Investigation of Cervical Patency and Uterine Appearance in Domestic Cats by Fluoroscopy and Scintigraphy

The cervical patency of six domestic female cats was monitored under sedation by infusion of contrast medium (Omnipaque) into the cranial vagina during early oestrus, mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and interoestrus or a radiopharmaceutical (^99mTc‐HSA) during mid‐ and interoestrus in a non‐ovulatory oestrous cycle. The transport of the contrast medium or the radiopharmaceutical through the cervix and within the uterine horns was observed under fluoroscopy and with the aid of scintigraphy. In three of the queens, transcervical transport of contrast medium was demonstrated in all stages of oestrus, in one queen during mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and 1 day after oestrus, and in two queens only during late oestrus. The relations between the cervical patency to the contrast medium and the oestrous behaviour, cornification of the vaginal cells and the serum oestradiol‐17β concentration were evaluated, and a relationship was found between the cervical patency and the degree of vaginal cornification. Transcervical transport of the radiopharmaceutical was observed in three queens during mid‐oestrus. When the cervix was open, hysterography under a fluoroscope and hysteroscintigraphy were performed. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic recordings revealed the patterns of the uterine contractions during oestrus in both ascending and descending directions, and the movement of the uterine contents back and forth between the uterine horns. The hysterograms were classified according to the shape of the uterine horns and the appearance of the endometrial lining. Spiral‐shaped uterine horns with a smooth inner contour were observed in two queens, and a corkscrew appearance with irregular filling defects in the uterine lumen was shown in two queens that had developed subclinical cystic endometrial hyperplasia. These findings demonstrated that fluids or particles deposited in the cranial vagina of the cat can be transported into the uterus during some stages of the oestrous cycle. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic techniques developed in this study may be further modified to permit more detailed studies of uterine contractile patterns and sperm transport in the feline female reproductive tract. Hysterography proved useful to diagnose uterine disease. The information on cervical patency is of value also for the development of techniques for artificial insemination in this species, and should be studied also in the ovulatory cycle.     

Synthesis of Linear Acetylenic Carbon: The "sp" Carbon Allotrope

A carbon allotrope based on "sp" hybridization containing alternating triple and single bonds (an acetylenic or linear carbon allotrope) has been prepared. Studies of small (8 to 28 carbon atoms) acetylenic carbon model compounds show that such species are quite stable (130 degrees to 140 degrees C) provided that nonreactive terminal groups or end caps (such as tert-butyl or trifluoromethyl) are present to stabilize these molecules against further reactions. In the presence of end capping groups, laser-based synthetic techniques similar to those normally used to generate fullerenes, produce thermally stable acetylenic carbon species capped with trifluoromethyl or nitrile groups with chain lengths in excess of 300 carbon atoms. Under these conditions, only a negligible quantity of fullerenes is produced. Acetylenic carbon compounds are not particularly moisture or oxygen sensitive but are moderately light sensitive.     

EFFECT OF REGION OF INTEREST SELECTION AND UPTAKE MEASUREMENT ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASURED BY 99mTc-DTPA SCINTIGRAPHY IN DOGS

Determinations of different methods of measurement of uptake of 99mTc-DTPA using scintigraphy of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were made from 29 studies on 10 healthy beagle dogs. GFR was measured by calculating the percentage dose uptake (integral method) and rate of uptake (slope method) of 99mTc-DTPA using manual kidney regions of interest (ROI) and automatic kidney and background ROIs at different time periods of the uptake phase. These results were compared using linear regression analysis to the GFR obtained from 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance using multiple blood samples. The best correlation coefficient between percentage DTPA uptake and GFR by DTPA clearance (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) was derived from time intervals between 30s-120s with a perirenal background ROI at 1 or 2 pixels out from the kidney ROI using automatic kidney ROI at 20% threshold. With the slope method, the best correlation coefficient (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) was obtained from time intervals between 30s-peak with the background ROI at 2 pixels out from the kidney ROI using automatic ROI at 35% threshold. The offset was higher, and the correlation varied more with different ROIs and the method was unreliable at time intervals extending beyond the peak radioactivity. Manual kidney ROIs with automatic background ROIs had slightly lower correlations. With DTPA renography both integral and slope uptake method with automatic kidney and background ROIs are accurate methods to estimate the GFR, but that the integral method is much more stable to variations in ROI size and the duration of the uptake phase of the renogram.     

Genetic diversity of wild mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas collected from Thailand and Cambodia

The Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas is endemic to the Mekong River and is a critically endangered species. The genotypes of the microsatellite DNA (msDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers (right domain of the control region) were detected to evaluate the present status of genetic divergence of this species from the Mekong River in Thailand and Cambodia. The observed and expected heterozygosity values of Mekong giant catfish in Thailand and Cambodia were relatively low in comparison with those of other nonendangered freshwater fish species. These two populations from Thailand and Cambodia showed similar levels of genetic diversity, as evaluated by the 384 nucleotides of the mtDNA control region with 13 haplotypes. The pairwise F _ST value between the two populations based on the genotype frequencies of msDNA and mtDNA markers suggested a close genetic relationship between the populations in Thailand and Cambodia. The results of this study support the conclusion that the Mekong giant catfish is critically endangered. Care should be taken to sustain the genetic diversity of this species, as the level of genetic variability has already decreased in the wild population. This species is a target species for an ongoing stock enhancement program in the Mekong River in Thailand. It is proposed to apply these markers for proper broodstock management, such as for minimal kinship selective breeding in the hatchery.     

