Ultrasonographic imaging of the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) intertarsal joint.

Tendon ossification in the crus and tarsometatarsal regions of cranes makes ultrasonography difficult everywhere except for joints, where ossification is absent. Normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the adult Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) intertarsal joint is described on the basis of ultrasonography that was performed on the limbs of a cadaver, which were dissected and cross-sectioned subsequently, to correlate ultrasonographic images with anatomic structures. Intertarsal joints of five normal sandhill cranes and two cranes with known intertarsal abnormalities were then imaged bilaterally in transverse and sagittal planes. Ultrasonographic imaging can be used to evaluate the soft-tissue structures on the dorsal and plantar aspects of the intertarsal joint of cranes, and it is a useful adjunct to physical and radiographic examination for localizing injuries to this area.     

Magnetic Motor Evoked Potentials in Ponies

Magnetic stimulation of motor pathways was used to effect motor unit action potential recordings from forelimb and hindlimb muscles in unanesthetized ponies. Motor pathway conduction velocities to the forelimb and hindlimb were determined to be 53.8 ± 9.6 m/s^-1 and 63.4 ± 8.3 m/s^-1, respectively. This noninvasive technique will enable more precise evaluation of motor deficits in clinical patients than is possible with the neurological examination.     

Plasma Taurine Concentrations in Normal Dogs and in Dogs With Heart Disease

Plasma taurine concentrations were determined in 76 dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 28 dogs with acquired valvular disease (AVD), and 47 normal (control) dogs. The data were collected at 2 referral centers. The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY (AMC), and the University of California, Davis (UCD), and the studies were conducted independently. Different anticoagulants (sodium citrate at AMC and lithium heparin at UCD) were used to collect the plasma samples. Paired analysis of samples showed a significant difference in plasma taurine concentrations, depending on the anticoagulant used. Consequently, results from each clinic were analyzed separately. Plasma taurine concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with AVD (median, 133 nmol/mL; range, 25 to 229 nmol/mL) than in control dogs (median, 63 nmol/mL; range 44 to 224 nmol/mL) and dogs with DCM (median, 72 nmol/mL; range, 1 to 247 nmol/mL) at AMC (P= .001). The number of dogs with AVD at UCD was too small to draw meaningful conclusions. At UCD, the median plasma taurine concentration was 98 nmol/mL (range, 28–169 nmol/mL) in dogs with AVD, 75 nmol/mL (range, 0.1–184 nmol/mL) in dogs with DCM, and 88 nmol/mL (range 52–180 nmol/mL) in control dogs. There were no significant differences in plasma taurine concentrations between dogs with DCM and the control dogs at either hospital. Congestive heart failure and administration of cardiac medication had no significant effect on plasma taurine concentrations. Plasma taurine concentration was low (<25 nmol/mL) in 17% (13/76) of the dogs with DCM. Seven of the 13 dogs with low plasma taurine concentrations were Cocker Spaniels or Golden Retrievers. It was concluded that most dogs with DCM do not have low plasma taurine concentrations. However, certain breeds or individual dogs may have low plasma taurine concentrations in association with DCM. Whether this association is causal or not is unknown. The significance of the high plasma taurine concentrations in dogs with AVD is also unknown.     

Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings in two white-tailed deer fawns persistently infected with Bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important pathogen of domestic cattle. Serologic, experimental, and individual case studies explored the presence and pathogenesis of the virus in wild ungulates; however, there remain large gaps in knowledge regarding BVDV infection in nonbovine species. Live twins were born from a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) doe infected with noncytopathic BVDV during its first trimester of pregnancy. The twins died at 1 day of age from trauma unrelated to the infection, and tissues were collected for histologic and immunohistochemical examination. The most significant histologic abnormality was diffuse depletion of B-lymphocytes in both fawns. The BVDV antigen was distributed widely throughout many tissues and cell types, most notably epithelium and vascular endothelium, consistent with that reported in cattle. In contrast to cattle, lymphocytes exhibited only very rare positive staining.     

Effects of propofol on ultrasonic indicators of haemodynamic function in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of intravenous propofol in rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, experimental study. ANIMALS: Thirty-one female New Zealand White rabbits. METHODS: Rabbits were allocated to one of two groups [propofol (P) or conscious (C)]. In C (n = 16) vascular dimensions were measured using ultrasound of the left common carotid artery (ACC) and the abdominal aorta (AA). Group P (n = 15) received propofol 4.0-8.0 mg kg(-1) intravenously (IV). Anaesthesia was maintained with propofol at 1.2-1.3 mg kg(-1) minute(-1). Subsequently, three propofol injections (8 mg kg(-1)) were given. Before and for 10 minutes after each injection the following vascular and haemodynamic variables were recorded (a) at the ACC after the first injection; and (b) at the AA after the second injection: vessel diameter [D, (mm)], peak systolic, minimum diastolic, end-diastolic and average blood flow velocities [psBFV, mdBFV, edBFV, Vave (cm second(-1))], average volumetric flow [VFave (mL s(-1))], resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) and end-tidal CO(2) (Pe'CO(2)). Echocardiography was performed after the third propofol bolus injection to investigate changes in cardiac parameters [fractional shortening, FS (%)]. RESULTS: Intravenous propofol injections caused a significant decrease in vessel diameter, volumetric flow and edBFV, and significant increases in psBFV, RI and PI. Baseline levels for vessel diameter and psBFV were restored 6-8 minutes after injection. Propofol injection decreased FS significantly by 7 minutes after injection while MAP and HR were significantly reduced for 4 minutes. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Injections of propofol (8 mg kg(-1)) produced an immediate, transient decrease in vascular diameters, a significant decrease in ventricular performance and an increase in peripheral vascular resistance (ACC and AA). Propofol should probably not be or only carefully used in rabbits with ventricular dysfunction.