Experimental staphylococcal mastitis in bitches: clinical, bacteriological, cytological, haematological and pathological features

The objectives of the work were to study the features of experimentally induced canine mastitis and to present hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. The right caudal abdominal mammary gland of six bitches was inoculated on day 8 after whelping with Staphylococcus intermedius to induce mastitis; adjacent mammary glands were used as controls. Clinical examination, bacteriological and cytological (whiteside test, Giemsa) examination of mammary secretion, as well as haematological tests were performed from 5 days before until 34 days after challenge. Mastectomy was sequentially performed 1, 2, 4, 18, 26 and 34 days after challenge in each of the bitches, in order to carry out a pathological examination of mammary glands. All animals developed clinical mastitis: challenged glands became painful, hot, enlarged and oedematous; secretion was brownish, purulent, with flakes or clots, subsequently becoming yellowish and thick. Staphylococci were isolated from all inoculated glands (up to 22 days). WST was positive in 41/46 samples from inoculated glands and 66/138 samples from control glands; neutrophils predominated during the acute stage. Blood leukocyte counts increased, whilst platelet counts decreased. Gross pathological findings initially included congestion, purulent discharge and subcutaneous oedema; then abscesses, brownish areas and size decrease were seen. Salient histopathological features were initially neutrophilic infiltration, haemorrhages, destruction of mammary epithelial cells and alveoli, and then infiltration by lymphocytes, shrunken alveoli, loss of glandular architecture and fibrous tissue proliferation. We conclude that in bitches, intrammamary inoculation of Staphylococcus intermedius can induce clinical mastitis, followed by subclinical disease. The disorder is characterized by bacterial isolation and leukocyte influx in challenged glands, by leukocyte presence in adjacent mammary glands, by increased blood leukocyte counts and by destruction of mammary parenchyma.     

Inheritance, mode of inheritance, and candidate genes for primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is caused by inappropriate secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by autonomously functioning neoplastic or hyperplastic parathyroid "chief" cells. Keeshonden are thought to be over-represented in studies on canine PHPT, but no proof of heritability or mode of inheritance has been published. The canine disease clinically resembles human familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP). HYPOTHESIS: Primary hyperparathyroidism in Keeshonden is genetically transmitted and is caused by a mutation in 1 of 4 genes implicated in human FIHP: MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET. ANIMALS: Pedigrees consisting of 1647 Keeshonden were created including 219 Keeshonden with known PHPT phenotypes (69 positive). DNA samples were obtained from 176 of the 219 Keeshonden (34 positive). METHODS: Heritability and mode of inheritance were determined by segregation analysis. Canine homologs to the human genes were identified. Exons and surrounding intron regions were sequenced and scanned for sense-altering polymorphisms or polymorphisms that segregated with the disease. Messenger RNA from a parathyroid tumor of an affected Keeshond was analyzed for polymorphisms and splice alterations. RESULTS: PHPT follows an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance in Keeshonden with possible age-dependent penetrance. No polymorphisms identified in the genes analyzed were associated with a change in predicted protein or in hypothesized splice sites. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: PHPT is an autosomal dominant, genetically transmitted disease in Keeshonden. Once the mutation locus is identified, genetic testing should quickly decrease the incidence of PHPT in this breed. It is unlikely that mutations in MEN1, CASR, HRPT2, or RET cause PHPT in Keeshonden.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of tulathromycin as a metaphylactic antimicrobial in feedlot calves

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of tulathromycin (DRAX) versus tilmicosin (MIC) or oxytetracycline (TET) as a metaphylactic antimicrobial in feedlot calves. Calves that received DRAX had significantly (P<.05) lower initial undifferentiated fever (UF) treatment and relapse rates; lower overall chronicity, overall mortality, and cause-specific mortality rates; higher average daily gains; and improved quality grades. However, calves that received DRAX also had poorer (P<.05) yield grades compared with calves that received MIC or TET and worse feed conversion compared with calves that received MIC. Net advantages in the DRAX group were 3.79CanDollars/animal and 16.96CanDollars/animal compared with the MIC and TET groups, respectively. Based on these results, DRAX is a more efficacious and cost-effective metaphylactic antimicrobial than MIC or TET in feedlot calves at ultra-high risk of developing UF. In addition, this study presents a comparison between two methods ("deads out" and "deads in") of calculating feedlot performance variables.     

Efficacy of famotidine for the prevention of exercise-induced gastritis in racing Alaskan sled dogs

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole reduces the severity of exercise-induced gastritis but not the prevalence of gastric lesions in sled dogs. The frequent feeding of sled dogs during competition likely results in decreased absorption of omeprazole and, thereby, decreased efficacy. HYPOTHESIS: Famotidine, a histamine-2 blocker with good bioavailability in the presence of food, would reduce the incidence and severity of exercise-induced gastric disease in sled dogs. ANIMALS: Sixteen fit Alaskan sled dogs (4 female, 12 male, all intact, age 2-6 years). METHODS: Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment (22 mg famotidine PO q24h) or control groups (n = 8 per group). Famotidine was administered with a meal to the treatment group once daily for 7 days before a challenge and once during exercise. Control dogs were fed an identical diet as the principal group. The 16 dog team completed a 100-mile exercise challenge in 18 hours. A gastroscopy was performed 24 hours after the challenge. The appearance of the mucosa was scored by an individual by using a scoring system. RESULTS: Treatment with famotidine significantly reduced the severity score compared with control (P = .0004). No adverse effects of treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Famotidine is effective in reducing the severity of exercise-induced gastric disease in racing Alaskan sled dogs, with minimal to no adverse effects, and may be recommended for prophylactic use in short distance races.     

