Short colon in two cats and a dog

Two cats and 1 dog were referred for evaluation of signs of large-intestinal dysfunction. In each instance, contrast radiography revealed an abnormally short, straight colon, with the cecum located in the left hemi-abdomen. Short colon did not appear to contribute specifically to the active disease processes found. The anomaly may develop owing to errors in the processes of elongation and rotation of the embryo's midgut. The clinical relevance of short colon is unknown, but the disorder may contribute to a history of chronic elimination of soft feces.     

Efficacy of 1.25% amitraz solution in the treatment of generalized demodicosis (eight cases) and sarcoptic mange (five cases) in dogs

Eight dogs with generalized demodicosis and five with sarcoptic mange were treated with 1.25% amitraz solution applied weekly and associated with an antidote treatment (atipamezol, 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ IM once: and yohimbine 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ once daily for 3 days, orally). Results of skin scrapings were used to determine whether therapy should be continued or stopped. The median number of treatments for demodicosis and sarcoptic mange was three (range 2–5) and two (range 1–3), respectively. Some side-effects were observed but all were stopped with antidote treatment; no failure or relapses occurred at 6–36 months after treatment.     

Spongiotic vesicular dermatitis as a cutaneous reaction pattern in seven horses

Over a 6-year period seven adult horses of different breeds and genders developed multifocal, exudative, oozing dermatitis characterized histologically by epidermal spongiotic vesicles and perivascular eosinophilic, neutrophilic and mixed mononuclear inflammation. Three horses were pruritic. Systemic disease was not noted. Two horses had a history of recurrent urticaria (hives) and one horse had nodules or welt-type lesions that progressed to exudative, oozing lesions. Interepithelial immunoglobulin (Ig)G was detected by avidin-biotin complex-peroxidase staining, but the pattern of staining was more consistent with epithelial oedema than specific IgG deposition associated with pemphigus. The exudative oozing lesions developed under circumstances suggesting that dermal oedema progressed to intracellular and intercellular epidermal oedema, which in turn progressed to the spongiotic vesicular epidermal lesions.     

Some physiological responses associated with reduced wool growth during blowfly strike in Merino sheep

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect on wool growth of physiological changes associated with experimental flystrike in superfine Merino wethers. DESIGN: An animal house study comparing experimentally fly struck sheep with non-infected control groups that were pair fed or fed ad libitum. PROCEDURE: Sheep in the blow fly larval challenge group were each artificially infected with 500 first instar larvae per day for 8 days. Infections were terminated with insecticide on day 10. For all sheep, live weight change, feed intake and body temperature were monitored and blood collected for analysis of haematology, cortisol, serum haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFa, IL-1 b, IL-6 and IL-8. Wool growth and staple strength were examined 4 months after infection. RESULTS: Experimental fly strike included moderate fever, depressed feed intake, and elevated cortisol, IL-6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin. Staple strength was significantly decreased in struck sheep and did not differ between wool from sites adjacent to and remote from strike lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that depression in feed intake alone is not sufficient to account for the decline in staple strength seen during fly strike. Cortisol, IL-6 and metabolic consequences of the acute phase response are likely to be major contributors to the systemic effects of blowfly strike on wool.     

Comparison of the cardiopulmonary effects of anesthesia maintained by continuous infusion of ketamine and propofol with anesthesia maintained by inhalation of sevoflurane in goats undergoing magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiopulmonary effects of anesthesia maintained by continuous infusion of ketamine and propofol with anesthesia maintained by inhalation of sevoflurane in goats undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. ANIMALS: 8 Saanen goats. PROCEDURES: Goats were anesthetized twice (1-month interval) following sedation with midazolam (0.4 mg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced via IV administration of ketamine (3 mg/kg) and propofol (1 mg/kg) and maintained with an IV infusion of ketamine (0.03 mg/kg/min) and propofol (0.3 mg/kg/min) and 100% inspired oxygen (K-P treatment) or induced via IV administration of propofol (4 mg/kg) and maintained via inhalation of sevoflurane in oxygen (end-expired concentration, 2.3%; 1X minimum alveolar concentration; SEVO treatment). Cardiopulmonary and blood gas variables were assessed at intervals after induction of anesthesia. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD end-expired sevoflurane was 2.24 +/- 0.2%; ketamine and propofol were infused at rates of 0.03 +/- 0.002 mg/kg/min and 0.29 +/- 0.02 mg/kg/min, respectively. Overall, administration of ketamine and propofol for total IV anesthesia was associated with a degree of immobility and effects on cardiopulmonary parameters that were comparable to those associated with anesthesia maintained by inhalation of sevoflurane. Compared with the K-P treatment group, mean and diastolic blood pressure values in the SEVO treatment group were significantly lower at most or all time points after induction of anesthesia. After both treatments, recovery from anesthesia was good or excellent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that ketamine-propofol total IV anesthesia in goats breathing 100% oxygen is practical and safe for performance of magnetic resonance imaging procedures.     

Relationship between plasma concentrations and analgesia after intravenous fentanyl and disposition after other routes of administration in cats

Data allowing rational use of analgesics in cats are limited. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fentanyl were studied in cats. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in a crossover study in six cats after 10 microg/kg (i.v.) or by application of fentanyl in pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) to the inner ear pinna. On a separate occasion thermal thresholds were measured after i.v. fentanyl (10 microg/kg) or saline. Plasma fentanyl concentrations reached 4.7-8.31 ng/mL 2 min after i.v. administration and were undetectable after 95 min. Fentanyl was not detected in plasma at any time after PLO use. Thermal thresholds did not change following saline administration but were increased above baseline from 5 to 110 min after i.v. fentanyl. In this model a plasma concentration of >1.07 ng/mL was required to provide analgesia. Plasma concentrations were measured in additional cats after intranasal or oral dosing (2 microg/kg) and after 30 microg/kg in PLO gel. After oral and nasal dosing, Cmax values were 0.96 and 1.48 ng/mL at 5 and 2 min, respectively. Plasma fentanyl was not detected after application of the higher dose of fentanyl in PLO.     

Diagnostic tests for small ruminant lentiviruses

Maedi visna virus and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus are closely related retroviruses that cause chronic inflammatory disease in small ruminants. The infections are characterised by insidious onset and slow progression. Diagnosis of infection is usually by serological testing. A variety of assays are available for this purpose, though the relative sensitivity and specificity of these assays has not been compared systematically. Here we review recent developments in laboratory diagnostic methods and their use in field diagnosis. The results suggest that a combination of ELISA and PCR might afford optimal detection of SRLV infection.     

Non-pruritic granuloma in Norwegian forest cats

The eosinophilic granuloma complex is a group of skin disorders common in cats. This paper describes the clinical, haematological and histopathological features of 17 related Norwegian forest cats, six of which had a linear granuloma on the caudal thigh, three of which also had a granuloma on the lower lip, and one of which had a granuloma in combination with an indolent ulcer. The high prevalence of the disease in this population is suggestive of a genetic background.