American journal of veterinary research最新文献

Objective: To describe the incidence, disease distribution, and factors associated with survival to discharge in bearded dragons (BDs) presenting for emergency evaluation.

Methods: There were 242 BDs retrospectively enrolled. Age, sex, weight, presenting complaints, diagnostics, diagnosis, and outcome were summarized with descriptive statistics. Associations between these factors and survival to discharge were evaluated for prognosis.

Results: Frequently presenting complaints were lethargy (109 of 242 [45%]) and anorexia (97 of 242 [40%]). Females more often presented with celomic distension (12 of 100 [12%]) and were diagnosed with reproductive disease (11 of 100 [11%]). Of the BDs evaluated, 140 of 242 (57.9%) BDs survived to discharge, with equal survival between males (72 of 110 [56.9%]) and females (54 of 100 [54%]). Survival was more common when BDs presented with ocular signs (OR, 0.09 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.69]). Nonsurvival was more common when BDs presented with lethargy (OR, 2.85 [95% CI, 1.68 to 4.83]), anorexia (OR, 2.36 [95% CI, 1.39 to 4.00]), or poor body condition (OR, 3.94 [95% CI, 1.36 to 11.451]) or were diagnosed with celomic effusion (OR, 6.67 [95% CI, 1.85 to 24.07]), anorexia of unknown cause (OR, 2.79 [95% CI, 1.41 to 5.52]), or lethargy of unknown cause (OR, 2.35 [95% CI, 1.19 to 4.63]).

Conclusions: BDs presented with vague clinical signs. Survival was less likely when a diagnosis could not be reached, required extensive testing, or required surgical intervention.

Clinical relevance: Knowledge of presenting complaints, diagnoses, and their prognosis enables veterinarians to provide targeted care for BD emergencies.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a therapeutic gastrointestinal diet on the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs), metabolizable energy (ME), and palatability of the diet, fermentative metabolites, and fecal microbiome of dogs.

Methods: Sixteen 1-year-old healthy Beagles were used. All animals consumed a control diet for healthy adult dogs for 20 days. On day 21, 8 dogs changed to a therapeutic gastrointestinal diet (test diet), and 8 dogs continued receiving the control diet for 35 days. Fresh feces were collected on days 0, 3, 15, and 30 after changing to the test diet for pH, fermentative metabolites, and microbiota analysis. Feces were collected for ADCs and ME analysis of the diets (days 31 through 35). The palatability of the control and test diets was compared at the end of the study.

Results: The test diet presented greater ADCs of nutrients and ME and resulted in lower fecal pH and greater fecal concentrations of ammonia, total biogenic amines, total short-chain fatty acids, and butyrate. β-Diversity analysis revealed distinct fecal microbiome profiles between the diets on days 3, 15, and 30, with a greater abundance of Turicibacter and Faecalibacterium and lower Streptococcus in the test group. Dogs preferred the test to the control diet in the palatability test.

Conclusions: The test diet presented high ADCs of nutrients, high palatability, and beneficially modulated the fecal microbiome and fermentative metabolites of dogs.

Clinical relevance: Providing a highly digestible and palatable diet with functional ingredients may contribute to the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders of dogs.

Objective: To quantify the amount of hilar liver retraction achieved with and without diaphragmotomy in canine cadavers.

Methods: 6 healthy canine cadavers euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study underwent laparotomy in 2023. Fiducial radiopaque markers were placed on the hepatic coronary ligament and diaphragm. Fluoroscopic images were taken at 3 liver manipulation phases: (1) before caudal retraction (CR) (pre-CR), (2) after caudal retraction (post-CR), and (3) after diaphragmotomy (D) with caudal retraction (post-D+CR). Two measurement methods were used to evaluate hepatic caudal displacement. Method 1 used the cranial edge of the closest rib caudal to the liver as a landmark. Method 2 used a fixed point on an esophageal measurement catheter. Linear displacement for both methods at the 3 stages of liver retraction was estimated by linear repeated-measures mixed models. Limits of agreement were estimated by 95% CIs.

Results: Linear caudal displacement was substantially increased post-CR and post-D+CR compared to pre-CR. Compared with pre-CR, the mean linear caudal displacement increased by 2.6 and 3.8 cm for post-CR for methods 1 and 2, respectively. Linear displacement increased by an additional 3.0 cm (method 1) and 3.1 cm (method 2) for post-D+CR. Method 2 measurements consistently exceeded method 1 measurements for both total and relative linear distance.

