Plasma and urinary trypsinogen activation peptide in healthy dogs, dogs with pancreatitis and dogs with other systemic diseases

OBJECTIVE: To determine the specificity and sensitivity of plasma and urinary trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP) concentrations in diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of clinical cases. PROCEDURE: Dogs were classified into three groups: healthy animals, dogs with confirmed pancreatitis and dogs with nonpancreatic disease, which clinically or biochemically resembled pancreatitis. This last group was further subdivided into dogs with renal and those with nonrenal disease. The plasma and urinary TAP concentration was determined by a competitive enzyme immunoassay. Clinical cases additionally had serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentration measured, as well as radiography and ultrasound of the abdomen and further diagnostic procedures. Nonparametric analysis of variance (Kruskal-Wallis test) was performed using Statistix 4.0 program. RESULTS: There was a wide range of urinary TAP concentration in healthy dogs (mean 52.30 nmol/L, standard deviation 55.25) that made interpretation of urinary TAP concentrations difficult in the other groups. There was a narrow reference range for plasma TAP (mean 2.67 nmol/L, standard deviation 0.93). Plasma and urinary TAP concentrations, as well as urinary TAP to creatinine ratio, were all increased in dogs that died with necrotising pancreatitis. Values were not increased in mild, interstitial pancreatitis. Increased plasma TAP concentrations were also present in dogs with severe renal disease. CONCLUSION: Plasma TAP concentration is a good prognostic indicator in naturally occurring pancreatitis in dogs. The failure of TAP to increase in mild pancreatitis, and the increase present in severe renal disease, suggests its measurement has limited application as a sole diagnostic tool for canine pancreatitis. Further investigations are required in order to explain the large variability of urinary TAP concentration and the presence of circulating TAP in healthy dogs.     

Physical, chemical and biological hazards in veterinary practice

OBJECTIVE: To identify major occupational hazards encountered by veterinarians and their staff in practice in Australia. PROCEDURE: A literature search of Medical (MEDLINE), Occupational Health and Safety (OSHRAM) and Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) electronic data bases plus continual monitoring utilising the Uncover alerting system using the key words, 'occupational injury', 'occupational disease' and 'safety' linked with use of the word 'veterinarians' has found relevant articles. Personal communication with people who have undertaken studies on occupational safety in veterinarians elicited further information. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Veterinarians often sustain animal-related injuries, the most common of which are dog and cat bites, cat scratches and being hit or crushed by large animals. The most costly to treat include strains and back injuries. Most veterinarians treat themselves. There is no single reporting system for injuries or disease in veterinarians and reported cases may greatly underestimate the total. There is a need to assess accurately the occupational hazards in veterinary practice, to determine the actual occurrence of injuries and to develop strategies to prevent them.     

Endogenous lipid pneumonia in cats: 24 cases (1985-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical signs, radiographic and histologic abnormalities, and concurrent diseases in cats with endogenous lipid pneumonia (EnLP) and to determine the pathologic importance of EnLP in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 24 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records of cats in which EnLP was confirmed by histologic examination of necropsy specimens were reviewed. Information collected from the medical records included signalment, body weight, clinical signs, and results of clinicopathologic tests. Thoracic radiographs were reviewed by a radiologist; histologic specimens were reviewed by a pathologist. RESULTS: All cats had nonspecific clinical abnormalities, such as lethargy, anorexia, or weight loss; 16 had signs of respiratory tract disease. All cats had concurrent systemic diseases, and clinicopathologic abnormalities were reflective of these conditions. Nonspecific abnormalities were detected on thoracic radiographs from 9 of 11 cats. Most cats had macroscopic, multifocal, subpleural lesions; inflammatory infiltrates, cholesterol clefts, and multinucleated giant cells were common. Ten cats had an underlying obstructive pulmonary disease that was the likely cause of EnLP. Lesions of EnLP were not considered to be severe enough or extensive enough to be the cause of death in any of these cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: EnLP is an uncommon respiratory tract disorder of cats with no pathognomonic clinical, laboratory, or radiographic findings. Although EnLP was not the cause of death in any of these cats, results of the present study do suggest that EnLP may be a marker for potentially severe underlying obstructive pulmonary disease.     

