The objectives of this experiment were to determine serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (fT4) at rest, following thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) administration, and following phenylbutazone administration in healthy horses. This was done to determine which available laboratory test can best be used for diagnosis of hypothyroid conditions in horses. Serum T3, T4, and fT4 concentrations in serum samples obtained before and after TSH stimulation and following phenylbutazone administration for 7 days were determined. Baseline values ranged from 0.21 to 0.80 ng of T3/ml, 6.2 to 25.1 ng of T4/ml, and 0.07 to 0.47 ng of fT3/dl. After 5 IU of TSH was administered IV, serum T3 values increased to 6 times baseline values in 2 hours. Thyroxine values increased to 3 times baseline values at 4 hours and remained high at 6 hours. Free T4 values increased to 4 times baseline values at 4 hours and remained high at 6 hours. Administration of 4.4 mg of phenylbutazone/kg, every 12 hours for 7 days significantly decreased T4 and fT4 values, but did not significantly affect serum T3 concentrations, It was concluded that a TSH stimulation test should be performed when hypothyroidism is suspected. Measurement of serum fT4 concentrations, by the single-stage radioimmunoassay, does not provide any additional information about thyroid gland function over that gained by measuring T4 concentrations. Phenylbutazone given at a dosage of 4.4 mg/kg every 24 hours, for 7 days did significantly decrease resting T4 and fT4 concentrations, but did not significantly affect T3 concentrations in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether dual-energy CT (DECT) could accurately differentiate the composition of common canine uroliths in a phantom model. SAMPLE 30 canine uroliths with pure compositions. PROCEDURES Each urolith was composed of ≥ 70% struvite (n = 10), urate (8), cystine (5), calcium oxalate (4), or brushite (3) as determined by standard laboratory methods performed at the Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre. Uroliths were suspended in an agar phantom, and DECT was performed at low (80 kV) and high (140 kV) energies. The ability of low- and high-energy CT numbers, DECT number, and DECT ratio to distinguish uroliths on the basis of composition was assessed with multivariate ANOVA. RESULTS No single DECT measure differentiated all urolith types. The DECT ratio differentiated urate uroliths from all other types of uroliths. The DECT and low-energy CT numbers were able to differentiate between 8 and 7 pairs of urolith types, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that DECT was unable to differentiate common types of canine uroliths in an in vitro model; therefore, it is unlikely to be clinically useful for determining urolith composition in vivo. Given that the primary reasons for determining urolith composition in vivo are to predict response to shock wave lithotripsy and develop a treatment plan, future research should focus on the correlation between DECT measurements and urolith fragility rather than urolith composition.

Two commercially available tests, an antigen-capture ELISA for use on fecal samples, and a peroral nylon string test for use in dogs, were compared with a zinc sulfate fecal concentration technique (ZSCT) for detection of giardiasis in dogs. Of 77 dogs and 164 fecal samples (from these dogs), 33 and 52, respectively were found to be Giardia-positive on the basis of results of the ZSCT. The ELISA gave false-negative results for 10 and 14% of ZSCT-positive dogs and fecal samples, respectively, and false-positive results (relative to the ZSCT test results) in 13 and 10% of ZSCT-positive dogs and fecal samples, respectively. Of the 18 string-tested dogs, 14 were positive by results of the ZSCT. Of the 4 dogs that were Giardia-negative by ZSCT, 2 were Giardia-positive by ELISA. Dogs were sedated and given water and metoclopramide to aid passage into the duodenum of the capsule containing a nylon string. Of the 21 string tests performed on the 18 dogs, only 5 strings reached the duodenum, and 0 of the 5 yielded positive results for Giardia sp. Because the string broke in 1 dog (leaving most in the gastrointestinal tract and, therefore, producing a risk of string foreign body) further string tests were not done.

An in vitro method to label equine RBC with technetium 99m was modified to achieve quantitative labeling of cells in concentrated whole blood. After a blood sample was incubated with a reducing agent (stannous citrate), an oxidizing reagent (NaOCl) and a chelating agent (EDTA) were added to inactivate residual Sn2+ in the plasma. This step prevented premature reduction of pertechnetate in plasma. Labeling of RBC from 9 healthy horses, using a standard whole blood protocol, resulted in only moderate labeling efficiency (44 to 85%) and indicated a linear relationship between labeling efficiency and PCV. Effects of increased incubation time, increased incubation temperature, prelabeling sedimentation, and double addition of NaOCl/EDTA were investigated in whole blood from 10 healthy horses. Labeling efficiency was improved by each independent factor and by combination of factors. Highest labeling efficiencies (96 to 97%) were achieved when blood samples were sedimented for 20 minutes before being labeled, regardless of incubation time or incubation temperature. Morphologic features of RBC were unaffected by labeling procedures. In vivo whole blood clearance time for labeled cells was determined in 5 healthy horses. Sedimented blood samples were labeled, using a standard 15-minute incubation time at 20 to 22 C. Mean clearance half-time for 5 horses was approximately 20 hours. More than 95% of 99mTc activity was associated with the cells during the 24 hours after reinjection.

Wild rats are known as a major reservoir and intermediate host for several pathogenic microbial species. Thus, theVeterinary Research Institute (VRI) conducted a survey to determine the presence of parasitic pathogens in local rats, such as blood protozoans, gastrointestinal parasites, as well as ectoparasites such as mites and lice. The study was conducted with the collaboration of Kuala Lumpur City Council Pest Control Unit, whereby a total of 105 wild rats were trapped at two urban areas of Kuala Lumpur; namely PasarPudu and Chow Kit. Autopsy was done on the rats to acquire the skin, organ and blood samples..The skin scrapping was performed on skin samples to identify the common species of mites and lice, while the floatationtechnique was conducted on faecal samples to identify helminth eggs. Results showed thatspecies of Tritrichomonas, Strongyloides, Nippostrongylus, Blastocystis, Rodentolepis, Coccidia, Trichuris, Capillaria and Ascarid were found in the faeces while Trypanosoma sp.was found in the blood samples taken from the animals. Taeniataeniformis was obtained from liver samples while theectoparasites found on skin were identified as Radfordia,Polyplax,Linognathus and Hoploplurasp. Control and eradication of rodent pests is crucial in combating emerging and re-emerging diseases which may be zoonotic as rodents are reservoirs to various pathogens.

The worm ova estimation method is important to assess the degree of worm infestation in domestic animals. Currently, the method used in many veterinary laboratories is the McMaster method which can enumerate the number of eggs per gram of faeces. Due to emergingand re-emerging diseases currently being diagnosed in Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh, it is important to seek new, less risky methods for diagnosis of faecal samples. In view of increasing risk to the laboratory personnel conducting tests on faecal samples, the Parasep® method was assessed to indicate its suitability as aroutine test method. The results indicate that there was no significant differences between the worm egg counts enumeratedby conventional McMaster method and Parasep® method (Z = -1.111, P = 0.267). It is however, critical that assessment based on costs, time and ease of conducting the tests for lab staff be done before adopting this method in diagnostic laboratories.

Objective: To compare the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) yield and chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation from 5- and 50-mL bone marrow aspirates from horses. Animals: Six 2- to 5-year-old mixed-breed horses. Procedures: 2 sequential 5-mL aspirates were drawn from 1 ilium or sternebra. A single 50-mL aspirate was drawn from the contralateral ilium, and 2 sequential 50-mL aspirates were drawn from a second sternebra. The MSC yield was determined through the culture expansion process. Chondrogenesis and osteogenesis were evaluated by means of conventional laboratory methods. Results: The second of the 2 sequential 50-mL sternal aspirates yielded few to no MSCs. Independent of location, the highest density of MSCs was in the first of the 2 sequential 5-mL fractions, although with subsequent culture expansion, the overall yield was not significantly different between the first 5-mL and first 50-mL fractions. Independent of location, chondrogenesis and osteogenesis were not significantly different among fractions. Independent of fraction, the overall cell yield and chondrogenesis from the ilium were significantly higher than that from the sternum. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study failed to detect an additional benefit of 50-mL aspirates over 5-mL aspirates for culture-expanding MSCs for equine clinical applications. Chondrogenesis was highest for MSCs from ilial aspirates, although it is not known whether chondrogenesis is indicative of activation of other proposed pathways by which MSCs heal tissues.

To evaluate the effect of diet on results obtained by use of 2 commercial test kits for detection of occult blood in feces, 5 dogs were fed 7 diets in randomized sequence. Dry and canned diets with various principal ingredients were evaluated. Each diet was offered twice over a 24-hour period, followed by a 36-hour nonfeeding period. Fecal specimens were collected twice daily, and tests for occult blood were performed within 12 hours. The dietary origin of fecal specimens was confirmed by use of colored markers fed with each diet, and was correlated with estimates of gastrointestinal tract transit time. A modified guaiac paper test and an ortho-tolidine tablet test were performed on each specimen. Of 59 specimens, 4 were positive for occult blood, using the ortho-tolidine tablet test. Three positive results were associated with a mutton-based canned diet, and 1 positive result was associated with a canned beef-based diet. Of 59 specimens, 11 were positive for occult blood, using the modified guaiac paper test. Four positive results were associated with the mutton diet, and 3 positive results were associated with the beef diet. Of the remaining 5 diets, 4 caused 1 positive reaction. Results were inconsistent with the null hypothesis that the distribution of positive occult blood test results is not affected by diet (P < 0.025), and indicate that diet can affect the specificity of peroxidase-based tests for detection of occult blood in canine feces. Diet modification prior to testing is recommended.

Results of studying the local of irritating properties of preparative forms of marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) which were intended for treatment of parasitic of diseases of animals, namely, strongylatosis of gastro-intestinal tract of sheep and calves realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus were presented. Preparative forms of Comarum palustre (liquor, tincture, liquid extract and powder) had poorly expressed irritating properties after application into skin of animals and weak irritating action, excluding native forms of tincture and liquid extract on mucous coat eye, that confirms their low toxicity action as a whole on organism of animals.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was developed a production technology and there were produced samples of lyophilizated live vaccine against Aujeszky's disease of swine which corresponded to all parameters of control. The vaccine had an expressed phylactic power, induced the development of long-lived immunity of vaccinated piglets.