Reproductive performance of commercial broodmares after induction of ovulation with HCG or Ovuplant™ (deslorelin)

Soon after Ovuplant™, the sustained-release implant containing the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist deslorelin, was approved for commercial use in the United States for induction of ovulation in mares, anecdotal field observations were reported that some Ovuplant™—treated mares that did not become pregnant experienced a delayed return to estrus and prolonged inter-ovulatory interval. Although those observations have been subsequently confirmed, further data on how mares respond to Ovuplant™ compared to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the post-treatment period is needed. The objective of this study was to further evaluate the clinical use of Ovuplant™ by comparing the reproductive performance of commercial broodmares treated with hCG or Ovuplant™. This retrospective study was completed by examining the 1999 reproductive records of 106 mares treated with hCG during 134 estrous cycles and 117 mares treated with Ovuplant™ during 151 estrous cycles. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in follicle size at the time of treatment (39.4 ± 0.5 vs. 38.9 ± 0.5 mm), interval from treatment to ovulation (2.2 ± 0.1 vs. 2.2 ± 0.1 days), proportion of mares that failed to ovulate after treatment (3.0 vs. 4.6 %), or per-cycle pregnancy rate (47.7 vs. 51.4 %) between hCG-and Ovuplant™-treated mares, respectively. The interval from ovulation to return to estrus (25.8 ± 1.3 vs. 15.5 ± 0.6 days) and the inter-ovulatory interval (30.4 ± 1.5 vs. 20.8 ± 0.6 days) were longer (P<0.001) for Ovuplant™-compared to hCG-treated mares, and the proportion of non-pregnant mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days after ovulation (31.4 vs. 1.5 %) was higher (P<0.001) for Ovuplant™-compared to hCG-treated mares, respectively. For Ovuplant™—treated mares, follicle size at the time of treatment tended (P<0.1) to be smaller for mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days compared to mares that returned to estrus within 30 days (37.1 ± 1.1 vs. 40.1 ± 0.6 mm, respectively). Also, the average date of ovulation during the calendar year was later (P < 0.05) for Ovuplant™—treated mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days compared to those that returned to estrus within 30 days (May 15 ± 4 vs. April 30 ± 4 days). The results of this study confirm previous reports that although the ovulatory response and fertility were not different for hCG- and Ovuplant™—treated mares, mares treated with Ovuplant™ that did not become pregnant had a significantly delayed return to estrus and prolonged inter-ovulatory interval. Based on recently published information, it appears this effect is due to Ovuplant™—induced down-regulation of the pituitary gland, which suppresses subsequent follicular growth and development. This study also demonstrated that follicle size and/or season may influence the probability that Ovuplant™—treated mares would experience a delayed return to estrus/ovulation; therefore, further work is needed to determine whether these or other factors are related to this specific outcome following Ovuplant™—treatment.     

Complications of Celiotomy Incisions in Horses

Complications of celiotomy incisions were evaluated retrospectively in 274 horses that survived at least 1 month after surgery, or died or were euthanatized within 1 month of surgery, as a direct result of these complications. Horses were divided into four groups; group A, a ventral median celiotomy for intestinal disease; group B, ventral median celiotomy for nonintestinal disease; group C, repair of an umbilical hernia; and group D, celiotomy in a region other than the midline. Specific incisional complications were peri-incisional edema, drainage, incisional abscess, suture sinus, and dehiscence. Incision-related complications occurred in 30% of the horses (group A, 40%; group B 18%; group C, 7%; and group D, 88%). Complications occurred more frequently in group D than group A ( P =.009), which were higher than in groups B and C ( P <.00001). Incisional hernia occurred in 28 of 256 (11%) horses that survived at least 4 months and were available for follow-up. Hernia formation was more common ( P <.00001) in horses that had other incisional complications (23 horses) than those without (5 horses). Serous or purulent incisional drainage, were more likely to be associated with hernia formation than was serosanguineous drainage or other incisional complications.     

EFFECT OF REGION OF INTEREST SELECTION AND UPTAKE MEASUREMENT ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASURED BY 99mTc-DTPA SCINTIGRAPHY IN DOGS

Determinations of different methods of measurement of uptake of 99mTc-DTPA using scintigraphy of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were made from 29 studies on 10 healthy beagle dogs. GFR was measured by calculating the percentage dose uptake (integral method) and rate of uptake (slope method) of 99mTc-DTPA using manual kidney regions of interest (ROI) and automatic kidney and background ROIs at different time periods of the uptake phase. These results were compared using linear regression analysis to the GFR obtained from 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance using multiple blood samples. The best correlation coefficient between percentage DTPA uptake and GFR by DTPA clearance (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) was derived from time intervals between 30s-120s with a perirenal background ROI at 1 or 2 pixels out from the kidney ROI using automatic kidney ROI at 20% threshold. With the slope method, the best correlation coefficient (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) was obtained from time intervals between 30s-peak with the background ROI at 2 pixels out from the kidney ROI using automatic ROI at 35% threshold. The offset was higher, and the correlation varied more with different ROIs and the method was unreliable at time intervals extending beyond the peak radioactivity. Manual kidney ROIs with automatic background ROIs had slightly lower correlations. With DTPA renography both integral and slope uptake method with automatic kidney and background ROIs are accurate methods to estimate the GFR, but that the integral method is much more stable to variations in ROI size and the duration of the uptake phase of the renogram.     