Evaluation of efficacy of selamectin, fipronil, and imidacloprid against Ctenocephalides felis in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of monthly administration of selamectin, fipronil, and imidacloprid against Ctenocephalides felis in dogs. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 44 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs known to be free of fleas were infested with 100 unfed adult fleas on days -28 and -21. On days 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120, dogs (12/group) were treated by topical administration of selamectin (6 mg/kg [2.7 mg/lb] of body weight), fipronil (7.5 mg/kg [3.4 mg/lb]), or imidacloprid (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb]); 8 untreated dogs were used as controls. On day -6 and every 2 weeks after initial treatment, comb counts of viable adult fleas were made, and fleas (< or =50/dog) were replaced onto the dog from which they were removed. On day 89, fleas were not replaced. On day 91 and every 7 days until the end of the study, dogs were challenged with 20 adult fleas. RESULTS: 14 days after initial treatment, geometric mean flea counts were reduced by 97.5 to 99.1 % for all treatments, compared with pretreatment counts on day -6. Selamectin, fipronil, and imidacloprid reduced geometric mean flea counts by 99.7 to 100% from day 29 to the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Selamectin is as effective as fipronil and imidacloprid in reducing C felis infestation in dogs housed for 3 months in a flea-infested environment under conditions known to support the flea life cycle, and in protecting against subsequent weekly challenges with C felis for an additional 2 months.     

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in a crossbred dog

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was diagnosed in a 12-year-old male crossbred dog. Relevant history included polyuria and polydipsia of four months' duration. Physical examination revealed abdominal enlargement, seborrhoea and polypnoea. Diagnostic tests indicated hypercalcaemia, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, an exaggerated response to adrenocorticotropic stimulation of the adrenal gland, lack of cortisol suppression with a low dose dexamethasone suppression test and suppression of cortisol secretion with a high dose dexamethasone test. An enlarged right parathyroid gland was removed surgically and confirmed histopathologically to be a parathyroid adenoma. The pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism was treated successfully with mitotane for 14 months before the patient was euthanased for an unrelated problem.     

Efficacy of selamectin against adult flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides canis) on dogs and cats

Selamectin was evaluated in eight controlled studies (4 in dogs, 4 in cats) to determine the efficacy of a single topical unit dose providing the recommended minimum dosage of 6mgkg(-1) against Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides canis fleas on dogs and against C. felis on cats. In addition, the effect of bathing on the efficacy of selamectin against C. felis was evaluated. Identical studies were performed in Beagles and domestic shorthaired cats. For each study, animals were allocated randomly to treatments of 8-12 animals each. All studies (dog studies A, B, C, and D and cat studies A, B, C, and D) evaluated the efficacy of selamectin without bathing. In addition, study C in both dogs and cats evaluated efficacy with a shampoo bath at 24h after dosing, and study D evaluated the efficacy of selamectin with water soaking at 2h after dosing or with a shampoo bath at 2-6h after dosing. Dog study B evaluated efficacy against C. canis, whereas all other studies used C. felis. In each study, selamectin was administered on day 0 as a topical dose that was applied directly to the skin in a single spot at the base of the neck in front of the scapulae. Dogs and cats were infested with approximately 100 viable unfed C. felis or C. canis on days 4, 11, 18, and 27. On days 7, 14, 21, and 30, approximately 72h after infestation, a comb count of the number of viable fleas present on each animal was made. For C. felis and C. canis for dogs and cats, compared with controls, selamectin achieved significant reductions in geometric mean adult flea comb counts of > or =98.9% on days 7, 14, and 21 in all eight studies. On day 30, the reduction for C. felis remained at or above 98.0%. This included the dogs and cats that were soaked with water or bathed with shampoo at 2, 6, or 24h after treatment. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between the flea counts from selamectin-treated animals in these studies, regardless of bathing status. On day 30, a significant reduction of 91.8% was achieved against C. canis on dogs. Thus, these studies demonstrated that a single topical unit dose of selamectin was highly effective against adult fleas on dogs and cats for at least 27 days.     

Variations and phenotypic correlation of growth attributes of Calliandra calothyrsus in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica

Forested land cleared for agriculture in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica rapidly loses its productivity leading to further slash-and-burn cultivation and the degradation of more forest. Contour hedgerows of Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner have been shown to reduce water runoff and soil erosion, and products of the species have a wide range of uses in the local farming community. A trial was established at 1550 m in which the locally naturalised population of C. calothyrsus was compared with seven provenances from across the species' ecological range. There was considerable variation between provenances of C. calothyrsus in all the above-ground growth variables measured and, although the local provenance performed moderately well, it was clear that there is potential to improve the suitability of the species for a range of local uses by the introduction of new provenances. One provenance combined high above-ground productivity with low fine root-length density, especially in the inter-hedgerow area: it offers particular potential for use in simultaneous agroforestry systems providing wood and foliage products whilst not imposing high levels of competition with crop plants for below-ground resources. Although there were significant differences between provenances in the distribution of roots between the hedgerow and inter-row areas, they did not differ in the distribution of roots between soil depths. There were only limited differences between provenances in the response of their subsequent growth to harvesting. However, significant block × provenance interactions suggested that the performance of C. calothyrsus provenances may be difficult to predict between sites and farmers should be encouraged to carry out trial planting of a number of provenances to find those which best match their farm environment and needs.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.