Conclusions: Diaphragmotomy coupled with manual retraction allows greater caudal retraction of the liver hilus than without diaphragmotomy.

Clinical relevance: This preliminary study shows that the diaphragmotomy procedure may enhance exposure and ease of manipulation and potentially reduce complications associated with limited maneuverability during hilar hepatic surgery.

Objective: To use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) analysis to quantify kratom alkaloids and metabolites in the urine of healthy dogs following a single oral dose of an encapsulated kratom extract and evaluate the accuracy of an over-the-counter (OTC) human kratom urine test for identifying the presence of kratom alkaloids and metabolites in canine urine.

Methods: Urine samples were collected from 8 healthy female Beagles following a single oral dose of an encapsulated kratom extract (8 mg) every 4 hours for 24 hours. Urine concentrations of kratom alkaloids and metabolites were measured using LC-MS-MS analysis. Urine samples were tested with an OTC human kratom urine test for identification of mitragynine and/or 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Results: In this small cohort of dogs, the OTC human kratom urine test demonstrated 100% sensitivity (6 of 6; 95% CI, 60.97% to 100.00%) and 100% specificity (7 of 7; 95% CI, 64.57% to 100.00%) for identifying kratom alkaloids and/or metabolites. Kratom metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine had higher urine concentrations compared to the parent alkaloid mitragynine.

Conclusions: Kratom is primarily excreted as metabolites in canine urine following oral administration of a single dose. Although these results are limited by the small sample size and wide CIs, the OTC human kratom urine test reliably detected kratom metabolites in canine urine when compared with LC-MS-MS.

Clinical relevance: The results of this study provide a better understanding of kratom elimination in dogs and support the potential utility of an OTC kratom urine test as a diagnostic tool for suspected kratom exposure; however, larger studies are needed to validate diagnostic performance.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the proportion of cats referred for suspected temporomandibular joint (TMJ) luxation that were confirmed as true cases and to identify their final diagnoses. The objective was to highlight potential differential diagnoses to improve diagnostic accuracy and case management.

Methods: A total of 42 cats that were referred to our hospital for suspected TMJ luxation as a chief complaint from April 2020 to February 2025 were included in the study. According to owner reports, these patients commonly exhibited an inability to close the mouth, apparent mandibular deviation, and, in most cases, signs suggestive of oral pain.

Results: Of the 42 cats studied, only 6 had isolated TMJ luxation. The rest had other diagnoses: 19 with end-stage periodontal disease, 5 with malocclusion, 4 with symphyseal separation, and 3 with open-mouth jaw locking resulting from other causes. Two had mandibular fractures, 2 had no significant findings, and 1 had TMJ ankylosis.

Conclusions: End-stage periodontal disease was the most common diagnosis among cats referred for suspected TMJ luxation. Other final diagnoses included TMJ luxation, malocclusion, fractures, mandibular symphyseal instability, open-mouth jaw locking resulting from other causes, and TMJ ankylosis. Diagnosis is challenging due to nonspecific signs that mimic other oral diseases and are often linked to complex maxillofacial injuries, requiring thorough exams and advanced imaging.

Clinical relevance: This study emphasizes the importance of considering differential diagnoses in cats presenting with signs resembling TMJ luxation and provides references to guide future clinical evaluation and decision-making.

Objective: To retrospectively determine the organization-level intake and outcome changes associated with dog live release rate (LRR) changes in government-related animal shelters.

Methods: Observational statistics (2016 through 2024) provided by shelters to a national database were condensed into baseline and follow-up year pairs. Baseline LRR was binned into low (75% to 90%) and high (90% to 95%). Changes in intake and outcome categories were computed either as fractions of contemporaneous total intakes or outcomes, or as fractions of baseline total outcomes. Field changes were linearly regressed on ΔLRR (change in LRR from baseline to follow-up year), with the year included as a categorical covariate.

