Gait analysis in a cat with scapular luxation and contralateral forelimb amputation

This report describes the use of a pressure-sensitive walkway to evaluate an uncommon case of a cat with dorsal luxation of the left scapula and an amputated right forelimb. The findings suggest that limb amputation induced load redistribution mostly to the contralateral forelimb despite the scapular luxation.     

Antibacterial susceptibility patterns of Pseudomonas strains isolated from chronic canine otitis externa

Development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a problem of great concern. It is important to establish the convenience of antimicrobial susceptibility tests in animal infections. The aim of this study was to test the susceptibility to antibiotics of Pseudomonas strains isolated from chronic canine otitis externa. We tested 23 strains of Pseudomonas: 19 Ps. aeruginosa, three Ps. fluorescens and one Pseudomonas spp. The most effective antibiotics were tobramycin (100% susceptible), marbofloxacin (91.3%) and ceftazidime (91.3%). Ticarcillin and gentamicin, commonly used for the treatment of otitis externa also showed good results (susceptibility of strains was 86 and 65.2% respectively). Lower susceptibility was found using enrofloxacin (52.1%) probably due to its indiscriminate use. We emphasize the need for a rational policy of antibiotic prescribing in order to prevent the selection of resistant strains.     

Nutraceutic effect of free condensed tannins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lysiloma acapulcensis</Emphasis> (Kunth) benth on parasite infection and performance of Pelibuey sheep

Forty-five Pelibuey sheep were experimentally infested with nematodes to evaluate the effect of three free condensed tannin (FCT) levels of Lysiloma acapulcensis on fecal egg counts (FECs), packed cell volumes (PCV), ocular mucosa colors (OMC), average daily gain (ADG), and adult nematode count. Five treatments were used: 12.5, 25.0, and 37.5 mg of FCT kg^?1 of body weight (BW); sterile water (control); and ivermectine (0.22 mg kg^?1 of BW) as chemical group. The data were processed through repeated measurement analysis. Even though the three FCT doses decreased (P?<?0.05) the FEC, the highest reduction was obtained with 37.5 mg kg^?1 of BW. No differences were observed in PCV and OMC. Higher ADG (P?<?0.05) was observed with 37.5 mg kg^?1 of BW of FCT. The count of adult nematodes (females and males) in the higher dose of FCT was similar to chemical treatment. Dose of 37.5 mg kg^?1 of BW decreased the parasite infection and improved the lamb performance. Therefore, this dose could be used as a nutraceutic product in sheep production.     

Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in sheep after single intravenous or intramuscular administration

Summary

The disposition and urinary excretion of ciprofloxacin (CIP) following intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) administration of 7.5 mg/kg body weight in sheep (n = 5) was studied. The intravenous plasma concentration curve was best described pharmacokinetically by a two‐compartment open model, while the intramuscular administration data fitted better to a one‐compartment open model. Mean elimination half‐lives after IV and IM administration were 72 and 184 minutes, respectively. The absorption of intramuscularly administered CIP in sheep was fast: maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) was reached quickly (tmax 31.93 min) and attained values of 0.69 ± 0.27 mg/l. The bioavailability was 49%. The urinary data showed a significant decrease in the elimination rate constant of CIP when CIP was administered intramuscularly. The other parameters calculated did not display differences between the two routes of administration. The results obtained suggest that when CIP was administered by the IM route in the assayed dose, it was able to maintain serum concentrations above the MIC of most common pathogens over an 8‐hour period.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of acetylsalicylic acid and sodium salicylate in chickens and turkeys

1. Pharmacokinetics of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and sodium salicylate (SS) were assessed following single intravenous (i.v.) and oral administration at doses of 50 mg/kg body weight to chickens and turkeys. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and pharmacokinetic variables were calculated using a non-compartmental model.

2. The mean residence time (MRT) of salicylate (SA) after i.v. administration of SS was 6.08 ± 0.59 and 3.32 ± 0.27 h and after oral administration was 6.95 ± 0.72 and 4.55 ± 0.71 h in chickens and turkeys, respectively. The elimination half-life (T _{1/2 e}) was shorter in turkeys compared with chickens. The value of body clearance (Cl_B) was higher in turkeys than in chickens, but the apparent volume of distribution (V _ss) was similarly low in both species. The bioavailability of SS was complete and the maximal plasma concentration of SA (C _max) after oral administration was 96.93 ± 8.06 and 91.76 ± 9.64 µg/ml, respectively, in chickens and turkeys.

