bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Usual and High Doses of Daptomycin in Combination with Rifampin versus Alternative Therapies in Experimental Foreign-Body Infection by Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Garrigós C. , Murillo O. , Euba G. , Verdaguer R. , Tubau F. , Cabellos C. , Cabo J. , Ariza J.
Published: October 2010

The treatment of prosthetic joint infections caused by methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) continues to be a challenge for the clinician. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacies of daptomycin at usual and high doses (equivalent to 6 and 10 mg/kg of body weight/day, respectively, in humans) and in combination with rifampin and to compare the activities to those of conventional anti-MRSA therapies. We used MRSA strain HUSA 304, with the following MICs and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), respectively: daptomycin, 1 μg/ml and 4 μg/ml; vancomycin, 2 μg/ml and 4 μg/ml; linezolid, 2 μg/ml and >32 μg/ml; and rifampin, 0.03 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml. In time-kill curves, only daptomycin and its combinations with rifampin achieved a bactericidal effect in log and stationary phases. For
in vivo
studies, we used a rat foreign-body infection model. Therapy was administered for 7 days with daptomycin at 100 mg/kg/day and 45/mg/kg/day, vancomycin at 50 mg/kg/12 h, rifampin at 25 mg/kg/12 h, and linezolid at 35 mg/kg/12 h, and each antibiotic was also combined with rifampin. Among monotherapies, daptomycin at 100 mg/kg/day and rifampin performed better than vancomycin and linezolid. In combination with rifampin, both dosages of daptomycin were significantly better than all other combinations, but daptomycin at 100 mg/kg/day plus rifampin achieved better cure rates at day 11 (
P
< 0.05) than daptomycin at 45 mg/kg/day plus rifampin. Resistant strains were found in monotherapies with rifampin and daptomycin at 45 mg/kg/day. In conclusion, daptomycin at high doses was the most effective monotherapy and also improved the efficacy of the combination with rifampin against foreign-body infections by MRSA. Clinical studies should confirm whether this combination may be considered the first-line treatment for foreign-body infections by MRSA in humans.
Effect of Antacids on the Pharmacokinetics of Raltegravir in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Seronegative Volunteers
Authors: Kiser Jennifer J. , Bumpass J. Brock , Meditz Amie L. , Anderson Peter L. , Bushman Lane , Ray Michelle , Predhomme Julie A. , Rower Joseph , MaWhinney Sam , Brundage Richard
Published: October 2010

Raltegravir's divalent metal ion chelating motif may predispose the drug to interactions with divalent cations. We determined whether a divalent cation-containing antacid interacted with raltegravir. Twelve HIV-1-seronegative subjects were enrolled in this randomized, prospective, crossover study of single-dose raltegravir (400 mg) with and without an antacid. Subjects underwent two intensive pharmacokinetic visits in the fasted state separated by a 5- to 12-day washout period. With simultaneous antacid administration, time to peak raltegravir concentration occurred 2 h sooner (
P
= 0.002) and there was a 67% lower raltegravir concentration at 12 h postdose (
P
< 0.0001) than with administration of raltegravir alone. The raltegravir area under the-concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h and maximum concentration were unchanged with the addition of an antacid. Studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of this interaction, whether it remains after multiple dosing to steady state, whether it is mitigated by temporal separation, and whether raltegravir interacts with divalent cation-containing vitamins, supplements, or foods.
Mechanism of Antifungal Activity of Terpenoid Phenols Resembles Calcium Stress and Inhibition of the TOR Pathway
Authors: Rao Anjana , Zhang Yongqiang , Muend Sabina , Rao Rajini
Published: October 2010

Terpenoid phenols, including carvacrol, are components of oregano and other plant essential oils that exhibit potent antifungal activity against a wide range of pathogens, including
Candida albicans
,
Staphylococcus aureus
, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. To gain a mechanistic view of the cellular response to terpenoid phenols, we used
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
as a model organism and monitored temporal changes in metabolic activity, cytosolic and vacuolar pH, and Ca
2+
transients. Using a panel of related compounds, we observed dose-dependent Ca
2+
bursts that correlated with antifungal efficacy. Changes in pH were long lasting and followed the Ca
2+
transients. A
vma
mutant lacking functional vacuolar H
+
-ATPase (V-ATPase) and defective in ion homeostasis was hypersensitive to carvacrol toxicity, consistent with a role for ionic disruptions in mediating cell death. Genomic profiling within 15 min of exposure revealed a robust transcriptional response to carvacrol, closely resembling that of calcium stress. Genes involved in alternate metabolic and energy pathways, stress response, autophagy, and drug efflux were prominently upregulated, whereas repressed genes mediated ribosome biogenesis and RNA metabolism. These responses were strongly reminiscent of the effects of rapamycin, the inhibitor of the TOR pathway of nutrient sensing. The results point to the activation of specific signaling pathways downstream of cellular interaction with carvacrol rather than a nonspecific lesion of membranes, as has been previously proposed.
Identification and Characterization of the Multidrug Resistance Gene
cfr
in a Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Sequence Type 8 Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
IVa (USA300) Isolate
Authors: Shore Anna C. , Brennan Orla M. , Ehricht Ralf , Monecke Stefan , Schwarz Stefan , Slickers Peter , Coleman David C.
Published: October 2010

