Objective—To determine the chemoprophylactic effect of gallium maltolate on the cumulative incidence of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in foals. Animals—483 foals born and raised on 12 equine breeding farms with a history of endemic R equi infections. Procedures—Group 1 foals were treated with a placebo and group 2 foals were treated with gallium maltolate (approx 30 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) during the first 2 weeks after birth. Foals were monitored for development of pneumonia attributable to R equi infection and for adverse effects of gallium maltolate. Results—There were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of R equi pneumonia among the 2 groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Chemoprophylaxis via gallium maltolate administered orally at approximately 30 mg/kg daily for the first 2 weeks after birth failed to reduce the cumulative incidence of pneumonia attributable to R equi infection among foals on breeding farms with endemic R equi infections. Further investigation is needed to identify strategies for control of R equi infections.

Objective—To assess the suitability of the modified acetaminophen absorption test for evaluation of abomasal emptying rate in ruminating cattle. Animals—7 Holstein-Friesian heifers. Procedures—In a crossover study design, heifers consecutively underwent an IV infusion of 1 L of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment), 1 L of saline solution containing metoclopramide (0.1 mg/kg), and 1 L of saline solution containing atropine (0.1 mg/kg), with an interval of 15 days between treatments. Immediately after each treatment, acetaminophen diluted in ethanol (50 mg/kg) was infused transcutaneously into the abomasum. Blood samples were obtained repeatedly for measurement of plasma acetaminophen concentration, and pharmacokinetic data were obtained. Results—Maximum plasma acetaminophen concentration was significantly lower after atropine treatment than after control or metoclopramide treatment, whereas no difference was identified between control and metoclopramide treatments. The interval to maximum plasma acetaminophen concentration was significantly longer in atropine-treated versus metoclopramide-treated heifers. The interval to maximum acetaminophen concentration obtained from a pharmacokinetic model was significantly longer for atropine than for control and metoclopramide treatment. Similarly, areas under the plasma acetaminophen concentration-time curves for the first 60, 90, 120, and 240 minutes after administration were significantly lower for atropine versus metoclopramide or control treatment, whereas differences between metoclopramide and control treatments were not identified. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The modified acetaminophen absorption test was a practical, minimally invasive, and reliable method to assess abomasal emptying in cattle. Metoclopramide administered at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg did not increase the abomasal emptying rate.

Objective: To determine associations between serum concentrations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, and insulin in healthy cats. Animals: 56 healthy adult client-owned cats. Procedures: Body condition score (BCS) was determined, and blood samples were collected after food was withheld for 12 hours. Serum was harvested for fatty acid analysis and measurement of serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol. Results: 1 cat was removed because of hyperglycemia. Significant interaction effects between BCS and serum concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were detected for the analyses of associations between EPA and serum concentrations of adiponectin, insulin, and triglyceride. Cats were categorized into nonobese (BCS, 4 to 6 [n = 34 cats]) and obese (BCS, 7 to 8 [21]) groups; serum concentrations of EPA were directly associated with concentrations of adiponectin and inversely associated with concentrations of insulin and triglyceride in obese cats and were directly associated with concentrations of leptin and inversely associated with concentrations of adiponectin in nonobese cats. Additionally, serum concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid were directly associated with concentrations of adiponectin in obese cats. No significant associations between serum concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid or α-linolenic acid were detected in the analyses for all cats. Female cats had higher serum concentrations of adiponectin and lower concentrations of glucose than did male cats. Increased age was associated with a small increase in serum concentrations of leptin. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: EPA may ameliorate the decrease in adiponectin and the increase in insulin and triglyceride concentrations in obese cats.

Objective—To compare recovery of epithelial lining fluid (ELF) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by use of weight-adjusted or fixed-amount volumes of lavage fluid in dogs. Animals—13 healthy Beagles. Procedures—Dogs were allocated to 2 groups. In 1 group, the right caudal lung lobe was lavaged on the basis of each dog's weight (2 mL/kg, divided into 2 aliquots) and the left caudal lung lobe was lavaged with a fixed amount of fluid (50 mL/dog, divided into 2 aliquots). In the second group, the right and left caudal lung lobes were lavaged by use of the fixed-amount and weight-adjusted techniques, respectively. The BALF was collected by use of bronchoscopy. A recovery percentage ≥ 40% was required. The proportion of ELF was calculated by use of the following equation: (concentration of urea in BALF/concentration of urea in serum) × 100. Results—Mean ± SD proportion of ELF in BALF was 2.28 ± 0.39% for the weight-adjusted technique and 2.89 ± 0.89% for the fixed-amount technique. The SDs between these 2 techniques differed significantly (calculated by comparing 2 covariance structures [unstructured and compound symmetry] in a repeated-measures mixed ANOVA). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The findings strongly suggested that use of a weight-adjusted bronchoalveolar lavage technique provided a more uniform ELF recovery, compared with that for a fixed-amount bronchoalveolar lavage technique, when urea was used as a marker of dilution. A constant ELF fraction can facilitate more accurate comparisons of cellular and noncellular constituents in BALF among patients of various sizes.

