Diagnosis and management of hepatic copper accumulation in a Skye terrier

A one-year-old, neutered female Skye terrier presented with anorexia, vomiting, seizures and ascites. Portal venography demonstrated the presence of multiple acquired portosystemic shunts. Hepatic biopsy confirmed the presence of copper accumulation and fibrosis. Treatment included ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, colchicine and oral zinc. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report detailing successful management of Skye terrier hepatopathy.     

Management of drug-resistant cyathostominosis on a breeding farm in central North Carolina

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Possible anthelmintic resistance on a breeding farm where a rapid rotation anthelmintic programme had been implemented for 9 years was investigated. Cyathostomins resistant to fenbendazole and pyrantel were documented by faecal worm egg count reduction test (FWECRT). OBJECTIVES: To 1) manage small strongyle transmission in a herd of horses in which resistance to both pyrantel pamoate and fenbendazole was identified and thereby reduce the risk of clinical disease in the individual animal, 2) monitor the change in resistance patterns over time and 3) monitor the efficacy of ivermectin over the study period. METHODS: Targeted ivermectin treatment of horses on the farm was instituted for mature horses with faecal worm egg counts (FWEC) > 200 eggs/g (epg) and for horses < age 2 years with FWEC > 100 epg. RESULTS: Over a 30 month period, targeted ivermectin treatment achieved acceptable control in mares, as judged by FWEC, and improved control of patent cyathostome infection in consecutive foal crops. Egg reappearance time (ERT) after treatment with ivermectin was < 8 weeks in mares and foals more frequently in the second year of the study than in the first year. Numbers of anthelmintic treatments were reduced by 77.6 and 533% in the mare and foal group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted ivermectin treatment may be an economically viable method of managing multiple drug resistant cyathostominosis. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Use of ivermectin should be monitored closely for development of resistance.     

Morphological relationship between intercalated duct and pancreatic islet in streptozotocin and/or camostat mesilate administrations in the chicken

Present electron microscopical and immunocytochemistrical studies elucidated some morphological relationship between intercalated duct (ICD) and pancreatic islet cells in the chicken in streptozotocin (STZ) and/or camostat mesilate (CM) administrations. Twenty-one chickens were set into four experimental groups: (1) control group, (2) STZ administration group, (3) CM administration group, and (4) STZ + CM administration group. Cytoplasms of ICD cells stained more strongly with eosin in STZ administration group than other groups, and electron-dense materials and intercalated processes between ICD and islet cells were also increasing in time dependence in STZ administration. Number of pancreatic islet in STZ + CM co-administration was about 3.1 times larger than other groups. Many small sized cells were detected at surrounding area of ICD and they incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine better than other experimental groups. Present morphological data suggested that ICD cells might support some tolerances of pancreatic endocrine cells against toxic substances and also involve in regeneration of new pancreatic islet cells in STZ + CM co-administration.     

Characterisation of Hungarian porcine circovirus 2 genomes associated with PMWS and PDNS cases

The authors report the data of the first survey on the incidence of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) in Hungary. A PCR method specific for the detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) was developed, which proved to be suitable for diagnostic purposes. PCR screening of organ samples from pigs suspected to be affected with PMWS or PDNS revealed the presence of PCV-2 in 80% of the cases. Six PCV-2 genomes from Hungarian isolates were completely sequenced. Phylogenetic comparison with all the available PCV-2 sequences showed that porcine circoviruses circulating in Hungary are more variable than in several other European countries. Two Hungarian strains clustered together with the Spanish strains forming a distinct group; two others fell in a common group with the French, UK, and Dutch strains, whereas another two strains showed the closest relationship to two of the three known German PCV-2 sequences.     

高油玉米等比例替代普通玉米对生长肥育猪生产性能影响的评定

引言高油玉米是普通黄玉米中的一个特殊品种,它的含油量比普通黄玉米高。该玉米较高的含油量提高了生长肥育猪日粮中的能量浓度。高能量浓度的日粮具有进一步改善饲料报酬的潜力,生猪养殖者可从中获得经济效益。本研究旨在评定高油玉米和普通玉米对生长肥育猪生产性能的影响:平均日增重(ADG),平均日采食量(ADFI),饲料报酬(G:F),脂肪和腰肌厚度,胴体重和胴体品质的额外价格补贴,以及瘦肉率。试验期间为1999年2月至5月。1试验设计试验采用4个日粮处理,分别用普通玉米(NC)和高油玉米(HOC)配制,试验为16周(生长阶段8周,育肥阶段8周)。日粮…     

Agreement between direct, oscillometric and Doppler ultrasound blood pressures using three different cuff positions in anesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the agreement between invasive blood pressure (IBP) and Doppler ultrasound blood pressure (DUBP) using three cuff positions and oscillometric blood pressure (OBP) in anesthetized dogs.Study designProspective study.AnimalsNine adult dogs weighing 14.5–29.5 kg.MethodsThe cuff was placed above and below the tarsus, and above the carpus with the DUBP and above the carpus with the OBP monitor. Based on IBP recorded via a dorsal pedal artery catheter, conditions of low, normal, and high systolic arterial pressures [SAP (mmHg) <90, between 90 and 140, and >140, respectively] were induced by changes in isoflurane concentrations and/or dopamine administration. Mean biases ± 2 SD (limits of agreement) were determined.ResultsAt high blood pressures, regardless of cuff position, SAP determinations with the DUBP underestimated invasive SAP values by more than 20 mmHg in most instances. With the DUBP, cuff placement above the tarsus yielded better agreement with invasive SAP during low blood pressures (0.2 ± 16 mmHg). The OBP underestimated SAP during high blood pressures (?42 ± 42 mmHg) and yielded better agreement with IBP for mean (MAP) and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure measurements [overall bias: 2 ± 15 mmHg (MAP) and 0.2 ± 16 mmHg (DAP)].ConclusionsAgreement of SAP determinations with the DUBP is poor at SAP > 140 mmHg, regardless of cuff placement. Measurement error of the DUBP with the cuff placed above the tarsus is clinically acceptable during low blood pressures. Agreement of MAP and DAP measurements with this OBP monitor compared with IBP was clinically acceptable over a wide pressure range.Clinical relevanceWith the DUBP device, placing the cuff above the tarsus allows reasonable agreement with IBP obtained via dorsal pedal artery catheterization. Only MAP and DAP provide reasonable estimates of direct blood pressure with the OBP monitor evaluated.     

