Pregnancy-related diabetes mellitus in two dogs

CASE SUMMARIES: Two cases of diabetes mellitus occurring in bitches in association with pregnancy are reported. In the first case, a bitch with suspected acromegaly developed diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks of the due date. Despite insulin therapy, euglycaemia was not achieved. Two live, small pups were delivered by elective Caesarean section but died within 2 days. Signs consistent with acromegaly resolved but diabetes mellitus was permanent in the bitch. In the second case, diabetic ketosis with severe gastrointestinal disease was diagnosed 2 days after Caesarean section was performed due to dystocia. The pups delivered all died within 5 days. The bitch recovered fully from diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks and has remained euglycaemic without insulin for a period of at least 18 months. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These two cases demonstrate that diabetes mellitus can occur in association with pregnancy in dogs, that diabetic ketosis can occur during transient diabetes mellitus in dogs, and suggest that acromegaly may occur during pregnancy-related dioestrus in dogs. The scarcity of previous reports of this nature, however, suggests that such cases are unusual. Lack of prompt resolution of hyperglycaemia may result in secondary diabetes mellitus becoming permanent. Management should focus on immediate insulin therapy or ovariohysterectomy to minimise this risk. Even mild hyperglycaemia should not be ignored during pregnancy. The insulin antagonistic effects of pregnancy, stressful illness, surgery and dystocia can be enough to result in diabetic ketosis in the absence of permanent insulin deficiency. Maternal hyperglycaemia may contribute to adverse fetal outcomes in dogs but further study is required regarding the nature of the risk.     

Idiopathic primary chylopericardium in a dog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was evaluated because of pericardial effusion. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog had a history of decreased appetite and exercise intolerance of 3 days' duration. Thoracic radiography performed by the referring veterinarian revealed a large cardiac silhouette. Heart sounds were muffled. Echocardiographic findings were indicative of severe pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade; no pleural effusion was identified. Pericardiocentesis yielded a considerable amount of chylous fluid. A diagnosis of chylopericardium in the absence of pleural effusion was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Conservative management was not effective, and subtotal pericardectomy and thoracic duct ligation were recommended. Surgery was postponed by the owners for 25 days, at which time the dog had both chylopericardium and chylothorax. The dog underwent subtotal pericardectomy and thoracic duct ligation; to delineate the thoracic duct, intraoperative lymphangiography was performed by injection of a radiopaque contrast agent directly into a mesenteric lymph node and subsequent injection of methylene blue solution into another mesenteric lymph node. Surgical treatment resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs and pleural effusion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the development of chylopericardium prior to development of chylothorax in a dog. Treatment with thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and clinical signs.     

Post-thaw viability of european bison (Bison bonasus) semen frozen with extenders containing egg yolk or lipids of plant origin and examined with a heterologous in vitro fertilization assay.

Basic characteristics of European bison (Bison bonasus) semen were described and the efficacies of two extenders-Triladyl, containing egg yolk, and a synthetic extender, containing soybean lipids-were tested for semen cryopreservation. Seven ejaculates were collected by electroejaculation from a 10-yr-old, European bison bull. Each ejaculate was diluted at 37 degrees C to a final concentration of 200 x 10(6) sperm/ml with Triladyl or the synthetic extender. Extended semen samples were frozen according to a standard bull semen freezing protocol. After 2 wk of storage, one straw from each extender and ejaculate was thawed, and postthaw quality was evaluated by individual sperm motility and movement rate, numbers of sperm morphologic abnormalities and intact acrosomes, functional integrity of the sperm membranes determined by hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), viability (live-dead, eosin-nigrosin stain), and a heterologous in vitro sperm penetration assay (SPA). A total of 600 in vitro-matured bovine oocytes were inseminated with 1 X 10(6) spermatozoa of Holstein semen frozen-thawed in Triladyl (control) or of European bison semen frozen in Triladyl or the synthetic extender. Nuclear status of the oocytes was determined after 18 h of sperm-oocyte coincubation. Extender had no effect on any evaluated parameters of semen after dilution and cooling (4 hr at 5 degrees C) or in postthaw individual motility, quality of movement, and sperm morphology. However, significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes, intact membranes (HOST), and viable sperm (P < 0.01) were in semen frozen in Triladyl than in the synthetic extender. Mean values for heterologous SPA for bull (control) and for bison semen frozen in the synthetic extender were very much alike-63.3+/-10.6% and 63.1 +/- 15.9%, respectively; bison semen frozen in Triladyl was lower, 43.0+/-24.2% but not significantly different. Cumulative results from a variety of viability assays of diluted/cooled and frozen-thawed semen, including the heterologous SPA, suggest that European bison semen can be successfully frozen in both extenders tested in this study.     

