Symphyseal distraction-osteotomy using a novel spacer of spirally fashioned orthopaedic wire for the management of obstipation

Three domestic shorthair cats, one male and two females, 17.6+/-6.5 months old and 3.5+/-0.4 kg body weight, were admitted with a 6.6+/-1.1 (range 6-8) month history of recurrent bouts of obstipation. Defecatory difficulties had started within a month of conservatively managed pelvic fractures. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed severe colonic distension with faeces and a narrow pelvic canal caused by malunion of the pelvic fractures. A pelvic symphyseal distraction-osteotomy (SDO) technique was performed, using a novel metal spacer of spirally fashioned orthopaedic wire. Pelvic canal enlargement allowed the insertion of an index finger into the rectum. Following this, no further episodes of obstipation occurred during a follow-up period of 1-3 years. The SDO technique may be successful for the treatment of obstipation secondary to post-traumatic pelvic canal stenosis in the cat, if the colon motility is not already permanently affected.     

Effects of Several Procedures of Ovarian Stimulation on Reproductive Efficiency in Artificially Inseminated Does

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Nutritional Peculiarities and Diet Palatability in the Cat

Cats have become the most popular companion animal in Western Europe. Unlike other domestic animals, cats are strict carnivores and this influences both their nutritional requirements and food preferences. Cats have very high protein requirements and their diet must contain some nutrients, such as arginine, taurine, niacin, vitamin A and arachidonic acid. Besides its nutritional value, a diet for cats must also be highly palatable. This paper offers a quick overview of feline nutritional peculiarities and the factors that influence food palatability in cats.

     

Metabolism of isometamidium in hepatocytes isolated from control and inducer-treated rats

Little is known about the metabolism and mechanism of action of the trypanocide, isometamidium (ISM), the major drug used for prophylaxis of trypanosomiasis. We have investigated its metabolism and distribution in isolated rat hepatocytes using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Two putative metabolites were formed, which were proposed to be a mono-acetyl derivative and an oxidized metabolite (SII). This is the first demonstration of the hepatic metabolism of ISM, as previous in vivo studies were hampered by dose-limiting toxicity and insensitive analytical methods. The intrinsic fluorescence of the drug enabled its intracellular uptake to be followed by CLSM. It is taken up rapidly into the nucleolus, nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum within 5 min, and retained in the nucleus for at least 24 h. Persistent binding of ISM to cellular macromolecules may contribute to its prophylactic effect in vivo. Pretreatment of rats with 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbitone (PB) or the widely used pyrethroid pesticide, deltamethrin, resulted in an increase in metabolism of ISM to the proposed SII after 1 h incubation with hepatocytes. 3-methylcholanthrene was the most potent inducer, causing a maximal 19.5-fold induction of SII formation after exposure of hepatocytes to ISM for 1 h compared with formation by control hepatocytes. In comparison, at the 1 h timepoint deltamethrin pre-treatment caused a 10.2-fold induction, and PB only 8.2 fold.     

Cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of hetastarch plus hypertonic saline solutions during experimental endotoxemia in anesthetized horses

BACKGROUND: Small volume resuscitation has been advocated as a beneficial therapy for endotoxemia in horses but this therapy has not been investigated in a prospective manner. The objective of this study was to determine the cardiopulmonary effects of small-volume resuscitation using hypertonic saline solution (HSS) plus Hetastarch (HES) during experimental endotoxemia in anesthetized horses. HYPOTHESIS: Treatment of horses with induced endotoxemia using HES-HSS does not alter the response of various cardiopulmonary indices when compared to treatment with either small- or large-volume isotonic crystalloid solutions. ANIMALS: Eighteen healthy horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane. Endotoxemia was induced by administering 50 microg/kg of Escherichia coli endotoxin IV. The horses were treated over 30 minutes with 15 mL/kg of balanced polyionic crystalloid solution (control), 60 mL/kg of balanced polyionic crystalloid solution (ISO), or 5 mL/kg of HSS followed by 10 mL/kg of HES (HSS-HES). METHODS: Prospective randomized trial. RESULTS: Cardiac output (CO) after endotoxin infusion increased significantly (P < .05) from baseline in all groups, whereas mean central venous pressure increased significantly (P < .05) in the ISO group only. Mean pulmonary artery pressure increased from baseline (P < .05) in horses treated with isotonic fluids and HSS-HES. There was no effect of treatment with HSS-HES on CO, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), mean arterial pressure, blood lactate concentrations, or arterial oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The use of HSS-HES failed to ameliorate the deleterious hemodynamic responses associated with endotoxemia in horses. The clinical value of this treatment in horses with endotoxemia remains unconfirmed.     

