牛源金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为了解青岛地区奶牛场金黄色葡萄球菌的污染状况及耐药性情况,采集该地区13个奶牛场的839份牛奶和环境样品进行金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定,采用琼脂稀释法对所分离菌株进行药敏试验。结果:从839份样品中共分离出44株金黄色葡萄球菌,分离率为5.24%,其中奶样的分离率最高(8.42%)。所有的分离菌株均表现出不同程度的耐药,其中对氨苄西林、甲氧苄啶、四环素、环丙沙星、青霉素和苯唑西林耐药情况最严重,耐药率分别为88.6%、86.4%、81.8%、77.3%、75%和65.9%;分离菌株多重耐药情况严重,耐受3类及3类以上药物的菌株占40.9%,有1株耐受9类不同抗菌药物。     

鲜牛乳生产中耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性与散播

探求生鲜牛乳生产中耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)耐药情况和散播特点,采集山西某奶牛养殖区的内外环境、挤奶间环境及乳等各生产环节样本,经细菌分离、纯化培养、16S rRNA鉴定、苯唑西林和头孢西丁药敏纸片法及mecA基因扩增筛选MRSA,测定了其对14种抗生素的药物敏感性,利用mecA基因序列和ERIC-PCR指纹图谱分析鲜牛乳生产中MRSA的遗传相似性。结果显示,从721份生鲜牛乳生产样本中分离鉴定出184株金黄色葡萄球菌,其中90株为MRSA,检出率为48.9%;药敏试验显示,MRSA表现不同程度的耐药性和多重耐药性,对青霉素G的耐药率为95.6%,多重耐药种数主要集中在6～8耐;mecA基因序列分析显示,MRSA的mecA耐药基因同源性为95.22%,不同序列有程度不一的碱基位点缺失和突变;ERIC-PCR同源性分析显示,90株MRSA的DNA指纹图谱相似性为52%～100%,其中牛乳中MRSA与牛场(15株)、挤奶间(3株)、居民区空气(1株)的同源性在90%以上。提示在生鲜乳生产环节中均存在大量MRSA的污染,且呈多重耐药性,并可在牛场、挤奶间和附近环境通过直接接触和形成微生物气溶胶污染生鲜牛乳。     

牛奶金黄色葡萄球菌分离鉴定与耐药性分析

从某奶牛场随机采集26份奶样,通过奶样浓缩、细菌分离培养、染色镜检、H2O2酶试验及PCR鉴定,并进行菌株致病性和药物敏感性试验。结果从24株疑似菌株中鉴定出10株金黄色葡萄球菌,其中致病性金黄色葡萄球菌2株。药物敏感试验显示,10株金黄色葡萄球菌对多种药物有耐药性和多重耐药性,尤其对青霉素类药物100%耐药,对头孢唑林、左氧氟沙星、优孢欣均敏感。金黄色葡萄球菌为该奶牛场乳腺炎主要致病菌,其对抗生素耐药性和多重耐药性普遍,治疗应以体外药物敏感试验为参考,有目的性地选择敏感药物进行治疗。     

青岛地区奶牛场金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为调查青岛地区奶牛场金黄色葡萄球菌的药物敏感性,对14个奶牛场随机采集奶样、鼻拭子、土样及水样共计1 232份样品进行细菌分离纯化、PCR鉴定及药敏试验,共检测出金黄色葡萄球菌59株。药敏试验结果显示,59株金黄色葡萄球菌对氨苄西林耐药率最高,为86.4%,对青霉素、苯唑西林和甲氧苄啶耐药率较高,分别为71.2%、74.6%和74.6%,对庆大霉素、左氧氟沙星、利福平、恩诺沙星、头孢噻呋和泰妙菌素有较好的敏感性,介于83.1%-96.6%之间,所有受试菌株均对氯霉素敏感。分离菌株多重耐药现象严重,三耐及三耐以上菌株所占比例为42.5%,其中有1株耐10类药物。本研究对青岛地区奶牛场的金黄色葡萄球菌病的治疗提供理论依据。     

