Acute sterile hemorrhagic cystitis after a single intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide in three dogs.

Three dogs receiving cyclophosphamide IV as part of a combination chemotherapeutic regimen developed macrohematuria, stranguria, and pollakiuria within 24 hours of administration of the first dose of this drug. An 11-year-old spayed mixed-breed dog with an oral squamous cell carcinoma was administered 250 mg of cyclophosphamide/m2 of body surface, whereas a 4-year-old castrated male Gordon Setter was treated with 100 mg of cyclophosphamide/m2 and a 6-year-old male German Shepherd Dog with a cutaneous hemangiosarcoma was administered 140 mg of cyclophosphamide/m2. Aerobic bacterial culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and urinalysis were performed on urine obtained by cystocentesis from all 3 dogs after hematuria was observed. Sterile hemorrhagic cystitis was diagnosed on the basis of large numbers of RBC in the urine, lack of pathogens on bacterial culturing of urine, and clinical signs. Although cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in dogs has been reported in the literature numerous times, acute episodes developing within 24 hours of administration of the first dose have not been reported in this species with the use of therapeutic doses. Therefore, appropriate precautionary steps should be taken, even when the drug is being administered intermittently.     

Natural infections of pigs with bovine viral diarrhoea virus associated with signs resembling swine fever

Between 1976 and 1985 while using immunofluorescence in the laboratory diagnosis of swine fever (SF), 13 incidents of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection were detected in the Netherlands. Ultimate differentiation between swine fever virus (SFV) and BVDV was based on herd evidence supported by comparative antibody studies on sera from pigs inoculated with the isolate and from contact pigs in the herd of origin, using reference strains of SFV and BVDV. Recently differentiation of SFV and BVDV has been facilitated by typing the isolates with monoclonal antibodies. Signs suspicious of SF were observed in pigs two to 16 weeks old and were always confined to animals of one litter. In most cases the affected litter died out gradually although once an animal recovered. Stillbirth and neonatal death as well as the late onset of disease and its limitation to a single litter in a herd suggested a congenital route of infection. Although transplacental infection of BVDV in pigs has been reported before, these cases are believed to be the first in which natural BVDV infections could be associated with clinical signs and pathological lesions indistinguishable from those observed in chronic SF.     

Properties of acid beta-galactosidase from fowl spermatozoa

1. Two forms, I and II, of beta-galactosidase [EC 3.2.1.23] from fowl spermatozoa were separated by Blue-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. 2. The two forms of the enzyme yielded different pI values (4.1 and 4.7 for form I and 5.3 for form II). 3. Their gel filtration patterns were also different: form I resolved into two peaks with Mr about 65,000 and 80,000, whereas form II resolved into a single peak with an Mr of about 65,000. 4. Both forms had similar optimum pH, pH stability, thermal stability and Km values. 5. Differences between the characteristics of beta-galactosidase forms from spermatozoa and from seminal plasma suggest that the beta-galactosidases investigated in this study are spermatozoa-specific.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced liver disease in horses: an early diagnosis

Nine adult horses were fed alfalfa hay cubes containing approximately 10% Senecio vulgaris until all horses had consumed approximately the same amount of toxic components of S vulgaris, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). The amount of PA consumed was determined by the amount that induced clinical signs of PA toxicosis in 3 horses. The 6 other horses were given similar amounts per kilogram of body weight. An initial decrease of feed intake was observed when horses' diets were changed from alfalfa cubes to alfalfa/Senecio cubes, and feed intake was decreased further over 89 to 98 days. From 50 to 159 days, body weight decreased in all horses. Liver disease was induced in all 9 horses after they ate an average of 233 +/- 9.2 mg of PA/kg of body weight. Eight horses died or were euthanatized. Treatment with branched chain amino acids had no effect on mortality, but appeared to reduce neurologic problems. Clinical signs of PA-induced liver disease included ataxia, head pressing, and decreased feed intake. Other clinical signs of toxicosis were observed individual horses, but did not develop in most horses. Megalocytic hepatopathy developed. Liver abnormalities proceeded as PA was consumed and were severe in 8 of 9 horses before clinical signs of toxicosis appeared. Sulfobromophthalein sodium clearance did not decrease until PA-induced liver disease was advanced. Bile acid (BA) concentrations increased to greater than or equal to 50 mumol/L, in the 8 horses that died. One horse had hepatopathy and increased BA concentration, but survived. In this horse, BA concentration peaked at 33 mumol/L and then decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Some pharmacokinetic data of aditoprim and trimethoprim in healthy and tick-borne fever infected dwarf goats

