American journal of veterinary research最新文献

Objective: To determine the efficacy of iodine disinfection and effect of storage on tilapia skin wound dressing via microbiological, histological, and spectroscopic assessment.

Methods: Farm-raised, fresh tilapias were included in this prospective ex vivo study conducted in September of 2024. Tilapia fish skin (TFS) was harvested and treated with 10% iodine or saline for 15 minutes. Each group was aseptically packaged, stored (4 °C), and evaluated on days 0, 1, 3, and 7. Colony-forming units were counted from bacterial cultures. Structural integrity was determined histologically by collagen integrity (grade 0 to 3), organization (grade 0 to 3), and intensity (percentage). Lipid concentration was analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of extracted fish oil.

Results: 9 tilapias (n = 9) were enrolled. Mean bacterial counts following iodine and saline treatment were 0.56 ± 0.88 CFUs/mL and 19.67 ± 6.12 CFUs/mL, respectively. Iodine-treated TFS maintained disinfection after 7 days of storage (mean bacterial count, 4.11 ± 3.48 CFUs/mL). Mean collagen integrity grades following iodine treatment and 7 days of storage were 1.83 ± 0.41 and 1.33 ± 0.52, respectively. Mean collagen organization grades following iodine treatment and 7 days of storage were 1.83 ± 0.41 and 2 ± 0, respectively. Iodine-treated TFS collagen intensity was low throughout the study duration (range, 15.61% to 26.59%). Lipids were variably detectable in all samples. No eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid was detected in any samples.

Conclusions: Iodine-disinfected, cold-stored TFS maintained disinfection and structural integrity for 7 days.

Clinical relevance: TFS can be readily harvested, disinfected, and stored. Future studies are needed for lipid profiling.

Objective: To determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT), alone or with chlorhexidine (CLX; CLX + LLLT), improves clinical indices of gingival inflammation, gingival temperature, and systemic cytokines compared with CLX alone in cats with early-stage periodontal disease (American Veterinary Dental College stage 1 to 2).

Methods: Cats diagnosed with American Veterinary Dental College stage 1 to 2 periodontal disease were randomized to 3 groups (CLX, LLLT, and CLX + LLLT; n = 7/group) after full-mouth scaling. Treatments were CLX spray, intraoral 905-nm gallium arsenide LLLT, or both for 7 days. Primary outcomes included probing pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, and gingival surface temperature. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were secondary outcomes. Thermography and blood sampling were also performed on days 0 and 8.

Results: Mean probing pocket depth decreased by 0.27 mm in CLX, 1.24 mm in LLLT, and 1.20 mm in CLX + LLLT. Gingival index and plaque index declined in all groups, with larger reductions in LLLT-treated cats. Gingival temperature decreased in LLLT (-3.1 °C) and CLX + LLLT (-4.3 °C). Tumor necrosis factor-α decreased in CLX + LLLT (-7.4 ng/L). Interleukin-6 decreased only in CLX + LLLT, and IL-1β changes were negligible.

Conclusions: LLLT, particularly with CLX, produced greater improvements in gingival inflammatory indices, gingival temperature, and inflammatory markers than CLX alone.

Clinical relevance: LLLT appears to be a safe and effective adjunct for the short-term management of gingival inflammation in cats with early-stage periodontal disease following professional dental cleaning.

Objective: To determine whether a single oral dose of gabapentin would generate any changes in heart rate or respiratory rate or behaviors during and after handling of adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica).

Methods: Pigeons were housed alone on the day of the study but were otherwise group housed throughout the 9-day study period. Pigeons were assessed before handling and at 1 and 2 hours posttreatment. Behaviors (resting, aggressive, reactionary, maintenance, and feeding behaviors) and physiologic parameters were evaluated before, during, and after handling at each time point. A modified human intruder test, sedation score, and resistance score were developed and compared between time points.

Results: As part of a blinded, randomized, crossover study, 20 pigeons received 50 mg/kg of oral gabapentin or an equal volume of tap water (control) with an 8-day washout period. Respiratory rates were significantly higher in the control group at 2 hours during the intruder test and at 1 and 2 hours posttreatment in the period following the exam. Resistance scores were significantly higher in the control group at 2 hours posttreatment during handling. There was no significant difference in heart rates or behaviors. Four pigeons exhibited mild sedation after gabapentin administration. No major adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions: Gabapentin administered orally at 50 mg/kg to pigeons decreased respiratory rates and resistance scores during and after examinations for up to 2 hours. Mild sedation was the only adverse effect observed.

