Efficacy of a mephentermine‐based product as a vasopressor and a cardiac performance enhancer when given intramuscularly to cattle

The goal of this study was to confirm the vasopressor and cardiac effects of POTENAY^® INJETÁVEL (POT), a mephentermine‐based product, given to cattle with induced vascular/cardiac depression. Ten healthy Holstein cattle (206 ± 13 kg) followed a randomized‐complete‐block design (RCBD) utilizing crossover study design. Each animal randomly received (1 ml/25 kg, IM) of either POT (n = 10) or volume‐matched placebo control (0.9%NaCl, CP, n = 10). A subset of animals (n = 5) received POT first (day 0) while the remaining (n = 5) received CP; after a six‐day washout period, cattle received the opposite compound. Animals were anesthetized and catheterized for systemic/left ventricular hemodynamic monitoring. Myocardial dysfunction/hypotension was induced by increasing the end‐tidal isoflurane concentration until arterial blood pressure was 20% lower than at baseline and remained stable. Once the animal was determined to be hypotensive and hemodynamically stable, steady‐state hypotensive baseline data (BL2) were acquired, and treatment with either POT or CP was given. Data were acquired post‐treatment at every 15 min for 90 min. POT improved cardiac output (+68 L/min, ±14%, p < 0.05), MAP (+14 mmHg, ±4%, p < 0.05), HR (+22 bpm, ±8%, p < 0.05), and peak rates of ventricular pressure change during both systole (dP/dt_max: +37 mmHg/s ±13%, p < 0.05) and diastole (dP/dt_min: +31 mmHg/s, ±7%, p < 0.05). No improvements were noted following placebo‐control administration. Results indicate that POT improves cardiac performance and systemic hemodynamics in cattle with induced cardiovascular depression when given as single intramuscular injection.     

High prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cattle,sheep, and goat bulk tank milk in Jordan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA and mecC methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in...     

Association between bovine digital dermatitis and annual periods of lower pluviometric precipitation in Central Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - We aimed to follow the epidemiologic evolution of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases grouped in a dairy farm in Central Brazil between...     

The influence of rapid growth on sodium salicylate pharmacokinetics in male turkeys

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of growth on the pharmacokinetics of sodium salicylate (SS) in male turkeys. SS was administered intravenously at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Plasma drug concentrations were assessed by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis. As the age increased from 6 to 13 weeks (body weight increase from 2.35 to 9.43 kg), median body clearance decreased from 1.34 to 0.87 ml/min/kg. This caused a significant increase in the median mean residence time from 3.42 to 4.44 hr. Elimination phase proved to be biphasic and two elimination half‐lives (T_1/2el) were distinguished. Whereas T_1/2el1 was found to increase with age by 128%, T_1/2el2 represented a later but faster and less age‐dependent phase of elimination (increase by 56% in the respective groups). Volume of distribution decreased with age. These effects may lead to different therapeutic response to SS in turkeys of different age and body weights.     

In vitro anti‐LPS dose determination of ketorolac tromethamine and in vivo safety of repeated dosing in healthy horses

Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a commonly used Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) in horses, but clinical efficacy is often unsatisfactory. Ketorolac tromethamine (KT) demonstrates superior efficacy compared to other NSAIDs in humans, but its anti‐inflammatory effects have not been investigated in the horse. Safety of repeated dosing of KT has not been evaluated. The first objective was to conduct a dose determination study to verify that a previously described dosage of KT would inhibit Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced eicosanoid production in vitro, and to compare KT effects of this inhibition to those of FM. Then, a randomized crossover study was performed using nine healthy horses to evaluate plasma concentrations of KT and FM following IV administration. Administered dosages of KT and FM were 0.5 mg/kg and 1.1 mg/kg, respectively. Safety following six repeated doses of KT was assessed. Ketorolac tromethamine and FM suppressed LPS‐induced Thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in vitro for up to 12 hr. Intravenous administration produced plasma concentrations of KT and FM similar to previous reports. No adverse effects were observed. A KT dosage of 0.5 mg/kg IV inhibited LPS‐induced eicosanoids in vitro, and repeated dosing for up to 3 days appears safe in healthy horses. Investigation of in vivo anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects of KT is warranted.     

A long term feed supplementation based on phosphate binders in Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a very common disorder in elderly cats. A proper renal diet represents the most efficient therapeutic intervention to improve survival and life quality in feline patients with 3 and 4 International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stages. Twenty cats were selected in this study. Ten were administered the dietary supplementation for 360 days and the other ten, whose owners did not give consent for any supplemental therapies apart from the renal diet, were selected from a clinical database and used as control group. The present study is a long term study (360 days) aiming to evaluate the efficacy and palatability of a dietary supplementation containing calcium carbonate, calcium-lactate gluconate, chitosan and sodium bicarbonate in cats diagnosed with 3 and 4 IRIS stages of CKD. The owners were asked to fill in questionnaires to get information on the cat’s appetite, the palatability of the given supplement, the presence of vomit and/or diarrhoea, general health and vitality. Hematochemical, biochemical and urinary analyses were performed on day 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150,180 and 360. GraphPad Prism® software was used to perform statistical analysis. Our study shows that the given dietary supplement reduced serum phosphorus and increased serum bicarbonate values in cats with CKD. In turn, this supplement could be used as a support therapy in cats with advanced CKD improving their clinical conditions without any adverse reaction. Finally, it is important to underline that all the animals completed the study and the owners reported a good palatability of the feed supplement.