Agreement between invasive and oscillometric arterial blood pressure measurements using the LifeWindow multiparameter monitor and two cuff sizes in anesthetized adult horses

ObjectiveTo assess agreement between oscillometric noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements using LifeWindow monitors (LW9xVet and LW6000V) and invasive blood pressure (IBP). To assess the agreement of NIBP readings using a ratio of cuff width to mid-cannon circumference of 25% and 40%.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsA total of 43 adult horses undergoing general anesthesia in dorsal recumbency for different procedures.MethodsAnesthetic protocols varied according to clinician preference. IBP measurement was achieved after cannulation of the facial artery and connection to an appropriately positioned transducer connected to one of two LifeWindow multiparameter monitors (models: LW6000V and LW9xVet). Accuracy of monitors was checked daily using a mercury manometer. For each horse, NIBP was measured with two cuff widths (corresponding to 25% or 40% of mid-cannon bone circumference), both connected to the same monitor, and six paired IBP/NIBP readings were recorded (at least 3 minutes between readings). NIBP values were corrected to the relative level of the xiphoid process. A Bland–Altman analysis for repeated measures was used to assess bias (NIBP–IBP) and limits of agreement (LOAs).ResultsThe 40% cuff width systolic arterial pressure [SAP; bias 7.9 mmHg, LOA –26.6 to 42.3; mean arterial pressure (MAP): bias 4.9 mmHg, LOA –28.2 to 38.0; diastolic arterial pressure (DAP): bias 4.2 mmHg, LOA –31.4 to 39.7)] performed better than the 25% cuff width (SAP: bias 26.4 mmHg, LOA –21.0 to 73.9; MAP: bias 15.7 mmHg, LOA –23.8 to 55.2; DAP: bias 10.9 mmHg, LOA –33.2 to 54.9).Conclusions and clinical relevanceUsing the LifeWindow multiparameter monitor in anesthetized horses, the 40% cuff width provided better agreement with IBP; however, both cuff sizes and both monitor models failed to meet American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Consensus Statement Guidelines.     

Schirmer tear test results in normal horses and ponies: effect of age,season, environment,sex, time of day and placement of strips

Tear production was evaluated in 39 horses and 29 ponies using Schirmer tear test strips to determine whether diurnal or weekly fluctuations occur, whether location of strip placement has an effect, if values are the same for both eyes in an animal and whether sex, age, stabling vs. pasture and winter vs. summer had an effect. There was no test in which the raw score was less than 10 mm, although there were many occasions where tear wetting exceeded 35 mm. Analysis of the raw (continuous) scores by linear regression provided no evidence that signalment, housing or season or location of strip placement affected results. The distribution of tear test scores for a 'population' of eyes did not differ when the right eye was compared with the left eye or when the same eye was compared at different times on the same day. Individual test wetting values for opposing eyes measured at the same time, and also wetting values for the same eye measured at different times on the same day sometimes differed substantially. In winter maximum tear wetting exceeded 35 mm more frequently in the STT I than in the STT II even in housed horses and ponies, but there was no consistent significant difference. There appears to be wide variability in the STT I in normal horses and ponies.     

Assessment of body fat in the pony: part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition

Reasons for performing study: Evaluation of equine body fat content is important for nutritional and clinical purposes. However, our understanding of total body fat and its regional distribution in the body is sparse. Currently, body fat evaluation relies on the subjective assessment of body condition score (BCS), which has never been validated against ‘gold standard’ chemical analysis or dissection measurements in ponies. Objectives: To define the relationships between subjective (BCS), objective (morphometric) indices of body fat and ‘gold standard’ measurements of actual body composition. Hypotheses: BCS and morphometry offer valid, noninvasive methods for determination of body fat in equids. Methods: Seven mature (mean ± s.e. 13 ± 3 years, 212 ± 14 kg, BCS 1.25–7/9), Welsh Mountain pony mares, destined for euthanasia (for nonresearch purposes), were used. For all ponies, body mass (BM), BCS and various morphometric measurements were recorded. Following euthanasia, all ponies were systematically dissected. Discrete white adipose tissue (WAT) depots were independently described. Gross, body chemical composition was determined by proximate analyses. Results: Total somatic soft tissues increased linearly (r²= 1.00), whereas body WAT content (1–26% live BM) increased exponentially (r²= 0.96), with BCS. WAT was equally distributed between internal and external sites in all animals irrespective of BCS. Nuchal fat was a poor predictor of total WAT (r²= 0.66). Periorbital WAT did not alter with BCS (r²= 0.01). Heart girth:withers height and ultrasonic retroperitoneal fat depth were closely associated with total, chemically‐extracted lipid which comprised 1–29% live BM (r²= 0.91 and 0.88, respectively). Conclusions and potential relevance: The exponential relationship between BCS and total body WAT/lipid suggests that BCS is unlikely to be a sensitive index of body fat for animals in moderate‐obese states. Morphometric measurements (body girths and retroperitonel fat depth) may be useful to augment subjective BCS systems.     

