Endometrial polyp in an African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

An 8-year-old female African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) from a zoo in Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea presented with a 3.0 x 2.0 x 2.5 cm in size, smooth-surfaced, solitary pedunculated mass protruding into the uterine lumen. Microscopically, the mass was covered with epithelium, contained endometrial gland tissue, and was dilated in the vascularised stroma. Within the mass, there was extensive diffuse haemorrhage with several blood vessels apparently plugged with fibrin. At the base of the mass, the spaces lined with epithelium near the attachment of the stalk were interpreted to be glandular structures. There were segments of cuboidal epithelium found on the surface of the mass, which was similar to the lining the uterus. A diagnosis of an endometrial polyp was made based on the gross and histology findings. This is the first case report of a spontaneous endometrial polyp in an African wild dog.     

Cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of hetastarch plus hypertonic saline solutions during experimental endotoxemia in anesthetized horses

BACKGROUND: Small volume resuscitation has been advocated as a beneficial therapy for endotoxemia in horses but this therapy has not been investigated in a prospective manner. The objective of this study was to determine the cardiopulmonary effects of small-volume resuscitation using hypertonic saline solution (HSS) plus Hetastarch (HES) during experimental endotoxemia in anesthetized horses. HYPOTHESIS: Treatment of horses with induced endotoxemia using HES-HSS does not alter the response of various cardiopulmonary indices when compared to treatment with either small- or large-volume isotonic crystalloid solutions. ANIMALS: Eighteen healthy horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane. Endotoxemia was induced by administering 50 microg/kg of Escherichia coli endotoxin IV. The horses were treated over 30 minutes with 15 mL/kg of balanced polyionic crystalloid solution (control), 60 mL/kg of balanced polyionic crystalloid solution (ISO), or 5 mL/kg of HSS followed by 10 mL/kg of HES (HSS-HES). METHODS: Prospective randomized trial. RESULTS: Cardiac output (CO) after endotoxin infusion increased significantly (P < .05) from baseline in all groups, whereas mean central venous pressure increased significantly (P < .05) in the ISO group only. Mean pulmonary artery pressure increased from baseline (P < .05) in horses treated with isotonic fluids and HSS-HES. There was no effect of treatment with HSS-HES on CO, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), mean arterial pressure, blood lactate concentrations, or arterial oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The use of HSS-HES failed to ameliorate the deleterious hemodynamic responses associated with endotoxemia in horses. The clinical value of this treatment in horses with endotoxemia remains unconfirmed.     

Pharmacokinetics of penicillin G procaine versus penicillin G potassium and procaine hydrochloride in horses

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pharmacokinetics of penicillin G and procaine in racehorses following i.m. administration of penicillin G procaine (PGP) with pharmacokinetics following i.m. administration of penicillin G potassium and procaine hydrochloride (PH). ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult mares. PROCEDURE: Horses were treated with PGP (22,000 units of penicillin G/kg of body weight, i.m.) and with penicillin G potassium (22,000 U/kg, i.m.) and PH (1.55 mg/kg, i.m.). A minimum of 3 weeks was allowed to elapse between drug treatments. Plasma and urine penicillin G and procaine concentrations were measured by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Median elimination phase half-lives of penicillin G were 24.7 and 12.9 hours, respectively, after administration of PGP and penicillin G potassium. Plasma penicillin G concentration 24 hours after administration of penicillin G potassium and PH was not significantly different from concentration 24 hours after administration of PGP. Median elimination phase half-life of procaine following administration of PGP (15.6 hours) was significantly longer than value obtained after administration of penicillin G potassium and PH (1 hour). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that i.m. administration of penicillin G potassium will result in plasma penicillin G concentrations for 24 hours after drug administration comparable to those obtained with administration of PGP Clearance of procaine from plasma following administration of penicillin G potassium and PH was rapid, compared with clearance following administration of PGP.     

Disodium-fosfomycin pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in post weaning piglets

Disodium-fosfomycin pharmacokinetics has been studied in different species after oral, intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. At present there are neither documented clinical experiences of the use of fosfomycin in pigs nor any published studies in weaning piglets, although it is a period of high incidence of infectious diseases. The pharmacokinetics and the bioavailability of sodium fosfomycin were studied in post weaning piglets after intravenous and intramuscular administration of 15 mg/kg of body weight. Plasma concentrations were measured by a high-performance liquid ms/ms. After IV administration the area under the fosfomycin concentration:time curve in plasma was AUC_(0–12) of 120.00 ± 23.12 μg h/ml and the volume of distribution (Vd) of 273.00 ± 40.70 ml/kg. The elimination was rapid with a plasma clearance of 131.50 ± 30.07 ml/kg/h and a T_1/2 of 1.54 ± 0.40 h. Peak serum concentration (C_max), T_max, AUC_(0–12) and bioavailability for the IM administration were 43.00 ± 4.10 μg/ml, 0.75 ± 0.00 h, 99.00 ± 0.70 μg h/ml and 85.5 ± 9.90% respectively. Different authors have determined a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) ranging from 0.25 μg/ml for Streptococcus sp. and 0.5 μg/ml for Escherichia coli. Considering the above, and according to the values of plasma concentration vs time profiles observed in this study, effective plasma concentrations of fosfomycin for sensitive bacteria can be obtained following IV and IM administration of 15 mg/kg in piglets.     

Aldicarb poisoning of dogs and cats in Gauteng during 2003

A survey of aldicarb poisoning in companion animals was conducted by posting questionnaires to all private practitioners in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The survey was designed to determine the percentage of aldicarb cases seen, treatment regimen, clinical signs observed, proposals for preventative actions and more effective treatments. Other questions included duration of treatment, survival rate, cost to clients, post mortem findings and reasons for poisonings.     

Pathological changes of tracheal mucosa in chickens infected with infectious laryngotracheitis virus

Six-week-old chickens were inoculated via the posterior thoracic air sac with infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Chickens were sacrificed on various days through day 16 postinoculation (PI), and the trachea was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). The pathological changes observed on day 1 PI were hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells. From day 3 PI, the epithelial cells protruded collectively and fused to form syncytia, which contained many intranuclear inclusion bodies. Subsequently, epithelial syncytia desquamated, one after another, and connective tissues were exposed in places. Serofibrinous exudate and detritus were abundant on the surface of the exposed connective tissues and seemed to form a pseudomembrane. On day 5 PI, the remaining epithelial cells began to repair the devastated mucosa just under the pseudomembrane. On day 6 PI, microvillus-rich regenerating epithelial cells were arranged like paving stones. On day 8 PI, the epithelial cells proliferated extensively and formed folds with cyst-like structures. By day 16 PI, the tracheal epithelium was covered with cilia and regained its normal histologic appearance.