The staphylococcal
cfr
gene mediates resistance to phenicols, lincosamides, oxazolidinones, pleuromutilins, and streptogramin A, a phenotype that has been termed PhLOPS
A
. The
cfr
gene has mainly been associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates from animals, and only a few
cfr
-positive methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) isolates have been described so far. This study reports the first description of a
cfr
-positive MRSA isolate (M05/0060) belonging to the pandemic Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive sequence type 8 MRSA IVa/USA300 (ST8-MRSA-IVa/USA300) clone. The
cfr
gene was detected in M05/0060 using a DNA microarray which was used to screen PVL-positive MRSA isolates for the presence of virulence genes, typing markers, and antimicrobial resistance genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that M05/0060 exhibited the
cfr
-associated resistance phenotype. Molecular analysis identified the presence of
cfr
and a second phenicol resistance gene,
fexA
, on a novel 45-kb conjugative plasmid, which was designated pSCFS7. Within pSCFS7, a DNA segment consisting of
cfr
, a truncated copy of insertion sequence IS
21
-
558
, and a region with homology to the DNA invertase gene
bin3
of transposon Tn
552
from
Bacillus mycoides
was integrated into the transposase gene
tnpB
of the
fexA
-carrying transposon Tn
558
. The emergence of a multidrug-resistant
cfr
-positive variant of ST8-MRSA-IVa/USA300 is alarming and requires ongoing surveillance. Moreover, the identification of a novel conjugative plasmid carrying the
cfr
gene indicates the ability of
cfr
to spread to other MRSA strains.
Inferior vena cava filters for the cerebrovascular patient
Authors: Kalva Sanjeeva P , Somarouthu Bhanusupriya , Hirsch Joshua
Published: October 2010

Acute cerebrovascular disease is often complicated by deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Many of these patients are at high risk of intracranial hemorrhage with therapeutic anticoagulation. These patients may benefit from insertion of inferior vena cava filters. Studies specifically dealing with stroke patients are lacking, but it is the authors' opinion that filters reduce the incidence of pulmonary embolism. There is little evidence to support the use of these devices prophylactically in patients who do not have venous thromboembolism. Retrievable filters are an attractive option but there are concerns about their safety; and if regularly used, a system for successful filter retrieval in all patients should be instituted. The role of concurrent anticoagulation with filters is not clear. However, we believe anticoagulation, in the absence of a contraindication, is beneficial in patients with active venous thromboembolism.
Examining small animals
Authors: Cook Michelle
Published: October 2010

MEDICAL HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IN COMPANION ANIMALS, 2nd edn A. Rijnberk and F. J. van Sluijs
Cardiopulmonary effects of combinations of medetomidine hydrochloride and atropine sulphate in dogs
Authors: Alibhai H. I. K. , Clarke K. W. , Lee Y. H. , Thompson J.
Published: October 2010

Medetomidine and xylazine are alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists which are used as sedatives and premedicants in small animals. However, bradycardia is a side effect and the use of atropine sulphate has been recommended to counteract it. This study investigated the effects of combining medetomidine (40 μg/kg) and atropine (30 μg/kg) on the cardiopulmonary function of six dogs. Medetomidine administered alone caused severe bradycardia, but hypertension was mild and transient. Medetomidine and atropine administered together caused an initial bradycardia, but within 15 minutes there was tachycardia accompanied by a mean arterial blood pressure of 210 mm Hg. When atropine was administered 30 minutes before medetomidine, tachycardia and hypertension were observed within five minutes of the medetomidine injection. Thus, although atropine will counteract medetomidineinduced bradycardia, its use results in prolonged and severe hypertension, in association with the tachycardia. Although atropine may be life‐saving when bradycardia is profound, its indiscriminate use in combination with alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists may be disadvantageous.
Multiple congenital cardiac anomalies and idiopathic thoracic aortitis in a horse
Authors: Reppas G. P. , Canfield P. J. , Hartley W. J. , Hutchins D. R. , Hoffmann K. L.
Published: October 2010

An echocardiographical and clinical pathological investigation of the rapid loss of weight by a yearling thoroughbred fflly revealed an atrial septal defect, a ventricular septal defect and hyperfibrinogenaemia. A post mortem examination confirmed the cardiac abnormalities and revealed a severe thoracic aortitis. It is proposed that the idiopathic thoracic aortitis contributed to the horse's compromised cardiovascular homoeostasis.
Side effects of oral antimicrobial agents in the horse: a comparison of pivampicillin and trimethoprim/sulphadiazine
Authors: Ensink J. M. , Klein W. R. , Barneveld A. , van Miert A. S. J. P. A. M. , Vulto A. G.
Published: October 2010

To evaluate the side effects of oral pivampicillin and trimethoprim/sulphadiazine, 200 horses receiving these antimicrobial agents were studied. The horses received either trimethoprim/sulphadiazine (30 mg/kg twice daily) or pivampicillin (25 mg/kg twice daily) for three or more days. No adverse effects other than loose faeces and diarrhoea were detected. The risk of diarrhoea was significantly less after the oral administration of pivampicillin (3 per cent) than after trimethoprim/sulphadiazine (7 per cent). Horses whose appetite was reduced appeared to be predisposed to develop diarrhoea after the administration of either oral antimicrobial agent.
Reproductive performance of dairy herds infected withLeptospira interrogansserovarhardjorelative to the year of diagnosis
Authors: Dhaliwal G. S. , Murray R. D. , Ellis W. A.
Published: October 2010

