Endoscopic Examination and Treatment of Paranasal Sinus Disease in 16 Horses

Sixteen horses with suspected paranasal sinus disease had endoscopic examination of the paranasal sinuses with a 4.0 mm arthroscope either while standing and sedated (14 horses) or under general anesthesia (two horses). Endoscopic diagnosis included sinusitis (four horses), sinus cyst (three horses), hemorrhage (three horses), neoplasia (three horses), and tooth root abnormalities (two horses). No abnormalities were detected in one horse. Endoscopic findings concurred with the radiographic findings in 13 horses (81%). Samples of sinus contents for bacteriologic (eight horses) and histologic examinations (five horses) were obtained using sinus endoscopy. Diagnostic sinus endoscopy was combined with debridement, lavage, and suction as a therapeutic technique in 10 horses. In three horses, sinus exploration was performed after diagnostic endoscopy confirmed sinus disease, whereas in three horses, further therapy was not recommended after sinus endoscopy. Clinical signs of sinus disease resolved in 11 horses (69%) overall and in eight of 10 horses (80%) with sinusitis, cyst formation, or hemorrhage using endoscopic techniques alone. Mild, local subcutaneous emphysema occurred at the portal sites in all horses, but healing occurred without additional complications, latrogenic damage to sinus structures occurred in one horse. Sinus endoscopy was useful in the diagnosis and management of paranasal sinus disease and avoided the need for exploratory sinusotomy in some horses.     

Effect of Fixation Pin Insertion on the Bone-Pin Interface

Smooth and partially threaded 3.12 mm (1/8 inch) trochar-tipped Steinmann pins were inserted transversely through both diaphyseal cortices of eight mature canine tibias using five methods. Angular velocity (revolutions per minute) during insertion and temperature elevation due to friction during penetration of the second cortex were recorded. The force required for extraction of the pins from the bone and the histologic appearance of the bone-pin interface were determined for one-half of the pins 2 days after insertion and for one-half of the pins 56 days after insertion. The increase in temperature was similar for all methods of insertion except high speed power, which was significantly greater (p < 0.05). The force required for axial pin extraction was similar for pins inserted by hand chuck, predrilled, and low speed power methods after both 2 and 56 days. Pins inserted by high speed power and hand drill required force similar to the others for extraction after 2 days but significantly less force (p < 0.05) for extraction after 56 days. The partially threaded pins required significantly greater force (p < 0.01) extraction after both 2 and 56 days. Histologic examination revealed increased mechanical bone damage surrounding hand chuck inserted pins, increased bone necrosis surrounding high speed power inserted pins, and increased inflammatory changes surrounding hand drill inserted pins.     

Retroversion of the Epiglottis as a Complication of Endotracheal Intubation in the Horse A Pilot Study

As part of a study of possible causes of postoperative pulmonary complications of general anesthesia in the horse, lateral cervical radiographs were taken after endotracheal intubation in nine randomly selected horses. The epiglottis was found to be retroverted in three. Subsequently, the effects of epiglottic retroversion during anesthesia on postoperative laryngeal function were investigated experimentally in three horses by fluoroscopy. No untoward sequelae were observed. Prophylaxis and potential adverse effects of this previously unreported complication of endotracheal intubation in the horse are discussed.     

Transendoscopic Nd: YAG Laser Ablation of Vaginal Septa in a Bitch

A vaginal septum was diagnosed in an English bulldog bitch during routine estrous cycle staging. The septum extended 16 cm from the vestibulo-vaginal junction to just caudal to the cervix. The septum was removed by two applications of an Nd:YAG laser via a flexible fiberoptic endoscope. Complete healing occurred over a 5-week period and was uneventful. The bitch was bred and subsequently delivered four puppies vaginally. Transendoscopic laser ablation provided a noninvasive approach to surgically remove a vaginal septum in the dog.     

