Clinical natural history of the postsurgical cruciate deficient canine stifle joint: year 1

The aims of this prospective study were to investigate the associations and correlations between individual clinical features of osteoarthritis of the cruciate deficient stifle joint and to document the temporal changes in these features over a 13-month period following surgical treatment. Fifty-eight dogs with osteoarthritis of the stifle joint, secondary to cranial cruciate ligament deficiency, were examined before surgical treatment for cruciate deficiency and at one and a half, seven and 13 months after surgery. At each visit, clinical features were graded using four-point, discontinuous, ordinal grading (Likert) scales and intra-articular pathology was also scored in a similar fashion at arthrotomy. No attempt was made to construct an aggregate score because the relative importance of different disease features and the relationships between them were not understood at the time of writing. At entry, the relationships between background and disease variables and clinical parameters were investigated as well as the relationships between clinical parameters and intra-articular pathology scores. Longitudinal analysis was performed to test for those features which showed significant change over the 13-month follow-up period. At entry, periarticular thickening and degree of crepitus were significantly correlated with disease duration. Several features showed significant change over the study period. Notably, the degree of quadriceps atrophy showed significant decrease from baseline scores at seven and 13 months while remaining different from normal, suggesting that a measure of quadriceps atrophy may be a useful measure of long-term outcome in this disease.     

A Comparison of Indirect Blood Pressure Monitoring Techniques in the Anesthetized Cat

Objective —To determine the accuracy of three indirect blood pressure monitoring techniques (oscillometric technique [OS], Doppler [DOP], and optical plethysmography [OP] [blood pressure determined with a pulse oximeter waveform]) when compared with direct arterial pressure measurement in cats. Study Design —Prospective study. Animal Population —Eight healthy (five female, three male), domestic short-hair cats, weighing 3.5 ± 0.8 kg Methods —Cats were anesthetized with isoflurane. The inspired concentration of isoflurane was adjusted to produce mild hypotension (80 to 100 mm Hg direct systolic), moderate hypotension (60 to 80 mm Hg direct systolic), and severe hypotension (<60 mm Hg direct systolic). Indirect pressure measurements were obtained from the thoracic limb and compared with concurrent direct measurement using regression analysis and a modification of Bland and Altman's technique. Results —All three techniques underestimated systolic pressure. OS produced the best prediction of systolic pressure with a bias ± precision of -15.9 ± 8.1 mm Hg. DOP and OP were relatively inaccurate with a bias ± precision of -25 ± 7.4 mm Hg and -25 ± 7.5 mm Hg. All three techniques correlated well with direct pressure with r values of 0.81, 0.88, and 0.88 for OS, DOP, and OP. DOP and OP provided an accurate prediction of direct mean arterial pressure with a bias ± precision of -0.8 ± 6 mm Hg and 0.6 ± 5.5 mm Hg. Correlation was good between DOP and mean arterial pressure with r = 0.89. Correlation was also good between OP and mean arterial pressure with r = 0.90. Conclusions —OS provided the most accurate prediction of direct systolic pressure. DOP and OP provided a good prediction of mean arterial pressure in the cat. Clinical Relevance —All three of these techniques are useful for detecting trends. Direct monitoring of blood pressure should be considered if accurate blood pressure measurement is required.     

Comparing oral and intramuscular administration of medetomidine in cats

Medetomidine (200 μg/kg) was administered orally and, on a seperate occasion, im to 7 cats. Peak serum drug concentrations were reached more slowly after oral (43.6 ± 14.3 min) than after im administration (21.6 ± 10.0 min). The onset of sedation and recumbency lagged after oral administration. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 routes of administration in peak serum concentrations, systemic drug availability or extent of sedation. However, there was considerable variation in these parameters between individuals after oral administration. The extent of salivation correlated negatively with systemic drug availability after oral administration. Where excessive salivation did not occur, systemic drug availability and the depth of sedation were comparable to, or even higher than, were obtained after the corresponding im administrations. In conclusion, oral administration of medetomidine induced a clinical sedation but, when accurate dosing is a necessity, the oral route may not be very reliable due to possible drug losses through salivation.     

Isolation of Mycobacterium species from raw milk of pastoral cattle of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

A study to determine the secretion of Mycobacterium spp. in milk from indigenous cattle was carried out in pastoral cattle reared in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The study was aimed at elucidating the dangers associated with milk-borne zoonoses in a society where milk is normally consumed raw. Out of 805 milk samples, 31 (3.9%) were positive for mycobacteria. There was a preponderance of atypical mycobacteria (87%) whereas only two isolates (6.5%) were confirmed as M. bovis. Atypical mycobacteria included: M. terrae (n=7), M. fortuitum (n=2), M. flavescens (n=13), M. gordonae (n=1) and M. smegmatis (n=4). Although the number of M. bovis positive samples was low, the habit of pooling milk may still pose great public health dangers to milk consumers in this part of the world. Moreover, isolation of atypical mycobacteria should also be considered to be a danger to human health in countries such as Tanzania, where the number of people with lowered immunity due to HIV infection is on the increase.     

Experimental model of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis using crude Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin and Pasteurella multocida given endobronchially.

This study was designed to develop and characterize a swine pneumonic pasteurellosis model by concurrent introduction of Pasteurella multocida type A and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin. After a series of preliminary experiments, a combination of 4 x 10(9) P. multocida and 4,000 toxic units of A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin was determined to produce optimal results. A total of 48 pigs were divided into four groups of 12 pigs each. The control group received buffered saline only. Four pigs from each group were randomly selected for necropsy 3, 7 and 14 days postinoculation (PI). Inoculation of pigs with P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin (group 1) resulted in moderate to severe pneumonia. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from pneumonic lesions, grossly normal lung, and bronchial lymph nodes of all group 1 pigs throughout the 14 day experimental period. Pathological changes typical of field cases of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis were produced. Pigs inoculated with P. multocida alone (group 2) had pneumonic lesions and P. multocida was reisolated from lungs at three days PI. Pasteurella multocida was not isolated from these pigs at 7 and 14 days PI, except for one pig in which an abscess developed in the thorax. Pulmonary lesions induced by A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin alone (group 3) were transient and resolved by seven days PI. Group 1 pigs had significantly greater lung lesion volumes than group 2 and 3 pigs at 3, 7 and 14 days PI. Statistical analysis indicated a significant interactive effect of P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin on the development of lung lesion volumes at 7 and 14 days PI (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)