Clinical relevance: Oral gabapentin may be beneficial when handling pigeons and may reduce stress associated with handling.

Objective: To evaluate the thermal antinociceptive effects of methadone after IM administration to orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica).

Methods: 8 Amazon parrots received IM methadone hydrochloride (1, 3, and 6 mg/kg) and saline (0.9% NaCl) solution in a masked randomized, within-subjects, balanced complete crossover experimental design. The thermal foot withdrawal threshold (TFWT) was determined 5 minutes before (baseline) and 0.5, 1.5, 3, and 6 hours after treatment administration. Agitation-sedation scores and other adverse effects were evaluated in the test box at each time point before each TFWT.

Results: Methadone at 6 mg/kg significantly increased TFWT when compared with control by an average of 1.9 ± 0.5 °C accounting for baseline values. Methadone also caused agitation for 1, 3, and 6 mg/kg at 0.5 to 1.5 hours compared to control and increased nausea-like behavior (opening the beak and moving the tongue back and forth) for all doses up to 3 hours posttreatment compared to control. Although ataxia was not significant overall, some birds showed ataxia at 0.5 and 1.5 hours following administration of 6 mg/kg.

Conclusions: Methadone administered IM to orange-winged Amazon parrots at 6 mg/kg significantly increased TFWT and appears to have a rapid onset and relatively short duration. Agitation and nausea-like behavior were also observed at lower doses.

Clinical relevance: The benefit of rapid onset, potent analgesic effect, and added mechanisms of action to the opioid-mediated analgesia make methadone an added choice for clinical use in this species. However, these doses caused neuroexcitation with agitation and nausea-like behavior, which should be considered in clinical use.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield of abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiographs in an otherwise systemically healthy population of dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

Methods: Medical records from 2 private-practice institutions were retrospectively reviewed to identify otherwise systemically healthy dogs undergoing an elective tibial plateau leveling osteotomy that were offered preoperative 3-view thoracic radiographs and/or abdominal ultrasound from June 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to compare the odds of diagnosing a new comorbidity and to analyze all patients that were offered preoperative imaging.

Results: A total of 258 client-owned dogs of various breeds were recorded between both hospitals. In total, 116 of 258 dogs (45.0%) solely received thoracic radiographs, 10 of 258 (3.9%) solely received abdominal ultrasound, and both were performed in 61 of 258 (23.6%). Eighty-seven of 258 dogs (33.7%) had either thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, or both performed preoperatively.

Conclusions: New comorbidities were diagnosed in 13.8% of patients with thoracic radiographs and in 70% of patients with abdominal ultrasound. Patients over the age of 12 years were more likely to have a new comorbidity diagnosed.

Clinical relevance: Abdominal ultrasound is 163 times more likely to lead to diagnosis of a new comorbidity when compared to thoracic radiographs, and the incidence of a new diagnosis was more likely in dogs over the age of 12.

Objective: To evaluate neuropathological changes in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and history of focal seizures using previously described criteria for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in humans and other animals.

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study. Dogs of any age, sex, or breed with a history of idiopathic epilepsy and focal seizures were included. Immediately following euthanasia, dogs were perfused, and tissue was collected. Brains were sectioned, mounted, and stained. Nissl-stained slides were used for stereology, and Timm stain was used to evaluate for evidence of mossy fiber sprouting.

Results: 7 dogs were included in the final analysis. For stereological cell counts evaluating hilar neuron loss, no case was significantly lower in number of neurons. Additional analysis compared right and left to look for asymmetry, and none were significant (P = .259). Using Timm stain to evaluate mossy fiber sprouting, no cases showed extensive sprouting, and no asymmetry was detected between left and right hippocampi (P = .054).

Conclusions: In our cohort, while there were changes associated with seizures detected within the hippocampi, none were severe or consistent enough to qualify as TLE using the human criteria.

Clinical relevance: Our study focused on dogs with focal seizures as their main seizure presentation as that is the most common semiology in people with TLE. However, a future study could consider evaluating the neuropathology of dogs with asymmetric hippocampi detected on MRI. If TLE can be shown in dogs, then advanced treatment options, such as surgery or laser ablation, could be considered in refractory patients.

