Anesthetic management of a white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) undergoing an emergency exploratory celiotomy for colic

ObservationsA 26-year-old male white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), weighing approximately 2000 kg was anesthetized for an exploratory celiotomy. Sedation was achieved with intramuscular butorphanol (0.04 mg kg^?1) and detomidine (0.025 mg kg^?1) and induction of anesthesia with intravenous glyceryl guaiacolate (50 g) and three intravenous boluses of ketamine (200 mg, each); the trachea was then intubated and anesthesia maintained with isoflurane in oxygen using a circle breathing system. Positioning in dorsal recumbency for the surgery and later in sternal recumbency for the recovery represented challenges that added to the prolonged anesthesia time and surgical approach to partially correct an impaction. The rhinoceros recovered uneventfully after 10.4 hours of recumbency.ConclusionsAnesthetic management for an exploratory celiotomy with a midline approach is possible in rhinoceroses, although planning and extensive staff support is necessary to adequately position the patient.     

Allelic polymorphism in the second exon of Ovar-DRB1 in fat-tailed sheep

Ovar-DRB1 is one of the most important response genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II region of sheep. Gene polymorphism in the second exon of Ovar-DRB1 in three different Iranian fat-tailed sheep breeds (Lori-Bakhtiari, Shaul and Zandi) was analyzed by either restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) or direct sequencing. A total of 92 Lori-Bakhtiari, 40 Shaul, and 47 Zandi sheep were examined. PCR-RFLP identified 17 genotypes in Lori-Bakhtiari sheep, 12 in Shaul sheep and 11 in Zandi sheep. Collectively, 24 different genotypes could be found for Iranian fat-tailed sheep. Using direct sequencing, seven new sequences in exon 2 of the Ovar-DRB1 gene were identified. Generalized linear modeling with a multinomial error structure showed that the sheep populations had significantly different allele frequencies.     

Markers of bone metabolism in dog breeds of different size

Serum and urinary markers of bone turnover may be of value in animals as noninvasive tools for determining the response of the skeleton to disease and injury. Although normal values for bone markers have been reported for the Beagle, concerns remain that breed to breed differences will complicate the interpretation of bone marker data in dogs. To explore this, we examined serum bone markers in two breeds of vastly different size, Pomeranians and Irish Wolfhounds. Our hypothesis was that serum concentrations of bone markers are similar in toy and giant dog breeds and fall within the same range as those reported for Beagles. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), respectively markers of bone formation and bone resorption, were measured in age matched Pomeranians (n=14) and Irish Wolfhounds (n=14). No statistically significant differences between the mean BALP and mean ICTP serum concentrations from Pomeranians and Irish Wolfhounds were found. All BALP and ICTP concentrations were within the reference range reported for Beagles. The results of this study suggest that serum BALP and ICTP concentrations in giant and toy breeds are the same as in Beagles and that these assays may be used for dogs of all sizes.     

Effects of supplemental vitamin E during the mature period on the reproduction performance of Taiwan Native Chicken cockerels

One-day-old Taiwan native male chicks were fed with maize-soybean rearing diets without supplemental vitamin E to 23 weeks of age. From 23 to 52 weeks of age, the cockerels (n = 90) were assigned at random to 5 dietary treatments and fed with maize-soybean diets supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg of vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate). Pullets (225) of the same age were fed with standard diets throughout. They were artificially inseminated with one dose of 0.04 ml/bird intact and 5-fold diluted pooled semen at 31 to 43 weeks of age and at 49 weeks of age, respectively. The criteria evaluated included: semen quality, fertility and maximum and effective duration of fertility, blood characteristics, body and testes weight. Supplemental vitamin E did not affect cockerels' effective duration of fertility and percentage of fertility. However, when pullets were inseminated with diluted semen, supplementing 160 mg/kg vitamin E increased the maximum duration of fertility at 49 weeks of age. Cockerels receiving 40 to 160mg/kg supplements had higher sperm viability and motility after 39 weeks of age and those fed 80 mg/kg had higher sperm concentration at 39 weeks of age. Cockerels receiving supplements of more than 40 mg/kg vitamin E had higher body weight gain. Plasma cholesterol and testosterone were not affected by supplemental vitamin E. However, plasma luteinising hormone (LH) concentration was lower in cockerels fed 160 mg/kg. Lack of supplemental vitamin E over 39 weeks was associated with lower semen quality but did not reduce the proportion of fertile eggs laid by inseminated hens, perhaps because the insemination dose compensated for low sperm quality. We found that the maximum duration of fertility might be improved by supplementing 160 mg/kg vitamin E at 49 weeks of age.     

