Bone marrow lesions of the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone are common and not always related to lameness in sports and pleasure horses

The metacarpophalangeal joint is a common site of pain in horses. Little information is available about bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone in sports and pleasure horses. Aims of this prospective, retrospective, observational study were to evaluate the prevalence of bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone, to describe their anatomic distribution and to correlate lesions with the presence of lameness and the level and type of activity. All sports and pleasure horses undergoing standing low‐field MRI of the front fetlock region between 2009 and 2016 were included and divided into three lameness groups according to the results of diagnostic analgesia. Bone marrow lesions were analyzed and graded by one reader. Grades were compared between anatomical locations and between lameness groups. A total of 166 horses were sampled. The prevalence of bone marrow lesions was 76.5% (127/166). The dorsal aspects of the medial condyle (31%, 39/127) and of the sagittal ridge (28%, 36/127) were the most commonly affected locations. There was no significant difference between both forelimbs (lame limb and non‐lame limb) of the same horse. Lesion severity was neither significantly associated with the lameness group nor with the type or level of activity. The prevalence of bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone is high in this population and the clinical significance is not always clear. Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical significance of this finding in sports and pleasure horses.     

Thoracic high resolution CT using the modified VetMousetrap™ device is a feasible method for diagnosing canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in awake West Highland White Terriers

Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease particularly prevalent in West Highland White Terriers. In the present prospective pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of modified VetMousetrap? device in high resolution CT to detect idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in West Highland White Terriers. Twelve awake West Highland White Terriers with canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 24 clinically healthy West Highland White Terriers were scanned using a helical dual slice scanner utilizing VetMousetrap? device without or with minimal chemical restraint with butorphanol. Three evaluators blindly assessed the images for image quality and the presence of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis related imaging findings such as ground glass opacity and reticular opacities. Additionally, the attenuation of the lung was quantified with ImageJ software using histogram analysis of density over the lung fields. Computed tomography was successfully completed and motion artifact ranked in statistical analysis barely noticeable to mild in all dogs. The agreement between imaging findings and clinical status was very good with overall κ value 0.91 and percentage of agreement of 94%. There was also very good intraobserver (κ_range = 0.79‐0.91) and interobserver agreement (κ = 0.94). Moderate to severe ground glass opacity was present in all affected dogs. In the ImageJ analysis, a significant difference in lung attenuation between the study groups was observed. We conclude that modified VetMousetrap? device is applicable in diagnosing canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in awake West Highland White Terriers avoiding anesthetic risk in these often severely hypoxic patients.     

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease in a dog

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD), which affects many organ systems, has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity in human medicine for just over a decade but has not been previously identified in dogs. In humans, IgG4‐RD is characterized by diffuse IgG4‐positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates that commonly lead to increased serum concentrations of IgG4 and IgE, peripheral eosinophilia, tumorous swellings that often include the parotid salivary glands, obliterative phlebitis, and extensive fibrosis. Herein we describe the diagnosis, clinical progression, and successful treatment of IgG4‐RD in an 8‐year‐old female spayed Husky mixed breed dog. Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with vague clinical signs, lymphoplasmacytic swellings, restricted polyclonal gammopathy, eosinophilia or some combination of these findings.     

Tulathromycin enhances humoral but not cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza

The effect of a standard, single dose therapy with tulathromycin was investigated on the postvaccinal humoral and cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza. Forty‐five pigs, divided into 3 groups, were used (control not vaccinated (C, n = 15), control vaccinated (CV, n = 15), and experimentally received tulathromycin (TUL, n = 15)). For vaccination of pigs, an inactivated, commercial vaccine was used. Pigs from TUL group received single dose of tulathromycin intramuscularly, at the recommended dose (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Pigs from TUL and CV groups were vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks of age. The specific humoral and cellular immune response against swine influenza virus (SIV) was evaluated. The results of present study showed that humoral postvaccinal response after vaccination against SIV can be modulated by treatment with tulathromycin. In pigs from TUL group, the significantly higher titers of anti‐SIV‐specific antibodies were observed 4 and 6 weeks after booster dose of vaccine. Simultaneously, T‐cell‐mediated immune response against SIV was not affected by tulathromycin. Our recent study confirmed the importance of defining the modulatory activity of tulathromycin because of its influence on the immune response to vaccines. Since the antibodies against hemagglutinin are crucial for the protection against SIV, the present observations should prompt further studies on the practical significance of recent results in terms of clinical implications (postvaccinal protection) in the field conditions.     

