The use of porcine small intestinal submucosa for the repair of full-thickness corneal defects in dogs, cats and horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of using a porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) graft covered by a conjunctival flap for the surgical repair of full-thickness corneal wounds in dogs, cats and horses. PROCEDURE: All records dating from August 1999 to February 2003 from Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of patients that had undergone ophthalmic surgical procedures and received a SIS corneal graft for a full-thickness lesion were reviewed. Fifteen cases were identified including six dogs, two cats and seven horses. Requirements for inclusion in this study were that SIS was used as a corneal graft in a full-thickness corneal defect and that the graft was completely covered with a conjunctival flap. RESULTS: Of the 15 cases, one canine patient had received SIS following removal of an epibulbar melanocytoma. The remaining five canine patients had undergone this surgical procedure for the repair of corneal perforation. The two feline patients had been presented for corneal perforation following chronic ulceration. One equine patient had been presented for a deep melting ulcer, three for stromal corneal abscesses, and three for corneal perforations. Complications encountered postoperatively included aqueous leakage, conjunctival flap dehiscence, synechia, cataract and fibrin in the anterior chamber. Fourteen out of 15 patients were visual at the final re-evaluation. CONCLUSION: SIS is an inexpensive, easy-to-handle biomaterial that appears to be suitable for the repair of full-thickness corneal wounds in dogs, cats and horses. Results of our study support the conclusion that this relatively new product is an effective alternative to traditional implantation materials utilized in veterinary ophthalmology.     

ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a widely recognized collection of risk factors for endocrinopathic laminitis. The most important of these risk factors is insulin dysregulation (ID). Clinicians and horse owners must recognize the presence of these risk factors so that they can be targeted and controlled to reduce the risk of laminitis attacks. Diagnosis of EMS is based partly on the horse's history and clinical examination findings, and partly on laboratory testing. Several choices of test exist which examine different facets of ID and other related metabolic disturbances. EMS is controlled mainly by dietary strategies and exercise programs that aim to improve insulin regulation and decrease obesity where present. In some cases, pharmacologic aids might be useful. Management of an EMS case is a long‐term strategy requiring diligence and discipline by the horse's carer and support and guidance from their veterinarians.     

Results of diagnostic ophthalmic testing in healthy guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE-To report values for tear production, central corneal touch threshold (CTT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy guinea pigs and determine results of aerobic bacterial culture and cytologic examination of conjunctival swab specimens. DESIGN-Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS-31 Healthy guinea pigs (62 eyes) of various ages and breeds. PROCEDURES-Tear production was measured by the phenol red thread tear test (PRT) and Schirmer tear test (STT) before and after topical anesthetic application, CTT was measured with an esthesiometer, and IOP was measured by applanation tonometry. RESULTS-Combining data from all eyes, mean +/- SD PRT values before and after topical anesthetic administration were 21.26 +/- 4.19 mm/15 s and 22.47 +/- 3.31 mm/15 s, respectively, and mean IOP was 18.27 +/- 4.55 mm Hg. Median STT values before and after topical anesthetic administration were 3 mm/min (range, 0 to 12 mm/min) and 4 mm/min (range, 0 to 11 mm/min), respectively, and median CTT was 2.0 cm (range, 0.5 to 3.0 cm). Values did not differ between eyes for any test, but significant differences were identified for PRT values between males and females and between values obtained before and after topical anesthetic administration. Common bacterial isolates included Corynebacterium spp, Streptococcus spp, and Staphylococcus spp. Cytologic examination of conjunctival swab specimens revealed mainly basal epithelial cells; lymphocytes were common. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results provided information on values for PRT, STT, CTT, and IOP in healthy guinea pigs and on expected findings for aerobic bacterial culture and cytologic examination of conjunctival swab specimens.     