Effects of CpG-B ODN on the protein expression profile of swine PBMC

The CpG motif within bacterial DNA is a potent immuno-stimulatory moiety. Here, using a 2-D electrophoretic approach, we investigated the effect of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide containing a B type CpG motif (CpG-B ODN) on the protein expression profile of swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We found that several proteins including spondin 1, N-acetolactate alpha linked acidic dipeptidase; V kappa light chain, T cell receptor variable alpha chain, heat shock protein (Hsp) 60, Hsp70, KIAA0857 protein, and PNAS-146 were up-regulated in PBMC by CpG-B ODN stimulation. Further studies showed that CpG-B ODN-mediated Hsp60, Hsp70 and Hsp90 expressions were closely associated with the TLR9 signalling pathway. Pretreatment with inhibitors of Hsp70, Hsp90 and TLR9 all blocked the CpG-B ODN-mediated anti-apoptotic effect in swine PBMC. These results suggest that CpG-B ODN treatment of swine PBMC may enhance the expression of biologically active proteins, notably spondin 1, V kappa light chain, T cell receptor variable alpha chain and Hsps, which may play an important role in CpG-B ODN-mediated activation of immune responses and enhancement of swine PBMC survival.     

南疆部分地区全舍饲养殖模式下驴消化道寄生虫流行病学调查

为了研究南疆地区规模化全舍饲养殖模式下驴消化道寄生虫的感染情况,并评价目前规模化全舍饲驴养殖场所采用驱虫方案的效果,本试验采集阿克陶县和泽普县4个规模化全舍饲养驴场917头驴(n=917)的粪样共1 834份,运用虫卵形态观察法检测消化道寄生虫,对优势虫种进行统计学分析,运用PCR方法鉴定体内排出的主要成虫;同时,根据养殖场现行驱虫方案在春季和秋季分别对驴群进行2次伊维菌素驱虫试验,连续观察5 d,记录排虫情况并计算消化道寄生虫感染率。结果显示：镜检观察到6种消化道寄生虫;经PCR鉴定体内主要排出马副蛔虫。4个规模化养殖场中,马圆线虫、毛细线虫、马副蛔虫和细颈线虫为驴消化道优势虫种,其冬春(夏秋)平均感染率分别为67.5%(79.6%)、52.9%(71.3%)、40.9%(45.3%)和14.5%(15.7%),表现出明显的季节特征,夏秋季节毛细线虫、马圆线虫、马副蛔虫感染率和感染强度显著高于冬春季节(P<0.01);寄生虫感染率与驴年龄存在相关性,夏秋季节驴驹马圆线虫、马副蛔虫感染率均极显著高于成年驴(P<0.001),冬春季节驴驹马圆线虫、毛细线虫和马副蛔虫感染率均显...     

制动器的正确使用

每位驾驶员都希望自己的车辆制动效果好。在一般情况下使用制动器时，应提前减小油门，降低车速，分离离合器，然后再制动，使车辆平稳停车。在正常行驶中，车速应靠油门与挡位来控制。在会车、转弯和避让时，都可预先用油门控制车速，以更换挡位使车辆慢行通过。这不但减少频繁使用制动器的惯病，也充分利用车辆向前行驶的惯性，从而既节省燃料也提高了行驶的安全性。     

小缸径柴油机喷油系统优化匹配降低排放研究

以480型柴油机为样机，通过试验和模拟计算系统分析了喷油系统参数对小缸径直喷式柴油机排放的影响，提出了喷油系统与整机的优化匹配改进方案。对比试验表明，在柴油机动力性、经济性基本不变的基础上,改进后的排放低于国家现行排放法规限值。能满足欧-1排放法规。     

双侧脑室引流、冲洗结合腰穿救治高血压脑出血破入全脑室患者的临床观察

目的 观察双侧脑室冲洗、引流结合腰穿治疗高血压脑出血破入全脑室的有效性和安全性.方法 将高血压脑出血破入全脑室的83例分成双管组(n=57)和单管组(n=26),双管组采用双侧脑室引流、冲洗结合腰穿的方法治疗(57例);单管组用单管引流治疗(26例),将两组治疗结果进行统计学分析和比较.结果 双管组:良好和中残35例(61.4%)、重残11例(19.3%)、植物生存2例(3.5%)、死亡9例(15.8%),单管组分别为6例(23.1%)、6例(23.1%)、1例(3.8%)、13例(50.0%),以双管组的疗效为优(P＜0.01);且双管组的病死率明显低于单管组(P＜0.01).双管组的脑脊液廓清时间为3～6(4.2±1.3)d,明显短于单管组的6～15(8.6±2.1)d(P＜0.01).结论 双管引流比单管引流更容易保持引流通畅,脑脊液廓清迅速,并发症减少,能降低病死率,提高生存质量,是一种安全、有效治疗全脑室出血的方法.