Comparison of various doses of carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine for a carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine an optimal dose of carbon 13 ((13)C)-labeled aminopyrine for use in a (13)C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 9 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Food was withheld from each dog for 12 hours. A 2-mL baseline blood sample was obtained from each dog and placed into an evacuated tube containing sodium heparin. Carbon 13-labeled aminopyrine was administered IV at doses of 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg. Additional blood samples (2 mL) were obtained and placed into evacuated tubes containing sodium heparin 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after (13)C-aminopyrine administration. Hydrochloric acid was used to extract CO(2) from blood samples. The extracted gas was analyzed by fractional mass spectrometry to determine the percentage dose of (13)C administered as (13)C-aminopyrine and recovered in extracted gas (PCD). RESULTS: Gross evidence of clinical adverse effects was not detected in any dog after administration of (13)C-aminopyrine. The mean coefficient of variation (CV) for PCD was significantly lower than the mean CV for the summation of PCD values up to a given sampling time (CUMPCD). Mean PCD values among the 4 doses for each sample time were not significantly different. Administration of (13)C-aminopyrine at a dose of 2 mg/kg resulted in the lowest interindividual variability. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The PCD is superior to CUMPCD for the quantification of aminopyrine demethylation. Administration of (13)C-(13)C-aminopyrine at a dose of 2 mg/kg is appropriate for use in the (13)C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test in healthy dogs.     

In vitro activity of Peltophorum africanum Sond. (Fabaceae) extracts on the egg hatching and larval development of the parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis

Trichostrongylus colubriformis is an important cause of parasitic gastroenteritis in ruminants, where it causes protracted diarrhoea, rapid loss of weight, loss of production and death. The in vitro efficacy of extracts of Peltophorum africanum was determined against this parasitic nematode. Eggs and larvae of T. colubriformis were incubated at 23 degrees C in the extracts of the leaf, bark and root of P. africanum at concentrations of 0.008-25 mg ml-1 for 2 and 5 days, respectively. Thiabendazole and water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Inhibition of egg hatching and larval development increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing concentrations of the extracts. Concentrations of 0.2-1.0 mg ml-1 of the extracts of leaf, stem bark, and root bark of P. africanum completely inhibited the hatching of eggs and development of larvae. No eggs and larvae of T. colubriformis could be observed in wells incubated with all the three extracts at concentrations of 5 and 25 mg ml-1. The in vitro model results support the traditional use of P. africanum against nematode parasites. Further research is required to isolate and structurally identify the active anthelmintic compounds, and to improve methods of plant extraction of the effective anthelmintic components that will be readily adaptable for use by rural communities against helminthosis.     

Primary erythrocytosis in a Japanese black calf: a case report

An 8-month-old Japanese Black heifer with severe erythropoietic symptoms was subjected to clinical, histological and cytological examinations. During the 1 month clinical observation period, severe increases in RBC count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration were observed. The plasma erythropoietin (Epo) concentration of the heifer (20.7 mIU/ml) was similar to that observed in normal control heifers. Blood gas examinations of the arterial and venous blood revealed low levels of partial pressure O(2) (PaO(2)), partial pressure CO(2) (PaCO(2)) and O(2) saturation (SaO(2)), while the blood pH was within the normal range. Gross lesions could not be detected. However, microscopic observation revealed severe proliferation of erythroblasts in the bone marrow and in the spleen without evidence of neoplastic changes. Based on these clinical and pathological examinations, we diagnosed the heifer as being the first case of primary erythrocytosis in Japanese Black cattle.     

Risk factors associated with renal insufficiency in horses with primary gastrointestinal disease: 26 cases (2000-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with renal insufficiency in colic- or colitis-affected horses with high serum creatinine (SCr) concentrations evaluated at a referral hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 167 colic- or colitis-affected horses (88 represented a random sample [hospital population], and 79 had high SCr concentration at initial evaluation [study population]). PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed. Data collected included signalment; physical examination, clinicopathologic, and diagnostic findings; and outcome. The study population was categorized on the basis of whether SCr concentration did (AR group; n = 53) or did not (PA group; 26) normalize within 72 hours of fluid therapy. Characteristics of the study and hospital populations were compared. RESULTS: Males and Quarter Horses were significantly overrepresented in the study population. Compared with the hospital population, study-population horses were significantly more likely to have colitis, gastric reflux, and diarrhea at initial evaluation. Initial mean SCr concentration in the PA group was significantly higher than the AR group; identification of gastric reflux, abnormal rectal examination findings, and hypochloremia were significantly associated with persistent azotemia after 72 hours of fluid therapy. Compared with the AR group, PA group horses were 3 times as likely to die or be euthanized. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In colic- or colitis-affected horses, factors associated with renal insufficiency included gastric reflux, abnormal rectal examination findings, or hypochloremia initially; prognosis for horses in which azotemia resolves within 72 hours of treatment appears to be better than for horses with persistent azotemia.     

Prospective analysis for community participation in trypanosomosis control in The Gambia

The shift towards community participation in the eradication of trypanosomosis calls for investigation the underlying incentive structure for individuals in the community to cooperate in the provision of various control methods. Survey data were used to assess patterns of the community’s demand for insecticide pour-ons and trypanocidal drugs and factors affecting individual} demand in The Gambia. The results show that insecticide pour-on is strongly preferred. Similarly, farmers revealed a preference for community-based provision scheme. Factors affecting an individual farmer’s decision to invest in either pour-on or trypanocidal drugs were highlighted. While there are many factors associated with farmer’s decisions to invest in trypanosomosis control methods and to participate in collective actions, the results indicate that farmers} are ready to anticipate complete privatization of veterinary services through community-based schemes.