Relationships between body weight,fasting blood glucose concentration,sex and age in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a squirrel‐like lower primate or a close relative of primates, commonly used as an animal model in biomedical research. Despite more than three decades of usage in research, the clear relationships between body weight, fasting blood glucose concentration, sex and age among tree shrews remain unclear. Based on an investigation of 992 tree shrews (454 males and 538 females) aged between 4 months and 4 years old, we found that male tree shrews have significantly higher body weight and fasting blood glucose concentration than female tree shrews (p < 0.001). The concentration of fasting blood glucose slightly increased with body weight in males (r = 0.152, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, in females, the body weight, concentration of fasting blood glucose and waist circumference positively increased with age (p < 0.001). Additionally, 17 tree shrews with Lee index [body weight (g)*0.33*1000/body length (cm)] above 290 had significantly higher body weight, waist circumference and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) than non‐obese tree shrews with a Lee index score below 290 (p < 0.001). Interestingly, 6 of 992 tree shrews (three males and three females, 2–4 years old) displayed impaired plasma triglycerides, HbA1c, low‐density lipoprotein and oral glucose tolerance test, suggestive of the early symptoms of metabolic syndrome. This study provides the first clear relationships between body weight, fasting blood glucose concentration, sex and age in tree shrews, further improving our understanding of this relationship in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Given the similarity of tree shrews to humans and non‐human primates, this finding supports their potential use as an animal model in the research of MetS.     

伊犁马体尺年龄对其竞赛性能影响的研究

对伊梨马体尺、年龄与不同赛程成绩关系的研究表明:体高对各赛程影响极显著(P<0.01),但随赛程增长,影响逐渐减弱;胸围和管 围对各赛程影响显著(P<0.05);年龄对长赛程影响显著(P<0.05)。     

Effect of topical 1% tropicamide on Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal horses

Objective  To observe the effect of topical 1% tropicamide on equine tear production as measured by Schirmer I tear test.
Materials and methods  Fourteen adult horses received one drop of 1% tropicamide ophthalmic solution in one eye and the opposite eye served as the control. The tear production in both eyes was tested at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h after 1% tropicamide administration.
Results  Measurements made 1 h after treatment revealed a significant reduction in Schirmer tear test values in tropicamide treated eyes ( P  = 0.002). The observed decrease in tear production was maintained up to 4 h after treatment ( P  = 0.002). Although tropicamide-induced decrease in STT values was observed in the treated eyes, the contralateral eyes did not show significant changes in Schirmer tear test results.
Conclusion  Single dose of topical 1% tropicamide resulted in statistically significant reduction in Schirmer tear test values in clinically normal horses.     

澳洲白羊体质量与体尺指标的相关及回归分析

[目的]研究澳洲白羊体质量与体尺指标的相关及回归关系,为肉羊新品种选育提供参考.[方法]采用SPSS19.0软件对6月龄澳洲白羊体质量与体尺指标进行相关性分析、通径分析、逐步回归分析,并对其相关系数进行分解,得出了体质量与体尺指标之间的最优回归方程.[结果]体质量(y)与管围(x6)和胸围(x3)相关性极显著(P＜0....     

水合氯醛对马血气,酸碱值影响的研究

通过对１１匹实验马的血气、酸碱值分析，结果表明以１２ｇ／１００ｋｇ体重的水合氯醛麻醉后，实验马的Ｐｏ２、Ｓａｔ·Ｏ２、Ｃ－Ｏ２三项指标均显著降低，ＰＡ－ａＤＯ２显著增加；而ｐＨ、Ｐｃｏ２、Ｔ－ＣＯ２、ＡＢ、ＳＢ、ＢＥｂ六项指标无显著变化。说明该剂量的水合氯醛对马的呼吸功能有一定影响，且主要影响与氧有关的指标。     

Concentration of cephalothin in body fluids and tissue samples of Thoroughbred horses