Effects of berberine on the growth performance,antioxidative capacity and immune response to lipopolysaccharide challenge in broilers

This study evaluated the effects of berberine on growth performance, immunity, haematological parameters, antioxidant capacity, and the expression of immune response‐related genes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐challenged broilers. We assigned 120 one‐day‐old male broilers (Ross 308) to two treatment groups; each group included two subgroups, each of which included six replicates of five birds per replicate. The experiment used a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with berberine treatment (0 or 60 mg/kg dietary) and challenge status [injection of saline (9 g/L w/v) or LPS (1.5 mg/kg body weight)] as the main factors. On days 14, 16, 18 and 20, broilers were intraperitoneally injected with LPS or physiological saline. Blood and liver samples were collected on day 21. Dietary berberine supplementation significantly alleviated the compromised average daily gain and average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) caused by LPS. The LPS challenge led to increased lymphocyte and white blood cell (WBC) counts, malondialdehyde (serum and liver) content, and immunoglobulin G and M, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) expression (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced serum total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD) activity (p < 0.05). Dietary berberine significantly mitigated the LPS‐induced decreases in the mRNA expression of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB), TNF‐α, IL‐1β, inducible nitrite synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 (p < 0.05) in the liver. In conclusion, berberine supplementation has a positive effect on LPS challenge, which may be related to the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and inhibition of both NF‐κB signalling and the expression of inflammatory mediators.     

The Effect of Pasteurella haemolytica A2 Infection on Phagocytosis Efficiency of Caprine Broncho‐Alveolar Macrophages

An experiment was designed to study the in vivo effect of Pasteurella haemolytica A2 infection on the phagocytosis activity of caprine broncho‐alveolar macrophages and the extent of pneumonic lesions. Twelve healthy local Kacang goats, about 7 months of age, were divided into two groups of six. Goats in group 1 were inoculated intratracheally with 4 ml inoculum containing 2.8 × 10⁹ colony‐forming units (CFU)/ml of Staphylococcus aureus. Goats in group 2 were inoculated intratracheally with 4 ml of inoculum containing 9.5 × 10⁸ CFU/ml of Pasteurella haemolytica A2 isolated earlier from pneumonic lungs of goat. At intervals of 3 and 7 days post‐challenge five goats from each group were killed and the lungs were washed with sterile phosphate‐buffered saline. Smears were prepared from the lung washing fluid and the number of macrophages with phagocytic activity was determined. At day 3 post‐infection, goats of both groups showed a similar pattern of pneumonic lesion. The lung washing fluid of goats in group 2 was found to contain numerous neutrophils and macrophages. Goats in group 2 showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher extent of lung lesions than group 1. Similarly, the average extent of lung lesions was significantly (P < 0.05) more severe in group 2 at day 7 post‐infection. The lung washing fluid contained mostly macrophages. The phagocytic activity following S. aureus infection was more efficient and significantly (P < 0.01) higher compared with infection by P. haemolytica A2. There were weak correlations between the extent of pneumonic lesion and the phagocytic activity. Thus, goats with poor phagocytic activity were likely to develop more extensive lung lesions.     

Ecological impacts of small hydropower plants on headwater stream fish: from individual to community effects

Hydroelectricity is increasingly used worldwide as a source of renewable energy, and many mountain ranges have dozens or hundreds of hydropower plants, with many more being under construction or planned. Although the ecological impacts of large dams are relatively well known, the effects of small hydropower plants and their weirs have been much less investigated. We studied the effects of water diversion of small hydropower plants on fish assemblages in the upper Ter river basin (Catalonia, NE Spain), which has headwater reaches with good water quality and no large dams but many of such plants. We studied fish populations and habitat features on control and impacted reaches for water diversion of 16 hydropower plants. In the impacted reaches, there was a significantly lower presence of refuges for fish, poorer habitat quality, more pools and less riffles and macrophytes, and shallower water levels. We also observed higher fish abundance, larger mean fish size and better fish condition in the control than in impacted reaches, although the results were species‐specific. Accordingly, species composition was also affected, with lower relative abundance of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Pyrenean minnow (Phoxinus bigerri) in the impacted reaches and higher presence of stone loach (Barbatula quignardi) and Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis). Our study highlights the effects of water diversion of small hydropower plants from the individual to the population and community levels but probably underestimates them, urging for further assessment and mitigation of these ecological impacts.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival flora in the Crab‐eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and Coati (Nasua nasua) housed in captivity in pernambuco and paraiba (Northeast,Brazil)

Objective To determine the normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival population of the Coatis and the Crab‐eating raccoons housed in captivity in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states of Brazil. Animals studied Ten healthy Coatis and 10 healthy Crab‐eating raccoons were selected for this study. Animals are from three zoos situated at the Pernambuco and Paraiba States in the north‐east of Brazil. Procedures After ophthalmologic examination, swabs from healthy animals were carefully collected in order to avoid contamination. Samples were identified and submitted to the laboratory. Swabs were plated for culture on ovine blood agar (8%) and agar Levine and incubated at 37 °C and observed 24 and 48 h. Results Staphylococcus spp. was the most common microorganism isolated from conjunctival sac. Shigella spp. comprised the Gram‐negative genera isolated. Escherichia coli were isolated from the right eye of one Coati that had no growth at contralateral eye. Nine eyes from coatis and 10 from Crab‐eating raccoons had no microorganisms isolated. Conclusion Our results were in accordance with previous studies indicating Staphylococcus sp., followed by Corynebacterium spp. as the most common inhabitant of the eyes of most mammalian species.