A comparison of three methods of end-to-end anastomosis in the equine small colon

Six animals were used to compare simple interrupted, simple continuous, and stapled techniques for end-to-end rotated small colon anastomoses. Three ponies were evaluated three days after surgery for adhesion formation and luminal diameter at each anastomosis site. Two ponies and one horse were evaluated 14 days after surgery for adhesion formation. All anastomosis sites were examined histologically for alignment of tissue planes, and evidence of inflammation. No single technique was superior in all areas examined. While only three of the nine anastomoses had mild fibrinous adhesions at three days after surgery, all anastomoses had varying degrees of well-organized adhesions by 14 days after surgery. Three days after surgery luminal diameter was most comprised by the simple continuous technique. Although the simple interrupted technique was most consistent in its alignment of tissue planes, it was only slightly better than the simple continuous pattern. Stapled anastomoses were inverted or everted at all sites examined. Adhesion formation was less extensive, and histologic evidence of inflammation was less severe, in stapled anastomoses. The average times required to complete the simple interrupted, simple continuous, and stapled anastomoses were 22, 14, and 8 minutes, respectively.     

Treatment of teat obstruction in a cow by transfer of oral mucosa and temporary implantation of an intraluminal tube

A dairy cow was examined because of extensive obstruction of a teat cistern. The teat was treated by surgical resection of scar tissue, transplantation of an oral-mucosal autograft, and temporary implantation of a silastic tube. The silastic tube became dislodged from the teat, and was surgically removed 30 days after the initial surgery. The cow subsequently had 2 normal lactations. Prior to the third postoperative lactation, the cow developed severe udder edema. During lactation, the surgically treated teat became hard and was difficult to milk. The cow was then culled.     

Adenocarcinoma of the jejunum in two cows

Two cows from separate farms were examined for gastrointestinal disturbances. The first animal had an acute gastrointestinal disturbance with colic and the second animal had chronic weight loss and anemia. Both cows had jejunal adenocarcinoma with metastasis. They were euthanized and necropsied. Adenocarcinomas of each cow were similar histologically. Adenocarcinoma of the intestine is a rare disorder of cattle, but may present as either an acute or chronic gastrointestinal disturbance.     

Chlamydia psittaci: a suspected cause of reproductive loss in three Victorian horses

Chlamydia psittaci was detected by PCR in the lung and equine foetal membranes of two aborted equine foetuses and one weak foal from two different studs in Victoria, Australia. The abortions occurred in September 2019 in two mares sharing a paddock northeast of Melbourne. The weak foal was born in October 2019 in a similar geographical region and died soon after birth despite receiving veterinary care. The detection of C. psittaci DNA in the lung and equine foetal membranes of the aborted or weak foals and the absence of any other factors that are commonly associated with abortion or neonatal death suggest that this pathogen may be the cause of the reproductive loss. The detection of C. psittaci in these cases is consistent with the recent detection of C. psittaci in association with equine abortion in New South Wales. These cases in Victoria show that C. psittaci, and the zoonotic risk it poses, should be considered in association with equine reproductive loss in other areas of Australia.