High caudal epidural anaesthesia with local anaesthetics or alpha(2)-agonists in calves

The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of a caudal epidural anaesthesia using lidocaine or xylazine in a high volume for analgesia of the flank, navel and hamstring tendon. Fourteen calves weighing 57.7 +/- 5.1 kg and 37.9 +/- 9.3 (mean +/- SEM) days old were randomly divided into two groups of seven calves each. Calves belonging to the lidocaine group were given a 2% lidocaine solution in the sacrococcygeal vertebral space epidurally at a volume of 0.4 ml/kg (8 mg/kg) body weight (BW). Animals of the xylazine group were administered an epidural anaesthesia with xylazine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg BW, diluted with a 0.9% saline solution to a corresponding final volume of 0.4 ml/kg BW. Heart rate and respiratory rate were measured and the degree and duration of analgesia was determined by the response to a skin prick with a hypodermic needle over a period of 350 min after epidural injection. After epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine the mean heart rate increased during dorsal recumbency, whereas after xylazine both heart rate and respiratory rate decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The epidural injection of xylazine compared with lidocaine caused longer (P < 0.05) analgesia at the hamstring tendon (mean +/- SEM, 120.7 +/- 29.7 min versus 93.6 +/- 3.5 min) and at the flank (100.7 +/- 24.4 min versus 78.3 +/- 11.1 min). There were no differences in the intensity of analgesia between groups. After xylazine application analgesia at the navel was achieved for 95.0 +/- 14.1 min whereas after lidocaine injection sufficient analgesia at the navel was found in just two of seven calves for 55 and 95 min respectively. Based on above experiences, a second study was performed, in which a combination of xylazine and local anaesthetics was used and the injection volume was increased to prove the efficacy of caudal epidural anaesthesia in 15 calves (26.3 +/- 26.7 days; 57.1 +/- 19.5 kg) submitted to the clinic for regular umbilical surgery. In these cases the xylazine (0.1 mg/kg BW) was diluted with 2% lidocaine (n = 7) or 2% procaine (n = 8) to a corresponding final volume of 0.5-0.6 ml/kg BW. In all cases complete anaesthesia of the surgical area was achieved and no adverse effects were observed. Overall the high volume caudal epidural anaesthesia represents an effective, safe, cheap and easy to perform alternative for anaesthesia of the navel, flank and hamstring tendon in calves without major side effects.     

Expression of β2-integrin on monocytes and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the periparturient period in dairy cows

The hypothesis that an altered expression of CD11/CD18 on bovine circulating monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), or both, contributes to an increased mastitis susceptibility in periparturient cows was tested. Expression of CD18 and CD11a, -b, -c on bovine monocytes and PMN were assessed in 8 Friesian-Holstein cows by flow cytometry from 2 wk before calving to 5 wk after calving. Minor changes in adhesion molecule expression levels were detected throughout the experimental period. Compared with PMN, monocytes exhibited an expression level that was similar for CD18, higher for CD11a and CD11c, but lower for CD11b. Differences in density may reflect the relative importance of these adhesion molecules on both leukocyte types. In this study, the decreased number of milk resident macrophages and PMN observed during the periparturient period could not be attributed to changes of CD11/CD18 levels on circulating leukocytes.     

Comparison of Closely Related Orthopoxvirus Isolates by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

The reliability and reproducibility of random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) was compared with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by analysing three virus strains isolated from zoo animals in Berlin and three isolates which were cultivated from pets from Northern Germany. The RAPD technique was evaluated as a reliable tool with good reproducibility of the patterns for each virus strain investigated. Problems of interpretation due to inconsistent intensity of bands in different polymerase chain reaction runs may arise for less experienced personnel. The RAPD analysis can be performed within one working day and needs less DNA compared with RFLP so costs will be reduced. The obvious advantage of RFLP is that the pattern can be traced to the recognition site of the restriction enzyme whereas the RAPD primer sequence is not present in the orthopoxvirus genome at all. To the authors knowledge, the RAPD technique has never been applied in DNA viruses before and they conclude that this technique is a useful tool for the discrimination of closely related cowpoxviruses.     

Adrenocortical suppression associated with topical otic administration of glucocorticoids in dogs

Commercial otic preparations that contained dexamethasone or triamcinolone acetate were applied twice daily to both ears of 2 groups of dogs (n = 8). Marked adrenocortical suppression, reflected by low serum cortisol concentrations, was observed in all dogs. Results of ACTH response tests were blunted after 7 days of treatment. Twenty-one days after treatment, serum cortisol concentrations still were suppressed in all dogs, compared with pretreatment control concentrations. Fourteen days after cessation of otic treatment, 5 of 8 dogs still had inadequate release of cortisol in response to ACTH.