Surgical treatment of osteomyelitis and sequestration of the ilium by a cranial partial hemipelvectomy in an alpaca cria

A 12-week-old female alpaca cria weighing 10 kg presented with a 2-month history of left hindlimb lameness associated with osteomyelitis and sequestration of the shaft and wing of the left ilium. The affected segment of the ilium was surgically removed. Bacteriological culture revealed a small number of mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The cria recovered well, was discharged from the hospital 8 days after surgery and was paddock sound without complications 8 months later. Osteomyelitis and sequestration of long bones has been reported in alpacas, but further investigation is necessary to define the prevalence and pathogenesis and to develop specific recommendations for prevention and treatment.     

Evaluation of Cheetah and Leopard Spermatozoa Developmental Capability after Interspecific ICSI with Domestic Cat Oocytes

The ICSI procedure is potentially of great value for felids, and it has not been extensively studied in these species. The objectives of this work were to determine the best conditions for ICSI in the domestic cat (DC) to generate interspecific embryos by injecting cheetah (Ch) and leopard (Leo) spermatozoa. Firstly, DC oocytes were matured with insulin–transferrin–selenium (ITS) or without it (MM) and cultured using atmospheric (21%) or low (5%) oxygen tension after ICSI. The group ITS‐5%O₂ showed the highest blastocyst rate (p < 0.05), 20.9% vs 8.7%, 7% and 6.5%, for MM‐21%O₂, MM‐5%O₂ and ITS‐21%O₂, respectively. The best conditions were used to generate the interspecific embryos, together with ionomycin activation (Io) after ICSI. Interspecific embryos resulted in high rates of blastocysts that were not positively affected by Io activation: 32.6% vs 21% for Ch and Ch‐Io, 9.8% vs 21% for Leo and Leo‐Io, and 20% vs 17.4% for DC and DC‐Io. We also evaluated DNA‐fragmented nuclei of experiment 1 and 2 blastocysts, using TUNEL assay. The fragmented nucleus proportion was higher in the ITS‐5%O₂ group, 67.6%. Surprisingly, interspecific blastocysts showed the lowest fragmented nucleus proportion: 27% and 29.9% for Ch and Leo, respectively. We concluded that ITS and 5%O₂ improve blastocyst formation in DC, although with a concomitant increase in DNA fragmentation. Most importantly, cheetah and leopard spermatozoa were able to generate blastocysts without artificial activation, which suggests that developmental capacity of wild felid spermatozoa can be evaluated by interspecific ICSI. This technique should be used to assist wild felid reproduction.     

The effect of three different doses of sodium pentosan polysulphate on haematological and haemostatic variables in adult horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of three different doses of sodium pentosan polysulphate (PPS) on haematological and haemostatic variables in adult horses. DESIGN: Eight adult standardbred horses were used. All horses received a single injection of 0, 3, 6, and 10 mg/kg of PPS at the beginning of each treatment week for 4 weeks so that by the end of the study all horses had received all four doses of PPS. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 168 h after each weekly injection of PPS. Variables measured were packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, white cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, eosinophil count, monocyte count, serum protein, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Data were analysed using an ANOVA. Significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a dose-dependent increase in PTT. A significant increase in PTT occurrred in all treatment groups when compared to horses receiving 0 mg/kg in which there was no change over time. The PTT values all returned to baseline by 48 h after treatment. The mean neutrophil count was higher 3 h after treatment when compared to time 0. Horses receiving 3 mg/kg of PPS had a higher lymphocyte count 4 h after injection, and those receiving 6 and 10 mg/kg had higher counts at 3,4,6 and 8 h after injection when compared to time 0. At 8 h after injection horses receiving 6 and 10 mg PPS had higher lymphocyte counts than horses not receiving PPS. CONCLUSIONS: PPS causes a dose-dependent prolongation of PTT in horses. At the dose rates currently recommended for treatment of joint problems in horses this increase was small and remained elevated from baseline for up to 24 h. Based on these findings doses of PPS up to 3 mg/kg should not be administered to horses within 24 h of high stress activities or where physical injury may occur.     

Characterizinig Precipitation Chemistry in Changhua, Central Taiwan Using Weather Conditions And Multivariate Analysis

Few studies of atmospheric deposition come from the fast growing region of Southeast Asia. Precipitation in Changhua City in central Taiwan was collected to examine its chemical composition and relationship with meteorological patterns. Fifty percent of the precipitation measurements had pH<5.0. Deposition fluxes of most ions were comparable to that reported for heavily industrialized temperate regions. Storms associated with air masses which originated in China had higher ion concentrations than other storms, suggesting substantial contribution of long-range transport. Two factors, a sea salt factor and an anthropogenic factor, explained more than 70% of the variation in precipitation chemistry. A third factor had a high loading only on H⁺, suggesting that pH of precipitation in Changhua City was not dominated only by acidic or basic ions alone. Instead it is determined by all components. The influences of soil and dust, as indicated by high loading on Ca²⁺ and K⁺, cannot be recognized without sea salt correction.     

The distribution and prevalence of Theileria buffeli in cattle in Queensland

The distribution and prevalence of Thelleria buffeli in Queensland cattle were investigated using serum samples and blood films collected primarily for brucellosis surveillance and tick fever diagnosis. Serums from 8654 cattle from 357 farms throughout Queensland were examined by an indirect fluorescent antibody test for antibody to T buffeli. In addition, 347 peripheral blood films collected from 147 farms in south-eastern Queensland were examined for piroplasms of T buffeli. The overall herd and animal prevalences for T buffeli were 75% and 41%, respectively. There was significant variation among regions in both herd and animal prevalences (P less than 0.001). Herd and animal prevalences were highest in the north and east decreasing westward. The results indicate that T buffeli is more widespread in Queensland than previously thought.     

Naturally occurring antihormones: secretion of FSH antagonists by women treated with a GnRH analog

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a glycoprotein essential for gonadal development and steroidogenesis. Recent studies suggest that deglycosylation of FSH results in the formation of antagonistic proteins that are capable of binding to gonadal receptors but that are devoid of bioactivity. Treatment of hypogonadal women with an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone substantially decreased serum FSH bioactivity with minimal changes in immunoreactivity. Chromatofocusing and size fractionation of the serum samples indicated the secretion of immunoreactive FSH isoforms that are devoid of bioactivity but that are capable of blocking FSH action in ovarian granulosa cells. These findings provide the first demonstration of naturally occurring circulating antihormones. These FSH antagonists may play an important role in the physiology and pathophysiology of the gonads.