Sonographic observations of the peripheral vasculature of the equine thoracic limb

Investigations of the equine peripheral vascular system have been constrained by the lack of a non-invasive method of examining the arteries and veins of the limbs of the conscious horse. Precise correlations were established between the gross anatomical features of the peripheral vessels and their B-mode sonographic appearance in each thoracic limb of 35 horses. A sonographic imaging protocol was established. Additional Doppler sonographic recordings defined the arterial waveforms and demonstrated that blood flow to the foot could be evaluated in the lateral proper digital artery, distal to the level of the coronary band. Valves (with 2-4 cusps) were identified in the lumina of the medial and lateral palmar common digital veins and those of the medial and lateral palmar proper digital veins. Spontaneous echo contrast, a smoke-like haze of echoic blood, was seen in the lateral and medial palmar common digital veins, the distal deep palmar venous arch and communicating branches, and the palmar proper digital veins, and occasionally seen in the distal deep palmar arterial arch and distal proper palmar digital arteries. The value of duplex sonography (B-mode and Doppler) for anatomical and physiological studies of the peripheral vasculature of the horse was clearly established. Such data could be applied to the investigation of diseases affecting the peripheral circulation.     

Chemoprophylaxis ofTrypanosoma evansi infections in ponies

Summary An investigation on the protection afforded to ponies, by quinapyramine suraminate and its constituents used singly, againstTrypanosoma evansi infections of low and high intensity was conducted. It was observed that full protection with the suraminate lasted for 61/2 to 231/2 months depending upon the dose of the drug and intensity of the test infection employed. Considerable partial protection was evident up to 38 months. Prophylaxis with suramin and quinapyramine extended up to 1 month and 11/2 months, respectively. The protection period was observed to be directly related to the dose of the suraminate employed and inversely with the intensity of the test infection. Infections breaking through prophylaxis were characterized by sub-microscopic and low-grade parasitaemia which was mostly detected by the rat-inoculation test only.

---

Sumario Se ha hecho una investigación sobre la protección conferida por varias dosis de suramina, sales de quinapiramina y MSb en ponis contra infecciones simples deTrypanosoma evansi y suraminato de quinapiramina contra infecciones repetidas. La protección completa con suramina, quinapiramina y su prosal y MSb se extendía hasta 1, 11/2, 2 y 3 meses, respectivamente. La protección con suraminato de quinapiramina variaba de 61/2 a 261/2 meses contra el desafío ‘suave’ y 61/2 a 231/2 meses contra el desafío ‘fuerte’. La protección parcial, sin embargo, era aparente por periodos de hasta 38 meses. La profilaxis con suraminato de quinapiramina era directamente proporcional a la dosisintervalo de la droga usada y usualmente inversamente proporcional a la cantidad del desafío empleado. Las infecciones recurrentes fueron caracterizadas por por una parasitemia rara ó muy escasa. Algunas vecez las infecciones no eran detectadas por la prueba microscópica. Esta conducta atípica de las infecciones fue demostrada no ser debida a una disminuida virulencia de le parásito.

---

Résumé Une étude à été faite sur la protection donnée aux chevaux par des doses variables de suramine, sels de quinapyramine et de MSb contre une infection unique parTrypanosoma evansi et par le suraminate de quinapyramine contre les infections répétées. Une protection complète par la suramine, la quinapyramine et son ‘prosalt’ et le MSb durait respectivement jusqu’ à 1, 11/2, 2 et 3 mois. La protection par le suraminate de quinapyramine contre l’épreuve légère variait de 6 mois et demi à 26 mois et demi et, contre l’épreuve sévère, de 6 mois et demi à 23 mois et demi. Une protection partielle a néanmoins été observée pendant des périodes allant jusqu’à 38 mois. La durée de la prophylaxie par le suraminate de quinapyramine était directement proportionnelle à la dose du médicament utilisée, habituellement inversement proportionnelle à la quantité des organismes utilisés pour l’épreuve. Les infections résultantes étaient caractérisées par un type de parasitémie rare et faible. Elles n’ont parfois pas du tout été révélées par l’examen microscopique. Il a été démontré que ce comportement atypique des infections n’était pas d? à une virulence diminuée du parasite.

