Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia: understanding the nemesis.

IMHA is one of the most common causes of anemia in small animals. Although treatment may be rewarding, many patients do not respond adequately to glucocorticoids alone and require additional immunosuppressive therapy. Some patients may succumb to acute severe anemia and die within the first few weeks of treatment; even if they survive, relapses may occur. IMHA is the nemesis; as our understanding of this disease increases and treatment options expand, it is hoped that survival rates will finally improve.     

家禽日粮中微量元素的平衡及新产品开发

在家禽的主要营养物质中，对微量元素已经有了很长时间的探索和研究历史。早期的研究在1960—1980年进行，首先对鸡进行营养代谢试验，随后拓展到其他动物和人，进而确定了每种家禽对各种营养物质的需要量及其功能。在此期间，对微量元素也进行了研究和报道。近25年来，进一步开展了微量元素与动物免疫功能和生理功能的相关性研究。通过这些研究，已经开发出了新的有机来源的微量元素添加剂，获得了专利并在市场上销售。有机微量元素的研制成功将为家禽养殖业提供高效的微量元素饲料添加剂。     

Analgesic Effect of the Transdermal Fentanyl Patch During and After Feline Ovariohysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the transdermal fentanyl patch in relieving perioperative pain and stress associated with ovariohysterectomy in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective laboratory trial. ANIMALS: Twenty-four female, purpose-bred cats. METHODS: Each cat was randomly assigned to groups 1-3. Group 1 received a 25-microg/h transdermal fentanyl patch only. Group 2 received the patch and anesthesia. Group 3 received anesthesia only. Patches were left in place for 72 hours. Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, indirect blood pressure, blood glucose, serum cortisol concentration, plasma fentanyl concentration, pain score, and excitement/sedation score were monitored at prescribed intervals over an 81-hour period. Cats from groups 1-3 were reassigned to groups 4 and 5. Group 4 received the patch, anesthesia, and an ovariohysterectomy. Group 5 received anesthesia and an ovariohysterectomy only. The study period and monitored parameters were the same as for groups 1-3. RESULTS: Serum cortisol concentrations were significantly lower in group 4 than group 5 during the surgical and early postsurgical time periods. A similar effect was noted in blood glucose concentrations during the surgical period. Rectal temperature was significantly higher in group 2 when comparing all anesthetized groups during the early postsurgical period. Pain scores were significantly higher in groups 4 and 5 than in groups 2 and 3 during the early postsurgical period. There was no significant difference in pain scores between groups 4 and 5 during this period, however. CONCLUSIONS: The transdermal fentanyl patch affects biochemical markers of perioperative pain and stress associated with ovariohysterectomy in cats, attenuating rises in serum cortisol and blood glucose concentrations during the surgical and early postsurgical periods. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The transdermal fentanyl patch is effective in alleviating perioperative pain and stress associated with ovariohysterectomy in cats as evidenced by attenuated rises in cortisol and blood glucose concentrations in cats that were operated on and treated with the patch.     

Clinical signs,diagnosis and treatment of three dogs with angiostrongylosis in Ireland

: Infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum was diagnosed at necropsy on a dog that died from acute pulmonary haemorrhage, and on recovery of L1 larvae by Baermann examination of faeces from two dogs, one of which had abdominal pain and retroperitoneal haemorrhage, while the other had right-sided heart failure due to cor pulmonale. The presenting signs included syncope (one dog), exercise intolerance (two dogs), cough (two dogs), abdominal pain (one dog) and depression (one dog). One-stage prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged in two dogs, buccal mucosal bleeding time was prolonged in one dog and globulin was elevated in all three dogs. Two dogs were treated with fenbendazole and recovered.     

The effect of body region on the canine hair cycle as defined by unit area trichogram

The impact of anatomic location on trichogram analysis of the hair cycle phases was evaluated in 15 clinically normal dogs. The purposes of this study were to determine if the number of hairs in anagen and telogen vary among anatomic sites within a dog and to see whether there is an optimal region to sample hairs for canine trichogram evaluation of the hair cycle phases. In each dog eight sites were sampled. Four (26.7%) of the 15 dogs had no significant differences in the number of hairs in anagen and telogen among the eight body sites examined. Nine (81.8%) of the remaining 11 dogs had only one site that revealed significant differences in the number of hairs in anagen or telogen. In seven (77.8%) of these dogs only the anagen differed significantly, and in two (22.2%) dogs both phases differed significantly. Two (18.2%) dogs revealed two sites with significant differences in the number of hairs in anagen. The number of hairs in anagen and telogen in the shoulder area did not vary significantly in any of the dogs. This observation, coupled with the ease of sampling at this site, indicates that the shoulder is the site of choice when studying variations in ratios of hair cycle phases using unit area trichogram. Our results also suggest that numbers of telogen and anagen hairs from body regions with different hair shaft lengths do not vary significantly, and the occasional inconsistent results noted at some body sites might be due to sample collection technique.     

Risk of white pine blister rust to limber pine in Colorado and Wyoming,USA

Cronartium ribicola, the introduced pathogen that causes white pine blister rust (WPBR), continues to spread to additional limber pine populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. Because WPBR can severely impact ecosystems, forecasts of its potential distribution and incidence would be useful to land managers. Site and climate data from long infested study areas in Wyoming were fit with two regression models [logistic and classification and regression trees (CART)] to determine the environmental conditions associated with the distribution of WPBR. These models were then used to map limber pine stands at risk of infestation by C. ribicola throughout Wyoming (where it has long occurred) and Colorado (where it is just becoming established). Although variables representing vegetation and landform could identify infested plots, 1‐km‐scale climate variables for monthly temperature and moisture were better predictors of current WPBR distribution and were available for mapping expected future distribution across the region. Of 280 485 ha where limber pine was projected to occur in Colorado, 41% was forecast by the logistic model to be at risk of infestation, and 53%, by the CART model. Of an estimated 782 229 ha in Wyoming with limber pine, the logistic model projected 61% to be at risk; CART projected 79%. Additional regression models were fit with site and climate data to predict WPBR incidence (per cent of trees infected) and intensification (incidence/age of the oldest canker). Nearly one half of the plot‐to‐plot variation in incidence was explained using environmental variables readily available to land managers. Although mean plot incidence increased over time, mean intensification decreased 50% per decade. This work provides managers with several tools to reduce uncertainty over the expected distribution and incidence of WPBR, but surveillance and monitoring remain prudent activities for supplementing forecasts of WPBR epidemics.