湖南部分地区乳源金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性及溶血性分析

为调查湖南省部分地区奶牛场生鲜乳源金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性及耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,MRSA)的检出情况，同时调查金黄色葡萄球菌溶血素基因型与溶血表型的分布情况及二者的关系。采用肉汤稀释法对分离自湖南省部分地区奶牛场生鲜乳的54株金黄色葡萄球菌进行18种常见抗菌药物耐药性检测，采用绵羊血琼脂平板检测细菌溶血性，并采用PCR方法扩增分离菌株mecA基因及5个溶血素基因。结果显示，54株金黄色葡萄球菌均表现不同程度的耐药，耐药谱型达21种；21株金黄色葡萄球菌表现为多重耐药，最高耐药重数为9重；对青霉素耐药最严重，耐药率达85.19%,对头孢西丁、苯唑西林、克林霉素、庆大霉素及大环内酯类药物(红霉素、替米考星)耐药率在20%～30%之间，对多西环素与万古霉素敏感；从24株分离菌中检出mecA基因，鉴定为MRSA。54株分离株在羊血琼脂平板上主要以β和γ溶血为主，α、β及γ溶血率分别为12.9%、44.4%和42.6%;各溶血素基因检出率分别为98.1%(hla)、94.4%(hlb)、96.3%(hld...     

禽源金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性监测

从临床样品中分离鉴定得到183株金黄色葡萄球菌,采用微量肉汤稀释法监测其对24种抗菌药物的耐药性。结果表明,183株金黄色葡萄球菌对24种抗菌药物均呈现不同程度的耐药性,对常用的青霉素类、磺胺类药物及甲氧苄啶严重耐药,耐药率高达81%以上;其中检测出MRSA42株,检出率为22.95%。94.00%的金黄色葡萄球菌菌株呈现多重耐药,耐药谱型主要分布在3～8耐之间,以7耐菌株所占比例最大(15.30%),共有119种耐药谱型。     

内蒙古地区奶牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性研究

为了确定内蒙古地区奶牛中乳源金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药表型及其耐药基因的流行情况,采用生化鉴定法结合PCR方法对奶牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌进行了分离、鉴定。采用微量稀释法测定了15种临床常用抗菌药物对21株金黄色葡萄球菌的最小抑制菌浓度(MICs)。结果显示,分离菌株对青霉素和氨苄西林的耐药率较高,分别为81%和75.5%;对头孢菌素类药物的耐药率也较高,均在60%~70%之间;对大环内酯类和四环素类抗生素的耐药率均在40%~50%之间。乳源金黄色葡萄球菌对3种氟喹诺酮类抗菌药物的耐药率较低,均小于30%;对庆大霉素也比较敏感,耐药率13.2%。以上分离菌株对万古霉素全部敏感。联合用药的药敏试验结果显示,菌株对阿莫西林-克拉维酸高度敏感,耐药率仅9.5%。多重耐药表型结果显示,75.5%的菌株耐2~7种药,24.5%的菌株耐8~13种药。通过PCR方法对奶牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌所携带的耐药表型及基因进行检测,结果表明,分离菌株中有3种四环素耐药基因组合在流行。分别是tet M+tet L1株(4.76%)和18株分离菌携带bla Z耐药基因,检出率为85.7%。由此可见,内蒙古地区奶牛乳源性金黄色葡萄球菌对15种抗菌药物产生了不同程度的耐药性,且多重耐药情况较为严重;分离菌株中有tet M、tet K、tet L和bla Z耐药基因在流行,分别编码了对四环素类和β-内酰类抗生素的耐药性。     

