Use of a modified stomach tube for bronchoalveolar lavage in dogs

A technique that did not require use of a bronchoscope for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in dogs was developed. An inexpensive, readily available 16-F Levin-type stomach tube was modified for the procedure. The technique was effective for collecting BAL fluid in 9 dogs that ranged from 9.3 to 26.2 kg (20.5 to 57.6 lb). Recovered fluid was consistent with fluid collected bronchoscopically. Mean recovery volume was 84/125 ml (67%), mean WBC counts were high (> 300 cells/microl), and > 70% of cells were macrophages. Complications from use of the technique were not detected on the basis of pulse oximetry, thoracic radiography, and clinical observation. This effective, simple, and safe technique for BAL can be readily performed in clinical settings that do not have bronchoscopic capabilities. It also provides a less costly alternative than bronchoscopic BAL.     

Haematological analysis of calves with bovine neonatal pancytopenia

Blood was obtained from 61 neonatal Holstein calves originating from a farm in Germany with a high incidence of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP). In order to detect alterations that might be related to BNP, selected haematological analytes were determined. Haematological examinations demonstrated alterations in at least two of the three cell lineages in 10 calves (16.39 per cent). Six animals (9.84 per cent) developed a bleeding disorder indicative of BNP at approximately two weeks of age. None of these animals showed alterations in complete blood cell count at sampling in the first week of life. In weeks when calves with BNP were born, an increase in the number of apparently healthy calves demonstrating decreases in blood cell counts was observed.     

Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid endothelin-1 concentrations as diagnostic biomarkers of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Diagnosis of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is challenging. Endothelin‐1 (ET1) is a biomarker of IPF in humans, but whether ET1 can detect and differentiate IPF from other canine respiratory diseases is unknown. Objective: To evaluate whether measurement of the concentration of ET1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) can be used to distinguish canine IPF from chronic bronchitis (CB) and eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP). Animals: Twelve dogs with IPF, 10 dogs with CB, 6 dogs with EBP, 13 privately owned healthy West Highland White Terriers (WHWT), and 9 healthy Beagle dogs. Methods: Prospective, case control study. ET1 concentration was determined by ELISA in serum and in BALF. Results: No significant difference in serum ET1 concentration was detected between healthy Beagle dogs and WHWT. Serum ET1 concentration was higher in dogs with IPF (median interquartile range; 2.32 pg/mL, 2.05–3.38) than healthy Beagle dogs (1.28, 1.07–1.53; P < .001), healthy WHWT (1.56, 1.25–1.85; P < .001), dogs with EBP (0.94 0.68–1.01; P = .001), and dogs with CB (1.54 0.74–1.82; P = .005). BALF ET1 concentration was below the detection limit in healthy WHWT and in dogs with CB, whereas it was measurable in all dogs with IPF. A cut‐off serum concentration of 1.8 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 81.2% for detection of IPF, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.818. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Serum ET1 can differentiate dogs with IPF from dogs with EBP or CB. ET1 can be detected in BALF of dogs with IPF.     

Ciclosporin A therapy is associated with disturbances in glucose metabolism in dogs with atopic dermatitis

The effect of ciclosporin A (CsA) on glucose homeostasis was investigated in 16 dogs with atopic dermatitis by determining plasma glucose, serum fructosamine and insulin concentrations, and serial insulin and glucose concentrations following a glucagon stimulation test, before and 6 weeks after CsA therapy at 5 mg/kg once daily. All dogs completed the study. Following CsA treatment, the median serum fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher (pretreatment 227.5 μmol/L; post-treatment 246.5 μmol/L; P = 0.001; reference range 162-310 μmol/L). Based on analyses of the areas under concentration-time curves (AUC) pre- and post-CsA treatment, plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher (AUC without baseline correction 31.0 mmol/L/min greater; P = 0.021) and serum insulin concentrations were significantly lower (AUC without baseline correction 217.1 μIU/mL/min lower; P = 0.044) following CsA treatment. Peak glucose concentrations after glucagon stimulation test were significantly higher following CsA treatment (10.75 versus 12.05 mmol/L; P = 0.021), but there was no significant difference in peak serum insulin (52.0 versus 35.0 μIU/mL; P = 0.052). There was a negative correlation between baseline uncorrected insulin AUC and trough serum log CsA concentrations (r = -0.70, P = 0.005). The administration of CsA to dogs with atopic dermatitis leads to disturbances in glucose homeostasis. The clinical significance of this is unclear, but it should be taken into account when considering CsA treatment in dogs that already have such impairments.     

Reversible pulmonary hypertension in a cat

A 13-year-old, neutered female domestic shorthair cat was presented for sudden respiratory distress following palliative radiotherapy and the combined administration of a single dose of carboplatin for the treatment of recurrent fibrosarcoma. Clinical and radiographic findings were suggestive of pleural effusion. Echocardiography revealed marked right-sided cardiac enlargement associated with tricuspid regurgitation and Doppler evidence of pulmonary hypertension. After 25 days of treatment for congestive heart failure and suspected pulmonary thromboembolism, clinical signs and echocardiographic and Doppler evidence of right-sided cardiac enlargement and pulmonary hypertension had completely resolved. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of reversible pulmonary hypertension, likely secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism, in a cat.     

