Risk factors influencing death prior to discharge in 302 dogs undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy for treatment of primary adrenal gland tumours

Adrenalectomies for canine adrenal tumours are associated with peri-operative morbidity and mortality. Objectives of this study included assessing the prognostic value of tumour- or surgery-related variables in predicting peri-operative mortality and overall survival in dogs undergoing adrenalectomies for primary adrenal tumours as well as pre-treatment with phenoxybenzamine on survival to discharge with pheochromocytomas specifically. A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was performed across nine institutions. Electronic medical record searches identified 302 dogs which met the inclusion criteria. Data collected included dog-related, tumour-related, treatment-related, surgery-related, and outcome variables. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression and cox proportional hazards models were used to identify variables associated with death prior to discharge and tumour-related survival. Overall, 87% of dogs survived to discharge with a tumour-related survival time of 3.96 years. Post-operative complications were reported in 25%. Increased surgical time (p = 0.002) and pre-surgical medical treatment other than phenoxybenzamine (p = 0.024) were significantly associated with increased peri-operative mortality while ureteronephrectomy (p = 0.021), post-operative pancreatitis (p = 0.025), and post-operative aspiration pneumonia (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with decreased overall survival. Phenoxybenzamine pretreatment had no effect on peri-operative mortality. Thirty-seven of 45 (82%) dogs with pheochromocytomas not pretreated survived to discharge, and 50 of 59 (85%) dogs with pheochromocytomas pretreated with phenoxybenzamine survived to discharge (p = 0.730). This study provides information on risk factors for death prior to discharge and tumour-related survival that may help guide clinical management and owner expectations. In addition, the study findings challenge the previously reported benefit of phenoxybenzamine for pretreatment of dogs undergoing adrenalectomies for pheochromocytomas.     

Effect of dietary components on the gut microbiota of aquatic animals. A never‐ending story?

It is well known that healthy gut microbiota is essential to promote host health and well‐being. The intestinal microbiota of endothermic animals as well as fish are classified as autochthonous or indigenous, when they are able to colonize the host's epithelial surface or are associated with the microvilli, or as allochthonous or transient (associated with digesta or are present in the lumen). Furthermore, the gut microbiota of aquatic animals is more fluidic than that of terrestrial vertebrates and is highly sensitive to dietary changes. In fish, it is demonstrated that [a] dietary form (live feeds or pelleted diets), [b] dietary lipid (lipid levels, lipid sources and polyunsaturated fatty acids), [c] protein sources (soybean meal, krill meal and other meal products), [d] functional glycomic ingredients (chitin and cellulose), [e] nutraceuticals (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and immunostimulants), [f] antibiotics, [g] dietary iron and [h] chromic oxide affect the gut microbiota. Furthermore, some information is available on bacterial colonization of the gut enterocyte surface as a result of dietary manipulation which indicates that changes in indigenous microbial populations may have repercussion on secondary host–microbe interactions. The effect of dietary components on the gut microbiota is important to investigate, as the gastrointestinal tract has been suggested as one of the major routes of infection in fish. Possible interactions between dietary components and the protective microbiota colonizing the digestive tract are discussed.     

Regional differences in aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) seedling response to an established nursery protocol

New Forests - In seedling-based reforestation operations, seed source is known to be an influential variable affecting outplanting success. Adaptive variation among seed sources may also be an...     

Estimating the abundance and diversity of butterflies

Concern about the apparent decline in butterfly populations has led to projects designed to obtain quantitative information on their abundance and diversity. Three methods of sampling communities of butterflies are suggested, and the use of a diversity index, β, is recommended. This index gives an estimate of the probability that an individual sampled at random from a community will be different from the previous individual sampled. Change and stability in diversity can be used as a guide for conservation and management programmes.     

Effects of L-carnitine fed during lactation on sow and litter performance

Sows of differing parities and genetics were used at different locations to determine the effects of feeding added L-carnitine during lactation on sow and litter performance. In Exp. 1, sows (n = 50 PIC C15) were fed a lactation diet (1.0% total lysine, .9% Ca, and .8% P) with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine from d 108 of gestation until weaning (d 21). No differences in litter weaning weight, survivability, sow ADFI, or sow weight and last rib fat depth change were observed. Number of pigs born alive in the subsequent farrowing were not different (P>.10). In Exp. 2, parity-three and -four sows (n = 115 Large White cross) were used to determine the effect of feeding 0, 50, 100, or 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing .9% total lysine, 1.0% Ca, and .8% P) on sow and litter performance. No improvements in the number of pigs or litter weights at weaning were observed (P>.10). Sows fed added L-carnitine had increased weight loss (linear; P<.04), but no differences (P>.10) were observed in last rib fat depth change or subsequent reproductive performance. In Exp. 3, first-parity sows (n = 107 PIC C15) were fed a diet with or without 50 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation (diet containing 1.0% total lysine). Sows fed added L-carnitine tended (P<.10) to have fewer stillborn and mummified pigs than controls (.42 vs .81 pigs). No differences were observed for litter weaning weight, survivability, or subsequent farrowing performance. Feeding 50 to 200 ppm of added L-carnitine during lactation had little effect on sow and litter performance.     

Enigmatic resistance of sheep (Ovis aries) to infection by virulent Francisella tularensis.

Tularemia in range sheep is an occasional cause of severe economic loss from mortality and unthriftiness as well as a hazard to persons in contact with the animals. Epizootics are unpredictable and explosive, therefore, prophylaxis is more practical than therapy. Live vaccine of proven value in man and in beavers was inoculated into mature ewes and elicited antibodies without harm to the sheep. However, challenge of immunity was not possible because virulent Francisella tularensis in large doses did not cause significant mortality in healthy, well managed, unimmunized sheep. Evidence suggests that a complex of stresses such as inclement weather, lambing and concomitant ectoparasitism render sheep more susceptible to tularemia.