Pharmacokinetic indices for cefovecin after single‐dose administration to adult sea otters (Enhydra lutris)

Seven sea otters received a single subcutaneous dose of cefovecin at 8 mg/kg body weight. Plasma samples were collected at predetermined time points and assayed for total cefovecin concentrations using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The mean (±SD) noncompartmental pharmacokinetic indices were as follows: C_Max (obs) 70.6 ± 14.6 μg/mL, T_{Max (obs)} 2.9 ± 1.5 h, elimination rate constant (k_el) 0.017 ± 0.002/h, elimination half‐life (t_1/2kel) 41.6 ± 4.7 h, area under the plasma concentration‐vs.‐time curve to last sample (AUC_last) 3438.7 ± 437.7 h·μg/mL and AUC extrapolated to infinity (AUC_0→∞) 3447.8 ± 439.0 h·μg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for select isolates were determined and used to suggest possible dosing intervals of 10 days, 5 days, and 2.5 days for gram‐positive, gram‐negative, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacterial species, respectively. This study found a single subcutaneous dose of cefovecin sodium in sea otters to be clinically safe and a viable option for long‐acting antimicrobial therapy.     

Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol improves bioavailability in pigs

Nanotechnology applications in medicine have seen a tremendous growth in the past decade and are being employed to enhance the stability and bioavailability of lipophilic substances, such as florfenicol. This study aimed to examine the pharmacokinetic properties of the formulated oil‐in‐water florfenicol‐loaded nanoemulsion (FF‐NE). FF‐NE and florfenicol control (Nuflor^®) were administered to the pigs at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Nanoemulsion formulation of florfenicol was highly influenced in vivo plasma profile. The in vivo absorption study in pigs indicated that C_max (14.54 μg/mL) was significantly higher in FF‐NE, 3.42 times higher than the marketed formulation. In comparison with the control group, the relative bioavailability of formulated nanoemulsion was up to 134.5%. Assessment of bioequivalence using log‐transformed data showed that the 90% confidence intervals (90% CI) of C_max and AUC_0–∞ were 2.48–4.60 and 1.21–1.72, respectively.     

Survival of 4 dogs with persistent atrial standstill treated by pacemaker implantation

Pacemakers were implanted in 4 client-owned female dogs which had persistent atrial standstill. Three dogs were alive after 14 to 39 months and 1 dog was euthanized after 10.5 years. This report demonstrates that some dogs with persistent atrial standstill can survive for extended time periods.     

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis of the spine in a nine‐year‐old cat

A nine‐year‐old intact female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for paraparesis, ataxia and severe spinal hyperaesthesia. Neurological examination indicated a T3‐L3 spinal cord segment lesion. Computed tomography of the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral vertebral column was performed. This showed contiguous smooth new bone formation ventral and lateral to the vertebrae extending from the cranial thoracic area to the lumbosacral junction and appearing similar to canine diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. There was also marked dorsolateral stenosis of the vertebral canal at the level of T4‐T5 because of degenerative changes of the facet joints. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published report of feline diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.     

Influence of thermal stimulation during the late phase of incubation on hatching results and post-hatch broiler performance under commercial conditions

1. Two experiments, which differed in breeder age, strain and season, were conducted to study the influence of low-intensity, short-duration thermal stimuli during the late phase of incubation on hatchability and performance. The first experiment conducted in April–June used eggs from Cobb × Ross broiler breeders at 35–41 weeks of age and the second experiment performed in February–April used eggs from Hubbard × Cobb broiler breeders at 49–53 weeks of age.

2. Eggs in the test group had the same physical environment as eggs in the control group except that incubation temperature was increased by 1?C for 2 h/d above the control group from 18 to 20 d of incubation (DI).

3. The results demonstrated that thermal stimulation of 1?C for 2 h/d above control incubation temperature during 18–21DI did not have any adverse effects on hatch and post-hatch performance of broilers.

4. In both experiments, treatment did not significantly alter the secondary sex ratio in hatched chickens, but hatch residue showed that the proportion of unhatched male embryos was significantly lower in the test groups than in the control groups.

5. In the first experiment, thermal stimulation improved feed conversion by 1.82% compared with the control.

     

Effects of lipid sources,lysophospholipids and organic acids in maize-based broiler diets on nutrient balance,liver concentration of fat-soluble vitamins,jejunal microbiota and performance

1. Three experiments with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement were conducted to evaluate maize-based diets for broilers containing different lipid sources [soybean oil (S) or beef tallow (T)] supplemented with or without lysophospholipids and organic acids on nutrient balance (Experiment I, evaluation period of 10–14 d), on liver concentration of fat-soluble vitamins, on jejunal microbiota (Experiment II, sampling at d 14) and on performance (Experiment III, accumulated periods of 1–14, 1–21 and 1–42 d).

2. A total of 1344 male chicks were used. In each experiment, the birds were allotted in a completely randomised design with 8 replications. The lysophospholipids were mainly composed of lysolecithins and the organic acids blend was constituted by lactic (40%), acetic (7%) and butyric acids (1%).

3. An interaction between lipid sources and lysophospholipids was observed on faecal apparent digestibility of lipid (ADL), which improved with lysophospholipids addition in T diets. Broilers fed on S had higher ADL and faecal apparent digestibility of nitrogen-corrected gross energy (ADGE_N).

4. It was not possible to demonstrate a significant treatment effect on the liver concentration of vitamins A and E, even with the differences in fatty acid profile between S and T.

5. Enterobacteria values were below the detection threshold. Lysophospholipid supplementation reduced gram-positive cocci in T-fed birds. S diets promoted lower total anaerobe counts compared with T diets, independent of additives.

6. S diets increased BW gain and feed:gain ratio in all evaluation periods. Lysophospholipids and organic acids improved feed:gain ratio at 1–21 d in T diets. Furthermore, main effects were observed for lysophospholipids and organic acids at 1–42 d, which increased BW gain and improved feed:gain ratio, respectively.

7. No positive interactions between additives were found.

     

Retrobulbar lymphoma associated with a ballistic foreign body in a cat

A seven‐year‐old domestic shorthair cat, adopted 5 years previously with a corneal perforation of the left eye, was presented for investigation of a left orbital mass. Computed tomography revealed a metallic foreign body within a contrast‐enhancing, heterogeneous orbital mass. Large cell lymphoma was diagnosed from a fine needle aspirate. The cat staged negatively and was treated with l‐asparaginase, prednisolone and three fractions of radiation therapy. A rapid clinical remission was obtained and the cat remained in remission for 3 years after therapy. This is the first report of large cell lymphoma likely occurring secondary to a foreign body.