Plasma D-dimer concentration in sick newborn foals

BACKGROUND: Septicemia is associated with a systemic inflammatory response, hemostatic activation, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). HYPOTHESIS: Increased plasma d-dimer concentration occurs in septic neonates and can reliably detect sepsis or DIC, and predict death in ill neonatal foals. ANIMALS: 40 septic, 41 nonseptic hospitalized foals, and 22 healthy neonates. METHODS: Prospective observational clinical study. Blood samples were collected on admission, at 24-48 hours after admission, and at the time of discharge or euthanasia. Plasma d-dimer concentration, clotting times, antithrombin activity, and fibrinogen concentration were determined. RESULTS: On admission, d-dimer concentration values were significantly higher in septic foals (median, 25-75th percentiles; 568, 245-2013 ng/mL) compared with the nonseptic and healthy groups (386, 175-559 and 313, 152-495 ng/mL, respectively), and in septic foals at the age of 2-7 days compared with similar-age nonseptic foals. By means of samples taken at 24-48 hours of hospitalization and a cut-off value of > 2000 ng/mL, D dimer concentration was significantly associated with the diagnosis of septicemia (odds ratio [OR] = 19.6, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.9-203) and death (OR = 8.7, 95% CI 1.8-43). Owing to a high false-positive prediction rate (71%), a normal d-dimer concentration is better at eliminating the diagnosis of sepsis than an increased d-dimer concentration at predicting sepsis. Fifty percent of septic foals had a diagnosis of DIC, but d-dimer concentration was not significantly associated with the diagnosis of DIC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Septic foals showed a marked activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems and a high prevalence of DIC. Increased plasma d-dimer concentration is significantly associated with the diagnosis of sepsis.     

Sedative and analgesic effects of two subanaesthetic doses of ketamine in combination with methadone and a low dose of dexmedetomidine in healthy dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the sedative, analgesic and recovery characteristics of two subanaesthetic ketamine doses in combination with dexmedetomidine and methadone for intramuscular sedation in healthy Beagles.Study designRandomized, blinded, crossover, experimental study.AnimalsSix healthy adult Beagles.MethodsDogs were randomly given three treatments: dexmedetomidine (3 μg kg^–1) and methadone (0.3 mg kg^–1) combined with ketamine at 1 and 2 mg kg^–1 (K1 and K2, respectively) or saline (K0), intramuscularly. Sedation score, response to tail clamping and rectal temperature were recorded at baseline, 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 minutes posttreatment. Pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate, oxygen haemoglobin saturation and noninvasive blood pressure were also recorded at baseline and every 5 minutes until 45 minutes posttreatment. Onset and duration of recumbency, response to venous catheterization and recovery quality were also assessed. Sedation and physiological variables were compared between treatments and within treatments compared to baseline (analysis of variance). Nonparametric data were analysed with the Friedman and Cochran’s Q tests; p < 0.050.ResultsIncreased sedation was found at 15 (K0 and K1), 25 (all treatments) and 35 (K1) minutes compared with baseline. Sedation score, onset (3–12 minutes) and duration of recumbency (29–51 minutes) were similar between treatments. Recovery quality was considered acceptable in all cases. Response to tail clamping was inconsistent within treatments with no differences between them. None of the dogs responded to venous catheterization. There were no differences between treatments in physiological variables, except for PR which was higher in K2 than in K0. Oxygen supplementation was required in five and three dogs administered saline and ketamine, respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe addition of 1 or 2 mg kg^–1 of ketamine to methadone and dexmedetomidine combination did not enhance sedation or antinociception in healthy dogs. Recovery quality was unaffected.     

Investigation of bovine haemoplasmas and their association with anaemia in New Zealand cattle

CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A dairy cow, from a herd in the Waikato region of New Zealand, was reported with regenerative anaemia on 12 September 2014. Testing of blood from the animal using PCR assays for Theileria orientalis produced a negative result for both Chitose and Ikeda types.

LABORATORY FINDINGS: Using PCR and DNA sequencing, blood from the cow was positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos. Further testing of another 12 animals from the case herd, 27 days after the affected cow was first reported, showed 11 animals were positive for Candidatus M. haemobos or Mycoplasma wenyonii in the PCR. None of these cattle were clinically anaemic or positive for T. orientalis Ikeda type using PCR.

A convenience sample of 47 blood samples from cattle throughout New Zealand, submitted to the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre (Ministry for Primary Industries) for surveillance testing for T. orientalis Ikeda, was selected for further testing for bovine haemoplasmas. Of these samples, 6/47 (13%) and 13/47(28%) were positive for M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos, respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of samples positive for the bovine haemaplasmas between cattle with anaemia that were negative for T. orientalis (6/20, 33%), or without anaemia or T. orientalis (10/18, 56%), or from cattle herds experiencing anaemia and infection with T. orientalis Ikeda type (3/9, 33%).

