High cardiac troponin I plasma concentration in a calf with myocarditis

A 15-day-old Brown Swiss calf, whose dam had suffered from foot-and-mouth disease, was presented with a history of depression and failure to suckle. The calf had an irregular cardiac rhythm and increased plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) detected with a commercial human immunoassay. The calf died the following day and myocarditis was detected. The cTnI assay may be useful in diagnosis of myocarditis in cattle.     

Induced Resistance as a Mechanism of Biological Control by Lysobacter enzymogenes Strain C3

ABSTRACT Induced resistance was found to be a mechanism for biological control of leaf spot, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) using the bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3. Resistance elicited by C3 suppressed germination of B. sorokiniana conidia on the phylloplane in addition to reducing the severity of leaf spot. The pathogen-inhibitory effect could be separated from antibiosis by using heat-inactivated cells of C3 that retained no antifungal activity. Application of live or heat-killed cells to tall fescue leaves resulted only in localized resistance confined to the treated leaf, whereas treatment of roots resulted in systemic resistance expressed in the foliage. The effects of foliar and root applications of C3 were long lasting, as evidenced by suppression of conidial germination and leaf spot development even when pathogen inoculation was delayed 15 days after bacterial treatment. When C3 population levels and germination of pathogen conidia was examined on leaf segments, germination percentage was reduced on all segments from C3-treated leaves compared with segments from non-treated leaves, but no dose-response relationship typical of antagonism was found. Induced resistance by C3 was not host or pathogen specific; foliar application of heat-killed C3 cells controlled B. sorokiniana on wheat and also was effective in reducing the severity of brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, on tall fescue. Treatments of tall fescue foliage or roots with C3 resulted in significantly elevated peroxidase activity compared with the control.     

Preliminary Investigations of Pain and Analgesia Assessment in Horses Administered Phenylbutazone or Placebo After Arthroscopic Surgery

Twenty-five horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery were studied to develop a schemeor assessing pain in horses while investigating the effects of phenylbutazone (PBZ) analgesia. Fifteen of the 25 horses received PBZ 4 mg/kg intravenously (IV) before surgery and 2 mg/kg (IV) every 12 hours thereafter until 60 hours; the remaining 10 (placebo group) were given a corresponding volume of saline. In both groups, venous blood samples were collected for catecholamine, β-endorphin, and Cortisol assays before premedication and up to 72 hours after surgery. Postoperative pain was evaluated by measuring predefined behavioral and physiological variables. A total postoperative pain severity index (TPPSI) was calculated using all variables. There were no differences between PBZ and placebo groups in plasma β-endorphin or catecholamine concentrations, but the TPPSI was higher in the placebo group than in the PBZ group, suggesting that perioperative treatment with PBZ has some analgesic benefit. This study shows the difficulties associated with pain assessment in horses.     

Fractional excretion of electrolytes during pre- and postpartum periods in cows

In this study, fractional excretions (Fe) of sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (PO4) were examined with the aim to demonstrate interactions between fractional excretions of these electrolytes within each period and relate them to electrolyte metabolism in clinically normal cows at different stages of lactation and dry period. The material of this study consisted of 20 clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian cows of the same age and milk yield. Blood and urine samples were collected on 190-200th, 240-250th and 270-280th days of pregnancy and on days 1-7th, 35-45th and 75-85th after calving, altogether 6 times. An increase was observed in FeCa and FeMg during the transition from the lactation to the dry period (p < 0.05), and a decrease in FeCa (p < 0.05), FeMg (p < 0.01) in the 2nd month of the dry period. FePO4 and FeMg, respectively, increased on levels of p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, while FeCa decreased on a level of p < 0.05 after gestation compared to the level before gestation. FeNa and FeK showed a decrease of p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively, between the 1st and 2nd months of the dry period, while after gestation this value showed an increase in FeNa (p < 0.05) and FeK (p < 0.01). FeCl increased significantly (p < 0.05) only from postpartum to the 1st month of lactation. There was a strong positive correlation between FeNa and FeCl in all of the periods. It was concluded that there were significant changes in the Fe of Na, K, Cl, Ca, PO4 and Mg before parturition and during lactation; these changes could have an important role in assessing renal function and electrolyte balance.     

