Urodynamic effects of a percutaneously controlled static hydraulic urethral sphincter in canine cadavers

OBJECTIVE: To describe a percutaneously controlled static hydraulic urethral sphincter (SHUS) and evaluate urodynamic effects of the SHUS in canine cadavers. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadavers of 6 adult female dogs. PROCEDURE: Cadavers were obtained immediately after dogs were euthanatized. Baseline maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and cystourethral leak point pressure (CLPP) were measured by use of a urethral pressure profilometer. An SHUS system was constructed by use of a silicone vascular occluder and subcutaneous infusion port. The SHUS system was then placed around the pelvic urethra in each cadaver. Measurements of MUCP and CLPP were repeated after varying occlusion of the SHUS (0%, 25%, and 50% occlusion). Baseline MUCP and CLPP values were compared with values obtained at 0%, 25%, and 50% occlusion of the SHUS by use of repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD MUCP for canine cadavers was 7 +/- 1.3 cm H2O at baseline, which increased to 127 +/- 53 cm H2O after 50% occlusion of the SHUS. Mean CLPP was 11 +/- 8.6 cm H2O at baseline, which increased to 73 +/- 38 cm H2O after 50% occlusion of the SHUS. Mean MUCP and CLPP were significantly associated with the amount of occlusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The SHUS had positive effects on MUCP and CLPP in canine cadavers. Therefore, additional evaluation of the SHUS in live dogs is warranted.     

Reproductive Causes of Hypocalcemia

Reproductive causes of hypocalcemia include puerperal tetany (eclampsia) and mild hypocalcemia during whelping. This article reviews the pathophysiology, signalment, clinical signs, and treatment of eclampsia in the bitch and queen. The second part of the article focuses on the consequences and treatment of hypocalcemia prior to and during whelping in dogs and cats.     

Surveillance of Parapoxvirus Among Ruminants in Virginia and Connecticut

In 2008, two deer hunters in Virginia and Connecticut were infected with a unique strain of pseudocowpox virus, a parapoxvirus. To estimate the prevalence of this virus, and in an attempt to define the reservoir, Parapoxvirus surveillance was undertaken between November 2009 and January 2010. 125 samples from four ruminant species (cows, goat, sheep and white‐tailed deer) were collected in Virginia, and nine samples from white‐tailed deer were collected in Connecticut. We found no evidence that the parapoxvirus species that infected the deer hunters is circulating among domesticated ruminants or white‐tailed deer. However, parapoxvirus DNA of a different parapoxvirus species, bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV), was detected in 31 samples obtained from asymptomatic cattle in Virginia. Parapoxvirus DNA–positive cattle originated from the same counties indicating probable transmission among animals. Molecular analysis identified BPSV as the parapoxvirus affecting animals. Asymptomatic parapoxvirus infections in livestock, particularly young animals, may be common, and further investigation will inform our knowledge of virus transmission.     

Heterogeneity of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates from atopic and healthy dogs

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is part of the normal canine flora but frequently causes pyoderma in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to determine whether particular S. pseudintermedius strains were associated with AD and/or pyoderma. Ninety‐six S. pseudintermedius isolates from the ear, nares, perineum and lesions of 21 atopic and 16 healthy dogs were lysed with proteinase K and digested with 40 U SmaI. Restriction products were separated using pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with an Oxford S. aureus control and lambda‐ladder DNA concatomer markers. A dendrogram was constructed by the unweighted pair group method. All isolates showed a ≥56% similarity coefficient. Nine distinct PFGE clusters were identified, as follows: five from both atopic and healthy dogs; three from atopic dogs only; and one from healthy dogs only. Nine clusters were isolated from the nares, eight from the perineum, five from the ears and six from pyoderma lesions. There were no significant differences in the frequency of isolation from atopic or healthy skin, body sites or infected lesions for any of the clusters. Two of six healthy dogs and 18 of 20 atopic dogs with multiple isolates had closely related isolates (less than three band differences) at more than one sampling site. Isolates from pyoderma lesions were closely related to at least one mucosal isolate in 11 of 16 dogs. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates appear to be heterogeneous, and colonization or infection of atopic skin was not associated with any particular strain or cluster of strains.     

Effects of atracurium on intraocular pressure, eye position, and blood pressure in eucapnic and hypocapnic isoflurane-anesthetized dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of atracurium on intraocular pressure (IOP), eye position, and arterial blood pressure in eucapnic and hypocapnic dogs anesthetized with isoflurane. ANIMALS: 16 dogs. PROCEDURE: Ventilation during anesthesia was controlled to maintain Paco2 at 38 to 44 mm Hg in group- I dogs (n = 8) and 26 to 32 mm Hg in group-II dogs (8). Baseline measurements for IOP, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Responses to peroneal nerve stimulation were monitored by use of a force-displacement transducer. Atracurium (0.2 mg/kg) was administered i.v. and measurements were repeated at 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes and at 5-minute intervals thereafter for 60 minutes. RESULTS: Atracurium did not affect IOP, HR, or CVP Group II had higher CVP than group I, but IOP was not different. There was no immediate effect of atracurium on arterial blood pressure. Arterial blood pressure increased gradually over time in both groups. Thirty seconds after administration of atracurium, the eye rotated from a ventromedial position to a central position and remained centrally positioned until 100% recovery of a train-of-four twitch response. The time to 100% recovery was 53.1 +/- 5.3 minutes for group I and 46.3 +/- 9.2 minutes for group II. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Atracurium did not affect IOP or arterial blood pressure in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Hyperventilation did not affect IOP or the duration of effect of atracurium.     

Biodiversity of mannose-specific lectins within Narcissus species

Mannose-specific lectins (MSLs) were isolated from the bulbs of 27 species of wild Spanish Narcissi and compared to the commercially available MSL from daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus, NPA). Molecular weight analysis showed the monomers of all the MSLs were at, or around, 12.5 kD. Haemagglutination assays showed that the MSLs exhibited activities at up to four times greater than that displayed by NPA and other MSLs derived from other species such as Galanthus nivalus (snowdrop) and Allium ursinum (ramson). Elution profiles from ion exchange chromatography exhibited similarities for species within the same taxonomic section suggesting that this method could aid in species classification. Further analysis by isoelectric focusing showed many isolectins are present in vivo and that even within a single peak from ion exchange chromatography there are numerous isolectins present. The basis of the isolectin heterogeneity is suggested to reside in the tetraploidy (sometime triploidy) nature of Narcissus genes.     

Cloning and expression of pigeon IFN-γ gene

This is the first paper describing the cloning of pigeon IFN-γ gene (PiIFN-γ) and the analysis of the in vitro expressed recombinant protein. The PiIFN-γ gene was identified by RT-PCR as a 498 bp, fragment coding for a precursor protein of 165 amino acids instead of 164 amino acids, as observed in the other avian species. The recombinant protein was expressed in vitro by an eukaryotic system and the biological properties of the cytokine were tested using a chicken macrophage cell line. The high degree of amino acid and nucleotide identity, shared with the ChIFN-γ, and the fact that the pigeon protein was functional on chicken cells, indicates a cross-reactivity between pigeon and chicken IFN-γ. The detection of the PiIFN-γ could represent an useful instrument in understanding the role played by this cytokine in immune response related to vaccinations and infectious diseases in the pigeon.