Combined dorsolateral and intraoral approach for the resection of tumors of the maxilla in the dog

This paper describes in detail a combined dorsal and intraoral approach for maxillectomy for tumors involving tissues more caudal to the third premolar. The only intraoperative complication was that of blood loss, with six out of 20 dogs requiring a single unit of blood. Histopathologically clean margins were obtained in 14 of the 20 cases, with a recurrence rate of 50% in these dogs and a median time to recurrence of 24 months. This represents an improvement in outcome over previously reported studies, and the authors postulate this is due to the better exposure and access to the area afforded by the combined approach over the standard intraoral approach.     

Assessment of a pyrogallol red technique for total protein measurement in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs

The measurement of protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is a basic analytical method in neurology. In this study, a pyrogallol red technique using a human albumin calibrator previously validated in human medicine was tested for canine samples, and the results were compared with those obtained using urine test strips. Pyrogallol red significantly (P<0.05) but moderately underestimated purified dog albumin and globulins. The imprecision of the technique was low: intra- and between-series coefficients of variation were 1.6 and 4.3 per cent at protein concentrations of about 0.3 g/litre. Over 49 samples, there was good agreement between the pyrogallol red and test strip results (r=0.63), especially for low and high protein concentrations, but misclassifications were observed with '+' test strip readings.     

The fat content of milk from dairy cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus

Two groups of cows infected with the bovine leukosis virus (BLV) were kept on two different diets and the fat content of their milk was assayed. The results were compared with those obtained from two comparable groups of BLV-free cows. The cows in each group were of similar ages, those in the groups on the poorer diet being 1–4 months post partum, while those on the richer diet were 5–7 months post partum. The mean percentage of fat in the milk from uninfected cows on the poorer diet was 2.94 while that from the similar infected cattle was 3.06. Uninfected cows on the richer diet produced milk containing 3.39% fat, while those that were infected produced milk containing 3.30% fat. No statistical differences in milk fat production were observed between the BLV seropositive and seronegative cows.     

Inventory of fresh water snails in Mayotte, Comoro Islands

No trematodosis is known at the present time in Mayotte despite the close historical relationships between the Mayotte Archipelago and the neighbouring island of Madagascar, which is heavily infested. It is noteworthy that no intermediate host has been described in previous studies in Mayotte. An inventory of fresh water snails was performed from 1985 to 1988, in 53 experimental stations during the rainy and the dry seasons: 3,940 snails of eight different species were collected and further identified. The sole occurrence of Lymnaea natalensis constitutes a new record in Mayotte where there are now 14 different species of fresh water snails. According to the role of Lymnaea natalensis as a vector of Fasciola gigantica, particularly in Madagascar, the veterinary control of cattle importation into Mayotte is of great interest.     

Effects of altering the grain content of sorghum silage on its nutritive value

The effects of increasing grain content of sorghum silage at the soft dough or the mature stages on nutrient digestibility, rate of passage and ruminal characteristics were investigated. A hetero-yellow grain sorghum (WAC 710DR) was harvested at the soft dough and the mature stage. Conventional sorghum silage was harvested by harvesting only the material more than 12 cm above the ground, high-energy silage by cutting it at a 40-cm height and headchop by harvesting at a 65-cm height. Regular silage was supplemented with either 17% or 34% grain to provide amounts of grain equal to that in the high-energy silage and headchop; high-energy silage was supplemented with 25% grain to equal the grain content of headchop. Diets were supplemented to 11.0% CP with soybean meal. Grain content was greater for headchop than for regular silage (72% vs 53%) but DM yield was lower (2,900 vs 4,600 kg/ha). Silages harvested at the more mature stage had lower digestibility of DM (62 vs 68%), CP (60 vs 64%), NDF (46 vs 50%), ADF (48 vs 52%) and starch (89 vs 97%). Increasing the height of cut did not increase DM digestibility of the silage. Compared with conventional silage, headchop had depressed NDF (43 vs 51%) and ADF (46 vs 55%) digestibility. Supplementation of silages with grain did not increase digestibility. The failure to increase DM digestibility was not due to depressed fiber or starch digestion, but rather to an increased fecal excretion of cell contents. The digestibility of grain sorghum silage was not improved by increasing the height of cut or adding supplemental grain.     

