An Investigation of the Ability of the Glutaraldehyde Test to Distinguish between Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Disease in Horses

The Glutaraldehyde test (GT), a rapid and inexpensive test, has been utilized empirically for many years in bovine practice for diagnosing inflammatory diseases. GT is used primarily to demonstrate increased serum concentrations of fibrinogen and globulin. Glutaraldehyde binds with free amino groups in fibrinogen and immunoglobulin to create a clot in a first degree chemical reaction. The clotting time of the GT estimates the content of proteins produced in response to inflammation. The applicability of GT for diagnosing inflammation in the horse has never been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of GT to distinguish between acute and chronic inflammatory disease in horses. Thirty-seven horses with suspected inflammatory diseases were evaluated using the GT, history, complete clinical examination and routine blood analysis. GT-times, laboratory results and clinical outcome were compared statistically. Horses that were determined to be acutely affected (based on history, clinical examination and routine blood analysis) tended to have a negative GT (75%). Results of the GT did not correlate with blood fibrinogen concentration. Positive GT also predicted a fatal outcome in 69% of the clinical cases. The results of this trial indicate that GT can be a useful screening test to distinguish between acute and chronic inflammatory disease in horses.     

Free radical oxidation products in plasma and synovial fluid of horses with synovial inflammation

SUMMARY: Free radical oxidation products, namely conjugated dienes, ultraviolet fluorescence (excitation 325 nm, emission 395 nm) and visible fluorescence (excitation 360 nm, emission 460 nm) were measured in equine synovial fluid exposed to free radicals In vitro and in the plasma and synovial fluids of horses with synovial effusions. The synovial effusions were induced by intra-articularly administered carrageenin (0.3 ml, 1%), which rarely resulted in clinical lameness. The free radicals were generated In vitro by mixtures of iron and ethylene diamine tetra acetate (Fe/EDTA) or mixtures of hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase (HX/XO). The conjugated diene concentrations and intensity of ultraviolet fluorescence were negligible in plasma and synovial fluid specimens. No increase resulted from incubation of synovial fluids with either a free radical generating system or as a result of the induced inflammation. The intensity of visible fluorescence did not increase in specimens incubated with Fe/EDTA. However, the intensity of visible fluorescence increased in specimens incubated with HX/XO, in synovial effusions induced by carrageenin, in plasma and in synovial fluids aspirated from saline injected controls. The results indicate that the intensity of visible fluorescence of equine synovial fluid increases after exposure to free radicals and during synovitis in the horse, suggesting a possible role for free radicals in the pathogenesis of equine inflammatory joint diseas     

Influences of Follicular Size on Parthenogenetic Activation and in Vitro Heat Shock on the Cytoskeleton in Cattle Oocytes

The availability of cow ovaries from the slaughterhouse has been very limited in Taiwan. To maximize the use of cow ovaries for research purposes, whole ovary dissection was performed and the developmental competence of the oocytes derived from different sizes of follicles was assessed by the rates of in vitro maturation (IVM) and parthenogenetic activation of the oocytes in Experiment 1 (Exp 1). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from small (1-2 mm) and large (3-8 mm) follicles were subjected to standard IVM culture for 24 h. Mature oocytes were selected and then parthenogenetically activated using A23187 (5 microm, 5 min) or thimerosal (200 microm, 10 min) alone or combined with 6-dimethylaminopurine (2.5 mm and 3.5 h, respectively). Activation rates of the oocytes, neither from the large nor small follicles, were affected by different activation treatments (single or combined stimuli). Whereas maturation rates for the oocytes from large follicles were superior to those from small follicles in both the single (59% vs 45%) and combined treatments (76% vs 40%; p < 0.05). To understand how prolonged heat shock (HS) influences cytoskeletal configurations of mature bovine oocytes, in Experiment 2 (Exp 2), matured oocytes derived from large follicles were randomly allocated to different durations of HS treatments at 41.5 degrees C for 0 (C0h, control, n = 12), 1 (HS1h, n = 28), 2 (HS2h, n = 31), and 4 h (HS4h, n = 30). An additional control group was cultured for 4 h without HS (38.5 degrees C, 4 h, n = 35). Alterations in nuclear structures, microtubules (MTs), and microfilaments (MFs) of the oocytes were examined. Abnormalities in the chromosomes, spindle MTs and the percentages of oocytes with cytoplasmic MTs increased with time of HS treatment. The intensity of the MF distribution in the HS oocytes was also altered. Significant changes in the cytoskeleton after HS may be associated with the reduced development under hyperthermia and, perhaps, with the low pregnancy rates of the animals during hot seasons.     

Factors affecting mortality of crossbred and exotic chickens kept under backyard systems in Yucatan, Mexico

Summary Chicken mortality was studied in 24 randomly selected smallholder flocks in one village in Yucatan, Mexico between July and December 1993. Each family received a package of 10 to 12 chicks of 3 weeks of age. Approximately half of the chicks were purebred and the remainder were crosses produced by mating exotic with local breeds. All smallholders were visited twice a week. Feeding and management (except vaccination and medication) were left to smallholders. Data were processed by Chi-square, Mantel-Haenzel test and survival analysis. Before reaching 140 days of age 43·2% of the birds died. The highest mortality was observed during the 113 to 140 days of age period and the lowest was in the period between 22 and 56 days of age. Of all birds, 10·5% died from coccidiosis and 7·6% from Marek’s disease. Of the risk factors investigated only medication and genotype showed significant effects on mortality. The effect of genotype was significant up to 112 days of age (P < 0·05). Crossbred birds lived longer than purebred; independently, medicated birds lived longer than non-medicated birds.

