Candida spp. urinary tract infections in 13 dogs and seven cats: predisposing factors,treatment, and outcome

Records from 20 animals (13 dogs, seven cats) with Candida spp. urinary tract infections were reviewed. Six Candida spp. were isolated; Candida albicans was the most common isolate. Concurrent diseases or nonantifungal drugs administered within 1 month of isolation included antibiotics (n=16), corticosteroids (n=6), diabetes mellitus (n=4), nonurogenital neoplasia (n=3), and noncandidal urogenital disease (n=14). All animals had sources of local or systemic immune compromise that likely predisposed to infection. Of five animals with resolution of infection, three did not receive specific antifungal treatment. The authors conclude that correction of predisposing conditions is likely critical for management of Candida spp. urinary tract infection.     

Studies on the Putative Interactions between the Organophosphorus Insecticide Phosmet and Recombinant Mouse PrP and its Implication in the BSE Epidemic

It has been suggested that exposure of cattle to the ectoparasiticide Phosmet in the 1980s caused a conformational change in the cellular prion protein (PrP^C) to form the BSE prion (PrP^SC), which initiated the epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).Recombinant mouse cellular prion (r[mouse]PrP^C) was exposed to the organophosphorus pesticide Phosmet in vitro and the conformation of the prion before and after exposure was monitored using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, utilizing synchrotron radiation at the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CLRC) facilities at Daresbury, UK. Metabolites of Phosmet, generated in situ by rat microsomes, were investigated in the same way, to determine whether they might initiate the conformational change due to their high chemical reactivity.Our studies showed that exposure of r[mouse]PrP^C to Phosmet or microsomes-generated metabolites of Phosmet did not result in the conformational change in the protein from -helix to -pleated sheet that is characteristic of the PrP^C to PrP^SC conversion and, therefore, Phosmet is very unlikely to have initiated the BSE epidemic by a simple direct mechanism of conformational change in the prion protein.     

Efficacy of buparvaquone as a therapeutic and clearing agent of Babesia equi of European origin in horses.

We evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in eliminating infection with Babesia equi of European origin in carrier horses and in splenectomized horses with experimentally induced acute infection. When administered at the rate of 5 mg/kg of body weight, IV, 4 times at 48-hour intervals, buparvaquone prompted rapid abatement of parasitemia. However, secondary and tertiary recrudescent parasitemias invariably returned with establishment of the carrier state. Buparvaquone, at the dosage evaluated, had transitory therapeutic efficacy against acute B equi infection in splenectomized horses, but was unable alone to clear carrier infection.     

Practical cryosurgery—an introduction for small-animal Clinicians*

Cryosurgical equipment has been produced which is suitable for use in general veterinary practice and which need not be excessively expensive. A knowledge of the underlying principles of cryosurgery is essential if the advantages of this technique are to be gained in full. There is reason to expect an expansion in the list of conditions for which cryosurgical treatment will be preferred to conventional methods.     

Radiographic examination of the facial, nasal and paranasal sinus regions of the horse. II. Radiological findings

The radiographic findings in 167 horses subjected to radiography of the facial area, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are recorded. Cases were grouped according to clinical diagnosis and the common and disparate radiographic features between and within groups are discussed. Dental disease occurred most frequently and accounted for about 30 per cent of cases, most of which had periapical infection. This disorder presented as two distinct clinical entities in almost equal numbers affected teeth with roots rostral to the maxillary sinus usually produced facial swelling, whereas those with roots within the sinus were generally associated with nasal discharge as a result of secondary sinusitis. In the former group periapical changes could readily be identified on radiographs, but in the latter group affected teeth could be recognised with confidence in only about half the cases. Primary sinusitis was the commonest specific condition recorded and accounted for 32 cases, three of which were mycotic. Using lateral erect projections, comparison of the radiographic features of primary sinusitis and sinusitis secondary to dental disease showed some useful differentiating signs. In four ponies, rhinitis associated with sinusitis led to disruption of the intra-nasal structures but mycotic rhinitis, nasal ulceration and an intra-nasal foreign body produced no radiographic abnormalities. Sixteen cases of suture periostitis were recorded, with varying degrees of new bone formation, and of 13 animals presented for evaluation of trauma, pre-diagnosed fractures were demonstrated in 10 and complications due to sinusitis in three.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Postmortem magnesium concentration in bovine vitreous humor: comparison with antemortem serum magnesium concentration

The range for postmortem vitreous humor Mg2+ concentration in 97 healthy cattle was 1.8 mg/dl to 2.72 mg/dl at 23 C for a 48-hour postmortem interval. The postmortem vitreous Mg2+ concentration closely paralleled the antemortem serum Mg2+ concentration at 23 C. Low environmental temperature (4 C) had no effect on postmortem vitreous concentration. However, high environmental temperatures (30 C) significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced postmortem vitreous Mg2+ concentration at the 36-hour postmortem interval. It was concluded that postmortem vitreous humor Mg2+ determination could be a useful diagnostic aid in cattle for detecting Mg2+ imbalances for at least 48 hours after death, provided the postmortem environmental temperature did not exceed 23 C after 24 hours.