Escherichia coli-induced lung and liver dysfunction in dogs: effects of flunixin meglumine treatment

Twelve dogs were infused with 10(10) Escherichia coli/kg of body weight through a portal vein catheter over a 1-hour period; 6 dogs were treated with flunixin meglumine (1 mg/kg) 15 minutes after the infusion had begun. Six dogs (controls) were infused with a comparable volume of sterile saline solution over the same period. Over a 4-hour monitoring period, nontreated septicemic dogs developed systemic hypotension, decreased cardiac output, increased portal pressure, increased serum alanine transaminase values, increased extravascular liver water, increased liver glycogen depletion, and decreased arterial oxygen tension compared with control dogs. Accumulations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and E coli were found in the livers and lungs of septicemic dogs. Flunixin meglumine treatment prevented systemic hypotension and hypoxemia, reversed the early but not the late stages of portal hypertension, and decreased E coli concentrations in the lungs. Other effects of treatment were not noticed.     

Prospective evaluation of laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy in dogs susceptible to gastric dilatation

OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term outcome associated with laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy in prevention of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in susceptible dogs and to evaluate use of laparoscopy to correct GDV. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 25 client-owned large-breed dogs. PROCEDURE: 23 dogs susceptible to GDV were referred as candidates for elective gastropexy. These dogs had a history of treatment for gastric dilatation, clinical signs of gastric dilatation, or family members with gastric dilatation. Laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy was performed. One year after surgery, abdominal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the attachment of the stomach to the abdominal wall. Two dogs with GDV were also treated with laparoscopic-assisted derotation of the stomach and gastropexy. RESULTS: None of the dogs developed GDV during the year after gastropexy, and all 20 dogs examined ultrasonographically had an intact attachment. Another dog was euthanatized at 11.5 months for unrelated problems. Two dogs with GDV successfully underwent laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy after the stomach was repositioned. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy resulted in a persisting attachment between the stomach and abdominal wall, an absence of GDV development, and few complications. Dogs with a high probability for development of GDV should be considered candidates for minimally invasive gastropexy. Carefully selected dogs with GDV can be treated laparoscopically.     

The effects on resistant mosquitoes of interrupted exposure to insecticides

In paired tests on batches of malathion- and dieldrin-resistant Anopheles arabiensis, one of each pair received a continuous exposure to either malathion or dieldrin for 16 h or more, while the other received a non-exposed rest phase in the middle of the exposure period. Among dieldrin-resistant mosquitoes, the mortality rate was decreased in the group that experienced the interrupted, as opposed to the continuous exposures; however, the survival rate of malathion-resistant adults was unaffected by interrupted exposure. There was a significant positive correlation between the mortality rate and the adult age for malathion, but the responses to dieldrin were independent of age. Movement of adult mosquitoes to and from malathion deposits in sprayed houses should not impair the efficacy of this insecticide, whereas prolonged absence from contact with dieldrin would require even longer exposures to achieve the same mortality in the insects.     

Lameness in a mare with signs of arteriovenous fistula

A 5-year-old mare was evaluated for lameness and swelling of the right forelimb. Clinical findings, including peripheral edema, venous pulsation, palpable thrill in the cephalic vein, disparate arteriovenous oxygen tension differences between the left and right forelimbs, and Branham sign, were suggestive of arteriovenous fistula. Failure to identify the fistula by angiography was attributed to closure of the shunt during anesthesia. Surgical exploration of the affected limb to identify the shunt also was unsuccessful.     

Effect of dietary phosphate restriction on renal secondary hyperparathyroidism in the cat

Twenty-three cats with stable chronic renal failure (CRF) were examined in a prospective study of the effects of feeding a veterinary diet restricted in phosphorus and protein with or without an intestinal phosphate binding agent (aluminium hydroxide) on plasma phosphate and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. Fifteen cats accepted the veterinary diet; compliance was not achieved in the remaining eight (due to limited intake by the cats or owner resistance to diet change). Feeding the veterinary diet was associated with a significant fall in plasma phosphate and PTH concentrations by five months, with only two cats requiring aluminium hydroxide therapy. The maximum decrease in plasma PTH concentration was not associated with a significant change in plasma 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol concentration. Euparathyroidism was achieved in eight cats. Conversely, in cats with CRF fed proprietary diets over the same time period, mean plasma PTH concentrations did not change significantly; indeed, in seven of the eight cats, PTH concentrations increased. Dietary therapy alone or in combination with intestinal phosphate binders does reduce PTH concentrations in cats with CRF and, when effective control of phosphate intake is achieved, plasma PTH can be normalised.     

Activated coagulation test in normal and heparinized ponies and horses.

Activated coagulation test (ACT) was performed in 37 adult ponies and 31 adult horses. The mean ACT time of all ponies and horses was 2 minutes 38 seconds, with a standard deviation (SD) of 29 seconds. The ACT was compared with the Lee-White clotting test in heparinized ponies. The correlation of ACT with the Lee-White test was 0.95. Anticoagulation heparinized ponies during prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass was successfully monitored with the ACT. The ACT is simple and reproducible, has a definite end point, and would seem to be an ideal screening test for hemorrhagic diathesis in equine animals.     

亚洲地区饲料原料和配合饲料中霉菌毒素水平的调查

霉菌毒素是动物饲料中具有危害性的成分,可导致畜禽多种难以判断的综合病症.霉菌毒素通常导致动物生产性能下降,免疫机能抑制,引起动物患病,进而通过动物的肉、奶和内脏进入人类的食品链中,危害人类健康.对这些易受环境和气候影响的天然毒素进行常规检查和实时监控是非常有必要的.这将有助于饲料生产企业做好控制动物体内霉菌毒素潜在问题的准备,饲料生产企业选择正确有效的霉菌毒素吸附剂,饲料中添加吸附剂吸附饲料中的霉菌毒素,或避免购买和使用来自问题地区的霉变饲料原料.     

亚洲地区饲料和畜禽养殖业霉菌毒素危害实况

业已证明,霉菌毒素是动物饲料中具有危害性的成分．它们可导致畜禽多种难以判断的综合病症。霉菌毒素通常导致动物的生产性能下降、免疫机能抑制、导致动物患病,进而通过动物的肉、奶、内脏进入人类的食品链中,危害人类的健康。对这些易受环境和气候影响的天然毒素进行常规检查和实时监控是非常有必要的,将有助于饲料生产企业做好控制动物体内霉菌毒素潜在问题的准备,饲料生产企业或通过选择使用正确有效的霉菌毒素吸附剂,     

Calibration and use of electromagnetic flow transducers.

Electromagnetic flowmeters frequently are used to measure volumetric blood flow in vessels. An in vitro method of calibration, using a constant supply-pressure system, was studied. Potential problems encountered in acute and chronic applications are discussed. Using this calibration system, manufacturers' recommended calibration factors were not in agreement with actual flow calibration factors, and zero, as determined electrically, was not the same as that determined mechanically. Transducer sensitivity decreased with increasing concentrations of red blood cells but was not affected by fluid viscosity. Application problems of vessel constriction by the transducer, transducer orientation about the vessel, and chronic instrumentation are discussed.