In vitro antimycoplasmal activity of six Jordanian medicinal plants against three Mycoplasma species

The in vitro effect of six Jordanian traditional medicine plant methanolic extracts were tested against 32 isolates of Mycoplasma species; Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC (6), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (8) and M. putrefaciens (18), all isolated from either nasal swabs or milk, from sheep and goats in different regions in Jordan. All Mycoplasma species showed susceptibility to Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia arborescens with MIC ranges from 3.125–12.5 mg/ml. Allium sativum and Punica grantum showed limited activity against some Mycoplasma isolates. Olea europea and Citrullus colocynthis showed no in vitro activity against any of the Mycoplasma species tested. Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia arborescens may therefore be useful for the treatment of mycoplasma infections. The authors are British Civil Servants and as such their work is subject to British Crown Copyright. This means the exclusive copyright for the article cannot be transferred.     

Genetic and phenotypic parameters and annual trends for milk production and fertility traits of the Sahiwal cattle in semi arid Kenya

Data comprising 7211 lactation records of 2894 cows were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters for milk production (lactation milk yield, LMY and lactation length, LL) and fertility (calving interval, CI; number of services per conception, NSC and age at first calving, AFC) traits. Genetic, environmental and phenotypic trends were also estimated. Variance components were estimated using univariate, bivariate and trivariate animal models on based restricted maximum likelihood procedures. Univariate models were used for each trait, while bivariate models were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between milk production and fertility traits and between LMY, LL, CI and NSC within each lactation. Trivariate models were used in the analysis of LMY, LL, CI and NSC in the first three lactations. Heritability estimates from the univariate model were 0.16, 0.07, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.01 for LMY, LL, CI, AFC and NSC, respectively. The heritability estimates from trivariate analysis were higher for milk production traits than those from univariate analyses. Genetic correlations were high and undesirable between milk production and fertility traits, while phenotypic correlations were correspondingly low. Genetic trends were close to zero for all traits, while environmental and phenotypic trends fluctuated over the study period.     

Dietary fat modulates dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) bioavailability in adult cockerels

1. A trial was designed to assess the effect of fat supplementation (amount and type of fatty acids) on vitamin E bioavailability in adult cockerels.

2. A total of 60 birds were force-fed three different diets: a semi-purified diet without added fat (Control diet) or supplemented with 3% fat as linseed (Linseed diet) or hydrogenated coconut oil (Coconut diet). The three experimental diets were also supplemented with dl-α-tocopheryl acetate to provide 40 mg vitamin E per bird.

3. After one week of depletion, blood was collected from the wing vein before (baseline) and 6, 12, 24 and 96 h after the gavage. Plasma samples were analysed for their α-tocopherol, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations.

4. Results showed that the addition of 3% fat in the experimental diet increased post-gavage plasma α-tocopherol response by 153% for Linseed diet and by 75% for Coconut diet (P < 0.0001) compared to the Control group. Furthermore, the plasma α-tocopherol response observed with the Linseed diet was 44% greater than that observed with the Coconut diet (P < 0.0001). There was no effect of treatments on either plasma triglycerides (P = 0.91) or cholesterol (P = 0.45) responses.

5. In conclusion, this study shows that the addition of 3% fat to the diet significantly increases dl-α-tocopheryl acetate bioavailability in adult cockerels. Supplementation of fat rich in unsaturated fatty acids also leads to a higher dl-α-tocopheryl acetate bioavailability than fat rich in saturated fatty acids.

     

USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY AND AUTOMATED CORE BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES IN SMALL ANIMALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal diseases. Six dogs and seven cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease underwent ultrasonography and intestinal lesions were identified. One or more ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and/or core biopsy procedures were performed in each patient. Each patient also underwent one of the following additional procedures for comparison of results: 1) surgery (n=4), 2) endoscopy (n=2), 3) post mortem exam (n=3), and, 4) for lymphoma diagnosed with ultrasound-guided procedures, response to chemotherapy (n=4). Correct diagnoses were obtained in nine of the 13 patients, incorrect diagnoses in two of the 13 patients, and inconclusive diagnoses in two of the thirteen patients. Of the 16 total ultrasound-guided procedures performed, ten were confirmed as correct, three as incorrect, and three were non-diagnostic. Intestinal lesions with bowel wall thickness greater than 2.0 cm had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than lesions of lesser wall thickness. Gastric lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than small and large intestinal lesions. Malignant lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnoses than benign lesions. There were no complications. Ultrasound-guided gastrointestinal fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy appears to be a safe, accurate, and rapid procedure for use in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal disease.     