To assess the impact ofLeptospira interrogansserovarhardjoinfection on the reproductive performance of nine dairy herds with evidence of infection, forty years' fertility data were analysed relative to the year of first diagnosis. Fifty per cent of various fertility variables had their lowest values only in the year of diagnosis. Culling rates were highest during the year of diagnosis in five of the herds, and were above 22 per cent in five of nine (55.6 per cent) of the diagnosis years considered compared with seven (22.6 per cent) of the 31 non‐diagnosis years. An assessment of the fertility status of the herds by means of a formula which incorporated the first service conception rate, the number of services per conception for cows conceiving, the calving to conception interval and the culling rate, revealed low reproductive performance during the year of diagnosis in six of the nine herds. Abortion rates were highest in four of the herds during the year of diagnosis, and these included the herds in which the fertility status was not lowest. It was concluded thatL interrogansserovarhardjoaffected reproduction adversely by causing both abortions and low fertility, but that the effect was temporary.
Use of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in cats and dogs
Authors: Aranaz A. , Liébana E. , Pickering X. , Novoa C. , Mateos A. , Domínguez L.
Published: October 2010

Samples from four dogs and four cats suspected of having tuberculosis were processed for histopathology, bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A simple, rapid method for the extraction of DNA from tissue samples was used in two PCR assays designed to confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The PCR assays detected all the culture‐positive samples from these animals and no false positive results were obtained. The PCR technique was successful for the direct detection of organisms from theMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex and reduced the time needed for a diagnosis to two days.
Clinical and pathological features of Nigerian equine encephalitis
Authors: Adeyefa C. A. O. , Tomori O. , Akpavie S. O. , Awoseyi O. A.
Published: October 2010

Thirteen cases of a disease with a low morbidity and very high mortality in horses in Nigeria are described; the disease is characterised by fever (rectal temperature ≥40°C), generalised muscle spasms, ataxia, increased respiratory and heart rates and terminal lateral recumbency. The illness generally lasts three to five days but durations of 12 to 30 hours have been observed. Laboratory investigations, including histopathology and serology suggest a viral aetiology, possibly an alphavirus of the equine encephalitis group.
Sulphur‐induced polioencephalomalacia in lambs
Authors: Low J. C. , Scott P. R. , Howie F. , Lewis M. , FitzSimons J. , Spence J. A.
Published: October 2010

An outbreak of polioencephalomalacia affected 16 of 46 Swaledale lambs and five of 25 Scottish blackface lambs 15 to 32 days after they were introduced to an ad libitum concentrate ration containing 0.43 per cent sulphur. The clinical signs were acute and included depression, central blindness and head‐pressing, but no hyperaesthesia, nystagmus, dorsiflexion of the neck or opisthotonos were observed. Treatment of the affected lambs with vitamin B1, dexamethasone and antibiotics was associated with a prolonged recovery period, though no further cases were identified after vitamin B1had been given parenterally to all the lambs at risk.
Role of chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation in a case of canine angiostrongylosis
Authors: Ramsey I. K. , Littlewood J. D. , Dunn J. K. , Herrtage M. E.
Published: October 2010

A dog whose major clinical signs suggested a coagulopathy, is described. The dog had a history of bleeding episodes and had a severe regenerative anaemia. By using specific factor assays, the coagulopathy was found to be due to a consumptive intravascular process that resembled chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. Subsequent investigations identifiedAngiostrongylus vasorumas the cause.
Evaluation of a one‐step test for rapid, in practice detection of rotavirus in farm animals
Authors: de Verdier Klingenberg K. , Esfandiari J.
Published: October 2010

An immunochromatographic test for the detection of group A rotavirus was evaluated against a reference group A rotavirus ELISA, by using a panel of 161 bovine, porcine and equine faecal samples submitted for routine examination. The sensitivity of the test was 89 per cent and the specificity 99 per cent compared with the ELISA. Its reproducibility was 100 per cent. The simplicity and rapidity of the test procedure make it suitable for use in practice.
Detection of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs by the polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Woodward M. J. , Kirwan S. E. S.
Published: October 2010

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of the gene sequence, sefA, encoded by all isolates of Salmonella enteritidis, was developed. The PCR could detect as few as four S enteritidis washed bacterial cells but egg contents inhibited the PCR. Eggs spiked with 50 S enteritidis bacterial cells were homogenised, inoculated into buffered peptone water and grown at 37°C for 16 hours, when the PCR was successful. A positive internal control was developed to differentiate between true and false negative PCR results for the detection of S enteritidis. In a limited trial of the egg handling procedures and the PCR, one of 250 chickens' eggs from retail outlets was found to be contaminated with S enteritidis.
Canine distemper virus in Lake Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica)
Authors: Mamaev L. V. , Visser I. K. G. , Belikov S. I. , Denikina N. N. , Harder T. , Goatley L. , Rima B. , Edginton B. , Osterhaus A. D. M. E. , Barrett T.
Published: October 2010

