Destructive lesions of the proximal sesamoid bones as a complication of dorsal metatarsal artery catheterization in three horses

OBJECTIVE: To describe focal destructive lesions of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) as a complication of dorsal metatarsal artery catheterization performed for direct blood pressure monitoring during equine general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Three client-owned horses. METHODS: A dorsal metatarsal artery was catheterized in each of 3 horses for direct blood pressure monitoring during anesthesia. Radiography, ultrasonography, synoviocentesis, and arthroscopy were used to diagnose postoperative lameness that occurred in the limb used for blood pressure monitoring. RESULTS: Horses developed severe lameness, localized to the fetlock region of the catheterized limb within 21 days of surgery. Antibiotic therapy was administered. Surgical debridement was possible in 1 horse. Two horses that had lesions that were inaccessible, failed to respond to medical management and were euthanatized. The 3rd horse that had surgical debridement of affected bone, survived. Changes in hospital protocol, by improving aseptic technique during catheter insertion and use of new manometer tubing and heparinized saline for each arterial catheter inserted in the dorsal metatarsal artery, have eliminated this complication. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and treatment of destructive lesions of the PSB were difficult. Strict aseptic technique should be followed during insertion of arterial catheters. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Focal destructive lesions of the PSB subsequent to dorsal metatarsal arterial catheterization is a rare but serious complication of equine anesthesia.     

Risk factors for fatal lateral condylar fracture of the third metacarpus/metatarsus in UK racing

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Lateral condylar fractures of the third metacarpus/metatarsus are the most common cause of equine fatality on UK racecourses. Identification of risk factors for such injuries and the subsequent implementation of intervention strategies could significantly reduce the total number of racecourse fatalities. OBJECTIVES: To identify horse-, race- and course-level risk factors for fatal lateral condylar fracture in Thoroughbreds on UK racecourses. METHODS: Case-control study designs were used. Case horses were defined as those that were subjected to euthanasia having sustained an irreparable lateral condylar fracture while racing at any of the 59 UK racecourses. Case races were defined as those in which one or more horses sustained a fatal lateral condylar fracture. Three controls for each case horse were selected at random from the race in which the case was running. Three controls for each case race were selected at random from all races of the same type held in the same year. Ninety-eight cases were included in the study. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between a number of independent variables and the likelihood of fracture. RESULTS: Horses doing no gallop work during training and those in their first year of racing were at significantly increased risk of fracture on the racecourse. Case horses were also more likely to have started racing as 3- or 4-year-olds. Fractures were found to be more likely in longer races with a larger number of runners, races in which professional jockeys were not permitted to ride and races in which the going was described as firm or hard. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modifications to training schedules, specifically within the first year of racing, may have a large impact on the risk of fatal lateral condylar fracture on the racecourse. Horses should do some gallop work in training and our results suggest that the minimum distance galloped should be between 201 m (1 furlong) and 1609 m (8 furlongs) per week. The association with age at first race requires further investigation for flat and National Hunt racing separately. A reduction in the number of races taking place on very firm going could have an impact on the number of lateral condylar fractures.     

Risk factors and sources of variation in horse falls in steeplechase racing in the UK

We identified risk factors associated with falling during steeplechase racing. We used retrospective data from all steeplechase runs on UK racecourses during 1999: 10,866 starts with 647 horse falls. The relationship between continuous variables and falling was assessed using generalised additive models (GAMs). Polynomial fits then were included in a multilevel, multivariable logistic-regression model. The number of runners had a linear, positive association with the risk of falling. The distance of the race had a non-linear relationship with the risk of falling; the risk steadily increased in races up to 23 furlongs (1furlong approximately equals 198 m), and then decreased in longer races. Age also had a significant, non-linear relationship with the risk of falling: a decreasing risk up to 12 years of age followed by an increasing risk in older horses. Horses that wore visors and had raced previously were associated with a decrease in the risk of falling. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) showed that although most of the variation resided at the start (level 1), a proportion of variation in the risk of falling could be attributed to horse and race. Trainer and jockey contributed very little to the variation in the risk of falling.     

