Reference cardiopulmonary physiologic parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum).

Chemical restraint is an important tool for the management and medical care of both captive and free-ranging rhinoceroses. Current anesthetic protocols for the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) are reported to cause varying degrees of hypertension, tachycardia, muscular stiffness and fasciculation, acidosis, and, most importantly, respiratory depression with resulting hypoventilation, hypoxia, and hypercapnea. To assist in the assessment and development of new and improved anesthetic techniques for the white rhinoceros, the following cardiopulmonary reference parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses were generated (mean +/- standard error [minimum maximum]): heart rate = 39 +/- 0.8 beats/min (32-42), respiratory rate = 19 +/- 0.6 breaths/min (16-23), corrected indirect systolic blood pressure = 160 +/- 2.9 mm Hg (146-183), corrected indirect diastolic blood pressure = 104 +/- 2.3 mm Hg (88-117), corrected indirect mean blood pressure = 124 +/- 2.2 mm Hg (108-135), end tidal CO2 = 45.1 +/- 0.7 mm Hg (41.7-48.0), rectal temperature = 36.8 +/- 0.1 degrees C (36.6-37.2), arterial blood pH = 7.391 +/- 0.007 (7.346-7.431), arterial partial pressure of oxygen = 98.2 +/- 1.4 mm Hg (90.2-108.6), arterial partial pressure of CO2 = 49.0 +/- 0.9 mm Hg (44.4-53.7), base excess = 3.5 +/- 0.4 mmol/L (1.9-5.9), bicarbonate = 29.3 +/- 0.4 mmol/L (27.3-32.2), and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) = 97.2 +/- 0.1% (96.6-98.0).     

Quantification of the response of equine apocrine sweat glands to beta2-adrenergic stimulation.

The aim of the present study was to characterise the quantitative sweating response of the horse to beta2-adrenergic stimulation. The sweating responses of 6 horses to the randomised infusion of 8 different adrenaline concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1.0 or 2.0 microg/kg bwt/min), was investigated. Sweating rate (SR) and skin temperature (TSK) on the neck (N) and gluteal region (G), and plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were measured. Peak SR was approximately 15 (N) and approximately 9 g/m2/min (G) during infusion of both 1.0 and 2.0 microg/kg bwt/min adrenaline. Sweat produced per nmol/l plasma adrenaline peaked during the infusion of 0.075 microg/kg bwt/min adrenaline. Higher adrenaline infusion concentrations resulted in a progressive decrease in the amount of sweat produced per nmol/l plasma adrenaline and a plateau of 6 g/m2/(nmol/l) plasma adrenaline was reached for infusions between 1.0 and 2.0 microg/kg bwt/min. Peak SR were far lower than we have previously reported during exercise. There was no evidence of sweat gland fatigue or vasoconstriction during infusion, suggesting saturation of sweat gland beta2 receptors. We conclude that sweating in the horse is under dual control from a combination of hormonal and neural mechanisms.     

Nodular skin disease associated with Dirofilaria immitis infection in the dog.

Three dogs with dirofilariasis had a dermatologic syndrome, characterized by pruritus and multifocal nodules which tended to ulcerate. The cutaneous nodules revealed angiocentric pyogranulomatous inflammation with variable numbers of eosinophils. Microfilariae were often present in the blood vessels surrounded by the pyogranulomatous process. Therapy for dirofilariasis resulted in complete resolution of the dermatitis.     

Health care delivery and advanced technology

Remedying the deficiencies in the current health care delivery system and effectively using advances in biomedical research require that a significant effort be organized to develop advanced technology in this field. The time is ripe and development personnel are available; hence, what are needed are simply a dedication to solving the problem, a commitment of resources toward this end, and an organizational mode that will allow the effective participation of developmental personnel.     

Dermatohistopathologic changes in bovine congenital porphyria.

Congenital porphyria was diagnosed in 4 crossbred cattle. All had pink-brown discoloration of the teeth and amber colored urine, which fluoresced bright orange with exposure to ultraviolet light. Elevated levels of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin were found in the urine of all 4 cattle. Skin biopsies taken from 2 of the cattle revealed subepidermal blister formation and thickening of upper dermal blood vessel walls with deposition of a PAS-positive, hyaline-like material.     

A new anaesthetic for birds

The successful use of the anaesthetic methohexatone sodium is described. Average recovery time was between 20 and 40 min.     

The control of rotting and browning of litchi fruit by hot benomyl and plastic film

Browning, weight loss and rotting of litchis (Litchi chinensis Sonn) were studied in 3 seasons with fruit from several growing-areas in Australia. Post-harvest wastage was reduced when the fruit were dipped in hot benomyl and packed in plastic film. A benomyl dip (0.05% at 52°C for 2 min) followed by packing the fruit in punnets and over-wrapping with a “cling” pvc film (0.01 mm thickness) is suggested for controlling rotting, browning and loss in weight at temperatures of 20–30°C.