Thyroid issues in reproduction

Observations in people and animals demonstrate relationships between thyroid and reproductive functions. Thyroid issues of importance to small animal reproduction are twofold. First, some thyroid disorders, such as lymphocytic thyroiditis and some forms of congenital hypothyroidism, appear to be heritable. Those traits might be considered undesirable. If so, to eliminate the trait affected animals would not be selected as breeding stock. Second, thyroid disorders may adversely affect fertility, pregnancy, or neonatal health. If a causal relationship existed between thyroid and reproductive disorders, correction of one would be expected to result in resolution of the other. This is often not the case. Although animals and people with thyroid disorders may also have reproductive disorders, usually disorders other than thyroid disease are the cause of reproductive abnormalities. It appears that euthyroidism supports optimal reproductive performance, but clinically significant reproductive dysfunction is manifested only under certain uncommon conditions of thyroid disease in dogs and cats.     

The precorneal tear film in horses: its importance and disorders.

The precorneal tear film (PTF) is of critical importance in the physiologic and pathologic findings of the cornea. Clinicians should recall that quantitative and qualitative disorders of the PTF can be a cause of corneal diseases as well as a clinical sign of ocular surface diseases. It is also important to consider that some systemic and topical treatments may affect the PTF volume and composition. Not all interactions are known at this time. There is a continued need for basic research into PTF components in healthy and diseased equine eyes, because much remains unknown. Until additional basic information about the biochemical composition and pH of the PTF as well as the interactions between equine corneal pathogens and specific PTF deficits becomes available, it will not be possible to define the cause and effect relations precisely between the various ocular surface diseases and deficiencies,excesses, and imbalances of PTF components. It is quite possible that a number of equine corneal diseases may be manifestations of qualitative PTF disorders.     

Fertility disorders in dairy cows in northern Greece]

Housing conditions, parameters of fertility and occurrence of different types of infertility in a group of 1641 breeding cattle are described. Biochemical parameters of blood serum from 150 infertile cows suffering from endometritis and treatment results regarding a possible relation between nutrition and infertility of the animals are reported, as well as results of treatment of endometritis using several methods in 147 infertile cows. The results show that hormonal disorders are the most common reasons of infertility and low concentrations of beta-Carotene are the most common reasons of nutrition deficiency resulting from an insufficient quantity of fresh fodder. It can be suggested that low concentration of beta-Carotene may be related to hormonal disorders.     

Diagnostic value of pericardial fluid analysis in the dog

The physical, chemical, and cytologic characteristics of 50 pericardial effusions were reviewed to determine their value to the clinician for distinguishing a variety of pericardial disorders in the dog. Pericardial fluid analysis allowed identification of chylous and bacterial pericardial effusions. Overlap in the ranges of RBC counts, nucleated cell counts, and protein concentrations between dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic disorders precluded identification of the cause of the effusion. Of 19 neoplastic effusions, 74% were not detected on the basis of cytologic findings and 13% of 31 nonneoplastic effusates were falsely reported as positive or suspect for a neoplasm. It was concluded that pericardial fluid analysis, including cytologic examination, did not reliably distinguish neoplastic from nonneoplastic disorders.     

Introduction to veterinary physical rehabilitation.

Physical therapy is a profession with an established scientific basis in human beings and companion animals. It has a large number of clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function. In providing physical therapy, the goal is to restore, maintain, and promote optimal function, optimal fitness, wellness, and quality of life as they relate to movement disorders and health. A major emphasis is to prevent or minimize the onset, clinical signs, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, and injuries.     

The neurologic examination of the horse for purchase.

The veterinarian needs to be able to incorporate an accurate neurologic examination as a portion of the pre-purchase evaluation. Subtle neurologic deficits may be hidden by musculoskeletal disease or missed as a result of lack of knowledge or understanding of these disorders. It is important to known which musculoskeletal disorders are commonly associated with neurologic disease to better assist the buyer with the decision about whether to purchase the animal.     

