Veterinary Record Open最新文献

Background: Despite hepatotoxic effects, imidocarb dipropionate is the drug of choice for treatment of equine piroplasmosis. It is important, therefore, to identify adjuvant therapies that may improve the safety of imidocarb dipropionate by reducing the risk of liver damage during its use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and hepatoregulatory effects of treatment with Cynara scolymus and Silybum marianum during administration of imidocarb dipropionate.

Methods: Ten healthy horses, seroconverted to Theileria equi by C-ELISA, were treated with 5 mg/kg/day of imidocarb dipropionate for three consecutive days. The study population was divided into two groups. The control group did not receive any complementary treatments. The treated group received a daily oral supplement containing C scolymus and S marianum for 30 days. Physical, haematological and histological examinations of hepatic fragments were performed.

Results: All haematological values remained within normal range for the study population. Histological analysis revealed that treated group animals had 62 per cent less lobular inflammation, 55 per cent less pigment accumulation, 65 per cent less steatosis and 57 per cent less portal inflammation than control group animals, with an equivalent percentage of hydropic degeneration.

Conclusion: C scolymus and S marianum supplements resulted in beneficial hepatoprotective effects in horses treated with imidocarb dipropionate.

Background: This study explored the combined use of fever detection and thoracic ultrasonography to identify calves with early onset bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Thoracic ultrasonography was then used to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment for early onset BRD through a randomised study design.

Methods: Calves were recruited from a single dairy farm in the UK, and fitted with a TempVerified FeverTag, which was activated when a calf developed fever (a temperature of 39.7°C for six hours). On identification of fever, a Wisconsin calf score was used to provide a diagnosis of BRD by exclusion of other causes. Calves were randomly assigned to experimental groups; group 1 (NSAID) received flunixin meglumine, group 2 (antimicrobial) received florfenicol, group 3 (both) received both drugs. A thoracic ultrasound was conducted within 48 hours of fever detection, and again 14 days later to assess lung pathology.

Results: A total of 152 calves were recruited, with a relative BRD prevalence of 49 per cent (74/152). Thirty-two calves required a secondary treatment (due to continued fever), causing exclusion from statistical analysis of the change in ultrasound score and resulting in the study being underpowered for detecting statistical significance. Initial thoracic ultrasound scores were very low, with 70/74 calves scoring either 0 or 1, indicating few comet tails and no lung consolidation was seen and potential overdiagnosis of BRD. For assessment of therapy efficacy, no effect of experimental group was detected on average daily growth rates (mean 0.85 kg/day, P=0.89). Calves also displayed very few clinical signs at the time of fever detection. These factors combined suggest a high rate of false positive identification (low specificity) for BRD through fever detection alone. Calves given the NSAID only were more likely to require repeat treatments due to fever recurrence (OR=3.10 (95 per cent CI 0.86 to 11.15), P=0.083). Also calves affected by their first case of fever at an older age (21 v 28 days old) were less likely to go on to have further fever episodes (OR=0.95 (95 per cent CI 0.90 to 0.99), P=0.026).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated calves given only an NSAID at occurrence of fever due to BRD may be more likely to require repeat treatments throughout the preweaning period. The use of fever detection alone for BRD indicated a low specificity for definitive diagnosis as shown by the low thoracic ultrasound scores and lack of clinical signs. The study was underpowered to assess the ultrasonic effects of the different treatment protocols on lung pathology.

Background: The study determines the pharmacokinetic profiles of dexmedetomidine (DEX), ketamine (KET) and its active metabolite, norketamine (NORKET), after simultaneous administration. Moreover, the study evaluates the sedative effects of this protocol, its influence on the main physiological variables and the occurrence of adverse effects.

Methods: Eighteen captive tigers were initially administered with a mixture of DEX (10 µg/kg) and KET (2 mg/kg) by remote intramuscular injection. In case of individual and specific needs, the protocol was modified and tigers could receive general anaesthesia, propofol or additional doses of DEX and KET.