Chlamydiales in guinea-pigs and their zoonotic potential

The aim was to detect and characterize chlamydial infections in guinea-pigs (GP) with ocular disease, study their pathogenicity and zoonotic potential and to test for the presence of Acanthamoebae spp. in GP eyes and to investigate whether they could act as vectors for Chlamydia-like organisms. Overall 126 GP, of which 77 were symptomatic, were screened by clinical examination, cytology, gross pathology, histology, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacteriology. A new Chlamydiaceae-specific intergenic spacer rRNA gene PCR, designed to amplify this segment linking the 16S and 23S regions, was performed. DNA samples were also received from one owner including samples of his cat and rabbit. Guinea-pigs: 48 of 75 symptomatic, but only 11 of 48 asymptomatic GP were positive by PCR for Chlamydophila caviae guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) (P < 0.0001). Eighteen of 75 or 15/48, respectively, were positive for DNA from Chlamydia-like organisms. Acanthamoebae-DNA could be found in two GP, of which one was symptomatic. Owner, cat and rabbit: Samples of all three species were positive by PCR for C. caviae GPIC and the owner's one-day disposable contact lenses showed a positive PCR result for the Chlamydia-like organism Parachlamydia acanthamoebae. No Acanthamoebae-DNA could be detected. This study is the first to describe Chlamydia-like organisms in GP and to detect C. caviae GPIC in human, cat and rabbit. Therefore, C. caviae GPIC could pose a zoonotic potential. We believe that the finding of C. caviae GPIC in species other than GP is probably not unique.     

Detection of pigeon circovirus in cloacal swabs: implications for diagnosis, epidemiology and control

Pigeon circovirus (picv) was detected in cloacal swab samples by means of a newly-developed, sensitive pcr. An initial investigation of 17 Belgian racing pigeons aged up to eight months showed that rates of detection of 88 per cent and above were achieved using samples of cloacal swab, blood and bursa of Fabricius. The sampling of 15 caged pigeons six times when they were from three to 31 weeks of age indicated that picv infections were more readily detected in cloacal swabs than in blood, and that the virus could be detected in cloacal swabs for longer periods after infection than in blood. picv infections were detected in cloacal swabs from 38 of 47 young pigeons aged from two to 31 weeks, from 12 racing lofts, which had clinical signs including diarrhoea and weight loss, regurgitation and respiratory signs. Samples from birds from two infected lofts indicated that picv could be detected in some birds for at least 27 weeks. Although nine of 14 pigeons aged from 32 to 45 weeks were virus-positive, picv was detected in only one of 18 adult pigeons that originated from four infected lofts.     

The effect of increased ozone concentrations in the air on selected aspects of rat reproduction

Five-month-old male rates were exposed to 0.5 ppm ozone for 50 days, 5 hours a day. A week before the completion of ozone exposure, a biological test was performed to determine the fertilization rate and the survival rate of newborns in both ozone-exposed and control animals. After 50 days, the rats were sacrificed with an overdose of halotane, and testes were collected to assess the morphology and motility of spermatozoa. Neither the morphology of spermatozoa nor motility parameters determined by the CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis) system showed statistically significant differences between ozone-exposed and control males. The number of successful matings and the survival rate of newborns per litter within one year postpartum were also similar in both groups. However, sperm concentration was by 17% lower in ozone-exposed rats, compared with the control animals.     

The detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance

Before revised World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) guidelines on the detection of anthelmintic resistance can be produced, validation of modified and new methods is required in laboratories in different parts of the world. There is a great need for improved methods of detection of anthelmintic resistance particularly for the detection of macrocyclic lactone resistance and for the detection of resistant nematodes in cattle. Therefore, revised and new methods are provided here for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of ruminants, horses and pigs as a basis for discussion and with the purpose that they are evaluated internationally to establish whether they could in the future be recommended by the WAAVP. The interpretation of the faecal egg count reduction test has been modified and suggestions given on its use with persistent anthelmintics and continuous release devices. An egg hatch test for benzimidazole (BZ) resistance is described. A microagar larval development test for the detection of benzimidazole and levamisole resistance provides third stage larvae for the identification of resistant worms. The sensitivity of these two tests can be increased by using discriminating doses rather than LD(50) values. Details are given of a PCR based test for the analysis of benzimidazole resistance in strongyles of sheep and goats, horses and cattle. Although promising for ruminant trichostrongyles, quantitative determination of gene frequency using real time PCR requires further development before PCR tests will be used in the field. Apart from faecal egg count reduction tests there are currently no satisfactory tests for macrocylic lactone resistance despite the great importance of this subject. Except for treatment and slaughter trials there are no validated tests for fasciolicide resistance or for the detection of resistance in cestodes.