Bone plate fixation of distal radius and ulna fractures in small- and miniature-breed dogs.

Bone plate fixation was reviewed in 29 distal radial fractures of small- and miniature-breed dogs. Twenty-two fractures in 18 dogs were available for follow-up. Number of complications and return to function were evaluated. Complications occurred in 54% of the fractures. Catastrophic complications occurred in 18% of fracture repairs with follow-up, while minor complications occurred in 36%. Sixteen (89%) of 18 dogs had a successful return to function. Bone plate fixation is a successful repair method for distal radius and ulna fractures in small-breed dogs, compared to previously reported methods.     

Vaginal position and length in the bitch: relationship to spaying and urinary incontinence

A study was undertaken to determine if the vagina might be a suitable site for the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure during cystometry in the bitch. The position of the cranial vagina and vaginal length were measured radiographically and the effects of spaying and urinary incontinence on these variables were evaluated in 30 continent and 30 incontinent bitches. The study used retrograde vaginourethrograms which had been obtained from animals used in a previous study. The cranial vagina was intra-abdominal on 36 of the vaginourethrograms, being least commonly intra-abdominal in incontinent bitches (11/30). Vaginal position was related linearly to vaginal length and continence status (P < 0.01), while its length was related to bodyweight (P < 0.01). Allowing for bodyweight, neutered animals had significantly shorter vaginas than entire bitches (P < 0.01). Measurement of intra-abdominal pressure with concomitant measurement of intravesical pressure is essential if accurate assessment of detrusor pressure is to be determined during cystometry. The vagina is unlikely to be a useful location from which to measure intra-abdominal pressure since any pressure-measuring catheter inserted into it may fall outside the abdominal pressure zone. This is particularly true of neutered and/or incontinent bitches, the groups in which urodynamic investigations of urinary incontinence are most frequently indicated.     

Expression and location of IGF binding proteins-2, -4, and -5 in developing fetal tissues.

Insulin-like growth factors are associated with myogenesis in vivo, and their actions are mediated by IGF binding proteins (IGFBP). Sites of IGFBP production and their location during early development are not clear. The objective of this research was to examine the developmental expression and location of IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 mRNA and peptides in developing porcine skeletal muscle and liver. Pregnant pigs were euthanatized at various times postconception (pc). Developmental expression of IGFBP was evaluated using total RNA extracted from skeletal muscle and liver of 30-, 44-, 59-, 68-, 75-, 89-, and 109-d pc fetuses and from adult and neonatal pigs. Localization of IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 mRNA and peptides was examined by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry of muscle samples from contralateral pelvic limbs of each pig. Overall muscle IGFBP gene expression decreased (P < .05) with increasing age. Moreover, expression of liver IGFBP-2 and -5, but not of IGFBP-4, was greater (P < .05) during prenatal than during postnatal periods. The majority of immunoreactive IGFBP was located in developing muscle cells, with little localized to connective tissue, except at later stages of development. These data show that IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 expression is time- and tissue-dependent in fetal liver and muscle.     

Liver fluke infestation in New World camelids. Parasitology, pathology, clinical findings and therapy]

In Llamas and Alpacas infestation with Fasciola hepatica or Dicrocoelium dendriticum can cause liver damage, sometimes even with lethal outcome. Once infected South American Camelids (SACs) react more sensitively to these parasites than other domestic ruminants. We report here on the pathology, parasitology, clinics and therapy of this disease. Concerning Dicrocoelium dendriticum we describe own clinical results and therapeutic outcome in addition to the pathological investigation. According to anatomic corrosion casts, the bile ducts of SACs show more similarity with the equine bile system than with the bile system of domestic ruminants.     

Evaluation of scratches as an essential element in the development of avian cellulitis in broiler chickens.

Currently, the published cellulitis models do not adequately address the actual pathogenesis as seen in the commercial broiler industry. In this model, small dermal scratches were made on the skin of broiler chickens, which were then placed on litter seeded with avian cellulitis-associated Escherichia coli. The research confirms scratches are required for the induction of avian cellulitis. The research also confirms that "type I" cellulitis lesions or those previously thought to be due to hatchery-borne infections can be induced with scratches. The described methods provide a realistic model for cellulitis development that will improve the reliability of prophylactic and therapeutic-regimen efficacy testing data, thereby providing information more directly useful to the commercial broiler industry.     

