bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a slide ELISA for canine leishmaniasis and comparison with four serological tests
Authors: Vercammen F. , Berkvens D. , Le Ray D. , Jacquet D. , Vervoort T.
Published: October 2010

A slide ELISA for canine leishmaniasis was developed by using promastigotes ofLeishmania infantum, and compared with microimmunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, direct agglutination and indirect immunofluorescence assays. The sensitivity of all the tests was 100 per cent. The specificity of the direct agglutination test was 95 per cent but it was 100 per cent for the three other tests. There was also a positive correlation and a high level of concordance between the titres measured by the different tests.
Ultrasonographic findings in cows with left displacement of the abomasum
Authors: Braun U. , Pusterla N. , Schönmann M.
Published: October 2010

Forty‐eight cows with left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) and three clinically healthy control cows were examined ultrasonographically from the 11th and 12th intercostal spaces on the left side. In the controls, the rumen was immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall, whereas in the cows with LDA the rumen was generally immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall ventrally, but displaced by the abomasum more dorsally. The ultrasonographic findings were generally consistent in the cows with LDA. The ingesta that were visualised ventrally in the abomasum appeared echogenic to hypoechogenic and, in a few cows, the abomasal folds were visible as elongated, echogenic, sickle‐shaped structures. The dorsal abomasal gas cap was characterised by reverberation artifacts from the abomasal surface.
Efficacy of moxidectin, ivermectin and albendazole oral drenches for suppression of periparturient rise in ewe worm egg output and reduction of anthelmintic treatment for lambs
Authors: Taylor S. M. , Kenny J. , Edgar H. W. , Ellison S. , Ferguson L.
Published: October 2010

Sixty multiparous crossbred ewes which had lambed within three days in the first week of April 1996, were divided into four groups. Each group consisted of 15 ewes plus 12 pairs of twins and three single lambs. Group 1 was left untreated, group 2 was treated with albendazole 2.5 per cent drench, group 3 received moxidectin 0.1 per cent drench and group 4 received ivermectin 0.08 per cent drench. The ewes in each group were dosed with their anthelmintic on April 4 (day 0) before being turned out to separate equal‐sized paddocks within the same field on the following morning. The field had been used for grazing sheep annually for many years and was considered to be contaminated with infective larvae of the common gastrointestinal nematodes infecting sheep in the region. Faecal samples were collected every two weeks from the ewes and lambs until July 25 (day 112). The lambs in each group were dosed with the anthelmintic used for their dams on day 42, and the dose was repeated when more than 50 per cent of the lambs in any group had a faecal egg count of more than 200 eggs per gram (epg). The total faecal egg output of the treated ewes over days 14 to 70, compared with that of the untreated control group, was reduced by 78‐9 per cent by the moxidectin drench, by 47.6 per cent by ivermectin, and by 21.5 per cent by albendazole. The lambs in the groups treated with moxidectin and ivermectin required only one treatment on day 42 before reaching finishing weight; those in the albendazole‐treated group were treated twice and the control group once. The faecal egg outputs of the lambs from day 42 until the end of the experiment on day 112 were reduced by 75 per cent by the moxidectin drench, by 48 5 per cent by ivermectin, and by 9 per cent by albendazole. There were no significant differences between the rates of weight change of either ewes or lambs in any of the groups.
Lumbar myelography in 79 dogs, using different puncture sites
Authors: McCartney W. T.
Published: October 2010

Lumbar myelography was performed in 79 dogs either before spinal surgery or as part of an investigation of neurological disease. In small dogs the site of the puncture was between Li and L5, avoiding the lumbosacral intumescence, whereas in large dogs the site was between T13 and L2. It was found that a lumbar puncture cranial to the lumbar intumescence was easier and caused no problems. The lumbar puncture was unsuccessful in three obese dogs. In 72 per cent of the cases the myelogram revealed a lesion, and the main cause of a nondiagnostic myelogram was epidural leakage.
Treatment of porcine cysticercosis with oxfendazole: a dose‐response trial
Authors: Gonzalez A. E. , Falcon N. , Gavidia C. , Garcia H. H. , Tsang V. C. W. , Bernal T. , Romero M. , Gilman R. H.
Published: October 2010

Taenia solium cysticercosis is an important public health problem in developing countries. Oxfendazole has been shown to be highly effective against porcine cysticercosis, when given as a single dose at 30 mg/kg bodyweight. This dose, however, was estimated from experience with albendazole. A controlled dose‐response trial was therefore undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of three concentrations of oxfendazole. Twenty‐four naturally parasitised pigs were divided into four groups and treated with oxfendazole at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg, or left untreated. Eight to 10 weeks later the pigs were killed and the viability of the parasites assessed by evagination. No side‐effects of oxfendazole treatment were observed. In the control group more than 90 per cent of the cysts were viable. Viable cysts were found in the muscle and brain of the pigs treated with 10 or 20 mg/kg oxfendazole. At 30 mg/kg there were no viable cysts in any of the tissues examined, indicating that this concentration of oxfendazole provided an effective treatment against porcine cysticercosis.
Effect of chemoprophylaxis with an ivermectin sustained‐release bolus on acquired resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in cattle
Authors: Claerebout E. , Hollanders W. , Dorny P. , Vercruysse J.
Published: October 2010

