Bovine haptoglobin response in clinically defined field conditions

In order to assess the usefulness of haptoglobin as a measure of the acute phase response in cattle, the concentration of serum haptoglobin was estimated in the non-infectious conditions of milk fever and ketosis, and in the infectious conditions of severe mastitis, acute severe metritis, retained placenta and chronic endometritis. Mean haptoglobin concentrations were normal in cattle with non-infectious conditions and chronic endometritis but significantly increased in cattle with infectious conditions.     

The effects of Arctotheca calendula (capeweed) on digestive function of sheep

The effects of Arctotheca calendula (capeweed) on digestive function in the rumen, caecum and colon of sheep were studied. Three groups of 2-year-old Merino wethers were compared: 13 grazing capeweed-free pasture for 23 days; 8 fed 700 g of lucerne hay daily for 18 days, and 13 fed 6 kg of freshly cut capeweed (dry matter 11.3%) daily for 7 days. Capeweed did not cause diarrhoea and based on measurements of products of fermentation in the rumen, the plants were as nutritious as pasture containing grasses and clovers. The main disadvantage of capeweed in this single feeding trial was that sheep eating it lost body weight due to their inability, or lack of incentive, to consume enough dry matter.     

Sciatic neurapraxia as a complication in 1000 consecutive canine total hip replacements

Objectives— To report the frequency of sciatic neurapraxia (SN) associated with total hip replacement (THR), to determine outcome (recovery rate) after SN associated with THR, and to identify potential causes of THR-associated SN in dogs.
Study Design— Prospective study.
Animals— Dogs (n=786; 1000 hips) that had THR.
Methods— Logistic regression was used to determine the association with post-THR SN of the variables age, sex, breed, weight, body condition score, severity of presurgical pain, side (right, left), type of prosthesis fixation (cemented, cementless), duration of surgery, surgeon experience (chronologic order), traumatic presurgical luxation, and primary versus revision arthroplasty.
Results— The frequency of SN after THR was 19/1000 (1.9%). Two explanatory variables, age at surgery and duration of surgery, were significantly ( P <.05) associated with increased probability of SN. Body weight ( P =.09), traumatic presurgical luxation ( P =.11), and revision versus primary surgery ( P =.11) were marginally associated with increased probability of SN. All dogs with SN recovered fully.
Conclusions— SN after THR is not uncommon and complete recovery usually occurs although the recovery time is highly variable.
Clinical Relevance— Although SN associated with THR typically resolves, surgeons should avoid iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury during THR.     

Antinociceptive effects of intrathecal 5-HT agonists in sheep

Objectives To examine the role of spinal 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) binding sites in nociceptive processing in conscious sheep and to study the role of 5‐HT agonists in mediating analgesia. Study design Prospective controlled study. Animals Nine adult healthy female sheep (Swaledale, Swaledale‐cross or Clun Forest) weighing 45–65 kg. Methods Intrathecal (IT) catheters were implanted at the cervical (n = 5) or lumbar (n = 4) level of the spinal cord under general anaesthesia. At least 1 week later, and at 1 week intervals thereafter, the effects of intrathecal Ringer's solution (control), xylazine (100 µg), 5‐HT creatinine sulphate (200, 400 and 800 µg), RU24969 (200 µg), α‐Methyl‐5‐HT and 1‐(3‐Chlorophenyl)‐biguanide (CPBG) on the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MT) were studied. Results were plotted as mean variable versus time curves. Areas under portions of the curves (0–30 and 0–60 minutes) were measured and expressed as mean ± standard error. Differences between values for control and drug trials were examined using the two‐tailed Student's t‐test. Results Baseline values of MT were lower on the hind limbs than on the forelimbs. Intrathecal Ringer's solution did not alter MT in the cervical or lumbar region. Xylazine (100 µg) produced a characteristic elevation in MT between 5 and 60 + minutes. Lumbar IT injection of 5‐HT (800 µg) raised the MT more than cervical injection, while cervical injection of RU24969 (200 µg) raised the MT more than lumbar administration. Cervical IT injection of α‐Me‐5‐HT (500 µg) produced a marked and significant increase in MT while lumbar application had no effect. CPBG (500 µg) injection caused no significant effect on MT with either cervical or lumbar applications. Conclusions The activation of 5‐HT₁ and 5‐HT₂ receptors particularly at the cervical level appears to be involved in spinal nociceptive processing in the sheep. Clinical relevance These effects, which lasted about 60 minutes, may have an implication in the development of new analgesic strategies for animals.     

