Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: A Case Report and Review

A 15 year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined for lethargy, fever, and inappetence of 1-day duration. A hard-bodied tick was removed from the horse. A complete blood count (CBC) demonstrated leukopenia with lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. Morulae were visualized in circulating granulocytes. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the identity of these organisms as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The horse was treated symptomatically for fever and inappetence with flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg [0.5 mg/lb]) and oral electrolyte paste. Oxytetracycline (6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb] intravenously every 24 hours) treatment was begun as soon as a definitive diagnosis was determined. The mare responded to treatment, but she was switched to oral doxycycline (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb] every 12 hours) after 5 days because of perivascular swelling at the injection site. Complete resolution of clinical signs was seen. There was no evidence of recurrence 1 year later. No additional horses at the farm were affected. The horse in this report presented for lethargy, inappetence, and fever, with limited other abnormalities. This represents a classical presentation of a mild to moderate case of anaplasmosis, which had not previously been reported in Virginia. The disease may be more widespread than has been previously reported, and it should warrant inclusion on a complete differential diagnosis list in a case of fever of unknown origin.     

Influence of dietary energy, nutrient density and environmental temperature on pullet performance in early lay

1. Alterations in dietary metabolisable energy (ME) concentration had a limited influence on food and nutrient intakes and egg mass output of hens in early lay kept at the prevailing air (10 degrees to 24 degrees C), cold (6 degrees to 16 degrees C) or hot (25 degrees to 35 degrees C) temperatures. 2. Energy intakes were not improved by increasing the dietary concentrations of nutrients other than energy. 3. At prevailing air and cold temperatures all dietary ME-nutrient density combinations allowed hens to meet the recommended daily protein intake but only hens fed the most concentrated diets were able to meet this recommendation at hot temperatures. 4. Even the highest intakes of ME and protein achieved at hot temperatures failed to increase egg mass output to the values attained on any diet at cold temperatures.     

Short-term compatibility of furosemide with crystalloid solutions

Parenteral veterinary furosemide is a 50-mg/mL solution with a pH of 8.0-9.3. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a commonly used veterinary formulation of 50 mg/mL of furosemide solution could be diluted in vitro without precipitation. Furosemide 50 mg/mL was diluted to concentrations of 10 and 5 mg/mL with 5% dextrose in water (D5W), 0.9% saline, lactated Ringer solution (LRS), and sterile water. Acidic sterile water and basic sterile water solutions were made by the addition of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, respectively, for use as controls to assess the effect of pH extremes for each concentration. After furosemide dilution, the final pH of each sample was measured, and samples were grossly and microscopically examined for clarity and crystal formation immediately and 1, 3, 5, and 8 hours after dilution. Gross precipitation and microscopic crystals were immediately observed in the acidic controls. Solutions of 5 mg/mL in LRS and 0.9% saline became slightly cloudy immediately, but no crystals were observed microscopically for 8 hours. Solutions of 10 mg/mL in D5W, 0.9% saline, LRS, and sterile water and solutions of 5 mg/mL in D5W and sterile water and the basic control were grossly clear, and no microscopic crystals were observed for 8 hours. On the basis of the results obtained in this in vitro investigation, this veterinary formulation of furosemide 50 mg/mL can be diluted without precipitation to a concentration of 10 mg/mL with D5W, 0.9% saline, LRS, or sterile water and to 5 mg/mL with D5W or sterile water and held for 8 hours.     

Methemoglobinemia and eccentrocytosis in equine erythrocyte flavin adenine dinucleotide deficiency

This report describes erythrocyte biochemical findings in an adult Spanish mustang mare that exhibited persistent methemoglobinemia, eccentrocytosis, and pyknocytosis that were not related to the consumption or administration of an exogenous oxidant. The methemoglobinemia was attributed to a deficiency in cytochrome-b5 reductase (Cb5R) activity, and the eccentrocytes and pyknocytes were attributed to a marked deficiency in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent glutathione reductase (GR) activity that resulted in decreased reduced glutathione concentration within erythrocytes. The GR activity increased to a near-normal value after addition of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) to the enzyme assay, indicating a deficiency of FAD in erythrocytes. The methemoglobinemia, eccentrocytosis, and pyknocytosis were attributed to deficiency of FAD in erythrocytes because the GR and Cb5R enzymes use FAD as a cofactor. This deficiency in FAD results from a defect in erythrocyte riboflavin metabolism, which has not been documented previously in animals.     

Mycobacteriosis in an American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Avian mycobacteriosis is an important disease in companion, captive, exotic, and wild birds worldwide. Mycobacterium avium is the most widely distributed and pathogenic organism causing tuberculous lesions in birds. Multiple factors including age, stress, immune status, and preexisting disease determine the pathogenicity of M. avium, and the disease can manifest itself in a variety of forms. Mycobacteriosis can cause severe losses in zoo aviaries, including the loss of rare and endangered bird species. We report a case of systemic avian mycobacteriosis in an adult, free-living male American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that presented to the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in November 2003.     

Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on elasticity and microstructure of equine cortical bone

OBJECTIVE: To measure changes in the modulus of elasticity (E) and describe histologic findings after extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on equine cortical bone specimens. SAMPLE POPULATION: 16 bone specimens from the proximodorsal cortex of an equine third metacarpal or metatarsal bone. PROCEDURE: Baseline E was determined by the density (p) and unidirectional ultrasound transmission velocity (C) of each specimen according to the equation E = pC2. Eight specimens were treated with 500 pulses of 0.15 mJ/mm2 of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and 8 specimens were treated with 500 pulses of 0.16 mJ/mm2of radial pressure wave therapy. After treatment, C was determined again. Four treatment sessions resulted in 2,000 pulses and 5 C measurements. The p of each sample was measured again. Mean post-treatment E was calculated for each group. Nondecalcified sections of all specimens were stained with toluidine blue or basic fuchsin for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Overall treatment group effect was not significant for C or E. Final E was not different from baseline values for extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy. No histologic changes could be attributed to either treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy did not affect the material properties of equine bone at the energy and pulse values used in this study.     

Spinal cord granuloma due to Coccidioides immitis in a cat

A6-year-old 5.5-kg female spayed domestic short-haired cat from Tucson, AZ, presented with an ˜5-day history of progressive pelvic limb weakness. The owners had returned from a weekend away to find the cat unable to use her left pelvic limb. Approximately 2 months previously, the cat had a cough and was treated for presumptive asthma with 5 mg prednisone PO q24h. The cat had a similar cough 1 year previously and seasonal allergy was suspected. The cough resolved and prednisone treatment was discontinued. Other past pertinent history included a skin problem ˜4 years previously that was described as alopecia, erythema, and pruritus of a pelvic limb. This problem had been diagnosed as an allergy and had since resolved. The cat was housed exclusively indoors and had been adopted as a kitten from a local retail store. Viral titers (FeLV and FIV) were negative, and regular vaccinations and veterinary examinations had been completed