Bioavailability of two ibuprofen oral paste formulations in fed or nonfed ponies.

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was studied in healthy Shetland ponies. Ibuprofen was administered IV, as a suspension, and as a solid solution oral paste to ponies from which food was withheld. The suspension paste was also administered to ponies that received hay and water ad libitum. Both formulations had an absolute bioavailability of about 80%. Bioavailability was not influenced by feeding.     

Growth and abortion of flower buds in gynoecious cucumber plants in relation to temperature

The growth of flower buds in a gynoecious cucumber cultivar was studied at 15, 21 and 27°C. Competition between buds in the same node was measured as the ratio of the growth rates of individual buds. This competition was stronger at 21 and 27 than at 15°C. At 15°C, at least 3 buds were about equally strong; at 21°C, 2 buds developed fast and suppressed the other buds; at 27°C, the first bud which developed suppressed all other buds. When plants were transferred from one temperature to another, the growth-rate ratio between buds in older nodes was maintained. In nodes formed in the new temperature regime, the growth-rate ratio was determined by the new temperature.     

Physiology, diagnosis, and diseases of the avian reproductive tract.

Disorders of the reproductive system represent a large portion of both large and small domestic animal medicine. Although some disorders of this system have been extensively studied in birds, this science is still in its infancy, when compared to mammalian reproductive medicine. This may be due to several reasons, but the simple fact that birds are oviparous renders knowledge of mammalian reproductive anatomy, histology, physiology, and disease process, inapplicable to avian patients. Nevertheless, several specific diseases or conditions affecting the reproductive system of birds have been described. By integrating information about the comparative anatomy and physiology of birds, reports of the most common reproductive diseases of birds and utilizing the latest diagnostic techniques, especially videoendoscopy, the avian practitioner should be able to diagnose and properly treat a high percentage of the avian reproductive diseases.     

Comparison of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.

Serologic diagnosis of ovine contagious agalactia (Mycoplasma agalactiae) with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Agence Fran?aise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA) may produce a few false-positive (FP) and false-negative (FN) results. When the prevalence of disease is low, these erroneous results may generate problems for eradication schemes. To prevent this, 2 commercial ELISAs were compared with the AFSSA ELISA. Flocks of known status were selected and classified into 4 categories: true positive (TP), FP, true negative (TN), and FN; 20 sheep per flock were submitted for blood sampling. A flock was considered positive when at least 1 out of 20 sera was positive or 2 sera were doubtful. In the flock, the diagnostic sensitivity of the 3 kits was very good (100%), and the diagnostic specificity showed an improvement from 46% (AFSSA test) to 88% and 92% (commercial tests). Considering individual animals, very few positive ewes were detected within TN or FP flocks; the proportion of positive ewes varied greatly from one kit to another (48% to 82%) within TP flocks. The kinetics of antibody response in sheep experimentally infected with various field strains of M. agalactiae were quite similar with all 3 ELISAs. The agreement between the 3 tests, assessed using the kappa value, varied from moderate to good (respective values of 0.56, 0.61, and 0.86). The 2 commercial ELISAs showed better performances, probably because of a superior analytical sensitivity, and are a good alternative for the serodiagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.     

Anthelmintic efficacy of flubendazole paste against nematodes and cestodes in dogs and cats

Small dogs and cats, naturally infected with nematodes and cestodes, were used in a critical test under laboratory conditions to determine the palatability and efficacy of flubendazole as a past formulation. Subsequently, a control test in dogs was conducted under field conditions. A 4.4% past formulation was given at a dosage of 22 mg/kg of body weight once a day for 2 or 3 consecutive days. In a critical test in dogs, the efficacy against Toxocara canis was 97.4% after a 2-day administration and 100% after 3 days. Toxascaris leonina seemed to be the most susceptible worm species, since either 2 or 3 treatments were 100% active. The efficacy against Uncinaria stenocephala was 97.5% after 2 treatments; the same dose level for 3 days improved the efficacy to 100%. The efficacy was 100% for the removal of Trichuris vulpis after a daily dosage for 2 days and 96.7% after 3 days. One of 2 dogs infected with Taenia pisiformis was cleared of the infection after a 2-day treatment, and 3 of 4 dogs were cleared after a 3-day regimen. All cats were cleared of Toxocara cati after 2 or 3 days of treatment. One of 2 cats infected with Hydatigera taeniaeformis was cleared of the infection after a 2-day treatment; a 3-day treatment in 7 cats was 100% effective. The results in the laboratory test in dogs were confirmed under field conditions by a control test, based on the reduction of eggs per gram of feces count after treatment. The paste formulation was well accepted by all dogs and cats without any side effects.     

Veterinary herd health and production service on dairy farms IV. Index list on calf rearing and cow culling

The Herd Health and Production Service program for use in veterinary dairy practice is comprised of a basic and a flexible system. The basic system is a uniform system of data recording, standard veterinary activities and problem detection. In problem detection 4 index lists play a key role. The 4 comprise of the parameters or index figures that are relevant in monitoring the efficiency of milk production, calf rearing and cow replacement. Data on milk production, health status and reproduction of both individual animals and the herd are collected by the farmer and the veterinarian and transformed into index figures.This paper introduces index list “3”, with index figures for the monitoring of calf rearing and cow culling as parts of a herd health program. The development, implementation and significance of the index figures are presented. The index figures serve to detect unsatisfactory farm situations or problems in calf rearing and in cow culling. They trigger further investigation and aid the solution to and prevention of problems. Relationships with farm parameters mentioned in other index lists are also considered. Objectives and reference values where applicable are provided.     

