Endometrial Tissue Concentrations of Enrofloxacin after Intrauterine Administration to Mares

Endometritis in mares is a common cause of infertility. Conventional treatments of the disease have mostly been unsuccessful, so new therapeutic alternatives need to be investigated. This study evaluated the uterine disposition and plasma pharmacokinetic behaviour of a commercial formulation of enrofloxacin (EFX) given by the intrauterine (i.u.) route (2.5 mg/kg) in healthy mares. In order to evaluate the uterine inflammatory response, an initial histopathological study assessing polymorphonuclear cell infiltration was carried out in 20 mares over a 14-day period after treatment. In a second study, 6 healthy adult mares were used for the pharmacokinetic study. Samples of uterine tissue and plasma were collected from 0 to 24 h after the i.u. treatment with 5% EFX solution. Samples were analysed by conventional microbiological assay using an EFX-sensitive strain of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). There was a moderate but statistically nonsignificant inflammatory response following i.u. administration of either the formulation or the vehicle alone. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the uterine concentrations of EFX showed a slow and sustained depletion, with EFX remaining at concentrations above the MIC for 24 h after treatment. The area under the concentration–time curve obtained for the uterus suggested that EFX and its metabolites are specifically retained in the uterus, which is the target tissue for bacterial colonization. Neither study provided any evidence of EFX toxicity. In conclusion, these results are encouraging and suggest that EFX may be a useful local treatment in mares with bacterial endometritis.     

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy as a treatment for recurrent pericardial effusion in 6 dogs

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy (PBP) has been performed in people and in a small number of dogs as a treatment for recurrent pericardial effusion with tamponade (PET). We performed this technique on 6 dogs with recurrent PET (5 with heart base tumors and 1 with no identifiable mass). Under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, a balloon-dilating catheter (diameters 14-20 mm) was introduced percutaneously at the 5th intercostal space through a sheath-introducing catheter, positioned across the parietal pericardium, and inflated 3 times. No dog experienced serious complications. The procedure was considered successful in 4 of 6 dogs. One dog is still alive without recurrence of PET 1 year after the procedure. Three dogs died of unrelated disease without recurrence of PET 5. 19, and 32 months after the procedure. The procedure was not beneficial in 1 dog that was euthanized 9 weeks later because of recurrence of pleural and abdominal effusion thought to be secondary to PET. One dog may have temporarily benefited but developed symptomatic PET 6 months after PBP. PBP appears to be a safe, economical, and potentially effective palliative treatment for recurrent PET and is a reasonable, less invasive alternative to surgery for dogs with recurrent PET, especially effusions caused by heart base tumors and possibly idiopathic pericardial effusion. Premature closure of the stoma is a potential cause for long-term failure and was thought to have been responsible for the recurrence of clinical signs in 2 dogs.     

Audiograms estimated from brainstem tone-evoked potentials in dogs from 10 days to 1.5 months of age

The objective of this study was to build audiograms from thresholds of brainstem tone-evoked potentials in dogs and to evaluate age-related change of the audiogram in puppies. Results were obtained from 9 Beagle puppies 10-47 days of age. Vertex to mastoid brainstem auditory-evoked potentials in response to 5.1-millisecond Hanning-gated sine waves with frequencies octave-spaced from 0.5 to 32 kHz were recorded. Three dogs were examined at 10, 13, 19, 25, and 45 days. Four other dogs were examined at 16 days. Data from 7 dogs between 42 and 47 days of age were pooled to obtain audiogram reference values in 1.5-month-old puppies. The best auditory threshold lowered from above 60 dB sound pressure level (SPL) to values close to 0 dB SPL between 13 and 25 days of age and then stabilized. The audible frequency range widened, including 32 kHz in all tested dogs from the 19th day. In the 7 1.5-month-old puppies, the mean auditory threshold decreased by 11 dB per octave from 0.5 to 2 kHz. The auditory threshold was lowest and held the same value from 2 to 8 kHz. The mean auditory threshold increased by 20 dB per octave from 8 to 32 kHz. Near threshold, click-evoked potentials test only a small part of the audible frequency range in dogs. Use of tone-evoked potentials may become a powerful tool in investigating dogs with possible partial hearing loss, including during the auditory system maturation period.     

Intestinal starch disappearance increased in steers abomasally infused with starch and protein

Steers (379 +/- 10 kg) with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square digestion trial to quantify and evaluate the relationship between intestinal protein supply and intestinal starch disappearance. Treatments were infusions of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 g/d of casein along with 1,042 g/d of raw cornstarch. Abomasal infusions were accomplished by passing tubing and a pliable retaining washer through the reticular-omasal orifice into the abomasum. Steers were fed a 93% corn silage, 7% supplement diet that contained 12% crude protein at 1.65% body weight in 12 equal portions/d. Periods lasted 17 d (12 d for adaptation, 2 d of collections, and 3 d of rest). The quantity and percentage of organic matter and protein disappearance from the small intestine increased linearly (P < 0.03) with infused casein. Greater quantities of starch disappeared with increased casein infusion (P < 0.01). The infusion of 200 g/d of casein increased small intestinal starch disappearance by 226 g/d over the control. Casein infusion did not affect the quantity or percent of organic matter, starch, or protein disappearance in the large intestine. Treatments did not change ruminal ammonia N, ruminal pH, or plasma glucose concentrations. Starch disappearance from the small intestine was increased with greater protein flow to the duodenum of steers.     

Clinical parameters for assessment of udder health in Danish dairy herds

This study examined the possibilities of using clinical parameters related to the bovine udder for characterisation of udder health. Five clinicians performed systematic clinical recordings of udder health at 3 visits to 4 dairy herds. Several of the clinical parameters were scored on an ordinal scale. The agreement between clinicians was compared using kappa statistics. Factor analysis was used to identify udder types. The clinical evaluations showed substantial variation among clinicians. Parameters that were not directly related to pathological conditions showed the highest variation e.g. length of the claws, teat shape and hardness of the udder parenchyma. On the other hand, evaluation of pathological parameters such as nodes in the udder, skin lesions and oedema showed good agreement between clinicians. Udder types identified by means of factor analysis were found to be suitable for characterisation of udder health. Especially one factor related to dry quarters and udder asymmetry showed a more consistent relationship to milk yield than traditionally applied udder health parameters such as treatment rate and cell count. It is concluded that there is a considerable need for increased efforts among clinicians in order to standardise clinical recordings. It is further concluded that certain combinations of extended clinical recordings have significant perspectives for future characterisation of udder health.