Prospective evaluation of pancarpal arthrodesis for carpal injuries in working dogs in New Zealand,using dorsal hybrid plating

Abstract

AIM: To determine whether working dogs in New Zealand with carpal injuries and treated with unilateral pancarpal arthrodesis (PCA), using a dorsal hybrid-plating method, are able to return to satisfactory working ability.

METHODS: Fourteen working dogs presented to the Veterinary Specialist Group (VSG) and the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (MUVTH) with carpal injuries were prospectively treated using dorsal hybrid plating. Dogs were eligible if actively involved in farm, hunting or police work. Dogs had a standardised PCA surgical procedure performed, and similar instructions for post-operative care were provided. Dogs were re-evaluated clinically and radiographically at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. A questionnaire was completed by 12 owners, to assess each dog's working ability.

RESULTS: Twelve months following arthrodesis, 10/12 (83%) dogs could perform most or all duties normally. Eleven owners (92%) reported that the result of the surgery met their expectations, and nine owners (75%) were very satisfied with the outcome of the surgery. No owners were disappointed or very disappointed with the surgical outcome. Post-operative complications requiring surgical removal of the implant occurred in three (25%) dogs.

CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral PCA using a standardised surgical procedure and dorsal hybrid plating of carpal injuries has a good prognosis for working dogs in New Zealand to return to work.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results may allow veterinarians to provide a more accurate prognosis to owners of working dogs that have debilitating carpal injury     

Prolactin,Androstenedione and IGF1 Serum Concentrations During Induced Follicular Growth by eCG Administration in the Bitch

The oestrus cycle in the domestic bitch, a monoestrous species, differs considerably from that of other veterinary domestic animals species. In the bitch the combined use of eCG and hCG is effective to induce oestrus predictably and safely (Stornelli et al., Theriogenology, 78, 2012 and 1056). Although several studies were done to describe the hormonal changes during the canine oestrus cycle, to our knowledge none was done to describe the hormonal changes during induced follicular growth after the administration of eCG. The aim of this work was to study prolactin (PRL), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF1) and androstenedione (ANDR) serum concentrations during follicular growth induced by a single dose of eCG administered to late anoestrous bitches. PRL and ANDR concentrations were lower before than after eCG TRT (before eCG vs pro‐oestrus, oestrus and dioestrus; 4.3 ± 1.8 ng/ml vs 6.5 ± 1.6 ng/ml, p < 0.05; 0.08 ± 0.2 ng/ml vs 0.42 ± 0.16 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Conversely, IGF1 concentrations were similar before and after eCG TRT (286.0 ng/ml ±32.2, p > 0.53). Additionally, PRL concentrations were similar before oestrus compared to during oestrus and dioestrus (6.9 ± 1.7 ng/ml, p > 0.19). Furthermore, IGF1 concentrations were higher before and during oestrus compared to first day of dioestrus (286.1 ± 29.8vs 200.4 ± 29.2 ng/ml, p < 0.01). On the contrary, ANDR concentrations were lower before and during oestrus compared to first day of diestrum (0.35 ± 0.17 ng/ml and 0.38 ± 0.15 vs 0.68 ± 0.17 ng/ml, p < 0.05). These results show that treatment with a single injection of 50 IU/kg of eCG in late anoestrous bitches successfully induced changes in follicular growth which were paralleled with changes in PRL, IGF1 and ANDR serum concentration similar to those occurring during a normally occurring oestrous cycle. In addition, our results suggest that IGF1 in the bitch could play an important role in ovarian folliculogenesis.     

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of suspected neuropathic pain in three dogs

Three dogs were referred to The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital at University of Cambridge for chronic behavioural or locomotor disorders associated with pain. All three had been unsuccessfully treated with conventional analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids and opiate agonists, prior to referral, with minimal or no response. They were investigated by neurological examination plus conventional ancillary diagnostic tests and therapeutic drug trials. Ruling out other causes of pain and applying previously well-described criteria, each case was diagnosed as consistent with neuropathic pain, a poorly recognised condition in domestic dogs. Treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant drug, amitriptyline, or the antiepileptic drug, gabapentin, resulted in either a dramatic improvement or full resolution of clinical signs in all cases.     

