Fiber digestibility by the orangutan (Pongo abelii): in vitro and in vivo.

Limited nutritional information exists on diets of free-ranging orangutans, Pongo abelii and P. pygmaeus. Although they are classified as frugivores, the chemical composition of their diet and their gastrointestinal anatomy suggest that they rely on fiber fermentation for a substantial portion of energy. However, the extent to which they can ferment fiber is not known. Continuous culture systems, inoculated with orangutan fecal bacteria, were established to determine the fiber-digesting capacity of orangutan hindgut microflora. The cultures received one of four treatments: soybean hulls, ground corncobs, corn starch, or no food. Neither dry matter nor neutral detergent fiber digestibilities differed significantly among treatments. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were high for both the soybean hull (88.4%) and ground corncob (86.1%) treatments, indicating that the microflora had a strong fibrolytic capability. To determine whether the same fiber-degrading capacity occurred in vivo, two adult orangutans and one juvenile were fed four gel-matrix diets containing soybean hulls, ground corncobs, or ground primate biscuits. Neutral detergent fiber concentrations (dry matter basis) of the gel matrices were 52.9% with soybean hulls, 46.8% and 63.7% with ground corncobs, and 31.3% with ground primate biscuits. A fifth diet consisted of primate biscuits with 27.3% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) and was considered the baseline diet. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility (74.5%) was greatest (P < 0.05) for the soybean hull gel diet and least (57.5% and 45.0%, respectively; P < 0.05) for the 63.7% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis) corncob gel diet and the baseline primate biscuit diet. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in orangutan feces were not significantly different among diets; however, molar proportions of acetic, propionic, and butyric acid differed (P < 0.05) among diets. The results from both studies indicated that orangutans are capable of extensive fiber fermentation.     

Relationship of vitamin E supplementation and antimicrobial treatment with acute-phase protein responses in cattle affected by naturally acquired respiratory tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To correlate serum concentrations of fibrinogen (Fib), haptoglobin (Hap), serum amyloid-A (SAA), and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) with clinical respiratory tract disease and response to treatment in transport-stressed feedlot cattle fed vitamin E-supplemented diets. ANIMALS: 387 heifer calves (mean initial weight, 197 kg). PROCEDURE: Calves purchased from an order buyer were delivered to a feedlot to study the effects of dietary supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin E for 0, 7, 14, or 28 days after arrival. Serum or plasma Fib, Hap, SAA, and AGP concentrations were measured on days 0, 7, and 28 after arrival as well as at the time of treatment for respiratory tract disease with antimicrobial drugs and after completion of treatment. RESULTS: Vitamin E supplementation was associated with decreased treatment costs. In cattle that were not recognized as sick or responded positively to 1 antimicrobial treatment, serum Hap concentrations were significantly lower on days 0 and 7 than concentrations for cattle that required > 1 treatment. Serum Hap concentrations and ratios of Hap to SAA on day 0 significantly correlated with the number of antimicrobial treatments required. Serum Hap concentrations at the time of initial treatment were significantly lower for cattle that required only 1 treatment, compared with those that required > 1 treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum Hap concentrations are of potential value for use in assessing feedlot cattle that may become ill as a result of respiratory tract disease and for use in monitoring treatment efficacy.     

Treatment with pergolide or cyproheptadine of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing's disease)

Medical records of 27 horses (including 13 ponies) treated with pergolide or cyproheptadine for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction were reviewed to determine the effect of treatment on plasma ACTH, insulin, and glucose concentrations and clinical signs. Prior to treatment, the most common clinical signs were laminitis, hirsutism, and abnormal body fat distribution. The median pergolide dose was 3.0 microg/kg p.o. q24h (range, 1.7-5.5 microg/kg). All horses treated with cyproheptadine were given 0.25 mg/kg p.o. q24h. After pergolide treatment, ACTH concentrations (n = 20; median = 30.4 pg/ml; range, 4.2-173) were significantly lower (P < .01) than those in horses treated with cyproheptadine (n = 7; median = 141.0 pg/ml: range, 10-1,230). Among horses treated with pergolide, there was a correlation between ACTH concentration after treatment and the duration of treatment (P < .001) and pergolide dose (P = .04). Significantly (P = .02) more owners of horses treated with pergolide (85%, 17/20) reported an improvement in clinical signs compared to owners of horses treated with cyproheptadine (28%, 2/7).     

Congenital factor XI deficiency in a domestic shorthair cat

A 6-month-old, female, domestic shorthair cat was examined after onychectomy and ovariohysterectomy because of bleeding from the paws. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time was discovered, Coagulation factor analyses revealed deficiency of factor XI coagulant activity. Plasma mixing studies indicated factor deficiency or dysfunction rather than factor inhibition. Feline factor XI deficiency in one adult cat has been previously reported but was attributed to factor XI inhibitors. The signalment, lack of primary disease, and the finding of persistent factor XI deficiency in the absence of coagulation inhibitors were considered compatible with congenital factor XI deficiency in the cat of this report.     

Cardiac troponin I in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Measurement of plasma cardiac troponin I concentration ([cTnI]) is a sensitive and specific means for detecting myocardial damage in many mammalian species. Studies have shown that [cTnI] increases rapidly after cardiomyocyte injury. The molecular structure of cTnl is highly conserved across species, and current assays developed for its detection in humans have been validated in many species. In this study, [cTnI] was quantified using a 2-site sandwich assay in plasma of healthy control cats (n = 33) and cats with moderate to severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (n = 20). [cTnI] was significantly higher in cats with HCM (median, 0.66 ng/mL; range, 0.05-10.93 ng/mL) as compared with normal cats (median, <0.03 ng/mL; range, <0.03-0.16 ng/mL) (P < .0001). An increase in [cTnI] was also highly sensitive (sensitivity = 85%) and specific (specificity = 97%) for differentiating cats with moderate to severe HCM from normal cats. [cTnI] was weakly correlated with diastolic thickness of the left ventricular free wall (r2 = .354; P = .009) but not with the diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum (P = .8467) or the left atrium: aorta ratio (P = .0652). Furthermore, cats with congestive heart failure at the time of cTnI analysis had a significantly higher [cTnI] than did cats that had never had heart failure and those whose heart failure was controlled at the time of analysis (P = .0095 and P = .0201, respectively). These data indicate that cats with HCM have ongoing myocardial damage. Although the origin of this damage is unknown, it most likely explains the replacement fibrosis that is consistently identified in cats with moderate to severe HCM.     

BILATERAL PERINEPHRIC PSEUDOCYSTS AND POLYCYSTIC KIDNEYS IN A FERRET

A 3-year-old castrated male domestic ferret was evaluated for abdominal distention. Survey lateral and dorsoventral abdominal radiographs were made. There were two soft tissue radiopacities consistent with grossly enlarged kidneys displacing small bowel and colon cranially, ventrally and caudally. Abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed bilateral perinephric pseudocysts and polycystic kidneys. The perinephric pseudocysts were found to be dilated renal capsules on exploratory surgery and were drained. On follow up examinations, the pseudocysts were drained by ultrasound-guided paracentesis. The perinephric cyst fluid was distinguished from urine by measuring creatinine concentration and plans were made to resect the renal capsules due to rapid re-accumulation of pseudocyst fluid. The ferret's condition deteriorated and euthanasia was performed. Post-mortem examination was declined by the owner. Perinephric pseudocysts are rare and this is the first published report in a ferret. Ultrasound examination is the most rapid, accurate and non-invasive method for diagnosis of perinephric pseudocysts.