新疆部分地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

【目的】探明新疆部分地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌流行情况及耐药性,为该地区生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌的监测及保障生乳质量安全提供理论依据。【方法】试验随机从南北疆规模化奶牛场采集110份生乳样品。采用增菌培养、分离纯化、革兰氏染色、生化鉴定及PCR法对奶样中金黄色葡萄球菌进行分离鉴定,并利用微量肉汤稀释法及PCR方法对金黄色葡萄球菌进行16种抗菌药物的耐药表型及耐药基因分析。【结果】从110份奶样中分离出18株金黄色葡萄球菌,分离株呈浅黄色、光滑凸起的圆形菌落,革兰氏染色镜检呈紫色、短链状排列的革兰氏阳性菌,生化试验结果符合金黄色葡萄球菌生化特点,经16S rDNA及nuc基因PCR扩增鉴定为金黄色葡萄球菌,分离率为16.36%(18/110)。药敏试验结果显示,金黄色葡萄球菌分离株对氨苄西林、青霉素及磺胺异噁唑具有较高的耐药性,耐药率分别为100%、83.33%和77.78%,而对万古霉素、复方新诺明、苯唑西林、头孢噻吩、头孢噻呋、利福昔明及环丙沙星7种抗菌药物高度敏感,敏感率分别为100%、100%、94.44%、94.44%、94.44%、94.44%和94.44%。其中有14株金黄色葡萄球菌为多重耐药菌,多重耐药率为77.78%。耐药基因检测结果显示,大环内酯类耐药基因ermB检出率最高,为50.00%,其次为β-内酰胺类耐药基因mecA,检出率为27.28%,磺胺类耐药基因Sul1的检出率为22.22%。【结论】新疆奶牛场生乳中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌的流行及耐药情况仍较严重,且存在多重耐药现象,因此,对生乳中金黄色葡萄球菌耐药性的监测有重要意义。     

奶牛乳房炎病原菌金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为研究江苏某奶牛场金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药特点,本试验通过MALDIBiotyper系统对8株金黄色葡萄球菌疑似株进行鉴定和耐药性试验。结果显示,8株金黄色葡萄球菌疑似株均为金黄色葡萄球菌,其对青霉素、链霉素、环丙沙星的耐药率均为100%;其次,对阿莫西林的耐药率为75%;极少数对头孢氨苄、庆大霉素、丁胺卡那、卡那霉素耐药;而对四环素、多西环素、克林霉素均敏感。结果表明,该奶牛场金黄色葡萄球菌的分离率为14.55%(8/55),且均呈现多重耐药。     

牛奶中金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性及其肠毒素分型研究

为了解我国部分生鲜牛奶中金黄色葡萄球菌污染状况和耐药情况,为指导奶牛场安全合理用药和保障消费者食品安全提供依据.采集3个省共6个奶牛场及挤奶站的新鲜牛奶进行金黄色葡萄球菌的分离鉴定、药敏试验以及分离菌肠毒素PCR分型.结果从338份生鲜牛奶中共分离鉴定金黄色葡萄球菌共39株,分离率为11.54％;所有分离菌株都有不同程度的耐药,尤其对磺胺类药物和青霉素类的耐药性非常严重;92.3％的菌株含SEA SAJ基因肠毒素.     

Dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in cats

The dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous (IV) buprenorphine were evaluated in cats. Thermal (TT) and mechanical threshold (MT) devices were used for nociceptive stimulation. After baseline threshold recordings, buprenorphine was administered IV (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg; B1, B2 and B4, respectively) in a randomised, blinded and cross-over study. Data were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05) using 95% confidence intervals (CI). TT increased 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.2 ± 2.7 °C), 2, 3 and 4 h after B1; 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.1 ± 3.9 °C) and 2 h after B2, and 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.4 ± 3.3 °C), 2, 3, 6 and 8 h after B4. MT increased 15 and 45 min after B2 (260 ± 171 mmHg), and 30 (209 ± 116 mmHg) and 45 min and 1 and 2 h after B4. At 45 min, MT values were significantly higher after B2 compared to B1 (P < 0.05). With MT, B2 and B4 produced more antinociception and longer duration of action than B1, respectively. No dose response to thermal stimulation was detected.     