The virus epizootic which resulted in significant mortality in Siberian seals (Phoca sibirica) in Lake Baikal during 1987/88 was caused by canine distemper virus. Sequence analysis of the virus glycoprotein genes revealed that it was most closely related to recent European field isolates of canine distemper virus. This paper presents evidence that the same virus continued to circulate in seals in Lake Baikal after the initial epizootic. Three out of 45 brain tissue samples collected from seals culled in the spring of 1992 were positive for canine distemper virus‐specific nucleic acid by the reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction and the sequences were closely related to that of the original virus isolated in 1988.
Malignant histiocytosis in three Bernese mountain dogs
Authors: Ramsey I. K. , McKay J. S. , Rudorf H. , Dobson J. M.
Published: October 2010

Malignant histiocytosis is a rare disease which is characterised by the neoplastic proliferation of tissue macrophages (histiocytes) leading to excessive phagocytosis of erythrocytes. The clinical signs and pathological findings in three Bernese mountain dogs are described. Two of the dogs had the same sire. The disease has been established as a familial problem in Bernese mountain dogs in other countries, although it has not been previously recorded in the United Kingdom.
Treatment of intrasynovial infection with gentamicin‐impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads
Authors: Butson R. J. , Schramme M. C. , Garlick M. H. , Davies J. V.
Published: October 2010

Gentamicin‐impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads were used in the treatment of infective synovitis in 12 horses and 10 cattle. They had either proved refractory to standard treatments (lavage, debridement, joint drainage and systemic antibiotics) or had evidence of osteomyelitis adjacent to a synovial cavity. All the animals were severely lame. All the cattle and six of the horses had radiological evidence of osteomyelitis in communication with a synovial cavity. The beads were placed intrasynovially under general anaesthesia and left in place for 14 days. One horse and one calf were euthanased owing to continued infective arthritis. The infection was eliminated from the other 20 cases and six of the horses returned to full athletic use. Eight of nine calves with E‐type infective arthritis and osteomyelitis returned to their intended food production or breeding programmes.
Concurrent bovine viral diarrhoea virus andSalmonella typhimuriumDT104 infection in a group of pregnant dairy heifers
Authors: Penny C. D. , Low J. C. , Nettleton P. F. , Scott P. R. , Sargison N. D. , Strachan W. D. , Honeyman P. C.
Published: October 2010

Two days after being imported into the United Kingdom one of a group of 30 pregnant dairy heifers showed clinical signs of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection and subsequently died. Before it died the heifer was BVDV antigen‐positive and antibody‐negative. The gross post mortem findings were suggestive of mucosal disease but in addition to noncytopathic BVD virus,Salmonella typhimuriumDT104 was cultured from tissues and gut contents. The other heifers were screened forS typhimuriumby culturing faeces, and serology showed that 13 (45 per cent) of the group seroconverted to BVDV in the three weeks between samplings and the remainder were seropositive, indicating previous exposure. During this period four heifers showed clinical signs of acute BVDV infection but recovered uneventfully. Four animals (14 per cent) were positive forS typhimuriumDT104 on faecal culture, and three of these excretors concurrently seroconverted to BVDV. Of the 29 heifers remaining in the group, one aborted in late gestation, 26 bore live calves and two delivered stillborn calves. Pre‐colostral blood samples from the calves showed that their dams' pre‐existing antibody titres correlated well with in utero fetal protection. In non‐immune dams, exposure to BVDV between 69 and 120 days of gestation led to the birth of live persistently viraemic calves. Infection between 120 and 140 days of gestation led to the birth of live calves with evidence of congenital damage to the central nervous system, and infection later than 140 days of gestation led to the birth of live, normal calves with high pre‐colostral antibody titres to BVDV. One calf which sucked colostrum was antibody and virus antigen‐positive when sampled at 12 hours old but regular blood sampling failed to detect viraemia again until the calf was seven weeks old when it became persistently viraemic.
Epidural lipomatosis in a six‐year‐old dachshund
Authors: Meij B. P. , Voorhout G. , Wolvekamp W. Th. C.
Published: October 2010

A six‐year‐old female dachshund was examined because of intermittent lameness in its left pelvic limb and periodic back pain. Myelography, epidurography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a dorsal displacement of the dural sac in the lumbosacral region caused by a soft tissue mass which had the specific density of fat. The mass was removed via a dorsal laminectomy in the lumbosacral area and a histological examination confirmed that it was adipose tissue. The clinical signs resolved after the surgery and a follow‐up CT five months later showed no evidence of compression of the dural sac. The diagnosis of epidural lipomatosis in this dog was based on the clinical findings, the results of diagnostic imaging, and the surgical and histological findings, all of which revealed many similarities with epidural lipomatosis in man.
Use of the respiratory stimulant doxapram in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)
Authors: Woods R. , McLean S. , Nicol S. , Slip D. J. , Burton H. R.
Published: October 2010

