Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage for treatment of pyonephrosis in two dogs

Pyonephrosis refers to suppurative destruction of the parenchyma of the kidney with complete or nearly complete loss of renal function. In dogs, nephrectomy is still the most common treatment for pyonephrosis; however, in the present report, a method for percutaneous ultrasound-guided drainage of the renal pelvis in dogs with pyonephrosis that does not require local or general anesthesia was described, and results of the procedure in 2 dogs were reported. Briefly, dogs were positioned in lateral recumbency with the affected side up, and skin overlying the affected kidney was aseptically prepared. The dilated renal pelvis was punctured percutaneously, under ultrasound guidance, with a 22-gauge needle, and a sample of material was obtained for analysis. The needle was then replaced with an IV catheter, and as much pus as possible was removed from the renal collecting system. A povidone iodine solution was then used to lavage the renal pelvis. Ultrasound-guided drainage and lavage of the renal pelvis was repeated daily until the renal pelvis was so small that it could no longer be punctured. Both dogs recovered and were reported by the owners to be healthy after the procedure.     

Neutrophil apoptosis during the resolution of bovine mammary gland injury

The role of neutrophil apoptosis in the resolution of bovine mammary gland injury induced by intramammary administration of physiological buffered saline (PBS) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. Twenty mammary glands of five non-pregnant heifers were used in the two studies and each animal received both stimuli. Samples of cell populations were collected by mammary gland lavages before and 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after treatment and examined by light microscopy and staining for myeloperoxidase (MPO). A marked influx of neutrophils into the mammary gland was observed 24 hours after stimulation. At the same time, apoptotic neutrophils and MPO-positive macrophages (MAC) were identified in the samples. The numbers increased to reach maximum values at 48 hours after stimulation with PBS and at 72 hours after stimulation with LPS. The observed differences in the length of the resolution period indicate that neutrophil viability can be modulated by delaying the apoptotic process. Apoptosis of neutrophils and their subsequent phagocytosis by MAC can be regarded as a significant mechanism in the removal of neutrophils from the acutely injured mammary glands and, hence, in the resolution of bovine mastitis.     

Endoscopic examination of snakes by access through an air sac

Sixteen boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), three royal pythons (Python regius) and 15 Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) were examined endoscopically by access through the air sac. The snakes were immobilised in a ventral position using a half-open anaesthetic system with assisted ventilation and a mixture of isoflurane and oxygen. The rigid endoscope was introduced percutaneously and the internal structure of the lungs and the air sac, and the shape, size and external surface of the liver were visible in the cranial direction. In the smaller snakes the bifurcation and caudal part of the trachea could be viewed, provided the endoscope was positioned in a retrograde orientation. The caudal orientation of the endoscope made it possible to view the gall bladder and the size, shape and surface of the spleen. In some cases, the pancreas and the surface of the stomach and colon could be monitored. Endoscopy through the air sac also made it possible to check the major veins in the coelom. The snakes were monitored for at least 30 days after the intervention and no changes in their respiratory function or general health were observed.     

Compensatory feeding during early gestation for sows with a high weight loss after a summer lactation increased piglet birth weight but reduced litter size

Sows mated in summer produce a greater proportion of born-light piglets (<1.1 kg) which contributes to increased carcass fatness in the progeny population. The reasons for the low birth weight of these piglets remain unclear, and there have been few successful mitigation strategies identified. We hypothesized that: 1) the low birth weight of progeny born to sows mated in summer may be associated with weight loss during the previous summer lactation; and 2) increasing early gestation feed allowance for the sows with high lactational weight loss in summer can help weight recovery and improve progeny birth weight. Sows were classified as having either low (av. 1%) or high (av. 7%) lactational weight loss in their summer lactation. All the sows with low lactational weight loss (LLStd) and half of the sows with high lactational weight loss received a standard gestation feeding regime (HLStd) (2.6 kg/d; day 0–30 gestation), whereas the rest of the sows with high lactational weight loss received a compensatory feed allowance (HLComp) (3.5 kg/d; day 0–30 gestation). A comparison of LLStd (n = 75) versus HLStd sows (n = 78) showed that this magnitude of weight loss over summer lactation did not affect the average piglet or litter birth weight, but such results may be influenced by the higher litter size (P = 0.030) observed in LLStd sows. A comparison of HLStd versus HLComp (n = 81) sows showed that the compensatory feeding increased (P = 0.021) weight gain of gestating sows by 6 kg, increased (P = 0.009) average piglet birth weight by 0.12 kg, tended to reduce (P = 0.054) the percentage of born-light piglets from 23.5% to 17.1% but reduced the litter size by 1.4 (P = 0.014). A subgroup of progeny stratified as born-light (0.8–1.1 kg) or -normal (1.3–1.7 kg) from each sow treatment were monitored for growth performance from weaning until 100 kg weight. The growth performance and carcass backfat of progeny were not affected by sow treatments. Born-light progeny had lower feed intake, lower growth rate, higher G:F, and higher carcass backfat than born-normal progeny (all P < 0.05). In summary, compensatory feeding from day 0 to 30 gestation in the sows with high weight loss during summer lactation reduced the percentage of born-light progeny at the cost of a lower litter size, which should improve growth rate and carcass leanness in the progeny population born to sows with high lactational weight loss.     

