Evaluation of a minimally invasive non-calibrated pulse contour cardiac output monitor (FloTrac/Vigileo) in anaesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of a new cardiac output monitor (FloTrac/Vigileo), originally designed for humans, in dogs. This pulse contour cardiac output monitoring system cannot be calibrated and measures cardiac output (

t) from a standard arterial catheter.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsEight adult Beagle dogs weighing 13.1 (9.8–17.1) kg [median (range)].MethodsAnaesthesia in the dogs was maintained using isoflurane. A pulmonary artery catheter and a metatarsal arterial catheter (22 gauge) were placed. Cardiac output was measured simultaneously 331 times by thermodilution and FloTrac technique. A broad spectrum of

t measurements was achieved through alterations of isoflurane concentration, administration of propofol boluses and dobutamine infusions. Agreement between the methods was quantified with Bland Altman analysis and disagreement was assessed with linear mixed models.ResultsMedian (10th and 90th percentile) cardiac output as measured with thermodilution was 2.54 (1.47 and 5.15) L minute^?1 and as measured with FloTrac 8.6 (3.9 and 17.3) L minute^?1. FloTrac measurements were consistently higher with a mean bias of 7 L minute^?1 and limits of agreement of ?3.15 to 17.17 L minute^?1. Difference between the methods was most pronounced in high

t measurements. Linear mixed models showed an estimated difference between the two methods of 8.05 (standard error 1.18) L minute^?1 and a significant interaction between mean arterial pressure and method. Standard deviation (4.45 higher) with the FloTrac method compared to thermodilution was increased.ConclusionCompared to thermodilution measurements, the FloTrac system was influenced to a higher degree by arterial blood pressure, resulting in consistent overestimation of cardiac output.Clinical RelevanceThe FloTrac monitor, whose algorithms were developed based on human data, cannot be used as an alternative for thermodilution in dogs.     

Serologic survey of brucellosis in captive neotropical wild carnivores in northeast Brazil

Abstract. This study reports the detection of antibodies against Brucella abortus and B. canis in wild neotropical carnivores kept in captivity in three zoos in northeastern Brazil. A total of 42 serum samples were examined, 17 from coatis (Nasua nasua), eight from crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), three from crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), three from hoary foxes (Lycalopex vetulus), two from little spotted cats (Leopardus tigrinus), five from tayras (Eira barbara), two from greater grisons (Galictis vittata), and two from neotropical river otters (Lontra longicaudis). The Rose-Bengal test and complement fixation test (CFT) were performed to detect anti-Brucella spp. antibodies, whereas the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) was employed to detect anti-B. canis antibodies. The overall seroprevalence varied by species and by test; in addition, CFT and AGID seemed better able to detect antibodies against B. abortus and B. canis, respectively. This is the first study on the presence of anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in captive carnivores from Brazil, as well as the first report of antibodies to Brucella spp. in coatis, crab-eating raccoons, hoary foxes, little spotted cats, tayras, and greater grisons.     

Comparative study of hematological parameters of Colossoma macropomum anesthetized with benzocaine and eugenol by using different anticoagulants

Aquaculture International - The objective of the present study was to evaluate the action of benzocaine and eugenol over anesthesia stages and the use of three anticoagulants (ethylenediamine...     

Prevalence of abortion and stillbirth in a beef cattle system in Southeastern Mexico

Prenatal mortality is an important cause of production losses in the livestock industry. This study estimates the prevalences of abortion and stillbirth in a beef cattle system and determines the significance of some risk factors, in the tropics of Mexico. Data were obtained from a Zebu cattle herd and their crosses with Bos taurus breeds, in Yucatan, Mexico. The logit of the probability of an abortion or stillbirth was modeled using binary logistic regression. The risk factors tested were: year of abortion (or calving), season of abortion (or calving), parity number and dam breed group. The effect of twins on stillbirth was tested using Fisher exact test. Of the 4175 calvings studied 49 were abortions (1.17%). Significant factors in the logistic regression analysis for abortions were season of abortion and parity number. The risk of abortion was lower in the dry seasons compared to the rainy and windy seasons (P = 0.009). The risk of abortion was higher in second parity cows followed by the third and first parity cows, as compared to older cows (P = 0.015). Of the 4126 births, 87 were stillbirths (2.11%). Significant factors in the logistic regression analysis for stillbirth were year of calving (P = 0.0001) and parity number (P < 0.001). The risk of stillbirth in first parity cows was 2.6 times that of old cows. Of the total births, 15 were twins (0.36%) of which 7 were born dead calves. Herd owners must focus on the significant risk factors under their control to reduce the prevalence of prenatal mortality.     