The influence of chemoprophylaxis with an ivermectin sustained‐release bolus in the first grazing season on the resistance of cattle to gastrointestinal nematodes during the following grazing season was investigated. In 1993 and 1994 dairy replacement calves were either given one bolus at the start of their first grazing season or left untreated. The two groups were grazed separately on a pasture that was divided into two similar sized paddocks. Faecal egg counts, serum pepsinogen and antibody levels were measured to evaluate host‐parasite contact. Pasture infection levels were estimated by pasture larval counts and worm counts in tracer calves. After winter housing the animals were monitored during their second grazing season on a pasture that was also divided into two similar sized paddocks. Acquired resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes was evaluated by faecal egg counts and weight gains. Again, pasture infection levels were determined and pepsinogen and antibody levels were measured. During the first grazing seasons gastrointestinal nematode infections were controlled very effectively by the bolus, as shown by the greater weight gains, the negligible faecal egg counts and the low serum pepsinogen and antibody levels in the treated calves. In contrast, all parameters showed extensive parasitehost contact in the untreated animals. The efficient prophylaxis in the treated groups resulted in low levels of larval contamination on the paddocks grazed by the treated animals, compared to moderate infection levels at the end of both first grazing seasons on the paddocks grazed by the untreated animals. During the second grazing seasons (1994 and 1995) the faecal egg output was low in all groups. Although in the previously treated animals faecal egg counts were consistently higher, the differences were minimal, resulting in comparable levels of larval contamination on both paddocks. Serum pepsinogen and antibody levels were not significantly different between the groups and indicated a similar level of larval uptake on both paddocks. No negative effect of the previous chemoprophylaxis on the clinical condition and the weight gain of the second season grazing animals was observed.
Omasal and abomasal impaction in beef suckler cows
Authors: Simkins K. M. , Nagele M. J.
Published: October 2010

A group of late gestation suckler cows were housed in straw yards and had been fed solely on pea haulm for the previous three weeks. Four cows became ill, with a variety of clinical signs, two died, one was euthanased and one recovered spontaneously. Postmortem examination revealed severe omasal and abomasal impaction. No further cases occurred after changes were made to the diet of the cows.
Comparison of histology with maternal and fetal serology for the diagnosis of abortion due to bovine neosporosis
Authors: Otter A. , Jeffrey M. , Scholes S. F. E. , Helmick B. , Wilesmith J. W. , Trees A. J.
Published: October 2010

An indirect fluorescent antibody test was applied to sera from normally calving and aborting cows and to samples of pleural fluid from their aborted calves, and the antibody titres were compared with histology and immunocytochemistry for the diagnosis ofNeospora‐associated abortion. Two groups of aborting cows and a third group of cows which had calved normally were used; group A consisted of 36 cows which aborted calves showing characteristic non‐suppurative inflammatory lesions in whichNeosporawas demonstrated by immunocytochemistry, group B consisted of 100 cows which aborted calves without histological evidence of neosporosis, and group C consisted of 128 normally calved cows which were sampled within one month of calving. Serology on the maternal sera and fetal fluids was highly specific and sensitive forNeosporainfection although 5 per cent of the cows which abortedNeospora‐negative calves and 4.7 per cent of the normally calved cows were also seropositive. Anti‐Neosporaantibodies were also detected in 7 per cent of the samples of fetal fluid fromNeospora‐negative abortions.
Gross and ultrasonographic anatomy of the carpal flexor tendon sheath in horses
Authors: Cauvin E. R. J. , Munroe G. A. , Boswell J. , Boyd J. S.
Published: October 2010

This study was undertaken to establish the gross anatomy and the ultrasonographic appearance of the carpal digital flexor tendon sheath (carpal sheath) and the palmar carpal region in normal horses. The isolated forelimbs from 15 horses were used to study the morphology of the sheath and associated structures, including a detailed study of the location of the main blood vessels and nerves in that region. These limbs and the forelimbs of five live, sound horses were also examined ultrasonographically. The examination yielded good soft tissue detail of the tendons and ligaments, synovial and perisynovial tissues and larger blood vessels. There was a good correlation between the ultrasonographic and gross anatomical appearance of the limbs. The sheath cavity was only identified after it had been distended with water, and the various synovial recesses at the level of the carpal canal were poorly imaged.
Comparative in vitro activity of doxycycline and oxytetracycline against porcine respiratory pathogens
Authors: Bousquet E. , Morvan H. , Aitken I. , Morgan J. H.
Published: October 2010

