A Comparison of the Cutaneous Trunci Myocutaneous Flap and Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap in the Dog

Latissimus dorsi and cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps of equal dimension and location were randomly elevated on opposite sides of the thorax in 10 dogs (group 1) and resutured to their respective bed. The procedure was repeated in four additional dogs (group 2); however, the short perforating branches of the thoracodorsal artery and vein were divided at the base of each cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flap, whereas the cutaneous pedicle and underlying cutaneous trunci muscle were divided in the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps to determine subsequent skin survivability and the major source of circulation of each myocutaneous flap. There was little difference in the percentage of skin survival between the latissimus dorsi and cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps in group 1 dogs. Circulation to the "skin island" of group 2 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps originated from intramuscular anastomotic connections between the major branch of the thoracodorsal artery entering the latissimus dorsi muscle and the proximal lateral intercostal arteries perforating the muscle. Ligation of the short perforating branches of the thoracodorsal artery resulted in partial skin necrosis in all group 2 cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flaps. Results from this study indicate that it is unnecessary to elevate the latissimus dorsi muscle for major skin flap elevation and survival. The thicker latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is more difficult to develop surgically and appears to have no clinical major advantage over the more mobile cutaneous trunci myocutaneous flap or the adjacent thoracodorsal axial pattern flap for closure of large skin defects within the radius of flap rotation.     

Open Intestinal Anastomosis with Surgical Stapling Equipment in 24 Dogs and Cats

Surgical stapling equipment was used to perform open antiperistaltic side-to-side ("functional end-to-end") entero-anastomoses in 20 dogs and 4 cats. Twenty-one anastomoses healed uneventfully. Seven animals with severe bacterial peritonitis required open peritoneal drainage and delayed abdominal closure. There was postoperative leakage at the anastomotic site in two dogs and a localized abscess at the staple line in one cat. No long-term complications occurred in follow-up periods of 3 to 29 months.     

The hymenopterous parasites of Nitidulidae

The known information on hymenopterous parasites of Nitidulidae was consolidated in this article. Species of parasites, nitidulid hosts and, where possible, plant host of the nitidulids are provided along with citations to sources of information. Thirty-three species of hymenopterous parasites are recorded in nine different families. Since nomenclature of several of the parasites has changed, it was updated with the assistance of specialists.     

In vitro expression and inhibition of procoagulant activity produced by bovine alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood cells

Local and systemic activation of coagulation is frequently associated with bacterial sepsis. The coagulopathy is due, at least in part, to expression of tissue factor (TF) by monocytes and macrophages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of procoagulant activity by bovine alveolar macrophages, leukocytes and platelets, and to determine the relative potency of three chemical inhibitors of TF expression (pentoxifylline, retinoic acid, and cyclosporin A). Bovine alveolar macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Pasteurella haemolytica or recombinant bovine tumour nervous factor (TNF) and dose- and time-dependent effects on TF expression were studied. LPS and TNF induced TF expression in alveolar macrophages and LPS treatment of whole blood induced TF expression in mononuclear cells. Neutrophils and platelets also expressed procoagulant activity, but this activity was not inhibited by anti-bovine TF monoclonal antibody. Pentoxifylline (40 mol/L), retinoic acid (0.01 mmol/L) and cyclosporin A (0.08 mol/L) inhibited TF expression when added concurrently with LPS or TNF, but not when added 4 h after stimulation. TF mRNA was not detected in unstimulated alveolar macrophages by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, exposure to LPS or TNF for 6 h induced marked expression of TF mRNA, which was inhibited by treatment with pentoxifylline, retinoic acid and cyclosporin A. Expression of TNF by alveolar macrophages stimulated with LPS was also inhibited by these compounds. Our results indicate that procoagulant activity expressed by alveolar macrophages and monocytes is associated with expression of TF, whereas procoagulant activity expressed by neutrophils and platelets is not. The concentrations of pentoxifylline and retinoic acid necessary for inhibition of TF expression in vitro may not be achievable in vivo owing to their toxic effects. However, the in vitro concentration of cyclosporin A that inhibited TF expression did not exceed the plasma concentration observed in humans, and therefore may be useful for inhibition of TF expression in vivo.Abbreviations BAL bronchoalveolar lavage - LPS lipopolysaccharide - cDNA cloned deoxyribonucleic acid - cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - GAPDH glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase - mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid - TF tissue factor - TNF tumour necrosis factor - DPBS Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline     

Evaluation of the efficacy of doramectin against an artificial infection of Dictyocaulus viviparus in calves

Three groups of eight Friesian calves, reared parasite-free, were experimentally infected with 1000 infective larvae of Dictyocaulus viviparus. Two groups were injected subcutaneously with 1% doramectin at 0.2 mg/kg body weight, one group 5 days after infection and the other 25 days after infection. A third group served as untreated controls. Faecal samples were examined for lungworm larvae on days 28, 32, 33, 34 and 35 after infection; the calves were killed and necropsied 39 or 40 days after infection and any lungworms present recovered and counted. Doramectin proved 100% effective against both 5-day-old and mature D. viviparus infections.     

Identification of tissue hypoxia in the livers of ascitic and hypoxia‐induced broilers using trypan blue

1. The perfusion of livers with the vital dye trypan blue was performed to test for evidence of tissue hypoxia in 3 groups of young broiler chickens, namely, ascitic, hypoxia‐induced and controls.

2. Hepatocytes that stained with trypan blue were considered to be dead or dying before fixation and represented damaged cells.

3. The proportion of trypan blue‐stained hepatocytes in the livers of ascitic birds was slightly less than half that observed in the hypoxia‐induced birds but significandy more than the proportion of stained cells observed in control birds.

4. Liver damage in the ascitic birds was also assessed biochemically by an altered enzyme profile.

5. The study demonstrated that increased trypan blue uptake in the livers of ascitic birds reared at sea‐level may be the consequence of hypoxia stress caused by reduced oxygen utilisation.