Efficacy of three tourniquet types for intravenous antimicrobial regional limb perfusion in standing horses

Objective: To determine (1) if clinically useful concentrations of amikacin sulfate can be obtained in synovial fluid during regional limb perfusion (RLP) performed above the carpus in standing sedated horses and (2) to determine the efficacy of 3 tourniquet types (narrow rubber [NR], wide rubber [WR], pneumatic [PN]). Animals: Horses (n=9). Methods: Bilateral forelimb RLP with amikacin sulfate (2.5 g) were administered through the cephalic vein in standing sedated horses. Limbs were randomly assigned to the 3 tourniquet types (NR, WR, PN) applied above the carpus. Metacarpophalangeal synovial fluid was obtained 0.5 hour after perfusion. Amikacin concentration in the synovial fluid was detected using fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Results: Mean synovial concentrations of amikacin in the PN (mean 236 μg/mL; range 23–913 μg/mL) and WR (mean 64.2 μg/mL; range 7–315 μg/mL) were significantly higher (P=.000 and .032, respectively) than the NR tourniquet (mean 2.1 μg/mL; range 0.9–3.3 μg/mL). Conclusions: The PN tourniquet resulted in the highest synovial fluid amikacin concentrations in all horses, although administration with PN and WR tourniquets achieved adequate amikacin concentrations. NR tourniquet is ineffective and should not be used for RLP above the carpus in the standing horse.     

弯曲杆菌可以存在于家禽各器官中

弯曲杆菌污染是人类健康的一大威胁。通常认为该菌仅存在于肉鸡的胃肠道内。然而,美国的一项研究表明该菌也可以存在于其他内脏器官中,甚至存在于1日龄雏鸡体内。     

Serous cystadenoma in a normally cyclic mare with high plasma testosterone values

Serous cystadenoma was diagnosed by histologic examination of a large ovary removed from a 16-year-old Thoroughbred mare with normal estrous cycles. Palpation and ultrasound examination per rectum had revealed an excessive number of follicles in the right ovary. The ovulation fossa was palpable on the right ovary, and the left ovary appeared to have normal activity. Plasma testosterone values were high at the time of examination (0.15 ng/ml), but decreased to normal values (0.09 ng/ml) after removal of the cystadenoma.     

Use of dynamic compression plates for treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures in foals: nine cases (1980-1987)

The medical records of 9 foals less than 4 months old, with fracture of the tibial diaphysis, were reviewed. Open reduction was accomplished by use of 3 approaches; however, a cranial approach was preferred and was used in 7 foals. Two dynamic compression plates were implanted in all foals except the first of this series. The technique of plate luting was used in 7 foals and appeared to improve the ability of implants to resist failure. Complications after surgery included partial or complete failure of fracture fixation (n = 3 foals), osteomyelitis (n = 2 foals), angular limb deformity (n = 2 foals), minor dehiscence of the surgical wound (n = 3 foals), and mild extensor deficits of the injured limb (n = 4 foals). One foal was euthanatized 12 hours after surgery because of complete loss of fracture fixation. All other foals were discharged 10 to 295 days after surgery. One or both plates were subsequently removed in 7 foals. Follow-up information was obtained 6 to 36 months after discharge. Excellent results were reported for 6 foals, and good or fair results were reported for the remaining 2 foals.     

Experimental infection of dogs with Brucella abortus: effect of exposure dose on serologic responses and comparison of culture methods

Two studies of experimentally induced Brucella abortus infections in dogs are reported. Twenty dogs in experiment 1 were fed approximately 4.8 X 10(10) colony forming units of B. abortus strain 2308 (BA 2308), and 11 dogs in experiment 2 were fed approximately 3.4 X 10(14) BA 2308. Serum samples from each infected dog and noninfected control were tested on the day of infection and at weekly and biweekly intervals post-infection (PI) for antibodies to B. abortus. The standard tube agglutination (STA) and rivanol (RIV) mean log-titers of the infected dogs in the 2 experiments were compared statistically on the day of infection and on PI days 7, 14, 21, 35, 42 and 49. The STA and RIV titers of the infected dogs in experiment 2 were significantly higher than were those of the dogs in experiment 1. Brucella abortus was isolated from 29 infected dogs in experiments 1 and 2 including 10 dogs, which were seronegative when cultured.     

Conservative treatment of an incomplete longbone fracture of a hindlimb of four horses

Four horses with an incomplete fracture of a hindlimb longbone were examined. In two, the tibia had been fractured by external trauma. In the other two horses proximal metatarsal 3 had fractured during normal activity. The diagnoses were made radiographically and the horses were treated conservatively by box rest. The fractures healed satisfactorily and the horses became sound.     

Evaluation of plate luting, using an in vivo ovine osteotomy model

Bilateral, midshaft metacarpal osteotomies were performed in 11 sheep and bilateral, midshaft radial osteotomies were performed in 7 sheep. The lesions were repaired with bone plates. One of each pair of plates was luted with polymethylmethacrylate and all screws were tightened uniformly with a torque screwdriver. Sheep were allowed unrestricted exercise after surgery. At 8 weeks, 10 of 11 sheep with metacarpal osteotomies were sound and both osteotomies were healing. Seven were lame on the limb with the unluted plate during the first 3 weeks; 4 were never lame on either limb. The screws of the unluted plates were significantly (P less than 0.01) looser at 8 weeks than those in the luted plates. All of the sheep with radial osteotomies were lame in the limb with the unluted plate. Four of 7 sheep had overt loosening of the unluted plates. One sheep only had mild screw loosening with continued alignment of the osteotomy. Two of 7 sheep fractured the radius with the luted plate; these 2 sheep were lame in the limb with the unluted plate and were using the limb with the luted plate vigorously. Excluding the 2 sheep with fractures, all had substantially more screw loosening in the unluted plate. Histologically, there were no discernible differences in the vascularity or porosity of the bone under the luted vs the unluted plates. The only adverse consequence of the luting technique was introduction of a small amount of polymethylmethacrylate into the osteotomy gap in 5 bones.