Broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR compared to bacterial culture to confirm presumed synovial infection in horses

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the accuracy of broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR compared to bacterial culture for the detection of synovial infection in horses. The study included 57 synovial fluid samples from horses with presumed synovial infection and a control group consisting of 31 synovial fluid samples originating from clinically normal horses and horses with aseptic synovial inflammation. All samples were analysed by 16S PCR with reverse line blot (RLB) hybridisation. Synovial fluid samples were cultured using conventional agar plate methods (APM) and/or blood culture medium (BCM). The results of the study showed a superior detection rate (89.5%) for 16S PCR with RLB. Bacterial culture had lower sensitivity, but highly acceptable detection rates (77.6%) were observed using BCM. APM had very low sensitivity (37.8%) and infection was never detected by plate isolation without positive incubation in BCM. The highest sensitivity (91.8%) for the detection of synovial infection was achieved when the results of incubation in BCM and 16S PCR were combined. For all the tests, the specificity was higher than 90%.     

Safety and efficacy of a technique for thoracoscopically guided pulmonary wedge resection in horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopically guided pulmonary wedge resection in horses. ANIMALS: 10 horses (5 control horses and 5 horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction [ie, heaves]). PROCEDURE: Each horse underwent a thoracoscopically guided pulmonary wedge resection. Before, during, and after surgery, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases, and systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were measured. Physical examination, CBC, and thoracic radiography and ultrasonography were performed 24 hours before and 2 and 48 hours after surgery. Pulmonary specimens were assessed by histologic examination. A second thoracoscopic procedure 14 days later was used to evaluate the resection site. RESULTS: The technique provided excellent specimens for histologic evaluation of the lung. Heart and respiratory rates decreased significantly after horses were administered sedatives. A significant transient decrease in Pao2 was detected immediately after pulmonary wedge resection, but we did not detect significant effects on arterial pH, Paco2, or mean arterial and pulmonary arterial pressures. All horses except 1 were clinically normal after thoracoscopic surgery; that horse developed hemothorax attributable to iatrogenic injury to the diaphragm. The second thoracoscopy revealed minimal inflammation, and there were no adhesions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thoracoscopically guided pulmonary wedge resection provides a minimally invasive method for use in obtaining specimens of lung tissues from healthy horses and those with lung disease. This technique may be useful for the diagnosis of diseases of the lungs and thoracic cavity.     

The apparent prevalence of skin lesions suspected to be human-inflicted in Danish finishing pigs at slaughter

Skin lesions on pigs inflicted by humans compromise animal welfare and are the subject of increased public and political attention in Denmark. Systematic surveillance of such skin lesions was enforced in April 2010 at all Danish pig abattoirs, through the recording of meat inspection Code 904 for the presence of skin lesions suspected to be human inflicted. The objectives of the present study were to (a) estimate the apparent prevalence of Code 904s at the pig and herd owner level; (b) characterise the distribution of deliveries with pigs demonstrating a Code 904; (c) characterise the distribution of herd owners with repeated Code 904 recordings; and (d) determine the developments in Code 904 prevalence over time in Danish finishing pigs in the period from May 1, 2010 to September 30, 2013.     

Herbivory, pathogens, and epiphylls in Araucaria Forest and ecologically-managed tree monocultures

Over the last centuries, natural forests have been replaced by extensive and homogeneous tree monocultures that cause strong impacts on ecological interactions and ecosystem processes. We expect, however, that ecologically-sustainable management practices can help to mitigate these effects. This study investigates how the replacement of Araucaria Forest by ecologically-managed tree monocultures affects leaf damage patterns produced by external chewers, internal chewers, leaf miners, galling insects, and pathogens, as well as the incidence of epiphylls. The study was performed in the São Francisco de Paula National Forest (southern Brazil) on 12 1-ha plots of Araucaria Forest and ecologically managed plantations of Araucaria, Pinus and Eucalyptus. Overall, 9955 leaves of the understory community (up to 1 m tall) were sampled and analyzed. The mean and the frequency distribution pattern of leaf damage were very similar between Araucaria Forest and all three tree monocultures. Also, there was no difference between habitats in the percentage of leaves attacked by different feeding guilds of insect herbivores and by pathogens. Araucaria Forest had a higher percentage of leaves with epiphylls than Eucalyptus plantation, probably due to its shadier and moister microclimate. Ecologically managed tree monocultures sustain a wide variety of herbivorous insects, pathogens and epiphylls which helps the maintenance of key ecological interactions and the functioning of the ecosystem.     

Seismic imaging of the downwelling Indian lithosphere beneath central Tibet

A tomographic image of the upper mantle beneath central Tibet from INDEPTH data has revealed a subvertical high-velocity zone from approximately 100- to approximately 400-kilometers depth, located approximately south of the Bangong-Nujiang Suture. We interpret this zone to be downwelling Indian mantle lithosphere. This additional lithosphere would account for the total amount of shortening in the Himalayas and Tibet. A consequence of this downwelling would be a deficit of asthenosphere, which should be balanced by an upwelling counterflow, and thus could explain the presence of warm mantle beneath north-central Tibet.     

