Risk factors associated with interdog aggression and shooting phobias among purebred dogs in Denmark

The prevalence of behaviour problems is reported from a questionnaire study among members of the Danish Kennel Club (DKC). In total, 4359 dog owners were included in the analyses. With logistic regression, we analysed four behaviour problems: dominance towards the owner, interdog dominance aggression, separation anxiety and shooting phobia. Compared to Labrador Retrievers, the following breeds and breed groups had higher odds of being reported to have interdog dominance aggression: Belgian Sheepdogs, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, German Shepherds, Hovawarts, Pinschers, Rottweilers, Scent dogs and Spitz dogs. Poodles, retrieving/flushing dogs, Sheepdogs, Spitz dogs and terriers had higher odds of shooting phobia. The odds of interdog dominance aggression were higher among dogs owned by younger dog owners compared to dogs owned by older dog owners. Dogs living in the capital area of Copenhagen had increased odds of interdog dominance aggression as compared to dogs living in other parts of Denmark. Dogs belonging to owners with limited knowledge of the breed before acquiring the dog had higher odds of interdog dominance aggression. Dogs attending obedience training classes had reduced odds of shooting phobia. Dogs belonging to dog breeders had reduced odds of being reported to have the investigated behaviour problems.     

Mycoplasma canis and urogenital disease in dogs in Norway

Mycoplasmas identified as Mycoplasma canis were isolated from nine dogs with clinical signs of urogenital disease in Norway over a period of 20 months. Some of the dogs had been treated unsuccessfully with antibiotics, and three were euthanased as a result of severe persistent disease. Seven of the dogs had a urinary tract infection, one had chronic purulent epididymitis and one had chronic prostatitis. Overt haematuria was frequently observed among the dogs with cystitis. M canis was isolated in pure culture from seven of the dogs and in mixed culture from the other two. In three cases the mycoplasma was cultivated only from urinary sediment, and it was typically obtained in smaller numbers than would be considered indicative of a urinary tract infection. In contrast with most mycoplasmas, the M canis isolated from all the dogs grew on ordinary blood agar plates used for routine bacteriological cultivation. Specific mycoplasma media were not used and the presence of other Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma species cannot be excluded.     

Evaluation of a single dose versus a divided dose regimen of amoxycillin in treatment of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in pigs

The theory of a time-dependent effect of amoxycillin was examined in a model of porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap)-infection using clinically relevant dosage regimens. Twenty hours after infection of fourteen pigs, when clinical signs of pneumonia were present, one group of pigs received a single dose of amoxycillin (20 mg/kg, i.m.), whereas another group received four doses of 5 mg/kg injected at 8-h intervals. A similar AUC of the plasma amoxycillin concentration versus time curve was obtained in the two groups, whereas the maximum concentration was threefold higher using the single high dose. Plasma amoxycillin was above the MIC for twice as long using the fractionated dosage scheme. The condition of the animals was evaluated by clinical and haematological observations combined with quantification of biochemical infection markers: C-reactive protein, zinc and ascorbic acid. Within 48 h of treatment, the pigs in both treatment groups recovered clinically. No significant differences in the time-course of clinical observations or plasma concentrations of the biomarkers of infection were observed between the two treatments. In conclusion, the efficacy of these two dosage regimens of amoxycillin was not significantly different in treatment of acute Ap-infection in pigs.     

The pharmacodynamic effect of amoxicillin and danofloxacin against Salmonella typhimurium in an in-vitro pharmacodynamic model

The pharmacodynamic effect of amoxicillin and danofloxacin against two strains of Salmonella typhimurium was examined in an in-vitro pharmacodynamic model. For amoxicillin, peak concentrations of 1, 2 and 4 microg ml(-1)and half-lives (t12) of 3 and 15 hours were evaluated. For danofloxacin peak concentrations of 0.25, 0.50 and 1. 50 microg ml(-1)and half-lives of 7 and 15 hours were examined.For amoxicillin both the peak concentration and the half-life influenced the pharmacodynamic effect (P < 0.001). Maximal pharmacodynamic effect was observed when the antibiotic concentration was greater than minimum inhibitory concentration for 79 per cent or more of the dosing interval. The MICS of the isolates increased when the amoxicillin concentrations were close to the MIC during the first hours of exposure.For danofloxacin the pharmacodynamic effect was dependent on the peak concentration only (P < 0.001). Increases in MIC were found in two cases with the less susceptible strain, where peak concentration/ MIC ratios were equal to or less than 4.     