对FC株猪源性肠毒素型大肠杆菌致病因子的研究

FC菌株是一株从腹泻仔猪粪便中分离的肠毒素型大肠杆菌(Enterotoxigenic E.coli,ETEC)。在MRHA反应中,本菌能凝集人O型、豚鼠、马、绵羊、牛、鸡和兔的红细胞,对人O型和豚鼠红细胞有很高的血凝性,血抗K88和K99血清不能抑制其对豚鼠和绵羊红细胞的血凝。在体外小肠上皮细胞吸附试验中,本菌对仔猪小肠上皮细胞具有强烈的吸附作用;透射电镜和扫描电镜观察证实了FC株菌除表面具有一种纤毛样结构外,还能定居在仔猪小肠段。血清学试验结果表明,本菌的O抗原属于O101。K88和987P两种抗血清均不能凝集本菌,而K99和F41抗血清均可凝集。对纯化的FC株菌粘着素抗原作等电聚焦和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析,结果表明,该菌的粘着素是由等电点分别为4.61和9.78,分子量分别为29500和17500的两种蛋白质抗原所组成。此外,用乳鼠胃内投服试验和兔肠结扎试验证明,该菌只产生热稳定肠毒素。总之,本菌是一株能产生ST的K99,F41的肠毒素型大肠杆菌。     

Beta2-agonists and cAMP inhibit protein degradation in isolated chick (Gallus domesticus) skeletal muscle

1. The role of beta2-agonist and of cAMP in chick skeletal muscle proteolytic pathways and protein synthesis was investigated using an in vitro preparation that maintains tissue glycogen stores and metabolic activity for several hours. 2. In extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle total proteolysis decreased by 15 to 20% in the presence of equimolar concentrations of epinephrine, clenbuterol, a selective hbetaagonist, or dibutyryl-cAMP. Rates of protein synthesis were not altered by clenbuterol or dibutyryl-cAMP. 3. The decrease in the rate of total protein degradation induced by 10(-5)M clenbuterol was paralleled by a 44% reduction in Ca2+-dependent proteolysis, which was prevented by 10(-5)M ICI 118.551, a selective fbeta2antagonist. 4. No change was observed in the activity of the lysosomal, ATP-dependent, and ATP-independent proteolytic systems. Ca2+-dependent proteolytic activity was also reduced by 58% in the presence of 10(-4)M dibutyryl-cAMP or isobutylmethylxanthine. 5. The data suggest that catecholamines exert an inhibitory control of Ca2+-dependent proteolysis in chick skeletal muscle, probably mediated by fbeta2adrenoceptors, with the participation of a cAMP-dependent pathway.     

Effects of bacterial direct-fed microbials and yeast on site and extent of digestion,blood chemistry,and subclinical ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle

Two studies were conducted to determine whether a bacterial direct-fed microbial (DFM) alone or with yeast could minimize the risk of acidosis and improve feed utilization in feedlot cattle receiving high-concentrate diets. Eight ruminally cannulated steers, previously adapted to a high-concentrate diet, were used in crossover designs to study the effects of DFM on feed intake, ruminal pH, ruminal fermentation, blood characteristics, site and extent of digestion, and microbial protein synthesis. Steers were provided ad libitum access to a diet containing steam-rolled barley, barley silage, and a protein-mineral supplement (87, 8, and 5% on a DM basis, respectively). In Exp. 1, treatments were control vs. the lactic-acid producing bacterium Enterococcus faecium EF212 (EF; 6 x 10(9) cfu/d). In Exp. 2, treatments were control vs EF (6 x 10(9) cfu/d) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 6 x 10(9) cfu/d). Supplementing feedlot cattle diets with EF in Exp. 1 increased (P < 0.05) propionate and (P < 0.05) decreased butyrate concentrations, decreased the nadir of ruminal pH (P < 0.05), enhanced the flow of feed N (P < 0.10) to the duodenum but reduced that of microbial N (P < 0.10), reduced (P < 0.10) intestinal digestion of NDF, and increased (P < 0.10) fecal coliform numbers. Other than the increase in propionate concentrations that signify an increase in energy precursors for growth, the other metabolic changes were generally considered to be undesirable. In Exp. 2, providing EF together with yeast abolished most of these undesirable effects. Combining EF with yeast increased the DM digestion of corn grain incubated in sacco, but there were no effects on altering the site or extent of nutrient digestion. The diets used in this study were highly fermentable, and the incidence of subclinical ruminal acidosis, defined as steers with ruminal pH below 5.5 for prolonged periods of time, was high. Supplementing the diet with EF, with or without yeast, had limited effects on reducing ruminal acidosis. It seems that cattle adapted to high-grain diets are able to maintain relatively high feed intake and high fiber digestion despite low ruminal pH. The Enterococcus faecium bacterium and yeast used in this study were of limited value for feedlot cattle already adapted to high-grain diets.     

The surgical technique and the age of the horse both influence the outcome of mosaicplasty in a cadaver equine stifle model

Six pieces of grafts, 6.5 mm in diameter, 20 mm in length, were taken from each of 170 cadaver hindlimbs, using the cranial surface of the medial femoral trochlea for harvesting. The age of the horses varied between 4 months and 23 years. 30 limbs under the age of 12 years were selected for transplantation. Three of six grafts were transplanted into the medial femoral condyle using different combinations of tunnel depth and dilation. With ageing, a significant decline in transplantability was detected. In general, mosaicplasty cannot be recommended in horses above 11 years. Based on a previous clinical case (Bodó et al., 2000), a good surface alignment was indeed achieved with a combination of graft length drilling and dilation in most cases. However, the occasional entrapment of cartilage debris under the graft prevented perfect alignment in the present cadaver study in 27% of the grafts transplanted in this manner. Since the protrusion of grafts never exceeded 1.5 mm, we conclude that drilling 3-5 mm deeper than graft length with graft length deep dilation can avoid disadvantageous protrusion of the transplanted hyaline cartilage caps, achieving bone decompression at the same time.