Computed tomography of the lungs of Indian pythons (Python molurus)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) for detection of pneumonia in snakes. ANIMALS: 8 clinically normal Indian pythons (Python molurus) and 5 pythons with evidence of respiratory tract disease. PROCEDURES: Preliminary examinations (clinical examination, conventional radiography, and microbiologic examination of a transtracheal wash sample) were performed. The lungs of each snake were then examined by use of CT performed in accordance with a standardized protocol. Structures of the lungs were assessed, and thickness and attenuation of the parenchyma were determined. RESULTS: It was possible to assess lung parenchyma in all pythons. Mean +/- SD attenuation in healthy pythons was -744.4 +/- 47.1 Hounsfield units. Significant differences were not evident between the right and left lungs or among measurement areas within a lung. In all Indian pythons with clinical signs of dyspnea and microbiologic detection of pathogens, hyperattenuation of the alveolar tissue was evident. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analysis of the results revealed the benefit of CT for use in the diagnosis of pneumonia in snakes. A standardized protocol and reference values were established as a basis for CT assessment of the lungs of snakes.     

DNA diagnosis in veterinary medicine: II. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

DNA diagnostic has become very important for genetic and infectious diseases. With a new method, called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), specific pieces of genomes from viruses, bacteria, parasites or even cells can be amplified more than hundred million fold in a very short time period. For the following reasons this opens a new dimension in diagnostics: (1) The technique is so sensitive that a single virus, bacterium, parasite or cell is sufficient to be detected provided part of its nucleic acid sequence is known. (2) The material does neither need to be fresh nor be stored under special conditions since the nucleic acids are much more stable than e.g. enzymes or other proteins. (3) The method is quicker than the usual immunodetection methods. (4) The polymerase chain reaction has been standardized recently so that it can be carried out in diagnostic laboratories. The purpose of this minireview is to give an introduction into the basic technique and to mention possible and already existing applications in veterinary medicine.     

Serum insulin concentrations in horses with equine Cushing's syndrome: response to a cortisol inhibitor and prognostic value

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Serum insulin concentration and its use as a prognostic indicator in horses with equine Cushing's syndrome (ECS) have been poorly documented. OBJECTIVES: To examine daily insulin variations in horses with ECS and the effect of treatment using trilostane, a competitive inhibitor of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Further, we aimed to examine the relationship between baseline serum insulin concentration and survival in horses with ECS. METHODS: Basal serum insulin concentrations were measured in 20 confirmed ECS cases by taking blood at regular 4 h intervals for 24 h (1200, 1600, 2000, 2400, 0400 and 0800 h) before treatment (Day 0) and 10 days, and 30 days and 1-2 years after the onset of trilostane therapy. The temporal pattern of insulin was analysed using a linear mixed model approach, and the prognostic value of measurements on Day 0 assessed using receiver-operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Horses with ECS showed a diurnal pattern of serum insulin concentration, highest value at 1200 h, and this pattern was not altered by treatment with trilostane. Furthermore, despite a mild increase of serum insulin concentrations after 10 days of trilostane therapy, insulin concentration was unaffected in the long-term. Low serum insulin concentrations at the beginning of the trial were significantly associated with improved survival to 1-2 years. The 1200 h sampling before treatment had the highest prognostic value for prediction of survival with a sensitivity and specificity of at least 90% for serum insulin at < 62 and > 188 microu/ml to predict survival and nonsurvival, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Insulin is a useful prognostic indicator for ECS, but potentially large variations can occur throughout a 24 h period, indicating a single sample may not be representative. Serum insulin concentration did not increase over 1-2 years in horses receiving trilostane therapy.     

Salmonella enteritidis clearance and immune responses in chickens following Salmonella vaccination and challenge

Our previous work showed that the cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was enhanced by live Salmonella vaccine (LV). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of live and killed Salmonella vaccines on Salmonella enteritidis (SE) clearance and to determine if the clearance was mediated by cell-mediated and/or humoral immunity. Chickens were first immunized at 2 weeks of age followed by a booster dose at 4 weeks, challenged with live SE 2 weeks later (6-week-old) and tested for CMI, antibody response and SE clearance 1-week post SE-challenge (7-week-old). Spleen cell proliferation induced by SE-flagella and Concanavalin A (Con A) were significantly higher and SE shedding was significantly lower in the LV group. The splenic CD3 population was significantly lower and B cells were higher in the control group compared to all the SE-challenged groups (with and without vaccination). Serum antibody to SE-flagella and envelope were significantly higher in the KV group compared to all the other groups. These results suggest that LV protects against SE infection, probably by enhancing the CMI.     

Measurement of ileal protein digestibility using 15N-labeled rats

After 15N-labelling over 7 days male albino rats (92-95 g live weight) received either a wheat or whole egg diet (10 animals each) for 4 days. On the following day of the experiment 5 animals each continued to receive their diets as their morning meal (group 1 whole egg, group 3 wheat) and 5 animals each after the previous feeding of a wheat diet received a 2.9 g whole egg diet (group 2) and after the previous feeding of a whole egg diet a 2.85 g wheat diet (group 4) resp. This morning meal was supplemented with chromium(III)oxide. The rats consumed their meals within 20 minutes. The animals were killed 3.5 hours after the beginning of feed intake. At that time the following relative amounts (in % of the intake) could be detected in the stomach in the sequence of groups 1 to 4: Cr2O3 = 22.5; 26.5; 57.5 and 64.2; dry matter = 25.4; 22.1; 43.2 and 38.5. The better agreement between the whole egg diet and Cr2O3 can be explained with the hydrophobic qualities of Cr2O3 and the small disposition of the Cr2O3 to decompose in combination with the whole egg diet. In the first third of the small intestines less than 1% of the intake of Cr2O3 and a maximum of 3.5% of the DM could be detected. Between 20 and 36% of the Cr2O3 and between 15 and 20% of the dry matter intake were ascertained in the small intestines as a whole; in the large intestines the values were 12-20% of the Cr2O3 and 16-23% of the DM. Endogenous 15N-secretion could be ascertained in all parts of the digestive tract. According to the method suggested by U. Bergner and H. Bergner (1982), protein digestibility in the last third of the small intestines was calculated as follows: (formula; see text) The following ileal digestibility values were calculated for crude protein: whole egg = 95.6%; whole egg (wheat previously) = 95.5%; wheat = 94.1%; wheat (whole egg previously) = 85.1%. It is a precondition for the application of this method that at the time of killing representative quotas of the diet sample to be tested can be detected both in the stomach and the large intestine so that the decrease of 15N-labelling in the ileum is actually caused by the test protein.