Structural and ultrastructural study of the intracranial portion of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves in dog

The right intracranial portion of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves were removed from six adult German shepherd dogs and analysed by light and electron microscopy. In all cases the nerve sectional area was calculated. Unmyelinated and myelinated fibres were analysed and number, diameter and cross-sectional area were calculated. In myelinated fibres, also calculated were the corresponding axon area and diameter, and myelin sheath thickness. The mean number of myelinated fibres was 8543.50 +/- 1231.85 being the unmyelinated 1402 +/- 241.58 in the oculomotor nerve; 1509 +/- 223.17 and 287.67 +/- 72.28 in the trochlear nerve and 2473.00 +/- 211.41 and 231.25 +/- 92.67 respectively in the abducent. The mean diameter was 10.23 +/- 0.68 microm in myelinated and 0.43 +/- 0.21 for unmyelinated in oculomotor nerve, 10.53 +/- 0.55 microm and 0.33 +/- 0.04 for the trochlear, and 10.45 +/- 1.27 microm and 0.47 +/- 0.09 in the abducent nerve respectively. This study reveals that oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves of the dog show structural and ultra-structural features similar to the same nerves in other species.     

Pharmacokinetics of voriconazole after oral and intravenous administration to horses

OBJECTIVE: To characterize pharmacokinetics of voriconazole in horses after oral and IV administration and determine the in vitro physicochemical characteristics of the drug that may affect oral absorption and tissue distribution. ANIMALS: 6 adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses were administered voriconazole (1 mg/kg, IV, or 4 mg/kg, PO), and plasma concentrations were measured by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. In vitro plasma protein binding and the octanol:water partition coefficient were also assessed. RESULTS: Voriconazole was adequately absorbed after oral administration in horses, with a systemic bioavailability of 135.75 +/- 18.41%. The elimination half-life after a single orally administered dose was 13.11 +/- 2.85 hours, and the maximum plasma concentration was 2.43 +/- 0.4 microg/mL. Plasma protein binding was 31.68%, and the octanol:water partition coefficient was 64.69. No adverse reactions were detected during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Voriconazole has excellent absorption after oral administration and a long half-life in horses. On the basis of the results of this study, it was concluded that administration of voriconazole at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours will attain plasma concentrations adequate for treatment of horses with fungal infections for which the fungi have a minimum inhibitory concentration 相似文献   

Clinical efficacy and tolerance of an extract of green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) in dogs presumptively diagnosed with degenerative joint disease

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of an extract of green-lipped mussel (GLME) in the management of mild-to-moderate degenerative joint disease (DJD) in dogs. METHODS: Eighty-one dogs presumptively diagnosed with DJD were treated orally daily with either GLME or a placebo for 56 days, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. In an uncontrolled open-label extension to the study, all dogs were treated with GLME for an additional 56 days (from Days 57-112). Clinical signs were subjectively scored by the owners, and findings of detailed musculoskeletal examinations were scored by one veterinarian. Efficacy was assessed from a qualitative comparison of the proportion of dogs with improved clinical signs, and a quantitative comparison of the scores of the musculoskeletal examinations, between groups. Haematological and biochemical analyses and reports by owners of possible adverse drug reactions were used to screen for evidence of toxicity. RESULTS: There was close agreement between assessments by the veterinarian and owners. The clinical signs of DJD in both GLME-treated and placebo groups improved significantly over baseline by Day 28; this improvement continued over the entire course of the study. There were no significant differences between groups on Day 28. On Day 56, a higher proportion of dogs in the GLME-treated group had improved clinical signs (p=0.018), and GLME-treated dogs had marginally better (p=0.053) musculoskeletal scores than dogs in the placebo group. The differences between the groups were no longer apparent by Day 112, by which time the former placebo group had been receiving GLME for 56 days in the open-label phase of the study. The proportion of dogs in the former placebo group that had improved by Day 112 (29/32; 91%) was significantly greater (p=0.012) than the proportion improved at Day 56 (15/37; 41%). No signs of toxicity were apparent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: GLME had a beneficial effect on the clinical signs of dogs presumptively diagnosed with mild-to-moderate DJD. Long-term therapy may be required before improvement is apparent.     