Effect of storage duration on egg quality,embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens

Effect of extended storage on egg quality, embryo mortality and hatchability in FUNAAB-ɑ chickens was determined. Hatchable eggs (n = 288; weighing 53.2 ± 4.67 g) collected from a flock of FUNAAB-ɑ layer breeder hens aged 32 weeks were stored in egg tray with broad end up under 16 ± 1.5°C for either 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 d. Before incubation, eight eggs from each group were evaluated for internal and external quality traits. Remaining eggs were set in an incubator and transferred into hatcher on embryonic day 18. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Egg weight loss (EWL; p < .001), surface area (p < .001), yolk diameter (p < .001), inner and outer blastoderm diameters (p < .05) and dead in germ (DIG; p < .001) increased with storage duration while yolk height (p < .001), yolk index (p < .001), albumen weight (p < .05), albumen height (p < .05), albumen index (p < .01), Haugh's unit (HU; p < .05), fertility (p < .001), hatchability of set (HATCHS; p < .001) and fertile eggs (p < .05) decreased. Weight losses of 0, 1.2, 2.2, 3.4, 4.6 and 6.1% were recorded in egg stored for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days respectively. Eggs stored beyond 8 days exhibited higher DIG and lower HATCHS. Shell percentage in 4 days storage (11.4%) was lower (p < .05) than in 16 days storage (13.4%). Shell thickness was similar in eggs stored for 0 to 12 days, but 8 days storage (0.60 mm) had thinner (p < .01) shell than day 16 (0.71 mm) and day 20 (0.73 mm) storage. Internal quality unit (IQU) was higher (p < .05) in fresh eggs (180.4) than in 12 days (167.8) and 20 days (167.8) stored eggs. Extended storage of FUNAAB-ɑ eggs caused EWL, surface area shrinkage, lowered HU and IQU, loss of yolk and albumen quality, increased blastoderm diameters and DIG, and decreased egg fertility and HATCHS from day 8 forward. Storing FUNAAB-ɑ eggs beyond 8 days reduced quality parameters; therefore, other mitigating factors are recommended when storing beyond 8 days.     

Low‐density lipoproteins and milk serum proteins improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification in straws

Lipids and proteins can be used for sperm vitrification to preserve the integrity of sperm membranes or to increase the viscosity of the medium. This study evaluated the effect of low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) and milk serum proteins (Pronexcell) for stallion sperm vitrification. Hippex extender (Barex Biochemical Products, The Netherlands), plus 1% of bovine serum albumin and 100 mM of trehalose, was used as control for sperm vitrification. In experiment 1, different concentrations of LDL (L1 = 0.25, L2 = 0.5, L3 = 1%) and in experiment 2 of Pronexcell (P1 = 1, P2 = 5, P3 = 10%) were added to control extender. Vitrification was performed in 0.25‐ml straws directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. Total motility (TM, %) and progressive motility (PM, %) were analysed by CASA, and plasma membrane (IMS, %) and acrosome membrane integrity (AIS, %) were assessed under epifluorescence microscopy. Post‐warmed sperm parameters were compared between treatments by ANOVA. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. In both experiments, the minimum concentration of LDL and Pronexcell obtained significantly higher values (p < 0.01) than the control extender for TM (L1 = 52.95 ± 4.4; P1 = 58.99 ± 4.6; C = 30.88 ± 3.0), PM (L1 = 36.79 ± 5.5; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 19.20 ± 2.4), IMS (L1 = 68.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 52.81 ± 2.6) and AIS (L1 = 45.88 ± 3.6; P1 = 47.25 ± 4.3; C = 26.00 ± 2.1). No differences in sperm parameters were found among different concentrations of LDL or Pronexcell. In conclusion, the addition of 0.25% LDL and 1% Pronexcell to the vitrification extender is recommended to improve the quality of stallion sperm after vitrification.     