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Factores Que Afectan La Mortalidad De Los Pollos Hibridos Y Exoticos (Criados Bajo Sistemas De Traspatio) En Yucatan, Mejico

Resumen Se estudió la mortalidad de pollos alojados en 24 corrales de peque?os propietarios seleccionados al azar en un pueblo de Yucatán, México de julio a diciembre de 1993. Cada propietario recibió un grupo de 10 a 12 pollos de 3 semanas de edad. Aproximadamente la mitad de los pollos eran de raza pura y el resto hibridos provenientes de cruce de una raza exótica con una local. Todos los corrales fueron visitados dos veces por semana. La alimentación y el manejo (excepto vacunas y medicamentos) corrieron a cargo de los propietarios. Los datos se analizaron por el test de Chi-cuadrado, test de Mantel-Haenzel y análisis de supervivencia. Antes de que alcanzaran los 140 días de edad el 43·2% de las aves murieron. La mortalidad más alta se observó entre los días 113 y 140 de vida, y la mortalidad más baja durante el periodo de 22 a 56 días de edad. De todas las aves, el 10·5% murieron de coccidiosis y el 7·6% de la enfermedad de Marek. De los factores de riesgo estudiados, solo la medicación y el genotipo mostraron efectos significativos sobre la mortalidad. El efecto del genotipo fue significativo a partir del día 112 de edad (P < 0·05). Las aves híbridas vivieron más que las razas puras; independientemente, las aves medicadas vivieron más que las no medicadas.

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Facteurs Affectant La Mortalite Des Poulets (De Race Ou Croises) Gardes En Systeme Ferme Dans Le Yucatan Au Mexique

Résumé La mortalité des poulets fut étudiée chez 24 petits éleveurs de volaille, choisis arbitrairement dans un village du Yucatan au Mexique entre les mois de Juillet et Décembre 1993. Chaque famille re?ut entre 10 et 12 poussins agés de 3 semaines. Près de la moitié des poussins furent de races pures, les autres étant issus de croisements entre races locales et exotiques. Tous les éleveurs furent visités deux fois par semaine. Les éleveurs décidèrent à propos de la nourriture et de la gestion mais pas de la vaccination ou des médicaments. Les données furent analysées par le test de Mantel-Haenzel, l’analyse de la survie et lex ². 43,2% des poulets moururent avant d’atteindre l’age de 140 jours. La plus grande mortalité fut observée entre les jours 113 et 140 et la plus faible entre les jours 22 et 56. 10,6% des poulets moururent de coccidiose et 7,6% par la maladie de Marek. Médicaments et génotype furent les 2 paramètres ayant des effets significatifs sur la mortalité. L’effet du génotype fut significatif jusqu’au jour 112 (P < 0,05). Les animaux issus de croissement vécurent plus long-temps que les poulets de race pure, indépendemment les poulets recevant des medicaments vécurent plus longtemps que ceux qui n’en eurent pas.

     

Comparison of tiletamine-zolazepam-ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam-ketamine-xylazine anaesthesia in sheep

Summary The anaesthetic effects of intravenous tiletamine-zolazepam 6.6 mg/kg-ketamine 6.6 mg/kg (TK) and tiletamine-zolazepam 6.6 mg/kg-ketamine 6.6 mg/kg-xylazine 0.11 mg/kg (TKX) were evaluated in six wethers. Heart rate, respiration rate, arterial blood pressure, and the electrocardiogram were monitored during anaesthesia. Analgesia was tested by electrical stimulation in the left flank. Atropine (0.03 mg/kg) was given intramuscularly before induction, but after recording of baseline heart rate and respiratory rate. The duration of analgesia was 28.7 ± 6.9 min with TK and 82.8 ± 26.6 min with TKX. Heart rate increased significantly within 5 min after TK or TKX administration. Respiratory rate remained unchanged after TK administration, but increased significantly from 5 to 45 min after TKX administration. Arterial blood pressure decreased significantly at 15 min with TK and 30 min with TKX. Sheep remained recumbent for 201 min with TK and 166 min with TKX. All recovered uneventfully. We conclude that either TK or TKX may be used for anaesthetising sheep.     

Effects of etamsylate on equine platelets: in vitro and in vivo studies

The aim of this study was to investigate whether etamsylate produces equine platelet activation. In vitro and in vivo studies were designed in which seven and eight adult healthy horses were included, respectively. In the in vitro study, citrated blood was incubated with different concentrations of etamsylate, and P-selectin expression and annexin V binding were determined by flow cytometry. In the in vivo study, blood was collected before and 1 and 2h after IV administration of etamsylate, and P-selectin expression was evaluated. In the in vitro study, a significant increase in P-selectin expression, leukocyte-platelet aggregate formation and annexin V binding were observed. In the in vivo study, a marked increase in P-selectin expression and heterotypic aggregate formation was seen in two and five horses, respectively, although no significant differences were detected when analyzing results from all the animals together. The results of the in vitro study indicate that etamsylate produces a pre-activation state in equine platelets, but this fact could be confirmed by the in vivo study.