Comparison of postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy by harmonic scalpel-assisted laparoscopy compared with median celiotomy and ligation in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy by harmonic scalpel-assisted laparoscopy (HALO) and traditional ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, blinded, prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Sixteen, purpose-bred, intact female, Beagle dogs. METHODS: Dogs were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (8 dogs), which had OVH by HALO, and Group 2 (8 dogs), which had traditional OVH. Physiologic data, abdominal nociceptive threshold scores, and University of Melbourne pain scores (UMPS) were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Blood samples for measurement of plasma cortisol, glucose, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) concentrations were collected at the time of the incision, and 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. RESULTS: No significant surgical complications occurred. The HALO mean surgical time was significantly longer (55.7 minutes) than traditional OVH (31.7 minutes). No significant differences were observed between groups for the pain measures of heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, CPK, and glucose concentrations. The OVH group had significantly higher mean plasma cortisol levels at hour 2 after surgery than the HALO group (P=.0001). The mean UMPS were significantly higher in OVH than the HALO group at all postoperative times (P=.0001). The mean nociceptive threshold measurements revealed significantly higher tolerated palpation pressures in HALO than OVH at all postoperative times, except hour 72 (P=.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Dogs appeared to be in less pain with HALO than OVH. The harmonic scalpel coagulated ovarian and uterine vessels completely with minimal collateral damage to surrounding tissues. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HALO is a safe alternative to OVH and offers a minimally invasive and less painful method of surgery.     

Assessment of infectious organisms associated with chronic rhinosinusitis in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine detection rates for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), Mycoplasma spp, fungi, and bacteria in flush samples and biopsy specimens from the nasal cavities of cats with and without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 10 CRS-affected cats and 7 cats without signs of respiratory tract disease. PROCEDURES: Nasal flush samples and biopsy specimens were collected from all cats for bacterial (aerobic and anaerobic), fungal, and mycoplasmal cultures; additional biopsy specimens were collected for virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (to detect FHV-1 DNA). RESULTS: Aerobic bacteria were detected in flush samples from 5 of 7 control cats; culture of flush samples from CRS-affected cats yielded aerobic bacteria (9/10 cats), anaerobic bacteria (3/10), and Mycoplasma spp (2/10). No fungal organisms were isolated from any cat. Potential pathogens were isolated significantly more often from CRS-affected cats than from control cats. Bacterial culture of biopsy specimens yielded aerobic bacteria (2/7 control cats and 4/10 CRS-affected cats) and anaerobic bacteria (2/10 CRS-affected cats). Although FHV-1 was not detected in nasal biopsy specimens from control or CRS-affected cats, FHV-1 DNA was detected via PCR assay in specimens from 4 of 7 control cats and 3 of 10 CRS-affected cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with findings in control cats, anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma spp, and a variety of potentially pathogenic organisms were detected more commonly in samples from cats with CRS. In both groups, FHV-1 was detected via PCR assay as a nonviable organism or in noncultivable amounts.     

Locomotive disorders associated with sow mortality in Danish pig herds

Given the increase in sow mortality in Danish pig herds over the last 10 years, we have investigated the causes of spontaneous death and killing of sows, especially those due to locomotive disorders. A total of 265 culled sows (93 spontaneously dead sows and 172 killed sows) from 10 different herds were sent for complete necropsy, and grouped according to primary diagnoses. From 35 of these sows, tissue for histological evaluation and samples for bacteriological cultivation were also collected, and secondary diagnoses and body condition were recorded. The main causes for killing were related to the locomotive system (72%), arthritis (24%) and fractures (16%) being the most frequent lesions. The main causes of spontaneous death were related to the gastrointestinal system and spleen (45%) and the reproductive system (24%). Arthrosis was a secondary diagnosis in 88% of the killed sows and in 92.5% of the spontaneously dead sows. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was the main cause of arthritis. The killed sows had significantly lower body condition compared with spontaneously dead sows. The first two parities and the time around farrowing were associated with the highest mortality in both groups. Hopefully, these observations can guide breeding units attempting to monitor, control and reduce sow mortality.     

Methods for population-based herd sanitation: an overview

There is a considerable number of methods available for the development, maintenance and surveillance of specific-pathogen-free herds. The selection of a method for a specific remediation project is primarily dependent on the goal, the epidemiology of the agent to be eradicated, the feasibility and the available resources. At the beginning of the remediation programme, methods are required for the classification of the herd status. Clinical and analytical diagnostic tests may be used for individual herds or in an entire area. The interpretation of test results applied within a population deserves special attention. A series of techniques are available - alone or in combination - to remediate a herd that was classified as being infected: systematic treatment, vaccination, elimination of infected individual animals ("test and remove"), partial depopulation or total population (stamping out). These strategies are typically accompanied by cleaning and disinfection. After the remediation, the status of the herd needs to be certified and maintained. For the documentation of the status, monitoring and surveillance strategies such as clinical follow-up visits, notification systems and random sampling can be applied. When planning random surveys, statistical and epidemiological considerations are relevant. For the sustainable maintenance of the pathogen-free status, biosecurity measures at the individual farm level, but also broader approaches such as import restrictions, early warning systems and surveillance programmes are needed. General awareness regarding unusual clinical signs needs to be promoted among farmers and veterinarians. The longer a disease or an agent is absent from a herd or region, the lower becomes the risk awareness. In such a situation, mistakes can occur leading to an increased risk of re-infection.     