Cutaneous manifestations of neurological diseases: review of neuro-pathophysiology and diseases causing pruritus

Pruritus does not always originate from stimulation to the skin associated with primary dermatological disorders. It may be caused by neurological or behavioural disorders. The essential role of the nervous system in the control (enhancement and inhibition) of pruritus and its pathophysiology are presented. In order to allow differentiation between dermatological and neurological disorders, inherited or acquired peripheral neuropathies and central nervous disorders (Arnold-Chiari syndrome, seizure-related disorders, central nervous system tumours) that may induce itch are discussed.     

Evidence for or against efficacy of beta-blockers and aspirin for management of feline cardiomyopathies.

Feline myocardial diseases today are largely represented by disorders involving LV hypertrophy. They may be attended by arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, systemic hypertension, thromboembolic complications, and sudden death. These structural myocardial disorders and their hemodynamic and electrocardiographic derangements may cause or result in variable degrees of diastolic dysfunction. Propranolol and aspirin represent two agents commonly employed to treat feline cardiomyopathies for more than 15 years. Nevertheless, clinical data describing their effect on morbidity and mortality are lacking. It is likely that propranolol administered at moderate to high doses effects favorable responses in some cats with clinical signs attributable to severe hypertrophy, outflow obstruction, or tachyarrhythmias. It is unknown whether clinical improvements are due to direct myocardial effects or (more likely) secondary responses to a beta-adrenergic blockade reduction in heart rate or contractility. Personal experience also indicates that high numbers of cats have received the drug for many years in combination with other therapies (especially furosemide) and remain in a compensated state of heart failure without untoward drug effects. On the other hand, many cardiomyopathic cats experience heart failure, arrhythmias, and death despite treatment with beta-blocking agents. Feline thromboembolism is a devastating complication of cardiomyopathic disorders. Until or unless the primary cause(s) of current diseases is elucidated to promote disease reversal, factors responsible for thrombus formation will accompany the heart diseases, protected from effective management. It appears unlikely that aspirin as currently recommended produces any obvious benefit in treating or preventing thromboembolism. Modifications of therapeutic protocols prescribing these frequently used drugs await well-constructed clinical trials evaluating their efficacy with respect to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.     

Assessment of pain associated with degenerative hip disorders in adult male turkeys

The extent to which degenerative hip disorders in adult male turkeys result in pain was investigated in a two-period crossover experiment. The birds in six pens received daily injections of an anti-inflammatory steroid (betamethasone) during week 1 and control injections of physiological saline in week 3. The turkeys in the other six pens received saline in week 1 and steroid in week 3. Behavioural observations of the birds during weeks 1 and 3 revealed that the steroid treatment resulted in more spontaneous activity. The steroid-treated birds also showed speedier movement in a sexual activity test in weeks 1 and 3. Post mortem examination revealed that all the turkeys were suffering from degenerative hip disorders. It is concluded that degenerative hip disorders in adult male turkeys result in a state of chronic pain which inhibits spontaneous activity and sexual activity.     

Tramped teats--clinical mastitis disease complex in tied cows. Environmental risk factors and interrelationships with other diseases

The effects of stall length, manure system, type of bedding and calving disorders on incidence rates of tramped teats, udder injuries, and clinical mastitis in Swedish Red and White tied cows, as well as interrelationships between these 3 disorders were investigated. Data used consisted of 370 herds, for a total of 45,133 cow records. Cows in herds with liquid manure system were at higher risk of udder injuries and mastitis than in herds with solid system. Lower risk of both udder injuries and mastitis was found for cows in herds with short stall size (less than 180 cm) compared to herds with stalls of 205-219 cm length. It was suggested that other factors, such as slipperiness of the stall floor and presence and type of feeding barrier, must be considered when the effect of stall characteristics on tramped teats is investigated. In farms with solid manure system cut straw or sawdust bedding increased the risk of tramped teats and mastitis relative to uncut straw. Parity and calving disorders were important risk factors for udder health and their effect was greater in herds with liquid manure system. Tramped teats and udder injuries were the most serious risk factors for clinical mastitis.     

