One-stage prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrin degradation product concentration, and antithrombin activity in healthy adult alpacas

Background: Alpacas are increasingly presented to veterinarians for evaluation and care. Reports of alpaca reference intervals for one‐stage prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT), concentration of fibrin degradation products (FDP), and antithrombin (AT) activities are scarce or nonexistent. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine values for blood coagulation times (PT, aPTT, and TT), FDP concentrations, and AT activities in healthy adult alpacas. Methods: Of blood samples collected from 35 clinically healthy adult alpacas via jugular venipuncture and placed into sodium citrate and FDP tubes, 29 samples were assayable for coagulation testing. PT, aPTT, and TT were determined by physical (mechanical) clot detection; AT activity was determined using a thrombin‐specific chromogenic substrate end‐point assay; and FDP concentrations were determined by the slide agglutination method. Results: Median values and ranges (minimum–maximum) were determined for PT (8.7 seconds, 6.6–11.2 seconds), aPTT (17.3 seconds, 11.9–22.5 seconds), TT (10.2 seconds, 5.4–16.0 seconds), and AT activity (123.3%, 104.8–144.2%). The mean concentration of FDP was <8 μg/mL. Conclusion: These values for coagulation times, FDP concentration, and AT activity will provide a useful starting point in the diagnostic evaluation of ill adult alpacas.     

内毒素介导动物急性肾功能衰竭机理的试验研究

为了阐明内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭的机理,观察了内毒素性肾功能衰竭家兔血液凝固性变化和肾脏的病理形态学变化。与对照组家兔比较,模型组家兔血小板计数和血浆纤维蛋白原含量极显著降低(P<0 01),出血时间、凝血时间、凝血酶原时间和白陶土部分凝血活酶生成时间显著或极显著延长(P<0 05,P<0 01)。另一方面,内毒素注射在全部模型组家兔导致了弥漫性血管内凝血,71.4%的肾小球中发现了微血栓,肾小球纤维素密度指数达60 6%。此外,96.2%的肾小管上皮细胞变性坏死,84.1%的肾小管中有管型形成。对照组家兔均未发现这些病理变化。上述试验结果揭示,内毒素引发了弥漫性血管内凝血,而肾小球毛细血管内广泛形成的微血栓阻断了肾小球毛细血管血流,从而导致肾小球滤过率降低,这是内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭的首要机理。此外,肾小管上皮细胞的变性、坏死可损害其重吸收和分泌功能,管型形成可阻塞肾小管管腔并增大肾球囊内的压力,这些也都是在内毒素介导急性肾功能衰竭发生发展过程中起重要作用的因素。     

Liquoid-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in the blue fox

The present experiments were performed to study the effects of a single high intravenous dose of Liquoid (10 mg/kg body weight) upon platelets, coagulation activities and hematocrit in blue foxes, and their correlation with the survival time. Both “short-living” (< 9 h) and “long-living” (24 h or more) blue foxes showed a marked consumption of coagulation factors, initial fall in fibrinogen, positive ethanol gel test and a gradual decrease in platelet counts. In addition “short-living” animals developed a marked rise in hematocrit, reflecting a considerable increase in vascular permeability. We conclude that activation of plasma proteases has as one of its effects increased permeability in microvasculatory vessels and that this may play a central role for the course and outcome of Liquoid-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.     

Digestive Physiology and the Role of Microorganisms

The gastrointestinal tract contains within it a microenvironment of bacteria that influences the host animal in many ways. The microflora can metabolize several nutrients that the host cannot digest and converts these to end products (such as short-chain fatty acids), a process that has a direct impact on digestive physiology. The microbiota directs the assembly of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, helps educate the immune system, affects the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, modulates proliferation and differentiation of its epithelial lineages, regulates angiogenesis, modifies the activity of the enteric nervous system, and plays a key role in extracting and processing nutrients consumed in the diet. Despite these important effects, the mechanisms by which the gut microbial community influences host biology remain almost entirely unknown. Recent molecular-based investigations have confirmed the species diversity and metabolic complexity of gut microflora, although there is much work to be done to understand how they relate to each other as well as the host animal. It is almost a century ago that Eli Metchnikoff proposed the revolutionary idea to consume viable bacteria to promote health. Since that time, the area known as probiotics has made dramatic progress, particularly during the past 2 decades. The last 20 yr have also seen the emergence of a new, related area of study—prebiotics. Use of these 2 ideas—providing live nonpathogenic bacteria as well as substrates for their growth—have potential to help optimize the health of animals by manipulating the gastrointestinal tract in positive ways.     

