Type 1B external fixation of a metacarpal fracture in an alpaca

External skeletal fixation can be used in small ruminants as a successful, economic, alternative to internal fixation. In this case report, a type 1B frame was used on an alpaca to salvage a comminuted metacarpal fracture after failed internal fixation. Positioning the frame on the caudal aspect of the limb allowed full carpal flexion for kneeling and hence normal use of the limb throughout the recovery period. Complete healing occurred without further complications.     

Morphological features of Prosorhynchus crucibulum and P. aculeatus (Digenea: Bucephalidae), intestinal parasites of Conger conger (Pisces: Congridae), elucidated by scanning electron microscopy

The external morphology of two bucephalid digenean parasites of Conger conger (Linnaeus) (Congridae, Anguilliformes) caught northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Prosorhynchus crucibulum (Rudolphi, 1819) Odhner, 1905 and P. aculeatus Odhner, 1905, were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM techniques elucidated new external morphological details, mainly relating to the tegument and protruding organs, such as, in P. crucibulum, a papilla-like structure associated with the pharynx and, in P. aculeatus, the cirrus. The tegument bears scale-like spines, which in both species are arranged quincuncially. The spines of P. crucibulum are wider than long and cover the major part of the body and rhynchus. However, no spines were found in either the central apical depression of the rhynchus or in the middle of the ventral indentation. Also, spines were rarely seen on the tegument around mouth, around the genital aperture or close to the excretory pore. P. aculeatus has spines of a different shape, as wide as they are long and with a rounded margin. They cover the whole body and almost the entire rhynchus, but none were found in the middle of the rhynchus or on its neck region.     

Evaluation of a short glass fibre-reinforced tube as a model for cat femur for biomechanical testing of orthopaedic implants.

The biomechanical testing of tubes made of third generation short glass fibre-reinforced (SGFR) material approximating cat femurs was performed in order to determine their suitability as cat femur surrogates for the biomechanical testing of orthopaedic implants. The tubes were tested in compression, three-point bending, notch testing, and screw pullout. Thin walled (B1-tubes) had a 13% lower maximum load to failure, a 19% higher maximum strength and a 13% lower elastic modulus compared to cat femurs tested in compression. B1-tubes maximum load to failure in three-point bending and screw pullout strength were considerably lower compared to cat femurs (29% and 63%, respectively). Notch testing was not performed on B1-tubes due to low bending strength. Thicker walled (B2-tubes) had a 23% higher maximum load to failure, a 10% higher maximum strength and a 21% lower elastic modulus compared to cat femurs tested in compression. The comparison of B2-tubes and cat femurs in three-point bending revealed a 7% increase in maximum load to failure for the B2-tubes. Drilled B2-tubes (notch testing) were weaker with a 30% lower load to failure compared to cat femurs. A screw pullout comparison of B2-tubes and cat femurs revealed a 2% increase in maximum load to failure for the B2-tubes. These tubes were intended to provide a model as a suitable surrogate for cat femurs for testing the bending strength of various orthopaedic constructs involving plates and screws. Testing revealed that third generation SGFR tubes were not suitable for these purposes and emphasizes the need to carefully evaluate the suitability of any model.     

Multidrug-resistant E. coli and enterobacter extraintestinal infection in 37 dogs

BACKGROUND: Extraintestinal infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli and Enterobacter are becoming more common in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVE: To generate hypotheses for risk factors for dogs acquiring extraintestinal infection caused by MDR E. coli and Enterobacter, describe antimicrobial resistance profiles and analyze treatment and clinical outcomes. ANIMALS: Thirty-seven dogs diagnosed with extraintestinal infection caused by MDR E. coli and Enterobacter spp. between October 1999 and June 2006. METHODS: Retrospective case series assembled from hospital records data, including clinical history before 1st MDR isolation and treatment outcome. Identity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were confirmed by standard microbiological techniques for 57 isolates. RESULTS: Most dogs had an underlying disease condition (97%), received prior antimicrobial treatment (87%), were hospitalized for >or =3 days (82%), and had a surgical intervention (57%). The urinary tract was the most common infection site (62%), and urinary catheterization, bladder stasis, or both were common among dogs (24%). Some dogs were treated with high doses of co-amoxyclavulanate (n = 14) and subsequently recovered even though the isolates showed in vitro resistance to this antimicrobial. Other dogs were successfully treated with chloramphenicol (n = 11) and imipenem (n = 2). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Predisposing disease condition, any prior antimicrobial use rather than a specific class of antimicrobial, duration of hospitalization, and type of surgical procedure might be risk factors for acquiring MDR extraintestinal infections. Whereas culture and sensitivity results can indicate use of last-resort antimicrobials such as imipenem for MDR infections, some affected dogs can recover after administration of high doses of co-amoxyclavulanate.     