Emerging Involvement of long non-coding RNAs in gastrointestinal associated inflammatory disorders

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including a wide range of infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, etc. disorders. Inflammatory bowel and celiac disease are non-fatal but overwhelming GI associated disorders. IBD and celiac’s complications, besides the great suffering, disturb the normal life of the patients and make them involved in mental and physical problems. The emerging role of genetic content is deniable for GI inflammatory disorders incidence, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function is the recent topic for its association. Analyzing of absolute lncRNAs interference in GI inflammatory appearance remains in infancy, and more studies are requested. Here, we concisely performed a systematic review in the last knowledge up to 2020 to identify all of the significant lncRNAs associated with the initiation and progression of GI inflammatory diseases. Accordingly, this assay attempted to refer to the expression of lncRNAs changing from the normal state, discovery of genetic mechanisms, and main effectors that would trigger associated IBD and celiac expression and immune responses would be effective for therapeutic approaches. It could be useful for prognostic and diagnostic purposes of GI associated inflammatory disorders.     

Clinical and endocrinological studies of the ovarian function of cows with fertility disorders

The investigations were carried out in herds of high yielding cows (n = 265) that showed fertility problems. The first interest was to find out whether clinical findings could be confirmed by progesterone analyses. It was found that the clinical defined diagnoses could be confirmed by 3 progesterone determinations in blood plasma taken in a 7 days interval. In that way diagnoses and therapeutic measures were better to be taken and controlled. From 16 cows out of the controlled herds ovarian cystic disorders have been defined. After treatment with one GnRH injection the animals showed FSH and LH release as suggested but the FSH release seemed to be different in cows, that showed progesterone levels less than 1 ng at the moment of treatment. These investigations show that clinical findings can better by understood when combined with progesterone determination. By that way cystic disease in cows can be determined. Cows who show clinical disorders of this kind seem to have problems in their hypothalamo-hypophyseal regulations.     

The effect of chorionic gonadotropin administration on testosterone levels in the blood of boars with sexual function disorders]

Thirty-three boars with sexual dysfunctions and twenty-six boars clinically sound as to their reproductive capacity were evaluated for the testosterone levels in the blood plasma before i.v. administration of 500 i.u. of chorionic gonadotropin and two hours after the administration. A group of animals with reproduction disorders comprised boars with an impaired quality of ejaculate and low fertility ability (18 boars) and with sexual dysfunctions (15 boars). No statistically significant difference in the basal concentration of testosterone in the blood was found in the boars with the studied sexual dysfunctions, as compared with the boars with no sexual dysfunctions. Administration of chorionic gonadotropin increased significantly the plasma testosterone levels in both groups. If the effect of chorionic gonadotropin on the studied level of this hormone was compared in boars with sexual dysfunctions and in boars without any disorders, no significant differences were proved. It has been inferred from the above findings that there are no significant disorders of androgen supply and incretion reserve of the gonads in the boars with sexual dysfunctions.     

Evaluation of feline serum amyloid A (SAA) as an inflammatory marker

The concentration of feline serum amyloid A (fSAA) was determined by a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by using fSAA specific monoclonal antibodies, to evaluate the fSAA as an inflammatory marker in cats. The mean concentration +/- standard deviation of fSAA was found to be 0.60 +/- 1.06 microg/m l and 33.65 +/- 67.59 microg/ml in serum samples from normal cats (n=45) and cats (n=312) with various diseases and disorders, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.001) was found between the two groups. It was also found that the concentration of fSAA begins to increase rapidly at approximately 3-6 hr after spay, and increases up to significantly high levels in some disorders, like injury, renal failure, infectious diseases, etc.     

Genetic disorders affecting reproduction and periparturient care

There are numerous genetic diseases influencing reproduction and periparturient care in dogs including such disorders as anasarca, cleft palate, swimmers, congenital heart disease, and the various conditions that cause excessive bleeding. It is probable that all breeds of dogs are at risk for these or other traits that influence whelping and neonatal care. Therefore, genetic counseling should be considered as an important aspect of prenatal and pediatric veterinary medicine.     

Neurological diseases of ruminant livestock in Australia. V: congenital neurogenetic disorders of cattle

As part of a series on neurological disorders in ruminant livestock in Australia, this review focuses on the congenital neurogenic disorders of cattle. The genetic pressures that contribute to the emergence of congenital neurogenic disorders, as well as the methods of diagnosis, are discussed. Disorders reviewed are ordered by breed and include arthrogryposis multiplex, fawn calf syndrome, inherited congenital myoclonus and maple syrup urine disease.