Efficacy and Toxicity of Tocainide for the Treatment of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Doberman Pinschers With Occult Cardiomyopathy

Tocainide was administered to 23 cardiomyopathic Doberman Pinschers at doses of 15 to 25 mg/kg tid. These doses produced peak (2–hour) serum concentrations of 6.2 to 19.1 mg/L and trough (8–hour) serum concentrations of 2.3 to 11.1 mg/L. Anorexia and gastrointestinal disturbances occurred in 8 dogs (35%) at doses (15.6 to 25.0 mg/kg) that were not different from those (16.0 to 26.0 mg/kg) received by dogs that did not experience toxicity. Doses producing peak serum concentrations that were either greater or less than 14 mg/L were not different. Likewise, doses producing trough values that were either greater or less than 6 mg/L were not different. The mean dose that produced peak serum concentrations of 10 to 13.6 mg/L and trough concentrations of 4.2 to 10.0 mg/L was 17.9 mg/kg, and was associated with anorexia in 4 dogs. Mean peak serum concentrations associated with toxicity (14.4 mg/L) were significantly higher ( P = .02) than dogs not experiencing toxicity (11.8 mg/L). Serious adverse effects occurred in 7 of 12 dogs (58%) receiving tocainide for longer than 4 consecutive months. Progressive corneal endothelial dystrophy occurred in 3 dogs. Although a causal effect could not be proven, 6 dogs experienced renal dysfunction during treatment. Drug doses in these 7 dogs were similar to those received by other dogs. At least a 70% reduction of the total numbers of ventricular premature contractions occurred in 80% of dogs treated, and ventricular tachycardia was eliminated in 90% of affected dogs by the time of the first post-treatment Holter recording. Long-term control of ventricular tachyarrhythmias was difficult to achieve in some dogs when the left ventricular shortening fraction was less than approximately 17%. J Vet Intern Med 1996;10:235–240. Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine .     

Ovarian follicular structure of White Leghorns fed ad libitum and dwarf and normal broiler breeders fed ad libitum or restricted until point of lay

1. Yellow follicle numbers when the first egg was laid were 6.3, 9.0 and 12.4 for ad libitum reared Leghorns, sex-linked Dwarf (AL Dwarf) and Normal broiler breeders respectively. Multiple ovulation resulted in low egg production and a high proportion of defective egg shells in AL Dwarf and Normal broiler breeders during early lay. 2. Restricting the growth of broiler breeders during rearing by restricting food intake (R Dwarfs) reduced the number of yellow follicles to 6.8 and increased the rate of lay. 3. Atretic yellow follicles were common among broiler breeders but not in Leghorns or R Dwarfs when the first egg was laid. 4. Poor egg production in older broiler breeders was caused by birds with few or no developing yellow follicles, atresia in yellow follicles and the continued occurrence of multiple ovulations. 5. There was no relationship between the number of yellow follicles and the number of white follicles less than 5 mm diameter but atresia in white follicles 2 to less than 5 mm was negatively related to the number of yellow follicles. 7. No relationship was observed between abdominal fat weight and yellow follicle number, though birds which ate more had more yellow follicles. 8.The sex-linked dwarfing gene dw was associated with increased atresia among the white follicles and low numbers of yellow follicles compared with the Normal DW broiler breeder genotype.     

Frequency of urinary tract infection among dogs with pruritic disorders receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) among dogs with pruritic disorders that were or were not receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment. DESIGN: Observational study. ANIMALS: 127 dogs receiving glucocorticoids for > 6 months and 94 dogs not receiving glucocorticoids. PROCEDURE: Bacterial culture of urine samples was performed in dogs receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment, and information was collected on drug administered, dosage, frequency of administration, duration of glucocorticoid treatment, and clinical signs of UTI. For dogs not receiving glucocorticoids, a single urine sample was submitted for bacterial culture. RESULTS: Multiple (2 to 6) urine samples were submitted for 70 of the 127 (55%) dogs receiving glucocorticoids; thus, 240 urine samples were analyzed. For 23 of the 127 (18.1%) dogs, results of bacterial culture were positive at least once, but none of the dogs had clinical signs of UTI. Pyuria and bacteriuria (present vs absent) were found to correctly predict results of bacterial culture for 89.9% and 95.8% of the samples, respectively. Type of glycocorticoid, dosage, frequency of administration, and duration of treatment were not associated with frequency of UTI. None of the urine samples from dogs not receiving glucocorticoids yielded bacterial growth. The frequency of UTI was significantly higher for dogs treated with glucocorticoids than for dogs that had not received glucocorticoids. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that dogs receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment have an increased risk of developing a UTI. On this basis, we recommend that urine samples be submitted for bacterial culture at least yearly for such dogs.     

In vitro cytopathic effects of a cysteine protease of Tritrichomonas foetus on cultured bovine uterine epithelial cells

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytopathic effects of Tritrichomonas foetus and a purified cysteine protease (ie, CP30) of T foetus on cultured bovine uterine epithelial cells (BUECs) in vitro. SAMPLE POPULATION: 10 reproductive tracts were obtained from late-term bovine fetuses at a commercial abattoir. PROCEDURE: An in vitro culture system of BUECs was developed to study the cytopathic effects of T foetus and purified CP30 of T foetus on host cells. Cytotoxicity of T foetus or CP30 on exposed BUECs was determined. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses were used to detect apoptosis. A fluorometric assay was used to detect BUEC caspase 3 activation. The CP inhibitor E-64 and a caspase inhibitor were used to inhibit apoptosis. RESULTS: Cytopathic effects were observed in BUECs treated with parasites or CP30 and were concentration and time dependent. The BUECs underwent apoptosis in the presence of parasites or CP30. The specific CP inhibitor E-64 abolished the induction of apoptosis in BUECs by CP30. The caspase inhibitor reduced the amount of apoptosis in BUECs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: T foetus and its CP30 induce apoptosis in cultured BUECs in vitro. Induction of apoptosis by CP30 is correlated with protease activity. Endometrial cell death as a result of a T foetus infection is likely to be more important in mediating infertility than a direct effect on the conceptus. Provoking an apoptotic reaction in the host may mitigate an inflammatory reaction or immune response and therefore favor survival of the parasite in a chronic infection.     

Observations on the laying behaviour of hens in battery cages

Observations were made on the laying behaviour of hens from each of two commercial strains kept in a Thornber battery cage system. Attention was paid to the following behavioural components of oviposition: the position of the hen in the cage; the stance of the hen; the height through which the egg fell; the orientation of the egg; the time taken to oviposit; the time taken for the egg to roll out of the cage and the incidence of pecking at the egg.

Less detailed observations were made on the pre‐laying behaviour of the hens.