The influence of physical and environmental variables on the in vitro attachment of Salmonella typhimurium to the ceca of chickens

This investigation was designed to study the effect of exposure time, pH, age of bird, and native intestinal microflora on the in vitro attachment of Salmonella typhimurium to the ceca of chickens. Ceca were surgically removed from chickens immediately after euthanasia, and the interiors were exposed to S. typhimurium as intact ceca with contents, intact ceca rinsed free of contents, or inverted rinsed ceca. Attachment of S. typhimurium was slightly higher in washed than in unwashed ceca. Neither pH nor age of chicks affected attachment of the organism to ceca. There was no difference in attachment of salmonellae to inverted washed ceca after 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 min exposure, but a one log difference was noted between 10 min and 30 sec.     

Electrolytes and reproductive hormone concentrations in maternal plasma and fetal fluids of dairy cows with hydrops

Electrolytes, metabolites, cortisol and reproductive hormones were measured in maternal plasma taken at least twice daily from three cases of bovine hydrops before, during and after parturition induced by dexamethasone or prostaglandin. Caesarean operations were required for two of the cases. Maternal plasma electrolytes remained within the normal range, but average potassium and creatinine concentrations were higher (9.2 and 0.68 mmol/litre, respectively) than normal (4.7 and 0.42 mmol/litre) in samples of amniotic fluid obtained at calving. Sodium (100 mmol/litre) and chloride (67 mmol/litre) in allantoic fluid were also higher than normal (53 and 20 mmol/litre, respectively). Conversely, creatinine concentrations were lower than normal in allantoic fluid (2.2 vs 13.8 mmol/litre). Oestradiol concentrations were lower than normal in maternal plasma (ranges: less than 20 to 140 pg/ml vs 30 to 440 pg/ml); maximum prostaglandin F metabolite (PGFM) concentrations were slightly elevated (ranges 1.1 to 2.0 ng/ml vs 0.4 to 0.9 ng/ml). Progesterone and cortisol concentrations remained within the normal range; the latter hormone increased markedly in parallel with raised PGFM concentrations. In two cases, the concentrations of reproductive hormones tended to be lower in the amniotic fluid than in the allantoic fluid. For example, progesterone concentrations were 42.8 and 14.9 ng/ml in the amniotic fluids vs 64.2 and 29.8 ng/ml in the allantoic fluids of the two cows; PGFM concentrations were 27.7 and 4.3 ng/ml vs 34.6 and 5.0 ng/ml, and oestradiol concentrations were 1.5 and 3.5 ng/ml vs 1.1 and 6.4 ng/ml in the two fluids, respectively.     

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin responses associated with feline infectious peritonitis in two cats

Two cats previously challenge-exposed and seropositive to feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) were evaluated for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin responses to intradermal FIPV. Before testing, cat 1 (FIP-resistant) had survived a severe experimental FIPV challenge-exposure and had remained asymptomatic, whereas cat 2 (FIP-susceptible) developed acute fulminant FIP after a considerably smaller virus challenge-exposure. Cat 1 developed a focal thickened plaque at the FIPV-injected skin site at 48 hours after injection. Histological examinations of serial punch biopsies from virus-inoculated skin revealed perivascular and diffuse dermal infiltrations of macrophages, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes which were maximal at 48 to 72 hours after injection. In contrast, cat 2 did not react grossly and showed only very mild dermal infiltrates at 72 hours after injection. The present findings of strong DTH responses to FIPV in a resistant cat and minimal responses in a cat with acute fulminant FIP suggest that certain in vivo cellular immune reactions may be associated with disease resistance.     

Fibrinogen-degrading proteins from Haemonchus contortus used to vaccinate sheep.

Sixteen nonsibling sheep, approximately 12 months old, that were raised in a helminth-free environment, were used for 2 protection studies 6 months apart. Sheep were vaccinated weekly for 5 weeks by IM injection of fibrinogen-degrading proteins derived from the intestinal tract of adult Haemonchus contortus. Ten days after the last vaccination, sheep were given 2,500 infective H contortus larvae by intraruminal injection. Vaccinated sheep produced specific antibodies, and were protected from the worm challenge. Significant differences in mean fecal worm egg counts for 56 days after worm challenge, in mean numbers of H contortus worms, and female fecundity ratios at necropsy were detected in vaccinated sheep, compared with those in control sheep. These data suggest that the fibrinogen-degrading proteins have a protective role in vaccination of sheep against H contortus.     

Effects of intravenous lidocaine, ketamine, and the combination on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of intravenous lidocaine (L) and ketamine (K) alone and their combination (LK) on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane (SEVO) in dogs.Study designProspective randomized, Latin-square experimental study.AnimalsSix, healthy, adult Beagles, 2 males, 4 females, weighing 7.8 – 12.8 kg.MethodsAnesthesia was induced with SEVO in oxygen delivered by face mask. The tracheas were intubated and the lungs ventilated to maintain normocapnia. Baseline minimum alveolar concentration of SEVO (MAC_B) was determined in duplicate for each dog using an electrical stimulus and then the treatment was initiated. Each dog received each of the following treatments, intravenously as a loading dose (LD) followed by a constant rate infusion (CRI): lidocaine (LD 2 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 50 μg kg⁻¹minute⁻¹), lidocaine (LD 2 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 100 μgkg⁻¹ minute⁻¹), lidocaine (LD 2 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 200 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹), ketamine (LD 3 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 50 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹), ketamine (LD 3 mgkg⁻¹, CRI 100 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹), or lidocaine (LD 2 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 100 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹) + ketamine (LD 3 mg kg⁻¹, CRI 100 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹) in combination. Post-treatment MAC (MAC_T) determination started 30 minutes after initiation of treatment.ResultsLeast squares mean ± SEM MAC_B of all groups was 1.9 ± 0.2%. Lidocaine infusions of 50, 100, and 200 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ significantly reduced MAC_B by 22.6%, 29.0%, and 39.6%, respectively. Ketamine infusions of 50 and 100 μg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ significantly reduced MAC_B by 40.0% and 44.7%, respectively. The combination of K and L significantly reduced MAC_B by 62.8%.Conclusions and clinical relevanceLidocaine and K, alone and in combination, decrease SEVO MAC in dogs. Their use, at the doses studied, provides a clinically important reduction in the concentration of SEVO during anesthesia in dogs.     

Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time using a point‐of‐care analyser (Abaxis VSpro®) in Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus)

There are few reports of coagulation times in marsupial species. Blood samples collected from 14 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) under anaesthesia during routine health assessments were analysed for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) using a point‐of‐care analyser (POC) (Abaxis VSPro®). The wallabies had an aPTT mean of 78.09 s and median of 78.1 s. The PT for all wallabies was greater than 35 s, exceeding the longest time measured on the POC. Although PT was significantly longer, aPTT was similar to the manufacturer's domestic canine reference range.