Comparison of the sedative effects of intranasal or intramuscular dexmedetomidine at low doses in healthy dogs: a randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine administered either intranasally or intramuscularly to healthy dogs.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial.AnimalsA group of 16 client-owned healthy dogs.MethodsDogs were randomly allocated to one of two groups that were administered dexmedetomidine 5 μg kg^–1 via either the intranasal route (IN_Dex), through a mucosal atomization device in one nostril, or the intramuscular route (IM_Dex), into the epaxial muscles. Ease of intranasal administration, sedation score, onset of sedation, cardiopulmonary variables, mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and response to venous catheterization were recorded at 0 (baseline), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 minutes, following drug administration. Data were compared with the one-way anova, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test, where appropriate.ResultsGroups were not different for age, sex, weight, body condition score or temperament. Sedation scores, MNTs and response to intravenous catheter placement were not different when dexmedetomidine was administered by either route (p = 0.691; p = 0.630 and p = 0.435, respectively). Onset of sedation was not different between groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex reaching a score of 4.2 ± 0.9 and 5.5 ± 1.2 at 9 ± 5 and 8 ± 4 minutes, respectively (p = 0.467). The highest sedation score was achieved at 30 and 35 minutes and sedation scores were 9.7 ± 2.0 and 9.5 ± 2.3 in groups IN_Dex and IM_Dex, respectively (p = 0.799). Respiratory rate was higher in group IN_Dex (p = 0.014), while there were no differences between routes in heart rate (p = 0.275), systolic (p = 0.957), diastolic (p = 0.837) or mean arterial pressure (p = 0.921).Conclusions and clinical relevanceIntranasal administration of dexmedetomidine at 5 μg kg^–1 provides effective sedation in healthy dogs.     

Influence of dietary lysine level on whole-body protein turnover, plasma IGF-I, GH and insulin concentration in growing pigs

Four growing pigs (initial liveweight 25.9 ± 0.54 kg, final liveweight 43.0 ± 1.06 kg) were used to study the effect of dietary lysine level on nutrient digestibility, whole-body protein turnover, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), insulin, glucose, and urea nitrogen (PUN). Four diets, containing 7.0 g (L1), 9.5 g (L2), 12.0 g (L3) and 14.5 g (L4) lysine per kg diet respectively, were formulated as experimental treatments. The animals and diets were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Nitrogen (N) metabolism and whole-body protein turnover were measured by classical method and single-dose ¹⁵N end-product method, respectively. The blood samples were taken at the end of each experimental period. Results showed that N retention (NR) and N biological value (NBV) were significantly increased from L1 to L4 (P < 0.05). However, differences in NR and NBV between L2, L3 and L4 were not significant (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference on dry matter (DM) digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility and N digestibility between different treatments (P > 0.05). Whole-body protein synthesis, protein degradation and protein accretion increased markedly from L1 to L2 (P < 0.05), but did not increase further from L2 to L4. Whole-body protein accretion (y, g/kg W^0.75/d) increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = − 0.09x² + 2.12x − 5.14 (r² = 0.96, n = 4, P < 0.05).The results also showed that differences in plasma IGF-I, GH, glucose and PUN concentration between different treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). Plasma insulin concentration (y, μIU/ml) was increased with dietary lysine (x, g/kg) in a quadratic manner: y = 0.23x² − 4.10x + 32.25 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05), but it was not found that plasma insulin concentration was related to NR. A significant correlation was found between NR (y, g/d) and plasma IGF-I (x, ng/ml): y = − 3.1 × 10^− 3x² + 1.31x − 122.28 (r² = 0.99, n = 4, P < 0.05).It was concluded that dietary lysine level had a significant influence on NR and whole-body protein turnover but not on plasma IGF-I and GH concentration. Plasma IGF-I may be an important factor controlling N metabolism of growing pigs. Further research was needed to study the mechanism.     

