Effects of preoperative administration of meloxicam on whole blood platelet aggregation, buccal mucosal bleeding time, and haematological indices in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative administration of meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for pain control, on primary haemostasis in dogs. Twenty healthy female dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy were enrolled in the study. Sixty minutes before pre-anaesthesia, a single dose of meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was randomly administered intravenously (IV) to 10 dogs (treatment group) while control dogs received an equivalent volume of saline solution IV. Platelet aggregation, buccal mucosa bleeding time, platelet count and haematological indices were measured at 0, 1, 6 and 24 h after administration of meloxicam. Since significant differences between groups were not observed for any of the measured parameters, preoperative administration of meloxicam may be used for pain control before elective ovariohysterectomy in healthy dogs, without compromising primary haemostasis.     

Failure of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser lithotripsy in two horses with calculi in the urinary bladder

Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser lithotripsy was attempted in a mare and a gelding with calculi in the urinary bladder. The procedure was unsuccessful in producing adequate fragmentation of the calculi. In the gelding, pulsed dye laser lithotripsy was subsequently used to fragment the urolith. Manual removal of the urolith via the urethra was performed in the mare.     

An experimental study on triclabendazole resistance of Fasciola hepatica in sheep

The efficacy of triclabendazole in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica was studied. Two groups of 12 lambs were infected with a susceptible (S) or a resistant (R) strain of F. hepatica. Eight weeks after infection, six lambs of each group (ST and RT) were treated with triclabendazole (10mg/kg). The other lambs were used as untreated controls (SC and RC). The parameters studied were: GLDH, gamma-GT, ELISA measuring antibodies against recombinant cathepsin-L(1) and eggs per gram faeces (epg). The lambs were slaughtered 16 weeks after infection and the number of flukes counted.The GLDH, gamma-GT levels and the OD value of the ELISA decreased as a result of the treatment in group ST. Patent infections were observed in all animals of groups SC, RT and RC. In group ST, occasionally a few eggs were found in five lambs. The percentage of flukes was 31.3 in SC and 37.6 in RC. In the treated groups ST and RT, the percentage of flukes was 0.06 and 33.6, respectively. These results corresponded to efficacies of 99.8% in the susceptible and 10.8% in the resistant strain. Since the resistant strain was isolated from a mixed cattle and sheep farm, it confirms the presence of triclabendazole resistance in the Netherlands.     

Immunoglobulins and anti-Marek's disease virus antibody synthesis in chickens after passive immunization with immunoglobulin Y anti-Marek's disease virus antibody.

The effect of passive immunization with immunoglobulin Y (IgY) antibody against Marek's disease virus (MDV) was examined in MDV-susceptible chickens. The production of IgY, immunoglobulin M, and probably also immunoglobulin A was depressed in passively immunized chickens when compared with that in MDV-exposed chickens which had not been given IgY anti-MDV antibody. In passively immunized chickens, the synthesis of immunoglobulin M and IgY anti-MDV antibodies in response to MDV infection also was delayed as determined by agar gel precipitin and indirect fluorescence antibody tests.     

Evaluation of sodium carboxymethylcellulose for prevention of experimentally induced abdominal adhesions in ponies

Twelve ponies were used to evaluate the reliability of an abdominal adhesion model and the efficacy of intraperitoneal infusion of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in preventing abdominal adhesions. A celiotomy was performed on each of the 12 ponies and the serosa of the distal portion of the jejunum was abraded with a dry gauze sponge at 5 locations. In addition to the serosal damage, a single 2-0 chromic gut suture was placed through the seromuscular layer of the jejunum in the center of the abraded area. After closure of the celiotomy, a 1% solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (7 ml/kg of body weight) was infused into the peritoneal cavity of 6 ponies. The other ponies served as untreated controls. All ponies were euthanatized 14 days after surgery. All ponies in the control group had abdominal adhesions at the time of necropsy. Four of the 6 ponies in the treatment group were free of adhesions. There was a significant (P less than 0.0001) difference in the total number of adhesions between the 2 groups.     

Types of colic and frequency of postcolic abortion in pregnant mares: 105 cases (1984-1988)

The records of 105 pregnant mares and 105 nonpregnant horses with colic admitted to an equine hospital were reviewed. The 2 groups had similar types of colic and short-term survivability. Of the 105 pregnant mares, 31 were treated medically and 74 required surgical intervention. Thirty-three of the 105 mares died or were euthanatized. Thirteen (18%) of the 72 remaining mares aborted. Of 4 mares with severe medical cases, 2 died, 1 aborted, and 1 aborted and died. Of 27 horses with medical cases that required less intensive treatment, none died and 2 aborted. Of the 74 horses that required surgery, 45 survived to termination of pregnancy (foaling or abortion); 36 of these mares (80%) had a live foal. The type of surgical lesion had no effect on pregnancy outcome. Stage of gestation at initial examination, duration of anesthesia, or intraoperative hypoxia or hypotension had no effect on pregnancy outcome. However, when hypoxia occurred during colic surgery in the last 60 days of pregnancy, the mares either aborted or delivered severely compromised foals that did not survive.     

Placental transfer of etomidate in pregnant ewes after an intravenous bolus dose and continuous infusion

Etomidate (ETO) is a short-acting intravenous (IV) anaesthetic characterised by cardiopulmonary stability and favourable pharmacokinetics. Although ETO has been used satisfactorily in obstetrical anaesthesia, little is known about placental transfer and the drug's pharmacokinetics in the fetus. Placental transfer in pregnant ewes has been evaluated following the administration of an IV bolus of 1mg/kg ETO; and after a 1-h infusion of 100 microg/kg min(-1) ETO preceded by an IV bolus of 1mg/kg. In ewes, ETO concentration and AUC were higher than those found in fetuses. After the ETO bolus dose, the fetus:ewe AUC ratio was 0.45+/-0.32, and the mean residence time (MRT) was 20+/-7 min for dams and 22+/-3 min for the fetuses. After ETO infusion, the AUC ratio was 0.37+/-0.08, and MRT was 46+/-12 min for ewes and 46+/-22 min for fetuses. Although ETO crosses the placenta very rapidly and reaches the fetus in high amounts, a certain placental barrier effect limits its transfer. There is no evidence of cumulative effects of the drug in the fetus as fetal ETO elimination was as rapid as in the dam.