A six year study of earthworm (Lumbricidae) populations in pasture woodland in southern England shows their responses to soil temperature and soil moisture

There are very few studies on the effects of temporal changes in soil properties on ecosystem engineers in UK soils. This study addresses this lack by presenting earthworm diversity data from a six-year seasonality study comprising 72 monthly samples from the litter and soil of pasture woodland in the New Forest, southern England. These data were analysed in the context of soil moisture and soil temperature, key factors affecting earthworm abundance, and factors likely to be strongly affected by future climate change. The data for the whole period were analysed using non-parametric regression and an additive model used to separate within-year and between-year effects. Seasonal patterns are present for all the common species, generally with a maximum in March and a minimum in September. A majority of the five commonest species show a strong decline in abundance during the two extremely dry periods (2002–2003 and 2006). In sharp contrast, the same species showed a relative increase during the very wet summer and autumn of 2007. There was, however, no significant overall trend in either the climate data or the earthworm species data. The epigeic species, Dendrobaena octaedra, showed the largest decline in the driest months which caused a crash to the point where there were no adults sampled during the four dry summer months of 2003. A second congeneric species, Dendrobaena attemsi, also epigeic, appears to have invaded the woodland during the six year period and is increasing rapidly in abundance. This may indicate the start of a shift in the distribution of the two species, as D. octaedra generally has a northern European distribution and is frost-tolerant, while D. attemsi has a southern European distribution and is more drought-tolerant. In contrast, the very wet summer of 2007 seems to have damped the usual periodic seasonal oscillations in earthworm numbers. Endogeic worm species do not show the D. octaedra seasonal pattern as obviously, probably because these species are able to move more freely through the soil and because they are able to aestivate. These changes are likely to be due to a combination of human movement of earthworms (e.g. D. attemsi) and variations in local climate.     

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Pre-antral Follicle Population and Ultrastructural Characterization of Antral Follicle Oocyte

The main objectives of the present study were to determine the ultrastructural modifications occurring in the oocyte during late folliculogenesis and to estimate pre-antral follicle population in buffalo. Half the collected ovaries were fixed and prepared for optic microscopy; the antral follicles from the other ovaries were measured and individually punctured. The cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were processed for transmission electron microscopy. The number of pre-antral follicles in buffalo ovaries was estimated at 19 819 structures. Cumulus–oocyte complexes derived from 1-mm antral follicle had an eccentrical nucleus and compact corona radiata , ooplasm vilosities were fully embedded in zona pellucida (ZP) and a well-defined junction could be observed. Mitochondria were predominantly round and well distributed in ooplasm, as were small lipid vacuoles. In COCs derived from 2-mm antral follicles, the initial formation of perivitelline space was observed. The nucleus was peripherally located and the number of pleomorphic mitochondria increased. Cortical granules were clustered at oocyte periphery and lipid vacuoles increased in number and size. In COCs derived from 6-mm antral follicles, the organelles were located mainly in the perinuclear region. Golgi complexes and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) were more developed. Mitochondria migrated to the cortical region and lipid vacuoles migrated to the medullar region. In COCs derived from 10-mm antral follicles, the lipid vacuoles coalesced and occupied the medullar region of the oocyte, together with a well-developed SER. Mitochondria were pleomorphic and located at the oocyte periphery. In conclusion, the morphological differences described in this paper could be responsible for some functional differences observed in in vitro embryo production and follicular dynamics for buffalo, when compared with cattle.     

Early Detection of Pregnancy and Embryonic Loss in Dairy Cattle by ELISA Tests

Over a 25-month period 8118 blood samples were assayed for the presence of the serum pregnancy specific-protein B (PSPB) and progesterone (P4) concentrations on three Hungarian large-scale dairy farms. Pregnancy (n = 4085) was checked by BioPRYN assay at 30-36 days post-insemination (PI). Samples from all cows that tested not pregnant and from cows with an optical density (OD) reading in the BioPRYN test that was between 0% and 30% above the cutoff OD value were tested for serum P4 concentration. According to serum P4 concentration, cows were assigned to three categories: high (>4 ng/ml), medium (2-4 ng/ml) and low (<2 ng/ml) serum progesterone. The authors predicted a presumed (low) or possible (medium) late embryonic loss (LEL) or maintenance of the pregnancy (high). A total of 710 LELs were detected (17.4%) and 31.8% of them were predicted because of a low OD value at 30-36 days after insemination. Lower PSPB serum level significantly refers for LEL (p < 0.0001). The prediction rate for the true embryonic loss was 31.8% when OD cutoff from 0% to + 30% of cutoff was examined while it was 62.5% when the threshold was OD cutoff of 0% to 10% of cutoff. The authors conclude that BioPRYN was useful for prediction of a part of LEL in dairy cows and serum P4 concentration in these cows related to the rate of LEL.