Mycoplasm suipneumoniae and Mycoplasma flocculare in comparative pathogenicity studies

Three field strains of Mycoplasma suipneumoniae each inoculated into 3 gnotobiotic piglets produced macro- and microscopic lung lesions typical of enzootic pneumonia in 8 of the animals. Under similar conditions 3 strains of M. flocculare produced typical macroscopic lung lesions in just 1 out of 9 animals. It is therefore concluded that M. flocculare is not of primary etiologic importance in the porcine enzootic pneumonia complex.The frequency of successful reisolation from nasal cavities, lungs, and other tissues indicated that the lungs are the sole natural habitat for M. suipneumoniae, while for M. flocculare lungs as well as nasal cavities should be regarded as the natural habitat.None of the organisms apparently spread via the blood stream. M. flocculare, but not M. suipneumoniae, induced histologic alterations of the nasal mucosa.     

Does the rate of fat deposition influence the pharmacokinetic disposition of subcutaneously administered moxidectin and ivermectin in pigs?

Body condition has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously administered macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics but the underlying mechanism is unknown. This study examined the effect of different rates of fat deposition on the pharmacokinetics of moxidectin (MXD) and ivermectin (IVM). All animals initially received a diet with a high linoleic acid content for 7 weeks. One group of animals then received a normal grower diet while the other half received a maintenance ration. Within each diet group, animals were treated with either IVM (n = 4) or MXD (n = 4) or remained as untreated controls (n = 2). There was no difference in the proportion of linoleic acid between the drug treated groups and the untreated controls at any time throughout the study. At 4 and 9 weeks after treatment there was a significantly lower proportion of linoleic acid in the pigs fed the normal ration indicating a greater fat deposition in these animals compared with those that received the maintenance diet. There was an increased persistence of MXD in the plasma of pigs fed the normal ration compared with those fed the maintenance ration. No differences were seen in the kinetic disposition of IVM between pigs fed the maintenance or normal ration. Reducing the rate of fat deposition influenced the pharmacokinetic disposition of the highly lipophilic MXD but did not influence the pharmacokinetic disposition of the less lipophilic IVM.     

A field study of Mycoplasma bovis infection in cattle

After an outbreak of mastitis in cattle caused by Mycoplasma bovis a study was made in 5 herds with recent cases (principal herds) and in 4 control herds. In the principal herds, M. bovis was isolated from milk samples, nasal swabs, and from one vaginal swab. M. bovis was also isolated from nasal swabs of calves in 2 of the 4 control herds, whereas all milk samples and vaginal swabs from the control herds were negative. Evaluation of serum antibody titres to M. bovis among non-mastitic animals of 3 principal herds and 1 control herd showed no difference in distribution of the titre values, which generally were low. However, cows excreting M. bovis in the milk had high antibody titres. The way of introduction to the herds and the spread of the infection within the herds could not be established by the study, which was supplemented by a DNA restriction fragment analysis of a number of M. bovis isolates.     

A microbiological study of pneumonic calf lungs.

BITSCH, V., N. F. FRIIS and H. V. KROGH: A microbiological study of pneumonic calf lungs. Acta vet. scand. 1976, 17, 32–42.–Fifty pneumonic calf lungs were subjected to microbiologic screening with regard to bacteria, mycoplasmas, and viruses.Of bacteria the species most commonly found were Pasteurella multocida (eight lungs), Pasteurella hemolytica (eight lungs), and Corynebacterium pyogenes (13 lungs). Of special interest was the demonstration of Neisseria spp. in five lungs. Mycoplasma dispar was found in 31 lungs, Mycoplasma bovirhinis in 16 lungs, and Urea-plasma in 26 lungs. Cytopathogenic agents were demonstrated in 14 lungs. Four isolates were found to be bovine respiratory syncytial virus, three were bovine viral diarrhea virus, and two were bovine parainfluenza 3 virus. The remaining five cytopathogenic agents were not identified.