This study quantified the effect of peripartum reproductive disorders and parity on repeat breeder status and involuntary culling of dairy cows. Reproductive data of 418 383 lactations were taken from a computerized databank of health records for dairy cows. A logistic regression model was used with dystocia, retained placenta (RP), metritis complex, and parity as fixed effect risk factors and herd entered as the random effect. Of the peripartum problems studied, dystocia had the greatest effect on future fertility. Dystocia increased the odds of a cow being a repeat breeder by 44% [odds ratio (OR): 1.44; confidence interval (CI): 1.37 to 1.51]. Compared to first-parity cows, cows in second, third, and fourth parities had significantly higher odds of being a repeat breeder: 18% (OR: 1.18; CI: 1.16 to 1.20); 24% (OR: 1.24; CI: 1.21 to 1.26); and 42% (OR: 1.42; CI: 1.39 to 1.45), respectively. The odds for second-, third-, or fourth-parity repeat breeders being culled were 24% (OR: 1.24; CI: 1.20 to 1.28); 39% (OR: 1.39; CI: 1.35 to 1.43); and 67% (OR: 1.67; CI: 1.62 to 1.71) respectively, while peripartum reproductive problems had less of an effect.

Objective—To determine antimicrobial effects of caprylic acid and its derivatives, monocaprylin and sodium caprylate, on Dermatophilus congolensis and to determine effects of caprylic acid on the ultrastructure of D congolensis by use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sample—3 strains of D congolensis (33411, 33413, and 14639). Procedures—Strains of D congolensis were incubated separately under anaerobic conditions at 37°C for up to 48 hours in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth that was supplemented with various concentrations of caprylic acid (7.5, 12.5, 15, 17.5, or 20mM), monocaprylin (2.5, 5, 7.5, or 10mM), or sodium caprylate (15, 50, 60, 70, 100, or 120mM) or contained no antimicrobial treatment. After incubation, bacterial counts were determined by means of plating in triplicate on BHI-agar plates. Caprylic acid-treated or untreated D congolensis samples were embedded in epoxide resin for TEM; cross sections were examined for structural damage. Results—Minimum inhibitory concentrations of caprylic acid, monocaprylin, and sodium caprylate against D congolensis were 7.5, 2.5, and 15mM, respectively. Minimum bactericidal concentrations of caprylic acid, monocaprylin, and sodium caprylate against D congolensis were 15, 5, and 70mM, respectively. Examination via TEM revealed that a 15-mM concentration of caprylic acid disintegrated the plasma membrane of D congolensis. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that caprylic acid, monocaprylin, and sodium caprylate could potentially be used to treat D congolensis infections. However, in vivo studies should be undertaken to determine whether these compounds can be considered as treatment options.

Objective—To evaluate whether an equine-derived canine H3N8 influenza A virus was capable of infecting and transmitting disease to ponies. Animals—20 influenza virus-seronegative 12- to 24-month-old ponies. Procedures—5 ponies were inoculated via aerosol exposure with 10(7) TCID50 of A/Canine/Wyoming/86033/07 virus (Ca/WY)/pony. A second group of 5 ponies (positive control group) was inoculated via aerosol exposure with a contemporary A/Eq/Colorado/10/07 virus (Eq/CO), and 4 sham-inoculated ponies served as a negative control group. To evaluate the potential for virus transmission, ponies (3/inoculation group) were introduced 2 days after aerosol exposure and housed with Ca/WY- and Eq/CO-inoculated ponies to serve as sentinel animals. Clinical signs, nasal virus shedding, and serologic responses to inoculation were monitored in all ponies for up to 21 days after viral inoculation. Growth and infection characteristics of viruses were examined by use of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and primary equine and canine respiratory epithelial cells. Results—Ponies inoculated with Ca/WY had mild changes in clinical appearance, compared with results for Eq/CO-inoculated ponies. Additionally, Ca/WY inoculation induced significantly lower numbers for copies of the matrix gene in nasal secretions and lower systemic antibody responses in ponies than did Eq/CO inoculation. The Ca/WY isolate was not transmitted to sentinel ponies. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Inoculation of ponies with the canine H3N8 isolate resulted in mild clinical disease, minimal nasal virus shedding, and weak systemic antibody responses, compared with responses after inoculation with the equine H3N8 influenza isolate. These results suggested that Ca/WY has not maintained infectivity for ponies.

