Pathological classification of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy

Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN) is a highly prevalent and predominantly left‐sided, degenerative disorder of the recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLn) of tall horses, that causes inspiratory stridor at exercise because of intrinsic laryngeal muscle paresis. The associated laryngeal dysfunction and exercise intolerance in athletic horses commonly leads to surgical intervention, retirement or euthanasia with associated financial and welfare implications. Despite speculation, there is a lack of consensus and conflicting evidence supporting the primary classification of RLN, as either a distal (“dying back”) axonopathy or as a primary myelinopathy and as either a (bilateral) mononeuropathy or a polyneuropathy; this uncertainty hinders etiological and pathophysiological research. In this review, we discuss the neuropathological changes and electrophysiological deficits reported in the RLn of affected horses, and the evidence for correct classification of the disorder. In so doing, we summarize and reveal the limitations of much historical research on RLN and propose future directions that might best help identify the etiology and pathophysiology of this enigmatic disorder.     

Multiresidue HPLC methods for phenyl urea herbicides in water

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for the determination of phenyl urea herbicides in water are described. The target compounds include chlortoluron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, linuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monuron, neburon, and siduron. Water was subjected to solid phase extraction (SPE) using either automated SPE with 47 mm C(18) Empore disks or on-line precolumn concentration. Herbicides were separated on a C(18) reversed phase column with an acetonitile-water gradient and were detected with either a diode array detector (DAD) or a postcolumn photolysis and derivatization (PPD) detector system. Photolysis converted the phenyl ureas to monoalkylamines that were derivatized to fluorescent isoindoles by reaction with o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol. The DAD monitoring at 245 nm was linear over three decades with instrument detection limits of approximately 0.01 mg/L. SPE efficiency was between 48 and 70% in laboratory reagent water, but use of the internal standard quantitation method improved accuracy. High total dissolved solids and total organic carbon values in surface water improved recoveries relative to laboratory reagent water for all of the phenyl ureas. In Colorado River water spiked at 1 or 50 microg/L, mean recoveries ranged from 74 to 104%. Method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 4 to 40 ng/L (parts per trillion) with the DAD instrument. PPD detection was highly specific but resulted in a slight loss in chromatographic efficiency and average MDLs approximately 5 times higher using a single set of detection conditions. The study indicates that methods based on SPE followed by HPLC with diode array or PPD detection have practical utility for trace analysis of phenyl ureas in drinking water or surface waters.     

Concentrations of Prolactin, LH, Testosterone, TSH and Thyroxine in Normospermic Dogs of Different Breeds

Concentrations of prolactin (PRL), LH, testosterone (T), TSH and thyroxine (T₄) were determined before and at 20, 120 and 180 min after a single iv injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in eight Beagles, eight Fox Terriers, six Labrador Retrievers and five Great Danes that were normospermic. Mean basal PRL concentrations were lower in the Fox Terriers compared with the Great Danes (p < 0.05). Mean LH concentrations were higher in the Fox Terriers than in the Beagles, and T was lower in the Fox Terriers at some times but not others (p < 0.05). Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) concentrations did not differ among breeds, while mean basal T₄ values were lower in Fox Terriers compared with Labrador Retrievers and Great Danes (p < 0.05). Stimulation of T₄ secretion 120 and 180 min after iv TRH injection was most pronounced in the Beagles and less in the Fox Terriers (p < 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that potential breed differences in circulating concentrations of PRL, LH, T, TSH and T₄ in male dogs with apparently normal fertility can be encountered, but further studies are needed to determine whether the observed differences are typical features of these breeds, reflect subsets of dogs within breeds, or are in part because of possible uncontrolled parameters such as sample timing, ambient photoperiod, housing conditions or diet.     

Electrospray liquid chromatography quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry determination of phenyl urea herbicides in water.

