Comparison of bacteria isolated from specimens obtained by use of endoscopic guarded tracheal swabbing and percutaneous tracheal aspiration in horses

Results of bacteriologic culture of specimens obtained from 14 horses with pneumonia and from 15 horses that were clinically healthy (nonpneumonia group) were compared. Specimens were obtained by use of an endoscopic guarded tracheal swabbing method and percutaneous tracheal aspiration. The percentage of agreement between the 2 tracheal specimens for the horses of the pneumonia group was 79% for aerobic isolates and 100% for anaerobic isolates. The percentage of agreement between results of the 2 tracheal specimens for horses of the nonpneumonia group was 80% for aerobic organisms and 93% for anaerobic organisms. The endoscopic guarded swabbing method described here for obtaining specimens from the lower airways for bacteriologic culture did not always prevent contamination. Results of the study suggested that this endoscopic swabbing technique has merit and should be considered as an alternative to the tracheal aspiration method. Pseudomonas sp and any anaerobic bacteria that are isolated must be viewed as potential contaminants of the endoscopic swab specimen and may not be involved in the primary pulmonary disease.     

Pharmacokinetics of etomidate in cats

Pharmacokinetic variables of etomidate were determined after IV administration of etomidate (3.0 mg/kg of body weight). Blood samples were collected for 6 hours. Disposition of this carboxylated imidazole best conformed to a 2- (n = 2) and a 3- compartment (n = 4) open pharmacokinetic model. The pharmacokinetic values were calculated for the overall best-fitted model, characterized as a mixed 2- and 3-compartmental model. The first and most rapid distribution half-life was 0.05 hour and a second distribution half-life was 0.35 hour. Elimination half-life was 2.89 hours, apparent volume of distribution was 11.87 +/- 4.64 L/kg, apparent volume of distribution at steady state was 4.88 +/- 2.25 L/kg, apparent volume of the central compartment was 1.17 +/- 0.70 L/kg, and total clearance was 2.47 +/- 0.78 L/kg/h.     

Antibiotic susceptibilities of Salmonella species isolated at a large animal veterinary medical center: a three year study.

The antibiograms of 408 Salmonella species isolated from large animals were collected during a three year study from 1981 through 1983. The predominant Salmonella serogroup among these isolates was group B. A consistently high percentage of all isolates were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline. A pattern of increasing resistance to chloramphenicol and gentamicin was documented for serogroup B isolates while the susceptibility of the isolates to neomycin increased. There was a decrease in the incidence of susceptibility to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim among the group E isolates. These changes were not as remarkable, nor as alarming, as the overall decreased susceptibility to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. An evaluation of the principles concerning use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine for treatment of Salmonella infections is recommended.     

Equine neonatal septicaemia: 24 cases

Equine neonatal septicaemia was confirmed in 24 foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1989 and 1992 with suspected septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed by culture of bacteria from blood of live foals and tissues obtained at necropsy of foals that died or were euthanased. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were predominantly Enterobacteriaceae (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella serovars) and Actinobacillus equuli. Clinical manifestations of septicaemia included signs of depression, dehydration, abnormalities in body temperature and manifestations of localised infection including diarrhoea, pneumonia, and septic arthritis. Most common haemato-logical abnormalities were neutropenia and increase of circulating band neutrophils. Survival rate of foals with confirmed septicaemia was 70.8%. Survival was found to be less likely in the presence of pneumonia, severe signs of depression, marked haematological changes or septic arthritis at the time of admission. Seven foals were confirmed to have septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia. Of these, 4 had multiple joint involvement. Bacteria isolated from infected joints were predominantly Salmonella serovars. Four foals with septic arthritis failed to survive, due to multiple joint infection, which was unresponsive to treatment. The clinical and haematological abnormalities present in foals with confirmed septicaemia and septic arthritis were consistent with those observed in other studies. The bacterial isolates from foals with confirmed septicaemia were similar to those isolated in other studies. In contrast, the bacteria isolated from foals with septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia were different from other studies.     