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of doxycycline and oxytetracycline were determined against 55Pasteurella multocidastrains, 59Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaestrains and 26Mycoplasma hyopneumoniaestrains isolated from the respiratory tract of pigs. An additional set of 76P multocidastrains isolated from pneumonic pigs was tested for their minimum inhibitory concentrations of doxycycline. TheP multocidaandA pleuropneumoniaestrains were isolated in France and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by an agar dilution method. TheM hyopneumoniaestrains were isolated in the United Kingdom and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by a serial broth dilution method. All the strains tested were susceptible to doxycycline whereas 15 per cent of theP multocidastrains and 22 per cent of theA pleuropneumoniaestrains were resistant to oxytetracycline. Doxycycline concentrations inhibiting 90 per cent of strains were 1 μg/ml forP multocidaand 2 μg/ml forA pleuropneumoniae. The ratio of the minimum inhibitory concentrations of doxycycline and oxytetracycline ranged between 1/1 and 1/4 for the oxytetracycline‐susceptible strains and between 1/16 and 1/64 for the oxytetracycline‐resistant strains. All theM hyopneumoniaestrains were susceptible to doxycycline and oxytetracycline, the concentrations inhibiting 90 per cent of strains being 1 μg/ml and 2 μg/ml, respectively. These data confirm that doxycycline has a higher in vitro activity against pig respiratory pathogens than oxytetracycline.
Mortality in insured Swedish dogs: rates and causes of death in various breeds
Authors: Bonnett B. N. , Egenvall A. , Olson P. , Hedhammar Å.
Published: October 2010

Data on over 222,000 Swedish dogs enrolled in life insurance in 1992 and 1993 were analysed. There were approximately 260 deaths per 10,000 dog‐years at risk. Breed‐specific mortality rates and causes of death are presented for breeds with more than 500 dogs at risk that had consistently high or low rates. Breed‐specific mortality ranged from less than 1 per cent to more than 11 per cent. True rates and proportional statistics for the cause of death were calculated for the entire insured population (250 breeds) and cause‐specific mortality rates were calculated for the breeds with the highest risk of dying of the most common causes. Trauma, tumours and problems related to the locomotor system together accounted for more than 40 per cent of all deaths or euthanasias. Although limited to insured dogs, these data cover approximately one‐third of all Swedish dogs and provide baseline mortality data for further population‐based studies on health and disease.
Surgical treatment of a comminuted articular fracture of the accessory carpal bone in a thoroughbred horse
Authors: Munroe G. A. , Cauvin E.
Published: October 2010

The clinical, radiographic and ultrasonographic findings in a case of a comminuted articular fracture of the accessory carpal bone of a thoroughbred chaser are described, and its surgical treatment and aftercare are detailed. The horse made an uneventful recovery and successfully returned to racing.
A retrospective clinical study of canine leishmaniasis in 150 dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum
Authors: Ciaramella P. , Oliva G. , De Luna R. , Ambrosio R. , Cortese L. , Persechino A. , Gradoni L. , Scalone A.
Published: October 2010

The clinical and laboratory findings observed in 150 dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum, from a large endemic area of southern Italy, are described. There was a gradual onset of clinical signs and the course of the disease was progressive in almost all the cases. The majority of the dogs were mongrels (43.3 per cent), male (64.7 per cent), of medium size (50.6 per cent), three to seven years old (64.7 per cent), and living outdoors (60 per cent). They showed generalised (56.7 per cent) or symmetrical (32 per cent) lymphadenomegaly; the mucous membranes of 87 of the dogs (58 per cent) were pale and moderate or severe splenomegaly was diagnosed in 80 dogs (53.3 per cent); weight loss was observed in 32 per cent of the animals. Skin abnormalities were very common, and included dry exfoliative dermatitis (56 per cent), ulcers (40 per cent) periorbital alopecia (‘lunettes’) (18 per cent), diffuse alopecia (14 per cent) and onychogryphosis (24 per cent). Ocular signs were observed in 24 dogs (16 per cent) including 16 cases of keratoconjunctivitis (three with keratoconjunctivitis sicca), six cases of moderate uveitis and two cases of panophthalmitis. The acute form of the disease was diagnosed in only six dogs and was characterised by fever and generalised lymphadenomegaly, and by the absence of skin lesions. Another six dogs had severe renal failure without systemic clinical signs of leishmaniasis. The most important laboratory findings were a severe or moderate increase in gammaglobulins, hypoalbuminaemia, hyperproteinemia and anaemia. Cultures or cytology tests for L infantum parasites were positive in 134 of the dogs. Following the standard procedures developed for human lymph node and bone marrow cytology tests, the leishmania density in the dogs varied from 1+ to 2+. Leishmania antibody titres were high (>1:160) in almost all the dogs. Immunological tests for autoantibodies were positive in 25 of 53 dogs tested in the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, in 15 of 43 dogs tested in the latex test and in five of 24 dogs tested in the Coombs test.
Body condition score, health, yield and fertility in dairy cows
Authors: Markusfeld O. , Galon N. , Ezra E.
Published: October 2010

The effects of body condition score at drying off and after calving and the rate of loss of body condition score during the dry period on the performance of 2162 cows in eight commercial Israeli Holstein herds were evaluated. The relationships between health, fertility and yield and body condition score were examined by using multiple logistic regressions for measurements with only two outcomes and general linear models for the continuous variables. Herds, parity, season, length of dry period, postparturient diseases, twinning, stillbirth, induction of calving and high somatic cell counts were used as confounding and other exposure variables. Multiparous cows that were underconditioned at calving were culled and exhibited more postparturient uterine diseases. The risk of retained placenta was greater for cows that were underconditioned at drying off, whereas cows that lost more body condition during the dry period suffered more from both retained placenta and metritis; the two effects being independent of each other. An apparent increase in the risk of ketosis associated with overconditioning at calving could be partly attributed to long dry periods. Cows with a higher condition score at calving were less prone to anoestrus but did not conceive more successfully to first service. A reduction of six open days in primiparous cows was estimated for each additional unit of body condition score at calving. Multiparous cows that lost more body condition during the dry period suffered more from inactive ovaries and were more likely to be open 150 days after calving in the next lactation. Cows calving in a higher body condition score produced more milk, fat and protein in the first 90 days of lactation, the effect being most pronounced on milk fat content.
Malignant articular plasmacytoma in two dogs
Authors: Gibson N. R. , Ness M. G. , McNeil P. E.
Published: October 2010

