Observations on blood coagulation after snakebite in dogs and cats

Blood samples from 13 cases of snakebite, 6 in dogs and 7 in cats, were tested for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Four cases were tested for fibrinogen concentration. Based on the results of a commercially available ELISA test, 9 cases were caused by tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and 1 case by a brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). Three other cases had clinical signs and increased creatine phosphokinase values which suggested tiger snake envenomation. Although the period post-envenomation varied, results indicated a marked prolongation of the APTT and PT in 5 of 6 dogs. Three of these 5 dogs also had increased FDP values and 3 (of 3 examined) were hypofibrinogenaemic. Clinical manifestations of this coagulopathy were: haematoma formation after venepuncture (3 cases), gingival petechiae (1 case) and hyphaema (1 case). In contrast, there was minimal or no prolongation of the APTT and PT values, and no increase in FDP, in all 7 cats. Furthermore, no cat exhibited clinical signs of a coagulopathy.     

Effects of Sarcocystis miescheriana infection on carcass quality and on the water-binding capacity of the meat of halothane-tested fattening pigs

Ten halothane-positive pigs (stress sensitive, group A) and ten halothane-negative pigs (stress insensitive, Group C) with a mean body weight of 36 kg were each inoculated orally with 50,000 sporocysts of Sarcocystis miescheriana. Twelve halthane-positive pigs (Group B) and ten halothane-negative pigs (Group D) served as non-infected controls. Thirteen weeks post infection (p.i.) the lean: fat ratios of the pigs of the infected groups A and C were lower (A, 1:0.41 +/- 0.09; C, 1:0.50 +/- 0.10) than those of the pigs of the non-infected groups B and D (B, 1:0.50 +/- 0.08; D, 1:0.55 +/- 0.08). The back-fat thickness, the fat thickness 'A' and the fat thickness 'B' were thinner in infected pigs than in non-infected pigs. The difference in Lendenst?rkespeckquotient (Loin Fat Thickness Quotient) (LSQ) between infected and non-infected pigs was not statistically significant. The values of the water-holding capacity were lower in infected pigs than in non-infected pigs, the difference being statistically significant only in the halothane-negative groups (C, 0.45 +/- 0.02; D, 0.48 +/- 0.04). The water-absorbing capacity was significantly higher in the infected groups (A, 5.92 +/- 3.99%; B, 2.26 +/- 1.08%; C, 8.96 +/- 2.90%; D, 4.97 +/- 2.51%). In conclusion, it can be said that there was a slight tendency towards a better carcass quality and a better water-binding capacity in infected pigs, although this was combined with reduced growth rates.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pastoral camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Butana plains, mid-Eastern Sudan.

A total of 482 serum samples from pastoral camels in the Butana plains, mid-Eastern Sudan, were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies by the latex agglutination test (LAT). Sixty-seven percent of the camels were seroreactive. The prevalence rate of seroreactivity increased significantly with age (P less than 0.01) and was highest among camels aged over 7 years (74.2%). The prevalence rate of seropositivity decreased proportionally with the level of serum dilution. At dilutions of 1:32 and above, the prevalence rate was 25.9%. There were no sex-linked differences in seroreactivity. This study suggests widespread infection with Toxoplasma gondii among pastoral camels, a finding that warrants a closer look into the possible ways infection is acquired by camels in their arid environment, its economic impact, as well as its public health significance, especially among the nomads who consume cameline milk and liver raw.     

舒泰对野生猕猴麻醉效果的观察

利用舒泰50(替来它明和唑拉西泮合剂)对36只野生猕猴按(5.79±1.28)mg/kg的剂量肌肉注射进行麻醉,麻醉期间对镇痛、镇静、肌松、呼吸、心率、血压、体温及血氧饱和度等指标进行监测.结果显示:舒泰对猕猴的诱导期为(2.72±1.72)min,平均诱导效果判定为"极好",麻醉期间体温为(38.74±0.46)℃,...     