Diagnostic contribution of thoracic ultrasonography in 17 foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical usefulness of thoracic ultrasonography compared to thoracic radiography in evaluation of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Criteria for patient inclusion in this study were: (1) isolation of R. equi from transtracheal aspirate, (2) radiographic evaluation of the pulmonary parenchyma, and (3) sonographic evaluation of the pulmonary parenchyma. Seventeen foals met this criteria and their medical records were reviewed. Pyogranulomatous pneumonia was identified radiographically in 13 foals. Severe consolidative pneumonia with no detectable abscessation was identified radiographically in three others. Both consolidation and abscessation were identified radiographically in one. In this foal only consolidation was ultrasonographically identified. Ultrasonographically, pulmonary abscessation was identified in 12 foals and pulmonary consolidation with no detectable abscessation was identified in three others. Sonographic examination allowed detection of only pleural irregularities in one foal, which was subsequently found to have pyogranulomatous pneumonia radiographically. Results indicate that ultrasonography may be an accurate alternative imaging modality for detection of pulmonary pathology attributed to R. equi pneumonia in foals when thoracic radiography is not available.     

Pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of butorphanol administered by single intravenous injection or continuous intravenous infusion in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine an infusion rate of butorphanol tartrate in horses that would maintain therapeutic plasma drug concentrations while minimizing development of adverse behavioral and gastrointestinal tract effects. ANIMALS: 10 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE: Plasma butorphanol concentrations were determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography following administration of butorphanol by single IV injection (0.1 to 0.13 mg/kg of body weight) or continuous IV infusion (loading dose, 17.8 microg/kg; infusion dosage, 23.7 microg/kg/h for 24 hours). Pharmacokinetic variables were calculated, and changes in physical examination data, gastrointestinal tract transit time, and behavior were determined over time. RESULTS: A single IV injection of butorphanol was associated with adverse behavioral and gastrointestinal tract effects including ataxia, decreased borborygmi, and decreased defecation. Elimination half-life of butorphanol was brief (44.37 minutes). Adverse gastrointestinal tract effects were less apparent during continuous 24-hour infusion of butorphanol at a dosage that resulted in a mean plasma concentration of 29 ng/ml, compared with effects after a single IV injection. No adverse behavioral effects were observed during or after continuous infusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Continuous IV infusion of butorphanol for 24 hours maintained plasma butorphanol concentrations within a range associated with analgesia. Adverse behavioral and gastrointestinal tract effects were minimized during infusion, compared with a single injection of butorphanol. Continuous infusion of butorphanol may be a useful treatment to induce analgesia in horses.     

Evaluation of the renal effects of experimental feeding of melamine and cyanuric acid to fish and pigs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether renal crystals can be experimentally induced in animals fed melamine or the related triazine compound cyanuric acid, separately or in combination, and to compare experimentally induced crystals with those from a cat with triazine-related renal failure. ANIMALS: 75 fish (21 tilapia, 24 rainbow trout, 15 channel catfish, and 15 Atlantic salmon), 4 pigs, and 1 cat that was euthanatized because of renal failure. PROCEDURES: Fish and pigs were fed a target dosage of melamine (400 mg/kg), cyanuric acid (400 mg/kg), or melamine and cyanuric acid (400 mg of each compound/kg) daily for 3 days and were euthanatized 1, 3, 6, 10, or 14 days after administration ceased. Fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed kidneys were examined for crystals. Edible tissues were collected for residue analysis. Crystals were examined for composition via Raman spectroscopy and hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: All animals fed the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid developed goldbrown renal crystals arranged in radial spheres (spherulites), similar to those detected in the cat. Spectral analyses of crystals from the cat, pigs, and fish were consistent with melamine-cyanurate complex crystals. Melamine and cyanuric acid residues were identified in edible tissues of fish. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although melamine and cyanuric acid appeared to have low toxicity when administered separately, they induced extensive renal crystal formation when administered together. The subsequent renal failure may be similar to acute uric acid nephropathy in humans, in which crystal spherulites obstruct renal tubules.     

Outbreaks of classical swine influenza in pigs in England in 1986

Serum samples from pig herds in Great Britain have been examined for antibodies to influenza virus since 1968. Antibodies to H3N2 virus strains have been found since 1968 and the serological data presented here suggests that H3N2 virus strains continue to persist in the pig population. An outbreak of acute respiratory disease occurred in a 400-sow unit. The outbreak was characterised by coughing, anorexia, fever, inappetence and loss of condition. The gilts and weaners were affected and the morbidity approached 100 per cent. An influenza A virus designated A/Swine/Weybridge/117316/86 (H1N1) was isolated from the herd and 28 paired serum samples from the affected animals showed increases in the haemagglutination inhibition titres to this isolate. Haemagglutinin and neuraminidase characterisation indicated that the virus is similar to H1N1 viruses isolated recently from pigs in Europe. A total of 91 herds experiencing respiratory disease were investigated, of which 42 gave positive reactions in the haemagglutination inhibition test. Antibodies to A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) were also detected in some of the herds but it is not known whether this strain plays any role in the current respiratory disease problems in pigs.