Aditoprim (AP) is a new dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, which is structurally related to trimethoprim (TMP). The pharmacokinetics of AP (10 mg/kg) and TMP (20 mg/kg) were assessed in healthy dwarf goats. Therapeutic efficacy against rickettsial infections was tested in tick-borne fever (TBF) infected goats. The animals were given TMP (n = 5) or AP (n = 5) by i.v. injection, and subsequently the drugs were administered orally (same groups, similar doses). Finally, both groups were infected with TBF and the i.v. experiment was repeated. Plasma concentration-time curves for both drugs followed first-order two-compartment decay. For TMP, mean t1/2 beta +/- SEM (h) was 0.84 +/- 0.06 (i.v. control) and 0.90 +/- 0.06 (i.v. infected), respectively, whereas for AP values of 8.00 +/- 0.31 (i.v. control) and 10.28 +/- 0.67 (i.v. infected) were obtained (P less than 0.05). Mean Vd beta +/- SEM values (l/kg) were 3.84 +/- 0.27 (i.v. control) and 4.07 +/- 0.85 (i.v. infected) for TMP (NS) and 7.02 +/- 0.63 vs 9.29 +/- 0.21 (P less than 0.05) for AP. After i.v. injection, rumen fluid concentrations of AP were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher and more persistent than those of TMP. For AP, the plasma and rumen fluid concentrations at 3 h were 1.20 +/- 0.06 micrograms/ml and 0.85 +/- 0.17 microgram/ml, respectively. After oral administration of TMP, Cmax in plasma was 0.12 +/- 0.01 microgram/ml and the maximum was reached after 1.2 +/- 0.16 h; systemic bioavailability (F) was 10.3% (relative to AUC i.v.). Oral treatment with AP resulted in a Cmax value of 0.21 +/- 0.02 microgram/ml with Tmax of 22.5 +/- 1.65 h and a F value of 71%. Based on WBC, serum ALP and rectal temperature responses, it was concluded that both TMP and AP were inactive against Ehrlichia phagocytophila.     

Verification of ineffectual activity of ivermectin against adult Onchocerca spp in the ligamentum nuchae of horses

Ivermectin paste formulation (200 micrograms/kg) was administered orally to 27 horses (13 Thoroughbreds and 14 of mixed breeding) to evaluate activity against adult Onchocerca spp in the ligamentum nuchae. Ages, known or estimated, of the horses ranged from 1 to 22 years. Single or multiple doses (1 to 5) of the drug were given to each horse. When multiple doses were administered, the intervals between treatments ranged from 7 to 92 days. At 27 to 171 days after initial treatment (single dose or first of multiple doses), the horses were killed. Some of the horses treated more than once were killed as soon as 7 days after the last treatment. At necropsy, Onchocerca spp were found in the ligamentum nuchae of 24 (89%) of the 27 horses. All of the specimens were pieces of worms, apparently adult, which appeared to be alive. The only noninfected horses were 2 to 3 years old. In 18 (75%) of the 24 infected horses, microfilariae, most being obviously viable, were found in the worm specimens or ligamentum nuchae.     

Hematochezia attributable to cranial mesenteric arterial aneurysm with connecting tracts to cecum and ileum in a horse

A cranial mesenteric arterial aneurysm with fistulous tracts to the cecum and ileum was discovered in a Missouri Fox Trotter stallion. The principal clinical sign was hematochezia, observed at 7- and 10-day intervals. The lesion may have been attributable to arteritis caused by fourth-stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris.     

Epidemiology of ovine helminthiasis in Haryana,India

Tracer lambs were used to study the pasture contamination with infective stages of helminth parasites during one annual cycle in a subtropical climate. Post-mortem worm counts indicated that low infections with Haemonchus contortus occurred throughout the year except in June. However, twenty five or more H. contortus per lamb were recorded in January, April, May and August. Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection was detected throughout the year and 150 or more worms per lamb were recorded during January to May and in August. Anoplocephalids were recorded from the lambs throughout the year but had no seasonal pattern. Low infections with Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichuris ovis were observed. The faecal egg counts from the permanent flock with whom the tracer lambs were grazed revealed heavy to mild worm burdens throughout the year. Coproculture indicated that H. contortus predominated from the second fortnight of May to December except in the second fortnight of July. Infection with T. colubriformis was more severe from January to the first fortnight of May and in the second fortnight of July. Negligible infections with O. columbianum, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Gaigeria pachyscelis and Dictyocaulus filaria were also observed. Biohythergraphs prepared for H. contortus and T. colubriformis showed differences between observed and expected results. It is suggested that for realistic biohythergraphs related parameters in addition to rainfall and temperature should also be considered.     

Arthroscopic Removal of an Osteochondral Fragment from the Middle Phalanx of a Horse

An intraarticular osteochondral chip fracture of the distal dorsolateral aspect of the right hind middle phalanx in a 4-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was removed arthroscopically. Accessibility and visibility of the fragment were excellent, and there was minimal soft tissue trauma.