The effect of varying levels of population control on the prevalence of tuberculosis in badgers in Ireland

We examined the effect of varying levels of badger population control on the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers in four counties of Ireland. In the 'Removal' and 'Buffer' areas, proactive culling was conducted to substantially reduce and subsequently maintain badger populations at a low level for five years. In the 'Reference' areas, localised reactive culling was conducted in association with herd breakdowns. The infection status of badgers was determined using bacteriology. A total of 2696 badgers were recruited into the study, and 19.0% were found to be infected with M. bovis. The two population control strategies had differing effects on the subsequent prevalence of tuberculosis in badger populations. Proactive culling led to a long term decrease in the prevalence of tuberculosis in the re-emergent populations. Although there was an overall decline in the disease prevalence, no consistent trend in disease prevalence as a result of reactive culling was observed.     

土霉素药渣栽培杏鲍菇可行性研究

以杏鲍菇为试材,在玉米芯中添加不同比例的土霉素药渣作为栽培杏鲍菇的辅料,对土霉素药渣栽培杏鲍菇的可行性进行研究和分析。结果表明:土霉素药渣含有木质素15.58%、纤维素39.62%、蛋白质50.02%及灰分13.15%;玉米芯中随着土霉素药渣添加比例的增加,呈现菌丝生长速率加快、满瓶天数减少的趋势,且添加适宜比例的土霉素药渣,可显著提高杏鲍菇鲜菇产量和生物学效率,其中83%玉米芯添加15%土霉素药渣的处理较优;杏鲍菇对土霉素的降解率可达到99.9%,4个添加土霉素药渣处理的杏鲍菇子实体均未检测到土霉素残留。     

工厂化水产养殖水质预测预警系统的设计

在对养殖水质需求分析的基础上,设计了一种水质在线实时预测预警系统。该系统具有以下功能:水质实时信息和预测信息的查询、水质预警、水质预警设置和用户管理。在多媒体可视化界面的引导下,信息操作人员可以根据养殖场的实际情况,进行各种预警指标的设定和预警方式的设置。该系统较好地解决了工厂化养殖过程中水质监测预警问题,方便了用户对养殖用水水质的监控和管理。     

Leucoencephalomyelopathy in Australian Rottweiler dogs

Clinical and pathological studies of a neurological disorder of 3 adult Rottweiler dogs are described. Dogs developed proprioceptive losses involving the limbs, leading to progressively worsening ataxia and hypermetria. Blood and CSF fluid analyses were normal and radiographs and myelograms showed no compressive lesions of the spinal cord. At necropsy, severe demyelination of the dorsal and lateral funiculi of the cervical spinal cord was visible grossly. Microscopically there was more extensive, symmetrical involvement of the spinal cord and brain than was apparent grossly, with demyelination of white matter tracts and sparing of axons in affected areas. These changes were considered diagnostic for leucoencephalomyelopathy. This condition has not been previously reported in Australia, and is probably transmitted genetically, presumably as an autosomal recessive trait.     

内蒙古镶黄旗草原生态环境退化原因及可持续发展

以内蒙古自治区草原生态环境严重恶化、经济落后的镶黄旗为研究对象，通过对制约镶黄旗草原生态系统可持续发展的因素进行分析，并结合镶黄旗实际情况，提出适合该区域草原生态环境及经济可持续发展的思路和对策。     

Residues of clenpirin [2-(3,4-dichiorophenylimino)-l-n-butyl pyrrolidine] in the fatty tissues of steers and in butter fat

A series of trials in which cattle were either treated dermally or dosed orally with clenpirin [2-(3,4-dichlorophenylimino)-l-n-butyl pyrrolidine] was undertaken. Tissue fat from steers and butter fat from milking cattle were sampled and residue levels determined colorimetricaliy. Residues following a single application of clenpirin (9 litres/beast at 0.25% w/v) reached an average maximum of 2.0 mg/kg in body fat and then declined to 0.2 mg/kg after 14 days. Multiple applications (9 litres/beast at 0.25% w/v) resulted in a progressive buildup of residues in body fat to about 30 mg/kg after 4 treatments. When steers were dosed orally with technical clenpirin at 700 mg/beast/day for 15 days the average fat level reached 0.7 mg/kg. In a series of trials with milking cattle a single dermal exposure (0.23-0.3% w/v aqueous emulsion) yielded residues in butter fat ranging from 1 5.5-51 1 mg/kg at the first sampling 5 h after treatment. Six days later these had declined to about 0.8 mg/kg.