Superficial digital flexor tendonitis in Thoroughbred race horses: outcome following non-surgical treatment and superior check desmotomy

Objective This study documents the results of non-surgical treatment and treatment by superior check desmotomy in Thoroughbred racehorses with superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis. Design A prospective study was made of 124 thoroughbred racehorses with unilateral or bilateral SDF tendonitis. Procedure The flexor tendons were assessed by physical and ultrasonographic examination before treatment, and the lesions detected in affected tendons were characterised according to lesion type, length and cross-sectional area. Ninety three horses were managed non-surgically and 31 by superior check desmotomy. Recurrent or new injuries were defined as injuries affecting a previously injured superficial digital flexor tendon, the contralateral SDF tendon, or the suspensory ligament (interosseous muscle) in either forelimb. Results No statistically significant difference was found in ultrasonographic lesion severity between treatment groups. Horses managed by superior check desmotomy were 1.3 times more likely to complete five or more races than horses managed non-surgically (95% confidence limits 0.93–1.82). Horses treated surgically were 1.2 times more likely to develop recurrent or new injuries after returning to training than horses managed non-surgically (95% CL 0.95–1.55). Horses under-going superior check desmotomy were 5.5 times more likely to develop suspensory desmitis than horses treated non-surgically (95% CL 1.13–26.4). There was no difference in the time to recurrent or new injury between treatment groups. Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups in the proportions of horses able to complete five or more races after an episode of superficial digital flexor tendonitis. Superior check desmotomy did not appear to offer an advantage over non-surgical treatment in preventing recurrent or new injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Horses undergoing superior check desmotomy appeared to be at greater risk of developing suspensery ligament injuries than horses managed non-surgically.     

Progress of the comparative MHC Committee and a summary of the Comparative MHC Workshops held at the 32nd ISAG, Edinburgh and the 9th IVIS, Tokyo, 2010

The comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee was formed following a recommendation by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) at its meeting in G?ttingen, Germany in 2002. The committee subsequently became affiliated to VIC, the Veterinary Immunology Committee of IUIS; the International Union of Immunological Societies, which is the umbrella organization for immunology societies worldwide. The committee currently fulfils three roles: (1) to establish guidelines for MHC nomenclature in species outside of human and mouse, (2) to facilitate the development of databases which provide a source of validated MHC sequences with official nomenclatures for associated species (immuno-polymorphism database IPD-MHC) and (3) to facilitate scientific discussion on comparative aspects of MHC biology. The committee currently comprises individuals representing a range of species nomenclature committees. This report summarises progress the committee has made in addressing its core objectives as well as the principal outputs from the Comparative MHC Workshops held at the 32nd International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) conference in Edinburgh, UK in July 2010 as well as in August 2010 at the 9th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS) in Tokyo, Japan. Additional data from posters and presentations at related workshops focussing on aspects of MHC biology are also included where appropriate.     

Lack of evidence for an association between MHC diversity and the development of bovine neonatal pancytopenia in Holstein dairy cattle

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP), a disease of neonatal calves, has been described in a number of European countries since 2006. The disease results in high mortality of calves aged 1-4 weeks and is characterised by severe bone marrow pathology resulting in profound thrombocytopenia and consequent haemorrhagic diathesis. A number of hypotheses including a novel virus infection, plant toxins, a vaccine associated isoimmune disease, or a genetic defect have been suggested to explain the aetiology of this disease. However, as the number of cases in affected herds remains small, it is hypothesised that the genetic background of the calf may influence disease susceptibility. To test this we focused on the class II region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which is often associated with variations in immune response and susceptibility to antibody mediated autoimmune disease. Forty-three cases of BNP and sixty-eight controls were genotyped at the polymorphic class II MHC-DRB3 locus. Twenty DRB3 alleles were identified with seven appearing at frequencies ≥ 0.05. A comparison of the allelic frequencies between diseased and control groups showed that there was no evidence for any significant differences, suggesting that the MHC does not appear to be a predisposing risk factor in the development of BNP in Holstein dairy cattle.     

A Double‐blind,Placebo‐controlled,Multicenter, Prospective,Randomized Study of Beraprost Sodium Treatment for Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common progressive and irreversible disease in cats. The efficacy and safety of beraprost sodium (BPS) in cats with CKD have not been evaluated.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of BPS in the treatment of cats with CKD, as compared to placebo.

Animals

Seventy‐four client‐owned cats with naturally occurring CKD.

Methods

Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter, prospective, randomized trial. The cats received BPS (55 μg/cat) or a placebo PO q12 h for 180 days. The primary endpoint was prospectively defined as a change in the serum creatinine (sCr), serum phosphorus‐to‐calcium ratio or urine specific gravity (USG).

Results

The sCr increased significantly (P = 0.0030) in the placebo group (mean ± SD: 2.8 ± 0.7 to 3.2 ± 1.3 mg/dL) but not in the BPS group (2.4 ± 0.7 to 2.5 ± 0.7 mg/dL). The difference between the groups at day 180 was significant (0.8 mg/dL, 95% CI: 0.2 to 1.3 mg/dL, P = 0.0071). The serum phosphorus‐to‐calcium ratio was significantly (P = 0.0037) increased in the placebo group (0.46 ± 0.10 to 0.52 ± 0.21 mg/dL) but not in the BPS group (0.50 ± 0.08 to 0.51 ± 0.11 mg/dL). There was no significant change in the USG in either group. An adverse event judged as being treatment‐related included vomiting that occurred in 1 case in the placebo group. No clinically relevant change was observed in the CBC and other blood chemistry tests.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Beraprost sodium treatment was well tolerated and safe in cats with CKD. BPS inhibited the reduction in renal filtration function as measured by sCr increase.     

