Effect of dietary lipoic acid on metabolic hormones and acute-phase proteins during challenge with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in cattle

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of dietary supplemental lipoic acid (LA) on serum concentrations of metabolic hormones and acute-phase proteins of steers challenged with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). ANIMALS: 32 steers. PROCEDURES: Steers were randomly assigned to 4 treatments: negative control (NC; no LA, no IBRV challenge), control (CON; no LA, IBRV challenge), 16 mg of LA/kg of body weight (BW)/d plus IBRV challenge (LA16), and 32 mg of LA/kg of BW/d plus IBRV challenge (LA32). Following a 21-day adaptation period, CON, LA16, and LA32 steers received IBRV (2 mL/nostril [day 0]); NC steers received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Blood samples, nasal swab specimens, BW, and rectal temperatures were obtained 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days after challenge. Serum was analyzed for concentrations of haptoglobin, amyloid-A, leptin, and anti-IBRV antibodies. RESULTS: Steers fed LA32 began gaining BW by day 7, whereas BW of CON and LA16 steers declined. Serum haptoglobin concentration of LA32 steers was lower than that of CON and LA16 steers on day 7. Serum neutralization titers for 30 of 32 steers were negative for anti-IBRV antibodies before challenge; however, all steers (including NCs) had antibodies on day 21. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that LA supplementation augmented certain aspects of the immune response; LA32 steers had a more rapid recovery from IBRV viral challenge than did others.     

Evaluation of cardiac performance of the dog after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia

Objective: To determine changes in hemodynamic and cardiac energetic parameters in dogs after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia. These blood flow alterations are similar to changes seen in splanchnic blood flow in dogs with gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome (GDV). Design: Original experimental study. Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Seven purpose‐bred, intact male dogs. Interventions: Standard midline laparotomy and median sternotomy were performed under general anesthesia. Dogs were instrumented to obtain arterial blood pressure, aortic flow, cardiac chamber pressures, central venous pressure, portal flow, and portal pressure. Colored microsphere technology was used for the determination of myocardial blood flow. Measurements and samples were obtained at baseline, following induction of portal hypertension, and after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia. Measurements and main results: Left ventricular myocardial blood flow was increased from 81.8±20.1 mL/100 g/min at baseline to 127.7±57.2 mL/100 g/min (P=0.02) after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia. Myocardial oxygen consumption increased from 142.2±27.4 J/min/100 g at baseline to 219.1±33.4 J/min/100 g (P=0.003) after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia, but cardiac external work remained unchanged (13.67±6.2 to 13.27±9.6 J/min; P=0.78; power=0.79). Cardiac efficiency decreased from 11.6±6.1% at baseline to 7.6±5.1% (P=0.017) after induction of portal hypertension and gastric ischemia. Conclusions: Transfer of energy within the myocardium was less efficient after induction of portal hypertension and ischemia of the stomach wall. On the basis of these results, alterations in cardiac function associated with GDV may result from deterioration of cardiac efficiency.     

Hyperglycaemia but not hyperlipidaemia decreases serum amylase and increases neutrophils in the exocrine pancreas of cats

The goal of the study was to determine whether hyperglycaemia or hyperlipidaemia causes pancreatitis in cats and to assess the effect of excess serum glucose and lipids on amylase and lipase activity. Ten-day hyperglycaemic and hyperlipidaemic clamps were carried out in five and six healthy cats, respectively. Ten healthy cats received saline and served as controls. The activity of amylase was below the normal range in 4 of 5 hyperglycaemic cats by day 10. The activity of lipase did not vary in any of the cats. Samples of exocrine pancreas were normal on histological examination, but the number of tissue neutrophils was increased in hyperglycaemic cats (P < 0.05). In a retrospective study 14 of 40 (35%) cats with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus had amylase activities below the reference range at the time of admission. Amylase activities normalised within 1 week of insulin therapy and subsequent glycaemic control. Lipase activity was increased in 26 of 40 (65%) diabetic cats and remained elevated despite glycaemic control. In conclusion, hyperglycaemia, but not hyperlipidaemia, increases pancreatic neutrophils in cats. However, because the histological morphology of the exocrine pancreas was normal, hyperglycaemia may play only a minor role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. Low amylase activities in diabetic cats may reflect an imbalance in glucose metabolism rather than pancreatitis.     

Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky recovered from human clinical cases in Maryland,USA (2011–2015)

Salmonella Kentucky is among the most frequently isolated S. enterica serovars from food animals in the United States. Recent research on isolates recovered from these animals suggests there may be geographic and host specificity signatures associated with S. Kentucky strains. However, the sources and genomic features of human clinical S. Kentucky isolated in the United States remain poorly described. To investigate the characteristics of clinical S. Kentucky and the possible sources of these infections, the genomes of all S. Kentucky isolates recovered from human clinical cases in the State of Maryland between 2011 and 2015 (n = 12) were sequenced and compared to a database of 525 previously sequenced S. Kentucky genomes representing 12 sequence types (ST) collected from multiple sources on several continents. Of the 12 human clinical S. Kentucky isolates from Maryland, nine were ST198, two were ST152, and one was ST314. Forty‐one per cent of isolates were recovered from patients reporting recent international travel and 58% of isolates encoded genomic characteristics similar to those originating outside of the United States. Of the five isolates not associated with international travel, three encoded antibiotic resistance genes conferring resistance to tetracycline or aminoglycosides, while two others only encoded the cryptic aac(6′)‐Iaa gene. Five isolates recovered from individuals with international travel histories (ST198) and two for which travel was not recorded (ST198) encoded genes conferring resistance to between 4 and 7 classes of antibiotics. Seven ST198 genomes encoded the Salmonella Genomic Island 1 and substitutions in the gyrA and parC genes known to confer resistance to ciprofloxacin. Case report data on food consumption and travel were, for the most part, consistent with the inferred S. Kentucky phylogeny. Results of this study indicate that the majority of S. Kentucky infections in Maryland are caused by ST198 which may originate outside of North America.     

Western blot detection of PrP Sc in archived paraffin-embedded brainstem from scrapie-affected sheep

Scrapie is a naturally occurring fatal neurodegenerative disease of adult sheep and goats, one of a group of mammalian diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases. Immunoassays that identify disease-associated prion protein (PrP Sc) are integral to the diagnosis of scrapie and other prion diseases. Results obtained by either immunohistochemistry (IHC) or Western blot (WB) assay are generally adequate for the definitive diagnosis. Approved or accepted methods for WB diagnosis of TSEs requires the use of fresh or frozen nonfixed tissue samples, whereas formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is required for the localization of PrP Sc by IHC. Because disparate processing methods are used for these accepted diagnostic techniques, separate tissue samples are collected from the same animal. Occasions arise in which there is either insufficient quantity of tissue available to complete analysis by both techniques or initial tissue processing is incompatible with one of the assays. Also, results between the assays may differ because of the vagaries of sampling, especially in case material that contains moderate-to-low levels of PrP Sc. The present article describes a method to conduct a WB assay from the same paraffin-embedded brainstem sample used for the IHC diagnosis of experimentally induced sheep scrapie.     

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment of cutaneous lymphoma in a ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis)

A 15-year-old female ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) was presented with an isolated ulcerated, nonhealing lesion on the lateral thorax. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were diagnostic for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with incomplete excision. Oral chemotherapy with CCNU (lomustine) resulted in clinical remission that lasted 255 days, with no appreciable toxicity. Tumor recurrence was treated with radiation therapy, which resulted in 120 additional days of clinical remission. Subsequently, the tumor developed at a distant site and the cuscus was humanely euthanized. A slight decrease in appetite early in disease progression was the only adverse effect noted throughout the treatment period. Oral, minimally invasive chemotherapy, and adjunct radiation therapy were viable treatment options for this ground cuscus and should be considered for treatment of neoplasia in other nontraditional species.     

Transiliac approach for exposure of lumbosacral intervertebral disk and foramen: technique description

Objective— To describe and evaluate a transiliac approach to the L7–S1 disk and intervertebral foramen in dogs.
Study Design— Cadaver study.
Animals— Fresh canine cadavers (n=10).
Methods— A craniolateral approach was made to each iliac wing of 10 fresh canine mixed breed cadavers. An 18 mm hole was drilled in a standardized position through the iliac wing. The musculature connected to the cranial aspects of the sacral wing was dissected and retracted cranially through this iliac window. Endoscopic exploration of the area was performed.
Results— The foramen and intervertebral disk were clearly observed in all specimens without iatrogenic injury of the L7 nerve branch. Access to the foramen was possible in 16 of 20 specimens without excision of the sacral wing; however, it was always partially excised to observe the intervertebral disk which lies more caudally and ventrally.
Conclusion— Transiliac approach to the lumbosacral joint allows direct exposure of the intervertebral disk and foramen through an iliac window. Endoscopic exploration provided good observation of the intervertebral disk and/or foramen.
Clinical Relevance— Transiliac approach could be used for lateral corpectomy and foraminotomy in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis caused by ventral or ventrolateral disk protrusion, foramen stenosis, or OCD of the L7–S1 joint. Clinical study will be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.