Retrospective analysis of selected predictors of mortality within a veterinary intensive care unit

The records of 204 cats entering the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University of Edinburgh Small Animal Hospital between December 2002 and October 2006 were retrospectively analysed. Of these, 37 cats over 12 months of age had a systolic blood pressure recorded on entry into the ICU, and this group comprised our study population. Of these 37 cats, 36 had both heart rate and respiratory rate recorded on entry into the ICU, whilst 24 of these cats also had body temperature recorded. The relationship between (i) survival to discharge and (ii) survival until 21 days after admission to the ICU was analysed using univariate generalised linear models with binomial errors. The robustness of any significant relationship was assessed using multivariate analysis methods. In addition, receiver operator curves (ROC) were generated for any of the significant predictors of mortality and from these curves the threshold values, optimal sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Using these values survival curves were generated for any significant prognostic indexes. A decreased blood pressure at the time of admission to the ICU was found to be a significant negative predictor of survival until discharge from the hospital. Overall, a systolic blood pressure of 124 mmHg or higher at the time of admission to the ICU has a sensitivity of 47.8% and a specificity of 85.7% for predicting that a cat will survive until discharge from the hospital.     

Peri-operative body temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in peri-operative body temperatures and oesophageal-skin temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following either ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine induction of anaesthesia. ANIMAL POPULATION: Fifty client-owned rabbits, (25 male, 25 female) of different breeds anaesthetized for elective neutering (age range: 3-42 months; mass range: 1.15-4.3 kg). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, blinded clinical study. METHODS: Pre-anaesthetic rectal temperature was measured. A 24 SWG catheter was placed in a marginal ear vein after local anaesthesia. Ketamine (15 mg kg(-1)) with medetomidine (0.25 mg kg(-1)) (group KMT) or with midazolam (3 mg kg(-1)) (group KMZ) was injected intramuscularly (IM). Following endotracheal intubation anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Carprofen (3 mg kg(-1)) and glucose saline (5 mL kg(-1) hour(-1)) were administered through the intravenous catheter. Room temperature and humidity, skin temperature (from tip of pinna) and oesophageal temperature were measured during anaesthesia. Ovariohysterectomy or castration was performed. Rectal temperature was taken when isoflurane was discontinued (time zero) and 30, 60 and 120 minutes thereafter. Atipamezole (0.5 mg kg(-1)) was administered IM to rabbits in group KMT at zero plus 30 minutes. Mass, averaged room temperature and duration of anaesthesia data were compared using a two-tailed t-test. Age, averaged room humidity, rectal temperature decrease, oesophageal temperature decrease and oesophageal-skin difference data were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The averaged oesophageal-skin temperature difference was significantly greater in group KMT [median 9.85 degrees C (range 6.42-13.85 degrees C)] than in group KMZ [4.38 degrees C (2.83-10.43 degrees C)]. Rectal temperature decreased over the anaesthetic period was not significantly different between the two groups; however, oesophageal temperature decrease was significantly less in group KMT [1.1 degrees C (-0.1-+2.7 degrees C)] than in group KMZ [1.4 degrees C (0.6-3.1 degrees C)]. CONCLUSIONS: Oesophageal-skin temperature difference is larger in rabbits anaesthetized with ketamine-medetomidine combination than ketamine-midazolam. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The oesophageal temperature in rabbits anaesthetized with ketamine-medetomidine and isoflurane decreases significantly less than in animals anaesthetized with ketamine-midazolam and isoflurane, during anaesthesia.     

Maltoporin (LamB protein) contributes to the virulence and adhesion of Aeromonas veronii TH0426

Aeromonas veronii is one of the main pathogens causing freshwater fish sepsis and ulcer syndrome. More and more cases have shown that it has become an important zoonotic and aquatic agent. In this study, a A. veronii TH0426 mutant strain (ΔlamB) with an in‐frame deletion removed nucleotides 10–1,296 of the lamB gene was firstly constructed to investigate its functions. The results showed that the LD₅₀ value of the mutant ΔlamB to zebrafish and mice was 13.7‐fold and 5.6‐fold higher than those of the wild‐type strain, respectively. The toxicity of wild‐type strain to EPC cells was 2.1‐fold and threefold higher than those of ?lamB when infected for 1 and 2 hr. Furthermore, the ability of biofilm formation and the adhesion and invasion to EPC cells of ?lamB significantly decreased for 5.6‐fold and 1.8‐fold separately. In addition, motility detection result indicated that ?lamB lost the swimming ability. The results of flagellar staining and TEM demonstrated that the flagella of ?lamB were shed. In general, the deletion of lamB gene caused a significant decrease in the virulence and adhesion of A. veronii TH0426, and it can be known that the lamB gene of A. veronii plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis.     

Length‐based assessment of larval lamprey population structure at differing spatial scales

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Bridging the divide: Social–ecological coherence in Marine Protected Area network design

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Weak effects of habitat type on susceptibility to invasive freshwater species: an Italian case study

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