Serum cobalamin concentrations in healthy cats and cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia

Objective   To determine a reference range for serum cobalamin concentration in healthy cats in Australia using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay and to prospectively investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminaemia in cats with non-alimentary tract disease.
Design   Prospective study measuring serum cobalamin concentrations in clinically healthy cats and cats with non-alimentary tract illness.
Procedure   Blood was collected from 50 clinically healthy cats that were owned by staff and associates of Veterinary Specialist Services or were owned animals presented to Creek Road Cat Clinic for routine vaccination. Blood was collected from 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness presented at either clinic. Serum cobalamin concentration was determined for each group using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.
Results   A reference range for Australian cats calculated using the central 95th percentile in the 50 clinically healthy cats was 345 to 3668 pg/mL. Median serum cobalamin concentration in 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness (1186 pg/mL; range 117–3480) was not significantly different to the median serum cobalamin of the 50 healthy cats (1213 pg/mL, range 311–3688). Using the calculated reference range one sick cat with non-alimentary tract illness had a markedly low serum cobalamin concentration.
Conclusion   Although hypocobalaminaemia is uncommon in sick cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia, its occurrence in this study warrants further investigation.     

Comparison of 2 Doses of Recombinant Human Thyrotropin for Thyroid Function Testing in Healthy and Suspected Hypothyroid Dogs

Background: Various protocols using different doses of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) in TSH stimulation testing have been described. However, the influence of TSH dosage on thyroxine (T4) concentration has not yet been evaluated in suspected hypothyroid dogs.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of 2 doses of rhTSH.
Animals: Fifteen dogs with clinical signs consistent with hypothyroidism and abnormal stimulation results with 75 μg rhTSH and 18 clinically healthy dogs.
Methods: All dogs were stimulated with 75 and 150 μg rhTSH IV in a 1st and 2nd stimulation test, respectively. Blood samples were taken before and 6 hours after rhTSH administration for determination of total T4 concentration.
Results: Using the higher dose led to a normal test interpretation in 9 of the 15 dogs, in which stimulation had been abnormal using the lower dose. Based on follow-up information, hypothyroidism was excluded in 7 of these 9 dogs. In all 6 dogs with a blunted response to the higher dose, hypothyroidism could be confirmed. Healthy dogs showed significantly higher post-TSH T4 concentrations with the higher compared with the lower dose. Post-TSH T4 concentrations after TSH stimulation were not related to dogs' body weight in either healthy or diseased dogs.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: TSH dose significantly influenced test interpretation in suspected hypothyroid dogs. Differentiation between primary hypothyroidism and nonthyroidal disease was improved with 150 μg rhTSH. Because this effect was independent of the dogs' body weight, the higher dose is recommended in dogs that have concurrent disease or are receiving medication.     

Effect of magnitude and direction of force on laryngeal abduction: Implications for the nerve‐muscle pedicle graft technique

Reasons for performing study: The nerve‐muscle pedicle graft technique is a treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), but the optimal placement of the pedicles within the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle is unknown. Hypothesis: The magnitude and direction of force placed on the muscular process of the left arytenoid cartilage affects the magnitude of laryngeal abduction. Methods: Five larynges were harvested from cadavers. Using increments of 0.98 N, a dead‐weight force generator applied a force of 0–14.7 N for 1 min each to the left muscular process at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70° angles. The rima glottis was photographed digitally 1 min after each force had been applied. Distances between biomarkers (Lines 1–4) and right to left angle quotient (RLQ) were used to assess the degree of left arytenoid abduction. Results: Increasing force from 0–14.7 N progressively and significantly increased the length of all lines and RLQ, indicating abduction. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between force and angles. Applying forces of 7.84 N or greater (Lines 2–4 and RLQ) or 11.76 N or greater (Line 1) at angles 0, 10, 20 and 30° resulted in significantly greater abduction than applying the same forces at 40, 50, 60 and 70°. Angles of 0–30° correspond with the direction of pull exerted by the lateral compartment of the CAD muscle. Conclusion: In RLN, nerve‐muscle pedicle grafts should be placed preferentially in the lateral rather than in the medial compartment of the CAD muscle. Potential relevance: The information presented can be used to assist surgeons in the planning and application of the nerve‐muscle pedicle graft procedure.     

Clinical and radiographic study of bone and joint lesions in 26 dogs with leishmaniasis

Twenty-six dogs with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis and abnormalities of gait were studied to determine the most common radiological patterns of bone and joint lesions. The clinical findings included either lameness, joint pain and crepitation, soft tissue swelling and/or muscle atrophy. Bone lesions were observed radiographically in 12 of the 26 dogs; the radius and ulna were affected in seven, the tibia in six and the femur in six. Joint lesions were observed radiographically in 15 of the 26 dogs; the carpus and stifle were affected in all 15, and the tarsus in nine. There was a tendency for the bones and joints to be affected bilaterally. The radiographic patterns observed were different in the long bones and the joints. In the long bones, the most common pattern was periosteal and intramedullary proliferation, involving the diaphyses and related to the nutrient foramen; in the joints, two patterns, either non-erosive or erosive polyarthritis with soft-tissue swelling, were observed. The changes observed in the synovial fluid were associated in most cases with osteolytic lesions. However, Leishmania organisms were identified in the synovial fluid from joints without bony radiographic changes.     