Cephalothin (CET) concentrations in body fluids (plasma, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, and aqueous humor) and tissue samples (bone, lung, jejunum, hoof, and subcutaneous tissue) were investigated to consider the treatment of infectious diseases in horses. CET 22 mg/kg body weight was intravenously administered to 12 horses. Samples were collected from four different horses at 1, 3, and 5 hr after administration. The CET concentration in body fluids other than aqueous humor was maintained above the MIC₉₀ values of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Staphylococcus aureus until 5 hr, but it was not maintained above that of S. aureus in bone. CET (22 mg/kg twice a day) is effective for septic arthritis, pleuritis, and peritonitis caused by gram-positive bacteria but ineffective for osteomyelitis.     

Pleuropneumonia in two horses caused by a tracheobronchial foreign body

Two horses suffering from a cough, purulent foul smelling nasal discharge, inappetence and intermittent fever were hospitalised at the Equine Clinic in Brno from 2008–2010. A diagnosis was made on the basis of endoscopic examination which revealed a foreign body (thorny branchlet) in the right caudal lobe bronchus in both horses. Pleuropneumonia developed as a complication in both horses. Following endoscopic extraction of the foreign bodies, both horses were treated using antibiotics and drainage of the pleural cavity. One of the patients recovered, the second was subjected to euthanasia at the request of the owner.     

Removal of a metallic foreign body from the tongue of three horses

The objective of this case report is to describe the diagnostic and surgical techniques for removal of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of three adult horses. The three horses were presented for evaluation and treatment of dysphagia and marked hypersalivation of 3–5 days duration. Radiographs of the head revealed the presence of a metallic foreign body in the tongue of each horse. The foreign bodies could be precisely localised under general anaesthesia using palpation and lingual ultrasonography and/or lingual radiography in combination with a forceps as a marker. The foreign bodies were successfully removed using laparoscopic instruments creating minimal soft tissue trauma. The use of long (43 cm) small laparoscopic (5 mm) instruments enabled good visualisation of the surgical field, providing optimal conditions for successful minimally invasive surgical treatment of horses with foreign bodies in the tongue. The three horses made uneventful recoveries and 12 months after surgery were eating normally and could be ridden with a bit as per usual routine. It was concluded that using long laparoscopic instruments in combination with palpation, ultrasonography and/or radiography allowed removal of the foreign body creating minimal soft tissue trauma and allowing optimal conditions for a fast recovery.     

Comparison of intraoperative cardiorespiratory and behavioral responses to medetomidine combined with tramadol or butorphanol during standing laparoscopic ovariectomy in horses

The purpose of this study was to assess the cardiorespiratory and behavioral responses to the combination of medetomidine and tramadol (M-T) or butorphanol (M-B) in standing laparoscopic ovariectomy in horses. One ovary was removed under M-T and the contralateral ovary was removed under M-B with at least 4 weeks between operations at random. Horses were sedated using intravenous medetomidine (5 µg/kg) followed by tramadol (1 mg/kg) or butorphanol (10 µg/kg) after 5 min. Sedation was maintained through the repeated injection of medetomidine (1 µg/kg) and tramadol (0.4 mg/kg) or medetomidine (1 µg/kg) and butorphanol (4 µg/kg) every 15 min. Cardiorespiratory function and behavioral responses, including, sedation, ataxia, and analgesia, were assessed during the surgery. There were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory values and sedation and analgesia scores between M-T and M-B. Ataxia scores were significantly lower in M-T than in M-B. This result suggests that M-T could maintain smooth and stable standing surgery with minimal cardiorespiratory changes in horses.     

党参复方添加剂对运动马血清生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究党参复方添加剂对健身骑乘用的运动马血清生化指标的影响。将60匹健康的运动马随机分为4组,分别在基础精料中添加0、0.5%、1.0%、1.5%的中药添加剂,饲养60 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,添加1.0%党参复方添加剂,运动马血清碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和血清肌酸激酶(CK)含量显著降低(P<0.05);血清葡萄糖(GLU)、总蛋白(TP)、尿素氮(BUN)、白蛋白(ALB)和球蛋白(GLOB)含量显著增加(P<0.05),白蛋白/球蛋白(A/G)显著降低(P<0.05)。添加1.5%党参复方添加剂,显著增加ALB和GLOB的含量(P<0.05),降低A/G值;ALT、AST活性显著增强(P<0.05)。研究表明,与其他组相比,添加1.0%党参复方添加剂对提高运动马的免疫力效果较好。