Use of human immunoglobulin in addition to glucocorticoids for the initial treatment of dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Objective – To determine the utility of human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) for the initial treatment of canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).
Design – Blinded, randomized, clinical trial.
Setting – Veterinary teaching hospital.
Animals – Twenty-eight, client-owned dogs with primary IMHA.
Interventions – At enrollment, after diagnosis of IMHA, dogs were randomly assigned to receive either hIVIG or placebo, in a blinded fashion. For the next 14 days, all dogs received glucocorticoids as the sole immunosuppressant agent. All dogs received low-molecular-weight heparin as an anticoagulant. D-dimer concentrations were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study protocol to monitor for thromboembolic complications.
Measurements and Main Results – Twenty-five of 28 dogs (89%) were discharged from the hospital. Thirteen of those received hIVIG and 12 received placebo. Twenty-four dogs (86%) were alive 14 days after enrollment, and of these 13 received hIVIG and 11 received placebo. D-dimer concentrations were elevated in 86% of all dogs at the time of diagnosis.
Conclusions – For initial treatment of dogs with IMHA, the addition of hIVIG to corticosteroid treatment did not improve initial response, nor did it shorten hospitalization.     

Indirect determination of nitric oxide in cats with cardiomyopathy and arterial thromboembolism

Objective: To determine nitric oxide concentration in cats with hypertrophic or intermediate forms of cardiomyopathy and arterial thromboembolism (ATE) compared to healthy controls and to determine the association between nitric oxide concentration and the presence of ATE, congestive heart failure (CHF), and echocardiographic measurements. Design: Case–control study. Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Client‐owned cats with cardiomyopathy, cardiomyopathy and ATE, and normal cats. Interventions: None. Measurements: All cats underwent 2‐dimensional and M‐mode echocardiography. Nitric oxide was assessed indirectly by measuring the concentration of plasma nitrite+nitrate (NN), end products of nitric oxide metabolism. Plasma arginine concentration and dietary arginine content were also assessed since arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide production. Main results: Twenty‐six cats with cardiomyopathy, 26 cats with cardiomyopathy and ATE, and 29 nor‐mal cats were enrolled. Compared with healthy controls, median NN concentration was significantly higher in cats with cardiomyopathy and cats with both cardiomyopathy and ATE. There was no difference between cats with cardiomyopathy alone and cats with cardiomyopathy and ATE. Nitrate+ nitrite concen‐tration in cats with cardiac disease was unrelated to the presence of CHF, plasma arginine concentration, or dietary arginine content. In cats with cardiac disease, the left atrial diameter, left ven‐tricular diameter in diastole, and age were negatively correlated with NN concentrations. Conclusions: Nitric oxide concentration is elevated in cats with cardiac disease, but the elevation appears to be independent of ATE and CHF.     

Short-term effects of sewage sludge application on phosphatase activities and available P fractions in Mediterranean soils

The aim of this study was to investigate factors regulating phosphatase activities in Mediterranean soils subjected to sewage sludge applications. Soils originating from calcareous and siliceous mineral parent materials were amended with aerobically digested sewage sludge, with or without physico-chemical treatment by ferric chloride. Sludge amendments, ranging from 6.2 to 10 g kg⁻¹ soil, were carried out in order to provide soil with a P total quantity equivalent to 0.5 g P₂O₅ per kg of soil. Bacterial density, phosphatase activities (i.e. acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases and phosphodiesterases) and available P (i.e. P Olsen and P water) were measured after 25 and 87 days of incubation. Results showed significant effects of sewage sludge application and incubation period. Sewage sludge effect resulted in an increase in phosphatase activities, microbial density and available P. Incubation period increased available P while decreasing phosphatase activities. This study also revealed that the origin of sludge and its chemical characteristics may show different effects on certain variables such as phosphodiesterases or bacterial density, whereas mineral parent materials of soils did not show any significant effects.     

Effects of organic and mineral amendments on available P and phosphatase activities in a degraded Mediterranean soil under short-term incubation experiment

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mineral and organic-P-fertilizers on soil P availability, bacteria densities and phosphatase activities, in a degraded Mediterranean soil characterized by low level in soil organic matter and nutrients. A typical degraded Mediterranean soil, originating from a siliceous mineral parent material, was amended with different organic or mineral P-sources: aerobically digested sewage sludge (SS), with or without physico-chemical treatment by ferric chloride; sewage sludge compost (SSC); Na or K mineral P-salts (Pi-salts). All the amendments were carried out in order to provide soil with a P total quantity equivalent to 0.5 g P₂O₅/kg of soil. Bacterial density, phosphatase activities (i.e. acid (APH) and alkaline (BPH) phosphomonoesterases and phosphodiesterases), BPH/APH ratio, and available P (P Olsen) were measured after 25 and 87 days of incubation. Results showed that all the P-sources used to fertilize soil during this study resulted in significant increase in P concentration. However, different responses in phosphatase activities and bacterial densities were obtained with regards to the amendment applied to soil. Indeed, it appeared clearly that sewage sludge (SS) considerably stimulated soil biological activity, and more especially the different kinds of phosphatases involved in P mineralization and P turn-over. On the contrary, sewage sludge compost (SSC) as well as P-salts amendments did not affected these parameters in most cases. Results showed also that the incubation time influenced almost all the biological and chemical parameters investigated during this study. As a consequence, P availability was considerably improved in the amended soils between the two sampling dates.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS: ACUTE LUNG INJURY FOLLOWING MASSIVE BEE ENVENOMATION IN A DOG

A 5-year-old neutered male mixed breed dog presented for increased respiratory effort after being stung by over 100 bees and developing anaphylactic shock. Given the history, clinical signs and thoracic radiographic findings of a mild bilateral interstitial pattern, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) was suspected. Further testing was performed to support this diagnosis. On computed tomographic images, there was a diffuse bilateral opacification of the lungs, with preservation of bronchial and vascular margins. Pulmonary function testing indicated decreased pulmonary compliance, decreased diffusion capacity and decreased functional residual capacity. These results supported the diagnosis of ALI/ARDS secondary to bee sting envenomation and development of anaphylactic shock. After 8 days of treatment with oxygen, steroids, antibiotics, and bronchodilators the dog improved. This case demonstrates the usefulness of computed tomography and pulmonary function testing in the diagnosis of ALI/ARDS.