Deal stem disease of asparagus caused by Fusarium culmorum

Deal stem disease in asparagus is characterized by yellow dead stems with reddish lesions, mostly at soil level. There are two types of infection. The first one with lesions on the base of the stem at soil level, as a result of which the stem dies off. In the second type of infection the lesions appear higher up on the stems, while stems remain mostly green. The disease was proved to be caused byFusarium culmorum. This fungus is mainly spread through the soil. Air dispersal was demonstrated but seems of little importance to disease incidence.     

Pythiosis with bone lesions in a pregnant mare

A 9-year-old pregnant mare was referred for evaluation of a nonhealing wound of 8 weeks' duration on the lateral aspect of the left forelimb. A soft tissue mass encircled the proximal two thirds of the metacarpus; radiography revealed a moderate periosteal reaction affecting metacarpal bone i.v. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations revealed eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation and Pythium sp in the soft tissues. The mare was treated for 12 days with antimicrobials, medicated wound dressings, debridement, and i.v. administration of sodium iodide; radiography revealed progression of the bone lesions. The mare was treated by regional arterial perfusion with miconazole and excision of affected soft tissues and the distal two thirds of metacarpal bone i.v. The mare recovered without complications and gave birth to a healthy foal. Regional perfusion of antifungal agents provides high concentrations in soft and osseous tissues and permits use of low dosages of agents administered by other routes, which reduces cost, adverse effects, and teratogenic effects.     

Cross‐sectional observational survey of serum biochemistry values in a population of 69 adult female alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in South Australia

Blood samples were collected from 69 ‘healthy’ female alpacas aged ≥12 months from 11 properties in South Australia. The 10–90 percentile ranges of the 16/19 analytes measured in this sample population were within the published ranges of four healthy alpaca populations from other geographic locations. Marginal exceptions were glutamate dehydrogenase and bicarbonate. Potassium was notably elevated, probably because of haemolysis of some samples. The sample size was insufficient to provide the appropriate statistical power to define diagnostic references ranges according to international standards. The health status of the sample population of alpacas was presumptive based on a physical examination.     

Somatotropin and adipose tissue metabolism: substrate and temporal effects

The purpose of these studies was to determine the time course for changes in feed intake, blood metabolites, and lipogenic activity in adipose tissue in response to the initiation of porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment and following withdrawal from treatment in barrows. An initial study was conducted to determine the impact of chronic pST treatment (4 wk of daily injection; 0 vs 4 mg/d) on adipose tissue lipid metabolism in barrows (initial weight 67 kg). Feed efficiency was improved 27%, backfat thickness was decreased 43%, and glucose and lactate oxidation and incorporation into lipid in adipose tissue was reduced 70 to 86% in pST-treated pigs. Palmitate esterification was decreased 44%, whereas palmitate oxidation was unaffected. In vitro metabolism of lactate, glucose, and palmitate in liver slices was not affected by pST treatment. The time-course for changes in intake and adipose tissue metabolism in response to 7 d of pST (0 vs 4 mg/d) treatment and 7 d of withdrawal was examined in subsequent studies in barrows (initial weight 75 kg). Feed intake during pST treatment was significantly (P < .05) less than in control pigs within 24 h of the initiation of treatment and remained low through 3 d after withdrawal. Adipose tissue biopsies were obtained on d 0, 1, 2, 4, and 7 of the treatment phase and on d 2, 4, and 7 after withdrawal from 7 d of treatment. Maximal inhibition of lipogenesis by pST treatment in adipose tissue in vitro was observed on d 4 (-68%) and d 7 (-69%). Similarly, fatty acid synthase activity declined during the treatment period, with the greatest change noted on d 7 (-26%). After withdrawal from treatment, lipogenesis gradually increased, returning to control values 7 d after withdrawal. Levels of IGF-I began to increase from d 1 to d 7 of treatment, continually decreased during withdrawal, and were normalized by the end of the withdrawal period. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations decreased during treatment, increased during the withdrawal phase, and were normalized 4 d after the last pST treatment. Overall results indicate that most of the metabolic changes in response to pST occur within 1 wk of treatment and return to pretreatment values after 7 d of withdrawal from treatment.