfish did not differ between Blue Catfish, hybrid, and Channel Catfish in treated or control groups. However, the florfenicol-treated fish had a significantly lower mean cumulative mortality (6%) than the controls (78%). All genotypes of catfish tested were responsive to treatment with florfenicol-medicated feed for control of mortality associated with ESC. There were no significant differences in mortality associated with hybrid catfish, blue catfish, and Channel Catfish (Delta strain).

Received July 20, 2014; accepted October 10, 2014     

Evaluation of a Portable Meter to Measure Ketonemia and Comparison with Ketonuria for the Diagnosis of Canine Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Background: The diagnosis of canine diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) usually is based on measurement of urinary acetoacetate (ketonuria). In humans, this test is less sensitive and specific than blood 3-β-hydroxybutyrate (ketonemia) evaluation.
Hypothesis: Ketonemia measurement using a portable meter is more accurate than ketonuria determination with a dipstick to diagnose canine DKA.
Animals: Seventy-two client-owned diabetic dogs with ketonemia, ketonuria, or both.
Methods: Prospective observational study. Based on blood bicarbonate concentration and anion gap, dogs were divided into 2 groups: patients with DKA ( n = 25); patients with diabetic ketosis ( n = 47). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR) at different cut-off points were determined for both ketonemia and ketonuria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the accuracy of each diagnostic test to diagnose DKA.
Results: With regard to ketonemia, cut-off values of 2.3 and 4.3 mmol/L revealed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, respectively, whereas cut-off values of 2.8 and 3.5 mmol/L showed a −LR of 0.05 and a + LR of 13.16, respectively. With regard to ketonuria, a cut-off value of 1+ revealed 92% sensitivity, 40% specificity, and −LR of 0.20, whereas a cut-off value of 3+ revealed 44% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and +LR of 6.89. The areas under the ROC curves for the ketonemia and ketonuria tests were significantly different (0.97 and 0.81, respectively, P = .003).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of ketonemia is accurate and more effective than measurement of ketonuria to diagnose canine DKA.     

Evaluation of Cabergoline and Buserelin Efficacy for Oestrous Induction in the Bitch

The purpose of this work was to compare two different protocols of oestrous induction, using either a dopamine agonist (cabergoline) or a GnRH agonist (buserelin) in anoestrus bitches. The clinical trial involved 22 Beagle bitches, randomly allotted to two treatment groups: group A (n = 12) was orally administered cabergoline (Galastop^®; Centralvet‐Vetem, Milan, Italy; 5 μg/kg SID), until the onset of cytological oestrus or for a maximum of 30 days and group B (n = 10) was treated with buserelin acetate, (Suprefact^®; Aventis Pharma, Milan, Italy), administered subcutaneously t.i.d., at 1.5 μg/kg for 11 days and 0.75 μg/kg for the following 3 days. Blood samples were collected twice a week to measure progesterone and prolactin concentration. Both cabergoline and buserelin produced a significant early decline in prolactin concentration (p < 0.01), but the effect of cabergoline lasted longer. Progesterone concentration was significantly affected by buserelin administration, showing a significant increase (p < 0.01) from day 3 to day 6 of treatment. Cabergoline confirmed its effectiveness in inducing oestrus as 10 of 12 bitches responded to the treatment, were mated and whelped. On the contrary, oestrus was observed in only three of 10 buserelin‐treated bitches and in two of them 7 and 13 days after the end of treatment. These same two bitches accepted mating and conceived. The results suggest that in a clinical setting, dopaminergic treatment is the treatment of choice as it yields more consistent results and involves a much easier administration protocol.     

柏芩提取液的药效学及对奶牛子宫内膜炎的疗效评价

柏芩提取液是由黄柏、黄芩、红花、党参等组成,为了探讨其对奶牛子宫内膜炎的治疗作用,采用实验性家兔子宫内膜炎模型进行柏芩提取液的主要药效学研究。确定药效作用后,按照农业农村部颁布的《防治奶牛临床子宫内膜炎的抗微生物兽药的靶动物安全性和有效性试验指导原则》对其进行奶牛子宫内膜炎的临床疗效评价。药效学试验结果表明,与模型组比较,柏芩提取液能明显改善实验性子宫内膜炎家兔的临床症状,血液白细胞计数分类、子宫分泌物涂片镜检、尿液及子宫分泌物化学检查结果趋于正常,并且能够减轻子宫充血、炎性细胞浸润、上皮细胞脱落等组织病理学改变。临床疗效试验结果表明,给药后第10天,柏芩提取液高、中剂量组的治愈率极显著高于低剂量组（P<0.01）,且与阳性药物对照组无显著差异（P>0.05）;各试验组的总有效率差异均不显著（P>0.05）。给药后第21天,柏芩提取液高、中剂量组的治愈率显著高于低剂量组（P<0.05）,且与阳性药物对照组差异不显著（P>0.05）;各试验组的总有效率未见明显差异（P>0.05）。以上结果证明柏芩提取液对实验性家兔子宫内膜炎和临床奶牛子宫内膜炎具有良好的治疗作用,其中1.5和1.0 g/mL浓度（30 mL/次）对临床病例的治疗效果明显,与土霉素效果相似,0.5 g/mL浓度效果不明显。本研究为其进一步研究和开发应用奠定了基础。     

猪粪与玉米秸秆好氧堆肥处理及其安全性评价

【目的】探讨以不同比例的猪粪和玉米秸秆为原料进行好氧堆肥对堆肥质量的影响,并对堆肥产品进行安全评价,为猪粪与秸秆的资源化利用研究提供参考。【方法】以猪粪和玉米秸秆为材料,分别按猪粪和玉米秸秆体积比4：6（A组）、6：4（B组）和8：2（C组）混合堆肥。堆肥期共55 d,每天记录堆体和环境温度,在第0、5、15、25、35、45、55天采集堆体样品,并测定样品的含水量、pH和种子发芽指数,以及第0和55天养分含量（全磷、全钾、总氮）、有机质含量、重金属含量（总砷、总汞、总铅、总镉、总铬）、粪大肠菌群数和蛔虫卵死亡率。【结果】试验A、B和C组堆肥温度随着堆肥时间的增加均呈先上升后下降趋势,各组间差异不显著（P>0.05）;含水量随堆肥时间增加均不断减少,各组间差异不显著（P>0.05）;pH均在7.5~9.1之间波动,变化趋势基本一致,各组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。试验A、B和C组堆肥结束时样品总养分含量分别为6.94%、7.36%和6.95%,有机质含量分别为48%、45%和39%,均达到NY/T 525-2021标准的要求;3组种子发芽指数在堆肥结束时都在80%以上,表明腐熟完全,其中A和B组在35 d后均超过100%;A、B和C组堆肥结束时样品重金属含量、粪大肠菌群数和蛔虫卵死亡率的检测结果均低于有机肥标准的限值,其中A和B组的粪大肠菌群数<3个/g,蛔虫卵死亡率均为100%。【结论】猪粪和玉米秸秆按体积比4：6配比更有利于堆肥腐熟,可缩短堆肥周期,并达到了粪便无害化和有机肥料的标准要求。