The use of doxapram to stimulate breathing was examined in southern elephant seals chemically restrained with ketamine and xylazine. Animals which were breathing spontaneously received doxapram (approximately 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg) or saline into the extradural intravertebral vein. Doxapram caused a dose‐dependent increase in the depth and rate of respiration which began within one minute, peaked after two minutes and lasted for up to five minutes. A dose of 2 mg/kg appeared to be safe and effective for the stimulation of respiration, while 4 mg/kg caused arousal and shaking. Doxapram (2 mg/kg) was tested on 14 occasions in animals which had developed apnoea during chemical restraint. Doxapram had no effect when administered into the extradural intravertebral vein and appeared to be of more benefit when administered directly into the lungs via an endotracheal tube, but it was not effective in all cases. There was evidence to suggest that the endotracheal tube prevented some of the animals from breathing. The effect of intubation and endotracheal doxapram administration was therefore examined in 19 apnoeic and 31 spontaneously breathing seals. Intubation induced apnoea in animals at low levels of chemical restraint and endotracheal doxapram was unreliable for the stimulation of breathing.
Papillary ductal adenocarcinoma in the mammary glands of two horses
Authors: Reppas G. P. , McClintock S. A. , Canfield P. J. , Watson G. F.
Published: October 2010

Mammary gland neoplasms in horses are uncommon and may initially be confused with mastitis. Masses from the mammary glands of two horses with chronic discharges were examined by cytology and histopathology. Both masses were diagnosed as papillary ductal adenocarcinomas with extensive intraductal and intralobular involvement and only focal infiltration of the adjacent stroma. Complementary immunohistochemical studies were made of both fresh and formalin‐fixed tumour tissue, and attempts were made to assess the steroid receptor status of fresh tissue biochemically to assess the possibility of hormonal treatment as an adjunct to surgery. The results of these tests for oestrogen and progesterone receptors were negative.
Incidence and prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle
Authors: Clarkson M. J. , Downham D. Y. , Faull W. B. , Hughes J. W. , Manson F. J. , Merritt J. B. , Murray R. D. , Russell W. B. , Sutherst J. E. , Ward W. R.
Published: October 2010

A survey was made of 37 dairy farms in Wirral, mid‐ Cheshire, mid‐Somerset and Dyfed, Wales, to assess the incidence and prevalence of lameness in the cows between May 1989 and September 1991. The incidence was obtained from records made whenever a cow was examined for lameness or received preventive foot‐trimming. The mean annual incidence was 54.6 new cases per 100 cows with a range from 10.7 to 170.1 and the mean values during summer and winter were 22.9 and 31.7, respectively. The prevalence of lameness was measured by regular visits at which locomotion was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, and the prevalence of lameness was calculated for each visit as the proportion of cows with scores of 3 or more. The mean annual prevalence over the whole period was 20.6 per cent with a range from 2.0 to 53.9 per cent for the 37 farms. The mean prevalences during summer and winter were 18.6 and 25.0 per cent, respectively. The prevalence measured at a single visit in midsummer or midwinter was significantly correlated with the mean prevalence over the whole corresponding period and may be useful as an assessment of the extent of lameness in a herd and the efficacy of control measures. There was evidence that training farmers to recognise early cases of lameness and request veterinary treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the duration of cases of lameness.
Isolation of Brucella species from cetaceans, seals and an otter
Authors: Foster G. , Jahans K. L. , Reid R. J. , Ross H. M.
Published: October 2010

Brucella organisms which differed from the recognised species of the genus, were isolated from nine seals, eight cetaceans and one otter. A method is described for the isolation of Brucella species from sea mammals and the first isolations of Brucella species are recorded from an Atlantic white‐sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), two striped dolphins (Stenella coeuleoalba), a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and a European otter (Lutra lutra). There were differences in the culture media required for the primary isolation of the organisms and in their dependency on carbon dioxide. Subcutaneous lesions, when present, always yielded a confluent growth. The organisms were isolated from seven of 14 spleen samples and also from the mammary glands, uterus, testes and blood and the mandibular, gastric, iliac, sub‐lumbar and colorectal lymph nodes.
Welfare implications of identification of cattle by ear tags
Authors: Johnston A. M. , Edwards D. S.
Published: October 2010

The damage caused by ear tags used for identification was studied by examining the ears of normal beef cattle and cull cows after slaughter, and by comparing the effects of metal and polyurethane ear tags in calves which had been doubletagged in the same ear. Metal tags were associated with more damage to the ears than polyurethane tags, the difference being most marked in the young calves, in which slight changes were found in 36.6 per cent and severe changes in 9.8 per cent of ears. There was a high incidence of blood around the point of insertion of the metal tags at three weeks old, but with the polyurethane tags only one calf showed slight evidence of blood around the point of insertion. In the beef cattle fitted with metal tags, a slight reaction was recorded in 40 per cent, a moderate reaction in 17 per cent and significant changes were found in 12 per cent of ears. By comparison, 16 per cent of ears with polyurethane tags showed only a slight reaction, and 80 per cent of the polyurethane tags were considered to be a good fit, compared with 37 per cent of metal tags. More changes were observed in the ears of the cull cows, with 23.5 per cent of ears with polyurethane tags being free from damage, compared with only 2.9 per cent of ears with metal tags.
Serological evidence of morbillivirus infection in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Alaska and Russia
Authors: Follmann E. H. , Garner G. W. , Evermann J. F. , McKeirnan A. J.
Published: October 2010

