Ruminal and histological characteristics and nitrogen balance in lamb fed diets containing cactus as the only roughage

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study examined rumen fermentation, histological, blood, and urinary characteristics as well as ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, pH, nitrogen balance,...     

Influence of energy supplementation on dietary nitrogen utilization and milk production in cows fed foliage of Leucaena leucocephala

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of the study was to assess the effect of four energy supplements (two highly fermentable; two starch-based carbohydrates) on blood urea nitrogen...     

Comparison of hemodynamic, clinicopathologic, and gastrointestinal motility effects and recovery characteristics of anesthesia with isoflurane and halothane in horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery

OBJECTIVE: To compare hemodynamic, clinicopathologic, and gastrointestinal motility effects and recovery characteristics of halothane and isoflurane in horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane or halothane (crossover study). At 6 intervals during anesthesia and surgery, cardiopulmonary variables and related derived values were recorded. Recovery from anesthesia was assessed; gastrointestinal tract motility was subjectively monitored for 72 hours after anesthesia. Horses were administered chromium, and fecal chromium concentration was used to assess intestinal transit time. Venous blood samples were collected for clinicopathologic analyses before and 2, 24, and 48 hours after anesthesia. RESULTS: Compared with halothane-anesthetized horses, cardiac index, oxygen delivery, and heart rate were higher and systemic vascular resistance was lower in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Mean arterial blood pressure and the dobutamine dose required to maintain blood pressure were similar for both treatments. Duration and quality of recovery from anesthesia did not differ between treatments, although the recovery periods were somewhat shorter with isoflurane. After isoflurane anesthesia, gastrointestinal motility normalized earlier and intestinal transit time of chromium was shorter than that detected after halothane anesthesia. Compared with isoflurane, halothane was associated with increases in serum aspartate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, but there were no other important differences in clinicopathologic variables between treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with halothane, isoflurane appears to be associated with better hemodynamic stability during anesthesia, less hepatic and muscle damage, and more rapid return of normal intestinal motility after anesthesia in horses undergoing arthroscopic procedures.     

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease

Medical records of 92 cats presented with clinical signs of spinal cord disease, which had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were reviewed. The cats were grouped into seven categories based upon the diagnosis suggested by results of MRI, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and other diagnostic procedures: neoplastic (n=25), inflammatory or infectious (n=13), traumatic (n=8), vascular (n=6), degenerative (n=5), anomalous (n=3) and those with an unremarkable MRI (n=32). There were two independent predictors of abnormal MRI findings: severity of clinical signs and presence of spinal pain. Abnormal MRI findings and speed of onset of disease were significantly associated with survival. For the 32 cats with unremarkable MRI findings, only nine died due to spinal disease and, therefore, the median survival time (MST) was not reached (lower 95% confidence interval (CI)=970 days). For the 60 cats with abnormal MRI findings, 37 died due to their disease and the MST was 138 days (95% CI: 7-807).     

Effects of dietary arginine on hematological parameters and innate immune function of channel catfish

The effects of elevated dietary arginine on the hematology and immune function of juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were evaluated by means of in vivo and in vitro experiments. Healthy juvenile channel catfish (average weight, 34.8 g) were fed casein-gelatin-based diets containing 28% crude protein and supplemented with crystalline L-arginine (ARG) at 0.5, 1, 2, or 4% of diet. An intact-protein diet containing 1.3% arginine also was included to investigate the effects of amino acid form (crystalline-free amino acids versus intact protein). Each purified diet was fed to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of fish for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental feeding period, the fish were injected intraperitoneally with two doses (3 d apart) of 2 mg lipopolysaccharide/kg body weight. Six days after the initial injection, the fish were anesthetized and tissue samples were obtained to evaluate hematological and humoral and cellular immune parameters, including phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), blood cell counts, plasma protein, and hepatic superoxide dismutase activity. High dietary levels (4% ARG) resulted in significantly higher levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and circulating erythrocytes. Dietary ARG did not significantly affect MCV and the number of circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes. In vitro, a moderate level (2 mM) of ARG in the culture media was found to be ideal in significantly enhancing phagocytosis. This study demonstrates that some aspects of the immune system of channel catfish are sensitive to changes in dietary ARG.     

Effects of vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia on the intake,performance, feeding behavior,blood parameters,and immune responses of dairy heifers calves

