Antimicrobial delivery by intrasynovial catheterisation with systemic administration for equine synovial trauma and sepsis

Objective To present the technique for intra-articular catheter placement and report the clinical outcomes of 38 cases of equine synovial trauma and/or infection treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials administered via an intrasynovial catheter (ISC). Design Retrospective study. Procedure Medical records of 38 horses treated for synovial trauma and sepsis with frequent antimicrobial administration through an ISC from 1995 to 2008 were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained via clinical re-evaluation or telephone contact with the owners. Results The majority of horses (84%) received amikacin and Timentin® four times daily. In addition, synovial lavage through the ISC was carried out in 27 horses (71%). Only radiological evidence of osteolysis had a significant negative impact on both lameness at the time of hospital discharge and the long-term outcome. In total, 92% of horses treated with frequent antimicrobial administration through an ISC had clinical resolution of infection. Catheter obstruction occurred in three cases, necessitating replacement or removal, and two synovial fistulae developed at sites of open drainage. The majority of horses treated had a favourable outcome, with 86% being at least pasture sound and 43% returned to riding. Conclusion Septic synovial structures treated with frequent antimicrobial administration through an ISC had a good prognosis for survival and 43% returned to riding, which is consistent with the results of other studies. The use of a simple ISC should be considered when broad-spectrum intrasynovial antimicrobial administration and lavage of a septic synovial structure are indicated.     

Effect of Daily Food Supplementation with Essential Fatty Acids on Canine Semen Quality

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are important membrane components that influence membrane integrity and fluidity. In the present study, the effect of oral supplementation for 60 days with essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 and 9) and vitamin E on canine semen quality was evaluated. Sixteen dogs were selected for the experiment; eight were used as the control group and eight received the fatty acid supplemented diet for 60 days. Semen samples were taken every 15 days during the entire experimental period and were analyzed for volume (ml), motility (%), vigour (0–5), concentration (×10⁶/ml), morphology of spermatozoa (%), plasma membrane integrity (%; using the hyposmotic swelling test) and thermoresistance (motility and vigour after 4 h at 38°C). We concluded that, daily supplementation with omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids, together with vitamin E, for a period of 60 days, significantly increased the semen volume of the treated group after 15 days of supplementation; the vigour and concentration of spermatozoa were superior after the first month of supplementation, while the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa decreased and the cells were protected against thermal stress.     

Size Distribution of Luteal Cells During Pseudopregnancy in Domestic Cats

Experiments were designed to investigate the size distribution of queen steroidogenic luteal cells throughout pseudopregnancy. Corpora lutea were obtained from the queens following ovariohysterectomy on days 7, 15 or 25 of pseudopregnancy. Luteal cells were isolated from the ovary by collagenase digestion. Steriodogenic cells were identified by staining of cells for 3β-HSD activity. Cell diameters were measured using a microscope. Luteal cells having steroidogenic capacity covered a wide spectrum of sizes ranging from 3 to 35 μm in diameter. There was a significant increase in mean cell diameters (p < 0.01) as pseudopregnancy progressed. Mean diameter of 3β-HSD positive cells increased from 10.41 ± 0.7 μm, on day 7 of pseudopregnancy, to 19.72 ± 1.3 μm on day 25 of pseudopregnancy. The ratio of large (>20 μm in diameter) to small (3–20 μm in diameter) luteal cells was 0.08 : 1.0 on day 7 of pseudopregnancy, with the 7.5–10 μm cell size class predominant. By day 25 of pseudopregnancy, the ratio of large-to-small cells was increased to 0.87 : 1.0, and 20–25 μm cell sizes become predominant. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the cells of the corpus luteum undergo continuous differentiation during pseudopregnancy in queen. This study also demonstrates that luteal cells dissociated from pseudopregnant queen can be used as a model to study the physiology of corpus luteum in pregnant cats.     