One‐hundred‐and‐ninety‐one samples of blood serum collected from 186 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) between 1987 and 1992 were analysed for morbillivirus antibodies. The samples were collected in the Bering, Chukchi and East Siberian seas. Sixty‐eight samples (35.6 per cent) had morbillivirus antibody titres >5; the percentage of positive samples ranged from 26.2 to 46.2 per cent from year to year. The proportions of adults, sub‐adults and cubs which were seropositive were 43.9, 35.7 and 37.9 per cent respectively. Some seropositive dams had seronegative young and some that were seronegative had seropositive young. One litter of two cubs, in which the dam was seronegative, had one seropositive and one seronegative cub. Seropositive bears occurred in all the areas from which the samples were collected but there was a significantly greater incidence in the bears sampled in Russia. The high prevalence of seropositive bears over the period suggests that the bear morbillivirus is endemic in these regions of the Arctic, but its source is unknown.
Breath hydrogen excretion by healthy cats after oral administration of oxytetracycline and metronidazole
Authors: Muir P. , Gruffydd‐Jones T. J. , Cripps P. J. , Brown P. J.
Published: October 2010

Breath hydrogen excretion over a period of three hours was measured to evaluate carbohydrate malassimilation in healthy cats treated orally with antibiotics. Both an absorbable carbohydrate (xylose) and a non‐absorbable carbohydrate (lactulose) were administered during the tests to evaluate the changes in the intestinal mucosa and the population of bacteria within the intestinal lumen. Overall, the effects of oxytetracycline and metronidazole on breath hydrogen excretion were not significantly different. However, the treatment effect with an antibiotic did significantly change breath hydrogen excretion after xylose administration (P<0.05) within groups. Similarly, with each antibiotic, breath hydrogen excretion was affected significantly (P<0.001) by the time after the administration of the carbohydrate. Treatment with each antibiotic also interacted significantly with this time effect (P<0.05) within groups. After lactulose administration, there was a trend within groups for the type of antibiotic to interact with the treatment effect on breath hydrogen excretion (P = 0.09). After oxytetracycline treatment, more hydrogen was exhaled during the first 120 minutes after lactulose administration than in the pre‐antibiotic test, whereas after metronidazole treatment, less hydrogen was exhaled between 60 and 180 minutes after lactulose administration. After treatment with either oxytetracycline or metronidazole, more hydrogen was exhaled after xylose administration. Obligate anaerobes could be isolated from samples of small intestinal fluid obtained endoscopically after oxytetracycline treatment, but they could not be isolated after treatment with metronidazole.
Feline tuberculosis: a literature review and discussion of 19 cases caused by an unusual mycobacterial variant
Authors: Gunn‐Moore D. A. , Jenkins P. A. , Lucke V. M.
Published: October 2010

The literature relating to feline mycobacterial disease is reviewed and 19 cats with tuberculosis caused by a previously unknown strain of mycobacterium are discussed. The bacteria were found to have characteristics between those ofMycobacterium tuberculosisandM bovis. The paper considers the clinical signs, epidemiology and diagnosis of the cases, and discusses the possible origins of the organism, treatment regimens and zoonotic potential.
Comparison of urethral pressure profilometry and contrast radiography in the diagnosis of incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism in bitches
Authors: Gregory S. P. , Cripps P. J. , Holt P. E.
Published: October 2010

Three diagnostic indicators of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence were compared in 25 continent and 25 incontinent anaesthetised bitches: the resting urethral pressure profile, the stressed urethral pressure profile and the radiographic position of the bladder neck. Logistic regression indicated that the best predictor of continence status was the stressed urethral pressure profile as assessed by the percentage of negative peaks extending below the resting intravesical pressure; it classified 43 of the 50 dogs correctly. The radiographic position of the bladder neck was a better predictor of continence than either the measurement of functional profile length or the maximum urethral closure pressure from the resting urethral pressure profile, whether alone or in combination. By combining the percentage of negative peaks on the stressed profile with the position of the bladder neck, 46 of the 50 dogs were classified correctly. Cut‐off values for the percentage of negative peaks on the stressed urethral pressure profile, and for the radiographic position of the bladder neck are suggested for use in evaluating incontinent bitches in clinical practice.
Obstructive pulmonary disease in 18 horses at summer pasture
Authors: Mair T. S.
Published: October 2010

The clinical features of 18 cases of summer pasture associated obstructive pulmonary disease were reviewed. The horses had signs of obstructive pulmonary disease (expiratory dyspnoea, wheezing and crackling lung sounds and coughing) during the spring, summer or autumn while they were kept permanently at grass with no access to hay or straw, for at least two consecutive years. In nine cases there was a seasonal incidence with the disease occurring during April and May. Eleven of the horses were affected by bouts of severe dyspnoea. Eleven of the horses also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and two were affected by idiopathic headshaking. Endoscopy revealed evidence of lower airway inflammation, and a cytological examination of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed a neutrophilia. Moving the horses into a stable controlled the clinical disease effectively in only two of the 16 cases. Oral clenbuterol was effective in only seven of 15 cases. Systemic dexamethasone or oral prednisolone, in combination with clenbuterol, was the most effective treatment.
Treatment of a coxofemoral luxation secondary to upward fixation of the patella in a Shetland pony
Authors: Clegg P. D. , Butson R. J.
Published: October 2010