Clinically overt infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals in New Zealand: a pilot study

AIM: To describe clinically overt infections with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animals in New Zealand, characterise clinical isolates, and track their sources. METHODS: MRSA isolates identified in 2005 and 2006 by a veterinary diagnostic laboratory were referred to Massey University for confirmation and characterisation. Clinical information was extracted from the laboratory records or obtained from referring clinicians. RESULTS: Seven MRSA isolates from animals and contact persons were characterised. All the isolates belonged to the British epidemic MRSA 15 strain (EMRSA-15). Three EMRSA-15 were isolated from post-operative infections in two dogs. An EMRSA-15 indistinguishable from the isolate recovered from one dog was isolated from the anterior nares of a healthy hospital staff member involved in the care of the animal, suggesting nosocomial transmission. Other EMRSA-15 isolates of uncertain clinical significance were isolated from the femoral head of a cat, and from a sample of cow's milk. AlleMRSA-15 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and four were resistant to erythromycin; the latter four isolates also exhibited inducible resistance to clindamycin. CONCLUSIONS: MRSA can cause clinically overt and difficult-to-treat infections in animals in New Zealand. The rapid emergence of EMRSA-15 as the dominant MRSA strain in humans has resulted in infection spill over to animals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Little is known about the incidence of clinically overt infections with MRSA in animals. The cases described here illustrate the complexities involved in the pharmacological management of EMRSA-15 infections, which is compounded by the universal resistance to beta-lactams, and by the strain's fluoroquinolone resistance and frequent inducible resistance to clindamycin. Such complexities indicate there is a need to develop specific empirical antimicrobial treatment strategies and antibiotic susceptibility testing protocols in countries where EMRSA-15 is dominant.     

Corn distillers grains with solubles derived from a traditional or partial fractionation process: Growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing feedlot heifers

Six hundred ten crossbred-yearling heifers (347 +/- 5 kg of initial BW) were obtained and used in a randomized complete-block design finishing study. Finishing diets were based on steam-flaked corn and ground alfalfa hay. The control (CONT) treatment contained no distillers grains with solubles (DGS), the second diet was formulated to contained 13% (DM basis) dried corn DGS derived from a traditional dry-grind ethanol process (TRAD), and the third diet was formulated to contained 13% (DM basis) dried corn DGS derived from a partial fractionation dry-grind process (FRAC). Dry matter intake, ADG, and gain efficiency were not different (P >/= 0.48) for yearling heifers fed CONT when compared with heifers fed DGS. Heifers fed TRAD consumed more (P = 0.01) feed than heifers fed FRAC. However, ADG and feed efficiency were not different (P >/= 0.07) for heifers fed DGS. Moderate inclusion levels of DGS in finishing flaked corn diets yielded satisfactory performance. Growth performance was not different for heifers fed DGS originating from either ethanol processing method.     

Identification of candidate genes associated with resistance to bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus) in cowpea

Cowpea is an important legume crop widely grown in sub‐Saharan Africa for food and feed. However, it is largely challenged by bruchid, a serious storage pest resulting in losses in quantity and quality of grains. Therefore, this research was designed to contribute to the breeding of cowpea resistance to bruchid through the identification of candidate genes associated with resistance to bruchid. A total of 217 mini‐core cowpea accessions were genotyped and phenotyped for their reactions to bruchid. To determine the genomic regions linked with bruchid resistance, 41,948 polymorphic SNP markers were used. Genome‐wide association study identified 11 SNPs linked to the average number of eggs, holes, insect emergence and development period and Dobie susceptibility index. Gene search via Phytozome identified six candidate genes (Vigun08g132300, Vigun08g158000, Vigun06g053700, Vigun02g131000, Vigun01g234900 and Vigun01g201900) associated with the resistance traits. These candidate genes could be incorporated into the farmers preferred but susceptible cowpea varieties to bruchid. The SNP markers associated with the resistance traits can be used in marker‐assisted breeding for accurate and rapid screening of cowpea resistant genotypes to bruchid.     

A call for weed research in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L)

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is grown in more than 30 countries for fibre, seed and flowers, and acreage of cultivation is increasing globally. Hemp has long been promoted as a crop that competes well with weeds and requires little intervention to prevent yield losses. We conducted a literature review and found little peer‐reviewed research to support this claim. We identified only three articles that specifically addressed weed management under field conditions and none provided information on hemp yield losses from weeds. These findings highlight a clear need for research‐based information on interactions between weeds and hemp to address potential yield losses under various production conditions and provide a research‐based framework for weed management in industrial hemp.