Results: In the low-LRR bin, there were 965 (high, 1,082) observations from 360 (high, 435) organizations, with an LRR mean of 84.7% (high, 92.9%) and a ΔLRR SD of 4.1% (high, 2.7%). For low LRR, total outcomes change by 0.50% (high, 0.58%) and intakes by 0.42% (high, 0.24%) per ΔLRR point. Baseline adoptions constitute 36.4% (high, 45.1%) and returns to owner 24.9% (high, 29.3%) of contemporaneous outcomes. Per ΔLRR point, adoption fractions change by 0.49 (high, 0.68) and return-to-owner fractions by 0.06 (high, -0.03). For low LRR, with counts scaled by baseline outcomes, ΔLRR coincides with live outcome changes of 1.46 (high, 1.54) encompassing 0.87 (high, 1.20) community live outcomes, 0.64 (high, 1.07) adoptions, and 0.50 (high, 0.27) outgoing transfers but 0.43 (high, -0.03) net transfers. Intake changes other than transfers are insignificant.

Conclusions: On average, annual LRR increases coincide with increases in adoptions but not reductions in intakes. Changes in outgoing transfers also occur, but partially offset by incoming transfers.

Clinical relevance: The results facilitate benchmarking shelter initiatives and avoiding preconceived assumptions.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between postthaw A-kinase anchoring protein 4 (AKAP4) fluorescence intensity and spermatological parameters in cryopreserved goat semen.

Methods: Semen was collected weekly by electroejaculation during the nonbreeding season, diluted, and cryopreserved using an automated freezing system. Postthaw sperm were assessed for total motility, progressive motility, and kinematics using computer-assisted semen analysis. Flow cytometry evaluated plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, high mitochondrial membrane potential, viability, and oxidative stress. The AKAP4 localization was determined by immunofluorescence, and intensity (X103 arbitrary units) was measured in 300 sperm/sample. Cluster analysis examined categorical effects of AKAP4 intensity (low, medium, and high), and correlations assessed continuous effects.

Results: Ninety ejaculates from 18 goats (10 Boer and 8 Anglo-Nubian) were analyzed. A-kinase anchoring protein 4 localized to the acrosomal region. Low AKAP4 fluorescence intensity was linked to reduced total motility (45.3%; 95% CI, 41.1 to 49.5; partial η2 = 0.128), progressive motility (14.3%; 95% CI, 12.5 to 16.1; partial η2 = 0.131), and average path velocity, straight-line velocity, and beat cross frequency (partial η2 = 0.105 to 0.114), while curvilinear velocity showed a moderate effect (partial η2 = 0.060). The amplitude of lateral head displacement, straightness, linearity, wobble, plasma membrane, and acrosome integrity, viability, and reactive oxygen species were similar across groups (partial η2 = 0.002 to 0.042). Mitochondrial membrane potential was lower in the low group (52.3%; 95% CI, 48.0 to 56.6; partial η2 = 0.071) than in the medium group (62.2%; 95% CI, 58.3 to 66.1). No correlations were observed between AKAP4 and sperm parameters.

Conclusions: A-kinase anchoring protein 4 intensity in frozen-thawed goat sperm affects energy metabolism and motility in a nonlinear, threshold-dependent manner, serving as a categorical sperm quality indicator.

Clinical relevance: A-kinase anchoring protein 4 may serve as a biomarker for goat semen quality, particularly motility.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of topical penciclovir 1% cream for the treatment of cats with experimentally induced ocular feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection.

Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed using 10 unvaccinated specific-pathogen-free cats with experimental FHV-1 infection induced by topical ocular inoculation. Cats received topical penciclovir 1% cream (n = 6 cats) or a placebo artificial tear gel (4) 3 times daily for 14 days. Cats were monitored after inoculation for 30 days. Ophthalmic examinations were performed every 2 days, and ocular disease scores were calculated. In vivo confocal microscopic ocular examinations were performed to quantify corneal leukocytes. Feline herpesvirus-1 quantitative PCR, viral titers, hemograms, and serum biochemistry panels were performed throughout the study.

Results: No significant differences in clinical ocular disease scores were observed between the penciclovir and placebo groups during the majority of the study period; however, penciclovir-treated cat scores declined more rapidly after study day 14. No significant differences were detected in corneal leukocyte infiltrates between study groups. Ocular viral loads determined by PCR were significantly lower in the penciclovir group on day 3 but were similar on all other sampling days. Hemogram and serum biochemistry values were unremarkable in all cats.

Conclusions: Topical penciclovir 1% cream administered 3 times daily was well tolerated and modestly reduced ocular viral shedding but had minimal effects on clinical ocular disease in cats with experimental ocular FHV-1 infection.

Clinical relevance: Refinements in the topical penciclovir treatment strategies and optimization of penciclovir formulations are recommended before clinical applications in cats.