Results: Based on the immobilisation protocol, nine animals were assigned to the standard protocol group and the other nine to the non-standard protocol group. Higher area under the first moment curve (AUMC_0-last) and longer mean residence time (MRT_0-last) (P<0.05) were observed in the non-standard protocol group for DEX, KET and NORKET, and higher area under the concentration-time curve from administration to the last measurable concentration (AUC_0-last) only for KET. The KET metabolisation rate was similar (P=0.296) between groups. No differences between groups were detected in terms of stages of sedation and recoveries. All physiological variables remained within normality ranges during the whole observation period. During the hospitalisation period, no severe adverse reactions and signs of resedation were observed.

Conclusion: The simultaneous administration of 10 µg/kg of DEX and 2 mg/kg of KET can be considered an effective protocol for chemical immobilisation of captive tigers, along with dosage adjusments or when other drugs are needed.

Background: Very few studies have evaluated the duration of immunity of Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines in dogs, and to date, no studies have been published on the duration of immunity of oral canine Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a single dose of an oral B bronchiseptica vaccine in dogs when challenged 13 months after vaccination.

Methods: Two groups of approximately eight-week-old beagles were vaccinated once with 1 ml of placebo vaccine (oral, n=17) or 1 ml of Recombitek Oral Bordetella (oral, n=17). Thirteen months after vaccination, both groups were challenged with virulent B bronchiseptica via aerosolisation.

Results: Thirteen of 17 dogs in the placebo group (76.5 per cent) and no dogs in the Recombitek Oral Bordetella vaccine group (0.0 per cent) developed spontaneous cough of two or more consecutive days (disease case definition). Dogs in the Recombitek Oral Bordetella group had a significantly lower prevalence of disease with prevented fraction of 1 (100 per cent prevention). In addition, the number of days coughing, duration of cough and prevalence of tracheal and nasal shedding were significantly lower for dogs vaccinated with Recombitek Oral Bordetella.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated that vaccination with Recombitek Oral Bordetella is effective in preventing disease and reducing shedding 13 months after vaccination when compared with dogs vaccinated with a placebo.

Background: Ticks are vectors of disease-causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy.

Methods: The collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR.

Results: PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that 3 per cent of the ticks were PCR-positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA, 5 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Bartonella henselae DNA, and 46 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA. None of the examined ticks was PCR-positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA.

Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.

Background: Biosecurity is a key measure to reduce and prevent the introduction of diseases to farms and minimise spread of diseases within a herd. The aim of the study was to characterise the current application of biosecurity measures on dairy cattle farms in Spain along with their bovine viral diarrhoea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis status.

Methods: Data on biosecurity measures for 124 dairy herds were collected using a questionnaire. The sanitary status of these farms for bovine viral diarrhoea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis was also assessed using antibody ELISA. Data were analysed using multiple correspondence analysis and a two-step cluster analysis.

Results: Three main clusters of farms were identified: clusters 1 and 2 included herds of small and intermediate sizes. These, particularly cluster 1, showed the most deficiencies in the control of vehicles and visitors. However, laboratory tests were always performed on purchased animals. Cluster 3 had the largest herd sizes, with somewhat better biosecurity control of vehicles and visitors. However, farms in this cluster also purchased the most animals, sometimes without testing, and hired external workers more often.

Conclusion: The study indicated that, in the study population, there are serious shortcomings in the application of biosecurity measures on dairy farms, exposing them to disease transmission. This survey also highlights regional and herd size-related differences in the implementation of biosecurity. Collecting data is an important first step to identification of specific weaknesses in different farm typologies, and an adequate follow-up is needed to ensure that measures are implemented correctly on farms.

Background: Copper is frequently used as an algicide, and copper ion generators such as the Aquascape IonGen claim to be safe for use in systems containing fish. In 2012, a die-off of koi (Cyprinus carpio) in a pond in Raleigh, North Carolina, occurred after the IonGen was added to the system.

Methods: Physical and postmortem examinations suggested that heavy metal toxicity was the likely cause of morbidity and mortality. This was supported by a heavy metal screening of the owners' pond. Additional experiments were performed to determine if the IonGen produced toxic levels of copper and zinc.

Results: The tank containing the IonGen had higher concentrations of copper and zinc, and copper levels exceeded those associated with toxicity in both hard and soft water.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that ion generators might not be safe for fish, and copper should only be used as an algicide if concentrations are closely monitored.