The role of European starlings in the spread of coccidia within concentrated animal feeding operations

To investigate the relationship between European starlings and bovine coccidiosis we collected samples from European starlings, cattle feed bunks, cattle water troughs, and cattle feces within concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These samples were screened for coccidia spp. to investigate (i) the prevalence of coccidia in starlings using CAFOs; (ii) if there is a relationship between bovine coccidiosis and starling numbers; (iii) if coccidia contamination of cattle feed and water is related to the number of starlings observed on CAFOs. Coccidia belonging to the genus Eimeria were detected in cattle feces and one water sample but no Eimeria spp. were detected in European starlings or cattle feed. However, many European starling samples were positive for Isospora. Starling use of CAFOs did not appear to be associated with coccidia spp. shedding by cattle and there was no correlation between starling numbers and contamination of cattle feed and water, suggesting that starling do not contribute to the amplification and spread of Eimeria in CAFOs.     

Epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis in dairy herds from Costa Rica

Bovine anaplasmosis is endemic and occurs in almost all areas of livestock production of Costa Rica. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of anaplasmosis in dairy farms of Costa Rica by the recombinant truncated MSP-5 (rMSP-5) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples were obtained from 733 cattle from 20 commercial dairy herds of Costa Rica. The overall seroprevalence was 37.2% and herd seroprevalence ranged from 20.0 to 72.0%. The age-specific seroprevalence was 49.3% in young and 33.4% in adult animals. The main risk factors associated with seroprevalence were season of occurrence of clinical cases (rainy season) (OR=22.8), presence of tabanids (OR=9.5) and stable flies (OR=6.2), stable flies control measures (OR=3.2), non-use of ear tattoos (OR=2.8), interval of veterinary visit (≤ 60 days) (OR=2.7), altitude of the farms (<800 masl) (OR=2.6) and age (<2 years) (OR=1.8). The results indicated that exposure of cattle to Anaplasma marginale is common in dairy herds of Costa Rica and endemic instability situation probably is due to inadequate vector control.     

Genetic parameters of insect bite hypersensitivity in Dutch Friesian broodmares

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is a seasonal allergic skin disease in horses caused by bites of certain Culicoides spp. The aim of our study was to investigate the maternal effect on IBH and to estimate the heritability and repeatability of IBH in the Dutch Friesian horse population. Data consisted of 3,453 Dutch Friesian broodmares with 3,763 visual observations on IBH clinical symptoms scored by 12 inspectors during organized foal inspections in 2004 and 2008. Nine percent of the mares (n = 310) were scored in both years. Mares descended from 144 sires and 2,554 dams and 26.2% of the dams (n = 669) had more than 1 offspring in the data set (range: 2 to 6). Insect bite hypersensitivity was analyzed as a binary trait with a threshold animal model with and without a maternal effect, using a Bayesian approach. Observed IBH prevalence in Dutch Friesian broodmare population was 18.2%. Heritability on the liability scale was 0.16 (SD = 0.06); heritability on the observed scale was 0.07; and repeatability was 0.89 (SD = 0.03). Maternal effect was 0.17 (SD = 0.06) and significantly differed from zero, although the animal model without a maternal effect fitted the data better. These results show that genetic and permanent environmental factors affect IBH in Dutch Friesian horses. The dam affected the IBH development of her offspring through an additive genetic influence but also by being part of their rearing environment.     

The expression of interferon-stimulated gene 15 in equine endometrium

Establishment of pregnancy is critically dependent upon a precisely orchestrated embryo-maternal interaction leading to a receptive uterine environment. The up-regulation of the interferon-stimulated protein 15 kDa (ISG15) during pregnancy has been described in various species and has been hypothesized to be part of the molecular repertoire that makes the uterus receptive to conceptus development. In the current study, the expression of ISG15 and enzymes involved in ISG15ylation was examined at the mRNA and protein level in equine endometrium at Day 14 of the luteal phase and at Day 14 and 50 of pregnancy. ISG15 mRNA showed a 2.63-fold higher expression at Day 14 of pregnancy when compared to Day 14 of the cycle, while mRNA abundance at Day 50 of pregnancy was unchanged compared to Day 14 of the cycle. Upon Western blot analysis using anti-ISG15 antibody, several higher molecular weight bands could be observed, representing proteins conjugated to ISG15. No free ISG15 could be detected. The pattern of ISG15 reactive proteins differed from those observed in non-uterine samples. Upon immunohistochemistry, ISG15 reactive proteins located primarily to luminal and glandular epithelial cells, while stromal cells showed weaker staining. In conclusion, the expression of ISG15-conjugated proteins in equine endometrium did not differ between cyclic and pregnant 14 days after ovulation and Day 50 of pregnancy. It is hypothesized that the unique subset of ISG15ylated proteins expressed in endometrial tissue contributes to normal cellular function and that, unlike other species, the modification of ISG15-conjugated proteins is not an active contributor to conceptus-maternal interaction in the mare.