Orthopedic conditions that affect the avian pelvic limb.

Birds are often presented to the veterinarian with injury or disease that affects their ability to use one or both legs. Although in wild birds traumatic injuries usually involve the wing, captive birds especially falconer's birds, are usually presented with injuries to their legs. This article focuses on conditions affecting practice: birds of prey, and injured wild birds. The birds are presented with lameness or loss of use of the leg. The conditions described can be initiated by injury or by disease affecting an area other than the leg, such as the kidney or spinal cord, or they can be toxic or metabolic.     

Effect of phenylbutazone on the haemodynamic, acid-base and eicosanoid responses of horses to sustained submaximal exertion

The systemic haemodynamic and acid-base effects of the administration of phenylbutazone (4·4 mg kg⁻¹ intravenously) to standing and running horses were investigated. Phenylbutazone, or a placebo, was administered to each of six mares either 15 minutes before, or after 30 minutes of a 60-minute submaximal exercise test which elicited heart rates approximately 55 per cent of maximal, and to the same horses at rest. The variables examined included the cardiac output, heart rate, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, right atrial and right ventricular pressures, and arterial and mixed venous blood gases and pH. Serum sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations, and plasma thromboxane B₂, 6-keto-prostaglandin F_1α (6-keto-PGF_1α), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) concentrations were measured in separate studies using similar protocols in the same horses. Running produced increases in heart rate, cardiac output, mean arterial and right ventricular pressure, and decreases in total peripheral resistance. The acid:base responses to exertion were characterised by respiratory alkalosis. Exertion did not significantly influence plasma 6-keto-PGF_1α or PGE₂ concentrations but plasma thromboxane B₂ concentrations were increased significantly by 60 minutes of exertion in the untreated horses. This exercise-induced increase in plasma thromboxane B₂ concentration was inhibited by the previous administration of phenylbutazone, but phenylbutazone did not produce detectable changes in systemic haemodynamic or acid-base variables in either standing or running horses.     

Follicullar Development and Embryo Recovery Following 3 versus 8 FSH Injections in Heifers

Ovarian follicular dynamics and embryo yield were studied during 2 different FSH regimens for superovulation of cattle. Twenty heifers were given intramuscular injections of FSH (total of 35 mg NIH) either once daily for 3 days (Group 3×1) or twice daily for 4 days (Group 4×2). At 72 h after the first FSH injection, each animal was injected with 0.75 mg cloprostenol. Inseminations were performed at 12 h and 24 h after the onset of heat. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on the day of the first FSH injection, the day of cloprostenol injection, the day of insemination and finally on the day of embryo recovery (day 6 or 7 after heat). The numbers of small (2–4 mm), medium (5–9 mm) and large (>10 mm) size follicles were recorded. The total number of corpora lutea, eggs and transferable embryos were recorded on the day of embryo recovery. No differences were found between the 2 groups in either of the parameters studied (p>0.05). It can be concluded that treatment with this FSH preparation once daily for 3 days gives a folliculogenic and superovulatory response similar to a treatment regimen where it is given twice daily for 4 days.     

Avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 isolates from the spinal cord of parrots display a very low virulence

The spinal cord of 32 psittacines suffering from proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) was investigated. In six cases, a virus was isolated which upon electron microscopic examination revealed morphological details typical of members of the Paramyxoviridae. All isolates were subsequently characterized as avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) by type-specific polyclonal antisera. According to their reactivity with APMV-1 specific monoclonal antibodies, the six isolates shared epitopes within the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase spike protein, distinct from pigeon-type paramyxoviruses and the LaSota vaccine strain. This grouping was further corroborated by properties of the haemagglutinin: all isolates showed a very thermosensitive haemagglutination activity and were rapid eluters. Virulence of the APMV-1 isolates in 1-day-old specific pathogen free (spf) chicken was very low, with intracerebral pathogenicity indices between 0 and 0.1. In embryonated spf chicken eggs, psittacine isolates replicated to high titres (10(8.6)-10(10.7) EID50/ml). However, they exhibited a reduced lethality over an observation time of 7 days (10(6.1)-10(8.3) ELD50/ml). In a haemagglutination inhibition test with parrot sera from birds with no history of APMV-1 vaccination, sera reacted preferentially with two isolates compared with APMV-1 vaccine strains LaSota and B1. The other four isolates exhibited a differentiated reaction pattern with the parrot sera, indicating an antigenic inhomogeneity. This is the first report of isolating very low virulent APMV-1 from neuronal tissue of parrots and implications for a possible role in slow progressing disease will be discussed.     

Pharmacokinetics and Dosage Regimen of Enrofloxacin in Buffalo Bulls after Intramuscular Administration

The disposition kinetics and dosage regimen of enrofloxacin were investigated in breeding buffalo bulls following a single intramuscular administration of 5 mg/kg. The absorption half-life, half-life of the terminal phase, apparent volume of distribution and total body clearance were 0.262±0.099 h, 1.97±0.23 h, 0.61±0.13 L/kg and 210.2±18.6 ml/(kg.h), respectively. Therapeutic plasma levels (1 g/ml) were maintained for up to 6 h. A satisfactory intramuscular dosage regimen for enrofloxacin in buffalo bulls would be 8.5 mg/kg followed by 8.0 mg/kg at 8 h intervals.     

Effect of dietary n-6-to-n-3 fatty acid ratio on complete blood and total white blood cell counts, and T-cell subpopulations in aged dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine effect of diets with variable n-6-to-n-3 fatty acid (FA) ratio on CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations, and on results of routine laboratory analyses (CBC and total WBC count, serum biochemical analyses, and urinalysis). ANIMALS: 20 healthy, aged (9.5 to 11.5 years old) female Beagles. PROCEDURE: Dogs were fed 1 of 3 diets that contained 6% fat by weight but differed in amounts of n-6 and n-3 FA. For 11 weeks, 6 dogs were fed a low concentration of n-3 FA (ratio, 31:1), 7 were fed a medium concentration (5.4:1), and 7 were fed a high concentration (1.4:1). Preprandial blood and urine samples were collected before beginning the study and at 8 weeks for evaluation of laboratory variables. Before and at 3, 6, and 8 weeks during the study, blood was drawn for total WBC and lymphocyte counts and for characterization of T-cell subpopulations. At 8 and 10 weeks, dogs were vaccinated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin suspension. Blood was drawn 4 days after each vaccination, and lymphocytes were isolated for flow cytometry. Effects of diet and vaccination on each variable were determined. RESULTS: After vaccination, total lymphocyte count increased and CD4+ T lymphocyte count and the CD4(+)-to-CD8+ ratio decreased in dogs consuming the diet with n-6-to-n-3 FA ratio of 1.4:1. CONCLUSION: Feeding a diet with n-6-to-n-3 FA ratio of 1.4:1 had significant effects on CD4+ T lymphocytes in healthy, aged Beagles after vaccination.