Malignant articular neoplasia in two dogs was diagnosed as plasma cell neoplasia on the basis of radiography and cytology, and was supported by histopathology. Both dogs were euthanased and widespread metastases were identified postmortem.
Performance of the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test in identifying cattle with tuberculous lesions in Irish herds
Authors: Costello E. , Egan J. W. A. , Quigley F. C. , O'Reilly P. F.
Published: October 2010

The sensitivity of the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test, as applied in the Republic of Ireland, was estimated in 353 cattle with tuberculous lesions. These cattle had been removed from 47 herds which were depopulated owing to chronic or extensive infection with Mycobacterium bovis. The test had a sensitivity of 909 per cent, because 321 (909 per cent) of the 353 cattle with tuberculous lesions gave a positive or inconclusive result, and 32 gave a negative result. These 32 negative cattle came from 17 (36 per cent) of the 47 depopulated herds.
Investigations into field cases of porcine colitis with particular reference to infection with Serpulina pilosicoli
Authors: Thomson J. R. , Smith W. J. , Murray B. P.
Published: October 2010

Investigations into the possible causes of colitis and typhlocolitis were carried out on 85 pig units in the United Kingdom between 1992 and 1996. Serpulina pilosicoli was identified most commonly, occurring as the suggested primary agent on 21 (25 per cent) of the units but forming part of mixed infections on another 23 (27 per cent) of the units, the main co‐infections being Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (eight units), proliferative enteropathy (six units), Salmonella species (four units) or Serpulina hyodysenteriae (two units). ‘Atypical’ Serpulina species, S hyodysenteriae, Salmonella typhimurium, Y pseudotuberculosis and Lawsonia intracellularis (proliferative enteropathy) were the suggested primary agents on seven, six, four, four and three units, respectively. Various combinations of mixed infections involving the latter organisms and other possibly incidental agents were recorded on another 10 units. Investigations on a further six units failed to detect any recognised pathogens. On units where S pilosicoli was the suggested primary agent, pigs ranging between 20 to 40 kg (eight to 16 weeks of age), but occasionally up to 50 kg, had diarrhoea and grew poorly over a period of two to three weeks. The prevalence was estimated to be between 5 and 15 per cent in affected batches, with a mortality of approximately 1 per cent. The clinical signs usually developed seven to 14 days after the moving and mixing of pigs. At postmortem examination, affected pigs had liquid contents in their colon, which contained accumulations of mucus in some chronic cases. Gross and histological lesions of colitis were prominent in the mid‐spiral region of the colon. In mixed infections with Y pseudotuberculosis, Salmonella typhimurium or S hyodysenteriae, lesions were more extensive and affected the caecum as well as the colon. In the colon, lesions of proliferative enteropathy were usually confined to the proximal half of the ascending spiral but mixed infection with S pilosicoli caused more extensive colitis. Mixed infections were reported to prolong the time taken for pigs to recover naturally and to have a more detrimental effect on growth rates than S pilosicoli infection alone. Despite the successful treatment of batches of pigs with tiamulin or lincomycin, S pilosicoli infection persisted as a chronic problem on many units, with diarrhoea and colitis in successive batches of pigs unless prophylactic medication was used.
Effect of hoof characteristics on the propensity of cattle to slip
Authors: Phillips C. J. C. , Coe R. , Colgan M. , Duffus C. , Ingoldby L. , Pond M. , Postlethwaite S.
Published: October 2010

Bovine hooves were assessed for their linear and volumetric characteristics and ranked in sets of four for hoof volume. An artificial cow was constructed with the hooves set into metal cylinders underneath a platform containing a known weight. The device was connected via a strain gauge to a pulling handle operated by two people, and the horizontal force required to move each set of hooves was determined three times. The coefficient of friction, calculated as the horizontal force divided by the fixed vertical force, was positively correlated with hoof volume. The same exercise was repeated with the hooves ranked for toe angle, and the hooves with steep toe angles had a lower coefficient of friction than the hooves with shallow toe angles. However, since both hoof volume and toe angle were related to toe length, the relationship between friction and toe angle was believed to derive from the larger size of claws with shallow toe angles. The results indicate that young cattle that have small claws with smooth surfaces and steep toe angles are more likely to slip.
Intracardiac overdrive pacing as a treatment of atrial flutter in a horse
Authors: Van Loon G. , Jordaens L. , Muylle E. , Nollet H. , Sustronck B.
Published: October 2010

A five‐year‐old warmblood mare with atrial fibrillation was treated with quinidine sulphate. The atrial rhythm changed to atrial flutter and, because there were toxic effects, the treatment was discontinued. Seven months after the occurrence of the atrial flutter, treatment with a rapid atrial pacing technique restored a normal sinus rhythm. One year after the pacing therapy the horse was still in sinus rhythm and had been brought back into training.
Pathophysiology of Oestrus ovis infection in sheep and goats: a review
Authors: Dorchies P. , Duranton C. , Jacquiet P.
Published: October 2010