Transplantation of the Canine Distal Ulna as a Free Vascularized Bone Graft

An autogenous free vascular bone graft of the canine distal ulna was evaluated. The vascularity of the graft was based on a musculoperiosteal sheath supplied solely by the caudal interosseous artery and vein. Four autogenous heterotopic (ulna to tibia) vascular transfers were performed. Two avascular transfers were performed to provide baseline criteria from which the success of vascularized transfers could be assessed. Clinical lameness evaluation, serial radiographs, bone scintigraphy, and sequential fluorochrome bone labeling were performed after surgery in both vascular and avascular transfers. All dogs were free of lameness in the donor limb by the 26th postoperative day. Serial radiographs revealed rapid graft incorporation and hypertrophy in all vascularized grafts and severe bone resorption in nonvascularized grafts. Histology, microangiography, and evaluation of fluorochrome bone labels were performed 90 days after surgery to determine graft viability, incorporation and temporal remodeling patterns. Microangiography and fluorochrome assessment complemented the histological findings. Based on these findings the distal ulnar bone graft was determined to be both viable and structurally adequate for selected cases of long bone reconstruction.     

Retropharyngeal lymph node infection in horses: 46 cases (1977–1992)

SUMMARY A retrospective study of 46 horses with retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) infection presented to the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1977 and 1992 was undertaken. Horses aged less than one year were most commonly represented (46%). Thirty-nine percent of cases had been exposed to horses with confirmed or suspected strangles (Streptococcus equi subsp equi infection) within the previous 8 weeks. Most frequent signs were unilateral or bilateral swelling of the throat region (65%), respiratory stertor/dyspnoea (35%), purulent nasal discharge (20%), inappetence and signs of depression (15%), and dysphagia (9%). All horses had a soft tissue density in the retropharyngeal region on radiographs. Rhinopharyngoscopy, ultrasonography, haematology as well as cytological and microbial analysis of material aspirated from the soft tissue swelling facilitated diagnosis in some horses. Fifteen horses (33%) were treated with procaine penicillin intramuscularly for 4 to 7 days followed by oral trimethoprim-sulphadimidine for 7 to 14 days. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered to 6 horses. Four required tracheostomy for severe respiratory distress. The 15 horses treated medically responded to treatment and were discharged from hospital. Three horses (6%) with mild signs received no treatment and recovered uneventfully. Twenty-eight horses (61%) underwent general anaesthesia and surgical drainage of a RPLN abscess. Nineteen received procaine penicillin G for 4 to 7 days. Four of the nine horses that did not receive antibiotic treatment after surgery required further surgical drainage 10 days to 7 weeks after the initial surgery . Limited follow-up information was available for 37 horses. Thirty-two horses were considered to have made complete recovery, 3 horses had died through misadventure and 2 had been euthanased because of chronic ill-thrift .     

Half-Body Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Canine Lymphoma

In a Phase I-II study, half-body radiotherapy was used to treat 14 dogs with multicentric lymphoma. Using this technique, a radiation dose of 7 Gray (Gy) was delivered to one half of the body in a single exposure. The other half of the body was treated approximately 28 days later. Of 14 treated dogs, 11 (79%) had a measurable decrease in tumor size. Five dogs achieved a complete or partial remission with a mean duration of 102 and 54 days, respectively. In predicting response to therapy, poor prognostic factors included large tumor burdens, advanced disease stage, and chemotherapy-resistant tumors. Side effects of treatment were divided chronologically into acute (radiation sickness, tumor lysis), subacute (bone marrow suppression), and chronic (radiation pneumonitis, lymphoma-cell leukemia) syndromes. Complications were more severe in tumor-bearing dogs when compared with healthy control animals. Dogs with small tumor burdens and minimal internal disease had fewer complications compared with those with more advanced disease.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in an adult horse with enteric Salmonellosis

Objective: To report a case of enteric Salmonellosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in an adult horse. Case summary: A 7‐year‐old mare presented for signs of acute abdominal pain. Exploratory laparotomy allowed surgical correction of right dorsal displacement of the large colon with a 180° volvulus at the cecocolic ligament. Postoperatively, the mare developed fevers, leukopenia, and diarrhea. Salmonella newport was cultured from the feces and P. aeruginosa from 2 consecutive blood cultures. The mare responded well to intensive medical therapy. New or unique information provided: Bacteremia associated with colitis is unusual in an adult horse, although the percentage of animals that may be bacteremic is unknown. The bacteria isolated, P. aeruginosa, a common pathogen of other sites in the horse, has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported as a cause of bacteremia and septicemia in an adult horse.     

