Use of carbenicillin in two species of tortoise (Testudo graeca and T hermanni)

A preliminary investigation of the blood levels of carbenicillin, after the administration of a single intramuscular injection, suggests that the tortoise's bladder may act as a reservoir of antibiotic that is available for resorption. This phenomenon could confound the establishment of a safe, effective dose regime for antibiotics, in tortoises, which are excreted in an unchanged active form in urine.     

Equine ehrlichial colitis (Potomac horse fever): recognition of the disease in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Idaho, and Connecticut

Equine ehrlichial colitis (Potomac horse fever), a newly identified colitis of the horse, was first recognized in Maryland. In this report, we document occurrence of the disease in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Idaho, and Connecticut. Enzootic areas were recognized by a characteristic pattern. Frequently there was a seasonal pattern and high prevalence of sporadic colitis in unstressed horses. The attack rate per farm generally was low. Horses on pasture, as well as those stabled, were affected. Clinical signs varied from fever and depression to severe diarrhea and laminitis. Occasionally horses developed profound ileus and severe colic. Diagnosis was based on detection of an increase or decrease in serum antibody titers to Ehrlichia risticii, using an indirect fluorescent antibody technique.     

Analysis of post mortem aqueous humour chemistry in the horse, with particular reference to urea nitrogen and creatinine

The concentrations of several post mortem aqueous humour chemical constituents were compared with ante mortem serum chemical values in the horse. Urea nitrogen and creatinine values in post mortem aqueous humour were good predictors of ante mortem serum values. Aqueous humour urea nitrogen increased only slightly and creatinine did not change significantly for up to 24 h after death. Formulae were derived for calculating estimated ante mortem serum urea nitrogen and creatinine from aqueous humour values obtained after death. These results from normal horses identify analytes that are accurate predictors of ante mortem serum values. Determination of post mortem aqueous humour urea nitrogen of creatinine may assist in interpretation of the functional significance of equivocal histological lesions in the kidney.     

Canine ceroid-lipofuscinoses: A review and classification

The ceroid-lipofuscinoses are a group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals characterised by the accumulation of a fluorescent lipopigment in neurons and other cells within the body. Syndromes occurring in dogs are classified, on the basis of the age of onset and, to a lesser degree, the course of the disease, as prepubertal-protracted, early adult acute and adult onset. Clinical signs are generally those of progressive loss of vision, motor disturbances such as ataxia, tremors, seizures and proprioceptive deficits together with behavioural changes including loss of learned behaviour, fearfulness and aggression. The various syndromes can be expected to reflect different mutations, at least some of which affect the catabolism of subunit c of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase. Confirmation of diagnosis depends on the demonstration of lipopigment in brain or skin biopsies by histochemistry, fluorescence or electron microscopy.     

Thrombocytopenia in Horses: 35 Cases (1989–1994)

The records of 3,952 equine patients presenting to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine were evaluated to determine risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia. Of 2,346 horses from which a CBC was obtained, 35 (1.49%) were thrombocytopenic (platelet count < 75,000/μL). A reference population of 189 horses with normal platelet counts (75,000 to 300,000/μL) was also studied. Standardbred horses were at increased risk for thrombocytopenia. but age and gender were not identified as significant risk factors. Horses with infectious or inflammatory diseases were at increased risk for thrombocytopenia. The potential association of clinical and clinicopathologic factors with thrombocytopenia were assessed by reviewing a series of multiple logistic regression models. Clinical and clinicopathologic variables significantly associated with thrombocytopenia in the final model included increased PCV, increased band neutrophil count, increased total WBC, and decreased plasma protein concentration. Increased mature neutrophil count was associated with normal platelet counts. Thrombocytopenic horses were significantly more likely to die or be euthanized than were horses with normal platelet counts. J Vet Intern Med 1996;10:127–132. Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine .     

Effect of source of calcium and phosphate,autoclaving, vitamin D3 level and strain of turkey poults on the rachitogenic activity of isolated soybean protein 1

This study was conducted to ascertain the effect of autoclaving, source of calcium and phosphate, vitamin D₃ level and strain of turkey poults on the rachitogenic activity of isolated soybean protein (C‐1 protein‐Skidmore). One‐day‐old poults were fed purified diets of the glucose—C‐1 protein type. The diets contained calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D₃ at levels equal to or greater than the National Research Council's (1960) recommendations. The findings demonstrate that USP hydrated dicalcium phosphate was more effective than food‐grade dicalcium phosphate in overcoming the rachitogenic activity of the C‐1 protein. Autoclaving the C‐1 protein for 80 min destroyed its rachitogenic activity: Vitamin D₃ was also effective in reducing the rachitogenic effect of C‐1 protein. The Broad Breasted White strain proved to be more susceptible to the rachitogenic property of C‐1 protein than the Wrolstad Small White strain. Substituting USP hydrated dicalcium phosphate for food‐grade dicalcium phosphate, autoclaving the C‐1 protein or increasing the vitamin D₃ level increased body weight gains and tibia ash values. The interactions which were shown to exist between source of calcium and phosphate × autoclaving, strain × autoclaving, and vitamin D₃ level × strain demonstrate an interrelationship between these factors.     

Endothelin-1 concentrations in clone calves, their surrogate dams, and fetal fluids at birth: association with oxygen treatment

Increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma concentration in human infants is associated with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, a problem also identified in calves derived from somatic cell clone technology. Increased ET-1 also is present in the amnionic fluid and plasma of the infant and mother in preeclampsia, a condition associated with abnormal placentation. Abnormalities in placentation are identified in clone calves. We measured ET-1 in fetal fluid, calf plasma, and surrogate dam plasma in 40 clone calves at the time of term delivery. Calves were subsequently identified as being either oxygen treated (O2) or non-oxygen treated based on their postpartum clinical course. Fetal fluid ET-1 concentration greater than 1.4 ng/mL carried a 3-fold increase in odds of the calf being treated with oxygen. Maternal plasma ET-1 concentration was greater in the O2 group (13 pg/ mL: [8-23 pg/mL] versus 25 pg/mL [12-40 pg/mL]; median, 25-75 percentile). Plasma ET-1 concentration in calves was not significantly different between groups. Fetal fluid ET-1 may serve as a marker for neonatal disorders of oxygenation in clone calves and the source of ET-1 may be the placenta.