Tulathromycin enhances humoral but not cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza

The effect of a standard, single dose therapy with tulathromycin was investigated on the postvaccinal humoral and cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza. Forty‐five pigs, divided into 3 groups, were used (control not vaccinated (C, n = 15), control vaccinated (CV, n = 15), and experimentally received tulathromycin (TUL, n = 15)). For vaccination of pigs, an inactivated, commercial vaccine was used. Pigs from TUL group received single dose of tulathromycin intramuscularly, at the recommended dose (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Pigs from TUL and CV groups were vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks of age. The specific humoral and cellular immune response against swine influenza virus (SIV) was evaluated. The results of present study showed that humoral postvaccinal response after vaccination against SIV can be modulated by treatment with tulathromycin. In pigs from TUL group, the significantly higher titers of anti‐SIV‐specific antibodies were observed 4 and 6 weeks after booster dose of vaccine. Simultaneously, T‐cell‐mediated immune response against SIV was not affected by tulathromycin. Our recent study confirmed the importance of defining the modulatory activity of tulathromycin because of its influence on the immune response to vaccines. Since the antibodies against hemagglutinin are crucial for the protection against SIV, the present observations should prompt further studies on the practical significance of recent results in terms of clinical implications (postvaccinal protection) in the field conditions.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival flora in the Crab‐eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and Coati (Nasua nasua) housed in captivity in pernambuco and paraiba (Northeast,Brazil)

Objective To determine the normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival population of the Coatis and the Crab‐eating raccoons housed in captivity in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states of Brazil. Animals studied Ten healthy Coatis and 10 healthy Crab‐eating raccoons were selected for this study. Animals are from three zoos situated at the Pernambuco and Paraiba States in the north‐east of Brazil. Procedures After ophthalmologic examination, swabs from healthy animals were carefully collected in order to avoid contamination. Samples were identified and submitted to the laboratory. Swabs were plated for culture on ovine blood agar (8%) and agar Levine and incubated at 37 °C and observed 24 and 48 h. Results Staphylococcus spp. was the most common microorganism isolated from conjunctival sac. Shigella spp. comprised the Gram‐negative genera isolated. Escherichia coli were isolated from the right eye of one Coati that had no growth at contralateral eye. Nine eyes from coatis and 10 from Crab‐eating raccoons had no microorganisms isolated. Conclusion Our results were in accordance with previous studies indicating Staphylococcus sp., followed by Corynebacterium spp. as the most common inhabitant of the eyes of most mammalian species.     

Systematic Review of Brain Tumor Treatment in Dogs

Intracranial neoplasia is commonly diagnosed in dogs and can be treated by a variety of methods, but formal comparisons of treatment efficacy are currently unavailable. This review was undertaken to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding outcome after the treatment of intracranial masses in dogs, with the aim of defining optimal recommendations for owners. This review summarizes data from 794 cases in 22 previously published reports and follows PRISMA guidelines for systematic review. A Pubmed search was used to identify suitable articles. These then were analyzed for quality and interstudy variability of inclusion and exclusion criteria and the outcome data extracted for summary in graphs and tables. There was a high degree of heterogeneity among studies with respect to inclusion and exclusion criteria, definition of survival periods, and cases lost to follow‐up making comparisons among modalities troublesome. There is a need for standardized design and reporting of outcomes of treatment for brain tumors in dogs. The available data do not support lomustine as an effective treatment, but also do not show a clear difference in outcome between radiotherapy and surgery for those cases in which the choice is available.