Intervals from norgestomet withdrawal and injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin or P.G. 600 to estrus and ovulation in ewes

Synchronization of estrus and ovulation is essential for AI of ewes during a predetermined time frame, and progestogen-eCG treatments are typically used to prepare the ewes. However, eCG is not readily available in the United States, but P.G. 600 (400 IU of eCG and 200 IU of hCG) is available. Thus, we conducted a study to determine the effects of eCG and P.G. 600 on the timing of estrus and ovulation after progestogen withdrawal. Ewes were assigned to two replicates of an experiment with the following treatments: 1) 3-mg norgestomet implant (i.e., one-half of a Syncro-Mate-B [SMB] implant) for 10 d, plus 2 mL of saline i.m. at SMB removal (n = 11); 2) 3-mg SMB implant for 10 d, plus 400 IU of eCG i.m. at SMB removal (n = 13); and 3) 3-mg SMB implant for 10 d, plus P.G. 600 i.m. at implant removal (n = 9). On d 6 after SMB insertion, PGF2alpha was used to induce luteolysis. Beginning 12 h after implant removal, vasectomized rams were used at 12-h intervals to check for estrus. When a ewe was detected in estrus, each ovary was evaluated ultrasonically. Ovaries were evaluated again 16 h later and then at 8-h intervals until ovulation. Treatment altered the interval from implant removal to estrus (less [P < 0.05] in SMB + eCG than in the other two groups) and to ovulation (greatest [P < 0.05] in SMB). However, the treatment x replicate interaction was significant for the intervals from implant removal to estrus (P < 0.03) and from implant removal to ovulation (P < 0.05). An inconsistent response in the SMB-treated ewes seemed to be primarily responsible for the interaction. The intervals to estrus and to ovulation for the SMB-treated ewes were shorter (P < 0.05) in Replicate 1 than in Replicate 2. Also, both intervals seemed to be less consistent between replicates for the SMB + P.G. 600- than for the SMB + eCG-treated ewes; that is, eCG seemed to increase the predictability of the intervals to estrus and to ovulation. Neither the main effects of treatment and replicate nor their interaction were significant for the interval from estrus to ovulation (38.4 /- 3.3 h), size of the ovulatory follicle (7.7 +/- 0.8 mm), or ovulation rate (1.6 +/- 0.2). We concluded from this experiment that eCG is a better choice than P.G. 600 as the gonadotropin to use at the time of progestogen withdrawal to prepare ewes for AI during a predetermined interval.     

Canine Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Canine idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disease in which antibodies bound to the surface of platelets mediate premature platelet destruction by macrophages. ITP in dogs and chronic ITP in humans are analogous diseases. This article draws on information from the literature on ITP in dogs and in humans, and reviews the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of ITP in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 1996;207–218. Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine .     

Amino acid interactions in chick nutrition. 3. Interdependence in amino acid requirements

The quantitative nature of specific interactions between certain indispensable amino acids has been examined in a series of factorial experiments with young chicks.

It was demonstrated that when the dietary concentration of lysine was 1.10 per cent, the arginine requirement of the chick was 0.80 per cent. When the lysine concentration was raised to 1.35, 1.60 or 1.85 per cent of the diet, the arginine requirement was increased to 0.92, 1.04 and 1.15 per cent of the diet respectively. In another experiment, it was found that when due importance had been attached to the interaction between lysine and arginine, the requirements for these amino acids could be lowered to 0.94 per cent and 0.81 per cent respectively. These concentrations are considerably lower than those normally recommended for young chicks.

The interrelationship between leucine and isoleucine has also been defined in quantitative terms. At concentrations of 1.40, 2.15 or 2.90 per cent leucine, the isoleucine requirement was 0.58, 0.62 and 0.65 per cent of the diet respectively.

In a further study, a similar dependence of valine requirements upon the dietary concentration of leucine was observed: at concentrations of 1.40, 2.40 or 3.40 per cent leucine, the valine requirement was shown to be 0.77, 0.89 and 1.01 per cent respectively. The results of the experiment on the threonine‐tryptophan interaction indicated that at concentrations of 0.80, 1.30, 1.80 or 2.30 per cent threonine, the tryptophan requirement was 0.17, 0.18, 0.19 and 0.20 per cent of the diet respectively.

The results of the present study permit the general conclusion that the requirements of amino acids are interdependent.     

Comparative diagnostic test characteristics of oscillometric and Doppler ultrasonographic methods in the detection of systolic hypertension in dogs

Comparison of test characteristics allows a clinician to choose the optimal diagnostic test method for an individual patient. This study assessed the comparative test characteristics of noninvasive (NI) blood pressure measurement methods (oscillometric and Doppler) and used this information to develop optimal cutoff values for diagnosis of systolic hypertension in dogs by these NI methods. Simultaneous NI (oscillometric or Doppler methods) and invasive (arterial puncture [AP]) systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements were obtained prospectively from normal dogs and dogs suspected of having systemic hypertension based on clinical signs. Oscillometric SBP readings were obtained from the distal hind limb (Osc-L, n = 54) or the proximal tail (T. n = 27). Doppler BP measurements were obtained using a forelimb cuff (n = 57). AP-SBP was categorized as hypertensive if > or = 160 mmHg, and sensitivity (Se). specificity (Sp), and likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated for diagnostic cutoff values ranging from 130 to 220 mmHg. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed to determine optimal cutoff values for diagnosis of AP-SBP > or = 160 mmHg. Optimal NI SBP cutoff values considered to reflect AP values > or = 160 mmHg were: Osc-L = 160 mmHg (Se: 65%, Sp: 85%. LR = 4.33: 1), Osc-T = 150 mmHg (Se: 84%, Sp: 75%, LR = 3.36: 1), and Doppler = 160 mmHg (Se: 71%,     

Intralesional administration of formalin for treatment of epidermal inclusion cysts in five horses

Five horses with unilateral epidermal inclusion cysts located in the nasal diverticula were sedated and treated with intralesional injection of neutral-buffered 10% formalin (volume range, 2 to 4.5 mL). After aspiration of the cyst, formalin was injected intralesionally until leakage of fluid around the needle was observed. After several weeks, desiccation of the cyst was evident; it was excised 2 weeks after treatment in 3 horses, digitally removed by the owner of 1 horse, and never removed in 1 horse, because the owner declined further treatment after resolution of the original swelling of the nasal diverticulum. Swelling of the cyst after treatment was observed in all horses; nasal discharge (2 horses) and a mild episode of epistaxis (1 horse) were the only other complications of the treatment. Intralesional administration of formalin appears to be a simple and effective treatment for epidermal inclusion cysts in the nasal diverticula of horses.