Focal eosinophilic proctitis with associated rectal prolapse in a pony

Focal intramural nodules were palpated in the rectal wall of a 12-year-old pony mare presented for rectal prolapse. Eosinophilic proctitis was diagnosed by examination of fine needle aspirates and biopsy of the largest rectal nodule. After treatment with a course of corticosteroids, the rectal nodule and accompanying peripheral eosinophilia resolved. There was no recurrence of the condition during the follow-up period of 20 months. Focal eosinophilic proctitis appeared to be an unusual cause of tenesmus and rectal prolapse in this case.     

Polymorphs of Alumina Predicted by First Principles: Putting Pressure on the Ruby Pressure Scale

Fully optimized quantum mechanical calculations indicate that Al2O3 transforms from the corundum structure to the as yet unobserved Rh2O3 (II) structure at about 78 gigapascals, and it further transforms to Pbnm-perovskite structure at 223 gigapascals. The predicted x-ray spectrum of the Rh2O3 (II) structure is similar to that of the corundum structure, suggesting that the Rh2O3 (II) structure could go undetected in high-pressure x-ray measurements. It is therefore possible that the ruby (Cr3+-doped corundum) fluorescence pressure scale is sensitive to the thermal history of the ruby chips in a given experiment.     

Analysis of host genetic factors influencing African trypanosome species infection in a cohort of Tanzanian Bos indicus cattle

Trypanosomosis caused by infection with protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma is a major health constraint to cattle production in many African countries. One hundred and seventy one Bos indicus cattle from traditional pastoral Maasai (87) and more intensively managed Boran (84) animals in Tanzania were screened by PCR for the presence of African animal trypanosomes (Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei), using blood samples archived on FTA cards. All cattle screened for trypanosomes were also genotyped at the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DRB3 locus to investigate possible associations between host MHC and trypanosome infection. Overall, 23.4% of the 171 cattle tested positive for at least one of the three trypanosome species. The prevalence of individual trypanosome species was 8.8% (T. congolense), 4.7% (T. vivax) and 15.8% (T. brucei). The high prevalence of T. brucei compared with T. congolense and T. vivax was unexpected as this species has previously been considered to be of lesser importance in terms of African bovine trypanosomosis. Significantly higher numbers of Maasai cattle were infected with T. brucei (23.0%, p=0.009) and T. congolense (13.8%, p=0.019) compared with Boran cattle (8.3% and 3.6%, respectively). Analysis of BoLA-DRB3 diversity in this cohort identified extensive allelic diversity. Thirty-three BoLA-DRB3 PCR-RFLP defined alleles were identified. One allele (DRB3*15) was significantly associated with an increased risk (odds ratio, OR=2.71, p=0.034) of T. brucei infection and three alleles (DRB3*35, *16 and *23) were associated with increased risk of T. congolense infection. While further work is required to dissect the role of these alleles in susceptibility to T. brucei and T. congolense infections, this study demonstrates the utility of FTA archived blood samples in combined molecular analyses of both host and pathogen.     

Effect of dietary vitamin E and selenium supplementation on semen quality in Cairn Terriers with normospermia

Among others, selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VitE) have been provided to dogs to improve semen quality. However, scientific evidence documenting an effect in dogs is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of these antioxidants on various ejaculate parameters in a randomized, double‐blinded trial using Cairn Terrier males exhibiting normal seminal quality parameters. Three dogs each were fed a standardized diet and supplemented with 0.1 mg Se, 100 mg VitE or 0.1 mg Se + 100 mg VitE/dog for 3 months. Ejaculate analyses (volume, progressive motility, vitality, morphology, concentration) were performed before inclusion (D0) and after 1, 2 and 3 months (+1, +2, +3). At the same time, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX) and VitE in seminal plasma (SP) and GSH‐PX in blood samples were determined. Vitamin E levels in SP were below the detection limit (1.0 mg/L) in all samples. GSH‐PX in blood (164.0–2794.4 IU/L) and SP (18.4–4326.0 IU/L) was highly variable. Supplementation only significantly affected the total percentage of sperm head abnormalities (p = .011). Time significantly affected the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm (p = .025), sperm head abnormalities (p = .007), proximal droplets (p = .001) and GSH‐PX in SP (p = .015). Additionally, a significant interaction between time and group was identified for the percentage of membrane‐intact sperm (p = .048), head abnormalities (p = .018), acrosomal defects (p = .043) and proximal droplets (p = .002). Although some effects could be identified for selected parameters, we failed to identify a clear trend about how a 3 months VitE and/or Se supplementation affects semen parameters in normospermic Cairn Terriers.     

Testing the usability of truncated angle count sample plots as ground truth in airborne laser scanning-based forest inventories

Airborne laser scanner (ALS)-based forest inventory method usuallyadopt a laser canopy height distribution approach in which forestcharacteristics are predicted using measures such as percentilesof the distribution of laser canopy heights across a fixed area.The method requires a ground-truth sample of accurately measuredfield plots. One possibility for reducing the costs lies inthe use of existing field plots for ground-truth purposes. Themost obvious alternative in Finland would be to use truncatedangle count sample plots of the National Forest Inventory ormore locally data of checking of inventory by compartments.Due to the lack of suitable angle count ground-truth data andcorresponding laser data, we tested this possibility using dataon fixed-area sample plots, in which tree locations were simulated.The trees for a truncated angle count sample plot were thenchosen and the resulting data together with the characteristicsof an ALS-based canopy height distribution were used to constructregression models to predict stem volume, basal area, stem number,basal area median diameter and height. The accuracy of the standattributes was found to be almost as good as in the case ofmodels of fixed-area plots.