Epizootiological investigation if strangles in the equine stables in tehran

Strangles is an acute disease of horses caused by infec- tion with Streptococcus equi. It is characterized by inflamma- tion of the upper respiratory tract and abscessation in the adjacent lymph nodes. The distribution of strangles is world- wide. When an outbreak does occur in a large group of horses, it is usually restricted to the younger age groups, under adverse climatic conditions, and when shelter is inadequate. When the group is made up of predominantly young horses, up to 100% may be affected. Such a high incidence is encountered soon after large numbers of susceptible horses, which may have come from many localities, are stabled to get her. The source of infection is the nasal discharge from infected animals, which contaminates the pasture and feed and water troughs. Infection occurs by ingestion or by inhalation o f droplets. During April (1990), two cases of strangles were diag- nosed at Veterinary Faculty Teaching Hospital in Tehran. An epizootiological survey commenced immediately and showed 89-100% of horses were affected. The clinical symp- toms were severe in young horses and the mortality rate was zero. All of the infected horses responded to treatment with intramuscular injection of penicillin/streptomycin.     

The effect of medetomidine and its antagonism with atipamezole on stress-related hormones, metabolites, physiologic responses, sedation, and analgesia in goats

Six 3‐year‐old goats (three males and three females) weighing 60.0 ± 18 kg (mean ± SD) were used to investigate the effect of medetomidine (MED; 20 µg kg^?1 IV) and its antagonism with atipamezole (ATI; 100 µg kg^?1 IV) on physiologic responses (heart rate (HR; beats minute^?1), respiratory rate (RR; breaths minute^?1), electrocardiogram (ECG), rectal temperature (T; °C), blood pressure (oscillometric; mm Hg), sedation (SED), posture (REC), analgesia (ALG), and stress‐related hormonal and metabolic responses (epinephrine and norepinephrine (high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection), cortisol (COR; µg dL^?1; radioimmunoassay), glucose (GLU; mg mL^?1; enzymatic colorimetric assay), and free fatty acids (modified enzymatic colorimetric assay)); each goat received ATI or SAL in random order separated by 1 week. Jugular catheters were placed for drug administration and blood sampling (10–12 mL sample^?1) using a lidocaine skin block (20 mg) 2 hours prior to beginning of each trial; during this trial, goats breathed room air. Physiologic parameters were measured, SED, REC, and ALG were scored, and blood samples were collected from jugular catheters at baseline (time = ?30 minutes), 5 minutes post‐MED administration (time = ?25 minutes), 25 minute post‐MED administration and immediately prior to antagonism (time = 0 minute), and at 5, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after administering ATI or SAL. ALG was tested by clamping the withers and metacarpus with hoof testers fitted with a force transducer to measure applied isometric force (lb) (a technique used previously in goats to evaluate analgesia). Continuous variables were analyzed by Repeated Measures analysis of variance (anova ); categorical data were analyzed using a Friedman Repeated Measures anova on ranks. A p‐value of <0.05 was considered significant. If a significant difference was found, a Dunnett's pair‐wise comparison of means was conducted. Differences between ATI and SAL were examined at 5, 30, 60, and 120 minutes using a paired t‐test with a Bonferroni correction. Administration of MED resulted in a decrease in T (38.7 ± 0.3 to 34.5 ± 0.4 °C), HR (78 ± 19 to 55 ± 9), and RR (31 ± 12 to 14 ± 5) over time; an increase in mean arterial blood pressure (90 ± 19 to 132 ± 23), COR (0.254 ± 0.125 to 4.327 ± 1.233), and GLU (82.0 ± 13.2 to 255.9 ± 38.9); and changes in SED (alert to marked sedation), REC (standing to recumbent), and ALG (metacarpus = 5 ± 2 to 14 ± 0; withers = 3 ± 2 to 14 ± 0). GLU was 62–70% higher at 60 and 120 minutes and COR was 336% higher after SAL than after ATI at 120 minutes; at 30, 60, and 120 minutes, T was 4–10% higher after ATI than SAL. There were no other significant differences. REC, SED, and ALG were antagonized after ATI. ATI did not antagonize the effect of MED on HR, RR, or MAP, but stabilized T and antagonized the increase in GLU and COR.     

Analysis of the costs of veterinary education and factors associated with financial stress among veterinary students in Australia

Objective

To investigate the course‐related and other costs involved in obtaining a veterinary education in Australia and how these costs are met. The study also aimed to identify sociodemographic and course‐related factors associated with increased financial stress.

Methods

Students from seven Australian veterinary schools were surveyed using an online questionnaire. A total of 443 students participated (response rate 17%). Responses to survey items relating to finances, employment and course‐related costs were compared with sociodemographic factors and prior research in the area of student financial stress.

Results

Respondents reported spending a median of A$300 per week on living costs and a median of A$2,000 per year on course‐related expenses. Over half of respondents received the majority of their income from their parents or Youth Allowance (56%). A similar proportion (55%) reported that they needed to work to meet basic living expenses. Circumstances and sociodemographic factors linked to perceived financial stress included requiring additional finances to meet unexpected costs during the course; sourcing additional finances from external loans; an expected tuition debt at graduation over A$40,000; being 22 years or older; working more than 12 hours per week; living costs above A$300 per week; and being female.

Conclusion

The costs involved in obtaining a veterinary education in Australia are high and over half of respondents are reliant on parental or Government income support. Respondents with certain sociodemographic profiles are more prone to financial stress. These findings may have implications for the psychological health, diversity and career plans of veterinary students in Australia.     

Microbial and sensory characteristics of camel meat during refrigerated storage as affected by gamma irradiation

The present study was undertaken to assess the microbiological profile of fresh camel meat and the possibility of improving microbial quality and extending the refrigerated storage life of meat by using low-dose gamma irradiation. Camel meat samples were subjected to 0 (control), 1.5 and 3 kGy doses and stored at 3 +/- 1 degrees C. the microbial and sensory attributes were evaluated. Exposure to 1.5 kGy dose significantly reduced the initial counts of Aerobic Plate Counts (APCs), psychrophilic bacteria, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), molds and yeasts, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococci. Moreover, Pseudomonas, coliforms and Escherichia coli were below the detection levels. Irradiation at 3 kGy significantly reduced the initial counts of APCs LAB and Enterococci by 99.5, 93.5 and 93.9%, respectively. Pseudomonas, coliforms, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes and E. coli were not found at dose of 3 kGy during entire storage period, also psychrophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts were below the detection levels during 6 days of storage. This study shows that irradiation had no significant effects on the sensory attributes of camel meat. Refrigerated shelf-life of the meat irradiated at 1.5 and 3 kGy were 15 and 21 days, respectively, compared to 7 days for non-irradiated controls.     

Femoral component failure in canine cemented total hip replacement: a report of two cases

Femoral stem fracture is reported as an uncommon late complication of cemented total hip replacement in two dogs. In each case surgical salvage was achieved by extirpation of the proximal unstable component of the femoral stem, resulting in acceptable limb function. To the authors' knowledge, intramedullary femoral stem failure has not been previously reported after cemented total hip replacement in the dog. Factors believed to have contributed to implant failure in these dogs are discussed and compared with the same complication in humans.