OBJECTIVE To compare the mechanical properties of laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) constructs prepared with different suture materials and suture placement patterns during single load to failure testing. SAMPLE Larynges harvested from 50 horse cadavers and 5 intact horse cadavers. PROCEDURES In vitro LTF constructs were created by a standard technique with polyester sutures, a standard technique with polyethylene sutures, a modified technique with metallic implants and polyester sutures, a modified technique with metallic implants and polyethylene sutures, or a modified tie-off technique with polyester sutures (10 of each type of construct). Mechanical properties including maximal load (N) at failure and failure mode were compared among constructs. Also, maximal loads at failure of the in vitro LTF constructs were compared with the loads exerted on the sutures tightened to achieve rostral laryngeal advancement in intact cadavers. RESULTS Constructs prepared by a standard technique with polyethylene sutures had a significantly higher pull out strength than those prepared by a modified technique with metallic implants and either polyester or polyethylene sutures. For constructs prepared by a standard technique with polyethylene sutures or similarly placed polyester sutures, maximal load at failure did not differ but the failure mode did differ significantly. The load to failure for all in vitro constructs was higher than the maximal load measured during a range of motion test in intact horse cadavers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that LTF procedures can be performed in live horses with any of the suture materials and techniques tested.

Four 3-day-old piglets with retarded growth were submitted to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency for diagnosis. Necropsy showed that one piglet had black spots ranging from 2 mm to 1 cm in diameter in the cerebellum, lungs, regional lymph nodes, and cecum. Histological findings were consistent with the gross appearance in which melanin pigmentation was observed in the organs mentioned above. Based on Fontana-Masson staining, we diagnosed this animal with systemic melanosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of systemic melanosis in black breeds of swine in Korea.

An 8-year-old intact male Pekingese (weighing 13 kg) was presented for evaluation of chronic coughing. Thoracic radiography found a redundant tissue swelling (protruded on expiration and collapsed on inspiration) on the ventral neck just cranial to the thoracic inlet. Fluoroscopy also identified that the cranial portion of the right/left cranial lung lobe was seen to protrude through the thoracic inlet into the ventral neck on expiration. On the echocardiogram, there were no abnormal jets in all cardiac valves and no dilation in all cardiac chambers. Based on diagnostic imaging studies, the case was diagnosed as cervical lung lobe herniation.

The number of wild animal species is gradually decreasing due to poaching, hunting and habitat loss. While several endangered animal species have been successfully preserved at the zoo, assisted reproductive technology (ART) must be applied to restore wild animals. In the case of critically endangered animals, somatic cell cloning is considered the most appropriate method of ART. Somatic cell cloning can be beneficial for the reproduction of endangered species with limited female populations. However, gene and cell banks, and understanding of reproductive physiology and optimization of ART for wild animals are urgently required for further activation of artificial reproduction of endangered species, which enlarges its application and maintains biodiversity. Care should also be taken to consider ethical and legal issues associated with somatic cell cloning for conservation of endangered animals.

Proteases play important roles in parasite development and host parasite interactions. The protease of Kudoa spp. has been recognized as a key factor of severe proteolysis of fish muscle post-mortem; however, there is little information available regarding the protease of Kudoa (K.) septempunctata, which was recently identified as a cause of food poisoning in humans. The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize proteases to elucidate the type of protease contained in the parasite and determine the optimal pH for protease activity. We confirmed the cysteine protease and metalloprotease produced by K. septempunctata. While the cysteine protease showed optimal activity at pH 5 that decreased rapidly with increasing pH, the optimal activity of metalloprotease was pH 7, and it remained stable from pH 6 to pH 8. These results indicate that the pH of cysteine protease is not proper for fish muscle postmortem, and that metalloprotease can act in human intestines. Overall, the present study provides important information that improves our understanding of the role of protease physiology and the subsequent food poisoning caused by K. septempunctata.

Ten dogs were enrolled in this study: two healthy dogs, two obese dogs without other medical issues and six obese dogs with underlying diseases including pemphigus, chronic active hepatitis, hyperadrenocorticism, narcolepsy, otitis media and heartworm infection. Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to explore the gut bacterial diversity revealed that distal gut bacterial communities of samples from patients with pemphigus, otitis media and narcolepsy consisted primarily of Firmicutes, while the major phylum of the distal gut bacterial communities in patients with chronic active hepatitis and hyperadrenocorticism was Fusobacteria. Proteobacteria were the dominant phylum in heartworm infected obese patients.

