Comparison of surgical and nonsurgical treatment of humeral fractures in horses: 22 cases (1980-1989).

Medical records of 22 horses with humeral fractures were reviewed. The horses were from 2 to 144 months old (mean, 25.8 +/- 37.3 months). Ten horses were treated with stall confinement, 3 were treated surgically, and 9 were euthanatized at the time of diagnosis. Seven of 10 horses treated nonsurgically (stall confinement) were able to be ridden 5 to 12 months after the diagnosis was made (mean, 7.5 +/- 2.6 months). One horse treated nonsurgically was euthanatized 6 months after diagnosis because of laminitis in the contralateral limb. Two horses treated nonsurgically were lost to follow-up evaluation. Two of the 3 horses treated surgically had fractures repaired with Rush pins. The fractured humerus of the third horse was repaired with lag screws. Of the 3 surgically treated horses, 1 was pasture sound 10 months after surgery, but developed varus deviation in the contralateral carpus 6 weeks after repair; 1 horse was euthanatized 2 weeks after surgery because of failure of the implant; and the other horse was sound for riding 10 months after surgery. On the basis of these findings, young horses with humeral fractures that are treated nonsurgically can become sound for riding.     

Screening tests for sulfa drugs and/or dinitrobenzamide coccidiostats and their monoamino metabolites in chicken livers

Two procedures were developed for the simultaneous determination of 0.1 ppm sulfaquinoxaline and sulfadimethoxine, 1.0 ppm Zoalene and nitromide, and/or 0.1 ppm of their reduced coccidiostat metabolites from the same sample of chicken liver. Both methods include blender extraction of 5 g liver with chloroform-ethyl acetate (1 + 1), adsorption of the drugs and metabolites on neutral alumina, and subsequent elution with 0.2M carbonate buffer (pH 11.0). In Method A, all parent drugs and coccidiostat metabolites were partitioned into dichloromethane, following the addition of a small amount of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH). The presence of the dinitrobenzamides was confirmed by the formation of a color with TBAH, which occurs when the solvent is concentrated (Zoalene = green; nitromide = red). Sulfa drugs and coccidiostat metabolites were detected by the Bratton-Marshall reaction after thin layer chromatographic (TLC) separation. Method B separates the individual classes by selective extraction techniques. The coccidiostats and their metabolites were extracted from the buffer eluate by ethyl acetate-dichloromethane (3 + 1) before ion pairing: sulfa drugs were extracted with dichloromethane after ion pairing with TBAH. The detection techniques were similar to those described for Method A.     

Selected ecosystem relationships in the mercury contaminated Wabigoon-English river system,Canada, and their underlying causes

Mercury concentrations in basic ecosystem compartments of the Wabigoon-English River system are interrelated. Statistically significant correlations are evident between Hg levels in various biotic-young northern pike (Esox lucius), yearling yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and crayfish (Orconected virihs) and abiotic compartments (water, surface sediments). Highly significant positive correlations are found between methyl-mercury in water and Hg in biota. Highly significant positive correlations also exist between Hg levels in different organisms, despite differences in habitat, diet, uptake routes and proportion of bodyburden that is in the methyl form. A plausible basis for these relationships is the rapid equilibration between methyl and inorganic Hg in and between various abiotic components of the ecosystem and subsequent incorporation into food webs. As sediment-water partitioning for inorganic and methylmercury is also rapid it is likely that in lakes and slow moving river reaches, local environmental variables probably largely govern Hg body burdens in biota.     

Staphylectomy for treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in two foals

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate associated with dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed in 2 young foals. The displacement appeared to be congenital. Clinical signs associated with the condition were resolved after staphylectomy. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate is usually recognized in adult animals as an upper respiratory tract disease, but may be a contributing factor to dysphagia and lower respiratory tract disease in young animals.     

Surgical repair of a mandibular degloving injury in a 5‐month‐old colt

A 5‐month‐old colt sustained a mandibular degloving injury and penetrating cheek wound after catching his cheek on a metal hook. Avulsion of the lower left lip and cheek exposed parts of the underlying labial surface, interalveolar margin and body of the mandible. The injury prevented the colt from closing his mouth completely and food accumulated between the degloved mandible and avulsed soft tissues. Surgical repair included 7 stented, transmandibular mattress sutures placed over the length of the interalveolar margin, closing the dead space and repositioning the avulsed soft tissues. The horse recovered without complications and functional as well as cosmetic outcome were excellent.     

Effect of body condition score and reuse of progesterone‐releasing intravaginal devices on conception rate following timed artificial insemination in Nelore cows

This study had the aim of investigating the efficiency of timed artificial insemination (TAI) through the progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID), used in new condition and for the second and third times in Nelore cows. The effects of device reuse and body condition score (BCS) on the conception rate (CR) were evaluated in 1,122 multiparous Nelore cows (mean BCS of 2.7 ± 0.4), which were randomly distributed into three groups that received new (n = 330), once (n = 439) and twice used (n = 353) PRID. Among the 1,122 females that underwent TAI, 573 became pregnant, thus representing an overall CR of 51.06%. Cows with BCS between 2.75 and 4.0 had greater (p < .0001) CR (69.75%) than cows with BSC of 2.0–2.5 (32.98%). It was observed that the CR through using PRID was 60.00%, 51.71% and 41.93% for new, once and twice used PRID, respectively, with difference between all groups (p < .0001). Under tropical conditions, animals with BCS greater than 2.5 had a higher CR, and the CR decreased proportionally with the number of times that the PRID had been used.     

Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Zinc Gluconate Associated with Dimethyl Sulphoxide for Sexually Mature Canine Males Chemical Neutering

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of zinc gluconate associated with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) for chemical neutering in canine males. Fifteen sexually mature male dogs were divided in two groups, named control and treated. An injection was administered to both testicles, at a concentration of 26.2 mg zinc gluconate per ml and 0.5% DMSO in the treated group (11 dogs). The control group was given injections of saline solution (four dogs). Clinical examination and blood collection for a haemogram were done both before and after drug injection. There were 12 spermograms performed to analyse sperm motility, sperm vigour, ejaculate volume, testicle size, pathology and sperm concentrations. Libido was also measured. An ultrasound examination and histopathology were performed at the end of the experiment. Dogs’ libido after chemical injection was reduced by over 50%. The spermogram analysis showed final mean results of 14.54% for sperm motility, 0.72 of sperm vigour and 37 150 per million spermatozoa per millilitre, values considered below the necessary levels at which fertilization can occur. Ultrasound and histopathology analyses of testicles for the treated group revealed more intense injuries when compared with the control group, with compromised testicular parenchyma and a decrease of germ cell number leading to total atrophy, indicating that the treatment reduced the fertilizing potential of male dogs, promoting a possible subfertile status.