Management of bilateral idiopathic renal hematuria in a dog with silver nitrate

Renal hematuria has limited treatment options. This report describes management of bilateral idiopathic renal hematuria in a dog with surgically assisted installation of 0.5% silver nitrate solution. Initial treatment resulted in freedom from clinical signs or recurrent anemia for 10 months; however, recurrence of bleeding following a nephrectomy resulted in euthanasia.     

Determination of Dose Rate of Florfenicol in Feed for Control of Mortality in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) Infected with Edwardsiella ictaluri, Etiological Agent of Enteric Septicemia

–A dose titration study was conducted to determine the appropriate dosage of florfenicol in feed to control mortality in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus associated with enteric septicemia of catfish caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri. Six tanks (20 fish/ tank) were assigned to each of the following treatment: 1) not challenged with E. ictaluri and fed unmedicated feed; 2) challenged with E. ictaluri and fed unmedicated feed; 3) challenged and fed 5-mg florfenicol/kg body weight (kg bw); 4) challenged and fed 10-mg florfenicol/kg bw; or 5) challenged and fed 15-mg florfenicol/kg bw. Treatment was initiated the day after inoculation, and feed was administered by hand at 2.5% body weight for 10 consecutive days. Feeding activity was scored for all groups and was noted to be significantly less than the challenged, unmedicated group. Cumulative mortality in the challenged untreated group was 60%. The mortality in the unchallenged untreated group was 0%, and in die 5-, 10-, 15-mg florfenicol/kg bw group was 2.5%, 0.8%, and 2.5%, respectively. The mortality in each challenged, treated group and the non-challenged control group was significantly less than the challenged, unmedicated controls (P < 0.0001 for each contrast). There were no pairwise statistically significant contrasts among the florfenicol treated groups and the non-challenged control group. All 600 fish in the study were necropsied, cultured for bacteria, and examined by gross pathology. No specific lesions that could be associated with the antibiotic were observed. The efficacy of the 10 mg/kg dosage was confirmed in a separate dose confirmation study. In this study, fish in 30 tanks (20 fish/ tank) were infected with E. icraluri by immersion. Two days post-inoculation, fish in 15 tanks were hand-fed unmedicated feed, and 15 tanks were hand-fed medicated feed at a dosage of 10-mg florfenicol/kg bw at 2.5% body weight for 10 d. Feeding activity was scored and was noted to be significantly less than the challenged, unmedicated group. Cumulative mortality in the florfenicol group (14%) was significantly less than cumulative mortality in the untreated group (87.3%) (P < 0.0001). All 600 fish were submitted for bacterial culture, necropsied. and examined for gross pathology, and once again, no specific lesions that could be associated with the antibiotic were observed. The minimum inhibitory concentration of florfenicol against E. ictaluri in both studies was 0.25 ug/mL. Florfenicol was palatable, safe, and efficacious for control of mortality due to infection by E. ictaluri in catfish.     

Canine liver iron, copper, and zinc concentrations and association with histologic lesions.

Concentrations of iron, copper, and zinc were measured in livers of 95 dogs that were suspected of having liver disease. Iron concentrations ranged from 177 to 7,680 ppm (dry weight basis); 54 dogs had iron concentrations greater than the normal concentration of 1,200 ppm. Iron stores were present in Kupffer cells and macrophages but not hepatocytes. The dogs did not have lesions of hemochromatosis. Dogs with high liver iron tended to have high liver copper and inflammatory lesions. High liver copper concentrations usually were associated with hepatocellular necrosis and fibrosis. High liver zinc was found in only 5 animals and was accompanied by histologic inflammatory lesions in one. In humans, increased iron concentration in the liver exacerbates liver damage caused by a variety of insults, and the same may be true for dogs.     

Seasonal and interannual analysis of wetlands in South America using NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time series: the case of the Parana Delta Region

The use of NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time series from July 1981 to December 2000 was evaluated for the assessment of the functioning of a wetland macrosystem, the Paraná River Delta. The spatial resolution of the dataset was 8 by 8 km. Spatial and temporal variations in NDVI pattern were analyzed and evidences for El Niño/South Oscillation events identified. We studied five wetland units (WUs) classified on the basis of landscape pattern and dominant hydrologic regime. Spearman rank correlations were performed among the NDVI time series of the different WUs. NDVI time series were correlated with water level in the Paraná River and with records of local rainfall. In order to obtain a synthetic model of NDVI patterns, the autocorrelation functions (ACF) were estimated for each of the WUs. Results indicated that monthly mean NDVI values for all WUs showed a similar annual seasonal pattern, suggesting a control from the plant annual cycle on the NDVI signal. Besides, two general NDVI patterns were identified. The first pattern is represented by WUs under fluvial hydrologic regime. This is subjected to a significative interannual variability associated mainly to ENSO events. The second pattern corresponds to WUs with a very regular NDVI patterns. It includes wetlands which water input corresponds to tides or to rainfall. The ENSO had no significant influence on this pattern. This study suggests that NOAA-AVHRR NDVI long time series might provide valuable information about functioning of the large scale fluvial wetlands like those associated with South America basins.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF THE MAIN PULMONARY ARTERY TO AORTIC DIAMETER RATIO IN HEALTHY DOGS: A COMPARISON TO ECHOCARDIOGRAPHICALLY DERIVED RATIOS

Indicators of pulmonary hypertension in dogs examined with thoracic computed tomography (CT) are not well established in the veterinary literature. In humans, the main pulmonary artery to aortic diameter ratio (MPA:Ao) measured via CT, has been shown to be more sensitive than echocardiographic variables for predicting presence and severity of pulmonary hypertension, in some cases. In veterinary literature, the MPA:Ao has been determined echocardiographically to have an upper limit of about 1:1. Measurement of this ratio has not been described in dogs using CT. The objectives of this cross‐sectional, prospective study were to compare echocardiographic measurement of MPA:Ao with that obtained via CT, determine if measurement of MPA:Ao via CT is repeatable and reproducible, and determine the effect of respiration and contrast administration on the measurement of MPA:Ao via CT. Ten healthy dogs without pulmonary hypertension were anesthetized to undergo thoracic CT using three protocols and echocardiography. The MPA:Ao was measured three times by three observers for each of the three CT protocols and compared to echocardiographic measurements. The mean MPA:Ao measured among all observers and CT protocols was 1.108 ± 0.152 (SD). The effect of CT scan protocol on MPA:Ao significantly differed among the three methods (P = 0.0014), where expiratory scans had lower MPA:Ao than inspiratory scans. The ratio measured on inspiratory CT scans consistently overestimated MPA:Ao when compared to echocardiography (bias = 0.226). Findings did not support the echocardiographically derived upper limit of MPA:Ao as an upper limit for determination of main pulmonary arterial enlargement on CT.     

Sea otters in a dirty ocean

The connection between the health of humans, animals, and the environments in which they live have been well recognized and have recently been referred to as one health, one medicine. An example of the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health is provided by the situation facing southern sea otters off the US Pacific coast.     

Ivermectin use and resulting milk residues on 4 Canadian dairy herds

The Canadian gFARAD was contacted for milk withdrawal recommendations after multiple cases of topical ivermectin use in lactating dairy cows. The following 4 cases included pertinent milk residue information and illustrate the challenges faced by producers, veterinarians, and regulatory authorities when ivermectin use occurs in dairy cows.