A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: III. Cattle requirements and diet adequacy.

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has equations for predicting nutrient requirements, feed intake, and feed utilization over wide variations in cattle (frame size, body condition, and stage of growth), feed carbohydrate and protein fractions and their digestion and passage rates, and environmental conditions. Independent data were used to validate the ability of the CNCPS to predict responses compared to National Research Council (NRC) systems. With DMI in steers, the CNCPS had a 12% lower standard error of the Y estimate (Sy.x) and three percentage units less bias than the NRC system. For DMI in heifers, both systems had a similar Sy.x but the NRC had four percentage units less bias. With lactating dairy cows' DMI, the CNCPS had a 12% lower Sy.x. Observed NEm requirement averaged 5% under NRC and 6% under CNCPS predicted values at temperatures above 9 degrees C but were 18% over NRC and 9% under CNCPS at temperatures under 9 degrees C. Energy retained was predicted with an R2 of .80 and .95 and a bias of 8 and 4% for the NRC and CNCPS, respectively. Protein retained was predicted with an R2 of .75 and .85 with a bias of 0 and -1% for NRC and CNCPS, respectively. Biases due to frame size, implant, or NEg were small. Body condition scores predicted body fat percentage in dairy cows with an R2 of .93 and a Sy.x of 2.35% body fat. The CNCPS predicted metabolizable protein allowable ADG with a bias of 1.6% with a Sy.x of .07 kg compared to values of -30% and .10 kg, respectively for the NRC system.     

A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: I. Ruminal fermentation.

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has a kinetic submodel that predicts ruminal fermentation. The ruminal microbial population is divided into bacteria that ferment structural carbohydrate (SC) and those that ferment nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC). Protozoa are accommodated by a decrease in the theoretical maximum growth yield (.50 vs .40 g of cells per gram of carbohydrate fermented), and the yields are adjusted for maintenance requirements (.05 vs .150 g of cell dry weight per gram of carbohydrate fermented per hour for SC and NSC bacteria, respectively). Bacterial yield is decreased when forage NDF is < 20% (2.5% for every 1% decrease in NDF). The SC bacteria utilize only ammonia as a N source, but the NSC bacteria can utilize either ammonia or peptides. The yield of NSC bacteria is enhanced by as much as 18.7% when proteins or peptides are available. The NSC bacteria produce less ammonia when the carbohydrate fermentation (growth) rate is rapid, but 34% of the ammonia production is insensitive to the rate of carbohydrate fermentation. Ammonia production rates are moderated by the rate of peptide and amino acid uptake (.07 g of peptide per gram of cells per hour), and peptides and amino acids can pass out of the rumen if the rate of proteolysis is faster than the rate of peptide utilization. The protein-sparing effect of ionophores is accommodated by decreasing the rate of peptide uptake by 34%. Validation with published data of microbial flow from the rumen gave a regression with a slope of .94 and an r2 of .88.     

Severe soft tissue infections in dogs: 47 cases (1996–2006)

Objective– To describe the patient population, microbiological findings, treatment and outcome in dogs with severe soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and to compare survivors to nonsurvivors. Design– Retrospective study. Animals– Forty‐seven dogs with confirmed soft tissue infections originating from the SC tissues, muscle or fascia. Interventions– None. Measurements and Main Results– Physical and clinicopathologic data on presentation, microbiological and histopathological findings, antimicrobial treatment and outcome. Dogs with SSTIs were predominantly large breed dogs with a median body weight of 35.6 kg. Incidence of pre‐existing conditions (immunomodulating diseases, blunt trauma, injections, clean surgical procedures) that could have contributed to development of SSTIs was 34%. Abnormal physical examination and diagnostic parameters on presentation included increased body temperature (median temperature 39.5 °C [103.1 °F]) and low arterial blood pressure (median systolic blood pressure 103.5 mm Hg). While Streptococcus species were the most commonly isolated bacteria, the incidence of polymicrobial infections differed between antemortem (38.7%) and postmortem (57.1%) cultures. The overall survival rate was 46.8%. Survivors had a higher body weight and higher respiratory rate on presentation than nonsurvivors. Nonsurvivors had a significantly lower WBC count and higher lactate, BUN, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin concentrations. Histopathologic examination of tissue specimens showed that the degree of necrosis was higher in survivors compared with nonsurvivors. Conclusions– SSTIs in dogs are serious conditions associated with high mortality, significant inflammatory changes, and cardiovascular compromise. A number of conditions, including those that compromise skin integrity and immunomodulating diseases have been identified in our patient population and could have contributed to development of SSTIs. Polymicrobial infections occurred in many cases, necessitating broad‐spectrum antimicrobial coverage.