A meta-analysis on effects of supplementing low-quality roughages with foliages from browses and tree fodders on intake and growth in sheep

A meta-analysis of data obtained from previous studies was conducted to understand the responses of foliage supplementation on intakes of basal DM (BDMI) and total DM (TDMI), and daily gain (ADG). Thirty-four published studies containing 223 treatments and 1127 sheep met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Major predictive variables considered were percentages of foliages in diet (SD), CP in foliages (PS), NDF in foliages (FS), NDF in forages (FB), CP in basal roughages (PB), CP in diet (PD) and foliage CP intake (SPI). TDMI (g/d) increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS, FS, SPI (R² = 0.66), PB, SD (R² = 0.58) and PD (R² = 0.73). The maximal response of TDMI were 778 g/d at 42% of SD, 894 g/d at 19.8% PD, 893 g/d at 148 g/d SPI and 749 g/d at 26.4% PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.58, 0.73, 0.66, and 0.37, respectively). BDMI increased quadratically with increasing SD, PD and PB, but decreased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing PS (P < 0.001; R² = 0.07). The breakpoint of BDMI was 570 g/d at 6.58% of PD in the diet (P < 0.001, R² = 0.28). Overall, BDMI responded at very low level of SD in the diet, peaking at 7.6% SD with BDMI of 572 g/d (P < 0.001, R² = 0.72). However, when PB was less than 3%, the maximal BDMI was 489 g/d at foliage levels of 25.7%. When PB was between 3 and 6%, maximal BDMI was at 13% of foliage in the diet and the basal forage intake of 597 g/d; whereas, BDMI decreased linearly with SD when PB was greater than 6%. BDMI (g/d) decreased quadratically when foliage CP percentages were lesser than 10%, but increased quadratically with PS when foliage CP percentages were greater than 10%. ADG responded positively and quadratically to PS, SPI, SD, PD and TDMI (g/d) and the relationships were moderate to high. However, ADG (g/d) decreased linearly with increasing FS (P < 0.001, R² = 0.35). The maximal ADG was 42 g/d at 43% of SD, 41 g/d at 9.4% PD, 42 g/d at 53 g/d SPI, 35 g/d at 25% PS and 46 g/d at TDMI of 889 g/d (P < 0.001; R² = 0.74, 0.84, 0.74, 0.29 and 0.74, respectively). It is concluded that the interactions of quality and quantity of foliage supplements and quality of basal forages affect intakes of basal and total DM, and growth in sheep.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.     

Factors affecting dystocia and offspring vigour in different sheep genotypes

Birth difficulty and poor lamb vigour are significant causes of perinatal lamb mortality. In this study we investigated whether sheep breeds differing in appearance, muscularity and selection history also had differences in dystocia and lamb vigour, and considered some of the factors that may contribute to the variation in these traits. Data were collected at birth from a total of 3252 lambs of two terminal sire breeds selected for lean growth (Suffolk [S], n = 500 and Texel [T], n = 1207), from a Hill breed (Scottish Blackface [B], n = 610), which has been mainly selected for hardiness, and a crossbred (Mule × T [M], n = 935) representing a maternal line. For each lamb the degree of assistance at delivery, lamb presentation, amount of assistance to achieve successful sucking, sex, litter size and birth weight were recorded. T lambs required the most, and B and M lambs the least assistance at birth, S lambs were intermediate (% lambs assisted: T = 55.7, S = 30.7, B = 22.7, M = 24.9, P < 0.001). T and S lambs were equally likely to be malpresented at birth (29% of births) and more likely to be malpresented than B or M lambs (20%; P < 0.001). In T and S breeds lambs requiring veterinary assistance at delivery were mainly heavy and singleton lambs, whereas in B and M breeds these were exclusively low birth weight lambs in multiple litters. Although heavier lambs needed greater birth assistance, T lambs were lighter than S and M lambs, but heavier than B lambs (birth weight (kg): S = 4.66, M = 4.56, T = 4.32, B = 3.67, P < 0.001). S lambs were more likely to require assistance with sucking than other breeds, and T lambs also required more assistance than B or M lambs (% lambs assisted to suck: S = 56.0, T = 31.6, M = 19.8, B = 18.4, P < 0.001). Heavier lambs were more likely to suck unaided than lighter lambs (P < 0.001). The data suggest that the two terminal sire breeds, selected narrowly for greater productivity (muscle growth and conformation), are more likely to experience birth difficulty and poorer lamb vigour than the breed selected for hardiness, or the cross breed. Whether these effects arise as a consequence of genetic selection (e.g. for specific lamb conformation), or as a result of management practices to achieve selection goals (e.g. increased intervention at lambing) is unknown. Specific actions to improve birth difficulty and lamb vigour, such as including these traits in the selection index, would be beneficial in improving the welfare of ewes and lambs of the terminal sire breeds.     