Longitudinal monitoring of two commercial layer flocks and their environments for Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis and other Salmonellae

Between August 20, 2001, and September 17, 2002, 1429 samples including drag swabs, egg belt or egg rollout swabs, fan-blade swabs, rodent organ and intestinal pools, beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus) pools, housefly (Musca domestica) pools, chicken organ and intestinal pools, and egg pools were obtained for Salmonella culture from two flocks from two different commercial layer ranches. The two ranches were purposefully selected for the study based on their previous status of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation using environmental drag swabs in cooperation with practicing veterinarians. Salmonella sp. was isolated from 337 out of 979 (34.42%) non-egg samples. No Salmonella was isolated from 450 egg pools collected from either ranch. S. enteritidis was isolated from samples obtained from ranch 1 from manure drag swabs, 4/284 (1.4%); rodent organs, 1/24 (4.2%); and housefly pool cultures 1/21 (4.8%). Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from ranch 2 from mouse organ and intestinal pool samples, 1/24 (4.2%). Salmonella group B was isolated from all sample types except the insects. There was a statistically significant difference in isolation rates among seven serogroups of Salmonella: groups B, C1, C2, D, E, K, and untypeable (Pearson chi-square 18.96, P = 0.002). Overall, statistically significant differences were observed with respect to Salmonella isolation among the types of samples taken (Pearson chi-square 118.54, P < 0.0001). Intensive monitoring for Salmonella Enteritidis can be used to optimize a Salmonella reduction program for an individual poultry biosecurity unit.     

Functional Activity of Frozen Thawed Chinchilla lanigera Spermatozoa Cryopreserved with Glycerol or Ethylene Glycol

The cryopreservation of spermatozoa constitutes a valuable tool for the captive breeding management of valuable and/or threatened species. Chinchilla lanigera is a species almost extinct in the wild, and the domestic counterpart has one of the most valuable pelts in the world. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare the functional activity of post‐thawed chinchilla spermatozoa cryopreserved at ?196°C either with glycerol (G) or ethylene glycol (EG) as cryoprotectants (1 m final concentration) and (ii) investigate the effects of incubating the gametes for 4 h in the presence or in the absence of the cryoprotectants; evaluations were performed taking into account motility, viability, response to hypo‐osmotic shock and acrosome integrity of the cells. Parameters reflecting post‐thaw (0 h) sperm functional activity were significantly lower than those of freshly ejaculated gametes. When comparing the cryoprotectant efficiency of G vs EG, neither cryoprotectant agent offered appreciable advantages. After 4 h of incubation, in the presence or absence of the cryoprotectant agent, a rapid and significant decrease was found in all functional parameters and remained at ～ 20–30% motile, viable and viable acrosome intact cells. Viability was significantly lower when the cryoprotectant was removed from the media (possibly due to the centrifugation process). With respect to the maintenance of sperm membrane integrity, only ～ 10% of cells showed membrane resistance to hypo‐osmotic conditions after the 4 h incubation period. These results constitute new insights for cryopreservation protocols and the development of assisted reproductive techniques in this species.     

Ostertagiasis in calves. I. The effect of control measures on infection levels and body weight gains during the grazing season in Denmark

The investigation was designed to study the gastro-intestinal helminth infection established in yearling calves with reference to fluctuations in the larval contamination of the herbage during the grazing season. In a 2 × 3 factor experiment, comprising six groups, each of six calves, a comparison was made between infection levels, growth rates etc. in calves grazing the same paddock over an entire season and calves moved before the July rise in herbage contamination to paddocks not grazed earlier in the same season. A comparison was also made between animals receiving no anthelminthic treatment, animals treated 3 weeks after the start of the grazing season and again when moved, and animals treated every 3 weeks during the season.Before July there were no weight gain differences between the various groups of calves. During the rest of the season, the calves which were moved gained 647–869 g, while those that remained on the same paddock, and were exposed to a high level of larval contamination gained only 81–361 g per day. The effect of anthelmintic treatment was less pronounced, though significant. The weight gains were correlated to a high degree with the larval contamination levels of the respective paddocks (r = ? 0.79) as well as with the serum pepsinogen (r = ? 0.75) and albumin levels (r = 0.75) of the calves and to a minor degree also with faecal egg counts (r = ? 0.45). The observed weight gain differences could not be accounted for by differences in grass quantity or quality.