Synovial fluid and plasma concentrations of ceftiofur after regional intravenous perfusion in the horse

OBJECTIVE: To determine radiocarpal (RC) joint synovial fluid and plasma ceftiofur concentrations after regional intravenous perfusion (RIP) and systemic intravenous (IV) administration. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental cross-over study. ANIMALS: Five normal adult horses. METHODS: One RC joint was randomly selected for RIP and the contralateral RC joint was sampled to determine intrasynovial ceftiofur concentrations after IV administration. Wash-out between IV and RIP was > or = 14 days. After surgical introduction of an intraarticular catheter, ceftiofur (2 g) was administered under general anesthesia either IV or by RIP after tourniquet application. Plasma and synovial fluid were collected over 24 hours. Samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and the results were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed effect model. RESULTS: Mean synovial fluid ceftiofur concentrations were consistently higher after RIP than after IV administration and were > 1 mug/mL (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] for common pathogens) for >24 hours. Mean synovial fluid peak concentration of ceftiofur after RIP and IV administration was 392.7+/-103.29 microg/mL at 0.5 hours postinjection (HPI) and 2.72+/-0.31 mug/mL at 1 HPI, respectively. Large variations in synovial fluid and plasma ceftiofur concentrations were observed between horses regardless of administration technique. RIP did not cause adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Under the present experimental conditions RIP with ceftiofur (2 g) induced significantly higher intraarticular antibiotic concentrations in the RC joint in comparison with IV administration. Moreover, after RIP, synovial fluid ceftiofur concentrations remain above the MIC for common pathogens (1 microg/mL) for > 24 hours. No adverse effects from the technique or the antibiotic were observed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: RIP with high doses of ceftiofur may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy when treating equine synovial infections which are caused by cephalosporin susceptible microorganisms.     

Ultrasonographic findings in dogs with hyperammonemia: 90 cases (2000-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To determine ultrasonographic abnormalities in dogs with hyperammonemia. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 90 client-owned dogs with hyperammonemia. PROCEDURE: Ultrasonography of the abdominal vessels and organs was performed in a systematic way. Dogs in which the ultrasonographic diagnosis was a congenital portosystemic shunt were included only if they underwent laparotomy or necropsy. Dogs in which the abdominal vasculature appeared normal and dogs in which the ultrasonographic diagnosis was acquired portosystemic shunts and portal hypertension were included only if liver biopsy specimens were submitted for histologic examination. RESULTS: Ultrasonography excluded portosystemic shunting in 11 dogs. Acquired portosystemic shunts were found in 17 dogs, of which 3 had arterioportal fistulae and 14 had other hepatic abnormalities. Congenital portosystemic shunts were found in 61 dogs, of which 19 had intrahepatic shunts and 42 had extrahepatic shunts. Intrahepatic shunts originated from the left portal branch in 14 dogs and the right portal branch in 5. Extrahepatic shunts originated from the splenic vein, the right gastric vein, or both and entered the caudal vena cava or the thorax. Ultrasonography revealed splenic-caval shunts in 24 dogs, right gastric-caval shunts in 9 dogs, splenic-azygos shunts in 8 dogs, and a right gastric-azygos shunt in 1 dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that ultrasonography is a reliable diagnostic method to noninvasively characterize the underlying disease in dogs with hyperammonemia. A dilated left testicular or ovarian vein was a reliable indicator of acquired portosystemic shunts.     

Ultrasonographic assessment of hemodynamic changes in the portal vein during surgical attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine portal hemodynamic changes associated with surgical shunt ligation and establish ultrasonographic criteria for determining the optimal degree of shunt narrowing and predicting outcome. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 17 dogs, each with a single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. PROCEDURE: Pre- and postligation flow velocities and flow directions were determined by Doppler ultrasonography intraoperatively in the shunt and in the portal vein cranial and caudal to the shunt origin. Outcome was evaluated 1 month after surgery by measuring blood ammonia concentration and performing abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Hepatofugal flow was detected in 9 of 17 dogs before shunt attenuation in the portal segment that was between the shunt origin and the entering point of the gastroduodenal vein. If hepatofugal flow became hepatopetal after shunt ligation, hyperammonemia resolved. Hepatofugal portal flow was caused by blood that flowed from the gastroduodenal vein toward the shunt. Shunt attenuation converted hepatofugal flow to hepatopetal in the shunt in 12 of 17 dogs. Chronic portal hypertension developed or perioperative death occurred when the portal congestion index caudal to the shunt origin increased by > 3.6 times. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: After hepatopetal flow in the cranial portal vein and the shunt is established, further shunt narrowing is contraindicated. Increase of the portal congestion index caudal to the shunt > 3.5 times should be avoided. Poor outcome because of severe hypoplasia of the portal branches can be expected if the flow direction remains hepatofugal after shunt occlusion cranial to the shunt origin.