Objective: To describe and quantify selected radiographic findings of rabbits diagnosed with liver lobe torsion (LLT).

Methods: The study included 50 rabbits with an antemortem diagnosis of LLT with radiographs made within 72 hours of diagnosis via ultrasound. Medical records from 2010 to 2020 from 4 institutions were reviewed. A board-certified radiologist reviewed the radiographs. Radiographic evaluation of gastric size was assessed on the right lateral view (caudal extent of the stomach relative to the lumbar vertebral column, gastric height and width, and vertebral stomach score), as well as gastric content patterns and radiographic signs of intestinal dilation and content, hepatic rounding, and loss of serosal detail. Loss of abdominal serosal detail was compared to the presence of peritoneal fluid on ultrasound.

Results: 35 of 50 rabbits (70%) had a gastric height and gastric width sum height greater than or equal to the length from the L1 cranial endplate to the coxofemoral joint. The median vertebral stomach score was 8.8. The gastric content was mostly ingesta. A rounded margin along the right hepatic silhouette in the ventrodorsal view was identified in 30 of 50 rabbits (60%). Peritoneal fluid was correctly identified radiographically in 37 studies (74%), not appreciated but present in 7 (14%), correctly identified as not present in 4 (8%), and incorrectly identified in 2 (4%).

Conclusions: Radiographic findings suggested that gastric dilation with ingesta, a rounded right hepatic silhouette, and peritoneal fluid, although not always present, are common in rabbits with LLT.

Clinical relevance: Identification of these findings should prompt further diagnostic imaging.

Objective: To investigate whether a structured mindfulness training program could reduce anxiety and enhance academic performance among veterinary students in an anesthesiology course.

Methods: All students enrolled in a second-year veterinary anesthesiology course during 1 term were offered participation in the mindfulness program, with volunteers forming the intervention group and nonparticipants serving as a comparison group. Perceived stress, self-compassion, and depression were measured before and after the program using validated questionnaires, and academic performance was assessed via scores on the second midterm examination and final examination. The study followed an action research framework and employed a quasi-experimental design.

Results: After training, the intervention group demonstrated a substantial reduction in perceived stress and an increase in self-compassion, whereas the comparison group showed minimal change. Depression scores remained unchanged in both groups. On the second midterm, the mindfulness group's mean score exceeded that of controls by approximately 9 percentage points. By the final examination, all students had improved, and no significant score differences persisted.

Conclusions: Mindfulness training was associated with reduced perceived stress, enhanced self-compassion, and a transient improvement in midterm performance.

Clinical relevance: Mindfulness interventions may support veterinary students' well-being and academic success.

Objective: To elucidate the species-specific regulatory mechanisms of hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase alpha subunit (HADHA) in ruminant liver metabolism and to decipher the consequent metabolic-transcriptional network dysregulation using an integrated multiomics approach in a dairy cow hepatocyte model.

Methods: A loss-of-function study was conducted using transfecting primary hepatocytes isolated from dairy cows with HADHA-targeting small interfering RNA (n = 6). LC-MS+GC-MS metabolomics and transcriptomics were integrated and analyzed via orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis, differential and enrichment analysis, and multiomics network analysis.

Results: HADHA knockdown induced profound metabolic reprogramming, identifying 692 differentially abundant metabolites and 736 differentially expressed genes. Key dysregulated metabolomic pathways included upregulation of forkhead box O signaling, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and butanoate metabolism and downregulation of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and ATP-binding cassette transporters. This was evidenced by suppression of primary bile acids and accumulation of glyceroneogenesis markers. Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of insulin response and nuclear factor κ B signaling and upregulation of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling. Multiomics integration confirmed disruption in core pathways, including arginine and proline metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and cAMP signaling.

Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive map of the HADHA-mediated regulatory network in the ruminant hepatocytes. Its depletion directly suppresses fatty acid oxidation and bile acid synthesis and rewires central carbon and lipid metabolism, leading to a state of metabolic imbalance.

Clinical relevance: The elucidated mechanisms establish a foundational basis for future research aimed at developing nutritional or genetic strategies to improve metabolic health in the dairy industry.