Phenyl urea herbicides were determined in water by electrospray quadrupole ion trap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ES-QIT-LC-MS). Over a wide concentration range [M - H](-) and MH(+) ions were prominent in ES spectra. At high concentrations dimer and trimer ions appeared, and sodium, potassium, and ammonium adducts also were observed. In the case of isopturon, source collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation with low offset voltages increased the ion current associated with MH(+) and diminished dimer and trimer ion abundance. In the mass analyzer CID involved common pathways, for example, daughter ions of [M - H](-) resulted from loss of R(2)NH in N',N'-dialkyl ureas or loss of C(3)H(5)NO(2) (87 amu) in N'-methoxy ureas. A 2 mm (i.d.) x 15 cm C(18) reversed phase column was used for LC-MS with a linear methanol/water gradient and 0.5 mL/min flow rate. Between 1 and 100 pg/microg/L the response was highly linear with instrument detection limits ranging from <10 to 50 pg injected. Whereas the positive ES signal intensity was greater for each of the compounds except fluometuron, negative ion monitoring gave the highest signal-to-noise ratio. Analysis of spiked Colorado River water, a source high in total dissolved solids and total organic carbon, demonstrated that ES-QIT-LC-MS was routinely capable of quantitative analysis at low nanogram per liter concentrations in conjunction with a published C(18) SPE method. Under these conditions experimental method detection limits were between 8.0 and 36 ng/L, and accuracy for measurements in the 20-50 parts per trillion range was from 77 to 96%. Recoveries were slightly lower in surface water (e.g., 39-76%), possibly due to suppression of ionization.     

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of antihistamine-adrenergic combination products: collaborative study

A reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatographic method in which ion-pairing is used for the determination of combinations of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride with triprolidine hydrochloride or chlorpheniramine maleate in syrups and tablets was collaboratively studied by 8 laboratories. Collaborators were supplied with 12 samples including synthetic and commercial syrup formulations and commercial tablet composites. Mean recoveries of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride from synthetic syrup formulations were 100.5 and 99.6%, respectively. Mean recoveries of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and chlorpheniramine maleate from synthetic syrups were 98.8 and 100.5%, respectively. Mean coefficients of variation for syrups and tablets ranged from 1.68 to 3.07% for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, from 2.92 to 3.85% for triprolidine hydrochloride, and from 1.34 to 2.15% for chlorpheniramine maleate. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Impacts of major health conditions affecting the Australian sheepmeat value chain: a review

Major health conditions in sheep contribute to substantial economic losses throughout the sheepmeat supply chain in Australia. A systematic review was undertaken to explore the measurable impact of six conditions: arthritis, sheep measles, pleurisy, pneumonia, grass seeds and rib fractures, on the production of lamb and mutton across the meat value chain. Peer‐reviewed scientific literature from three databases and non‐peer‐reviewed articles and reports from Australian government and non‐government websites were searched between 11 and 17 November 2019. Original articles, including studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand, that had measurable impacts on conditions of interest were included. The search yielded 16 articles and reports and were classified as producer impact and/or processor impact studies. Mortalities were quantified for pneumonia and arthritis, with pneumonia having the highest impact for producers. Grass seed infestation resulted in the highest impact on carcase and liveweight losses compared to arthritis and pneumonia. Arthritis had the highest trim weight losses for both lamb and mutton and the highest rate of carcase condemnation. Grass seed was the only condition where other impacts on the processor (chain speed and staff relocation to the boning room) were quantified. Although quantifiable production and processing losses were available for some conditions, this review has highlighted that limited quantifiable data based on scientifically sound research were not available for other conditions. The evidence for some conditions found in this review can be used to target future research activities and to further assist producers in making informed management decisions on prevention and control.     

The use of toltrazuril for the prevention of coccidiosis in piglets before weaning

SUMMARY: To determine the efficacy of toltrazuril as a prophylactic treatment for coccidiosis in piglets caused by Isospora suis (I suis) , a single 1.0 mL dose of toltrazuril was administered orally to 1056 piglets between 3 and 6 days of age, in 5 piggeries. Prophylactic treatment of piglets reduced the occurrence of coccidiosis in litters from 71% to 22%. The number of antibacterial treatments given and the number of piglets affected per litter were also significantly reduced, resulting in some improvement in growth rates to weaning. The severity of diarrhoea was significantly reduced, as was the amount of oocyst excretion. The number of days that piglets excreted oocysts in the faeces was reduced from 4.9 days to 2.5 days. The detection of J suis in piglets with diarrhoea was reduced from 84% in the untreated piglets to 6% in the piglets given the prophylactic treatment.