Oestrus ovis is a very common parasite of sheep and goats in many countries. Its pathological effects are often underestimated because owners and veterinarians are used to seeing the infection. The study of natural and experimental infections has provided information about the evolution of the disease and its pathophysiology. Hypersensitivity is involved; the numbers of mast cells and eosinophils increase but changes in IgE have only recently been examined. Little is known about the development of immunity but it is possible that some animals are immunodeficient.
Effect on viraemia of an American and a European serotype PRRSV vaccine after challenge with European wild‐type strains of the virus
Authors: van Woensel P. A. M. , Liefkens K. , Demaret S.
Published: October 2010

Three groups of 10 pigs were vaccinated with an American serotype porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRsv) vaccine and three groups of 10 pigs were vaccinated with a European serotype PRRSV vaccine. A control group of 12 pigs was left unvaccinated. Four weeks after vaccination the PRRSv‐specific antibody titres were determined and each group was challenged with either a Spanish, German or Dutch PRRSV wild‐type strain. The serological responses four weeks after vaccination confirmed that the two vaccines were of different serotypes. Vaccination with the American serotype vaccine hardly reduced the level of viraemia after challenge with the European PRRSV wild‐type strains, and only after challenge with the Spanish PRRSV strain was a moderate, statistically significant reduction in viraemia observed. In contrast, after vaccination with the European serotype vaccine, viraemia was completely suppressed after challenge with the German PRRSV isolate and almost completely suppressed after challenge with the Spanish and Dutch PRRSV isolates.
Breeding history of the Stanford colony of narcoleptic dogs
Authors: Cederberg R. , Nishino S. , Dement W. C. , Mignot E.
Published: October 2010

Narcolepsy is a disabling sleep disorder of unknown aetiology. In humans, the disease is mostly sporadic, with a few familial cases having been reported. In 1973 a sporadic case of narcolepsy was reported in a poodle, and in 1975 familial cases of narcolepsy occurred in dobermanns. As with human narcoleptics, these narcoleptic dogs exhibited excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. A colony of narcoleptic dogs was established at Stanford University in 1976 to study the pathophysiology of the disease. Between 1976 and 1995, a total of 669 animals of various breeds were born, of which 487 survived. Dobermanns accounted for 78 per cent of the total. The narcolepsy genotype in dobermanns had no significant influence on puppy mortality rate (numbers of stillborn and survival rate). The sex, maternal parity or the age of the sire or dam had no significant effect. The percentage of stillborn puppies increased from 6.1 per cent in outbred litters to 15.4 per cent in inbred litters (P=0.10). Birth season also had a significant effect, and the highest survival rate (P=0.02), and the lowest percentage of stillborn puppies (P=0.09) occurred between April and June.
Comparison of detomidine/ketamine and guaiphenesin/thiopentone for induction of anaesthesia in horses maintained with halothane
Authors: Bennett R. C. , Taylor P. M. , Brearley J. C. , Johnson C. B. , Luna S. P. L.
Published: October 2010

This prospective clinical study compared the physiological effects of two commonly usedanaesthetic induction techniques in horses maintained with halothane. One hundred horses admitted for elective surgery were randomly allocated to receive either guaiphenesin (to effect) and thiopentone (5 mg/kg), or detomidine (20 μg/kg) and ketamine (2 mg/kg) for the induction of anaesthesia after acepromazine premedi cation. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen. There were no significant differences in breed, age, sex, weight, type of surgery and duration of anaesthesia between the groups. Immediately after induction of anaesthesia heart rate was higher after guaiphenesin and thiopentone, and arte‐ rial blood pressure was higher after detomidine and ketamine. Thereafter hypotension, often necessitating an infu‐ sion of dobutamine, developed in both groups. Arterial blood gases and respiratory rates were similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in the subjectively scored quality of induction and recovery, or in recovery time.
Diabetes mellitus in dogs: a study of the critical difference for canine serum fructosamine
Authors: Loste A. , Marca M. C.
Published: October 2010

The purpose of this study was to calculate the critical difference between two analytical measurements of serum fructosamine concentration in dogs. The critical difference can be used to judge whether the difference between two consecutive analytical results from the same animal is due to natural variation. Blood samples from 15 apparently clinically healthy beagle dogs were collected once a week for six consecutive weeks. The serum fructosamine concentration was measured by the reduction test with nitroblue tetrazolium and the critical difference was calculated from the component of variance for weeks within dogs (σ2 s) and the residual variance (σ2 s). The critical difference between two consecutive analytical results was 33.5 μmol/litre.
Assessment of the modified Forssell's procedure for the treatment of oral stereotypies in 10 horses
Authors: Schofield W. L. , Mulville J. P.
Published: October 2010

The modified Forssell's procedure was performed on 10 horses in an attempt to cure oral stereotypies. Three horses were cured completely, two horses were considerably improved, and five horses continued to perform the stereotypy after periods of remission ranging from two weeks to six months. This rate of success for the modified Forssell's procedure, as in other published reports, was lower than for the original Forssell's procedure. Surgery to eliminate a stereotypical behaviour pattern may exacerbate the stress for an animal and the modified Forssell's procedure can no longer be recommended for the treatment of oral stereotypies in horses.
Comparison of three treatments for bovine endometritis
Authors: Sheldon I. M. , Noakes D. E.
Published: October 2010