Objective—To determine whether canine tumor cell lines express functional tissue factor and shed tissue factor-containing microparticles. Sample—Cell lines derived from tumors of the canine mammary gland (CMT12 and CMT25), pancreas (P404), lung (BACA), prostate gland (Ace-1), bone (HMPOS, D-17, and OS2.4), and soft tissue (A72); from normal canine renal epithelium (MDCK); and from a malignant human mammary tumor (MDA-MB-231). Procedures—Tissue factor mRNA and antigen expression were evaluated in cells by use of canine-specific primers in a reverse transcriptase PCR assay and a rabbit polyclonal anti-human tissue factor antibody in flow cytometric and immunofluorescent microscopic assays, respectively. Tissue factor procoagulant activity on cell surfaces, in whole cell lysates, and in microparticle pellets was measured by use of an activated factor X-dependent chromogenic assay. Results—Canine tissue factor mRNA was identified in all canine tumor cells. All canine tumor cells expressed intracellular tissue factor; however, the HMPOS and D-17 osteosarcoma cells lacked surface tissue factor expression and activity. The highest tissue factor expression and activity were observed in canine mammary tumor cells and pulmonary carcinoma cells (BACA). These 3 tumors also shed tissue factor-bearing microparticles into tissue culture supernatants. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Tissue factor was constitutively highly expressed in canine tumor cell lines, particularly those derived from epithelial tumors. Because tumor-associated tissue factor can promote tumor growth and metastasis in human patients, high tissue factor expression could affect the in vivo biological behavior of these tumors in dogs.

Tissues unsuitable for standard immunohistochemical and histopathological examinations for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids and for scrapie in sheep are frequently submitted for testing. This study investigated the effects of experimental autolysis on the detection of abnormal prion protein (PrPsc) in lymphoid and central nervous system (CNS) tissues from elk and sheep. The PrPsc was detected using a Western blotting (WB) test following PrPsc enrichment using sodium phosphotungstic acid (PTA) precipitation (PTA-WB). A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used as a reference test for quantitative measurement. This study showed that the amount of PrPsc in lymphoid and CNS tssues from elk and sheep decreased gradually as a result of autolysis, but PrPsc was still detectable after 5 and 15 d incubation at 37°C by PTA-WB for all lymphoid and CNS samples. The results of the ELISA supported those of PTA-WB, particularly for CNS tissues. In conclusion, autolysis at 37°C for 15 d would not significantly affect the detection of PrPsc in lymphoid and CNS tissues by WB and ELISA and, particularly, PTA-WB is a valuable and alternative confirmatory test to detect PrPsc in autolyzed lymphoid and CNS samples.

Ranked among the top threats to conservation worldwide, infectious disease is of particular concern for wild canids because domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) may serve as sources and reservoirs of infection. On British Columbia’s largely undeveloped but rapidly changing central and north coasts, little is known about diseases in wolves (Canis lupus) or other wildlife. However, several threats exist for transfer of diseases among unvaccinated dogs and wolves. To gain baseline data on infectious agents in this area, including those with zoonotic potential, we collected blood and stool samples from 107 dogs in 5 remote communities in May and September 2007. Serology revealed that the dogs had been exposed to canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine respiratory coronavirus, and Leptospira interrogans. No dogs showed evidence of exposure to Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, or Cryptococcus gattii. Of 75 stool samples, 31 contained at least 1 parasitic infection, including Taeniid tapeworms, the nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, and the protozoans Isospora sp., Giardia sp., Cryptosporidium sp., and Sarcocystis sp. This work provides a sound baseline for future monitoring of infectious agents that could affect dogs, sympatric wild canids, other wildlife, and humans.