Ultrasound therapy for the prevention and correction of contractures and bone mineral loss associated with wing bandaging in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia).

Figure-of-eight wing bandaging is widely used to treat wing injuries, to immobilize wings before and after fracture repair, and during transient wing paralysis. However, prolonged bandaging can lead to bone loss and to contractures and reduced range of joint motion. Studies evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound to reverse and prevent bandaging-associated contractures in pigeons (Columba livia) showed a significant increase in elbow and carpal extension after 10 twice weekly ultrasound treatments when started either 4 or 11 days after bandage placement. In addition, after 42 days of wing bandaging, three ultrasound treatments stimulated a faster reversal of carpal wing rotation loss than removal of the bandage over the 10-day treatment period. Finally, bone loss in response to 28 days of bandaging was significant, progressed at 2.8% per week, and was not affected by ultrasound treatment twice weekly during this period. Therefore, therapeutic ultrasound prevented and reversed loss of wing extension associated with figure-of-eight bandaging but did not lessen the disuse osteoporosis created by bandaging in these birds.     

The effect of different combinations of local anaesthesia,sedative and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on daily growth rates of dairy calves after disbudding

AIM: To assess the effect of sedation and local anaesthesia (LA) at disbudding, and the addition of meloxicam or ketoprofen treatment, on weight gain in dairy calves following disbudding.

METHODS: Friesian-Jersey cross calves, from four dairy farms, were enrolled when 3–6 weeks old. All calves (n=271) were disbudded by veterinary personnel and randomly assigned to six groups: 136 were disbudded without sedation or LA, of which 31 received 20 mg meloxicam S/C and 75 received 150 mg ketoprofen I/M. A further 135 were disbudded with sedation (0.25 mg/kg xylazine I/M) and LA, of which 30 also received meloxicam and 75 received ketoprofen. Calves were weighed 3 days before, and 15 and 30 days after, disbudding (Day 0). Daily weight gain was analysed using mixed models and ANOVA.

RESULTS: Complete results were obtained from 263 calves. From Day ?3 to Day 15, the growth rate of calves disbudded without pain relief (0.53 (95% CI=0.47–0.60) kg/day) was less that of calves disbudded with some form of pain relief (0.65 (95% CI=0.62–0.68) kg/d; p=0.004). There was no difference between the effect of meloxicam or ketoprofen (p=1.00). An interaction between use of sedation and LA and additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) meant that NSAID treatment did not increase growth rates in calves disbudded with sedation and LA but did increase growth rates for calves disbudded without pain relief (p<0.05). From Day 16 to Day 30 there was no effect of NSAID treatment on growth rate, but calves receiving LA and sedation grew faster (0.74 (95% CI=0.69–0.80) kg/day) than calves disbudded without LA and sedation (0.66 (95% CI=0.61–0.71) kg/day; p=0.018). From Day ?3 to Day 30, calves disbudded with sedation and LA grew faster (0.71 (95%CI=0.64–0.77) kg/day) than calves disbudded without sedation and LA (0.60 (95% CI=0.55–0.65) kg/day; p=0.011). However, addition of NSAID to sedation and LA made no further difference to growth rates (p=0.69).

CONCLUSIONS: Dairy calves disbudded with no pain relief had slower growth rates than calves receiving pain relief. From Day 15 to 30 calves given no pain relief, or NSAID alone, grew more slowly than those receiving sedation and LA at disbudding. The addition of NSAID treatment to sedation and LA did not further increase growth rates.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study adds to the evidence that pain management when disbudding is beneficial for calf productivity as well as calf welfare.     

An epizootic of bovine ephemeral fever in New South Wales in 2008 associated with long-distance dispersal of vectors

Objective To report the rapid transmission of bovine ephemeral fever ( BEF) virus from north-western New South Wales south to the Victorian border in January 2008 and to present data that suggests an uncommon meteorological event caused this rapid southward dispersal of vectors. Procedure The locations of reported clinical cases, data from sentinel herds and results from a survey of cattle in the southern affected area were examined to delineate the distribution of virus transmission. Synoptic weather charts for January 2008 were examined for meteorological conditions that may have favoured movement of vectors in a southerly direction. Results Cases of BEF and exposure to BEF virus in NSW were confirmed west of the Great Dividing Range, extending from the Queensland border to Finley, on the far North Coast and around the Hunter Valley. A low-pressure system moved south across the state on 18–19 January 2008, preceding the first cases of BEF in the south of NSW by 1–2 days. Conclusion Heavy rainfall in December 2007 provided a suitable environment for vector breeding, resulting in the initiation of and support for continuing BEF virus transmission in north-western NSW. The movement of a low-pressure system south across central western NSW in mid-January 2008 after the commencement of BEF virus transmission in the north-west of the state provided a vehicle for rapid southward movement of infected vectors.     

Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Induced Tendinopathy in Horses: Histologic Evaluation

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the treatment of tendinopathy induced in the superficial digital flexor tendon (TFDS) of horses, by using histologic evaluation. Six healthy crossbred geldings aged 8 to 15 years (12 ± 3) were used. The TFDS tendinopathy was provoked in both forelimbs, by intratendinous administration of 2.5 mg collagenase (2.5 mg/mL), and this procedure was considered as the beginning of the experimental phase. At 12 days after induction of the tendinopathy, the animals were subjected to the following treatments: (1) in the lesion caused in the right superficial digital flexor tendon (PRP-treated group), 2.5 mL PRP activated with calcium chloride at 0.0125 mol/L at concentrations from 320,000 to 500,000 platelets/μL, were injected; (2) in the tendinopathy of the left SDFT (control group), 2.5 mL 0.9% saline solution was administrated. Thirty-six days after the treatments, a biopsy of the injured area was performed for histologic evaluation. In both groups, the histologic analysis showed an increase in the fibroblastic density, as well as the presence of neovascularization, lymphocytes, and plasmocytes infiltrate and tissue organization at variable intensity. In the PRP-treated group, the SDFT was more organized, with the collagen fibers and fibroblasts being better arranged on the tendon matrix. The numbers of the fibroblasts and blood vessels did not differ between the groups. Histologic evaluation 36 days after tendinopathy showed that injuries under a single PRP treatment present a more uniform and organized tissue repair when compared with the control group.     

Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation on the European Eel Sperm Viability and Spermatozoa Morphology

The main objective of the present work was to study the effect of cryopreservation of European eel sperm both on the sperm viability and the spermatozoa head morphology. Spermatozoa morphology was evaluated with computer-assisted morphology analysis after collection in fresh samples, after adding the freezing medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide as cryoprotectant and, finally, after the cryopreservation process and thawing. Cell viability was assessed, in both fresh and thawed samples, by Hoechst 33258 staining. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to determine the percentage of motile cells and to measure motility parameters in sperm samples. A significant decrease of head perimeter (12.56%) and area (17.90%) was detected from spermatozoa in fresh to thawed samples, indicating that cells do not recover the original size after the cryopreservation process. CASA was used to measure the percentage of motile cells (51.9%) and spermatozoa motility parameters such as curvilinear, straight line and angular path velocities, as well as beating cross frequency. This technique was employed in the fresh sperm samples but proteins present at the freezing medium (L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine) made impossible to use this last technique in thawed samples. When sperm viability was assessed by Hoechst staining, a significant decrease of approximately 15% (73.10 vs 58.26%) of alive spermatozoa was registered from fresh to thawed samples. The percentage of motile cells measured by CASA in fresh samples (51.9%) was lower than the percentage of alive cells determined by Hoechst stainning, suggesting the existence of different batches of spermatozoa in different stages of development, even during the eight to tenth weeks of treatment, when the highest sperm quality was found.     

Urate nephrolithiasis in a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).

Nephrolithiasis has rarely been reported in marine mammals. During 2004 and 2005, two cases of nephrolithiasis were diagnosed during routine necropsy examination, one in a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and one in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Nephroliths were found throughout both kidneys during necropsy examination, varying in size from 1-10 mm in diameter in the northern elephant seal and from 1-15 mm in diameter in the California sea lion. Necropsy and histopathology revealed nephroliths in association with renal pelvic dilation and pyelonephritis in both animals. In addition, hydronephrosis was noted in the sea lion. Nephroliths were composed of uric acid and ammonium urate in the northern elephant seal and of ammonium urate in the California sea lion. The underlying disease leading to nephrolith formation was not determined; however, it is hypothesized that unknown metabolic derangements due to morphologic or physiologic differences may have played a role. This is the first report of urate nephrolithiasis in the California sea lion and northern elephant seal.     

Phycomyces sporangiophores: fungal stretch receptors

The application of mechanical force to the sporangiophore of Phycomyces elicits a transient growth response. The immediate stimulus may be the deformation of the sporangiophore under the applied force. Compression of the cell causes an interval of faster growth, and extension causes an interval of slower growth.     

Dietary management of renal senescence and failure in dogs

SUMMARY The need for dietary management of renal senescence and the beginning of chronic renal failure should be evaluated in all middle-aged dogs. One survey found that 35% were overweight and 10% underweight; another that 25% were mildly azotaemic, with 5% showing slight clinical signs of chronic renal failure. Dogs in prime condition or overweight are candidates for a diet low in energy (for example 3.0–3.3 kcal/g dry matter, DM), but thin dogs need a higher caloric density (such as 4.0–4.5 kcal/g DM). Healthy older dogs need higher dietary protein than the minimum for maintenance (about 20% on a metabolisable energy basis, ME) of young mature dogs. Thin older dogs showing signs of renal insufficiency may benefit from moderate protein and near-minimal phosphorus in the diet. In dogs with chronic renal failure, clinical, haematological and biochemical responses to the combination of low protein (13–16% ME) and low phosphorus (0.4% DM) were positive in one clinical trial but not in three others. Only beneficial responses, such as less proteinuria, less renal impairment and lower mortality, have been reported for diets containing low phosphorus and moderate protein (20–31% ME). Individual dietary goals for energy, protein and phosphorus should be chosen for each middle-aged or older dog; these goals may be met by a single product or mixtures of products.