Effects of ketoprofen alone or in combination with local anesthesia during the castration of bull calves on plasma cortisol,immunological, and inflammatory responses

To determine the effects of the anti-inflammatory ketoprofen, alone or with local anesthesia (LA) during castration on cortisol, immune, and acute phase responses, 40 Friesian calves (215 +/- 3.5 kg) were assigned as follows: 1) control, 2) surgical castration (SURG), 3) SURG following ketoprofen (3 mg/kg BW i.v.; SURG + K), 4) SURG following LA (9 mL of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride to each testis; SURG + LA), or 5) SURG following LA and K (SURG + LA + K). Total cortisol response was greater (P < 0.05) in SURG, SURG + LA, and SURG + K + LA calves than in control calves and was not different between control and SURG + K calves. The interval to peak cortisol was longer (P < 0.05) for SURG + K + LA calves than for either SURG or SURG + K calves. On d 3, KLH-induced interferon-gamma production was lower (P < 0.05) in SURG calves than in control calves, whereas concanavalin A-induced interferon-gamma production was lower (P < 0.05) in all castration groups than in control. On d 1 after surgery, fibrinogen was higher (P < 0.05) in SURG and SURG + LA calves than in control calves, whereas SURG + LA + K calves had lower (P < 0.05) fibrinogen than did SURG calves. Haptoglobin was higher (P < 0.05) in SURG calves on d 1, 3, and 7 than in control calves. On d 1 after surgery, SURG + K and SURG + LA + K calves had lower (P < 0.05) haptoglobin concentrations than SURG calves, whereas SURG + K calves had lower (P < 0.05) levels than SURG calves on d 3. In conclusion, surgical castration induced a significant elevation in cortisol secretion; the rise in cortisol was reduced to control levels by the administration of ketoprofen but not local anaesthetic. Thus, systemic analgesia using ketoprofen is more effective than local anesthesia during castration to alleviate the associated stress response.     

A retrospective study of artificial insemination of 251 mares using chilled and fixed time frozen-thawed semen

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Historically, artificial insemination (AI) using frozen semen has been perceived to have poorer success rates and be more labour intensive than using chilled semen. A retrospective study was therefore conducted to compare the conception rate achieved by AI between chilled and frozen semen, using fixed time insemination protocols over 2 breeding seasons. HYPOTHESIS: Artificial insemination using chilled semen produces a higher conception rate than that achieved with frozen semen. METHOD: Mares (n = 251) were inseminated with either chilled (n = 112) or frozen (n = 139) semen in the 2006 and 2007 northern hemisphere breeding season. Per rectum ultrasonography of the mare's reproductive tract determined the timing of insemination, and deslorelin acetate was used to induce ovulation. Chilled semen insemination was performed using a single preovulatory dose delivered into the uterine body. Frozen semen was administered as 2 doses (pre- and post ovulation) using a deep uterine insemination technique. Pregnancy was detected ultrasonographically at 15 days post insemination. Conception rates were compared using a Chi-squared test. RESULTS: Insemination with frozen semen produced a significantly (P = 0.022) higher seasonal conception rate (82.0%) than that achieved with chilled semen (69.6%). CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Insemination with frozen semen can achieve conception rates equal to those with chilled semen, enabling the mare owner a greater selection of stallions.     

Evaluation of the renal effects of experimental feeding of melamine and cyanuric acid to fish and pigs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether renal crystals can be experimentally induced in animals fed melamine or the related triazine compound cyanuric acid, separately or in combination, and to compare experimentally induced crystals with those from a cat with triazine-related renal failure. ANIMALS: 75 fish (21 tilapia, 24 rainbow trout, 15 channel catfish, and 15 Atlantic salmon), 4 pigs, and 1 cat that was euthanatized because of renal failure. PROCEDURES: Fish and pigs were fed a target dosage of melamine (400 mg/kg), cyanuric acid (400 mg/kg), or melamine and cyanuric acid (400 mg of each compound/kg) daily for 3 days and were euthanatized 1, 3, 6, 10, or 14 days after administration ceased. Fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed kidneys were examined for crystals. Edible tissues were collected for residue analysis. Crystals were examined for composition via Raman spectroscopy and hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: All animals fed the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid developed goldbrown renal crystals arranged in radial spheres (spherulites), similar to those detected in the cat. Spectral analyses of crystals from the cat, pigs, and fish were consistent with melamine-cyanurate complex crystals. Melamine and cyanuric acid residues were identified in edible tissues of fish. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although melamine and cyanuric acid appeared to have low toxicity when administered separately, they induced extensive renal crystal formation when administered together. The subsequent renal failure may be similar to acute uric acid nephropathy in humans, in which crystal spherulites obstruct renal tubules.     