A nine‐year‐old Shetland pony gelding, with a history of recurrent upward fixation of the patella, suddenly developed severe lameness in its right hindlimb. A luxation of the coxofemoral joint was diagnosed by a clinical and radiographic examination. The initial treatment of the luxation by closed reduction was not maintained, and the limb was placed in an Ehmer sling for four days after a second closed reduction. This allowed the femoral head to remain in the acetabulum, although a persistent subluxation remained, presumably owing to a rupture of the round ligament. The pony remained comfortable at pasture for over two years after the reduction, until osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint caused it to become severely lame and it had to be euthanased.
Sigmoid caecal volvulus in a dairy cow treated by total typhlectomy
Authors: Green M. J. , Husband J. A.
Published: October 2010

A four‐year‐old pedigree Holstein, second lactation cow had been lethargic, with a reduced appetite, signs of colic and reduced milk yield for one day. There was a small swelling in the right paralumbar fossa and auscultation of this region revealed a tympanitic resonance (ping). An exploratory laparotomy revealed a sigmoid shaped caecal volvulus and extensive caecal necrosis. The condition was corrected surgically by a total typhlectomy. Recovery was slow for the first week after surgery but uneventful thereafter. One month later the cow was healthy, with normal faecal consistency, and in the milking herd. Over the following lactation the cow gave an excellent milk yield.
Usage of antibacterial and antiparasitic drugs in animals in Sweden between 1988 and 1993
Authors: Björnerot L. , Franklin A. , Tysén E.
Published: October 2010

The total usage of antibacterial and antiparasitic drugs in animals in Sweden between 1988 and 1993 was assessed. The data for the antibacterial drugs were divided among the different classes of drug used each year. Special attention was paid to the use of antibacterial drugs in feeding stuffs and to their use in pigs and fish. During the period studied, the total usage of antibacterial drugs remained stable at approximately 35 tonnes of active substance annually. The use of antibacterial drugs for growth‐promoting purposes was prohibited in Sweden in 1986 and became available by veterinary prescription only. As a result the total amount used annually has decreased and stabilised at a level about 35 per cent lower than before the ban. Important changes during 1988 to 1993 were a doubled usage of tetracyclines and a 50 per cent decrease in the use of olaquindox. The five major classes of antibacterial drugs used in 1993 were benzyl penicillin (13.2 tonnes), tetracyclines (8.8 tonnes), olaquindox (3.5 tonnes), sulphonamides (2.0 tonnes) and aminoglycosides (1.9 tonnes). The total annual usage of coccidiostatic drugs, mainly used in the poultry industry, was stable at approximately 10 tonnes, while the usage of other antiparasitic drugs increased slightly to 7.7 tonnes.
Platelet dysfunction associated with experimental acute canine ehrlichiosis
Authors: Harrus S. , Waner T. , Eldor A. , Zwang E. , Bark H.
Published: October 2010

To determine whether platelet dysfunction occurs in canine ehrlichiosis, platelet aggregation studies in response to collagen/ epinephrine, thrombin and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were carried out by the indirect method, using sera from six dogs experimentally infected withEhrlichia canis. Samples of serum taken before infection and four and 20 days after infection were tested by incubation with platelet‐rich plasma from a seronegative healthy dog. Platelet aggregation was significantly inhibited in five of six infected dogs in response to at least one of the agonists used. A significant increase in preaggregation lag time was recorded in response to collagen/ epinephrine in sera taken 20 days after infection from three of five dogs (P<0.05). When compared with the preinfection values, a significant increase of 45 per cent in the mean preaggregation lag time was detected (P<0.05). Maximal relative aggregation responses to ADP decreased significantly in one serum sample taken four days and one taken 20 days after infection (P<0.01) and there was a significantly lower relative slope for one serum sample 20 days after infection (P<0.05). Maximal relative aggregation responses to thrombin were significantly decreased together with their relative slopes in serum samples from two of four dogs four days after infection (P<0.05). The results suggest that platelet dysfunction may occur in the acute stage of canine ehrlichiosis, and may be a contributing factor to the tendency to bleed commonly observed in this disease. Antiplatelet antibodies directed against platelet glycoproteins may play a role in the inhibition of platelet aggregation.
Epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak of classical swine fever in an area of high pig density
Authors: Koenen F. , Van Caenegem G. , Vermeersch J. P. , Vandenheede J. , Deluyker H.
Published: October 2010

The objective of this study was to analyse an outbreak of classical swine fever under a policy of non‐vaccination, intensive surveillance and eradication in an area of high pig density. The virus was found in 52 herds, where some 90,000 pigs were slaughtered. The clinical signs were vague and the reports of suspect herds generally coincided with increased mortality. The interval between the first occurrence of clinical signs and the report of a suspect herd was shorter when the disease was first diagnosed in fattening pigs than when it was diagnosed in sows, boars or suckling piglets. Among fattening pigs, mortality and morbidity appeared to increase with age. The proportion of clinically ill animals was positively correlated with the proportion of serologically positive animals in a pig house during the phase when the disease was spreading. Fifty‐eight per cent of pig houses containing only clinically healthy but some virologically positive pigs were serologically negative. Antigen detection was therefore critical for early disease detection. Serology was nevertheless useful to ascertain that swine fever was not endemic in the area. The secondary cases were concentrated in the close neighbourhood of the herd initially infected.
Virulence, immunogenicity and reactivation of seven bovine herpesvirus 1.1 strains: clinical and virological aspects
Authors: Kaashoek M. J. , Straver P. J. , Van Rooij E. M. A. , Quak J. , Van Oirschot J. T.
Published: October 2010