Effects of medetomidine premedication on propofol infusion anaesthesia in dogs

Observations of cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were made on six dogs anaesthetized on two separate occasions for 120 minutes with a propofol infusion, once without premedication and once following premedication with 10 μg kg-¹ of intramuscular medetomidine. During anaesthesia the heart rate and cardiac index tended to be lower following medetomidine premedication, while the mean arterial pressure was significantly greater (p<0.05). Although the differences were not statistically significant, the systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance and stroke volume index were also greater in dogs given medetomidine. The mean arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions were similar under both regimens, but in 2 dogs supplementary oxygen had to be administered during anaesthesia to alleviate severe hypoxaemia on both occasions they were anaesthetized. Minute and tidal volumes of respiration tended to be greater in dogs not given medetomidine but medetomidine premedication appeared to have no effect on venous admixture. Dogs given medetomidine received intramuscular atipamezole at the end of the 120 min. propofol infusion; the mean time from induction of anaesthesia to walking without ataxia was 174. min in the unpremedicated dogs and 160 min. in the dogs given atipamezole. The mean blood propofol concentration at which the dogs walked without ataxia was higher in the unpremedicated animals (2.12 ± 0.077 μg. ml-¹ compared with 1.27 ± 0.518 μg. ml-¹ in the premedicated dogs). The oxygen delivery to the tissues was lower after medetomidine premedication (p = 0.03) and the oxygen consumption was generally lower after medetomidine premedication but the difference did not achieve statistical significance. No correlation could be demonstrated between blood propofol concentration and cardiac index, systemic or pulmonary vascular resistance indices, systolic, diastolic or mean arterial blood pressures.     

Review of injection techniques targeting the sacroiliac region in horses

Local anaesthetic techniques and diagnostic imaging tools are currently used in conjunction with thorough physical and lameness examinations to diagnose sacroiliac disease (SID) in the horse. The deep and inaccessible location of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), however, often renders diagnostic imaging modalities, such as radiography, nuclear scintigraphy and ultrasonography, unreliable in identifying sacroiliac problems. The equine clinician therefore often has to rely on positive results of local anaesthetic techniques to confirm a diagnosis of SID. Regional infiltration techniques have been described but result in a diffuse distribution of large volumes of local anaesthetic solution throughout the entire lumbosacroiliac region, which is nonspecific to the SIJ and has the potential to produce false positive results. Several periarticular injection approaches to the SIJ have recently been described. A combination of periarticular SIJ injections with the use of modest amounts of local anaesthetic solution provides increased SIJ specificity, but may lead to false negative results in cases where the pain originates from surrounding soft tissues. This article clarifies terminology related to sacroiliac injections, reviews current injection techniques, highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and investigates injectate volume considerations.     

Book reviews

Amino Acids in Farm Animal Nutrition. Edited by J. P. F. D'Mello. 1994. 417 pp. £55.00 Wallingford, Oxon, CAB International. ISBN 0 85198 8814

Avian Hematology and Cytology. Terry W. Campbell. 1995. 104 pp. Illustrated. £48.00. Ames, Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0 8138 2970 4.     

Plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after subcutaneous administration to koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) with chlamydiosis

Nine mature koalas with chlamydiosis, typically keratoconjunctivitis and/or urogenital tract infection, were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of chloramphenicol at 60 mg/kg for 45 days (five koalas), or for a shorter duration (four koalas). All koalas were initially positive for Chlamydia pecorum as determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Plasma chloramphenicol concentrations were determined at t = 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after the day 1 injection (nine koalas) and after the day 15 injection (seven koalas). Chloramphenicol reached a median (and range) maximum plasma concentration of 3.03 (1.32-5.03 μg/mL) at 4 (1-8 h) after the day 1 injection and 4.82 (1.97-27.55 μg/mL) at 1 (1-2 h) after day 15. The median (and range) of AUC(0-24) on day 1 and day 15 were 48.14 (22.37-81.14 μg·h/mL) and 50.83 (28.43-123.99 μg·h/mL), respectively. The area under the moment curve (AUMC)(0-24) median (and range) for day 1 and day 15 were 530.03 (233.05-798.97 h) and 458.15 (291.72-1093.58 h), respectively. Swabs were positive for chlamydial DNA pretreatment, and all koalas except one, produced swabs negative for chlamydial DNA during treatment and which remained so, for 2-63 days after treatment, however whether chloramphenicol treatment prevented long-term recrudescence of infection was not established. At this dose and dosing frequency, chloramphenicol appeared to control mild chlamydial infection and prevent shedding, but severe urogenital disease did not appear to respond to chloramphenicol at this dosage regime. For koalas affected by severe chlamydiosis, antibiotics alone are not sufficient to effect a cure, possibly because of structural or metabolic changes associated with chronic disease and inflammation.