Anesthesia of Tibetan yak (Bos grunniens) using thiafentanil - xylazine and carfentanil - xylazine

The use of 0.025 +/- 0.012 mg/kg (median +/- interquartile range) thiafentanil with 0.15 +/- 0.03 mg/kg xylazine (TX) and 0.011 +/- 0.0015 mg/kg carfentanil with 0.25 +/- 0.093 mg/kg xylazine (CX), with dosages based on estimated bodyweight, was used in the anesthesia of 37 Tibetan yak (Bos grunniens) housed within a drive-through animal park setting. The median time to lateral recumbency was 5 and 7 min for each group, respectively. With the addition of propofol in 8 CX animals and 17 TX animals, the anesthetic plane was suitable for a wide range of procedures. The median time to standing recovery following administration of naltrexone was 4 +/- 3.5 min with TX and 7 +/- 1.5 min with CX. There was one fatality and one case of renarcotization in the TX group. Overall, the dosages used in the study provided a reliable and useful anesthetic induction protocol, with TX animals demonstrating a more rapid induction and recovery with less cardiac depression than CX animals.     

Synergistic effects of Miconazole and Polymyxin B on microbial pathogens

The therapeutic value of antibiotics depends on the susceptibility of the infecting microorganism and the pharmacological profile of the drugs. To assess the value of an antibiotic combination of polymyxin B and miconazole this study examined the in vitro synergistic potential of the two drugs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Antifungal and antibacterial activity was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of broth macrodilution and urea broth microdilution, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Synergism was calculated using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). With Staphylococcus intermedius as target we found up to an eightfold reduction of the individual MICs when both drugs were combined. However, the FICi was 0.63 suggesting no real interaction between the two drugs. With Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia pachydermatis as targets the antimicrobial drug combination reduced the MICs of polymyxin B and miconazole from fourfold to hundredfold resulting in FICi between 0.06 and 0.5 which defines a synergistic action. Thus, if polymyxin B and miconazole are combined their effect is greater than the sum of the effects observed with polymyxin B and miconazole independently, revealing bactericidal and fungicidal synergism. Our results indicate a strong therapeutic value for the combination of these antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast and a weaker value against Gram positive bacteria for clinical situations where these pathogens are involved.     

Hemolytic activity of Trichomonas gallinae isolates does not correspond with clinical virulence

The hemolytic activity of 22 Trichomonas gallinae isolates was investigated using an 18 h erythrocyte hemolysis assay which has been shown to correlate with the clinical virulence of T. vaginalis. Absorbance of the assay supernatants was measured at 540 nm and expressed as percentage of complete hemolysis. Mean hemolytic activity of the T. gallinae isolates ranged from 3.5% to 53.4% and did not correspond with clinical virulence. The results of this investigation suggest hemolytic activity is not a useful in vitro virulence assay for T. gallinae.     

The 2006 American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel report

Vaccination is a medical procedure, and the decision to vaccinate should be based on a risk-based assessment for each cat and each vaccine.     

Comparison of various doses of carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine for a carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine an optimal dose of carbon 13 ((13)C)-labeled aminopyrine for use in a (13)C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 9 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Food was withheld from each dog for 12 hours. A 2-mL baseline blood sample was obtained from each dog and placed into an evacuated tube containing sodium heparin. Carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine was administered IV at doses of 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg. Additional blood samples (2 mL) were obtained and placed into evacuated tubes containing sodium heparin 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after (13)C-aminopyrine administration. Hydrochloric acid was used to extract CO(2) from blood samples. The extracted gas was analyzed by fractional mass spectrometry to determine the percentage dose of (13)C administered as (13)C-aminopyrine and recovered in extracted gas (PCD). RESULTS: Gross evidence of clinical adverse effects was not detected in any dog after administration of (13)C-aminopyrine. The mean coefficient of variation (CV) for PCD was significantly lower than the mean CV for the summation of PCD values up to a given sampling time (CUMPCD). Mean PCD values among the 4 doses for each sample time were not significantly different. Administration of (13)C-aminopyrine at a dose of 2 mg/kg resulted in the lowest interindividual variability. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The PCD is superior to CUMPCD for the quantification of aminopyrine demethylation. Administration of (13)C-(13)C-aminopyrine at a dose of 2 mg/kg is appropriate for use in the (13)C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs.     

Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy for urolith removal in geldings

OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique for laparoscopic-assisted removal of cystic calculi in geldings and report outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report. ANIMALS: Four geldings with cystic calculi. METHODS: Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy and urolith retrieval was performed in 4 anesthetized geldings positioned in dorsal recumbency. With a laparoscope portal located at the umbilicus, the abdomen was insufflated and then the surgical table was tilted (30 degrees head-down position) before an instrumental portal was created parallel and 2-3 cm medial to the left external inguinal ring. Laparoscopic grasping forceps were inserted to grasp the cranial aspect of the bladder and elevate it to the ventral abdominal wall. With the instrumental portal as mid-point, the parainguinal skin incision was longitudinally extended cranial and caudal (approximately 8-10 cm) to accommodate the size of the urolith. The apex of the bladder was exteriorized and sharply incised, the urolith extracted, and after cystotomy closure, the bladder was repositioned. The mini-laparotomy and trocar incisions were closed in layers. RESULTS: There were no intra- or post-operative complications. All horses had minor incisional swelling for 3-4 days. No signs of abdominal or incisional pain were observed. Hematuria and slight stranguria occurred until the 3rd or 4th day. Surgical time (skin incision to skin closure) was 35-40 minutes. On long-term follow-up (up to 12 months) no recurrence of clinical signs associated with cystic calculi occurred. CONCLUSION: Uroliths (6-8 cm diameter) can be removed by laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy in geldings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy combines the advantages of the parainguinal laparocystotomy with laparoscopic technique for removal of cystic calculi while avoiding their disadvantages.     

Veterinary aspects of ecological monitoring: the natural history of emerging infectious diseases of humans,domestic animals and wildlife

Proliferation of disease pathogens capable of affecting humans, domestic livestock and wildlife increasingly threatens environmental security and biodiversity. Livestock and wild animals in proximity to human beings are often in the chain of transmission and infection. Globalization of industrial livestock production (especially poultry upon which so much of the burgeoning human population depends) often permits transcontinental disease spread. Rapidly expanding (and often illegal) international trade in wild and domestic animals and their products are increasingly involved in the emergence of new diseases that may have the ability to transmit among humans, livestock and wildlife. Rapidly increasing urbanization has led in many places to overcrowded townships that rely on “bushmeat” for sustenance and has contributed to the emergence of virulent zoonotic pathogens. The emergence and proliferation of pathogens are exacerbated by anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes in order to increase agricultural and livestock production. This paper posits that data gathered by veterinary ecologists should be interpreted and used by other disciplines. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the “natural history” (ecology) of the disease agent and its human, domestic and wild hosts is stressed.     

The Effects of Feed Form on Consumption Time and Glucose and Insulin Response to a Concentrate Meal in Equine

This study tested the hypothesis that feeding an identically formulated, low sugar and starch concentrate in three forms (5-mm extruded [E], 4-mm pellet [P], and 19-mm oval [O]) would affect consumption rate and glucose or insulin responses, or both. Horses received 1.8 kg treatment feed in a randomized, crossover design, with samples taken every 30 minutes for 6 hours for blood glucose and insulin response. Pearson's correlation compared consumption time, insulin and glucose peak, and time to peak insulin and glucose. The pellet (P) elicited a lower (P = .01) glucose concentration at 2.5 hours than O. The pellet also elicited a lower (P = .03) insulin concentration at 5.5 hours than E and O. There were no differences (P > .05) in area under the curve (AUC) insulin, peak insulin, and time to peak insulin for the three treatments. Average insulin concentration was lower (P = .01) for P versus O. There were no differences (P > .05) in average insulin between P and E, nor between O and E. There were no differences (P > .05) in AUC and peak glucose concentration. Time to peak glucose was longer (P = .04) for P versus E. Average glucose concentration was lower (P = .02) for P versus O. Consumption time was longer (P = .03) for O versus P. There was a positive correlation between consumption time and time to peak insulin (r = 0.46, P = .029). Further research on feeding practices, feed forms, and consumption times that affect glycemic response is necessary.