Specific pathogen‐free calves were inoculated intranasally with one of seven strains of bovine herpesvirus 1.1 (BHVl.1) to identify a highly virulent strain for use in vaccinationchallenge experiments. The calves were monitored clinically and virologically. Clear differences in virulence between the strains were observed. The Iowa strain was the most virulent; the four calves infected with the strain had the most severe clinical signs; two of them died and viraemia was detected in three of them. To evaluate the immunogenicity of the seven strains all the calves were challenged 16 weeks later with the Iowa strain. The calves of a control group showed the typical signs of a BHV1 infection, whereas all the other calves were protected against disease and shed little or no virus. Hence, the differences in virulence were not associated with differences in immunogenicity. After the calves had been treated with dexamethasone, differences were observed between the strains in the amount of virus that was excreted.
Clinical aspects of 27 cases of neosporosis in dogs
Authors: Barber J. S. , Trees A. J.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐seven cases of neosporosis in European dogs are described. The disease was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, or a favourable response to treatment in the dogs with appropriate clinical signs, and by the presence of antibodies toNeospora caninumbut not toToxoplasma gondii. The affected dogs were two days to seven years old, and of 13 different breeds. Both sexes were affected and in most cases littermates remained normal. Twenty‐one cases had an initial hindlimb paresis or ataxia, in which muscle atrophy was the most consistent clinical sign. Rigid hyperextension developed in approximately half of the cases. Anorexia and pyrexia were rare. Other clinical signs included forelimb ataxia, head tremors with tetraparesis and sudden collapse due to myocarditis. Titres of ≥1:800 in theN caninumindirect fluorescent antibody test were detected in the 20 cases from which serum samples were taken. Such high titres are rare in healthy dogs and strongly suggest a diagnosis of neosporosis. Sixteen of the dogs received appropriate antiprotozoal treatment with clindamycin, potentiated sulphonamides and/or pyrimethamine; 10 made a full or functional recovery. Recovery was less likely in peracute cases with severe clinical signs, and when the treatment was delayed.
Treatment of bovine retained placenta and its effects
Authors: Peters A. R. , Laven R. A.
Published: October 2010

The literature on the treatment of retained placenta and its effects is reviewed. Manual removal, the oldest and commonest method of treatment, benefits parlour hygiene but may adversely affect the cow. The use of collagenase may allow manual removal without such side effects. Ecbolic drugs are often ineffective, both as prophylaxis and treatment for the condition. They are most effective within one hour of parturition, particularly after a caesarean section in which tocolytic drugs have been used. Endometritis is a very common sequel to retained placenta. Antibiotics and oestrogens have been used to treat, control or prevent the condition, but they are not routinely effective and may have deleterious side effects. Gonadotrophin releasing hormone and/or prostaglandins have been used to reduce the deleterious effect of retained placenta on fertility, but the results obtained have been inconsistent.
Evaluation of the effect of the fenbendazole sustainedrelease intraruminal device on the immunity of calves to lungworm
Authors: Jacobs D. E. , Hutchinson M. J. , Abbott E. M.
Published: October 2010

Each of 10 set‐stocked calves was given a fenbendazole sustained‐ release intraruminal bolus at turnout for the control of parasitic bronchitis while a group of 10 similar calves was left untreated. The respiratory rates of the control calves were not greatly increased during the grazing season, but persistent coughing was evident from early July when they all had patent lungworm infections. Only occasional coughing was reported from the bolus‐treated calves except for a transient increase in its frequency in late September. In mid‐August, one of the treated calves was passing lungworm larvae and when they were housed six of the 10 had patent infections. In August tracer calves picked up an average of 23.5 lungworms per day from the control paddock but only 2.1 from the paddock grazed by the treated calves. In September the corresponding figures were 7.6 and 19.2 lungworms per day, respectively, from the control and ‘treated’ paddocks. After housing, the post mortem worm counts after an experimental challenge with Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae were reduced by 99.2 and 98.7 per cent (P<0.0001), respectively, for the control and bolus‐treated calves in comparison with weight‐matched parasite‐naive calves. Thus, despite a relatively low level of challenge during the grazing season, the treated animals had developed a considerable degree of protective immunity.
Preferential sites for arterial blood sampling in cattle
Authors: Muylle S. , Anthone P. , Simoens P. , Lauwers H.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and reliability of different methods for obtaining samples of arterial blood from calves and adult dairy cows. The intermediate branch of the caudal auricular artery was easy to use in animals of all ages. The common carotid artery was also suitable, but only in standing animals. In recumbent animals, the brachial artery and the common palmar digital artery were suitable in calves up to six months old, and the saphenous artery was suitable in both young and adult cattle. The facial, axillary and median caudal arteries were either difficult to use or unreliable.