CT FEATURES OF ALVEOLITIS AND SINUSITIS IN HORSES

Sinusitis is a common disorder in horses and may result from trauma, dental diseases, or space-occupying lesions. Radiography can only provide a limited amount of information. Computed tomography (CT) has been documented as an alternative imaging method. Eighteen horses (mostly Warmblood) with signs of chronic sinusitis were examined preoperatively with CT to assist in diagnosis of the underlying cause. There was a group of common CT features in horses with dental disease and sinusitis. The first molar was the most frequently affected maxillary cheek tooth. Hypoattenuation of the cementum, destruction of the enamel, and filling of the infundibular cavity with gas were the most frequent CT findings associated with caries. Gas bubbles within the bulging root area or fragmentation of the root in combination with swelling of the adjacent sinus lining were the most important CT features of dental decay. CT findings associated with sinusitis included excessive thickening of the respiratory epithelium in the rostral maxillary sinus; the caudal maxillary sinus was less often involved. The infraorbital canal, the nasomaxillary duct, and the frontomaxillary aperture were usually involved. The maxillary bone, however, especially the facial crest, was involved in nearly every horse, being characterized by endosteal sclerosis, thickening, periosteal reaction, and deformation leading to facial swelling in chronic infections. CT images allowed identification of involvement of individual teeth more clearly to reveal the diseased one for treatment. Three-dimensional imaging allowed improved understanding of the extent and severity of the pathologic change.     

Progressive ethmoidal haematoma in horses

Progressive ethmoidal haematoma was diagnosed in 12 Thoroughbreds, 1 part- Arab and 1 stock horse. Ages ranged from 3 to 18 years and both males and females were affected. Diagnosis was based on history, clinical signs, endoscopic and radiographic findings, and was confirmed histologically in 10 cases. Eleven (78%) of the lesions were unilateral and 3 (22%) were bilateral. Two horses were euthanased on diagnosis, 4 were treated conservatively. Of the latter, 3 were euthanased 6 to 24 months after diagnosis, due to progression of the lesions, while 1 case resolved completely within 13 months. Eight horses were treated by surgical excision of the lesion. Three died in the post-operative period, 3 were euthanased within 48 months after recurrence of the condition, and 2 had no recurrence within 60 and 72 months, respectively.     

Adrenalectomy of sheep: a novel technique

A rapid technique for adrenalectomy of sheep was developed. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed in a single stage operation by inducing ischaemia with latex rings of the type used commonly for the castration of lambs and calves. The success of the technique was demonstrated by failure of exogenous ACTH to increase circulating cortisol concentrations. Adrenal steroid replacement was used to maintain the sheep during the post-operative period (cortisol 0.25 mg.kg^-1, deoxycorticosterone acetate 0.05 mg.kg^-1). Adrenalectomised sheep were maintained for up to 20 days without glucocorticoid, provided a lowered dose of mineralocorticoid was administered (0.04 mg.kg^-1***day^-1). Adrenalectomised sheep had significantly (P < 0.007) lower packed cell volume (23.75%) than normal sheep (31.24%), across a broad range of cortisol concentrations (0 to 734 ng/mL), indicating that plasma cortisol may not reflect true blood concentrations when drawing comparisons between adrenalectomised and normal sheep.     

Using the Tools of the Information Age to Enhance Research and Management of the Southern Pine Beetle

The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is a major pest in southern U.S.A., Mexico, and Central America. Enormous resources in terms of funding, personnel, and effort have been allocated for research and development of pest management tools for this pest over the past century. Access to information from journal articles, reports, fact sheets, etc. does require some effort and is often incomplete and difficult to obtain. The emergence of the Internet now allows rapid access to information from diverse sources. We have created a comprehensive website entitled, 'The Southern Pine Beetle Internet Control Center' (SPBICC) (www.spbicc.vt.edu). The goal of the site is to provide all available resources on SPB to anyone with access to the Internet. It is also designed to increase communication among researchers and professionals to help advance the management of this pest. The site is interactive, which permits constant updating without contacting a webmaster. Attributes of the site include background information in the form of fact sheets, reviews, and government handbooks; an interactive diagnostic identification key for SPB and other bark beetles; a searchable expertise directory; a calendar of SPB-related events; a discussion forum; an online SPB spot growth predictive model; a searchable bibliographic database; a webcrawler designed to search for SPB-related websites, and more. Web-based tools were developed to integrate relational databases as the functional base of this site. The dynamic nature of the SPBICC makes it a powerful tool and a model for development of websites for other major agricultural or forest pests.