Intravenous anaesthesia using detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin for laparotomy in pregnant pony mares

Objective To characterize intravenous anaesthesia with detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin in pregnant ponies. Animals Twelve pony mares, at 260–320 days gestation undergoing abdominal surgery to implant fetal and maternal vascular catheters. Materials and methods Pre‐anaesthetic medication with intravenous (IV) acepromazine (30 µg kg^?1), butorphanol (20 µg kg^?1) and detomidine (10 µg kg^?1) preceded induction of anaesthesia with detomidine (10 µg kg^?1) and ketamine (2 mg kg^?1) IV Maternal arterial blood pressure was measured directly throughout anaesthesia and arterial blood samples were taken at 20‐minute intervals for measurement of blood gases and plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and lactate. Anaesthesia was maintained with an IV infusion of detomidine (0.04 mg mL^?1), ketamine (4 mg mL^?1) and guaiphenesin (100 mg mL^?1) (DKG) for 140 minutes. Oxygen was supplied by intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) adjusted to maintain PaCO₂ between 5.0 and 6.0 kPa (38 and 45 mm Hg), while PaO₂ was kept close to 20.0 kPa (150 mm Hg) by adding nitrous oxide. Simultaneous fetal and maternal blood samples were withdrawn at 90 minutes. Recovery quality was assessed. Results DKG was infused at 0.67 ± 0.17 mL kg^?1 hour^?1 for 1 hour then reduced, reaching 0.28 ± 0.14 mL kg^?1 hour^?1 at 140 minutes. Arterial blood gas values and pH remained within intended limits. During anaesthesia there was no change in heart rate, but arterial blood pressure decreased by 10%. Plasma glucose and lactate increased (10‐fold and 2‐fold, respectively) and cortisol decreased by 50% during anaesthesia. Fetal umbilical venous pH, PO₂ and PCO₂ were 7.34 ± 0.06, 5.8 ± 0.9 kPa (44 ± 7 mm Hg) and 6.7 ± 0.8 kPa (50 ± 6 mm Hg); and fetal arterial pH, PO₂ and PCO₂ were 7.29 ± 0.06, 4.0 ± 0.7 kPa (30 ± 5 mm Hg) and 7.8 ± 1.7 kPa (59 ± 13 mm Hg), respectively. Surgical conditions were good but four ponies required a single additional dose of ketamine. Ponies took 60 ± 28 minutes to stand and recovery was good. Conclusions and clinical relevance Anaesthesia produced with DKG was smooth while cardiovascular function in mare and fetus was well preserved. This indicates that DKG infusion is suitable for maintenance of anaesthesia in pregnant equidae.     

Pathological,serological, and virological findings in sheep infected simultaneously with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bluetongue</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peste-des-petits-ruminants</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sheeppox viruses</Emphasis>

In this study, pathological, serological and virological examinations were performed on 15 sheep from a flock of 250 sheep and lambs that suffer from simultaneous naturally occurring BTV, PPRV and SPV outbreaks. SPV was diagnosed macroscopically and histopathologically, BTV was diagnosed by ELISA, and PPRV was diagnosed pathologically and by ELISA. Clinically fever, diarrhea, depression, polypnea, conjunctivitis, lacrimation, rhinitis, erosive stomatitis, edema of eyelids, photophobia, cutaneous eruption with erythematous areas especially noticeable in wool-free parts of the body and axilla lesions evolving into papules were observed. At necropsy, the most effected organs were lungs and gut. Subepicardial hemorrhages were also commonly seen. While typical pox lesions were observed in some lambs, usually fibrinous pleuropneumonia was more prominent lung lesion. SPV and PPRV lesions were seen at the histopathological examination of the lesioned tissues, BT lesions were mild than SPV and PPRV microscopically. Serum and leukocyte samples of 15 animals were examined for PPRV and BTV by ELISA; 5 samples were positive for PPRV and 6 BTV, 4 were positive for both PPRV and BTV simultaneously. One hundred animals died, most were lambs. Mortality rates were 100% in lambs and 80% in the herd.