Acute phase protein concentrations in retired racing Greyhounds

Background: Retired racing Greyhounds are popular as pets. Greyhounds have several differences in physiological values compared with other breeds, including lower serum α‐ and β‐globulin concentrations. We hypothesized that lower acute phase protein (APP) concentrations could contribute to lower α‐ and β‐globulin concentrations in this breed. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare serum concentrations of several APPs in Greyhounds with those of other dog breeds. Methods: We measured the serum concentrations of C‐reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), acid‐soluble glycoprotein (ASG), ceruloplasmin (CP), and serum amyloid A (SAA) in 15 clinically healthy retired racing Greyhounds and 11 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy nonGreyhound controls using previously validated methods. Results were compared by Student's t‐tests. Results: The concentration of Hp by both colorimetric and immunoturbidimetric methods was significantly lower in Greyhounds than in nonGreyhound dogs (P=.0009 and .019, respectively). The concentration of ASG was also significantly (P=.007) lower in Greyhounds, but CRP and CP concentrations were not significantly different between groups. SAA concentration was below the detection limit of the method in all dogs. Conclusions: The low serum concentrations of Hp and ASG should be taken into consideration when interpreting APP results in Greyhounds. Because both Hp and some ASG migrate in the α‐globulin fraction, these results may explain the low α‐globulin concentrations in Greyhounds.     

Nutritional sensitivity of resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis in lactating ewes

It has been suggested that the periparturient breakdown of immunity to parasites has a nutritional basis. Our overall hypothesis is that it results from a prioritized scarce metabolizable protein (MP) allocation to reproductive functions (e.g. milk production) rather than to immune functions. We have earlier shown that the relationship between MP supply, milk production and resistance to the abomasal nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta provides support for this hypothesis. Because nutritional sensitivity of resistance to parasites may differ between parasite species, we used the same nutritional protocol to test the overall hypothesis with a different parasite. Thus, five levels of dietary MP, ranging from 0.60 to 1.2 times assumed requirements, were offered for 4 weeks post-parturition to twin-rearing Greyface ewes, experimentally infected with the small intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. We hypothesized that the initial increments of MP supply would increase milk production without affecting the degree of breakdown of immunity whilst later increments would reduce the degree of breakdown of immunity. Indeed, the data suggest that the first two increments of MP supply increased milk production, whilst final worm burdens were reduced from the second increment onwards. MP supply did not affect mucosal mast cell concentration but increased globule leukocyte concentration. These results support the overall hypothesis that scarce MP allocation is prioritized to milk production over immune functions. In addition, the contrast between effects of MP supply on resistance to T. colubriformis and to T. circumcincta supports the view that periparturient immunity to small intestinal nematodes may be less sensitive to nutrient scarcity than periparturient immunity to abomasal nematodes.     

Rapid methodology for antigenic profiling of FMDV field strains and for the control of identity, purity and viral integrity in commercial virus vaccines using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) developed against different foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine strains were extensively used to study any possible antigenic variations during vaccine production in Argentine facilities. Additionally, a typing ELISA using strain specific MAbs was developed to detect potential cross contaminations among FMDV strains in master and working seeds with high specificity and sensitivity and to confirm strains identity in formulated vaccines. This assay was carried out for the South American strains currently in use in production facilities in Argentina (A24/Cruzeiro, A/Argentina/01, O1/Campos and C3/Indaial) and for the strain O/Taiwan, produced only for export to Asia. These non-cross reactive MAbs were also used to analyze the integrity of viral particles belonging to each one of the individual strains, following isolation of 140S virions by means of sucrose density gradients from the aqueous phase of commercial polyvalent vaccines. Antigenic profiles were defined for FMDV reference strains using panels of MAbs, and a coefficient of correlation of reactivity with these panels was calculated to establish consistent identity upon serial passages of master and production seeds. A comparison of vaccine and field strain antigenic profiles performed using coefficients of correlation allowed the rapid identification of two main groups of serotype A viruses collected during the last FMD epidemic in Argentina, whose reactivity matched closely to A/Argentina/2000 and A/Argentina/2001 strains.     

