Sire breed of calf influences peripartum endocrine profiles and postpartum anestrus in Brahman cows

The literature indicates that sire breed of calf influences beef calf performance. However, there is little information concerning sire breed of calf effects on reproduction in beef cows. In this experiment, Angus (A), Brahman (B), or Tuli (T) bulls were bred to 136 Brahman (B) cows to examine sire breed of calf influence on peripartum hormone profiles and the length of postpartum anestrus. Cows were bled from 7 d prepartum to 28 d postpartum to determine peripartum hormone concentrations. Cows carrying AB calves had greater (P < 0.05) prepartum estradiol-17β concentrations than did cows carrying BB and TB calves. Prepartum and postpartum progesterone concentrations did not differ between cows with AB, BB, and TB calves. Cows with TB calves had lower (P < 0.01) 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F₂ (PGFM) concentrations than did cows with AB and BB calves during the early postpartum period. Adjusting for birth weight removed the sire breed of calf effect on postpartum PGFM concentrations, but not prepartum estradiol-17β. Postpartum anestrus was shorter (P < 0.05) for cows nursing BB calves (84 ± 6 d) than for cows nursing AB (101 ± 6 d) or TB calves (110 ± 7 d). Adjustment for estradiol or PGFM concentrations did not reduce sire breed of calf effects on the length of postpartum anestrus. Further work is needed to determine how calf genotype may modulate the postpartum reproductive function of the dam.     

Tibial osteotomies for cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency in dogs

Objective— To review the biomechanical considerations, experimental investigations, and clinical data pertaining to tibial osteotomy procedures for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) insufficiency in dogs.
Study Design— Literature review.
Methods— Literature search through Pub Med, Veterinary Information Network, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Abstracts, and conference proceedings abstracts (November 1977 to March 2007).
Results— Reported tibial osteotomy procedures attempt to eliminate sagittal instability (cranial tibial thrust) in CrCL-deficient stifles by altering the conformation of the proximal tibia. Functional stability can be achieved by decreasing the tibial plateau slope (cranial tibial closing wedge osteotomy [CTWO], tibial plateau leveling osteotomy [TPLO], combined TPLO and CTWO, proximal intraarticular osteotomy, chevron wedge osteotomy), altering the alignment of the patellar tendon (tibial tuberosity advancement), or both (triple tibial osteotomy). Clinical reports assessing the efficacy of these procedures frequently use subjective outcome measures, and the periods of follow-up evaluation are highly variable. Satisfactory results have been reported in most (>75%) dogs irrespective of the type of tibial osteotomy procedure.
Conclusions— Currently available data does not allow accurate comparisons between different tibial osteotomy procedures, or with traditional methods of stabilizing the CrCL-deficient stifle. Carefully designed long-term clinical studies and further biomechanical analyses are required to determine the optimal osteotomy technique, and whether these procedures are superior to other stabilization methods.
Clinical Relevance— Limb function in dogs with CrCL insufficiency can be improved using the currently described tibial osteotomy techniques.     

Cross‐sectional study to estimate the prevalence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli on hides of market beef cows at harvest

Cattle hides are an important source of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) carcass contamination at slaughter. Seven EHEC serogroups are adulterants in raw, non‐intact beef: EHEC O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145 and O157. The objective of this study was to estimate the probability for hide contamination with EHEC among US market beef cows at slaughter and to test the effects of season and geographic region on prevalence of hide contamination. Hides (n = 800) of market cows were swabbed at slaughter immediately after exsanguination, prior to hide removal. Cows were sampled from two geographically distinct beef packing plants during four seasons of 2015. Cattle source was categorized by northern or southern region. Samples were tested for EHEC by a molecular screening assay. The effects of region, season and their interaction on the probability of hide contamination by each EHEC serogroup were tested in separate multilevel multivariable logistic regression models, accounting for the random effect of clustering by plant. Statistical significance was set α = .05. Of 800 total samples, at least one EHEC was detected on 630 (79%) hides. Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli O26 was detected on 129 (16%) of all hides sampled, EHEC O45 on 437 (55%), EHEC O103 on 289 (36%), EHEC O111 on 189 (24%), EHEC O121 on 140 (18%), EHEC O145 on 171 (21%) and EHEC O157 on 89 (11%). Detection of EHEC O26 and EHEC O121 was associated with season. Season and region were associated with detecting EHEC O45 and EHEC O157. Season‐by‐region interactions were associated with the outcome of detecting EHEC O103, EHEC O111 and EHEC O145. Season, region of origin and the interaction of these factors affect hide contamination of market beef cattle at slaughter by EHEC, and each serogroup responds to these factors uniquely.     

