Pharmacokinetics of penicillin G procaine versus penicillin G potassium and procaine hydrochloride in horses

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pharmacokinetics of penicillin G and procaine in racehorses following i.m. administration of penicillin G procaine (PGP) with pharmacokinetics following i.m. administration of penicillin G potassium and procaine hydrochloride (PH). ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult mares. PROCEDURE: Horses were treated with PGP (22,000 units of penicillin G/kg of body weight, i.m.) and with penicillin G potassium (22,000 U/kg, i.m.) and PH (1.55 mg/kg, i.m.). A minimum of 3 weeks was allowed to elapse between drug treatments. Plasma and urine penicillin G and procaine concentrations were measured by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Median elimination phase half-lives of penicillin G were 24.7 and 12.9 hours, respectively, after administration of PGP and penicillin G potassium. Plasma penicillin G concentration 24 hours after administration of penicillin G potassium and PH was not significantly different from concentration 24 hours after administration of PGP. Median elimination phase half-life of procaine following administration of PGP (15.6 hours) was significantly longer than value obtained after administration of penicillin G potassium and PH (1 hour). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that i.m. administration of penicillin G potassium will result in plasma penicillin G concentrations for 24 hours after drug administration comparable to those obtained with administration of PGP Clearance of procaine from plasma following administration of penicillin G potassium and PH was rapid, compared with clearance following administration of PGP.     

Genetic analysis of vesicular stomatitis virus-New Jersey from the 1995 outbreak in the western United States

OBJECTIVE: To compare molecular associations between the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-New Jersey isolates of the 1995 outbreak with those from previous outbreaks between 1982 and 1985 in the western United States. SAMPLE POPULATION: 23 virus isolates considered representative of the 1995 outbreak of vesicular stomatitis. PROCEDURE: Viral gene coding for surface-envelope protein G was evaluated by use of nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Changes in up to 0.77% of the nucleotide bases and 1.35% of the amino acids were detected among the 1995 viral isolates, whereas changes in up to 3.2 and 2.9% of the nucleotides and amino acids, respectively, were found, compared with the 1982 to 1985 viruses. Insertions or deletions were not found in the entire gene, which spanned 1,554 nucleotide bases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 1995 VSV-New Jersey belongs to a lineage distinct from that of the 1982 to 1985 viruses that caused previous outbreaks in the western United States. Furthermore, it also is distinct from strains from Central America and from the Georgian Hazelhurst strain.     

Technical note: Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed

One polyclonal antibody against florfenicol and thiamphenicol was produced and a competitive ELISA was developed for the detection of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed. The ELISA gave a 50% inhibiting concentration of 1.02 ng/mL for florfenicol. For swine feed fortified with 0.05 to 3.0 mg/kg, the interassay recoveries of florfenicol and thiamphenicol ranged from 86.4 to 118.6%, whereas intraassay recoveries of both drug ranged from 90.1 to 126.5% with less than 15% CV. Results obtained from HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry indicated this ELISA procedure could be used as a convenient method for rapid screening of florfenicol and thiamphenicol in swine feed.     

Epidemiology of feline leukaemia and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in the Czech Republic

Commercial serological sets were used for the examination of 727 cats kept in larger towns of the Czech Republic. FeLV antigen and antibodies to FIV were demonstrated in 96 (13.2%) and 42 (5.8%) of the animals, respectively. Seven (0.96%) animals were positive for both FeLV and FIV. Most of the FeLV and/or FIV positive patients were intact rambling males aged 1-4 years. Chronic gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases were found in 54.2% and 43.8% of the FeLV-positive patients, respectively. Chronic urinary tract diseases and generalized lymphadenopathy were found in 47.6% and 45.2% of the FIV-positive patients, respectively. The results of this first survey in the Czech Republic have shown prevalence values and clinical patterns similar to those reported formerly from other European countries.     

Diagnostic radiology of pet and wild birds: a review. I. Radiographic techniques and radiographs of healthy birds.

By the radiographic examination of pet and wild birds, veterinary clinicians may relatively easily obtain additional information that can be used routinely in their everyday diagnostic and therapeutic work. The first part of the present review summarizes the basic technical conditions of radiological examinations, analyses the radiographic features of healthy birds, and describes the procedure and radiological indications of contrast radiography.     

Endoscopic examination of snakes by access through an air sac

Sixteen boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), three royal pythons (Python regius) and 15 Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) were examined endoscopically by access through the air sac. The snakes were immobilised in a ventral position using a half-open anaesthetic system with assisted ventilation and a mixture of isoflurane and oxygen. The rigid endoscope was introduced percutaneously and the internal structure of the lungs and the air sac, and the shape, size and external surface of the liver were visible in the cranial direction. In the smaller snakes the bifurcation and caudal part of the trachea could be viewed, provided the endoscope was positioned in a retrograde orientation. The caudal orientation of the endoscope made it possible to view the gall bladder and the size, shape and surface of the spleen. In some cases, the pancreas and the surface of the stomach and colon could be monitored. Endoscopy through the air sac also made it possible to check the major veins in the coelom. The snakes were monitored for at least 30 days after the intervention and no changes in their respiratory function or general health were observed.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefquinome in healthy piglets

A study on bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of cefquinome in piglets was conducted after intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administrations of 2.0 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Plasma concentrations were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography assay with UV detector at 268‐nm wavelength. Plasma concentration–time data after i.v. administration were best fit by a two‐compartment model. The pharmacokinetic values were distribution half‐life 0.27 ± 0.21 h, elimination half‐life 1.85 ± 1.11 h, total body clearance 0.26 ± 0.08 L/kg·h, area under curve 8.07 ± 1.91 μg·h/mL and volume of distribution at steady state 0.46 ± 0.10 L/kg. Plasma concentration–time data after i.m. administration were also best fit by a two‐compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were distribution half‐life 0.88 ± 0.42 h, elimination half‐life 4.36 ± 2.35 h, peak concentration 4.01 ± 0.57 μg/mL and bioavailability 95.13 ± 9.93%.     

抗菌肽及其在畜牧业中的应用

抗菌肽是动物体以及人类自身免疫系统中重要的组成部分。自从上个世纪70年代初由瑞典科学家Boman HG首次发现后,人们逐渐开始关注这一具有广谱抗菌性能,且相对于抗生素具有高效和无残留等显著优点的抗菌物质。随着对其研究深入,人们对抗菌肽的分布、结构和作用有了很大认识,并根据需要进行了分类。本文主要介绍抗菌肽的来源及其各自结构、分类的研究进展等,为今后的研究和学习提供借鉴。