Canine visceral leishmaniasis in urban and rural areas of Northeast Brazil

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory profiles of canine leishmaniasis in two distinct areas. Dogs from urban and rural areas were examined. The population studied in the metropolitan area included 54 dogs. Of these, 20 (37%) animals did not present with any signs suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, only eight were confirmed negative by ELISA (rK39 and CE) and 12 dogs, clinically negative for leishmaniasis, were seropositive by ELISA (rK39 and CE). Thinness, conjunctivitis and onychogryphosis were the most frequent clinical signs in the urban areas, followed by crusty lesions, alopecia, ulcerated lesions, hyperkeratosis and exfoliation. In the metropolitan area human VL cases occurred mainly in 1991, 1992, 1999 and 2000. In the rural areas the ELISA rK39 test detected a seroprevalence of 11.3% and ELISA CE (Leishmania crude extract) of 20.6%. Thirty-nine dogs were examined 6 months after the first visit. Serological exams using rK39 antigen showed seroconversion of only one dog, whereas Leishmania CE showed seroconversion of 13 (33.4%) dogs. In this rural environment 83.3% of the positive dogs were asymptomatic. Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. longipalpis were the most predominant sandfly vector species. Amastigotes were identified in spleen and liver fragments of symptomatic necropsied animals. PCR amplification of DNA isolated from promastigote culture indicated that the species was Leishmania chagasi. This finding suggests that delayed diagnosis and euthanasia of potentially infectious animals may occur with an increased transmission risk to sandflies and subsequently to humans.     

Influence of time on the genetic heterogeneity of Spanish porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolates

The aim of the present study was to establish the degree of diversity of porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) isolates that circulate in the same geographical area in different years. Nucleotide sequences of open reading frame (ORF) 5 were determined for 28 Spanish field PRRSV isolates from different years and three European-type modified live virus vaccines. Sequences were aligned using Clustal W software and a phylogenetic tree constructed using the neighbour joining method. The results of pairwise homology comparisons of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of these PRRSV isolates indicate a tendency for heterogeneity to increase with time. The study of the phylogenetic tree revealed that Spanish PRRSV isolates constitute two well-defined clades and a group of unrelated sequences. The observed heterogeneity does not appear to be due to temporal evolution exclusively. Early and recent isolates group themselves into different clusters independently of the time of isolation, indicating the co-circulation of different variants and the maintenance of variants of the original isolates in the field.     

Quantitative analysis of the resorption and osteoconduction of a macroporous calcium phosphate bone cement for the repair of a critical size defect in the femoral condyle

Clinical orthopaedic use of calcium phosphate cement has been limited due to its slow resorption rate, but a new macroporous alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) bone cement has been designed to accelerate resorption and to increase bone ingrowth. To assess its clinical potential, the in vivo behaviour of alpha-TCP was evaluated in a critical-size defect drilled in the femoral condyles of 36 adult female New Zealand rabbits. Macroporous or standard cement was injected immediately after preparation of the defect. The foaming agent was albumen, which gave up to 75% porosity. The rabbits were divided into three groups and the lesions examined histopathologically at 1, 4 and 12 weeks. No inflammatory reaction was detected at any time period following implantation with either macroporous or standard cement. At 12 weeks, the area of the implanted macroporous cement was approximately 35% of the initial lesion size. Bone growth and revascularisation was observed inside the central pores of the macroporous cement, not only at the margins, as was found with standard calcium phosphate cement. The results indicated that both cements were osteoconductive, biocompatible and biodegradable but their different physicochemical and biological properties had a marked influence on their post-implant behaviour.