Horner''s syndrome following common carotid artery catheterization in cats

Horner's syndrome is characterized by ptosis of the upper eyelid, miosis and enophthalmos and is caused by sympathetic denervation. It has been described in man and animals as a result of trauma, neoplasia, and degeneration of portions of the sympathetic pathway to the eye.
Horner's syndrome was observed following aortography by carotid catheterization in seven of sixteen cats. Changes persisted for 24 hr to 6 weeks. The aetiology appeared to be trauma to sympathetic fibres during dissection of the area for catheterization.
Résumé. Le syndrome de Horner est caracterisé par la ptose de la paupière supérieure, par l'iose et par l'énervation sympathique. On l'a decrit dans l'homme et dans les animaux par suite du trauma, de la neoplase et de la degenerescence de parties du sentier sympathique à l'oeil.
Le syndrome de Horner était observé à la suite d'aortographie par le sondage carotidien dans sept des seize chats. Les changements continuaient pendant vingtquatre heures à six semaines. L'aetiologie apparaissait d'etre le trauma à fibres sympathiques pendant le decoupage de l'aire pour le sondage.
Zusammenfassung. Das Syndrom von Horner wird durch die Ptose des oberen Augenlids, durch die lose und durch die Enophthalme gekennzeichnet und die Ursache ist sympathische Nervenentfernung. Man hat es in Mensch und in Tieren beschrieban, wie eine Folge von der Verletzung, von der Neoplasie und von der Kolloidentartung von Anteilen des sympathischen Laufstegs zum Augen.
Das Syndrom von Horner wird nach der Aortographie von Carotissondierung in sieben der sechszehn Katzen beobachtet. Die Veränderungen beharrten während vierundzwanzig Stunden bis sechs Wochen. Die Aetiologie erschien, die Verletzung zu den sympathischen Fasen während der Zerlegung des Areas für Sondierung, zu sein.     

Copper toxicity in confinement-housed ram lambs.

Fourteen Suffolk rams (6 mo) were diagnosed with chronic copper poisoning. Preliminary results indicated that a combination of serum aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase, and copper could be used as a test so that high risk lambs could be treated more aggressively.     

Evaluation of activation of protein kinase C during agonist-induced constriction of veins isolated from the laminar dermis of horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, on agonist-induced constriction of laminar arteries and veins obtained from horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: Laminar arteries and veins obtained from 8 adult mixed-breed horses. PROCEDURES: Laminar arteries and veins were isolated and mounted on small vessel myographs for the measurement of isometric tension. Concentration-response curves were then obtained for the vasoconstrictor agonists phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin F(2), and endothelin-1. All responses were measured with or without the addition of Ro-31-8220 (3 microM). RESULTS: Laminar veins were more sensitive to vasoconstrictor agonists than laminar arteries, and incubation of laminar veins with Ro-31-8220 resulted in significantly smaller agonist-induced contractile responses for all agonists tested. In contrast, Ro-31-8220 had no effect on agonist-induced contractile responses of laminar arteries. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the study were consistent with activation of PKC being confined to agonist-induced contraction of laminar veins isolated from the laminar dermis of horses. Consequently, the possible involvement of PKC in the venoconstriction observed during the development of laminitis is worthy of further investigation.     