The aim of this study was to identify possible effects of different vaccination strategies (concomitantly or not) against brucellosis and clostridia on intake, performance, feeding behavior, blood parameters, and immune responses of dairy heifers calves. Fifty heifers calves were enrolled [38 Gyr (Zebu, Bos taurus indicus) and 12 5/8 Holstein Gyr]. At 120 d of age, animals were randomly distributed among 3 groups: B (n = 18), vaccinated against brucellosis; C (n = 14), vaccinated against clostridia and CB (n = 18), vaccinated concomitantly for both. Rectal and thermographic temperatures were evaluated on days 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7,10, 14, and 28 relatives to the vaccination day. Feed and water intake, body weight (BW), and feeding behavior were monitored daily by an electronic feeding system. Blood was sampled on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28, relative to the vaccination day for determination of glucose and -hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations. Blood sampled on day 0 (prevaccination) and on days 28 and 42 were used to evaluate the immune response against Brucella abortus and clostridia. There was an increase in rectal temperature between the first and the third day postvaccination in the 3 groups. The thermography revealed an increase of local temperature for 7 d on groups B and CB. Group C had increased local temperature for a longer period, lasting for up to 14 d. Dry mater intake was reduced for groups B and CB, but no alteration was observed for group C. No alterations regarding initial BW, final BW, average daily weight gain, and feed efficiency were observed. No differences were observed for the 3 vaccination groups for blood parameters throughout the evaluation period. The concomitant vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia led to lower neutralizing antibody titers against epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens and botulinum toxin type C of C. botulinum (C > CB > B). When cellular proliferation assay and serological tests to B. abortus were evaluated, no differences were observed between groups B and CB. The present results indicate that the concomitant vaccination against brucellosis and clostridia has no relevant impact on the intake, performance, and feeding behavior of dairy calves. However, the concomitant vaccination of vaccines against these 2 pathogens impacts animal immunity against clostridial infections.     

Intranasal Osteosarcoma in a Dog—A Case Report

Osteosarcoma is the most commonly reported bone tumor in dogs, typically affecting the axial and appendicular skeleton. Involvement of the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity is extremely rare. This report describes a 6-year-old, female, cross-breed dog presented with signs of 90 days duration and diagnosed with a mass located in the right nasal cavity. Radiography, rhinoscopy, and computed tomography findings suggested the presence of an intranasal tumor. Osteosarcoma in the nasal cavity was diagnosed based on histopathological examination and clinical and imaging findings. Survival time was 12 months from diagnosis.     

Risk factors associated with feline urolithiasis

Urinary tract diseases are among the main reasons for consultation in veterinary clinics and hospitals. It affects animals of any age, breed and gender. Among the diseases that affect this system, urolithiasis is the second largest cause of clinical signs compatible with feline urinary tract disease. The term urolithiasis refers to the presence of uroliths in any region of the urinary tract, but it is more commonly seen in the bladder and urethra. Uroliths are classified based on the type of mineral present in their composition, therefore, quantitative and qualitative analyzes are important for a better therapeutic approach. The animals may suffer from the disease and be asymptomatic, or show nonspecific clinical signs, making the diagnosis difficult. The disease should not be seen as a single problem, but as a consequence of various disorders. As dietary, metabolic, genetic and infectious causes, as well as factors that potentiate the chance of development of uroliths such as breed, age, sex, age range, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, geographic region and climate. Thus, the knowledge of the factors that influence the formation of uroliths, as well as the understanding of the pathophysiology, are key elements for better alternatives of therapy and prevention. The recognition of these factors helps to identify susceptible populations, minimizing exposure and increasing the protection factors, which facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of patients with urolithiasis. The objective of this paper is to present the main risk factors involved in the formation of urinary lithiasis in felines.     

The bispectral index during recovery from halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia in horses

ObjectiveTo record the bispectral index (BIS) when horses moved during either halothane or sevoflurane anaesthesia and when they made volitional movements during recovery from these anaesthetics.Study designRandomized prospective clinical study.AnimalsTwenty-five client-owned horses undergoing surgery aged 8.8 (± 5.3; 1–19) years (mean ± SD; range).MethodsBaseline BIS values were recorded before pre-anaesthetic medication (BIS_B) and during anaesthesia (BIS_A) maintained with halothane (group H; n = 12) or sevoflurane (group S; n =13) at approximately 0.8–0.9 × minimum alveolar concentrations (MAC). Bispectral indices were recorded during the surgery when unexpected movement occurred (BIS_MA), during recovery when the first movement convincingly associated with consciousness was observed (BIS_M1) and once sternal recumbency was achieved (BIS_ST).ResultsNo significant difference in BIS_M1 was found between halothane- (85 ± 7; 75–93) and sevoflurane- (87 ± 10; 70–98) anaesthetized horses although BIS_A was significantly (p = 0.0002) lower in group S (62 ± 7; 53–72) than group H (74 ± 7; 60–84). Differences between BIS_M1 and BIS_A were significant in sevoflurane (p = 0.00001) and halothane recipients (p = 0.002) but were greater in group S (25 ± 9; 4–38) compared with group H (12 ± 10; ?9–25). In six of eight horses, BIS_MA values ranged between those recorded during anaesthesia and at first movement.Conclusions and clinical relevanceBispectral indices appear to approximate levels of unconsciousness, suggesting that monitoring the BIS may assist equine anaesthesia. However, it does not predict intra-operative movement.     

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 to swine buccal epithelial cells involves fibronectin

The swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 was investigated for its ability to adhere to swine, rat, and human buccal epithelial cells (BEC). The highest number of bacteria adhered was to swine BEC. This binding ability was affected by heating, extreme pH, treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, or periodate, and proteolysis, suggesting that cell-surface glycoproteins participate in adherence and that adherence is based mostly on ionic interactions. Mannose and swine fibronectin may play a direct role in this interaction. Convalescent-phase serum from naturally infected pigs inhibited the adhesion. There was a correlation between bacterial pathogenicity as well as host specificity and the capacity for adherence to swine BEC. Adhesion to swine BEC provides a convenient method to study in vitro the adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae and other pathogens of the pig respiratory tract.