Surgery and Doxorubicin in Dogs With Hemangiosarcoma

Forty-six dogs with histologically confirmed hemangiosarcoma of various locations other than skin were used in a prospective study to determine the efficacy of adjuvant doxorubicin (30 mg/m² IV q 3 weeks for 5 treatments) 10 to 14 days after the tumor was partially or completely excised. Analysis of the data included information on variables that were hypothesized to influence response to therapy, disease-free interval (DFI), or survival time (ST). Other information collected included age, gender, breed, weight, prior therapy, type of surgery, location of the primary tumor, presence of metastases, number of doses of doxorubicin, response to doxorubicin therapy (complete or partial response!, and the following histological criteria: overall differentiation, nuclear pleomorphism, percent necrosis, mitotic score, total histological score, and grade. Surgery outcome (complete versus incomplete surgical excision) markedly influenced survival times (P < .001). Twenty percent of the dogs rendered free of disease were alive at 1 year, whereas none of the dogs that had residual tumor after surgery were alive at 1 year. Most of the histological criteria (nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic score, grade, overall differentiation) had marked (P < .05), or close to marked, independent associations with ST for dogs that had complete tumor removal. Results from analysis of DFI were generally similar to those of ST in dogs with complete excision of the tumor. Twenty-seven of the 46 dogs (58.7%) had all clinical evidence of tumor successfully removed. Logistic regression analysis of surgical outcome (ability to remove all visible tumor) suggested that age of the subject was the only factor markedly influencing surgical outcome (P= .017). As age increased, the probability of success increased. Those dogs that had previous treatment for their hemangiosarcoma tended (P= .08) to have a shorter DFI and ST. Therefore, complete removal of all evidence of tumor followed by 5 doses of doxorubicin may be an effective treatment for dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Dogs that had all tumor successfully removed had a mean and median ST of 267 and 172 days, respectively. Dogs with incomplete tumor removal had a mean and median ST of 172 and 60 days, respectively. Similarly, prognostic variables such as the ability to completely excise all evidence of tumor, histological criteria, and age of the patient are potentially important prognostic variables for predicting outcome.     

Subtotal Canine Prostatectomy with the Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser

A technique was developed for subtotal prostatectomy in dogs with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. In six normal dogs, full-thickness necrosis of the prostate occurred if the central-lateral region within 5 mm of the urethra was photoablated at 60 watts for 1 second. Moderate to superficial necrosis occurred when the prostate within 5 mm of the urethra was photoablated at 35 watts for 2 seconds or 60 watts for 0.5 second. At necropsy, leakage of the urethra occurred in two dogs at sites treated at 60 watts for 1 second. In a clinical study, complications associated with subtotal prostatectomy with the Nd:YAG laser (n = 6) were compared with complications associated with prostatic drainage (n = 6) in dogs with prostatic disease. Intraoperative death (2/6 dogs) and nocturnal incontinence (4/4 surviving dogs) occurred with subtotal prostatectomy. Uncontrolled prostatic infection (2/6 dogs) occurred with prostatic drainage and resulted in the death of one dog on day 11. Four of five dogs surviving prostatic drainage developed recurrent urinary tract infection.     

EVALUATION OF THE EXTIRPATED EQUINE EYE USING B-MODE ULTRASONOGRAPHY

B-mode ultrasonography using a 7.5 megahertz (MH^z) transducer was performed on 95 equine cadaver eyes submerged in a water bath. Identification and measurement of the anterior to posterior diameters of the intraocular structures and of the axis bulbi was done. The dorsal ventral axis of the eye was also measured. The eyes were then frozen, sectioned in a saggital plane and the same measurements were made using calipers. Two sets of measurements were then compared statistically.
With the exception of the cornea and the dorsal ventral axis measurements of male horses there was no statistically significant difference in the measurements obtained by the two methods.
The use of B-mode ultrasonography at a frequency of 7.5 MH^z to examine the architecture of the equine eye is suggested as a valuable clinical tool. Biometry of the intraocular structures at this frequency may be reasonably accurate.     

APPROACHES FOR ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF LONG BONES IN THE DOG

The objective of this study was to identify access portals for ultrasonographic evaluation of canine long bones (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, and tibia). A 7.5 MHz linear transducer was used in five medium-sized dogs (range of 25-35 kg body weight). Good approaches could be identified for all long bones. For the proximal humerus, a cranial portal, and the distal humerus, a lateral portal is suggested. For the radius and ulna, a craniolateral approach seemed to be the best. In the hindlimb, a medial approach for the femur and a craniolateral approach for the tibia were the most effective approaches.     

A Comparison of Manual and Power-Assisted Thoracolumbar Disc Fenestration in Dogs

Thoracolumbar disc fenestration was performed in eight canine cadavers. A hole was cut in the anulus fibrosus with a scalpel in four dogs, and with a high speed drill and burr in four dogs. A curette was used to remove as much of the nucleus pulposus as possible. Sixty-five percent of the nucleus pulposus was removed with the power-assisted technique and 41% was removed by manual fenestration. Manual and power-assisted disc fenestration were performed on alternate intervertebral discs from T11-12 to L5-6 in four dogs. Six months after surgery, results of high-detail radiographic and histologic evaluation of the vertebral bodies and discs showed minimal difference in the sequelae of the two techniques. A retrospective medical records analysis and follow-up of 60 clinical cases treated with prophylactic, power-assisted disc fenestration failed to identify any cases with postoperative recurrence of neurologic deficits. Ten percent of the dogs had periodic back pain of unknown etiology, without other signs of intervertebral disc disease. The findings of this study indicate that power-assisted disc fenestration permits more complete evacuation of the nucleus than manual fenestration, causes no more postoperative complications, and results in a low recurrence rate of neurologic deficits.     

A COMPARISON OF MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BIOPSY TECHNIQUES

A manual, ultrasound-guided biopsy technique was compared to a new automatic method using a new biopsy device. The liver and the left kidney of 10 dogs were biopsied using the two methods. The specimens from the biopsies were compared for size and quality. Results demonstrate that larger and higher quality samples were obtained with the new automatic method.