An update on bovine tuberculosis programmes in Latin American and Caribbean countries

Of the approximately 374 million cattle in Latin America and the Caribbean, 70% are held in areas where rates of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle are higher than 1%. The remaining 30% are in countries where infection affects less than 1% of cattle, including 62 million in countries where bovine tuberculosis infection is virtually nil. Measures for controlling bovine tuberculosis are partially or extensively applied in most of the countries in the Region. These measures are based on test and slaughter, notification, post-mortem inspection and surveillance in slaughterhouses. A coordinated production, standardization and quality control of purified protein derivatives is urgently required for use in control and eradication campaigns in order to assure reliability of reagents and comparability of data on tuberculin testing within the Region. On the basis of information from Argentina, M. bovis is estimated to cause 2% of all human cases of tuberculosis in the Region. Slaughterhouse and dairy farms workers are most-frequently infected, with infection occurring via the respiratory tract. Various in vitro assays for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis have been developed and/or assessed in the Region, and DNA fingerprinting has been applied for a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis at the local and regional level.     

The effect of date fibre supplemented with an exogenous enzyme on the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of date fibre as a partial replacement of maize as a source of energy for growing broiler chicken. In experiment 1, date fibre was given alone to determine apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids and crude fibre. 2. Date fibre had lower AME content (8.7 vs 13.6 MJ/kg) and apparent ileal digestibility coefficients for dry matter (0.35 vs 0.83), crude fibre (0.20 vs 0.54) and amino acids. 3. Based on the results of experiment 1, a growth study was conducted to test the effect of exogenous enzymes on the nutritive value of date fibre (experiment 2). 4. Three date fibre contents (5, 10 and 15%) with and without enzyme supplementation were evaluated. Daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured. At the end of experiment 2, 160 birds were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate carcase and meat quality traits as well as measuring ileal viscosity. 5. Substitution of maize by 10 and 15% date fibre significantly depressed AME. Enzyme supplementation did not improve crude fibre digestibility. The inclusion of date fibre in the diets except at 5% decreased average daily gains, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. 6. Addition of date fibre caused a significant increase in the weights of total digestive tract, pancreas and caecum. Addition of date fibre or the exogenous enzyme had no significant effect on carcase or meat quality characteristics. 7. Date fibre increased ileal digesta viscosity compared to the control. Addition of the exogenous enzyme decreased the viscosity of the basal diets but had no effect on the date fibre diets.8. This study indicated that date fibre can be included at levels of 5% in broiler diets without affecting performance.     

Placement of a long term tracheal cannula in a Thoroughbred racehorse with bilateral laryngeal dysfunction

A Thoroughbred horse with bilateral laryngeal dysfunction was treated by placement of a long term tracheal cannula in order to restore full athletic function. The horse initially presented with right-sided arytenoid dysfunction that was considered to be due to a congenital malformation of the laryngeal cartilage. This was corrected by a right-sided laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy. The horse re-presented 1 year later with idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia. The decision was made to place a long-term tracheal cannula due to the low success rate and high complication rate associated with other surgeries used to correct bilateral arytenoid dysfunction. A three-piece tracheotomy cannula and stopper were positioned under general anaesthesia. The horse rapidly adjusted to the tracheal cannula and no post-surgical complications were encountered. The horse resumed training 4 weeks postoperatively. Due to the rules governing racing in Australia the horse was exported to New Zealand where he continued his racing career. It was concluded that tracheotomy is a straightforward technique associated with minimal complications and can provide an excellent prognosis for return of full airway function in racing horses. It is recognised that many issues need to be considered prior to more general acceptance of this technique, including assessment of animal welfare issues and public perception. In appropriate cases consideration should be given to using long term placement of a tracheotomy cannula as a treatment option to restore maximal airflow in horses with upper airway obstruction.     

When, why, and how to perform cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation

Radiofrequency catheter ablative techniques provide a unique opportunity to cure dogs of certain supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, rather than simply controlling the rhythm with drug therapy. Accessory pathways, which can participate as one limb of a rapid, narrow complex tachyarrhythmia circuit, have a particularly high cure rate with radiofrequency catheter ablation. Focal atrial tachycardias also provide a substrate that can be amenable to ablation. Tachycardia-induced myocardial dysfunction resulting from frequent tachyarrhythmic episodes will resolve after a successful ablation. This report outlines the indications, equipment, and techniques used in dogs for performing catheter ablation with temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy delivery.