Pharmacokinetics and i.m. bioavailability of ceftiofur in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Captive elephants are prone to infections of the feet, lungs, and skin. Often treatment regimens are established with no pharmacokinetic data on the agents being used for treatment in these species. A pharmacokinetic study using ceftiofur (1.1 mg/kg) was conducted in four adult female captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. Elephants were given both i.v. and i.m. administrations in a complete crossover design with a 3-week washout period between treatments. Blood samples were collected prior to drug administration and at 0.33, 0.67, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h postadministration. Ceftiofur analysis was performed using a validated liquid chromatography/mass spectrophotometric (LC/MS) assay. Plasma concentrations for the i.m. samples were lower than expected. The mean C(max) following i.m. administration was 1.63 microg/mL with a corresponding T(max) of 0.55 h. Following i.v. administration, the median V(d(ss)) was 0.51 L/kg and a median Cl(p) of 0.069 L/kg/h. Mean i.m. bioavailability was 19%. The results indicate that ceftiofur used at 1.1 mg/kg i.m. could be useful in elephants when given two to three times a day or alternatively, 1.1 mg/kg i.v. once daily, depending upon the MIC of the pathogen.     

Multiple dose pharmacokinetics and acute safety of piroxicam and cimetidine in the cat

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multiple dose pharmacokinetics and acute safety of piroxicam and cimetidine alone and in combination in cats. Seven healthy cats were included in this randomized-crossover study. The cats were assigned to groups designated to receive cimetidine alone (15 mg/kg, p.o., q12 h), piroxicam alone (0.3 mg/kg, p.o., q24 h), and piroxicam combined with cimetidine (both at aforementioned doses). The cats were dosed for 10 days followed by at least a 2-week washout period between trials. Serial blood samples were collected following the first and last doses and analyzed utilizing a high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (LC/MS) assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using noncompartmental analysis. Endoscopic evaluation of the gastric mucosa was performed and serum urea nitrogen (SUN), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities were evaluated. There were not a clinically relevant difference between the pharmacokinetic parameters of piroxicam administered alone or in combination with cimetidine after either the first or last dose. Gastric ulcers were not observed in any cats although gastric erosions were. The SUN, creatinine, ALP, and ALT activities remained within reference ranges for all cats. It appears that once daily, short-term use of piroxicam alone and in combination with cimetidine in cats is relatively safe based on the parameters evaluated in this study. However, further studies are necessary to determine the long-term gastrointestinal safety of piroxicam.     

Specific heart muscle disease secondary to lymphosarcoma in a dog

This case report describes the clinical, imaging, clinical pathology and necropsy findings in a five-year-old male Border collie with low output cardiac failure. The heart was enlarged by infiltrative lymphosarcoma.     

Cauda equina compression syndrome (CECS): retrospective study of surgical treatment with partial dorsal laminectomy in 86 dogs with lumbosacral stenosis

We report our results of partial lumbosacral laminectomy for treatment of canine Cauda equina Compression Syndrome due to a lumbosacral stenosis. Opposite to conventional techniques of dorsal laminectomy, only widening of the Spatium interarcuale is performed. This is achieved by exstirpation of the Lig. flavum and partial dorsal laminectomy of the first sacral segment. The Proc. spinosi and integrity of facet joints are fully maintained by this technique. In 96.5% of 86 dogs treated with this method relief of dorsal pressure and permanent rapid regression of clinical symptoms was achieved. In two cases recurrence of clinical symptoms was observed during follow up and one case showed no improvement at all. In conclusion partial dorsal laminectomy is a minimal invasive technique for treatment of Cauda equina compression syndrome expressed by pain reaction accompanied by minor neurological deficits caused by lumbosacral stenosis. Maintained spinal stability allows short reconvalescence and the unrestricted use of dogs immediately post operation.     

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy in a dog with chronic bicipital tenosynovitis

A 15-month-old, spayed female, Bernese mountain dog was presented to the Institute of Small Animal Surgery at the University of Zurich because of chronic left forelimb lameness. The referring veterinarian diagnosed pain in the left shoulder region and had treated the dog with systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and restricted exercise for a two-week period. The follow-up examination revealed only minimal improvement and therefore, the dog was referred for further diagnostic evaluation. Chronic bicipital tenosynovitis and tendinitis of the infraspinatus muscle was diagnosed based on survey radiographs, arthrography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and synovial fluid cytology. The dog underwent three sessions of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and substantial clinical improvement was observed. On follow-up examinations, only mild left forelimb lameness was evident following exercise, and changes in the intertubercular groove and at the supraglenoid tuberosity appeared less active on radiographs and CT. However, six months following treatment, mild degenerative joint disease was apparent.     

Larval cyathostominosis in horses in Ontario: an emerging disease?

From 1991 to 2003, 24 cases of larval cyathostominosis were diagnosed at postmortem in equids, 15 (63%) from 2001 to 2003. Cases occurred from September to May, the majority from October to December. Median age was 12 mo. Diarrhea, colic, and weight loss were common clinical signs. Hypoalbuminemia and microcytosis were consistent findings.     

Cultural characteristics of Sporisorium sorghi and detection of the pathogen in plant tissue by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction

Despite the economic importance of covered kernel smut of sorghum (Sporisorium sorghi) in many African states and other parts of the world, only limited information is available on laboratory cultivation methods for this fungus and techniques for its diagnosis in plant tissue. The current paper describes laboratory and greenhouse experiments performed with field material of S. sorghi. When intact sori were kept at 5°C, 80% of the spores germinated even after 24?months of storage. Spore germination on agar medium and production of mycelial dry weight in still culture were highest between 20° and 35°C, with a peak at 30°C. Both showed a steady increase from pH 4.5 to pH 7.5, followed by a decline at pH 8.5 and 9.5. In shake culture in different broth media the addition of 0.3% peptone from soybean caused an increase in fungal growth compared with the media alone. Of the media tested, mycelial production was highest in malt dextrose broth supplemented with peptone. When cultivated on different agar media, the morphology of single spore isolates differed both among isolates and depending on the agar medium. In greenhouse experiments, five short, early maturing sorghum breeding accessions proved to be partially or fully resistant to covered kernel smut. Among the plant materials tested, cv. ??Dorado?? appeared to be the one best suited for greenhouse experiments with covered kernel smut. By microscopy of hand-cut sections stained with trypan-blue, hyphae of S. sorghi were seen in apical buds and in nodes of young sorghum plants. Diagnostic PCR amplified a 903?bp element comprising the internal region of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) encoding gene and enabled the detection of S. sorghi in both nodes and apical buds of infected sorghum seedlings. Both techniques, i.e., microscopy and diagnostic PCR, have the potential to be used in studies for the identification of effective sorghum seed treatments already at the seedling stage.