Intramuscular injection of alfaxalone in combination with butorphanol for sedation in cats

Objective

To assess quality of sedation following intramuscular (IM) injection of two doses of alfaxalone in combination with butorphanol in cats.

Long-term study of Cryptosporidium prevalence on a lowland farm in the United Kingdom

A longitudinal sample survey testing for Cryptosporidium in livestock and small wild mammals conducted over 6 years (1992-1997) on a lowland farm in Warwickshire, England, has shown the parasite to be endemic and persistently present in all mammalian categories. Faecal samples were taken throughout the year and oocysts concentrated by a formal ether sedimentation method for detection by immunofluorescence staining using a commercially available genus specific monoclonal antibody. Cryptosporidium parvum was identified by morphology and measurement of modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained oocysts. C. muris was rarely found in wild mammals and C. andersoni oocysts were never detected in livestock. Faecal samples from 3721 individuals gave cumulative 6-year prevalences for C. parvum as follows: bull beef, 3.6%; dairy cows, 3.5%; ewes, 6.4%; horses, 8.9%; calves (home bred), 52%; calves (bought-in) 23.2%; lambs, 12.9%; small wild mammals (rodents) living in and around farm buildings, 32.8%; small wild mammals (mainly rodents) living in areas of pasture, 29.9%. Animal categories with the highest prevalences also shed the highest average oocyst numbers per gram of faeces (ranging from 1.4 x 10(3) for bull beef to 1.1 x 10(5) for calves). Analysis of annual and seasonal data for each animal category revealed that patterns of infection were variable and sporadic; this means that short-term sampling was never likely to provide a true or representative picture. Seasonally combined data for adult livestock, young livestock and small wild mammals showed all three categories tended to have the highest Cryptosporidium prevalences in the autumn. Calves were separated from their dams within 24h of birth and yet showed high prevalence of infection in most years despite the low prevalence for the dairy herd. It is possible the coincidence of high autumn prevalence in mice with the main period for the rearing of calves contributed to the infection of the latter. The farming estate was used to teach students of agriculture and took pride in good land management and husbandry practices that produced well fed and healthy livestock. The data from this estate may represent, therefore, the baseline, the lowest possible levels to be expected, for Cryptosporidium infection and oocyst production on a lowland farm in the United Kingdom.     

Cardiac troponin I in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The molecular structure of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is highly conserved across mammalian species and assays developed for its measurement in human patients have been validated in a number of veterinary species. A raised concentration of circulating cTnI is a sensitive and specific marker of cardiac myocyte injury. Raised levels have been documented in a variety of cardiac diseases in both human and veterinary patients. This study compared serum cTnI concentrations between 16 cats diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using echocardiography and 18 control cats. The results show that cats with HCM have significantly higher concentration of serum cTnI (median 0.95 ng/ml, range 0.2-4.1 ng/ml) than control cats (median <0.2 ng/ml, range <0.2-0.25 ng/ml) [P<0.0001]. Furthermore in cats with cardiomyopathy a weak correlation was found between the thickness of the left ventricular freewall in diastole measured by ultrasound and serum cTnI concentration (r(2)=0.28;P=0.036). These results suggest that measurement of serum cTnI concentration may enable cats with cardiomyopathy to be distinguished from normal cats using the assay described here.     

Investigations on the ability of clenbuterol hydrochloride to reduce clinical signs and inflammation associated with equine influenza A infection

Twenty-four Quarter Horse and Quarter Horse-cross yearlings were experimentally infected with influenza A virus (Influenza A/equine/Saskatoon/90 [H3N8]) by nebulisation. In a double blind controlled trial the horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 8 animals. Group 1 received a placebo, (carrier syrup), Group 2 the labelled dose and Group 3 twice the labelled dose of clenbuterol hydrochloride. All treatments were given per os b.i.d. for 10 days and started on the day of infection. The horses were monitored for clinical signs of influenza infection for 14 days. Bronchoalveolar lavages were performed 4 days prior to, and 5 and 13 days after infection. Cell counts and concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2alpha in the lavage fluid were determined. Blood samples for haematology and serology were taken 4 days before, on the day of infection, 5, 9 and 13 days after infection. All horses experienced a typical influenza infection with fever, coughing and secondary bacterial infections with mainly Actinobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. There was no statistically or clinically significant effect of treatment with clenbuterol hydrochloride on measured clinical or laboratory parameters within 14 days of infection.     

Narcolepsy in a Brahman bull

Behavioral, electrophysiologic, and pharmacologic tests were performed on a 2 1/2-year-old Brahman bull suspected of having narcolepsy. Placement on a tilt table or electroejaculation induced apparent sleep and cataplexy. Electrophysiologic recordings during the episodes revealed the low-voltage, high-frequency electroencephalogram, reduced electromyogram amplitude, and rapid eye movements in the electrooculogram associated with rapid eye movements sleep. Physostigmine salicylate appeared to elicit and potentiate the episodes, whereas atropine sulfate and imipramine reduced or blocked them. The combined results of the tests supported the diagnosis of narcolepsy.     

The cells of equine blood and their development.

Based on morphologie studies on bone marrow, lymphnode and blood preparations the cells of equine blood and their developmental stages are described and illustrated with 32 coloured photographs.