不同湿度和氨水平对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能及肉品质的影响

本研究旨在探讨鸡舍内不同湿度和氨浓度对肉仔鸡机体抗氧化性能和肉品质的影响.试验选用健康、体质量相近的21日龄AA雄性肉仔鸡192只,随机分为2组.一组为高氨组(暴露于70 mg·kg-1氨气,H),另一组是低氨组(暴露于30 mg·kg-1氨气,L).其中每一组的一半分别置于60％湿度(对照组,C),另一半置于35％湿度(处理组,T),这样组成4个试验组,对照1:60％湿度+30 mg·kg-1氨水平组(C+L)、对照2:60%湿度+70 mg·kg-1氨水平组(C+H)、处理1:35％湿度+30 mg·kg-1氨水平组(T+L),以及处理2:35％湿度+70 mg· kg-1氨水平组(T+H),试验期21 d.试验结束时测定肉仔鸡生产性能,血液及肌肉抗氧化性能和肉品质相关指标.试验结果表明,高氨(70 mg· kg-1)水平显著降低肉仔鸡结束体质量,平均日采食量,日增体质量,血液及肌肉中总抗氧化力及肉仔鸡宰后45 min时的胸肌a*值(P＜0.05);增加了胸肌存放5d时硫代巴比妥酸反应物水平(TBARS)含量,胸肌滴水损失率,宰后45 min时的胸肌b*值(P＜0.05)和L*值(P=0.054)及肌肉剪切力(P=0.075).低湿(35％相对湿度)处理降低了肉仔鸡试验结束体质量(P＜0.05),平均日采食量(P＜0.05)及平均日增体质量(P=0.072),胸肌中超氧化物歧化酶及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性(P＜0.05)及宰后45 min时的胸肌L*值(P=0.053);增加了肌肉剪切力(P=0.057)和胸肌存放5及7d时的TBARS含量(P＜0.05).与低氨对照组(C+L)相比,高氨低湿组处理组(T+H)肉仔鸡的试验结束体质量、平均日采食量、平均日增体质量、血清总抗氧化力、胸肌中总超氧化物歧化酶及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性,胸肌宰后45 min a*值均显著降低(P＜0.05),而宰后5及7d肌肉中TBARS含量、肌肉中滴水损失及肌肉剪切力均显著提高(P＜0.05).本研究结果揭示肉仔鸡舍内高氨(70 mg·kg-1)及低湿度均显著降低了肉仔鸡生产性能、机体抗氧化能力及肌肉品质,且低湿度环境加剧了高氨的不良影响.     

苜蓿抗寒性研究进展

在国内外大量研究成果的基础上,对苜蓿经过低温胁迫后的形态、生理生化方面的变化,苜蓿秋眠性与抗寒性的关系,现代生物技术以及辐射诱变和太空搭载在苜蓿抗寒育种中的应用进行了系统阐述,讨论了当前苜蓿抗寒性研究工作中存在的不足,并对未来的研究重点进行了展望。     

Cardiovascular effects of sevoflurane in Holstein calves

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiovascular effects of sevoflurane in calves. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Six, healthy, 8–12‐week‐old Holstein calves weighing 80 ± 4.5 (mean ± SEM) kg were studied. Methods Anesthesia was induced by face‐mask administration of 7% sevoflurane in O₂. Calves tracheae were intubated, placed in right lateral recumbency, and maintained with 3.7% end‐tidal concentration sevoflurane for 30 minutes to allow catheterization of the auricular artery and placement of a Swan‐Ganz thermodilution catheter into the pulmonary artery. After instrumentation, administration of sevoflurane was temporarily discontinued until mean arterial pressure was > 100 mm Hg. Baseline values were recorded and the vaporizer output increased to administer 3.7% end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration. Ventilation was controlled to maintain normocapnia. The following were recorded at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes after collection of baseline data and expressed as the mean value (± SEM): direct systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures; cardiac output; mean pulmonary arterial pressure; pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure, heart rate; and pulmonary arterial temperature. Cardiac index and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance values were calculated using standard formulae. Arterial blood gases were analyzed at baseline, and at 15 and 45 minutes. Differences from baseline values were determined using one‐way analysis of variance for repeated measures with post‐hoc differences between mean values identified using Dunnet's test (p < 0.05). Results Mean time from beginning sevoflurane administration to intubation of the trachea was 224 ± 9 seconds. The mean end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration at baseline was 0.7 (± 0.11)%. Sevoflurane anesthesia was associated with decreased arterial blood pressure at all sampling times. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased from a baseline value of 112 ± 7 mm Hg to a minimum value of 88 ± 4 mm Hg at 5 minutes. Compared with baseline, arterial pH was decreased at 15 minutes. Pulmonary arterial blood temperature was decreased at 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Arterial CO₂ tension increased from a baseline value of 43 ± 3 to 54 ± 4 mm Hg (5.7 ± 0.4 to 7.2 ± 0.3 kPa) at 15 minutes. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was increased at 30 and 45 minutes. Pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure increased from a baseline value of 18 ± 2 to 23 ± 2 mm Hg at 45 minutes. There were no significant changes in other measured variables. All calves recovered from anesthesia uneventfully. Conclusion We conclude that sevoflurane for induction and maintenance of anesthesia was effective and reliable in these calves and that neither hypotension nor decreased cardiac output was a clinical concern. Clinical relevance Use of sevoflurane for mask induction and maintenance of anesthesia in young calves is a suitable alternative to injectable and other inhalant anesthetics.