Endoscopic Examination of Normal Paranasal Sinuses in Horses

The frontal, caudal maxillary, and rostral maxillary sinuses of 10 equine cadavers were examined endoscopically, and the findings were confirmed by sinusotomy. Similar endoscopic examinations were performed in five conscious, adult horses by using sedation and local anesthesia. Useful portals of entry for the arthroscope in adult horses were: for the frontal sinus, 60% of the distance in a lateral direction from midline to the medial canthus and 0.5 cm caudal to the medial canthus; for the caudal maxillary sinus, 2 cm rostral and 2 cm ventral to the medial canthus; and for the rostral maxillary sinus, 50% of the distance from the rostral end of the facial crest to the level of the medial canthus and 1 cm ventral to a line joining the infraorbital foramen and the medial canthus. The frontal sinus portal was most useful for examination of the frontal and caudal maxillary sinuses. The caudal maxillary sinus portal was most useful for examining the sphenopalatine sinus. Structures in the frontal and caudal maxillary sinuses could be approached surgically by viewing them through the frontal sinus portal and guiding an instrument to them through the caudal maxillary sinus portal. Tooth root identification was reliable for the second and third upper molars in animals older than 5 years, but was more difficult for the rostral teeth and in younger animals. Endoscopy was not difficult to perform and was well tolerated in standing, sedated horses. The only complication of this procedure was mild, local subcutaneous emphysema that resolved spontaneously within 14 days.     

Breeding performance and growth of SPF cats (Felis catus)

Data on the breeding performance and growth rate of the kittens in a Specific Pathogen Free cat colony are given. Mean litter size was 2·8 kittens in the first litter, and 4·3 and 4·0 in the second and third litters, respectively. Kitten losses were 3·3% still births, and 5·6% losses prior to weaning at 8 weeks of age. Mean birth weight of first litter kittens was 109 g, with no detectable difference between males and females. Mean 42-day weight was 625 g for males, and 534 g for females. No relationship was found between litter size and either birth weight or 42-day weight. It was concluded that there are substantial benefits in breeding cats under SPF conditions, largely because of the low pre-weaning mortality. Resumé. On indique les données concernant les résultats de l'élevage et de la croissance des chats mis dans des conditions axéniques (colonies dépourvues de germes spécifiques). Le nombre moyen des petits était de 2,8% pour la première mise-bas, et de 4,3% et 4% respectivement pour la deuxième et la troisime. Les pertes étaient de 3,3% par mortalité et de 5,6% avant le sevrage (8 semaines). Le poids moyen des chatons de la première portée était de 109 gr, sans différence nette entre les deux sexes. Le poids moyen au 42ème jour était de 625 gr pour les mâles et de 534 gr pour les femelles. Aucun rapport n'a été constaté entre le nombre des chatons de la portée et le poids au 42ème jour. On conclut que l'élevage en milieu axénique des chats apporte un bénéfice substantiel, surtout grâce af la faible mortalité d'avant le sevrage. Zusammenfassung. Es werden Daten über die Fortpflanzung von Katzen und die Wach-stumsraten der Jungkatzen in einer von spezifischen Pathogenen freien Katzenkolonie angegeben. Die mittlere Wurfgrösse betrug beim ersten Wurf 2,8 Jungtiere und 4,3 und 4,0 beim zweiten bzw. dritten Wurf. Die Verluste an Jungtieren betrugen 3,3% Totgeburten und 5,6% Verluste vor dem Absetzen im Lebensalter 8 Wochen. Das mittlere Gewicht von Jungtieren des ersten Wurfs betrug bei der Geburt 109 g, wobei keine Unterschiede zwischen männlichen und wei-blichen Nachkommen beobachtet wurden. Das mittlere Gewicht im Alter von 42 Tagen betrug 625 g bei männlichen Tieren und 534 g bei weiblichen Tieren. Es wurden keine Beziehungen zwischrn der Wurfgrösse einerseits und dem Gewicht bei der Geburt und dem nach 42 Tagen andererseits festgestellt. Es wurde der Schluss gezogrn, dass die Zucht von Katzen unter von spezifischen Pathogenen freien Bedingungen wesentliche Vorteile bietet, vor allem, weil die Sterblichkeit vor dem Absetzen gering ist.     

Menstrual cycle influences grooming behavior and sexual activity in the Rhesus monkey

The time spent by the female rhesus monkey in grooming the male fluctuates rhythmically and reaches a minimum at mid-cycle. At this time the male's grooming activity reaches a maximum. The rhythmic changes in male mounting behavior, together with the males' and females' grooming cycles, are abolished by ovariectomy and have a hormonal basis.