Background: Platelet transfusion is indicated for haemorrhage due to severe thrombocytopenia and for trauma associated coagulopathy. Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions are a common complication of platelet transfusions in people and may be due to accumulated inflammatory cytokines. The present study aimed to determine the cytokine profile of a novel canine lyophilised platelet product following reconstitution, to assess the lyophilised platelets' activation response to physiological platelet agonists and to compare the cytokine profiles of basal and stimulated canine lyophilised platelets.

Methods: Cell counts and biochemical analyses were conducted following reconstitution. Cytokine concentrations were measured with a canine-specific multiplex immunocapture assay and with an electrochemiluminescent ELISA. Aliquots of reconstituted product from three separate vials were activated for 10 minutes under non-stirred conditions using adenosine diphosphate, thrombin or convulxin and their cytokine concentrations compared with unactivated samples. Flow cytometry and light-transmission aggregometry were used to evaluate the product's ability to express a procoagulant surface, degranulate and aggregate. Fresh platelet-rich plasma was used as a positive control.

Results: The product had a mean±SD particle count of 1.23±0.2×10⁹/ml, contained platelets that expressed surface phosphatidylserine before agonist stimulation and was capable of aggregation in response to thrombin stimulation suggesting that the product may have haemostatic potential following in vivo administration. Cytokine concentrations measured by the immunocapture assay were generally low, while twofold to threefold increases relative to published intervals were noted for several cytokines using the ELISA. Concentrations of chemokine (C-X-C) motif ligand 8 and tumour necrosis factor-α were significantly increased as measured by the ELISA, but not by the immunocapture assay, while concentrations of KC-like were significantly increased as measured by the immunocapture assay. Stimulation with platelet agonists did not affect measured cytokine concentrations.

Conclusion: Further study of the effects of administration of this lyophilised platelet product is warranted.

Background: Gadoxetate sodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) is taken into hepatocytes and excreted into the bile. Hepatocytes with reduced function or dysfunction due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis or hepatic fibrosis show impaired Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake. The purpose of the present retrospective case series was to assess the relationship between liver function and contrast enhancement using Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI.

Methods: Sixteen dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease, including six with HCC, three with nodular hyperplasia, two with hepatocellular adenoma, two with liver fibrosis and three with hepatitis were included in the study along with three dogs with suspected liver disease but no histopathological diagnosis of liver disease. Relative signal intensities (RSI) of the common bile duct and gall bladder were calculated, and their relationship with the following serum biochemical parameters was assessed: total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin (Alb). To assess anatomical liver function, relative contrast enhancement indices (RCEI) of the liver were calculated, and differences were assessed between normal and diseased liver.

Results: RSI showed no significant differences between dogs without and with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease (P=0.88) although they were significantly correlated with Alb (ρ=0.57, P=0.02) in dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease. RCEI was significantly higher in normal liver tissue than that in livers with hepatitis/fibrosis (P=0.048) and HCC (P=0.03) but not nodular hyperplasia/hepatocellular adenoma (P=0.51).

Conclusions: Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI may be potentially useful in the assessment of anatomical liver function in dogs with liver disease.

Background: This is a pilot study to evaluate the effects of fentanyl on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil size (PS) in dogs premedicated with medetomidine and methadone.

Methods: Sixteen dogs with a median (first quartile-third quartile) age of 3.5 (1.25-6) years and a mean (sd) weight of 18.6 (9.2) kg were included. Baseline readings of IOP and PS were recorded before all dogs were premedicated intramuscularly with medetomidine (10 µg/kg) and methadone (0.5 mg/kg). Both measurements were repeated 15 and 30 minutes later. Following this, the dogs were randomly assigned into two groups. The fentanyl group received intravenous fentanyl (10 µg/kg), while the control group received the same volume of saline solution intravenously. IOP and PS measurements were measured and recorded in both groups at one, five and ten minutes after intravenous injection. Data were analysed with one-way and two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance or their non-parametric equivalents.

Results: PS was significantly decreased 15 and 30 minutes following intramuscular premedication and IOP was significantly increased in the fentanyl group at all time points following intravenous administration.

Conclusions: Medetomidine, methadone and fentanyl combinations are not recommended for use in patients where an increase in IOP or decrease in PS is undesirable.