Resistance to fascioliasis--a review

Attempts to actively stimulate or passively transfer resistance to Fasciola hepatica or F. gigantica in various laboratory and farm animals including mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, goats and cattle have been reviewed. These attempts comprised sensitization by primary homologous or heterologous normal or irradiated infections per os, sensitization by subcutaneous, intramuscular or intraperitoneal implantation with the various fluke stages, sensitization by somatic extracts or metabolic products of mature or immature flukes and passive transfer of resistance by immune serum or sensitized lymphocytes.     

Phylogenetic studies on lymphokines. Fish lymphocytes respond to human IL-1 and epithelial cells produce an IL-1 like factor

The results obtained indicate, that catfish peripheral blood lymphocytes recognize and respond to human IL-1. The second part of this report is dealing with a substance produced by carp epidermal cells with functional similarities to mammalian IL-1.     

Gastric emptying of liquids in the dog: effect of volume

Effect of liquid test meal volume on gastric emptying was investigated in healthy nonoperated dogs fed meal sizes of 6.6 to 110 ml/kg of body weight. For meals less than or equal to 66 ml/kg, the amount of test meal emptied from the stomach in 30 minutes vs meal size could be described as following a linear, exponential, or square root pattern. Deviation from these patterns was seen with test meals of 77, 88, and 110 ml/kg. A mean +/- SEM maximum of 0.99 +/- 0.06 ml/kg/min of liquid test meal was emptied from the stomach of dogs fed test meals of 77, 88, and 110 ml/kg. Massive gastric distension induced in dogs during this study did not alter gastric emptying of the liquid test meal.     

Pharmacokinetic adjustment of gentamicin dosing in horses with sepsis

Serum gentamicin concentrations were measured and pharmacokinetic values were calculated for 12 equine patients receiving parenteral gentamicin therapy. Horses were selected for monitoring of gentamicin pharmacokinetics if they met several criteria of high risk for gentamicin-induced toxicosis. Two blood samples were obtained, one immediately before gentamicin dosing and one at 1 hour after dosing. Gentamicin serum concentrations were analyzed and dosage adjustments were made on the basis of calculated one-compartment pharmacokinetic values. Nine of the 12 horses required dosage adjustment to optimize therapeutic concentrations. Even for horses for which there was no evidence of decreased renal function, variation in the disposition of gentamicin was substantial. Because of the larger volume of distribution in foals, an initial dosage of 3 mg/kg every 12 hours was found to best approximate target concentrations. Therefore, published standard dosages were a poor means of achieving desired peak and trough concentrations in many animals. Seemingly, for optimal treatment of horses with sepsis, gentamicin dosage adjustments based on the patient's pharmacokinetic values is required.     

Evaluation of leukapheresis and thrombocytapheresis in the horse

Continuous-flow centrifugation leukapheresis techniques were used to collect 300-ml volumes of leukocyte-rich plasma from 5 nonmedicated horses and from 5 corticosteroid-stimulated horses. White blood cell counts and differential counts were performed on the horses before (base line) and up to 48 hours after leukapheresis. Systemic administration of hydrocortisone increased numbers of total WBC and neutrophils and improved harvest of these cells. Nonmedicated horses had a mean yield of 3.38 X 10(10) leukocytes in the 300-ml volume. Stimulated horses yielded a mean of 6.88 X 10(10) leukocytes. After leukapheresis, WBC counts decreased a mean of 38% in nonstimulated horses and decreased a mean of 30% in stimulated horses. By 6 hours after leukapheresis, circulating WBC counts of horses in both groups had returned to preleukapheresis values. The relationship between neutrophil yield and the 4 variables (preleukapheresis WBC count, preleukapheresis neutrophil count, preleukapheresis lymphocyte count, and the PCV of the leukocyte-rich plasma) were examined, using simple (pair-wise) correlation and multiple linear regression. A significant positive correlation was found between neutrophil yield and preleukapheresis WBC and neutrophil counts. Because sodium citrate was used in the collection system to prevent extracorporeal blood coagulation, ionized and total serum calcium concentrations were monitored before and after leukapheresis. Although total serum calcium concentrations remained unchanged, ionized calcium concentrations decreased approximately 33% from base-line values during the 2-hour leukapheresis procedures. Occasional mild muscle fasciculations were the only adverse clinical signs of citrate toxicity exhibited by the horses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Use of gray-scale ultrasonography in the diagnosis of reproductive disease in the bitch: 18 cases (1981-1984)

Gray-scale ultrasonography was utilized in addition to radiography in the diagnosis of reproductive disease in 18 bitches. In 72% of the cases, ultrasonography was considered diagnostic because it revealed information on organ architecture, relationships of radiographically silhouetting soft tissue structures, and fetal viability that was unobtainable by radiography alone. In the remainder of the cases, ultrasonography was contributory to the diagnostic process by supporting the clinical and radiographic diagnoses. The benefits of ultrasonography are discussed, as is the ultrasonographic appearance of a variety of reproductive tract diseases.     

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and antitrypsin in subclinically infected quarter-milk samples: effect of bacteria and hemolysins, lactation stage, and lactation number

Interrelationships between N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (indicating cellular damage) and antitrypsin (indicating increased permeability between the blood and milk compartments) were evaluated in 1,411 quarter-milk samples collected during routine herd surveys. N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was antitrypsin, whereas, in more severe mastitis, antitrypsin had a more constant deflection. The sensitivity of both determinants was associated with the virulence of bacteria. Production of bacterial hemolytic toxins was associated with a significant increase in both determinants. Penicillinase production by staphylococci was associated with selective increases of antitrypsin.     

Evaluation of renal function in cats, using quantitative urinalysis

Two consecutive 24-hour quantitative urinalyses were performed on each of 12 healthy adult cats to evaluate the technique and obtain reference values for measurements of urinary excretion of several substances. Endogenous creatinine clearance (2.31 +/- 0.47 ml/min/kg) and urinary protein excretion (17.43 +/- 9.05 mg/kg/day) were determined. Additionally, clearances and ratios to creatinine clearances were calculated for phosphate, sodium, potassium, and chloride. The endogenous creatinine clearance value was compared with another estimate of glomerular filtration rate that was based on 99mTc(Sn) diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid clearance (2.52 +/- 0.58 ml/min/kg). Evaluation of feline renal function, using 24-hour quantitative urinalysis techniques, has potential for clinical application, but has several important limitations as well.     

Electro-immobilization versus mechanical restraint in an avoid-avoid choice test for ewes

A Y-maze avoid-avoid choice test was used to elucidate pregnant ewes' relative preference for electro-immobilization as opposed to restraint by a squeeze-tilt table. Choices in successive trials evaluating three commercial electro-immobilizers were: electro-immobilizer-13, 13 and 8% for respective models; squeeze-tilt table-79, 57 and 71%; and no choice-8, 30 and 21%. In all trials combined, 56% of the ewes never chose the electro-immobilizer after once experiencing it, while 94% did choose the squeeze-tilt table one or more times after being restrained by it. Most ewes became more willing to enter the table as experience with it increased, but those that had been both electro-immobilized and table-restrained became more hesitant to pass the test facility's entrance gate as these experiences increased. Ewes accepted a feed reward only reluctantly if at all after being electro-immobilized, but readily after table restraint. Electro-immobilization was clearly more aversive to the ewes than was restraint by a squeeze/tilt table. When restraint by either electro-immobilization or squeeze/tilt table is necessary, use of the table would be indicated in terms of its being less aversive.