Femoral Capital Physeal Fractures in 25 Foals

The medical records of 25 horses 1 year of age or younger affected with femoral head and neck fractures during an 18 year period were reviewed. Each fracture involved the capital physis. The foals were 11 days to 12 months of age (mean, 5 months). No femoral capital physeal fractures occurred in horses older than 1 year of age during the same period. The history in each case included acute onset of severe unilateral hindlimb lameness, 3 hours to 2 months (mean, 12 days) before presentation. Injuries observed were violent falls, struggles, and kicks. Crepitation, swelling, pain with manipulation or palpation or both, and apparent fracture fragment displacement were inconsistently noted. Tentative clinical diagnoses were confirmed by radiography in 24 foals and by necropsy alone in one foal. Twenty-one foals were euthanatized due to poor prognosis. One foal sent home for stall rest was lost to follow-up. Surgical repair was attempted in three foals. Two fractures were repaired with multiple intramedullary pins and the foals were euthanatized within 2 weeks due to surgical failure and, in one case, contralateral limb breakdown. The third fracture was repaired with a compressing screw and plate device; the animal was pasture sound at month 20.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF ADRENAL GLAND TUMOR AND URETEROLITHIASIS IN A GUINEA PIG

A 5-year-old guinea pig was presented to the University of Berne Small Animal Radiology Department for an ultrasound examination of the abdomen to confirm a suspected diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. The patient had bilateral alopecia, was apathic and obese. Ultrasonographically, a tumor of the left adrenal gland, obstruction of the left ureter by an ureterolith, as well as hydronephrosis of the left kidney were detected. During surgery to relieve the ureteral obstruction the adrenal gland tumor was removed. The guinea pig died post-operatively due to blood loss. The left adrenal gland tumor was found histopathologically to be an adenoma and the right adrenal gland also had multiple small adenomas, but grossly appeared normal. The ureterolith was analyzed and found by x-ray diffraction to consist of calcium carbonate.     

Microbial protein formation of different carbohydrates in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial protein yield of different pure carbohydrates to contribute to a more precise prediction of the microbial protein formed in the rumen. In a first experiment, sucrose, wheat starch, microcrystalline cellulose and citrus pectin were incubated for 8 and 24 hr in the modified Hohenheim gas test (HGT) system (3 runs × 2 syringes) including gas production, ammonia and short‐chain fatty acid concentration measurements. Ammonia values were used for estimation of the microbial protein formation. In a second experiment, the same substrates were incubated for 96 hr in the HGT system (2 runs × 3 syringes) and gas production was measured after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 96 hr of incubation to obtain the fermentation kinetics and the time of half‐maximal gas production (t_1/2) of the substrates. The substrates differed considerably in their fermentation kinetics, and therefore, comparison on the basis of t_1/2 was chosen as the most meaningful. At t_1/2, microbial protein yield [g/kg dry matter] was higher for cellulose than for sucrose and pectin and higher for starch than for sucrose. The microbial protein expressed in g/L gas production was higher for starch and cellulose than for sucrose and pectin at t_1/2. Effects of carbohydrates related to ruminal pH may remain undetected in in vitro trials.     

The extradural pressure profile in goats following extradural injection

ObjectiveTo measure the extradural pressures in goats before and after extradural injection, and to investigate the occurrence of extradural pressure waves.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsNine healthy adult goats weighing 59.4 ± 6.4 kg, scheduled for stifle arthroscopy.MethodsThe goats were pre–medicated with midazolam and anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane. The goats were placed in lateral recumbency and extradural puncture was performed via the lumbosacral space. Correct placement of the needle was assessed by lack of resistance to the injection of saline. The needle was connected to an electronic pressure transducer to record extradural pressure. Measurements were taken before and after extradural injection of methadone (0.1 mg kg^?1, diluted to a total volume of 0.2 mL kg^?1) and 10 minutes later. Contrast medium was injected and correct extradural needle placement confirmed by radiography.ResultsLack of resistance to injection of saline occurred in all goats, but there were no pressure waves observed before injection in any animal. Radiography indicated incorrect needle placement in four animals and one had pressure waves synchronous with the arterial pulse after methadone injection. Correct needle placement was confirmed in the remaining five animals which exhibited pressure waves after extradural methadone injection. In the five goats with successful needle placement the baseline extradural pressure ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 kPa (3–19 mmHg), increasing to 4.4–39.9 kPa (33–300 mmHg) after injection. Ten minutes after injection, extradural pressure remained elevated and ranged from 2.5 to 17.3 kPa (19–130 mmHg).Conclusions and clinical relevanceExtradural pressure waves were not useful to confirm correct extradural needle placement in laterally recumbent goats. The presence of such waves after injection of 0.2 mL kg^?1 may be indicative of correct placement but even here we saw one of nine animals with extradural pressure waves where we failed to confirm correct needle placement. Extradural pressure increases after extradural injection.     

养猪生产中的霉菌毒素没有安全限量

1霉菌毒素的危害 霉菌毒素是在田间、加工、饲喂以及储存过程中,在谷物上生长的真菌产生的有毒次级产物,通过污染的饲料、垫料对动物造成危害。报告显示,世界上25％的谷物被霉菌毒素污染。