Three<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orobanche</Emphasis> species newly found on crops in israel

Orobanche amethystea Thuill.,O. loricata Reichenb. andO. pubescens D’Urv. were found to parasitize the roots of cultivated plants in Israel.Orobanche pubescens is known from the local flora, and was now found to cause damage in parsley fields and toTropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium) in ornamental gardens.Orobanche amethystea andO. loricata are known as occasional weeds in Europe and were recently found for the first time in Israel.Orobanche amethystea densely populated vetch fields in Israel, andO. loricata was found in ornamental gardens. A key for the identification ofOrobanche species in cultivated areas in Israel is given, based on morphological features. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

Use of pimobendan in 170 cats (2006–2010)

Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo describe the therapeutic use of pimobendan in cats, describe the patient population to which it was administered, document potential side effects and report the clinical course following administration of pimobendan in conjunction with standard heart failure therapy. It is hypothesized that cats with advanced heart disease including congestive heart failure from a variety of causes will tolerate pimobendan with a minimum of side effects when used in treatment in conjunction with a variety of other medications.Animals, materials and methodsOne hundred and seventy client owned cats with naturally occurring heart disease, one hundred and sixty four of which had congestive heart failure. Medical records were reviewed and owners and referring veterinarians were contacted for follow-up data. Data collected included pimobendan dose, other medications administered concurrently, data collected at physical examination, presence or absence of heart failure, adverse effects, classification of heart disease, echocardiographic data and survival time. The data were analyzed for significance between the initial visit and any follow-up visits.ResultsAll cats were treated with pimobendan. The median pimobendan dose was 0.24 mg/kg q 12 h. Pimobendan was used in combination with multiple concurrent medications including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics and anti-thrombotics. Five cats (3.0%) had potential side effects associated with pimobendan. One cat (0.6%) had presumed side effects severe enough to discontinue pimobendan use. Median survival time for 164 cats with congestive heart failure after initiation of pimobendan was 151 days (range 1–870).ConclusionPimobendan appears to be well tolerated in cats with advanced heart disease when used with a variety of concurrent medications. Randomized controlled studies need to be performed to accurately assess whether it is efficacious for treatment of congestive heart failure in cats.     

TRANS-SPLENIC PORTAL SCINTIGRAPHY IN NORMAL DOGS

The purpose of this study was to (1) establish a technique for ultrasound-guided trans-splenic portal scintigraphy (TSPS) using 99mTcO4(-), (2) evaluate portal vein morphology, (3) compare the radiation exposures for TSPS vs. per-rectal portal scintigraphy (PRPS), and (4) compare the quality of numerical data from the TSPS vs. PRPS. Eight juvenile dogs underwent PRPS and TSPS (minimum of 48h between studies) after initial screening tests. PRPS was done according to established protocol using 425 +/- 36MBq (mean +/- SD) of 99mTcO4(-). TSPS was done with the dogs in right lateral recumbency over the gamma camera. 99mTcO4(-) (57 +/- 13.9 MBq) was injected into the spleen 1-2s following initiation of the dynamic acquisition. The frame rate was 4 frames/s for 5 min. There was significantly lower radioactivity of 99mTcO4(-) given and significantly higher total counts recorded in the liver and heart during the TSPS compared with PRPS. The total counts for the TSPS and PRPS were 7120 +/- 4386 and 830 +/- 523, respectively. Percent absorption from the spleen was 52.5 +/- 19.1% compared with 9.2 +/- 5.7% for the colon. Calculated transit time for the TSPS studies was 7 +/- 2.3s. In TSPS studies, the splenic and portal veins were clearly identified. Radiation exposure levels of the dogs were significantly lower following TSPS than after PRPS. TSPS appears superior to PRPS as a method to image the portal venous system representing a valid alternative diagnostic test for animals with suspected portosystemic shunts.     

Treatment of equine glaucoma by transscleral neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser cyclophotocoagulation: a retrospective study of 23 eyes of 16 horses