Three commercial preparations for the treatment of bovine endometritis were compared: an intrauterine infusion of 1500 mg oxtytetracycline hydrochloride solution, an intramuscular injection of 500 μg cloprostenol (a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2α), and an intramuscular injection of 3 mg oestradiol benzoate/500.kg estimated bodyweight. A total of 300 cases of endometritis were treated, of which 225 involved first, 67 involved second, and eight involved third or subsequent treatments. The overall success rate of treatment was 68 per cent. Oxytetracycline was successful in 73 per cent of cases, cloprostenol in 67 per cent and oestradiol in 63 per cent of cases. There was no significant difference between the success rates of the treatments, except for cows with mild endometritis in which oxytetracycline was more successful than oestradol (86 v 66 per cent, P<0.05). Mild cases were treated more successfully than moderate cases (78 v 61 per cent, P<0.01), and more successfully than severe cases (78 v 44 per cent, P<0.001). Prostaglandin F2α was more successful if the milk progesterone concentration was >7 ng/ml at the time of treatment (P<0.05). The presence of a smelly discharge at the time of treatment reduced the success rate by 17 per cent (P<0.02). The treatment to conception interval for all successful treatments of endometritis by prostaglandin F2α was 18.1 days shorter than for oestradiol (68.3 v 86.4 days, P<0.02), and the interval for oxytetracycline was 16.2 days shorter than for oestradiol (70.2 v 86.4 days, P<0.05).
Clinical efficacy and safety of propofol or ketamine anaesthesia in dogs premedicated with medetomidine
Authors: Hellebrekers L. J. , van Herpen H. , Hird J. F. R. , Rosenhagen C. U. , Sap R. , Vainio O.
Published: October 2010

Combinations of medetomidine with either propofol or ketamine were compared for the sedation and induction of anaesthesia in dogs undergoing a variety of surgical (60 per cent) and non.surgical (40 per cent) procedures. Eighty.four dogs were used at four sites. Medetomidine was administered intramuscularly at a dose of 1000 μg/m2body surface area 10 to 15 minutes before the induction of anaesthesia by the administration of propofol (n = 44) or ketamine (n = 40) dosed to effect. The dogs became sedated by medetomidine after a mean (sd) time of 6.7 (5.4) minutes, and their heart rates and respiration rates decreased. Sixteen of the dogs suffered an adverse effect, 13 of them vomited. Anaesthesia was induced by the intravenous administration of propofol (2.1 [0.7] mg/kg) or ketamine (3.7 [1.9] mg/kg), and further doses of the anaesthetic were given, depending on the length of the operation, once in 17 per cent, twice in 11 per cent and three or more times in 24 per cent of the cases. The heart rate of the dogs anaesthetised with ketamine was significantly higher than that of the dogs anaesthetised with propofol, but there were no other significant physiological differences. There were 11 adverse side.effects in the ketamine group compared with five in the propofol group and they were generally more severe. The quality of the recovery from anaesthesia was considered to be smooth in 89 per cent of the propofol group but in only 63 per cent of the ketamine group.
Protection of goats against experimental enterotoxaemia by vaccination withClostridium perfringenstype D epsilon toxoid
Authors: Uzal F. A. , Kelly W. R.
Published: October 2010

Enterotoxaemia in goats is mainly characterised by enterocolitis, and it has been suggested that the poor efficacy of commercial vaccines in preventing the disease is due to the local action ofClostridium perfringenstoxin/s within the intestine, where circulating antibodies might not exert their action. Five goat kids were vaccinated with an incomplete Freund's adjuvantC perfringenstype D epsilon toxoid vaccine on three occasions at three‐week intervals, four similar kids were vaccinated with a commercial enterotoxaemia vaccine at the same times, and five other unvaccinated kids were used as controls. All the animals were challenged intraduodenally, one week after the last vaccination, withC perfringenstype D filtered culture supernatant. At the time of challenge, the level of epsilon toxin antibodies in the serum of the Freund's adjuvant‐ vaccinated kids ranged between 2.45 and 230 iu/ml, while the kids that received the commercial vaccine had levels between 0.22 and 1.52 iu/ml, and the unvaccinated kids had levels below 0.03 iu/ml. No clinical or postmortem changes were observed in the kids that received the Freund's adjuvant‐vaccine. Three of the four kids that received the commercial vaccine developed mild, pasty diarrhoea, with a slight reddening of the colonic mucosa being observed postmortem. All the unvaccinated kids developed severe diarrhoea, respiratory distress and central nervous system signs, and were killed humanely between six and 24 hours after challenge. The postmortem changes consisted of pseudomembranous colitis, lung oedema and perivascular oedema of the brain. Moderate to high serum levels of anti‐epsilon antibody appeared to protect the goats against both the systemic and the intestinal effects ofC perfringenstype D toxins.
Anthelmintic induced congenital malformations in sheep embryos using netobimin
Authors: Navarro M. , Cristofol C. , Carretero A. , Arboix M. , Ruberte J.
Published: October 2010