Effects of carprofen on renal function during medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane anesthesia in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of carprofen on indices of renal function and results of serum bio-chemical analyses and effects on cardiovascular variables during medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane anesthesia in dogs. ANIMALS: 8 healthy male Beagles. PROCEDURES: A randomized crossover study was conducted with treatments including saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.08 mL/kg) and carprofen (4 mg/kg) administered IV. Saline solution or carprofen was administered 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia and immediately before administration of medetomidine (20 microg/kg, IM). Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with inspired isoflurane in oxygen. Blood gas concentrations and ventilation were measured. Cardiovascular variables were continuously monitored via pulse contour cardiac output (CO) measurement. Renal function was assessed via glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow (RBF), scintigraphy, serum biochemical analyses, urinalysis, and continuous CO measurements. Hematologic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Values did not differ significantly between the carprofen and saline solution groups. For both treatments, sedation and anesthesia caused changes in results of serum biochemical and hematologic analyses; a transient, significant increase in urine alkaline phosphatase activity; and blood flow diversion to the kidneys. The GFR increased significantly in both groups despite decreased CO, mean arterial pressure, and absolute RBF variables during anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen administered IV before anesthesia did not cause detectable, significant adverse effects on renal function during medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane anesthesia in healthy Beagles.     

Molecular epidemiology of bovine viral diarrhoea during the final phase of the Swedish BVD-eradication programme

The Swedish BVD-eradication programme has been successfully running since 1993 and is now in its final phase. Nevertheless, new infections are occasionally being detected. In this paper we describe the first results of a programme where we apply a molecular-epidemiological approach to trace sources and routes of BVDV infection, and that we expect will speed up the final phase of the BVD-programme and help to reach total eradication.     

EFFECTS OF HYDRATION ON SCINTIGRAPHIC GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASURED USING INTEGRAL AND PLASMA VOLUME METHODS IN DOGS WITH SUSPECTED RENAL DISEASE

The current standard scintigraphic method for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs is the integral method, which normalizes renal GFR to body weight. The plasma volume method, that is normalizing GFR to plasma volume, has been reported to be more physiologically correct. The aim of this prospective study was to test the effect of hydration status on GFR measured by these two methods in a group of dogs with suspected renal disease. Eleven dogs were recruited. All dogs underwent standardized scintigraphic examinations before and after 15 ml/kg of fluid was administered intravenously at 5–7 ml/kg/min. Individual kidney GFR estimates (n = 22) were calculated using both methods and a consensus of two observers who were unaware of clinical findings. Individual kidney GFR increased significantly (P = 0.0008) after fluid administration using the integral method and individual kidney GFR using the plasma volume method remained constant. Percentage differences for individual kidney GFR before and after fluid administration were 31.4 ± 58.1% (change ± 95% CI) for the integral method and 0.1 ± 70% (change ± 95% CI) for the plasma volume method. Intravenously administered fluid increased individual kidney GFR from low to normal in 10 of 22 kidneys using the integral method and in 1 of 22 kidneys using the plasma volume method. Findings supported the use of the plasma volume method for scintigraphic calculation of GFR in dogs with suspected renal disease and indicated that errors of kidney status classification may more likely occur when the integral method is used.     

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infections in dairy herds: self clearance and the detection of seroconversions against a new atypical pestivirus

The epidemiology of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was studied in a population of small dairy herds that had not been vaccinated. Bulk tank milk samples of 186 herds in Thailand were collected four times between 2002 and 2004. Serum samples from individual animals in 11 herds were also taken on three occasions. The prevalence of BHV-1 in the 186 herds was 61% in 2002, decreasing to 48% in 2004 and for BVDV was 91% in 2002, decreasing to 72% in 2004. A BVDV antigen-positive calf was found in one of the 11 herds, and animals in this herd and three other herds seroconverted to a recently described atypical BVDV strain (HoBi). This study showed a significantly decreasing prevalence for both BHV-1 and BVDV due to a self-clearance process. Further studies are needed to find out how the atypical BVDV strain entered the cattle population.     

Virus recovery and full-length sequence analysis of atypical bovine pestivirus Th/04_KhonKaen

Phylogenetic analysis of recently identified “atypical” bovine pestiviruses, performed based on different gene regions, has revealed unclear relationships with other established species, therefore, their phylogenetic position could not be determined so far. In this study, the atypical pestivirus Th/04_KhonKaen was recovered from serum of a naturally infected calf and the complete genome sequence was determined and analysed, as means to define its position. The viral genome is 12,337 nucleotides (nt) long, and comprises a 5′-UTR of 383 nt, a 3′-UTR of 254 nt and an open reading frame of 11,700 nt, without duplication of viral sequences or insertions of cellular sequences. The phylogenetic analyses of the full-length sequence, performed by Neighbor-joining, Maximum likelihood, and the Bayesian approach, unanimously placed Th/04_KhonKaen in a single lineage, distinct from the established pestivirus species, and close to bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2. Furthermore, Th/04_KhonKaen and two previously reported atypical pestiviruses D32/00_‘HoBi’ and CH-KaHo/cont formed a well-supported monophyletic clade in trees based on the complete N^pro and E2 gene regions. The finding provides conclusive classification of the Th/04_KhonKaen virus and confirms the standing of the “atypical” bovine pestiviruses as a novel pestivirus species.