The persistence of Brucella melitensis in experimentally infected ewes through three reproductive cycles

The authors studied the persistence of infection in 46 ewes experimentally infected with Brucella melitensis biovar 3 and monitored through three subsequent reproductive cycles. The entire experimental period lasted for 151 weeks. Infection of ewes and elimination of Brucella in milk, or its presence in vaginal discharges, persisted throughout the duration of the trial, as demonstrated by recurrent elimination of Brucella in milk and vaginal discharges. Brucella melitensis was recovered from the tissues of one ewe killed at the end of the trial. The strain was recovered from vaginal swabs and milk following parturition in the third reproductive cycle from an ewe that had aborted in the first cycle but was not pregnant in the second cycle. From a public health point of view, the periodical recovery of Brucella from the milk during the entire trial period illustrated that brucellosis in sheep remains a continuous occupational risk and a significant public health problem for consumers of fresh milk and milk products. That risk may persist for at least 3 years following the initial infection of the flock. Lamb antibody titres became negative in all lambs within 5 months after birth. This suggested that serological tests on lambs may have no practical diagnostic significance if performed during the first 5 months of life. Nevertheless, the birth of three infected lambs suggested that the phenomenon of latent carrier state may represent another way for B. melitensis to persist in a flock.     

Effect of amount and source of supplemental dietary vegetable oil on broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxicosis

1. Addition of sunflower oil (SFO) at 30 or 60 g/kg or three vegetable oils, namely SFO, soybean (SBO) or groundnut (GNO), at 30 g/kg to isocaloric and isonitrogenous broiler chicken diets were evaluated for possible counteractive effects against aflatoxin (AF) (0.3 microg B1/g diet) from 0 to 42 d of age. 2. Body weight, food intake and serum concentration of protein were lower in the AF group than in the control, whereas in the SFO and SBO supplemented groups they were comparable with those of the control. Sunflower oil at both concentrations exerted similar effects on growth. Groundnut oil did not improve growth or food intake in AF-fed birds. 3. The serum concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides decreased with AF feeding and was increased by supplementation of any of the three oils both in the control and in AF-fed groups. 4. Liver and giblet weight and liver fat content were increased by AF; these effects were countered by dietary oil inclusion, except for liver weight at 60 g/kg SFO. Weights of pancreas and gall bladder were increased by AF. Oil supplementation reduced the weight of pancreas in chickens given AF. 5. Humoral immune response was depressed by AF and dietary oil supplementation (particularly SFO or SBO) countered this effect. Other variables, namely, serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity, bone mineralisation, weights of lymphoid organs, kidney and adrenals, ready-to-cook yields and fat content in muscle and skin showed little or no effect of dietary oil supplementation. 6. It is concluded that dietary inclusion of SFO or SBO at 30 g/kg may alleviate the adverse effects of 0.3 microg/g of AF B1 in commercial broiler chickens. Groundnut oil, although showing beneficial effects on some biochemical variables, failed to improve growth performance.     

Incidence of multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds--a survey

An important precondition of a well-functioning dairy production is knowledge about the incidence of environmentally evoked non-infectious diseases in a particular herd, in the region and in the country as a whole. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of environmentally evoked multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds, and to compare the disease incidence in small (< or = 100 cows) and large herds (101-300 cows). The disease incidence was recorded by local veterinarians in twelve production units with a total of 33 cowsheds and about 5000 dairy cows. Fourteen disease groups were formed. In order to describe the range of disease incidence, the relative frequency of each group of diseases was determined, as well as the incidence rate. The 95 % confidence interval was applied in order to assess the reliability of the incidence rates. The most common disorders of Estonian dairy cows are udder diseases, followed by uterine infection, metabolic diseases and retained placenta. The disease incidence in Estonian dairy herds is similar to that of other European countries. Most of the diseases occur more often in small herds than in large herds.     

Closed system anaesthesia in dogs using liquid sevoflurane injection; evaluation of the square-root-of-time model and the influence of CO2 absorbent