Cephalosporin-induced changes in the ultrastructure of canine bone marrow

Fourteen healthy dogs were given 540 to 840 mg/kg of cefazedone (Refosporen) intravenously for up to 4 months or until peripheral blood cell count were depressed. Within 6 to 10 weeks treated dogs developed pancytopenia (5/14), thrombocytopenia (11/14), moderate to severe neutropenia (8/14), and/or normocytic anemia with erythroblastemia (8/14). Ultrastructural changes in bone marrow of severely cytopenic dogs included mitochondrial damage in hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, thickening of endosteal bone lining layers, increased adventitial coverage of vascular sinuses, and an increased number of active macrophages. Swollen, ruptured mitochondria were in erythroid, granulocytic, and megakaryocytic cells, and, to a lesser extent, in macrophages, reticular endothelial, and bone lining cells. Maturation arrest was evident in both erythroid and granulocytic cell lines. There was also evidence of ineffective erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. None of these changes were observed in bone marrow of controls, treated dogs that did not develop cytopenia, or dogs allowed to recover after cessation of dosing.     

Short-term aseptic loosening of the femoral component in canine total hip replacement: effects of cementing technique on cement mantle grade

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of different cementing techniques on radiographic cement mantle grade and short-term aseptic loosening of the femoral component in canine total hip replacement (THR). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Radiographs of 284 dogs that had THR. METHODS: Immediate postoperative radiographs of 284 dogs that had cemented THR were reviewed by 4 surgeons and 1 radiologist and assigned a cement mantle grade using a 4-grade classification system. Dog age and weight at surgery, cementing technique (1st, 2nd, 3rd generation), complications (type and timing), and follow-up time were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Mean cement mantle score for 2nd generation technique was significantly higher than 3rd generation technique and both were significantly higher than 1st generation technique (P<.001). Aseptic loosening was the 2nd most common complication observed with an incidence of 2.1%. Mean time from surgery to last follow-up examination was 122 days. No statistically significant difference in incidence of aseptic loosening was identified among different cement mantle grades or cementing techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced cementing techniques resulted in better cement mantles based on grading of immediate postoperative radiographs, however grading did not predict short-term aseptic loosening. Cementing technique seemingly did not affect the incidence of short-term aseptic loosening of the femoral component for dogs in this study. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our study suggests that advances in cementing technique may result in improvements in the radiographic grade of cement mantles. With respect to aseptic loosening of the femoral component, our data only suggest that short-term (3 months-3 years) loosening cannot be predicted by immediate postoperative radiographic evaluation of cement mantle.     

Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence rates and potential risk factors for vaccine-associated adverse events (VAAEs) diagnosed within 3 days of administration in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 1,226,159 dogs vaccinated at 360 veterinary hospitals. PROCEDURE: Electronic records from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2003, were searched for possible VAAEs (nonspecific vaccine reaction, allergic reaction, urticaria, or anaphylaxis) diagnosed within 3 days of vaccine administration. Information included age, weight, sex, neuter status, and breed. Specific clinical signs and treatments were reviewed in a random sample of 400 affected dogs. The association between potential risk factors and a VAAE was estimated by use of multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 4,678 adverse events (38.2/10,000 dogs vaccinated) were associated with administration of 3,439,576 doses of vaccine to 1,226,159 dogs. The VAAE rate decreased significantly as body weight increased. Risk was 27% to 38% greater for neutered versus sexually intact dogs and 35% to 64% greater for dogs approximately 1 to 3 years old versus 2 to 9 months old. The risk of a VAAE significantly increased as the number of vaccine doses administered per office visit increased; each additional vaccine significantly increased risk of an adverse event by 27% in dogs < or = 10 kg (22 lb) and 12% in dogs > 10 kg. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Young adult small-breed neutered dogs that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a VAAE within 72 hours after vaccination. These factors should be considered in risk assessment and risk communication with clients regarding vaccination.