A PCR based method for the identification of equine influenza virus from clinical samples.

In this paper we describe the development of a nested RT-PCR assay for the rapid diagnosis and characterisation of influenza virus directly from clinical specimens. Viral RNA is extracted from nasal swabs by the guanidine thiocyanate extraction method, and subsequently reverse transcribed. The complementary DNA is then used as template in a nested PCR reaction. Primers designed for use in this assay are specific for three templates; (1) the nucleoprotein (NP) gene, (2) the haemagglutinin gene of the H7N7 equine influenza virus (A1), and (3) the haemagglutinin gene of the H3N8 equine influenza virus (A2). We show that the assays are specific for the target genes chosen, and display sensitivity similar to virus isolation. The NP assay detects a variety of different influenza subtypes, whereas A1 and A2 assays are specific for influenza subtypes H7N7 and H3N8, respectively. Sequencing of amplicons obtained in the A2 assay yields information on antigenic regions of the haemagglutinin molecule, and use of this procedure in the routine surveillance of equine influenza will enable tentative characterisation of circulating viruses despite difficulties in isolating field strains of the H3N8 subtype. The A1 assay will be useful in ascertaining whether viruses of the H7N7 subtype still circulate amongst horses, or whether these are extinct.     

Lymphocyte beta -adrenoceptor downregulation in great danes with occult dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and with DCM and heart failure.

The importance of the adrenergic nervous system in supporting the failing heart has long been known. The adrenergic drive on cardiac structure and function has however some adverse effects, which include myocardial beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) downregulation and decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness to cathecolamines. In dog lymphocytes, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR populations are almost equally represented (with a slight prevalence of beta(2)) and a significant correlation between cardiac and lymphocytic adrenoceptors has been found. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible differences between the concentration of lymphocytic beta-AR in healthy dogs, dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and dogs with occult DCM. Three groups of great danes were considered: a control group (n =10), dogs with DCM (n =9) and dogs with occult DCM (n =4). Lymphocytic beta-AR populations were determined in all dogs. A substantial and significant decrease (P<0.05) in total-AR, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR concentrations in the lymphocytes of dogs with symptomatic DCM and occult DCM compared to the control group was found. Although the mean value of the lymphocyte beta(1)-AR number in the asymptomatic group was double compared to the DCM group, this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that in dogs beta-AR downregulation occurs early in the course of dilated cardiomyopathy. This finding may suggest the value of early use of a beta-blocker in the therapeutic regimen. Moreover, the continuous monitoring of lymphocytic beta-AR may represent a useful tool for the development of a more effective individual therapy.     

Duration of action and hemodynamic properties of mivacurium chloride in dogs anesthetized with halothane.

OBJECTIVE: To describe onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade induced by mivacurium chloride and its associated hemodynamic effects at 3 dosages in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 7 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and maintained with halothane in oxygen, and dogs were mechanically ventilated to end-tidal P(CO)2 between 35 and 40 mm Hg. Core temperature, end-tidal P(CO)2, and halothane concentration were kept constant throughout the experiment. Neuromuscular function was assessed by evaluation of the train-of-four response to a supramaximal electrical stimulus of 2 Hz applied to the ulnar nerve every 10 seconds. Blood for determination of plasma cholinesterase activity was obtained prior to administration of mivacurium, a bolus of which was administered IV, using a randomized Latin-square design for dosages of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 mg/kg of body weight. RESULTS: All dogs had typical plasma cholinesterase activity. After administration of mivacurium, differences were not evident between groups in heart rate, systolic, mean, or diastolic blood pressure, change at any time in heart rate, systolic, mean, or diastolic blood pressure, or pH. Interval from onset to 100% neuromuscular blockade was 3.92+/-1.70, 2.42+/-0.53, and 1.63+/-0.25 minutes at dosages of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. Duration of measurable neuromuscular blockade was 33.72+/-12.73, 65.38+/-12.82, and 151.0+/-38.50 minutes, respectively. Time of onset and duration of effect differed significantly among dosages. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mivacurium provides good hemodynamic stability at the dosages tested. In dogs, this drug has a rapid onset and long duration of effect.