Treatment of a Periarticular Tibial Fracture in a Foal with a Hybrid External Fixator

Objective— To report repair of a right proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a foal with a hybrid external fixator (HEF).
Study Design— Case report.
Animals— A 5-month-old male foal.
Methods— After open surgical reduction, an HEF built with wires, 2 half-rings, 3 half-threaded connecting rods, and Schanz pins was used to stabilize the fracture.
Results— Immediately after surgery, the foal had relatively good weight bearing. The HEF was removed at 60 days after radiographic confirmation of healing.
Conclusions— HEF can be used to stabilize a proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a 5-month-old foal.
Clinical Relevance— HEF should be considered as another option for repair of proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fractures in foals.     

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Postantibiotic Effect of Amikacin for Equine Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus In Vitro

Objective— To report the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amikacin sulfate for equine clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and characterize the initial kill and duration of the postantibiotic effect (PAE) for selected strains.
Study Design— Experimental study.
Methods— Isolates of MRSA (n=35) had their amikacin MIC determined using the E-test agar diffusion method. Two isolates with MICs>256 μg/mL limit were further characterized using broth macrodilution. Six distinct isolates with amikacin MICs of 32, 48, 128 (2 isolates) and 500 (2 isolates) μg/mL had PAE determinations made over a range of amikacin concentrations from 31.25–1000 μg/mL using standard culture-based techniques.
Results— Median MIC of the 35 isolates was 32 μg/mL (range 2 to >256 μg/mL). Mean PAE of selected MRSA strains had an overall mean (all amikacin doses) of 3.43 hours (range 0.10–9.57 hours). PAE for MRSA exposed to amikacin at 1000 μg/mL was 6.18 hours (range 3.30–9.57 hours), significantly longer than that for all other concentrations ( P <.0001). There was no statistically significant effect of isolate MIC on PAE.
Conclusions— Isolates had a wide range of MIC; however, growth of all 6 selected strains were inhibited within the range of concentrations tested, including 2 strains with MICs of 500 μg/mL. PAE duration was not influenced by the MIC of amikacin but was significantly longer with treatment at 1000 μg/mL than at lower concentrations.
Clinical Relevance— Clinical isolates of MRSA are susceptible to amikacin at concentrations achieved by regional perfusion: however, the modest duration of PAE observed suggest that further laboratory and in vivo evaluation be conducted before recommending the technique for clinical use.     

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

This study examined the effect of treating mares with equine pituitary extract (EPE) in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; EPE/hCG) on the recovery rate of immature oocytes by ovum pick-up (OPU) and on oocyte morphology. Ten mares were subjected to each of two treatments in a random sequence: superstimulated with EPE (25 mg, twice daily) and treated with hCG (2,500 IU) or control (no exogenous treatment). The cytoplasmic morphology of oocytes recovered was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy. Follicular fluid was collected at aspiration for progesterone analysis, which was performed by radioimmunoassay. The EPE/hCG did not increase the oocyte recovery rate from immature follicles when compared with the controls (15.5% and 16.7%, respectively). A significantly higher oocyte recovery rate per mare was observed (70% versus 50%). However, precocious granulosa cell expansion was observed with EPE/hCG treatment in contrast to the control (64.4% and 33% of follicles with expanded cumulus, respectively), and increased intrafollicular progesterone concentration was also seen (158.80 ng/mL versus 82.05 ng/mL). The ultrastructural analysis of oocytes from both groups showed morphologic features related to immaturity. Numerous vesicles containing cortical granules were found, distributed in clusters into the cytoplasm, and junctional complexes were still seen between oocyte and granulosa cells. In conclusion, EPE/hCG treatment induced some follicular modifications, but the recovery rate was not increased. All oocytes examined presented signs of immaturity.     

Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: A Case Report and Review

A 15 year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined for lethargy, fever, and inappetence of 1-day duration. A hard-bodied tick was removed from the horse. A complete blood count (CBC) demonstrated leukopenia with lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. Morulae were visualized in circulating granulocytes. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the identity of these organisms as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The horse was treated symptomatically for fever and inappetence with flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg [0.5 mg/lb]) and oral electrolyte paste. Oxytetracycline (6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb] intravenously every 24 hours) treatment was begun as soon as a definitive diagnosis was determined. The mare responded to treatment, but she was switched to oral doxycycline (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb] every 12 hours) after 5 days because of perivascular swelling at the injection site. Complete resolution of clinical signs was seen. There was no evidence of recurrence 1 year later. No additional horses at the farm were affected. The horse in this report presented for lethargy, inappetence, and fever, with limited other abnormalities. This represents a classical presentation of a mild to moderate case of anaplasmosis, which had not previously been reported in Virginia. The disease may be more widespread than has been previously reported, and it should warrant inclusion on a complete differential diagnosis list in a case of fever of unknown origin.     

Stable recombinant alpaca antibodies for detection of Tulip virus X

For detection of the plant pathogenic Tulip virus X (TuVX), a panel of six recombinant antibodies was identified. To this end, a repertoire of variable domains from heavy-chain immunoglobulins (VHH) was cloned from an alpaca, which had been immunized with TuVX. Binding domains were selected by phage display and panning on immobilized TuVX particles. Recombinant VHH antibodies were tested for sensitivity in a sandwich ELISA, and were demonstrated to be readily able to distinguish TuVX-infected tulip leaf material from uninfected leafs. No cross-reactivity of the VHH antibodies to related flexiviridae was observed. Recombinant VHHs maintained their reactivity upon storage at −20°C for over a year. The effect of incubation at higher temperatures for prolonged time was studied. Two out of three VHH proteins retained activity after several weeks of storage at 37°C.     

The ethics of rodent control

Because western societies generally see animals as objects of moral concern, demands have been made on the way they are treated, e.g. during animal experimentation. In the case of rodent pests, however, inhumane control methods are often applied. This inconsistency in the human-animal relationship requires clarification. This paper analyses the criteria that must be met when judging the use of animals during experiments, and investigates whether these can be applied in rodent control. This is important, because, until now, animal welfare has been less of an issue in pest control: effectiveness, hygiene and cost efficiency have been leading principles. Two options are available to solve the inconsistency: the first is to abandon the criteria used in animal experimentation; the second is to apply these criteria to both animal experimentation and rodent control. This latter option implies that rodent control methods should not lead to intense pain or discomfort, and any discomfort should have a short duration and should allow escaped rodents to lead a natural life. Adherence to this option will, however, require a shift in the design of rodent control methods: effectiveness will no longer be the leading principle. It will have to share its position with animal welfare and humaneness.