Efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of Incontex in spayed bitches with urinary incontinence

A clinical study about efficacy and acceptance of Incontex in spayed bitches with urinary incontinence was performed. In a randomised, double-blinded study the efficacy and acceptance of Incontex (Dr. E. Gr?ub AG, Bern, Schweiz) in bitches with urethral sphincter incompetence due to spaying was evaluated under field conditions. The active ingredient of the Incontex Syrup is phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an alpha1-adrenergic agonist. The study was performed using 24 spayed, incontinent bitches. Over a first period of treatment of 30 days the bitches received either Incontex, at 1.5 mg/kg twice per day, or a placebo. In the second period of 30 days all 24 bitches were treated with Incontex at the recommended dose. Any changes in the incontinence compared with the situation before the study were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 24 bitches 21 (88%) became continent and in 2 bitches (8%) urinary incontinence improved. In only 1 bitch (4%) the medication did have no effect. Five bitches (21%) showed side effects. The acceptance of Incontex was good. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Incontex can be recommended as an efficient and well-tolerated medication for the treatment of bitches with urinary incontinence after spaying. The oral application of 1.5mg/kg BW phenylpropanolamine twice daily has been approved.     

Optimizing Electrical Activation of Porcine Oocytes by Adjusting Pre‐ and Post‐Activation Mannitol Exposure Times

Modifying electrical activation conditions have been used to improve in vitro embryo production and development in pigs. However, there is insufficient information about correlations of porcine embryo development with oocyte pre‐ and post‐activation conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental rates of porcine oocytes subjected to different mannitol exposure times, either pre‐ or post‐electrical activation, and to elucidate the reason for the optimal mannitol exposure time. Mannitol exposure times around activation were adjusted as 0, 1, 2 or 3 min. Blastocyst development were checked on day 7. Exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 or 2 min before electrical activation produced significantly higher blastocyst rates than exposure for 0 or 3 min. There was no significant difference in blastocyst rates when activated oocytes were exposed to mannitol for 0, 1, 2 or 3 min after electrical activation. While exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre‐ and 3 min post‐activation showed significantly higher blastocyst development than 0 min pre‐ and 0 min post‐activation. It also showed higher maintenance of normal oocyte morphology than exposure for 0 min pre‐ and 0 min post‐activation. In conclusion, exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre‐ and 3 min post‐activation seems to be optimal for producing higher in vitro blastocyst development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. The higher blastocyst development is correlated with higher maintenance of normal morphology in oocytes exposed to mannitol for 1 min pre‐ and 3 min post‐activation.     

Mechanisms of Infertility Associated with Clinical and Subclinical Endometritis in High Producing Dairy Cattle

Clinical and subclinical endometritis are common causes of infertility and subfertility in high producing dairy cattle, delaying the onset of ovarian cyclic activity after parturition, extending luteal phases and reducing conception rates. Escherichia coli and Arcanobacterium pyogenes cause endometrial damage and inflammation. Components of microbes, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are detected by Toll-like receptors on endometrial cells, leading to secretion of cytokines, chemokines and antimicrobial peptides. Long luteal phases associated with endometritis are probably caused by a switch in endometrial prostaglandin production from prostaglandin F_2a (PGF) to prostaglandin E₂. In addition, LPS impairs the function of the hypothalamus and pituitary, and directly perturbs ovarian granulosa cells steroidogenesis, providing mechanisms to explain the association between uterine disease and anovulatory anoestrus. Cows with uterine disease that ovulate have lower peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations that may further reduce the chance of conception associated with endometritis.     

Generalized metastatic intestinal and cutaneous calcinosis in a Hovawart puppy with leptospirosis

A 10-week old male Hovawart presented with acute renal failure. Based on clinical symptoms, blood analysis results and serology, a diagnosis of leptospirosis was made. Besides being acotemic, the puppy was initially also severely hypercalcemic. The dog was treated successfully, but developed widespread cutaneous and visceral calcifications. Severe pyloric calcification resulted in functional pyloric obstruction, which was successfully treated by pyloromyotomy. All skin lesions were cured with topical therapy within a few weeks. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of generalized intestinal and cutaneous calcification associated with acute renal failure due to Leptospirosis.     

Dimethylformamide Improves the In vitro Characteristics of Thawed Stallion Spermatozoa Reducing Sublethal Damage

A total of 42 ejaculates were used in the experiment; six ejaculates per stallion, obtained from seven Pure Spanish stallions (PRE), were split and frozen in freezing media with different concentrations and combinations of cryoprotectant (CPA): (i) Cáceres (skim milk based extender) containing 2.5% glycerol (2.5GL), (ii) Cáceres containing 1.5% glycerol and 1.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL–1.5%DMFA), (iii) Cáceres extender supplemented with 1.5% glycerol and 2.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA) and (iv) Cáceres extender supplemented with 4% dimethylformamide (4%DMFA). After at least 4 weeks of storage in liquid nitrogen (LN), straws were thawed and semen analysed by computer‐assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry (membrane lipid architecture (Merocyanine 540), integrity and sublethal damage (YoPro‐1) and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC‐1)). After thawing, better results were observed in samples frozen in 4%DMFA or in combinations of 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA, in fact total motility increased by 16% in the 4%DMFA group compared to 2.5%GL (P < 0.05). Also, there was an increment in the percentage of progressive motile sperm in the 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA group (9.8% 2.5GL vs 19% in the 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA group p < 0.05); also, samples frozen in the 4%DMFA group had more intact (YoPro‐1 negative) sperm post‐thawing, 29.3% in 2.5%GL vs 36.7% in 4%DMFA group (p < 0.05). Membrane lipid architecture was not affected by any of the cryoprotectants tested, while samples frozen in 4%DFMA had a lower percentage of mitochondria with lower membrane potential. It is concluded that DMFA improves the outcome of cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa mainly reducing sublethal cryodamage.     

Does serum anti‐Müllerian hormone levels always discriminate presence of the ovaries in adult bitches? Comparison of two ELISA kits

Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced in the ovary, and thus, it is an excellent marker of follicle pool in females. Current interest is the clinical use of this parameter as a biomarker to assess presence or absence of an intact ovary and to diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) following incomplete ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in bitches. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum AMH concentrations in bitches (n = 34) before and after OHE using two different commercial ELISA kits, one of which is based on detecting human AMH and the other is based on detecting human AMH and the other specified for canine AMH. Furthermore, serum AMH levels were also measured in six ORS cases to compare the diagnostic utility of the two different ELISA kits. Serum AMH concentrations measured using the human and canine kit prior to and after OHE were 0.32 ± 0.24, 0.006 ± 0.22 ng/ml (p < .001) and 12.08 ± 22.81, 9.55 ± 15.42 ng/ml (p = .868), respectively. Thus, the canine‐based kit was not able to reveal the significant drop in serum AMH levels. In conclusion, the human‐based ELISA kits successfully detected the drop in serum AMH concentrations. Reliable results can only be achieved from well‐designed ELISA kits, and AMH levels might be a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of presence or absence of ovaries as well as for the detection of ORS cases in bitches.