Efficacy of a mephentermine‐based product as a vasopressor and a cardiac performance enhancer when given intramuscularly to cattle

The goal of this study was to confirm the vasopressor and cardiac effects of POTENAY^® INJETÁVEL (POT), a mephentermine‐based product, given to cattle with induced vascular/cardiac depression. Ten healthy Holstein cattle (206 ± 13 kg) followed a randomized‐complete‐block design (RCBD) utilizing crossover study design. Each animal randomly received (1 ml/25 kg, IM) of either POT (n = 10) or volume‐matched placebo control (0.9%NaCl, CP, n = 10). A subset of animals (n = 5) received POT first (day 0) while the remaining (n = 5) received CP; after a six‐day washout period, cattle received the opposite compound. Animals were anesthetized and catheterized for systemic/left ventricular hemodynamic monitoring. Myocardial dysfunction/hypotension was induced by increasing the end‐tidal isoflurane concentration until arterial blood pressure was 20% lower than at baseline and remained stable. Once the animal was determined to be hypotensive and hemodynamically stable, steady‐state hypotensive baseline data (BL2) were acquired, and treatment with either POT or CP was given. Data were acquired post‐treatment at every 15 min for 90 min. POT improved cardiac output (+68 L/min, ±14%, p < 0.05), MAP (+14 mmHg, ±4%, p < 0.05), HR (+22 bpm, ±8%, p < 0.05), and peak rates of ventricular pressure change during both systole (dP/dt_max: +37 mmHg/s ±13%, p < 0.05) and diastole (dP/dt_min: +31 mmHg/s, ±7%, p < 0.05). No improvements were noted following placebo‐control administration. Results indicate that POT improves cardiac performance and systemic hemodynamics in cattle with induced cardiovascular depression when given as single intramuscular injection.     

Cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of intravenous or epidural methadone in conscious dogs

Cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of intravenous or epidural methadone were compared. Six beagles were randomly assigned to group MIV (methadone 0.5 mg/kg IV + NaCl 0.9% epidurally) or MEP (methadone 0.5 mg/kg epidurally + NaCl 0.9% IV). Cardiopulmonary, blood gas and sedation were assessed at time (T) 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 min after drug administration. Compared to T0, heart rate decreased at T15–T120 in MIV (p < .001) and T15–T240 in MEP (p < .05); mean arterial pressure was reduced at T15–T60 in MEP (p < .01); respiratory rate was higher at T15 and T30 in both groups (p < .05); pH was lower at T15–T120 in MIV (p < .01) and T15, T30 and T120 in MEP (p < .05); PaCO₂ was higher at T15–T60 in MIV (p < .01) and T15, T30 and T120 in MEP (p < .01); sedation scores were higher at T15 and T30 in MIV and T15–T60 in MEP (p < .05). At T120 and T240, sedation score was higher in group MEP compared with group MIV (p < .01) In conclusion, cardiopulmonary and sedative effects of identical methadone doses are similar when administered IV or epidurally to conscious healthy dogs.