Efficiency of Duddingtonia flagrans against Trichostrongyle infections of sheep on mountain pastures

The control of sheep nematode parasites in extensive mountain/transhumant management systems using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was assessed in this study. Two groups of Churra Tensina ewes were allowed to graze for 8 weeks in autumn on two separate paddocks of infected pasture near their winter sheds in the valley. At lambing, ewes and their twin lambs were turned out into the same paddocks for the following 12 weeks. One group of ewes received a daily dose of 5 x 10(5) chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans/kg live weight per day both in autumn and in spring, while the other group was used as a non-treated control. Daily dosing of grazing ewes with the fungus D. flagrans had a clear effect on reducing autumn pasture contamination. This had a subsequent effect on the over-wintering larvae population that was confirmed by a 20% lower worm burden of tracer lambs kept in early spring on the paddock previously grazed by fungus treated ewes. In spring, pasture contamination was also significantly reduced in the paddock grazed by fungi-treated ewes and their lambs showed a 61% lower worm burden and a better performance than the control lambs. Results herein show that fungal spores fed to sheep at critical times with regard to the epidemiology of parasite infection, can have a significant effect on the infective larvae present on pasture, which could further improve lambs performance. This novel approach to parasite control would be of interest amongst both organic and conventional sheep farmers operating in mountain regions.     

Effect of relaxin on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa

Relaxin is a peptide hormone found in seminal plasma that has a physiological influence on sperm motility in some species. There are no reports on the effect of relaxin on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa. In this study, to investigate the effects of relaxin on sperm motility, acrosome reaction, and incorporation and oxidation of labeled glucose, boar spermatozoa were washed and preincubated for swim-up and then incubated (0-6 h) with 0, 20, or 40 ng/ml relaxin in mTALP medium. The results indicated that the addition of relaxin stimulated sperm motility significantly (P<0.05) during 1-4 h of incubation. The percentage of acrosome-reacted live spermatozoa was higher (P<0.05) when the spermatozoa were treated with 20 or 40 ng/ml relaxin. The rate of incorporation, and oxidation of glucose were also greater (P<0.05) in the spermatozoa incubated with relaxin compared to the control spermatozoa. The rate of incorporation and oxidation of (14)C-glucose were increased in correlation with acrosome reaction up to 4 h of incubation and then decreased in line with the increasing incubation period. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that relaxin accelerates not only motility but also the acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa.     

Dynamic obstructions of the equine upper respiratory tract. Part 1: observations during high-speed treadmill endoscopy of 600 Thoroughbred racehorses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY AND OBJECTIVE: To review the prevalence of single and complex forms of dynamic airway obstructions within a large group of Thoroughbred horses in training referred for investigation of poor performance. METHODS: Video-endoscopic recordings of the upper respiratory tract made during a standardised treadmill exercise test of 600 Thoroughbred racehorses were reviewed and analysed in real time and slow motion to identify dynamic collapse by the tissues bordering onto the pharyngeal and laryngeal airways. RESULTS: Dynamic collapse within the nasopharynx or larynx was confirmed in 471 of the 600 horses. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP; 50%) and palatal instability (33%) were the disorders most frequently identified. It was concluded that deglutition is not a significant event in the triggering of DDSP. Complex forms of dynamic collapse were present in 30% of the horses with upper respiratory tract obstructions. A significant influence of age on the prevalence of DDSP and dynamic laryngeal collapse was identified. There was an increased risk of DDSP in younger horses, and of laryngeal collapse in older horses. No association with gender or format of racing was identified. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Palatal instability and DDSP comprised the most frequently encountered forms of dynamic collapse within the upper respiratory tract of the Thoroughbred racehorses in this study and are probably expressions of the same nasopharyngeal malfunction. Complex obstructions, i.e. where more than one structure collapses into the airway, occur frequently and therefore treatments that address solitary disorders may often be unsuccessful. Younger horses were found to be at greater risk of sustaining DDSP while older horses seemed more at risk to vocal cord collapse but not to collapse of the arytenoid cartilage itself.     

