Seizures during medetomindine sedation and local anaesthesia in two dogs undergoing skin biopsy

Each of two dogs presented for multiple skin biopsies were sedated with intravenous medetomidine and lignocaine was injected subcutaneously to provide local anaesthesia for skin biopsy. One dog had a seizure during skin biopsy and again immediately following reversal of medetomidine with atipamezole. The other dog developed seizures 2 h following skin biopsy at which time the medetomidine was reversed with atipamezole. Both dogs were neurologically normal with no history of seizures prior to the procedure and remained neurologically normal for 14 weeks and 9 months, respectively, following the procedure. A drug interaction between the α₂-adrenergic agonist medetomidine and lignocaine is suspected and highlights the potential for seizures following the subcutaneous administration of relatively large doses of lignocaine under medetomidine sedation.     

Effect of microbial‐based inoculants on nutrient concentrations and early root morphology of corn (Zea mays)

Microbial‐based inoculants have been reported to stimulate plant growth and nutrient uptake. However, their effect may vary depending on the growth stage when evaluated or fertilizer applied. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that microbial‐based inoculants known to promote root growth and nutrient uptake will promote plant growth, enhance early root development, and increase nutrient concentrations of corn (Zea mays L.). Plants were evaluated at four different growth stages and in the presence of three different nitrogen (N) fertilizers. The microbial‐based treatments evaluated were: SoilBuilder™ (SB), a filtered metabolite extract of SoilBuilder™ (SBF), a mixture of four strains of plant growth‐promoting Bacillus spp (BM), and a water‐inoculated control. The experiment also included four fertilizer treatments: urea (U), urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN), calcium‐ammonium nitrate (CAN), and an unfertilized control. Corn plants were evaluated at growth stages V2, V4, V6, and VT. Plant growth parameters for biomass, height, and SPAD readings were enhanced by the three microbial‐based treatments. A greater effect of microbial‐based treatments was observed when plants were evaluated at V6 and VT stages. Parameters of early root development such as total root length (TRL), root surface area (RSA), and length of fine roots were enhanced when microbial‐based treatments were applied. Concentrations of N, P, and K were also increased by microbial‐based treatments compared to the non‐inoculated control. Increases in plant N concentration due to microbial‐based treatments were on average 72% for CAN, 61% for UAN, 72% for urea, and 54% for the unfertilized control. Phosphorus concentration was increased most (138%) when BM was applied with CAN. In the same way, when CAN was present, K concentration was increased by 95% with BM and 65% when SB and SBF were applied. Overall, the results demonstrate that microbial‐based inoculants evaluated in this study can positively impact corn growth and nutrient concentration, especially during the late vegetative stages. Furthermore, the results indicate that the enhancement of nutrient concentrations (N, P, and K) in this case was related to the capacity of microbial‐based treatments to impact root morphology at early stages of corn growth.     

The Effect of a Chronic Stressor, Lameness, on Detailed Sexual Behaviour and Hormonal Profiles in Milk and Plasma of Dairy Cattle

The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effects of a biological chronic stressor (lameness) on the duration and frequency of different oestrous behaviours in parallel with milk hormone profiles. Dairy cows 51.8 ± 1.4 days postpartum (n = 59), including 18 non‐lame control cows, were scored for lameness and closely observed for signs of oestrus having had their follicular phases synchronized by administration of gonadotrophin‐releasing‐hormone (GnRH) followed by prostaglandin F_2α (PG) 7 days later. Lameness shortened the period when herd‐mates attempted to mount the lame cows (1.83 ± 0.69 h vs 5.20 ± 1.53 h; p = 0.042) but did not affect the overall duration of total behaviours (lame 12.3 ± 1.3 h vs non‐lame 15.2 ± 1.3 h). Lameness also lowered the intensity of oestrus [1417 ± 206 points (n = 18) vs 2260 ± 307 points (n = 15); p = 0.029]. Throughout the synchronized oestrous period, lame cows mounted the rear of herd‐mates less frequently (p = 0.020) and tended to chin rest less (p = 0.075). Around the period of maximum oestrous intensity, lameness also diminished the proportion of cows mounting the rear of another cow and chin resting (p = 0.048, p = 0.037, respectively). Furthermore, lame cows had lower progesterone values during the 6 days before oestrous (p ≤ 0.05). Fewer lame cows were observed in oestrus following PG (non‐lame 83%, lame 53%; p = 0.030); however, if prior progesterone concentrations were elevated, lame cows were just as likely to be observed in oestrus. In conclusion, following endogenous progesterone exposure, lameness shortens the period when herd‐mates attempt to mount lame cows but does not affect the incidence of oestrous. However, lame cows are mounted less frequently and express oestrus of lower intensity. This is associated with lower progesterone prior to oestrus but not with abnormal oestradiol or cortisol profiles in daily milk samples.