Benzimidazole compounds have teratogenic effects in domestic and experimental animals. In this study, 14 Manchega ewes were treated orally, under controlled conditions, with 20 mg netobimin (a prodrug of a benzimidazole compound) per/kg bodyweight on the 17th day of pregnancy. Congenital malformations and abortions affected 60 per cent of the lambs. The main malformations were skeletal and renal, but vascular malformations were observed for the first time. The abnormalities were investigated using radiological, dissection and vascular injection techniques, and associations among them were recorded. The anomalies are discussed in terms of embryological considerations.
Preliminary observations on the pathogenesis of experimental bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): an update
Authors: Wells G. A. H. , Hawkins S. A. C. , Green R. B. , Austin A. R. , Dexter I. , Spencer Y. I. , Chaplin M. J. , Stack M. J. , Dawson M.
Published: October 2010

Further preliminary observations are reported of an experiment to examine the spread of infectivity and the occurrence of pathological changes in cattle exposed orally to infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Calves were dosed at four months of age and clinically monitored groups were killed sequentially from two to 40 months after inoculation. Tissues were collected for bioassay, for histopathological examinations and for the detection of PrP. Previous reported observations have included the presence of infectivity in the distal ileum of cattle killed after six to 18 months, the earliest onset of clinical signs in an exposed animal after 35 months, and diagnostic histopathological changes in the brain, in association with clinical disease, after 36, 38 and 40 months. In spite of the relative inefficiency of the bioassay of scrapie‐like agents across a species barrier the new observations confirm that the onset of clinical signs and pathological changes in the central nervous system (CNS) occur at approximately the same time. The earliest pathological change, the presence of abnormal PrP 32 months after inoculation, coincided with the earliest detected infectivity in the CNS and occurred shortly before there was evidence of typical spongiform changes in the brain 36 months after inoculation. Infectivity has now been demonstrated in the peripheral nervous system, in the cervical and thoracic dorsal root ganglia 32 to 40 months after inoculation and in the trigeminal ganglion 36 and 38 months after inoculation. At the time of writing evidence of infectivity in other tissues is confined to the distal ileum, not only after six to 18 months but also after 38 and 40 months, but these findings may be supplemented by the results of further mouse assays. Nevertheless, they are in general agreement with current knowledge of the pathogenesis of scrapie.
South American camelids in the United Kingdom: population statistics, mortality rates and causes of death
Authors: Davis R. , Keeble E. , Wright A. , Morgan K. L.
Published: October 2010

A survey of the health of South American camelids in the United Kingdom was carried out between December 1992 and June 1993; 123 members of the British Camelid Owners and Breeders Association and 19 non‐members were sent questionnaires and usable responses were received from 84 (59 per cent). In total 689 camelids were included, and in 1992, 66 per cent were llama, 21 per cent alpaca and 13 per cent guanaco. Their ages ranged from less than six months to over 10 years, with animals aged two to five years constituting the largest proportion. The mortality rates between 1990 and 1992 were 2.7 to 3.3 per cent for llama, 3.5 to 6.9 per cent for alpaca and 0 to 11.4 per cent for guanaco. The highest mortality was in animals less than six months and more than 10 years old; 4 to 11 per cent of llama deaths and 17 to 33 per cent of alpaca deaths were in animals aged less than six months and a high proportion of these occurred during the first week of life. In the cases for which a cause was reported, accidents and injury accounted for 20 per cent of llama deaths, and perinatal deaths accounted for 22 per cent of alpaca deaths. A third of the deaths were reported as being of unknown cause, and a veterinary diagnosis was reported in less than half of the cases. These data suggest that attention to the environment and housing conditions of llama, the neonatal care of alpaca and improvements in diagnosis are priorities for reducing the mortality and improving the health of South American camelids in the UK.
Long‐term prospects for horses with grass sickness (dysautonomia)
Authors: Doxey D. L. , Milne E. M. , Ellison J. , Curry P. J. S.
Published: October 2010

Responses to questionnaires were received from 31 owners of horses or ponies treated for chronic grass sickness (dysautonomia). Contrary to previous opinions the respondents indicated that the majority of the animals were capable of strenuous work, had regained the weight they had lost and, apart from a few residual problems such as difficulty in coping with dry fibrous food, had returned to a normal life. They had recovered slowly and had involved the owners in considerable extra work, but all the owners indicated that they considered the effort to have been worthwhile.
Detection of Newcastle disease virus‐specific antibodies in ostrich sera by three serological methods
Authors: Koch G. , Czifra G. , Engström B. E.
Published: October 2010

Sera from 211 ostriches were tested for the presence of Newcastle disease virus (NDv)‐specific antibodies by the virus neutralisation test, the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and a recently developed avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PMv‐1) specific monoclonal antibody blocking ELISA (b‐ELISA). The virus neutralisation test was used as the reference for the estimation of the sensitivity and specificity of the b‐ELISA and HI tests. Of the 211 sera, 140 contained NDv‐specific neutralising antibodies, 130 were positive by the HI test and 122 by the b‐ELISA. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy of the HI and b‐ELISA tests relative to the virus neutralisation test were similar. The good agreement between the HI and b‐ELISA test (κ = 0.85) suggested that the two methods are interchangeable.
Solvent extraction as an adjunct to rendering: the effect on BSE and scrapie agents of hot solvents followed by dry heat and steam
Authors: Taylor D. M. , Fernie K. , McConnell L. , Ferguson C. E. , Steele P. J.
Published: October 2010