Comparative trial of the canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus type 2 fractions of two commercially available modified live vaccines

The results of vaccinating two groups of puppies with commercial vaccines, both of which claimed to provide adequate protection with a final vaccination at 10 weeks of age, were compared. Groups of 19 and 20 puppies with similar titres of maternally derived antibodies against canine parvovirus (cpv), canine distemper virus (cdv) and canine adenovirus type 2 (cav-2) at four weeks of age were vaccinated at six and 10 weeks of age and their responses to each vaccination were measured by comparing the titres against cpv, cdv and cav-2 in the serum samples taken immediately before the vaccination and four weeks later. After the vaccination at six weeks of age, all 19 of the puppies in group 1 had responded to cpv and cdv, and 14 had responded to cav-2; in group 2, 17 of the 20 had responded to cpv, 19 to cdv and 15 to cav-2. In both groups the puppies that did not respond to the first vaccination had responded serologically to cpv, cdv and cav-2 at 10 weeks of age.     

Methods used during gross necropsy to determine watercraft-related mortality in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris).

Between 1993 and 2003, 713 (24%) of 2,940 dead Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) recovered from Florida waters and examined were killed by watercraft-induced trauma. It was determined that this mortality was the result of watercraft trauma because the external wound patterns and the internal lesions seen during gross necropsy are recognizable and diagnostic. This study documents the methods used in determining watercraft-related mortality during gross necropsy and explains why these findings are diagnostic. Watercraft can inflict sharp- and blunt-force trauma to manatees, and both types of trauma can lead to mortality. This mortality may be a direct result of the sharp and blunt forces or from the chronic effects resulting from either force. In cases in which death is caused by a chronic wound-related complication, the original incident is usually considered to be the cause of death. Once a cause of death is determined, it is recorded in an extensive database and is used by Federal and state managers in developing strategies for the conservation of the manatee. Common sequelae to watercraft-induced trauma include skin lesions, torn muscles, fractured and luxated bones, lacerated internal organs, hemothorax, pneumothorax, pyothorax, hydrothorax, abdominal hemorrhage and ascites, and pyoperitoneum.     

Single-dose intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in goral (Nemorrhaedus goral arnouxianus).

This study describes the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin following oral and i.v. administration to goral (Nemorrhaedus goral arnouxianus). The objective of this study was to expand upon current antimicrobial treatment options available for use in goral by measuring plasma concentrations and examining the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in these animals. Two single-dose treatments of enrofloxacin were administered to four goral in a crossover design. Single-dose treatments consisted of administration of injectable enrofloxacin i.v. (5 mg/kg) and enrofloxacin tablets (136 mg chewable tablets) dissolved in a grain slurry and administered p.o. (10 mg/kg). Plasma levels of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin were measured with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Plasma volume of distribution for i.v. enrofloxacin was 2.15 - 1.01 L/kg, with a mean elimination half-life of 13.3 hr and total body clearance of 0.19+/-0.14 L/kg/hr. The maximum plasma concentration measured for oral enrofloxacin was 2.77 microg/ml, with a mean half-life of 5.2 hr and systemic availability of 14.6%. The area under the plasma concentration over time curve (AUC) for oral enrofloxacin was 21.06 microg/hr/ml. The area under the plasma concentration over time curve generated for oral enrofloxacin in goral yields an area under the plasma concentration over time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration ratio > 100 for many gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens common to small ruminants. Based on these results, oral enrofloxacin may be considered for further study as a treatment option for susceptible infections in goral.     

Papillomavirus-associated basosquamous carcinoma in an Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).

A 5-yr-old female Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) had a small raised pigmented mass removed from the lateral canthus of the left eye. Six additional variably sized, raised, smooth to cauliflower-like skin masses were observed randomly distributed throughout the left wing membranes. Four masses were removed and diagnosed microscopically as basosquamous carcinomas and papillomas. Additional masses, removed 6 mo and 1 yr later, showed bony invasion and squamous differentiation. Immunohistochemistry detected positive intranuclear staining for bovine papillomavirus antibody in all samples. Polymerase chain reaction done on DNA extracts from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue amplified a 450 base-pair segment analogous to the L1 region of human papillomavirus types 96 and 5. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of sequenced amplicons suggests a novel chiropteran papillomavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of papillomavirus-associated carcinoma in a chiropteran species.