DIAGNOSIS: Bovine haemoplasmosis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of bovine haemoplasmas in blood does not establish causality for anaemia in cattle. Diagnosis of anaemia associated with haemoplasmosis would require exclusion of other causes of regenerative anaemia and an association of the agent with anaemia in affected cattle herds. The data collected in this study did not provide evidence that bovine haemoplasmas were associated with a large number of outbreaks of anaemia in cattle in New Zealand.     

Snake envenomation in cats and its detection by rapid immunoassay

Objective To determine the usefulness of a snake venom detection kit (SVDK) in the management of envenomed cats.
Design A clinical study.  

Animals

Twenty-two cats were investigated.
Procedure Cats injected subcutaneously with approximately 0.25 or 1.0 lethal dose (LD) of tiger snake venom or 1 or 4 LD of brown snake venom were observed for clinical symptoms of envenomation at intervals over the ensuring 24 to 48 hours(h). Blood and urine samples were taken at regular intervals and assayed in a quantitative laboratory assay for snake venoms. Selected samples were assayed in parallel in a rapid, semi-quantitative SVDK.
Results The studies showed that it was important to estimate the elapsed time from envenomation to presentation. If this time was less than 8 h, blood was the most appropriate sample and a negative result should exclude serious envenomation. If the elapsed time exceeded 8 h, it was essential that urine be sampled. Venom levels in urine were high at 8 h and approached the level of test sensitivity over 24 to 48 h; however by this time clinical signs were obvious in endangered cats.  

Conclusions

Careful use of the SVDK is a valuable aid in the management of a potentially envenomed cat.     

Attitudes of Spanish-speaking veterinarians interested in anaesthesia towards use of total intravenous anaesthesia in dogs: a survey study

ObjectivesTo describe Spanish-speaking veterinary anaesthetists’ attitudes towards use of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in dogs.Study designProspective online voluntary survey.PopulationData from 300 answered surveys.MethodsAn anonymous questionnaire was sent via e-mail to representatives of the four largest Spanish-speaking veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia associations. It was distributed through mailing lists (Spain, Argentina, Mexico) or social media (Spain, Chile) to gather information on the use, opinions and perceived advantages of TIVA, as well as on preferred alternatives to isoflurane for providing general anaesthesia. Logistic regression was used to test for response associations.ResultsA total of 275 (92%) respondents had used TIVA (24% rarely, 36% sometimes, 40% very often or always). There was an association between a higher rate of TIVA usage and a low specialization level, less clinical experience and unavailability of anaesthetic gas scavenging systems. The main reasons for not using TIVA were lack of familiarity with the technique (92%), unavailability of infusion pumps (32%), established institutional anaesthetic protocol (32%), and technical difficulty (20%). Among frequent TIVA users, a higher proportion reported the greater ease of TIVA use (52%) compared to those that did not perceive such benefit (17%) [odds ratio (OR) = 5.2; 95% confidence interval (CI95), 1.7–16.6; p = 0.004). More respondents did not consider TIVA more expensive (60%) (OR = 2.1; CI95, 1.0–4.3; p = 0.034), more difficult to perform (59%) (OR = 2.5; CI95, 1.3–4.9; p = 0.006) or to manage the equipment (53%) (OR = 3.3; CI95, 1.4–7.8; p = 0.008), than inhalational anaesthetics. During isoflurane shortages, respondents reportedly preferred using an alternative inhalational agent (59%) rather than TIVA (47%).Conclusions and clinical relevanceTIVA use is widespread among veterinarians within the surveyed associations. Frequent TIVA users reported greater perceived advantages. In situations of isoflurane shortage, an alternative inhalational anaesthetic was preferred over TIVA.     

Pyogranulomatous lesion causing neurological signs localised to the sacral region in a horse

This case report describes neurological signs associated with a pyogranulomatous lesion within the sacral vertebral canal of a horse. The clinical findings included urinary overflow incontinence and reduced anal, perianal and tail tone. The horse failed to respond to medical management and a guarded prognosis for return to athletic performance initiated the decision for euthanasia.     

Mapping the potential distribution of five species of Passiflora in Andean countries

Geographic location data for 383 accessions of five Passiflora species from five Andean countries (P. cumbalensis, P. mixta, P. tripartita var. mollissima, P. natistipula, and P. manicata) were linked to interpolated continental surfaces of monthly mean rainfall, monthly mean temperature, and monthly mean diurnal temperature range. This permitted us to identify the potential distribution of each species and document its climatic adaptation. Maps are presented showing regions where the climate is similar to that in areas where each species has been found, but from which no collections have yet been made, thus representing possible geographical gaps in collections. Some species showed evidence of intra-specific variation in their climatic adaptation. The study of Passiflora diversity in Andean countries continues and these maps based on passport data are expected to be useful tools for the planning of both ex situ and in situ conservation activities.