An open clinical trial on the efficacy of cetirizine hydrochloride in the management of allergic pruritus in cats

Cetirizine hydrochloride was administered orally at 5 mg/cat, q24h, to 32 cats with allergic skin disease. Pruritus was reduced in 41% (13/32) of the cats. The antipruritic effect was repeatable and sustainable. There was no significant association between patient age, disease severity, or cutaneous reaction pattern and improvement during cetirizine administration. No adverse side effects were reported.     

Effects of chloroacetamides and phytosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides on growth and photosynthesis in sunflower (Helianthus animus L.) and Amaranthus hybridus L.

The effects of the chloroacetamide herbicides acetochlor, alachlor and propachlor and the pho-tosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides linuron, prometryn and terbutryn on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and atrazine-sensitive and -resistant Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes were investigated under laboratory conditions. Sunflower tolerated all three chloroacetamides in pre-emergence applications of 1.5–5.0 kg a.i. ha^?1 in growth assays. Sunflower also survived doses of 0.5–1.0 kg a.i. ha^?1 of linuron, prometryn and terbutryn, although growth reduction and chlorosis of treated plants was observed. These three herbicides inhibited photosynthetic electron transport in in vitro Hill reaction and fluorescence assays and, with terbutryn, photosynthesis recovered upon transfer of the leaves from herbicide solutions to water. The practical significance of these results for the control of weeds in sunflower cultivation in Spain are discussed. Effets d'herbicides chloroacétamides et d'herbi-cides inhibiteurs de la photosynthèse sur la crois-sance et la photosynthèse du tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) et de Amaranthus hybridus L. Les effets des herbicides chloroacétamides acétochlor, alachlor et propachlor ainsi que des herbicides inhibiteurs de la photosynthèse linuron, prometryne et terbutryne, ont étéétudiés sur le tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) et sur des biotypes sensibles et résistants d'Amaranthus hybridus L. en conditions de laboratoire. La croissance du tournesol n'était affectée par au-cun des trois chloroacétamides appliqués en prélevée (1,5–5,0 kg m.a. ha^?1). Le linuron, la terbutryne et la prometryne (0,5–1,0 kg m.a. ha^?1) occasionnaient des réductions de croissance et des chloroses sur le tournesol mais les plantes survivaient. Ces trois herbicides in-hibaient le transport d'électrons photosyn-thétique observé par des mesures de fluorescence et, in vitro par la réaction de Hill. Dans le cas de la terbutryne, la photosynthèse reprenait après transfert des feuilles des solutions d'herbicides dans 1'eau. La signification pratique de ces résultats pour la lutte contre les mauvaises herbes du tournesol en Espagne est discutée. Wirkung von Chloracetamiden und Photosyn-these-hemmenden Herbiziden auf Wachstum und Photosynthese der Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) und Amaranthus hybridus L. Die Wirkung der Chloracetamid-Herbizide Acetochlor, Alachlor und Propachlor und der Photosynthese-hemmenden Herbizide Linuron, Prometryn und Terbutryn auf die Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) und Atrazin-empfindliche sowie-unempfindl Amaranthus-hybridus-Biotypen wurde unter Laborbedin-gungen untersucht. In Wachstumstests tolerierte die Sonnenblume alle 3 Chloracetamide bei Vorauflaufanwendung von 1,5 bis 5,0 kg AS ha^?1. Auch Dosen von 0,5 bis 1,0 kg AS ha^?1 von Linuron, Prometryn und Terbutryn wurden vertragen, aber der Wuchs war beeinträchtig, und Chlorosen wurden beobachtet. Diese 3 Herbizide hemmten den photosynthetischen Elektronentransport bei Versuchen zur Invitro-Hill-Reaktion und Fluoreszenz, und bei Terbutryn stellte sich die Photosynthese nach Überführen der Blätter von der Herbizidlösung auf Wasser wieder ein. Die praktische Bedeutung dieser Ergebnisse für die Unkrautbekämpfung in Sonnenblumenkulturen in Spanien wird diskutiert.     

Transmission of plum pox potyvirus in Spain1

Transmission tests were conducted in the laboratory to determine which are the aphid species responsible for the great natural spread of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) observed in the field in Spain. Woody hosts were used in these tests and different transmission techniques were compared. The aphid species tested were Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii, A. spiraecola, A. fabae, Hyalopterus pruni and Brachycaudus prunicola. Although the transmission rates obtained were, in general, quite low, it can be stated that, except for B. prunicola (pending confirmation of results), all species tested transmitted PPV under the conditions of the trial.     

Role of platelet activating factor in development of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in dogs with endotoxemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in dogs. ANIMALS: 42 dogs. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were obtained from dogs given LPS (40 microg/kg of body weight; n = 16), PAF (1 microg/kg; 6), PAF (5 microg/kg/h for 90 minutes; 4), or physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.1 ml/kg/h for 90 minutes; 3) IV to monitor changes in blood cell counts, using automated counters and blood smears stained with Giemsa. Blood samples were also obtained from dogs given LPS (40 microg/kg) that had (n = 5) or had not (6) been treated beforehand with TCV-309, a potent PAF antagonist. Concentration of PAF in blood was determined by use of 125I-radioimmunoassay in dogs given LPS at 1 mg/kg (n = 3) and 40 microg/kg (9). RESULTS: Thrombocytopenia and neutropenia were found in all dogs except those given saline solution. The LPS-induced thrombocytopenia was significantly suppressed by prior treatment with TCV-309. The PAF concentrations increased markedly 1 hour after injection of 1 mg/kg of LPS and increased slightly but significantly 10 minutes after injection of 40 microg/kg of LPS. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PAF plays an important role in the development of LPS-induced thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in dogs. Control of PAF production, PAF-induced effects, or both may be important in the treatment of dogs with gram-negative bacterial infections and associated thrombocytopenia and neutropenia.     

Evaluation of the concentration of marbofloxacin in alveolar macrophages and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid after administration in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine concentrations of marbofloxacin in alveolar macrophages (AMs) and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and compare those concentrations with plasma concentrations in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 12 adult mixed-breed and purebred hounds. PROCEDURE: 10 dogs received orally administered marbofloxacin at a dosage of 2.75 mg/kg every 24 hours for 5 days. Two dogs served as nontreated controls. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage procedures were performed while dogs were anesthetized with propofol, approximately 6 hours after the fifth dose. The concentrations of marbofloxacin in plasma and bronchoalveolar fluid (cell and supernatant fractions) were determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography with detection of fluorescence. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD plasma marbofloxacin concentrations 2 and 6 hours after the fifth dose were 2.36 +/- 0.52 microg/mL and 1.81 +/- 0.21 microg/mL, respectively. Mean +/- SD marbofloxacin concentration 6 hours after the fifth dose in AMs (37.43 +/- 24.61 microg/mL) was significantly greater than that in plasma (1.81 +/- 0.21 microg/mL) and ELF (0.82 +/- 0.34 microg/mL), resulting in a mean AM concentration-to-plasma concentration ratio of 20.4, a mean AM:ELF ratio of 60.8, and a mean ELF-to-plasma ratio of 0.46. Marbofloxacin was not detected in any samples from control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Marbofloxacin concentrations in AMs were greater than the mean inhibitory concentrations of major bacterial pathogens in dogs. Results indicated that marbofloxacin accumulates in AMs at concentrations exceeding those reached in plasma and ELF The accumulation of marbofloxacin in AMs may facilitate treatment for susceptible intracellular pathogens or infections associated with pulmonary macrophage infiltration.