Replacing fish oil and astaxanthin by microalgal sources produced different metabolic responses in juvenile rainbow trout fed 2 types of practical diets

Dietary fish oil supplementation provides n-3 long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids for supporting fish growth and metabolism and enriching fillet with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; c22:6n-3). Two experiments were performed as a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments for 16 wk to determine effects and mechanisms of replacing 0%, 50%, and 100% fish oil with DHA-rich microalgae in combination with synthetic vs. microalgal source of astaxanthin in plant protein meal (PM)- or fishmeal (FM)- based diets for juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish (22 ± 0.26 g) were stocked at 17/tank and 3 tanks/diet. The 100% fish oil replacement impaired (P < 0.0001) growth performance, dietary protein and energy utilization, body indices, and tissue accumulation of DHA and EPA in both diet series. The impairments were associated (P < 0.05) with upregulation of hepatic gene expression related to growth (ghr1and igf1) and biosynthesis of DHA and EPA (fads6 and evol5) that was more dramatic in the FM than PM diet-fed fish, and more pronounced on tissue EPA than DHA concentrations. The source of astaxanthin exerted interaction effects with the fish oil replacement on several measures including muscle total cholesterol concentrations. In conclusion, replacing fish oil by the DHA-rich microalgae produced more negative metabolic responses than the substitution of synthetic astaxanthin by the microalgal source in juvenile rainbow trout fed 2 types of practical diets.     

Comparison of bacterial organisms and their susceptibility patterns from otic exudate and ear tissue from the vertical ear canal of dogs undergoing a total ear canal ablation

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare bacterial organisms and their susceptibility patterns from otic exudate and ear tissue from the vertical ear canal of six dogs with end-stage otitis undergoing a total ear canal ablation. Twenty-six organisms, 13 from the exudate and 13 from the tissue, were morphologically and biochemically similar, and their susceptibility patterns were compared. There were discrepancies for only 5 antibiotics for 4 organisms from 3 dogs. Culture of otic exudate from the vertical ear canal of dogs with chronic end-stage otitis externa provides an accurate reflection of the bacterial species present and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these infections.     

Effects of reconcile (fluoxetine) chewable tablets plus behavior management for canine separation anxiety

Canine separation anxiety is a common behavioral problem presented to veterinarians. Associated behaviors are distressing to both dog and owner, have the potential to disrupt the human-companion animal bond, and may lead to euthanasia. The results of this study demonstrate the clinical efficacy and safety of Reconcile (fluoxetine, 1 to 2 mg/kg/day [0.45 to 0.91 mg/lb/day]), in conjunction with behavior management, for the treatment of canine separation anxiety. The beef flavored chewable formulation was palatable to treated dogs and easy to administer. This study provides to veterinarians and owners valuable information about an effective separation anxiety treatment plan that combines use of Reconcile with behavior modification.     

Low-dose ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) modulates the course and magnitude of the antibody response to vaccination against Equid herpesvirus 1 in horses

The purpose of this study was to determine if ginseng fed at low levels enhances a horse's antibody response to vaccination against Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). For 28 d, 5 horses received ground, powdered ginseng (35 mg/kg body weight, 1.7 mg/kg total ginsenosides) in molasses as a carrier, and 5 received molasses only. On day 14, each horse was vaccinated against EHV-1. The time course of the antibody response to vaccination was significantly altered in the horses receiving ginseng, a clinically relevant increase in antibody titer being observed by postvaccination day 2 compared with day 6 in the control horses. The horses receiving ginseng also had a significant decrease in serum levels of sodium and a significant increase in serum levels of potassium. No adverse effects of ginseng treatment were identified by hematologic and blood biochemistry profiles. Thus, low-dose dietary supplementation with ginseng in healthy horses may be a useful adjunct to vaccination.     

Validation of a point-of-care polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in rostral nasal swabs from horses with suspected strangles

This study aimed to validate a point-of-care polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) in rostral nasal swabs from horses with suspected acute strangles and to compare the results against the molecular gold standard of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Two hundred thirty-two individual swabs of rostral nasal passages were characterized by qPCR as S. equi positive, S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) positive, or S. equi and S. zooepidemicus negative. The specificity and sensitivity of the point-of-care PCR assay were 89% and 84%, respectively. The limits of detection of the qPCR assay and the point-of-care PCR analyzer were 3 and 277 eqbE target genes of S. equi, respectively. Overall agreement and short turnaround time make the point-of-care PCR assay a potential molecular diagnostic platform that will enhance the capability of equine veterinarians to timely support a diagnosis of strangles and institute proper biosecurity protocols.     

