Development of Procedures for Sex-sorting Frozen–Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa

Dairy bull sperm may be sex‐sorted, frozen and used to artificially inseminate heifers with acceptable fertility if the herd is well‐managed. One drawback to the technology is that donor bulls must be located within a short distance of the sorting facility in order to collect semen, which limits the number of bulls from which sorted sperm are available. A successful method used to overcome this limitation in sheep is sex‐sorting from frozen–thawed semen and refreezing for artificial insemination. This technique is attractive to the dairy industry, and therefore a series of three experiments was designed to investigate the optimal methods to prepare, sex‐sort and re‐freeze frozen–thawed bovine sperm. Sperm were prepared for sorting by density gradient separation in either PureSperm^® or BoviPure?, followed by staining in one of three diluents (Androhep^®, Bovine Sheath Fluid + 0.3% BSA or TALP buffer). Sperm were sorted and collected into Test yolk buffer, and frozen in an extender containing 0, 0.25, 0.375 or 0.5% Equex STM Paste. Frozen–thawed sperm were better orientated (p = 0.006) and had fewer damaged membranes (8.7 ± 0.6% vs 19.5 ± 2.4%; p = 0.003) after centrifugation in PureSperm^® rather than BoviPure? gradients. Sperm orientation (p < 0.05) and motility (69.9 ± 3.0 vs 55.6 ± 4.0; p < 0.001) were highest after staining in Androhep^® rather than in TALP buffer. Sperm were more motile (58.2 ± 4.7 vs 38.7 ± 3.5; p < 0.001) and had better acrosome integrity (74.3 ± 2.9 vs 66.8 ± 2.0; p < 0.001) after freezing in an extender containing 0.375% Equex STM Paste than in extender without Equex. Hence, a protocol has been developed to allow frozen–thawed bull sperm to be sex‐sorted with high resolution between the sexes, then re‐frozen and thawed with retention of motility and acrosome integrity.     

Repair of a type IV Monteggia fracture in a foal

A Monteggia fracture is a humero-radial luxation combined with a fracture of the ulna. It is a rare injury, infrequently reported in the horse. This case report describes the surgical repair of such a fracture in a 4-month-old filly.     

Study of nebulization delivery of aerosolized fluorescent microspheres to the avian respiratory tract

This study investigated the delivery of an aerosol of monodisperse microspheres to the respiratory tract of birds following aerosol exposure. Adult domestic pigeons (Columbia livia domestica, n = 5 birds per timed treatment) were exposed to an aerosol of fluorescent 1.0 microm diameter carboxylate microspheres for 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hr. During the aerosolization period, the birds were free-standing in a plexiglass treatment chamber and the aerosol was delivered using a commercial nebulizer. Immediately following aerosol exposure, the birds were euthanatized and the carcasses were intravenously infused with a modified paraformaldehyde/gluteraldehyde fixative. Evaluation of microsphere distribution was performed using a stereoscopic microscope with an epifluorescent module. The results from this study revealed that the amount of aerosolized particles delivered using a commercial nebulizer was proportional to exposure periods. Aerosol exposure periods of 0.5 hr or 1 hr did not result in a readily observable distribution of 1.0 microm fluorescent microspheres to the cranial thoracic, caudal thoracic, or abdominal air sac membranes. This was partly attributed to the relatively low concentration of the individual monodisperse microspheres in the aerosolized suspension. The 2- and 4-hr exposure periods resulted in readily observable deposition of the 1.0 mirom fluorescent microspheres in the cranial thoracic, caudal thoracic, or abdominal air sac membranes, with the 4-hr exposure period resulting in the greatest number of particles on the membrane surfaces. For each of the exposure periods, there was individual animal variation regarding the distribution and relative number of spheres deposited. This study demonstrates the widespread deposition of particles that had an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of approximately 1 microm and provides a better understanding of particle deposition efficiency within the respiratory system following aerosol exposure in birds.     

Concurrent use of a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous free tissue flap and external skeletal fixation for treatment of a distal antebrachial injury in a dog

OBJECTIVE: To report the surgical management of a traumatic distal antebrachial wound using a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous free tissue flap and a type I external skeletal fixator (ESF). STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: A 7-year-old spayed, female Labrador retriever. RESULT: Wound coverage and pancarpal arthrodesis were accomplished during a single anesthetic episode using a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous free tissue flap and type I ESF. A second surgical procedure was performed to expedite healing of part of the original wound that was initially left to heal by second intention. CONCLUSIONS: Free tissue transfer can be used in combination with an ESF for repair of distal antebrachial wounds, allowing orthopedic repair and soft tissue coverage in a single anesthetic episode. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Concurrent use of free tissue transfer and carpal arthrodesis with an ESF could be used for repair of complex antebrachial wounds without need for multiple procedures, extended hospitalization, and increased cost.     

Laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in nine dogs

Minimally invasive surgery has been found in humans to reduce pain, incidence of infections, and duration of hospitalization. Minimally invasive procedures are also being described in veterinary medicine. Laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy (OHE) was performed on nine, healthy, intact female dogs using a Harmonic scalpel. Creatine kinase values were determined both before and 12 hours following the laparoscopic OHE; the magnitude of the difference between preoperative and postoperative creatine kinase values did not correlate with length of operative time, length of incisions, or amount of hemorrhage. Complications included one dog that had an omental herniation that was primarily repaired and one dog with seroma formation. Median surgical time for all dogs was 60 minutes (range, 35 to 100 minutes).     

Recurrence of spontaneous lung lobe torsion in a pug

Lung lobe torsion (LLT) results from a displacement and twisting of a lung lobe around its bronchovascular pedicle. This relatively rare disorder affects dogs, cats, and humans. Etiologies include primary (i.e., spontaneous) and secondary torsion due to thoracic trauma, pleural space disease, thoracic surgery, pulmonary parenchyma disease, and diaphragmatic hernia repair. Although both spontaneous and secondary torsion have been described in small-breed dogs, a spontaneous LLT followed by recurrence of a spontaneous LLT > 2 years later has not been documented. This article describes the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of a pug with recurrent spontaneous LLT.     

Vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) bite in a dog

A vine snake bite in a dog is reported. There was continued minor bleeding from the assumed nose bite site for 4 days. Currently manufactured snakebite antivenom is not effective against vine snake bites and treatment is supportive.     

Mixed infections of rotaviruses and Campylobacter jejuni in Caco-2 cells

A mixed infection with rotavirus and 3 different Campylobacter jejuni strains was analysed in Caco-2 cells, a cell line highly susceptible to these pathogens. The results obtained showed no influence of the virus preinfection on the Campylobacter jejuni adhesion or internalisation in Caco-2 cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of mixed infected cells confirmed these results. The data from the present study indicate that specific rather than nonspecific mechanisms are involved in the interaction between rotavirus, campylobacter and host cells.