Efficacy of ceftiofur hydrochloride for treatment of experimentally induced colibacillosis in neonatal swine

Ceftiofur hydrochloride was tested for effectiveness against induced colibacillosis in neonatal swine. In this model, pigs less than 12 hours old were inoculated via stomach tube with a virulent, K99+, nalidixic acid-resistant strain of Escherichia coli. Six hours after challenge exposure, 1 dose of ceftiofur was administered either IM or orally in experiment 1 and orally only in experiment 2. Mortality, shedding of bacteria, fecal consistency scores, and body weight changes were monitored for 10 days. In experiment 1 (n = 383 pigs), all treatments at dosage that ranged between 0.5 and 64.0 mg of ceftiofur/kg of body weight significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced mortality, bacterial shedding, and diarrhea and increased weight gain, compared with findings in untreated controls. There were no detectable differences between oral and IM routes, except that there was greater reduction in bacteria shedding associated with the oral route of administration. In experiment 2 (n = 505 pigs), ceftiofur was administered orally either once at 6 hours after challenge exposure or twice at 6 and at 48 hours after the first dose. Dosage of ceftiofur was 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 60 mg/kg administered once, or half the same dose was administered at each of 2 times. At the optimal dosage (10 mg/kg), a single dose was as effective as 2 doses. The single administration at all dosages reduced mortality, bacterial shedding, and diarrhea scores and increased body weight gain, compared with findings in untreated pigs (P less than 0.01). In this induced infection model, the optimal treatment dosage was determined to be 10 mg/kg administered once.     

Identification and anatomic categorization of the vascular patterns to the pelvic limb muscles of dogs

The vascular patterns to pelvic limb muscles were studied in 6 dogs (12 limbs) to identify muscles most suitable for transposition in the treatment of large wounds. Gross dissection of injected specimens and angiography were used to identify the vascular pedicles. The vascular pedicles to several muscles were generally consistent, and any variations would not interfere with most muscle transfers. The cranial part of the sartorius, gracillis, semitendinosus, and rectus femoris muscles were identified as suitable candidates for transfer. The caudal part of the sartorius, cranial tibial, and long digital extensor muscles have segmentalized vascular patterns that would limit its arc of rotation.     

Plasma von Willebrand factor concentration and thyroid function in dogs

Plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration was determined in 15 dogs with suspected hypothyroidism, in 1 dog with hyperthyroidism, and in 14 euthyroid dogs. The mean +/- SEM von Willebrand factor:antigen concentration in hypothyroid dogs (47.1% +/- 12.6%) was significantly decreased (P less than 0.0005), compared with that in euthyroid dogs (94.7 +/- 5.6%). Four hypothyroid dogs were given thyroxine for 1 month and all 4 had an increase in von Willebrand factor:antigen concentration. The plasma von Willebrand factor:antigen concentration was 200% in the hyperthyroid dog. Seemingly, reduced concentrations of plasma von Willebrand factor:antigen can be found in dogs in association with congenital von Willebrand disease or with von Willebrand disease acquired through hypothyroidism.     

A novel MCT1 and MCT4 dual inhibitor reduces mitochondrial metabolism and inhibits tumour growth of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) support tumour growth by regulating the transport of metabolites in the tumour microenvironment. High MCT1 or MCT4 expression is correlated with poor outcomes in human patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, drugs targeting these transporters have been developed and may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy resembling advanced or recurrent HNSCC. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of a previously characterized dual MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitor, MD‐1, in OSCC as a novel treatment approach for feline oral cancer. We also sought to determine the potential of feline OSCC as a large animal model for the further development of MCT inhibitors to treat human HNSCC. In vitro, MD‐1 reduced the viability of feline OSCC and human HNSCC cell lines, altered glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and synergized with platinum‐based chemotherapies. While MD‐1 treatment increased lactate concentrations in an HNSCC cell line, the inhibitor failed to alter lactate levels in feline OSCC cells, suggesting an MCT‐independent activity. In vivo, MD‐1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and prolonged overall survival in an orthotopic model of feline OSCC. Our results show that MD‐1 may be an effective therapy for the treatment of feline oral cancer. Our findings also support the further investigation of feline OSCC as a large animal model to inform the development of MCT inhibitors and future clinical studies in human HNSCC.