Lipomatous infiltration of the canine salivary gland

Benign connective tumours of the canine salivary glands are rare. This report describes lipomatous infiltration of parotid or submandibular salivary glands in seven dogs in which the glands were enlarged as a result of infiltration by fat cells; they appeared to have been successfully treated by local excision. The precise cause of the lipomatous infiltration in the dogs is unclear but different causes of similar lesions in humans are discussed.     

Retrospective comparison of surgical ligation and transarterial catheter occlusion for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in two hundred and four dogs (1993-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To compare procedure time, complications, mortality, and short-term outcome in dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treated by surgical ligation (SL) or transarterial coil occlusion (TCO). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Dogs with PDA (n=204). METHODS: Medical records of dogs treated for PDA were reviewed. Dogs treated by SL when it was the primary method used for PDA treatment (1993-1998) were compared with dogs treated by TCO when it was the primary method used for PDA treatment (1999-2003). Dogs treated during the transition between techniques, dogs treated with SL (1999-2003) and dogs treated with TCO before 1999, as well as dogs with pulmonary hypertension, or bidirectional or reversed (right-to-left) flow through the PDA were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: Age, weight, gender distribution, and procedure times (P=.43) were similar for both groups. Major complications were more common with SL (12% versus 4.3%; P=.035) whereas minor complications were more common with TCO (12% versus 26%; P=.015). Initial success rate was higher for SL (94%) compared with TCO (84%; P=.027). There was no significant difference in mortality between SL (5.6%) and TCO (2.6%; P=.27). CONCLUSIONS: Both SL and TCO are acceptable PDA treatments with comparable mortality; however, SL was associated with a higher risk of major complications and TCO was associated with a lower initial success rate.     

Seasonal effects on the aerobic bacterial and fungal conjunctival flora of normal thoroughbred brood mares in Florida

Objective To evaluate seasonal effects on the presence or absence of fungal and aerobic bacterial flora of the conjunctival fornix of normal Florida Thoroughbred horses. Sample population Both eyes of 100 horses. Procedure Horses with normal anterior segment ophthalmic examinations from three farms in north central Florida were included. Each animal had the ventral conjunctival fornix of each eye swabbed with sterile culturettes. Samples were taken in October, January, April, and July (1999–2000). Aerobic and fungal cultures were plated. Bacterial cultures were reviewed at 24 and 48 h. Fungal cultures were reviewed weekly for 4 weeks. Logistic regression analysis with season as a factor and age of the horse as a covariate was performed. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.01. Results Horses ranged from 3 to 24 years of age, with a median age of 9 years. Twenty‐four genera of bacteria and 35 genera of fungi were recovered. Corynebacterium sp., Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Moraxella sp. were the bacteria most frequently isolated. Mold species, dematiaceous mold species, Chrysosporium sp., Cladosporium sp., and Aspergillus sp. were the most frequently recovered fungi. Season did not have a significant effect on the presence of microorganisms isolated for individual horses adjusted for age. Younger horses had an increased incidence of gram‐negative rods and fungal isolates. The number of bacteria and fungi isolated are not uniform across seasons. Conclusion There were no significant differences between the number or type of organisms cultured during the sampling seasons in normal Florida horses. A large range of normal bacterial and fungal flora were isolated from these horses. The number of bacteria and fungi isolated are not uniform across seasons. The likelihood of detecting an organism depends on the horses’ age.     

Use of a jugular vein autograft for reconstruction of the cranial vena cava in a dog with invasive thymoma and cranial vena cava syndrome

A spayed female dog was evaluated because of edema of the ventral cervical region, lethargy, cough, and reduced exercise tolerance. Invasive thymoma and cranial vena cava syndrome were diagnosed by use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy and contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography. Resection of the cranial vena cava and an autogenous jugular vein graft were used for restoration of normal venous return to the right atrium and alleviation of the cranial vena cava syndrome.