In vitro efficacy of doxorubicin and etoposide against a feline injection site sarcoma cell line

Feline injection site sarcoma (ISS) is a locally invasive tumor, in which surgical treatment is frequently combined with radiation or chemotherapy to improve tumor control. The focus of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin or etoposide on a feline injection site sarcoma cell line (JB) and to assess the impact of combining these drugs on cell death and cell cycle. Both single agent and combination drug administration increased cell death and significantly reduced the number of viable cells. Cells in G0/G1 were significantly reduced while the G2/M fraction was significantly increased following treatment. Collectively, combining doxorubicin and etoposide at the lower EC yielded comparable results to the EC50 of either drug alone in degree of cytotoxicity, level of apoptosis, and % of cells in G2/M. The results of this study indicate that doxorubicin and etoposide alone and in combination differentially alter ISS cell viability and cycle.     

The use of carbon dioxide laser for the ablation of meibomian gland adenomas in dogs

Twelve eyelid meibomian gland adenomas in dogs were surgically ablated using the carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser. The laser site was not sutured. All procedures resulted in complete removal of the adenoma with no recurrences at 6 months. In addition, no dogs developed corneal disease secondary to the procedure, and the cosmetic appearance of the eyelid margins was good at the end of the 6-month study. Based on results of this study, CO(2) laser ablation of canine meibomian gland adenomas is an effective alternative to standard surgical removal.     

Assessment of bacterial contamination of three multidose ophthalmic solutions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of bacterial contamination of multidose proparacaine hydrochloride, tropicamide, and eyewash bottles used in veterinary ophthalmology examination rooms during normal operating procedures. METHODS: Three representative bottles each of proparacaine hydrochloride, tropicamide, and purified water eye wash were opened at the same time, numbered, and placed into small animal examination rooms. Doctors, students and technicians who were using the solutions were blinded to the study. Aerobic cultures were obtained at the time of opening (time 0), at 1 week (time 1), and at 2 weeks after opening (time 2) the bottles. The sites cultured included a drop of each solution, the inside of the bottle cap, the tip of the bottle, and the bottle threads and medication residue found in these threads. RESULTS: Aerobic cultures of tropicamide and proparacaine had no growth of bacteria from any of the evaluated sites. Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from the tip of one bottle of eye wash after 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that proparacaine, tropicamide, and eyewash solutions used in veterinary examination rooms are adequately preserved for use in ophthalmic examination. They have a low level of bacterial contamination 1 or 2 weeks after opening when used and stored according to the recommendations of the product manufacturers and previous studies.     

Changes in Atmospheric Circulation and Ocean Ice Cover over the North Atlantic During the Last 41,000 Years

High-resolution, continuous multivariate chemical records from a central Greenland ice core provide a sensitive measure of climate change and chemical composition of the atmosphere over the last 41,000 years. These chemical series reveal a record of change in the relative size and intensity of the circulation system that transported air masses to Greenland [defined here as the polar circulation index (PCI)] and in the extent of ocean ice cover. Massive iceberg discharge events previously defined from the marine record are correlated with notable expansions of ocean ice cover and increases in PCI. During stadials without discharge events, ocean ice cover appears to reach some common maximum level. The massive aerosol loadings and dramatic variations in ocean ice cover documented in ice cores should be included in climate modeling.     

Evaluation of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine herpesvirus (BHV) specific antibody responses between heterologous and homologous prime-boost vaccinated western Canadian beef calves

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an economically important cause of morbidity and mortality in beef calves. Control of BRD is most often addressed through “homologous” vaccination utilizing the same injectable modified-live viral (MLV) vaccine for both priming and boosting. Heterologous prime-boosting uses different routes and antigenic forms for priming and boosting. Three vaccine protocols were compared: an injectable (IJ) MLV (IJ-MLV) group (IJ-MLV priming at ~48 days and boosted with IJ-MLV at weaning), intranasal (IN) MLV (IN-MLV) group (intranasal priming with MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-MLV), and intranasal killed viral (IN-KV) group (primed with an IN-MLV at ~24 hours, boosted twice with an IJ-KV). Serum antibody concentrations determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were compared and the IN-KV group had significantly higher BRSV-specific antibody concentrations after boosting compared with the 2 homologous groups. No differences in BHV-specific antibody concentrations were observed between any of the groups.