The study was designed to determine the effect on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie agents of the solvent extraction processes used in the past by British renderers. The raw material was mouse spleen infected with either the 22A strain of scrapie agent or the 301V strain of BSE agent. Samples were exposed to hexane, heptane, petroleum spirit or perchlorethylene at the relevant temperatures for the appropriate times. Control samples were exposed to the same range of temperatures for the same range of times in saline. Other samples were exposed to the hot solvents, followed by treatment with dry heat at 100°C for 30 minutes and steam at 100°C for 30 minutes. Further samples were exposed only to the dry heat and steam cycles. No single complete process was significantly more effective than any of the others, and they all produced only slight inactivation, less than one log on average for both strains of agent. The average degree of inactivation produced by exposure to hot saline was generally comparable to that produced by exposure to the hot solvents. This was also true for the samples exposed only to dry heat and steam compared with those exposed to hot solvent before treatment with dry heat and steam, and suggests that the slight inactivation was caused by the heat rather than by the solvents. It is concluded that the solvent extraction processes used by renderers in Britain had little capacity to inactivate BSE and scrapie agents.
Case control study of diarrhoea and faecal soiling in two to six‐month‐old lambs
Authors: French N. P. , Berriatua E. , Kaya G. , Morgan K. L.
Published: October 2010

A case control study was nested within a longitudinal study of faecal soiling on eight commercial farms in the south west of England. Eighty‐two incident cases of faecal soiling in lambs between two and six months of age were individually matched with a single unaffected control lamb. A range of variables was examined including sex, neonatal history, trace element concentrations in blood, wool characteristics and faecal bacteriology and parasitology. Odds ratios and their 95 per cent confidence limits were estimated by using Mantel Haenszel methods and conditional logistic regression. Faecal soiling was significantly associated with longer fleeces, lower crimp frequencies, male lambs and multiple births. Significant relationships were also found between faecal soiling and neonatal diarrhoea, blood selenium concentration and the presence of Clostridium perfringens type A in the faeces.
Efficacy of the Komesaroff anaesthetic machine for delivering isoflurane to dogs
Authors: Laredo F. G. , Sanchez‐Valverde M. A. , Cantalapiedra A. G. , Pereira J. L. , Agut A.
Published: October 2010

The Komesaroff machine is a low‐flow, closed‐circle circuit with a low resistance vaporiser, of the Goldman type, in circuit. This trial assessed the mechanical consistency of the delivery of isoflurane by the vaporisers, and used six dogs to compare the in vivo cardiorespiratory effects of the anaesthetic agent delivered by the Komesaroff machine with the effects of a circle system with high flows in the semi‐closed mode. The delivery of isoflurane was constant for each vaporiser setting and no potentially dangerous concentrations of isoflurane were observed. The mean (sem) percentages of isoflurane were 0.18 (0.019) at setting I, 1.46 (0.055) at setting II, 3.12 (0.066) at setting III and 3.01 (0.047) at setting IV. There were no significant differences between the two types of circuit in vivo, and the measured haemodynamic variables were satisfactory throughout the experiments.
Associations between age, parity, hormonal therapy and breed, and pyometra in Finnish dogs
Authors: Niskanen M. , Thrusfield M. V.
Published: October 2010

A case‐control study of 953 dogs with pyometra and 10,660 unmatched control dogs was used to investigate the relationships between age, parity, hormonal therapy and breed, and pyometra in Finnish dogs. Cases were reported in animals between nine months and 18 years of age, with a median age at diagnosis of nine years. Nulliparous bitches had a moderately higher risk of developing pyometra than primiparous and multiparous animals (adjusted odds ratio point estimate, 6.63). The administration of oestrogen increased the risk of pyometra in bitches up to four years of age (odds ratio point estimate >6). No significant risk‐enhancing effect of progestin treatment was detected and it is unlikely that such a risk, if present, is high (likelihood of the odds ratio exceeding 2 <0.18). Seventeen breeds had an increased risk, and the wire‐haired dachshund and mongrels had a decreased risk of developing the condition.
Strategic control of fasciolosis in the inter‐Andean valley of Cajamarca, Peru
Authors: Claxton J. R. , Zambrano H. , Ortiz P. , Delgado E. , Escurra E. , Clarkson M. J.
Published: October 2010

Fasciolosis is recognised as a major problem in dairy cattle in Cajamarca, Peru. The infection has an annual cycle, with the major period of infection from January to March. A control programme, involving two doses of the fasciolicide triclabendazole aimed at reducing the passage of Fasciola hepatica eggs on to the pasture, together with the use of the molluscicide, niclosamide, was evaluated against traditional treatment programmes. The double treatment regimen did not significantly reduce the overall parasite burden, as measured by faecal egg counts, but did control the parasites to a level similar to that achieved by traditional programmes averaging 3.7 treatments per year. The cows' eosinophil counts and serum liver enzyme activities were significantly lower than in animals treated by the traditional programmes. The use of niclosamide in addition to the triclabendazole treatments gave no clear advantage, although there was a significant reduction in the number of intermediate host snails after the application of the molluscicide.