Intracellular pH Regulates Transitions Between Dormancy and Development of Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina) Embryos

The intracellular pH (pH(i))of encysted gastrula-stage embryos of the brine shrip, Artemia, as previously shown by in vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, increases by more than 1 unit during arousal from cryptobiotic dormancy and decreases by the same amount during reinduction of dormancy. These changes in pH(i) are now shown to be a fundamental regulator of the transitions between dormancy and metabolism: acidification of activated embryo pH(i) by more than 1 unit with carbon dioxide induced a state comparable to natural dormancy, while alkalinization of dormant embryo pH(i) with the weak base ammonia terminated natural dormancy. This demonstration of pH(i)-mediated regulation of cryptobiotic dormancy extends the known scope for pH(i) as a regulator of development to include multicellular stages of the metazoan life cycle.     

Complications associated with the use of indwelling epidural catheters in dogs: 81 cases (1996-1999)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complications associated with use of indwelling epidural catheters in dogs in a clinical setting. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 81 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for dogs in which a 19-gauge epidural catheter was placed percutaneously at L7-S1 and advanced to the point of maximum efficacy for pain control (between L7 and T4, depending on the procedure). Catheters were used to provide perioperative epidural analgesia during surgeries that included perineal (n = 6), hind limb (33), abdominal (43), thoracic (5), forelimb (2), and cervical (1) procedures. RESULTS: Catheters were maintained in situ from 1 to 7 days (mean, 2.3 days; median, 2.0 days). Sixty-four dogs did not have complications; 17 dogs had minor complications. Catheter dislodgement was the most common complication (13/80 [16%] dogs). Catheter site contamination without inflammation developed in 2 (2.4%) dogs; inflammation at the catheter site developed in 2 (2.4%) dogs but was not related to duration of time the catheter was in place. Complications were not serious and did not require treatment other than catheter removal. Dogs that dislodged their catheters were significantly younger (mean, 2.9 years; median, 2.0 years) than other dogs (mean, 6.2 years; median, 6.0 years). Dogs that received femoral fracture repair dislodged their catheters more often (62.5%) than dogs undergoing other procedures (10.9%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The complication rate associated with temporary epidural catheterization of dogs appears to be low, and complications generally are not serious.     

Malignant neoplasia in four alpacas.

Malignant neoplasia in 4 alpacas was characterized by acute onset of clinical signs and rapidly deteriorating condition. Postmortem examination revealed metastatic or multicentric neoplasia in the abdominal organs of alpacas 1, 3, and 4 and an extensive thoracic mass in alpaca 2. Immunohistochemical stains supported a diagnosis of B-cell lymphosarcoma in alpacas 1-3 and a neuroendocrine neoplasm in alpaca 4.     

Structural requirements for repellency: norsesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoid derivatives of nootkatone against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that the family of grapefruit flavors called nootkatones have significant repellant and toxic effects to Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki). RESULTS: Nineteen synthetic nootkatone derivatives, along with three commercially available nootkatone derivatives, were tested for repellent activity against C. formosanus by a choice assay in a petri dish with a two‐step triage procedure. Based on the repellency threshold value, the relationships between structure and activity are discussed. CONCLUSION: Four derivatives of nootkatone have very high repellency and toxicity to C. formosanus, 9 times the potency of the primary compound nootkatone. Four other compounds have between 2 and 3 times the repellency of nootkatones, and three compounds are equal in their repellency to nootkatone. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry