Hematologic values were determined in 35 beef calves at birth, at 24 and 48 hours, and in 22 of these calves at 3 weeks after birth. Thirty calves did not have clinical signs of disease throughout the 3-week period. Variables that changed significantly over time in these healthy calves included hematocrit, RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, WBC count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and plasma total protein and serum immunoglobuhn concentrations. Of the 35 calves, 5 had clinical signs of disease at 3 weeks. Comparison of hematologic values from these calves with values for healthy calves revealed significant differences at each sample collection time, although disease was not evident at the 3 early sample times. The band neutrophil count and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio differed between the 2 groups at birth. At 24 hours, the monocyte count was higher in the 5 ill calves. At 48 hours, total leukocyte, mature neutrophil, and monocyte counts, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio also were higher in the 5 calves. At 3 weeks when clinical signs of disease were detectable in the 5 calves, the total leukocyte, band neutrophil, and mature neutrophil counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and plasma total protein and fibrinogen concentrations were higher. When calves were grouped and compared at each sample collection time on the basis of sex (male vs female) and meconium staining at delivery (no staining vs staining), significant differences in hematologic values were not observed between groups. When calves were grouped on the basis of delivery assistance (assistance vs no assistance), hematocrit, RBC count, and hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower in delivery-assisted calves during the first 48 hours of life.

The hematologic and pathologic effects of orally administered L-tryptophan and indoleactic acid and of L-tryptophan administered IV were studied in ponies. Sixteen adult Shetland ponies were allotted into 4 experimental groups. Group 1 consisted of 5 ponies (1-5) given 0.6 g of tryptophan/kg of body weight in a water slurry via stomach tube. Group 2 included 4 ponies (6-9) given 0.35 g of tryptophan/kg orally. Group-3 ponies (10-13) were given 0.35 g of indoleacetic acid/kg orally. Group 4 consisted of 3 ponies (14-16) given a single 4-hour IV infusion of 0.1 g of tryptophan/kg. Restlessness, increased respiratory rate, hemolysis, and hemoglobinuria were detected in 4 of the 5 group-1 ponies. Only pony 7 in group 2 developed hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and a significant increase in respiratory rate. Renal pathologic lesions, consistent with hemoglobinuric nephrosis, were seen in ponies 2, 4, 5, and 7. Bronchiolar degeneration was evident in 4 of 9 ponies given tryptophan orally. The importance of these respiratory lesions was unknown. Clinical or pathologic abnormalities were not noticed in the ponies of groups 3 and 4. Mean plasma tryptophan values increased significantly in groups 1 and 2 at 6 hours after dosing. A second peak of tryptophan was detected in both groups at 12 hours. Values returned to predose values by 48 hours. Plasma indole and 3-methylindole concentrations were detectable in only 2 ponies (4 and 7). In vitro incubations of cecal fluid from ponies 6, 8, and 9 yielded a percentage conversion of tryptophan to indole of 16.75%, 5.84%, and 7.96%, respectively. 3-Methylindole was not produced. These results suggested that indole was the major metabolite of orally administered tryptophan in these ponies.

Hematologic and serum biochemical values were determined in 174 llamas of all age groups and both sexes from ranches in California and Nevada. Compared with hematologic values for horses and cattle, llama erythrocytes were more numerous (10.1 to 17.3 x 10(6)/microliter), but the PCV was lower (25 to 45%) because the smaller elliptical cells pack tighter. The mean corpuscular volume was half that of horses and cattle (22 to 29.5 fl). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was higher (38.9 to 46.2 g/dl), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin slightly lower (9.6 to 12.6 pg). Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle and horses, with the exception of triiodothyronine (48 to 468 ng/dl) and thyroxin (9.8 to 30 microgram/dl), which are up to 10 times higher than values for other domestic species.

The influence of immunosuppression by T-2 mycotoxin on the fungal disease aspergillosis was investigated in rabbits. Four groups of rabbits (groups 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B) were given 0.5 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight/day, PO; in addition, rabbits of groups 3A and 3B were exposed to aerosols of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia from days 7 through 16. Rabbits of groups 2A and 2B were exposed to A fumigatus aerosols, but were not given T-2 toxin, and rabbits of group 0 served as controls. Two rabbits of group 1A, 1 rabbit of group 1B, and 1 rabbit of group 3A died before scheduled necropsy. Rabbits of groups 1A, 2A and 3A were killed and necropsied on day 17, and the remaining rabbits (groups 0, 1B, 2B, and 3B) were killed and necropsied on day 28. Changes caused by T-2 toxin included leukopenia, marginal anemia, and increased number of and morphologic changes in nucleated erythrocytes by day 21, followed by a regenerative hematologic response. Serum alkaline phosphatase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities and antibody response to A fumigatus (as measuredby an indirect hemagglutination test) were decreased by T-2 toxin ingestion. Rabbits with aspergillosis had leukocytosis, increased PCV, and increased antibody response to A fumigatus. Histologic lesions consisting of centrilobular hepatocellular swelling, portal and periportal fibrosis, and lymphocyte necrosis and/or depletion within secondary lymphoid tissue were observed in most rabbits treated with T-2 toxin. Normal defense mechanisms against A fumigatus infection were compromised by T-2 treatment, as evidenced by the severity and extent of lung lesions, greater number of hyphal elements observed, and greater number of colonies of A fumigatus isolated from rabbits of groups 3A and 3B. There were no significant changes in group-0 rabbits.

Fifty-five horses were inoculated IV and/or SC with materials containing Ehrlichia risticii, ie, infected whole blood, buffy coat cells, or cell culture, to study clinical and hematologic features of equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Potomac horse fever). Major clinical and hematologic features of induced E risticii infection were biphasic increase in rectal temperature with peak increases of 38.9 C and 39.3 C on postinoculation days (PID) 5 and 12, respectively; depression; anorexia; decreased WBC count (maximal decrease of 47% on PID 12); and diarrhea from PID 14 to PID 18. Increased WBC count was an inconsistent feature, with a maximal increase of 51.5% on PID 20. During times of decreased and increased WBC counts, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratios remained fairly constant. However, not all horses had all clinical and hematologic features, and these features were present in different degrees among horses. Increased rectal temperature, depression, anorexia, and decreased WBC count were more consistent features, whereas diarrhea developed in 73% of the horses. Of 55 horses, 39 (71%) had all clinical and hematologic features of the disease (classic disease), whereas 16 (29%) horses did not have greater than or equal to 1 of these features (nonclassic disease). The E risticii titer in the blood (ehrlichemia) was maximum during the peak increase in rectal temperature. In 55 horses, mortality was 9%. Significant differences (P > 0.5) in clinical and hematologic features were not detected between horses that survived and those that died of E risticii infection.

To estimate the source of variance components for some hematological parameters and assess the utility of the conventional population-based reference interval, this study computed index of individuality for blood samples, which were from 13 dogs drawn once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Results were subjected to nested analysis of variance. For all parameters measured between-dog variations were greater than within-dog variation. Except for the parameters RBC and MCHC the index of individuality was less than 1.4. The low reliability coefficient and high index of individuality of less-than or equal to 0.8 were found for the majority of hematological parameters.