复合乳酸菌制剂对黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胃肠道pH、肠道形态和盲肠微生物的影响

本研究旨在探究复合乳酸菌制剂(CLP)对黄羽肉鸡生长性能、组织器官指数、胃肠道pH、肠道形态以及盲肠微生物数量的影响.选取1日龄体重相近、健康状况良好的黄羽肉鸡母鸡2100只,随机分成5组,每组6个重复,每个重复70只.对照组饲喂基础饲粮,抗生素组在基础饲粮中添加120 mg/kg的恩拉霉素,试验组分别在基础饲粮中添加...     

不同复合微生物制剂对薯渣与大豆秸秆混贮发酵品质、营养成分及瘤胃降解率的影响

本试验旨在研究4种不同复合微生物制剂对薯渣与大豆秸秆混贮发酵效果的影响。试验采用密封塑料桶进行混贮,将薯渣与大豆秸秆按照1∶3的重量比混合,采用单因素试验设计,分别设置对照组(不含微生物制剂)及试验1、2、3和4组(分别添加微生物制剂1、2、3、4),每组3个重复。贮存60 d后取样分析,采用实验室化学分析法测定混贮饲料的发酵品质和营养成分,采用半体内法测定48 h瘤胃降解率,同时进行有氧稳定性测试。结果表明:1)各复合微生物制剂组的感官评定结果无明显差异,均为一级优良。2)经发酵品质的分析测定,各复合微生物制剂组的混贮饲料发酵品质均得到改善,以试验2组的pH最低(P<0.01),乳酸含量最高(P<0.01),氨态氮/总氮最低(P>0.05)。3)除试验4组外,各复合微生物制剂组的干物质损失率(DML)均高于对照组(P>0.05),与对照组相比,各复合微生物制剂组粗蛋白质(CP)含量提高(P>0.05),而可溶性碳水化合物(WSC)含量极显著降低(P<0.01),中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)含量无显著差异(P>0.05)。4)各复合微生物制剂组的有氧稳定性较对照组均得到提高,其中以试验2组的效果最好(P<0.01),其次是试验1组(P<0.01)、试验3组(P<0.01)和试验4组(P<0.05)。5)各复合微生物制剂组的干物质(DM)48h瘤胃降解率极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),CP瘤胃降解率(P<0.05)、NDF瘤胃降解率(P<0.01)与对照组相比均以试验2组最高,且试验2组的ADF瘤胃降解率显著高于对照(P<0.05),但与其他组差异不显著(P>0.05),各复合微生物制剂组的淀粉瘤胃降解率较对照组均得到提高,试验2组的淀粉瘤胃降解率较对照组提高3.34%(P<0.01)。综上,在本试验条件下,经发酵处理后,薯渣混贮饲料质地松软,呈酸香味,无黏手现象,试验2组对薯渣与大豆秸秆混贮饲料的发酵品质有明显的改善作用,处理效果最好。     

Thromboelastography: a tool for measuring hypercoagulability, hypocoagulability, and fibrinolysis

Objective: To describe the technique of thromboelastography (TEG) and review the applications of this coagulation test in humans and small animals. Data sources: Data sources included scientific reviews and original research publications. Human data synthesis: TEG in humans has been used for documentation of hypercoagulable and hypocoagulable states and has been shown to be beneficial in patient management. Veterinary data synthesis: Clinical evaluation of TEG in veterinary medicine is limited; however, recent reports have documented evidence of hypercoagulability in dogs with parvovirus and protein‐losing nephropathy. Additionally, many of the research models may be relevant to veterinary patients. Conclusions: TEG provides information about coagulation that is not available through routine coagulation tests. The application of TEG monitoring to veterinary patients shows promise; however, prospective clinical studies are needed.