3. The MRT of ASA after iv administration was 0.24 ± 0.08 and 0.24 ± 0.02 h and after oral administration was 0.78 ± 0.25 and 0.59 ± 0.13 h, respectively, in chickens and turkeys. In both species, T _{1/2 e} was very short, Cl_B and V _ss were similar and markedly higher than those of salicylate. The bioavailability of unchanged ASA was low and C _max after oral administration was 6.9 ± 3.6 µg/ml in chickens and 8.6 ± 1.3 µg/ml in turkeys.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Bolivian llama populations using microsatellites

South American camelids (SACs) have a major role in the maintenance and potential future of rural Andean human populations. More than 60% of the 3.7 million llamas living worldwide are found in Bolivia. Due to the lack of studies focusing on genetic diversity in Bolivian llamas, this analysis investigates both the genetic diversity and structure of 12 regional groups of llamas that span the greater part of the range of distribution for this species in Bolivia. The analysis of 42 microsatellite markers in the considered regional groups showed that, in general, there were high levels of polymorphism (a total of 506 detected alleles; average PIC across per marker: 0.66), which are comparable with those reported for other populations of domestic SACs. The estimated diversity parameters indicated that there was high intrapopulational genetic variation (average number of alleles and average expected heterozygosity per marker: 12.04 and 0.68, respectively) and weak genetic differentiation among populations (F_ST range: 0.003–0.052). In agreement with these estimates, Bolivian llamas showed a weak genetic structure and an intense gene flow between all the studied regional groups, which is due to the exchange of reproductive males between the different flocks. Interestingly, the groups for which the largest pairwise F_ST estimates were observed, Sud Lípez and Nor Lípez, showed a certain level of genetic differentiation that is probably due to the pattern of geographic isolation and limited communication infrastructures of these southern localities. Overall, the population parameters reported here may serve as a reference when establishing conservation policies that address Bolivian llama populations.     

Monoamine oxidase activity in some brain areas of sheep after hormonal stimulation

The influence of hormonal superovulatory preparations Folistiman (450 IU FSH, Spofa, Prague) and serum gonadotropin (1500 IU PMSG, Spofa, Prague) on monoamine oxidase (MAO), the degradative enzyme of catecholamines, was investigated in some areas of the brain regulating reproductive functions (area preoptica of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland) in ewes with synchronized oestrus (20 mg chlorsuperlutin) during the oestrous period using a radiochemical method. After intramuscular administration of 1500 IU PMSG, marked increase of MAO activity was found in the area preoptica (p < 0.05) and in the pituitary gland (p < 0.01) in comparison with the control group. No change occurred in MAO activity after ovarian stimulation with FSH. Administration of the above superovulatory preparations failed to induce MAO activity in the pineal gland of sheep.     

Propofol or thiopentone as induction agents in romifidine-sedated and halothane-N2O-anesthetized dogs: a preliminary study.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the use of romifidine as a premedicant in dogs before general anesthesia induced with propofol or thiopentone and maintained with halothane-N2O. Fifteen healthy dogs were anesthetized twice. Each dog received, as preanesthetic protocol, atropine (10 microg/kg, IM) and romifidine (40 microg/kg, IM); induction was delivered with propofol or thiopentone and anesthesia was maintained with halothane and N2O for 1 h. Some cardiovascular and respiratory variables and recovery times were recorded. Induction doses of propofol or thiopentone and the percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining anesthesia were also registered. Thiopentone as an induction agent is more respiratory depressive but is less hypotensive than propofol. Thiopentone reduces further the percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining the anesthesia. However, the quality of recovery is poorer, as the time to extubation is longer and the dogs occasionally had a violent recovery. The combination of romifidine, atropine, propofol, halothane, and N2O appears to be an effective combination for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia in healthy dogs.     

Modulation of porcine biotransformation enzymes by anthelmintic therapy with fenbendazole and flubendazole

Fenbendazole (FEN) and flubendazole (FLU) are benzimidazole anthelmintics often used in pig management for the control of nematodoses. The in vivo study presented here was designed to test the influence of FLU and FEN on cytochrome P4501A and other cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase and several carbonyl reducing enzymes. The results indicated that FEN (in a single therapeutic dose as well as in repeated therapeutic doses) caused significant induction of pig CYP1A, while FLU did not show an inductive effect towards this isoform. Some of the other hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes that were assayed were moderately influenced by FEN or FLU. Strong CYP1A induction following FEN therapy in pigs may negatively affect the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of FEN itself or other simultaneously or consecutively administered drugs. From the perspective of biotransformation enzyme modulation, FLU would appear to be a more convenient anthelmintic therapy of pigs than FEN.     

Evaluation of single and double centrifugation tube methods for concentrating equine platelets

The aim of this study was to evaluate single and double centrifugation tube methods for concentrating equine platelets. Whole blood samples were collected from clinically normal horses and processed by use of single and double centrifugation tube methods to obtain four platelet concentrates (PCs): PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D, which were analyzed using a flow cytometry hematology system for hemogram and additional platelet parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, mean platelet component concentration, mean platelet component distribution width). Concentrations of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) were determined in all the samples. Platelet concentrations for PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D were 45%, 44%, 71%, and 21% higher, respectively, compared to the same values for citrated whole blood samples. TGF-beta(1) concentrations for PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D were 38%, 44%, 44%, and 37% higher, respectively, compared to citrated whole blood sample values. In conclusion, the single and double centrifugation tube methods are reliable methods for concentrating equine platelets and for obtaining potentially therapeutic TGF-beta(1) levels.