The effects of two analgesic regimes on behavior after abdominal surgery in Steller sea lions

This study examined the effects of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment protocols on the behavioral responses of juvenile Steller sea lions after abdominal surgery. Sea lions were randomly assigned to one of two treatments designed to control post-operative pain. The flunixin group (n=6) received flunixin meglumine (1mg/kg) administered as a single intramuscular (IM) injection before extubation from surgery. The carprofen group (n=5) received carprofen (4.4 mg/kg) as an IM injection before extubation, then orally at 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Seven behaviors related to post-operative pain were monitored by observers, blinded to treatment, for a total of 10 days (3 days pre-, day of surgery, and 6 days post-surgery). All seven behaviors changed after surgery regardless of NSAID treatment, two of which returned to baseline within 6 days of surgery. Only one behavior was mildly affected by analgesic treatment: sea lions in the carprofen group tended to spend less time lying down in Days 1-3 following surgery (i.e., the days which they received oral carprofen). These results suggested that neither treatment, at the dose administered, was effective in controlling pain in the days following this surgery.     

Assessment of ultrasound imaging as a noninvasive measure of blubber thickness in pinnipeds.

Portable ultrasound imaging was examined as a noninvasive measure of skin including blubber thickness in captive subadult Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and adult harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). This method was validated through comparison with blubber biopsy. Ultrasound images provided depth measurements that were accurate to 99.8% of the actual. This method allowed clear images of the epidermis, dermis, and blubber layer to be rapidly obtained, with minimal animal restraint, and allowed differentiation of phocid and otariid blubber structure.     

Surface behaviour of S. Typhimurium,S. Derby,S. Brandenburg and S. Infantis

Cross-contamination due to Salmonella on the surface of processing equipment greatly contributes to contamination of pork products. Therefore, a clear understanding of surface and survival behaviour of relevant Salmonella serovars in pork processing environments is needed to develop better strategies for Salmonella control. Within this study the biofilm forming behaviour of S. Typhimurium, S. Derby, S. Brandenburg and S. Infantis isolates was analysed using the crystal violet assay. This assay, commonly used to analyse total biofilm formation, revealed variation in biofilm forming capacity between and within serovars. This has not been shown before for S. Derby, S. Brandenburg and S. Infantis. From each serovar, isolates with different biofilm forming capacity were selected to analyse biofilm formation on stainless steel. This revealed no significant differences between biofilm formation on polystyrene compared to stainless steel. Furthermore a relation was observed between biofilm forming capacity of an isolate and survival on stainless steel surfaces. On such surfaces, biofilms showed greater and longer survival than planktonic cells, and they were less susceptible to peracetic acid disinfection treatments. However, the latter effect was marginal and only observed in the presence of organic material, which drastically decreased the activity of peracetic acid. With the obtained results a hierarchical cluster was also performed to identify differences and similarities between the four different serovars. This indicated that the surface behaviour of S. Typhimurium was more comparable to S. Infantis than to S. Derby or S. Brandenburg.