Separation anxiety and noise aversion are common behavioral problems in dogs. They elicit fear responses such as cowering, seeking out the owner, and attempting to escape. This can result in property damage, injury to the dog, and disruption of the owner-pet bond, possibly leading to pet abandonment or euthanasia. A novel botanical anxiolytic product was evaluated for safety in dogs as the target animal species. Its intended use is for the treatment and prevention of anxiety and noise aversion in dogs. It contains a defined mixture of Souroubea spp. vine and Platanus spp. bark, delivering the active principle, betulinic acid, at a recommended dose of 1 mg/kg body weight (BW). In the current target animal safety study, 16 healthy male beagle dogs were administered either a placebo or the newly formulated botanical tablets at 0.5×, 2.5×, or 5× the recommended dose (1 mg/kg BW) over 28 d. The dogs were monitored for occurrence of any systemic or local adverse events. In the investigation presented here, there were no clinically significant adverse effects following treatment, as determined by clinical observations, physical examinations, BW, hematology, clinical biochemistry, and urinalysis. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that the concentration of betulinic acid in serum was below 0.020 μg/mL in treated animals. Under the conditions of these studies, the formulated blend of S. sympetala and P. occidentalis, when administered up to 5× the intended dose for 28 consecutive d, showed no adverse effects on the health of dogs.

Objective-To investigate whether submaximal aerobic exercise in dogs is followed by activation of all phases of coagulation as has been reported for humans. Animals-9 healthy Beagles. Procedures-30 minutes before dogs were exercised, a 16-gauge central venous catheter was placed in a jugular vein of each dog by use of the catheter-through-the-needle technique. Samples were collected before exercise, after running on a treadmill (6 km/h for 13 minutes), and at 60 minutes. Platelet activation was evaluated with platelet morphology indices (mean platelet component, mean platelet volume, and number of large platelets) provided by a laser-based hematology system. Platelet function was assessed in hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood with an impedance-based aggregometer with collagen as the agonist (final concentrations, 0, 1.6, 3.2, 5, and 10 micrograms/mL). Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, protein C, protein S, and fibrin D-dimer were determined automatically. Kaolin-activated thromboelastography variables R (reaction time), K (clot formation time), angle alpha, maximal amplitude, and G (clot stability) were measured in recalcified citrated whole blood. Results-Exercise resulted in a significant decrease in mean platelet volume and the number of large platelets but did not change the mean platelet component, which reflected platelet activation as well as platelet function. Secondary and tertiary coagulation did not change significantly, nor did thromboelastography variables. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Aerobic exercise resulted in a decrease in the number of large and thus most likely activated platelets but otherwise had no major impact on coagulation in dogs.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is an important mediator of endotoxin-induced pathologic changes. To help define the role of TNF in equids with endotoxemia, the effects of pretreatment with a murine monoclonal antibody (MAB) against equine TNF were evaluated in Miniature Horses given endotoxin. Five horses were given TNF MAB at a dosage of 1.86 mg/kg of body weight, IV, and 5 were given control MAB. Five minutes later, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O55:B5), 0.25 micrograms/kg, was given to all horses by bolus IV infusion. Clinical signs of disease were monitored at intervals up to 24 hours after LPS infusion, and blood was taken for determination of WBC count, PCV, plasma total protein concentration, plasma TNF activity, and serum MAB concentration. Reduction of plasma TNF activity in anti-TNF-treated horses was highly significant (P < 0.001), compared with that in control horses. Horses given TNF MAB had significantly improved clinical abnormality score (P < 0.010), lower heart rate (P < 0.001), and higher WBC count (P < 0.001), compared with horses given control MAB. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, PCV, and plasma total protein concentration were not significantly different between groups. Serum MAB concentration peaked at 68 micrograms/ml 30 minutes after the end of antibody infusion in both groups. Neutralization of LPS-induced TNF activity reduced the hematologic and clinical responses of horses given LPS IV.

Paired blood samples were collected from the postoccipital venous plexus and jugular vein of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) for hematologic and plasma biochemical analyses. Comparison of hematologic values revealed significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower PCV, RBC count, WBC count, and hemoglobin values for samples obtained from the occipital site. When comparisons were made between plasma biochemical values for the 2 sites, significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) differences were measured for: glucose, potassium, chloride, uric acid, calcium, phosphorous, total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and total cholesterol. Significant differences between hematologic and plasma biochemical values from the occipital region samples vs jugular vein samples were attributed to hemodilution of the occipital region samples with extravascular fluid or lymph or both.