Cardiopulmonary depression of long-term constant rate infusion (CRI) administration of multiple analgesic drugs is important, especially in critically ill dogs. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lidocaine, ketamine or combined lidocaine-ketamine combination CRI treatment on vital signs and left ventricular (LV) function in healthy dogs. Six adult Beagle dogs were administered either ketamine (initial loading dose of 0.5 mg/ kg followed by 10 ¥ìg/kg/min CRI), lidocaine (initial loading dose of 2 mg/kg followed by 0.025 mg/kg/min CRI), or combined lidocaine-ketamine intravenously. Arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT) and echocardiographic LV dimensions were measured before administration of medications, immediately after administration of drugs, and then every 10 min for 2 h. There were no significant changes in HR, RR, BT and BP after the administration of either lidocaine CRI, ketamine CRI, or combined lidocaine and ketamine CRI. There were also no significant changes in LV dimensions and stroke volume. The results revealed that treatment with either lidocaine, ketamine or combined lidocaine-ketamine may not cause cardiopulmonary suppression in healthy dogs.

Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) viruses cause vector - borne diseases. In this study, inactivated Akabane virus (AKAV)+Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) vaccines with or without recombinant vibrio flagellin (revibFlaB) protein were expressed in a baculovirus expression system to measure their safety and immunogenicity. Blood was collected from mice, guinea pigs, sows, and cattle that had been inoculated with the vaccine twice. Inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine induced high virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) titer against AKAV and BEFV in mice and guinea pigs. VNA titers against AKAV were higher in mice and guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated AKAV+ BEFV vaccine than in animals inoculated with vaccine containing revibFlaB protein. Inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine elicited slightly higher VNA titers against AKAV and BEFV than the live AKAV and live BEFV vaccines in mice and guinea pigs. In addition, the inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine was safe, and induced high VNA titers, ranging from 1 : 64 to 1 : 512, against both AKAV and BEFV in sows and cattle. Moreover, there were no side effects observed in any treated animals. These results indicate that the inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine could be used in cattle with high immunogenicity and good safety.

A two-year-old spayed female pug presented with symmetrical hyperpigmented alopecic lesions on her axillary and inguinal regions. There were no remarkable findings in dermatologic examinations and hormonal assays. Histological examination of biopsied tissues revealed prominent lymphocytic perifolliculitis along with shrunk hair follicles. Immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD79a, CD4, and CD8 showed a positive stain for CD4 antigen around hair bulbs, suggesting CD4 positive T lymphocyte infiltration. This case suggests the possibility that CD4 T lymphocytemediated inflammatory reaction could be a main mechanism in canine alopecia areata. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the immunological mechanism in canine species.

OBJECTIVE To compare the attenuation of the angiotensin I–induced blood pressure response by once-daily oral administration of various doses of angiotensin receptor blockers (irbesartan, telmisartan, and losartan), benazepril hydrochloride, or lactose monohydrate (placebo) for 8 days in clinically normal cats. ANIMALS 6 healthy cats (approx 17 months old) with surgically implanted arterial telemetric blood pressure–measuring catheters. PROCEDURES Cats were administered orally the placebo or each of the drug treatments (benazepril [2.5 mg/cat], irbesartan [6 and 10 mg/kg], telmisartan [0.5, 1, and 3 mg/kg], and losartan [2.5 mg/kg]) once daily for 8 days in a crossover study. Approximately 90 minutes after capsule administration on day 8, each cat was anesthetized and arterial blood pressure measurements were recorded before and after IV administration of each of 4 boluses of angiotensin I (20, 100, 500, and 1,000 ng/kg). This protocol was repeated 24 hours after benazepril treatment and telmisartan (3 mg/kg) treatment. Differences in the angiotensin I–induced change in systolic arterial blood pressure (ΔSBP) among treatments were determined. RESULTS At 90 minutes after capsule administration, only losartan did not significantly reduce ΔSBP in response to the 3 higher angiotensin doses, compared with placebo. Among drug treatments, telmisartan (3 mg/kg dosage) attenuated ΔSBP to a significantly greater degree than benazepril and all other treatments. At 24 hours, telmisartan was more effective than benazepril (mean ± SEM ΔSBP, 15.7 ± 1.9 mm Hg vs 55.9 ± 12.42 mm Hg, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that telmisartan administration may have advantages over benazepril administration for cats with renal or cardiovascular disease.