Joint changes in lameness of confined swine.

Hampshire swine reared in confinement developed spontaneous lameness. In a comparison of lame swine with normal Hampshire and normal Yorkshire swine, there were no substantial differences in the gross or microscopic appearance of synovial membranes or volume of synovia per joint. Somatic cell count in synovia of lame Hampshires was higher than that of normal Hampshires; however, in normal Yorkshires, cell count was higher than that of either group of Hampshires. Total protein and total lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) values were significantly higher in synovia of lame swine than in synovia of normal swine, as were also the gamma-globulin and LDH5 values. Hampshire swine seemed to be more heavily muscled than the Yorkshires, but the difference was not significant. In a 2nd comparison, joints of the swine were regrouped as normal or abnormal, on the basis of macroscopic appearance. Significant differences were not detected in total volume of fluid per joint, number of somatic cells per milliliter of fluid, total protein, or the 3 microscopic lesion scores in this comparison. Total LDH was significantly higher in the abnormal joints.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of repeat dosing of gabapentin in adult horses

BackgroundThe repeated administration of high doses of gabapentin may provide better analgesia in horses than current clinical protocols.Hypothesis and ObjectivesAdministration of gabapentin at 40 and 120 mg/kg PO q 12 h for 14 days will not alter serum biochemistry findings or cause adverse effects. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of gabapentin on serum biochemistry, physical examination, and plasma pharmacokinetics of gabapentin.AnimalsSix healthy adult mares.MethodsHorses received 40 and 120 mg/kg of gabapentin orally q 12 h for 14 days. Horses were examined and scored for ataxia and sedation daily. Serum biochemistry variables were analyzed before treatment and days 7 and 14 after gabapentin administration. Plasma disposition of gabapentin was evaluated after the first and last drug administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using noncompartmental analysis.ResultsNo changes occurred in physiologic or biochemical variables. Median (range) maximal plasma gabapentin concentrations (μg/mL) after the last dose (day 15) were 7.6 (6.2‐11) and 22 (14‐33) for 40 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg doses respectively. Maximal concentration of gabapentin was reached within 1 hour after drug administration. Repeated administration of gabapentin resulted in a median (range) area under the curve (AUC_{0‐12 hours}) last/first dose ratio of 1.5 (1.00‐2.63) and 2.92 (1.4‐3.8) for the 40 and 120 mg/kg regimens, respectively.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceOur results suggest that horses tolerate gabapentin up to 120 mg/kg PO q 12 h for 14 days. The analgesic effect of the dosage regimens evaluated in our study warrants further research.     

Current Status of Genetic Studies of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a disorder wherein the pancreas fails to secrete adequate amounts of digestive enzymes. In dogs, EPI is usually the consequence of an autoimmune disease known as pancreatic acinar atrophy. Originally believed to be a simple autosomal recessive disorder, a test-breeding recently revealed that EPI has a more complex mode of inheritance. The contributions of multiple genes, combined with environmental factors, may explain observed variability in clinical presentation and progression of this disease. Research efforts aim to identify genetic variations underlying EPI to assist breeders in their efforts to eliminate this disease from their breed and provide clinicians with new targets for therapeutic intervention and/or disease prevention. Genome-wide linkage, global gene expression, and candidate gene analyses have failed to identify a major locus or genetic variations in German Shepherd Dogs with EPI. Recently, genome-wide association studies revealed numerous genomic regions associated with EPI. Current studies are focused on alleles of the canine major histocompatibility complex. In this article we review findings from scientific investigations into the inheritance and genetic cause(s) of EPI in the purebred dog.     

Instability of Propiconazole Resistance and Fitness in Monilinia fructicola

ABSTRACT The fitness and the dynamics of demethylation inhibitor fungicide (DMI) sensitivity in isolates of Monilinia fructicola sensitive (no growth at 0.3 mg/liter propiconazole) and resistant (>/=50% relative growth at 0.3 mg/liter propiconazole) to propiconazole were investigated. Overall, there was no considerable compromise in the fitness of resistant isolates compared to sensitive isolates of M. fructicola at the time of collection. Resistant and sensitive isolates differed in their sensitivity to propiconazole (P < 0.001) and incubation period (P = 0.044), but not in latent period, growth rate, spore production, and spore germination frequency (P > 0.05). Consecutive transferring on potato dextrose agar had an impact on conidia production, conidial germination, and growth rate (P < 0.0001). Consecutive transferring also had an impact on propiconazole sensitivity in resistant isolates. In the resistant isolates, sensitivity to propiconazole increased (R(2) = 0.960, P = 0.0034) within the first eight transfers. Similarly, sensitivity to propiconazole increased by 273% over the course of 34 months in cold storage in propiconazole-resistant isolates. Our results show that propiconazole resistance is unstable in vitro and that standard subculturing and cold storage procedures impact propiconazole sensitivity of resistant isolates. The instability of propiconazole resistance in M. fructicola may have important implications for disease management in that a reversion to propiconazole sensitivity could potentially occur in the absence of DMI fungicide pressure in the field.