     

Effects of various adjuvants on efficacy of a vaccine against Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp in cattle

OBJECTIVE: To determine efficacy of vaccines incorporating QuilA, alum, dextran combined with mineral oil, or Freund adjuvant for immunization of feedlot cattle against Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp. ANIMALS: 24 steers housed under feedlot conditions. PROCEDURE: Steers were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups and a control group. Animals in experimental groups were inoculated on days 0 and 26 with vaccines containing Freund adjuvant (FCA), QuilA, dextran combined with mineral oil (Dex), or alum as adjuvant. Serum anti-S bovis and anti-Lactobacillus IgG concentrations were measured, along with fecal pH, ruminal fluid pH, and number of S bovis and Lactobacillus spp in ruminal fluid. RESULTS: Throughout the study, serum anti-S bovis and anti-Lactobacillus IgG concentrations for animals in the Dex, QuilA, and alum groups were similar to or significantly higher than concentrations for animals in the FCA group. Serum anti-S bovis and anti-Lactobacillus IgG concentrations were significantly increased on days 26 through 75 in all 4 experimental groups, and there was a linear relationship between anti-S bovis and anti-Lactobacillus IgG concentrations. For animals in the QuilA and Dex groups, mean pH of feces throughout the period of experiment were significantly higher and numbers of S bovis and Lactobacillus spp in ruminal fluid on day 47 were significantly lower than values for control cattle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that immunization of feedlot steers against S bovis and Lactobacillus spp with vaccines incorporating Freund adjuvant, QuilA, dextran, or alum as an adjuvant effectively induced high, long-lasting serum anti-S bovis and anti-Lactobacillus IgG concentrations. Of the adjuvants tested, dextran may be the most effective.     

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and Mucometra in a 6-year-old Alaska Malamute Dog

A 6-year-old female Alaska Malamute dog was presented for evaluation of abdominal enlargement referred by a local veterinarian. On the history, the owner complained of chronic abdominal enlargement initiated more than 4 months ago, reduced appetite, occasional vomiting and general dullness. He also complained of greenish mucous intermittent vaginal discharge starting 10 days ago. The bitch was chronically treated with medroxiprogesterone acetate. A laparatomy was performed and fluid in the abdomen was found and aspirated during the surgery. Also a very fluid-filled distended uterus and a mass in the distal part of the left uterine horn were found. The mass was encapsulated by the omentum, but areas of necrosis and calcification were identified. Histopathological diagnosis was endometrial adenocarcinoma.     

Apoptosis-independent Poor Morphology of Bovine Embryos Produced by Multiple Ovulation

In multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in cattle, a considerable number of morphologically poor-quality embryos continue to be produced; this is one of the limiting factors of the technique. Apoptosis has often been implicated in developmental arrest and fragmentation; these are regarded as poor traits of embryonic quality in mammalian pre-implantation embryos. In the present study, apoptosis was assessed in morphologically poor-quality embryos in comparison with good-quality embryos that were recovered from a MOET programme. Retarded embryos (two to 16 cell stage), morulae with severe fragmentation and morphologically good-quality morulae recovered from superstimulated cows at day 7 post-insemination were subjected to TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and Hoechst staining. Cell nuclei that showed both TUNEL staining and apoptotic morphology were considered to be apoptotic. Apoptotic index (AI) was calculated as the percentage of apoptotic cells per embryo. Fifteen of 17 retarded embryos and 10 of 15 morphologically poor-quality morulae did not show signs of apoptosis. The mean AIs in the morphologically poor-quality embryos (two to 16 cell stage, 2.2%; poor morulae, 1.3%) were as low as that in the good-quality embryos (2.9%). These results suggest that another mode of developmental arrest and/or fragmentation that is independent of apoptosis occurs in morphologically poor-quality embryos recovered from MOET programmes.