Effects of epidural xylazine on EEG responses to surgical stimulation during isoflurane anaesthesia in dogs

The effects of epidural administration of 250 μg/kg xylazine on EEG responses to surgical stimulation of 5 different intensities were evaluated during isoflurane anaesthesia for an experimental orthopaedic procedure in dogs. The dogs were assigned randomly to one of 2 treatment groups receiving either xylazine (n = 4) or equal volumes of sterile water (n = 4) (control group) epidurally. Intense surgical stimulation during removal of a bone graft from the dorsoiliac spine of the ileum was associated with a significantly (P = 0.0339) higher increase in EEG alpha/delta ratio after epidural administration of sterile water than after epidural injection of 250 μg/kg of xylazine. In addition, the preincision baseline values for 80% spectral edge frequency were significantly (P = 0.0339) lower in the xylazine group compared to control dogs. Our results suggest that epidural administration of 250 μg/kg of xylazine during orthopaedic procedures in dogs exerts antinociceptive effects which may be in part mediated by a supraspinal effect of xylazine.     

Additive and synergistic pharmacologic inhibition of equine fibrinoligase (factor XIIIa*-like) biochemical activity.

A selected group of pharmaceutical compounds were evaluated for the ability to inhibit the biochemical activity of fibrinoligase (coagulation factor XIIIa*) in pooled equine plasma. Criteria for the pharmaceuticals selected were based on the mechanism of the transglutamination biochemical reaction mediated by coagulation factor XIIa*. These criteria were complemented by recognition of the molecular configuration and chemical composition of amino acid residue side chains involved in the process of covalent fibrin monomer polymerization (cross-linking, transglutamination) mediated by this enzyme. Each pharmaceutical was evaluated individually and in combination with other potential coagulation factor XIIIa* inhibitors in an effort to detect additive and synergistic phenomenon. In this context, pharmaceuticals with a carbonylamide (eg, cefuroxime, Girard's reagent-P, prolinamide) were applied in concert with compounds with a terminal amine (eg, D-arginine, L-lysine) functional group. In concept, this method theoretically served to competitively simulate glutamine and lysine amino acid residues within strands of fibrin monomer substrate involved in phase I (carbonylamide) and phase II (terminal amine) of the transglutamination reaction (covalent fibrin monomer cross-linking). Halogen-dinitro and ethylene compounds were also evaluated because of their reported ability to inactivate enzyme systems dependent on an intact sulfhydryl group located at their biochemically active site (eg, cystine amino acid residue). This group of pharmaceutical compounds failed to inhibit the biochemical activity mediated by coagulation factor XIIIa* in equine plasma.     

Outbreaks of egg drop syndrome due to EDS-76 virus in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Two outbreaks of the egg drop syndrome were observed in quail flocks maintained on a farm together with chickens. The decrease in egg production ranged from 10.6 per cent to 50.6 per cent, and the number of soft-shelled eggs increased with the decline in egg production. In both the outbreaks haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to EDS-76 virus were detected. Fluorescent viral antigen specific to EDS-76 virus was also detected in the lining epithelial and glandular cells of the uterus.     

The contribution from hyphae, roots and organic carbon constituents to the aggregation of a sandy loam under long-term clover-based and grass pastures

Water-stable macro-aggregate size fractions (>2.0 mm, 1.0–2.0 mm, 0.5–1.0 mm and 0.25–0.5 mm) and non-aggregated soil from a sandy loam under long-term clover-based pasture and from grass pasture were analysed to determine the role of acid- and water-extractable carbohydrate C, total hyphal length, microbial biomass, organic C and total and mycorrhizal root length in stabilization of the aggregates. Aggregates were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the particle-size distribution of the size fractions was also determined. Macro-aggregation increased under grass, relative to clover-based pasture; however, the properties of the aggregate fractions measured did not reflect this difference. Microbial-biomass C, extractable-carbohydrate C, hyphal length, total and mycorrhizal root length and organic C content of the soils were poorly correlated with macro-aggregation. Within the aggregates, the proportion of 250–1000-km sand was smaller and clay, silt and fine sand (20–250 μm) were greater relative to non-aggregated soil, suggesting that the >250-μm sand in the non-aggregated soil limited the stabilization of macro-aggregates. Under SEM, no enmeshment of aggregates by hyphae and roots was apparent. Although 50–160 m hyphae g^?1 soil was found within the aggregates, calculations showed that on average only 5 to 13 lengths of hyphae were associated with each 250-μm cube of soil within the aggregates, and suggested little potential to stabilize the aggregates by enmeshing. On average, all >2.0-mm aggregates contained less than 3.6 mm of roots and less than 50% by weight of <2.0-mm aggregates contained a single length of root. The findings cast doubt about the role of hyphae and fine roots in the stabilization of macro-aggregates through an enmeshing mechanism in sandy soils.     

Anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies detected in sera of dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni.

Due to the potential for anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies as possible enhancers of erythrocyte destruction, the presence of serum anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 31 dogs with Babesia gibsoni infection admitted to a veterinary hospital was investigated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analyses. This infection resulted in an increase of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 84% (IgG) and 74% (IgM) of 31 infected dogs, respectively. This was confirmed by the similarity in the protein profiles of the erythrocyte membrane antigens immunoblotted with rabbit antiserum to dog erythrocyte membrane antigens and infected dog serum. These results suggest the production of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies was induced by B. gibsoni infection.     

Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.     

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin after intravenous and oral administration of enrofloxacin in dogs

Rung, K., Riond, J.-L. & Wanner, M. Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin after intravenous and oral administration of enrofloxacin in dogs. J. vet
Four dogs were given 5 mg/kg body weight enrofloxacin intravenously (i.v.) and orally (p.o.) in a cross-over study. Plasma concentrations of the active ingredient enrofloxacin and its main metabolite ciprofloxacin were determined by a reversed phase liquid chromatographic method. Pharmacokinetic parameters of both substances were calculated by use of statistical moments and were compared to those of enrofloxacin described in the veterinary literature. Mean enrofloxacin t _½λZ was 2.4 h, mean Cl_s was 27.1 ml/min-kg, and mean V_ss was 7.0 1/kg. After i.v. and p.o. administration, concentrations of ciprofloxacin exceeding minimal inhibitory concentrations of several microorganisms were reached (C_max= 0.2 ng/ml, max = 2.2 h after intravenous administration; C_max= 0.2 (ig/ml, t _max= 3.6 h after oral administration). A considerable part of the antimicrobial activity is due to ciprofloxacin, the main metabolite of enrofloxacin.     

Attempts at Preventing Further Spread of Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) Infection in 5 Danish Dairy Herds in which BVDV had been Isolated

In 5 herds in which bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) had been isolated, all animals were bled for virological and serological examination. After the herd blood test, follow up blood tests were made on calves born up to 6 months later in 1 herd, 9 months later in 1 herd and up to 12 months later in 3 herds. Persistently infected animals (PI animals) were removed and after a time period a small herd sample of 10 animals that were born after removal of the PI animals were examined for BVDV antibodies.At the herd blood test a total of 21 PI animals were detected. During the follow up period another 25 PI animals were born.Among animals in the small herd samples collected after removal of the PI animals, antibody positive animals were found in the 2 herds with the shortest follow up period. In the 3 herds with a 1 year follow up period there were no antibody carriers in the herd sample.It seems possible to prevent further spread of infection with BVDV if all animals in the herds as well as animals born during the following year are examined and PI animals removed.