Nuclear Replacement of In Vitro‐Matured Porcine Oocytes by a Serial Centrifugation and Fusion Method

The objective of the present study was to establish a method for nuclear replacement in metaphase‐II (M‐II) stage porcine oocytes. Karyoplasts containing M‐II chromosomes (K) and cytoplasts without chromosomes (C) were produced from in vitro‐matured oocytes by a serial centrifugation method. The oocytes were then reconstructed by fusion of one karyoplast with 1, 2, 3 or 4 cytoplasts (K + 1C, K + 2C, K + 3C and K + 4C, respectively). Reconstructed oocytes, karyoplasts without fusion of any cytoplast (K) and zona‐free M‐II oocytes (control) were used for experiments. The rates of female pronucleus formation after parthenogenetic activation in all groups of reconstructed oocytes (58.2–77.4%) were not different from those of the K and control groups (58.2% and 66.0%, respectively). In vitro fertilization was carried out to assay the fertilization ability and subsequent embryonic development of the reconstructed oocytes. The cytoplast : karyoplast ratio did not affect the fertilization status (penetration and male pronuclear formation rates) of the oocytes. A significantly high monospermy rate was found in K oocytes (p < 0.05, 61.6%) compared with the other groups (18.2–32.8%). Blastocyst formation rates increased significantly as the number of the cytoplasts fused with karyoplasts increased (p < 0.05, 0.0–15.3%). The blastocyst rate in the K + 4C group (15.3%) was comparable with that of the control (17.8%). Total cell numbers in both the K + 3C and K + 4C groups (16.0 and 15.3 cells, respectively) were comparable with that of the control (26.2 cells). Our results demonstrate that a serial centrifugation and fusion (Centri‐Fusion) is an effective method for producing M‐II chromosome transferred oocytes with normal fertilization ability and in vitro development. It is suggested that the number of cytoplasts fused with a karyoplast plays a critical role in embryonic development.     

Tidal Breathing Flow‐Volume Loop Analysis for the Diagnosis and Staging of Tracheal Collapse in Dogs

Background: Tracheoscopy is generally used for the diagnosis of tracheal collapse (TC) in dogs; yet, it is costly, requires anesthesia, and can irritate the airway. The tidal breathing flow‐volume loop (TBFVL) is a safe, quick, and noninvasive pulmonary function test currently used in humans. Hypothesis: TBFVL will differentiate dogs with TC from healthy controls and contribute to disease grading. Animals: Twenty‐eight dogs with naturally occurring TC and 10 healthy controls. Methods: Cross‐sectional, prospective clinical study: The 38 dogs were assigned to one of 4 groups based on tracheoscopy results: group A (n = 10, healthy controls), group B (n = 10, grade I TC), group C (n = 10, grade II TC), and group D (n = 8, grade III TC). The TBFVL measurement was performed on all dogs and loops were assessed for their shape. Forty‐four TBFVL parameters were calculated. Results: Two types of TBFVL shapes were identified: Type I, representative of the 10 healthy controls, and Type II, representative of the 28 dogs with TC. Statistical analysis showed the dogs could be differentiated into healthy or affected by TC by 3 indices, TE/TI (expiratory time divided by inspiratory time), TI/TTOT (inspiratory time divided by total respiratory time), and EF75/IF75 (expiratory flow at end tidal volume plus 75% end tidal volume divided by inspiratory flow at end tidal volume plus 75% end tidal volume). The TC could also be graded as mild‐moderate (grades I and II) or severe (grade III), showing a diagnostic value of 97.4%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: TBFVL is accurate, quick, noninvasive, and safe and can contribute to the diagnosis of TC in dogs.     

Prostaglandins and glutathione peroxidase in bovine mastitis

Prostaglandin (PG) levels in milk and plasma samples from mastitic cows were determined by radioimmunoassay and compared with erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and other relevant parameters in milk and blood. The overall levels of PGE2, PGF2 alpha and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in milk were two to four times higher than in blood plasma both in healthy and diseased animals (P less than 0.01). In mastitic milk the PG levels were 24 to 55 per cent and in blood plasma 41 to 95 per cent higher than in healthy animals. The changes were significant and largest for the PGF2 alpha values. In milk, the PG concentrations correlated with the markedly elevated cell count (r = 0.49 to 0.57), and TXB2 values also correlated with milk yield. In blood, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha correlated positively with serum albumin, and PGE2 also correlated with glutathione (GSH). PGE2 and PGF2 alpha correlated negatively with GSH-Px and gamma-glutamyl transferase. The substantial decline in GSH-Px in mastitic animals (P less than 0.01) may be related to changes in lipid peroxidation and PG formation. The possible implications of these findings in the treatment of mastitis are discussed.