CliniTox: the computer-based information system for poisoning in farm animals

Poisonings can cause reduced performance and severe economic loss in farm animals. A swift and targeted action is required from veterinarians. We have established a computer-based decision support system for poisonings in ruminants and pigs. The system offers access to the most recent information available in clinical toxicology of farm animals. Towards this goal, relevant reports from the peer-reviewed literature were evaluated and organised according to the requirements of a structured database. The information provided for each toxic substance includes a summary of its chemical and physical properties, sources, commercial uses or natural occurrences, toxicokinetic data, mechanisms of action, threshold doses, clinical symptoms with brief case reports, sampling and analytical results, post-mortem abnormalities, differential diagnoses, therapeutic guidelines and references to the literature. This decision support system has been programmed with two user-friendly search functions: a search tool that allows the choice of clinical and pathological findings, and another function that serves to find a substance using its chemical name, the class of compounds to wich it belongs, a possible source or one of its main applications. CliniTox can be accessed directly via our webserver (http://www.clinitox.ch).     

Carbon Monoxide Induced Prevention of Vascular Ristenosis is not Related to Nitric Oxide Activity

Veterinary Research Communications - Mazzola, S., Albertini, M., Pastore, C., Pirrone, F. and Clement, M.G., 2007. Carbon monoxide induced prevention of vascular ristenosis is not related to nitric...     

Use of whole blood for spectrophotometric determination of cholinesterase activity in dogs

Whole blood has been compared with erythrocytes and plasma for spectrophotometric cholinesterase determination in the dog. Cholinesterase activity was characterized using two substrates: acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine. Acetylcholinesterase was the only form of cholinesterase present on erythrocytes and hydrolysed only acetylthiocholine. Butyrylcholinesterase (pseudocholinesterase) was predominant in plasma, hydrolysing mainly butyrylthiocholine. Based on these results, a method based on the use of two substrates (acetylthiocholine for monitoring acetylcholinesterase and butyrylthiocholine for determining butyrylcholinesterase) in the same whole blood sample is recommended for canine cholinesterase analysis. This way of monitoring both enzymes can be easily automated, yielding good within (CVs < 5%) and between-run (CVs < 7%) precision.     

Effects of a hydrolyzed collagen dressing on the healing of open wounds in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a hydrolyzed bovine collagen dressing (HBCD) on healing of open wounds in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 9 female Beagles. PROCEDURES: 2 full-thickness skin wounds were made bilaterally on the trunk of each dog. Wounds on 1 side were treated with powdered HBCD covered with a semiocclusive nonadherent bandage. Wounds on the other side (control wounds) were covered with a semiocclusive nonadherent bandage only. Wound healing was subjectively assessed, and percentage increase in tissue perfusion was assessed by use of laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI). Planimetry was performed to determine the percentages of contraction, epithelialization, and total wound healing. Biopsy specimens were examined microscopically to evaluate histologic changes. RESULTS: The HBCD did not induce a strong inflammatory reaction, as reflected by results of LDPI and histologic examination. Moreover, HBCD appeared hydrophilic and provided an environment to keep wounds clean and enhance early epithelialization. After treatment for 7 days, treated wounds had a significantly greater percentage of epithelialization than control wounds (12.13 vs. 7.03%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The hydrophilic property of HBCD may cleanse contaminated wounds with the body's homeostatic fluids and enhance early wound epithelialization.     

Canine X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.

Canine X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is due to mutations in the common gamma (gamma c) subunit of the IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 receptors. The most striking clinical feature is a failure to thrive or 'stunted' growth. Recurrent or chronic infections begin at the time of decline of maternal antibody, usually between six and eight weeks of age. Affected dogs rarely survive past three to four months of age. The major pathologic feature of canine XSCID is a small, dysplastic thymus. Grossly identifiable lymph nodes, tonsils, and Peyer's patches are absent in XSCID dogs. During the neonatal period, XSCID dogs have few, if any, peripheral T cells and increased number of peripheral B cells. Some XSCID dogs do develop phenotypically mature, nonfunctional T cells with age, however, the absolute number of peripheral T cells remain significantly decreased compared to age-matched normal dogs. An interesting finding is that as soon as T cells begin to appear in XSCID dogs they rapidly switch from a CD45RA+ (naive) phenotype to a CD45RA- (activated or memory phenotype). One of the characteristic findings in XSCID dogs is an absent or markedly depressed blastogenic response of T cells in response to stimulation through the T cell receptor and when the necessary second messengers for cellular proliferation are directly provided that by-pass signals delivered through ligand-receptor interaction. The proliferative defect is due to the inability of T cells to express a functional IL-2 receptor. Canine XSCID B cells do not proliferate following stimulation with T cell-dependent B cell mitogens, however, they proliferate normally in response to T cell-independent B cell mitogens. Canine XSCID B cells are capable of producing IgM but are incapable of class-switching to IgG antibody production following immunization with the T cell-dependent neoantigen, bacteriophage phiX174. The number of thymocytes in the XSCID thymus is approximately 0.3% of the thymocytes present in the thymus of age-matched normal dogs. The proportion of CD4-CD8- thymocytes in XSCID dogs is increased 3.5-fold and the CD4+CD8+ population is decreased 2.3-fold. These findings demonstrate that (1) a functional gamma c is required for normal B and T cell function, (2) early T cell development is highly dependent upon a functional gamma c, and (3) B cell development can occur through a gamma c-independent pathway.     

Effects of Supplementing a Basal Diet of Chloris gayana Hay with One of Three Protein-rich Legume Hays of Cassia rotundifolia,Lablab purpureus and Macroptilium atropurpureum Forage on Some Nutritional Parameters in Goats

Growth and digestibility experiments were conducted on growing East African type goats offered Chloris gayana hay supplemented with one of three high-protein (119–128 g CP/kg DM) legume hays, Cassia rotundifolia (cassia), Lablab purpureus (lablab) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), and crushed maize to investigate the feed intake, digestibility, growth and urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Goats in the supplemented groups had higher total dry matter and nitrogen intakes and higher N retention and body mass gains than unsupplemented counterparts. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were increased by protein supplementation. Animals on supplemented diets had higher fractional outflow rates of particulate matter from the rumen. The production of protein by ruminal microbes and the efficiency of microbial N production were increased by supplementation. It was concluded that a mixture of low-quality grass hay (61.9 CP/kg DM) and either cassia, lablab or siratro hay, and maize grain can provide a productive balanced diet for growing goats.     

Comparison of three serologic techniques for detection of antibody to Mycoplasma pulmonis

A comparison of three micro-assay detection systems for naturally occurring and experimentally induced rat antibody to Mycoplasma pulmonis was performed. The micro-enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay was found superior to counter immunoelectrophoresis or complement fixation techniques when comparing sensitivity, duration of antibody response, or technical requirements. The primary immune response was routinely detected at 3 weeks after antigen exposure when using the enzyme linked or complement fixation assays.