Diaphragmatic herniation in the horse: 31 cases from 2001-2006

Diaphragmatic rent and visceral herniation in the horse is seldom diagnosed, but historically carries a poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to document the presentation and surgical management of all diaphragmatic rents as presented to 2 referral institutions over a 5-year period. A review of 31 cases demonstrated that even with advances in surgical management of abdominal and thoracic conditions, little has been done to change the prognosis for this condition. Success rate was 23% for all horses presented for colic and were ultimately diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia, and 46% for those cases for which surgical management was elected.     

Influence of water solubility of granular zinc fertilizers on plant uptake and growth

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) fertilizer application has increased during the past three decades. This increase has created the need for more information regarding the availability and agronomic effectiveness of Zn containing fertilizers because differences of opinions exist relating the relationships between Zn water solubility and plant availability. Plant availability of eight commercialized Zn fertilizer materials having different water solubilities was measured under greenhouse conditions. Corn (Zea mays L.) plants were grown for 40 days in a soil (loamy, mixed, mesic arenic Ustollic Haplargid) amended with lime to two pH's: 6.3 and 7.4. To evaluate the effect of pH, some Zn fertilizers were used at both soil pH levels while all Zn fertilizers were used in the pH 7.4 soil. The experimental design was a factorial combination of pH, Zn fertilizers, and Zn rates of 0,2.1,4.2,8.4 mg Zn kg^?1 soil. Dry matter production and Zn uptake increased significantly when the soil pH decreased from 7.4 to 6.3. The highest dry matter production was obtained with ZnSO₄ (ZnSO₄ H₂O, 99.9% total water soluble Zn), Zn20 (Zn oxysulfate, 98.3% total water soluble Zn), and Zn27 (Zn oxysulfate, 66.4% total water soluble Zn). While ZnFe (Zn iron ferrite, 0.3% total water soluble Zn), ZnK (Zn oxide, KO61, 1% total water soluble Zn), and ZnOS (Zn oxysulfate, 0.7% total water soluble Zn) were less effective followed by Zn40 (Zn oxysulfate, 26.5% total water soluble Zn) and ZnOxS (Zn oxysulfate, 11% total water soluble Zn). The same trend was observed for Zn concentration and uptake. Regression correlations showed that the higher the water solubility, the more effective the Zn fertilizer in increasing dry matter production. Assuming that 5 to 10 kg Zn ha^?1 are the rates commonly recommended, about 50% water soluble Zn is required to adequately supply the crop's needs. Lower fertilizer rates were needed as Zn solubility increased. The cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations and uptakes in corn forage were not significant for any of the sources and rates.     

Use of Sterol and Bile Acid Biomarkers to Identify Domesticated Animal Sources of Fecal Pollution

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of chemical biomarkers (fecal sterols and bile acids) to identify selected sources of fecal pollution in the environment. Fecal sterols and bile acids were determined for pig, horse, cow, and chicken feces. Ten to twenty-six fresh fecal samples were collected for each animal, and the concentrations of fecal sterols (coprostanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, stigmastanol, and stigmasterol) and bile acids (lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid) were determined using a gas chromatography and mass spectrometer (GC-MS) technique. Correlation study was performed among sterol and bile acid variables for selected animals, and a ratio (cholesterol + epicoprostanol)/(deoxycholic acid + chenodeoxycholic acid + hyodeoxycholic acid) has been proposed as an indicator for assessing fecal input. The levels of (cholesterol + epicoprostanol)/(deoxycholic acid + chenodeoxycholic acid + hyodeoxycholic acid) in horse, cow, chicken and pig were observed 3.258?±?1.191, 1.921?±?1.006, 1.013?±?0.726, and 0.205?±?0.119 respectively and the ratio of horse: cow: chicken: pig was 16: 9: 5: 1. This ratio suggests the potential of sterol and bile acid biomarkers in identifying sources and occurrence of fecal matter. While additional work using polluted water (as opposed to fresh fecal samples) as well as multiple pollution sources are needed to investigate the transport of these biomarkers into water bodies.     

Standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy in 65 mares

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of unilateral ovariectomy by use of a standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic approach and evaluate the effect of ovary size on posttransection hemorrhage after application of a linear stapling device. Study Design: Case series. Animals: Horses (n=65) aged 2–20 years. Methods: Medical records of mares that had ovariectomy performed by use of a standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic approach were reviewed. Data retrieved were signalment, ovary removed (left, right), ovarian size, ovarian pathology, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and length of hospitalization. Results: Mean ovarian diameter was 17 cm. Histopathology (52 mares) confirmed 41 granulosa cell tumors (79%), 8 ovarian cysts (15%), 1 teratoma (2%), and 2 ovaries (4%) without abnormalities. Hemorrhage was observed laparoscopically in 16 mares after transection of the mesovarium. Complications encountered during surgery included 1 mare collapsing in the stocks and 1 mare that hemorrhaged excessively from the incision. Postoperative complications included 2 cases of mild colic. Overall complication rate was 6%. Conclusions: All attempts to remove the target ovary were successful. The approach is safe for the mare, as complications encountered were similar to those recently reported for other approaches.     

Pyric–Herbivory and Cattle Performance in Grassland Ecosystems

Achieving economically optimum livestock production on rangelands can conflict with conservation strategies that require lower stocking rate to maintain wildlife habitat. Combining the spatial and temporal interaction of fire and grazing (pyric–herbivory) is a conservation-based approach to management that increases rangeland biodiversity by creating heterogeneous vegetation structure and composition. However, livestock production under pyric–herbivory has not been reported. In both mixed-grass prairie and tallgrass prairie, we compared livestock production in pastures with traditional fire and grazing management (continuous grazing, with periodic fire on tallgrass prairie and without fire on mixed-grass prairie) and conservation-based management (pyric–herbivory applied through patch burning) at a moderate stocking rate. Stocker cattle weight gain, calf weight gain, and cow body condition score did not differ (P > 0.05) between traditional and conservation-based management at the tallgrass prairie site for the duration of the 8-yr study. At the mixed-grass prairie site, stocker cattle gain did not differ in the first 4 yr, but stocker cattle gained more (P ≤ 0.05) on conservation-based management and remained 27% greater for the duration of the 11-yr study. Moreover, variation among years in cattle performance was less on pastures under conservation management. Traditional management in mixed-grass prairie did not include fire, the process that likely was associated with increased stocker cattle performance under conservation management. We conclude that pyric–herbivory is a conservation-based rangeland management strategy that returns fire to the landscape without reduced stocking rate, deferment, or rest.     

Canine liver iron, copper, and zinc concentrations and association with histologic lesions.

Concentrations of iron, copper, and zinc were measured in livers of 95 dogs that were suspected of having liver disease. Iron concentrations ranged from 177 to 7,680 ppm (dry weight basis); 54 dogs had iron concentrations greater than the normal concentration of 1,200 ppm. Iron stores were present in Kupffer cells and macrophages but not hepatocytes. The dogs did not have lesions of hemochromatosis. Dogs with high liver iron tended to have high liver copper and inflammatory lesions. High liver copper concentrations usually were associated with hepatocellular necrosis and fibrosis. High liver zinc was found in only 5 animals and was accompanied by histologic inflammatory lesions in one. In humans, increased iron concentration in the liver exacerbates liver damage caused by a variety of insults, and the same may be true for dogs.     

Conjugated linoleic acid isomers differ in their free radical scavenging properties

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers were investigated for free radical scavenging properties against the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*)) by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and spectrophotometric methods. ESR measurements confirmed that both c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA directly reacted with and quenched DPPH radicals, whereas spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA differed in their kinetic and thermodynamic properties in reacting with DPPH radicals. t10,c12-CLA was shown to exhibit a greater initial velocity in CLA-DPPH radical reactions at levels of 2.5-80 mg/mL, and c9,t11-CLA scavenged more DPPH radicals at steady state. Similar dose and time relationships were observed for both isomers. In addition, a mixture of c9,t11- and t10,c12-CLA isomers demonstrated a greater initial velocity in quenching DPPH radicals than either isomer alone on the same concentration basis, suggesting that a synergistic effect between CLA isomers existed in their reactions with DPPH radicals. These results support the conclusion that individual CLA isomers differ in their biological actions and indicate that interaction(s) between isomers may contribute to their beneficial effects.