Objective To determine whether predictable alveolar concentrations of sevoflurane are reliably produced in dogs when liquid sevoflurane is injected into closed circuit breathing systems, as calculated by Lowe's square‐root‐of‐time anaesthetic uptake model, and to confirm the validity of the model using soda lime and calcium hydroxide lime. Study design Prospective clinical study. Animals Eleven healthy dogs with a mean body mass of 34 ± 9 kg scheduled for pelvic limb orthopaedic surgery. Materials and methods Following pre‐anaesthetic medication, anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane in a closed circle system. Epidural anaesthesia was performed with morphine and bupivacaine. Liquid sevoflurane was injected into the circuit by syringe, using dosages and time intervals derived from Lowe's square‐root‐of‐time anaesthetic uptake model. The target alveolar concentration chosen was 1.1 × MAC (2.6% end‐tidal sevoflurane). Either soda lime (group S; n = 6) or calcium hydroxide lime (Amsorb; group A; n = 5) were used for CO₂ absorption. Sevoflurane concentration and the respiratory gas composition were measured with an infrared gas analyser. Results End‐tidal sevoflurane concentrations were close to the predicted value of 2.6% at 9 minutes (2.53 ± 0.1% group S; 2.60 ± 0.26% group A) and 16 minutes (2.55 ± 0.30 group S; 2.52 ± 0.28% group A) but declined thereafter to reach 50% (group S) and 64% (group A) of the predicted value at 121 minutes. There was a constant trend towards higher end‐tidal sevoflurane concentrations in group A but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions The square‐root‐of‐time model leads to significantly lower alveolar concentrations than expected, suggesting that the rate of sevoflurane uptake in dogs declines less rapidly than predicted. The use of Amsorb tends to reduce the deviation from predicted concentrations. Clinical relevance The model used in this study provided only an approximate guide to the volume of liquid sevoflurane required. Consequently, the definitive dose schedule must be based on measured anaesthetic concentrations and clinical monitoring.     

Long‐Term Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports in Dogs and Cats Receiving Chemotherapy

Introduction:  We evaluated the totally implantable subcutaneous vascular access port (VAP) in 16 cancer patients undergoing intermittent chemotherapy for more than 30 months.
Methods:  Ports were surgically placed (The CompanionPort, Norfolk Vet Products, Skokie, Illinois 60076) in the jugular vein of 12 dogs and 4 cats between 1/2002 and 7/2004. Body weight determined polyurethane catheter size (4, 5, 7 fr.). The polysulfone port, surrounded by titanium, was anchored to subcutaneous tissue in the dorsolateral neck and confirmed with C‐arm fluoroscopy. All blood samples were obtained via VAP. Nine anticancer agents, other medications, crystalloids/colloids, and whole blood were administered. Ports were flushed every 4–5 weeks with heparinized saline solution (100 IU/ml). Removed catheters were submitted for bacteriology.
Results:  Seven of 16 animals are still alive. VAP were used for 1.5 to more than 30 months with 4–60 injections/port. Catheter tips were visualized from the left atrium distally into the caudal vena cava. Adverse events included post‐operative subcutaneous bruising and/or hematoma (4/16), difficult aspiration (4/16), catheter malposition (1/16), positional flushing (1/16), and occlusion requiring replacement (1/16). No thrombus formation or extravasation was evident. Bacterial colonization without signs of septicemia was observed in 3/4 catheters.
Conclusions:  VAP are an effective way of achieving long‐term venous access in the dog and cat. Complications are typically minor and infrequent.     

The effects of ractopamine hydrochloride on lean carcass yields and pork quality characteristics

One hundred eighty barrows were evaluated to determine the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on lean carcass yields and pork quality. The pens were blocked by weight (six pens per block) with starting block weights of 69.0, 70.7, 73.8, 76.6, 78.4, and 84.3 kg. Pens within a block were assigned randomly to one of three RAC treatments so each treatment in a block was replicated twice. Treatments (as-fed basis) included control diet, 10 ppm of RAC added (R10), and 20 ppm of RAC added (R20) and ranged from 25 to 41 d depending on block. Pigs were slaughtered by blocks when block average live weights were 109 kg. Gain and feed efficiency were improved (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary concentrations of RAC, but feed intake did not differ (P > 0.05). Dressing percentage was higher (P < 0.05) for RAC-treated pigs. Subjective color, firmness, marbling scores, and Minolta L* reflection of the LM were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Carcass weights were heavier (P < 0.05) for pigs treated with RAC compared with control pigs and were higher for R20 than for R10. The RAC-fed pigs had greater (P < 0.05) yields (actual and percentage of HCW) of the following Institutional Meat Purchase Specification (IMPS) cuts than control pigs: trimmed, boneless ham (IMPS-402C and IMPS-402G), loin (IMPS-414), sirloin, and Boston butt (IMPS-406A). Pigs treated with RAC had a greater (P < 0.05) percentage of fat-free lean trimmings (IMPS-418) than did control pigs. Pigs treated with the R20 concentration had increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity compared with control pigs. Purge loss decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing RAC compared with control for 14-d aged, non-enhanced loins. Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force values measured for nonenhanced chops were greater for RAC-treated pigs than for control pigs with a low dose response (P = 0.001). Enhanced chop (salt and phosphate injection) WBS values did not differ (P > 0.05) among dietary treatments. Trained sensory evaluation panel results for tenderness decreased in a low-dose plateau response fashion for nonenhanced chops (P = 0.004). Tenderness of enhanced chops decreased linearly (P = 0.04) with increasing RAC concentrations. No differences (P > 0.05) were found in juiciness or flavor of enhanced or nonenhanced chops. Feeding RAC to late-finishing swine resulted in faster growing, more efficient animals with increased boneless subprimal yields, and it had little effect on pork juiciness and flavor.