Contact neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCP) was performed on 23 eyes of 16 horses for treatment of glaucoma. The mean highest preoperative IOP was 51 ± 17 mmHg. Follow-up evaluation was available for 19 eyes 1 day after surgery, 14 eyes from 1 to 2 weeks, 16 eyes from 4 to 6 weeks, 9 eyes from 12 to 16 weeks, and 10 eyes greater than 20 weeks after laser treatment. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) the day following surgery was 34 ± 13 mmHg. The mean IOP for each follow-up period was: one to two weeks postoperative, 23 ± 9 mmHg; four to six weeks, 24 ± 7 mmHg; 12–16 weeks, 28 ± 10 mmHg; and  20 weeks, 22 ± 9 mmHg. IOP measurements were significantly different from pretreatment values for all follow-up intervals except for weeks 12–16 ( P < 0.05). Treatment success was defined as maintenance of IOP < 30 mmHg. Treatment success was achieved in 93%, 88%, 78%, and 70% of the treated eyes at the 1–2 weeks, 4–6 weeks, 12–16 weeks, and the  20 weeks re-evaluation, respectively. No significant difference was found between the number of eyes visual at presentation (52.2%) and visual at 20 weeks (60%). The most common laser complications were conjunctival hyperemia (21.7%) and corneal ulcers (13.0%). Results of this study indicate that Nd:YAG TSCP is an effective method of controlling IOP and preserving vision in horses with glaucoma. An effective Nd:YAG laser protocol for TSCP in the equine glaucomatous eye is a power setting of 11 W, duration of 0.4 s, applied 5 mm posterior to the limbus at 60 sites, resulting in a total energy dose of 264 J.     

The effect of induced hypocalcaemia on the cardiac output and blood pressure of dairy cattle

A mean reduction of plasma calcium level to 51 per cent of normal infusion of 4.7 per cent Na2EDTA solution into four cows was associated with a mean reduction of 48 per cent in cardiac output. Hypocalcaemia sufficient to produce sternal recumbency in a further four cows resulted in a highly significant fall in the mean arterial blood pressure, which returned to normal immediately after treatment with an intravenous infusion of 350 ml of 32.5 per cent calcium borogluconate.     

Endotoxn-induced nonthyroidal illness in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of endotoxin administration on thyroid function test results and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult male dogs. PROCEDURES: Serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), 3,3'5'-triiodothyronine (rT3), free T4 (fT4), and endogenous canine thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and TNF-alpha activity were measured before (day-1; baseline), during (days 0 to 3), and after (days 4 to 24) IV administration of endotoxin every 12 hours for 84 hours. RESULTS: Compared with baseline values, serum T3 concentration decreased significantly, whereas rT3 concentration increased significantly 8 hours after initial endotoxin administration. Serum T4 concentration decreased significantly at 8 and 12 hours after initiating endotoxin administration. Serum T4 concentration returned to reference range limits, then decreased significantly on days 6 to 12 and 16 to 20. Serum fT4 concentration increased significantly at 12, 24, and 48 hours after cessation of endotoxin treatment, compared with baseline values. Serum rT3 concentration returned to reference range, then decreased significantly days 5 and 7 after stopping endotoxin treatment. Serum TNF-alpha activity was significantly increased only 4 hours after initial endotoxin treatment, compared with baseline activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Endotoxin administration modeled alterations in thyroid function test results found in dogs with spontaneous nonthyroidal illness syndrome. A decrease in serum T4 andT3 concentrations and increase in serum rT3 concentration indicate impaired secretion and metabolism of thyroid hormones. The persistent decrease in serum T4 concentration indicates that caution should be used in interpreting serum T4 concentrations after resolution of an illness in dogs.     

Evaluation of serum obtained from atopic dogs with dermatitis attributable to Malassezia pachydermatis for passive transfer of immediate hypersensitivity to that organism

OBJECTIVE: To determine the functionality of canine anti-Malassezia IgE via the passive transfer of immediate hypersensitivity localized to the skin (ie, cutaneous anaphylaxis) from atopic dogs with dermatitis attributable to overgrowth of Malassezia pachydermatis (Malassezia dermatitis [MD]) to healthy recipient dogs by use of the Prausnitz-Küstner (P-K) technique. ANIMALS: 7 clinically normal dogs, 32 atopic dogs with MD, serum from 11 atopic dogs with MD, and 3 healthy dogs without prior sensitization to M pachydermatis. PROCEDURE: Serum from atopic dogs with MD was used for P-K tests in 3 clinically normal recipient dogs. Serial dilutions of untreated, heat-inactivated, IgE-absorbed, and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-absorbed (control) aliquots of serum were injected ID in triplicate for dermal sensitization. Twenty-four, 48, and 72 hours later, a crude extract of M pachydermatis was injected ID into the sites used for sensitization injections, and immediate hypersensitivity reactions were graded on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: Untreated serum caused P-K reactivity beginning 24 hours after passive sensitization and persisting through 72 hours (titers, 1:32 to 1:64). Heat inactivation and IgE-absorption of serum eliminated P-K reactivity, whereas treatment of serum with BSA did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analysis of P-K test results supports the passive transfer of cutaneous anaphylaxis by anti-Malassezia IgE and indicates it is functional in type-1 hypersensitivity reactions of atopic dogs with MD. Reduction or blockade of anti-Malassezia IgE in atopic dogs with MD may provide better clinical control of the disease.