BACKGROUND: Metabolic bone disease is a common disease in the pet reptiles. Early diagnosis of this disease has an important role in the treatment and prevention from complications. Since metabolic bone diseases causes bone density to decrease, it is assumed the CT scan can be used as a suitable method to diagnosis early changes in the bone density. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was providing a range of cortical and trabecular Hounsfield Numbers of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in the healthy green iguana by the aid of computed tomography which can be used as a reference. METHODS: Twelve healthy green iguanas were included in this study and based on the body length were divided into three groups. Complete information about maintenance including maintaining environment and nutrition conditions were recorded in questionnaires designed for this study. Lateral and dorsoventral radiographs were obtained using digital radiology to confirm the health of the skeletal system. To achieve CT plans, the animals were restricted by warping method. After obtaining topogram, with the aid of Osteo Protocol, cross sectional images were acquired from random thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. CT images were subsequently evaluated in Syngo MMWP VE40A Medical Software. The results were analyzed using SPSS statistic software. RESULTS: According to statistic results, the mean Hounsfield Number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were presented due to the body length of the green iguana. Since the cortical bone density of lumbar vertebrae in all three groups  varied meaningfully and  only variable “body length” was considered influential on cortical mineral bone density of lumbar vertebrae. Cortical bone density of lumbar vertebrae can be used as a reference for detecting the early bone density changes in green iguana.             CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography can be an excellent alternative for early detection of the MBD in pet green iguanas.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyse selected densitometric and geometric parameters in the third metacarpal bone along the long axis in horses. The densitometric parameters included the cortical and trabecular bone mineral density, while the geometric parameters included the cortical, trabecular, and total areas, strength strain index X, strength strain index Y, and the polar strength strain index. Material and Methods: The parameters were analysed using eight sections from 10% to 80% of the length of the bone. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used in the study. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Friedman analysis of variance and post-hoc tests. Results: The proximal metaphyseal region showed the highest predicted resistance to bone fractures in the transverse (back-front) plane, the distal metaphyseal region had the highest predicted resistance to transverse and torsional fractures in the transverse (side-side) plane. The cross-sectional area and the shape of the cross-section of the cortical bone of the MCIII had the highest coefficient of variation. The density of the cortical bone was least variable. Conclusions: The cortical area and cortical bone mineral density assumed the highest values in the diaphyseal region, while the highest total area, trabecular area and trabecular bone mineral density values were obtained in the metaphyseal proximal and distal region.

Healthy gilts and market-ready hogs were administered a single intramuscular (IM) injection of Borgal, a commercial formulation of trimethoprim-sulfadoxine (TMP-SDX), once or twice daily. The objectives were to determine if a newly-developed high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method would be suitable for measuring the residual concentrations of TMP in the plasma of these live animals, and to determine if the administration of this veterinary drug would leave measurable residues in their plasma and tissues at slaughter. Plasma and tissue concentrations of SDX and TMP from these animals were determined over a period of 14 d using thin-layer chromatography/densitometry (TLCD), and the newly-developed HPLC method, respectively. The lowest detectable limit (LDL) for SDX in plasma and tissue was 20 ppb by TLCD. The HPLC method had a LDL of 5 ppb for TMP in plasma and tissue. Both methods were then used to provide baseline data on the absorption and depletion of TMP and SDX from these healthy animals. It was observed that both TMP and SDX were readily absorbed into the blood and tissues, but TMP was eliminated much faster than SDX. No TMP residues were detected in the plasma of any of the gilts at and beyond 21 h after drug administration. Also, no TMP residues were detected in the plasma of any of the market-ready hogs 24 h after drug administration at either the label dose or twice the label dose. Sulfadoxine residues at concentrations above the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 100 ppb were, however, detected in the plasma, muscle, kidney, liver, and injection sites of hogs slaughtered 1 and 3 d after a single IM administration at the label dose. Although SDX residues were still detectable in the lungs, kidney, liver and plasma of some hogs 10 d after administration of the label dose and twice the label dose, these were below the MRL. Postmortem examination revealed necrosis and inflammation at the injection sites, but no visible deposits of the injected drug.

We performed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (craniocaudal and lateromedial views) on 10 pairs of humeruses, radiuses, femurs, and tibias from dogs, using an alignment jig, to determine the homotypic bone mineral density variations of long bones. The bones were divided into 3 regions: proximal, middle, and distal parts of the diaphysis. The bone mineral density of cortical bone, medullary bone, and total bone was determined. Of 160 homotypic comparisons, 21 indicated significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) differences between right and left bones at either a region or location. These differences were observed most frequently in the craniocaudal view and were probably secondary to positioning errors. Evaluation of elliptical bones, such as the radius, also indicated that, when the thicker dimension, such as the lateromedial view of the radius was measured, the bone mineral density of regions-of-interest in that view was greater than that in the opposite view (ie, craniocaudal view of the radius). This study validates the concept of using the contralateral limb as the control condition in orthopedic studies of dogs, particularly when evaluating the densitometric properties of long bones. This study also emphasizes the importance of accurate positioning to prevent inadvertent alteration of bone mineral density results when using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is particularly susceptible to positioning errors, because it converts a 3-dimensional structure into a 2-dimensional image.

Concentration of total proteins was measured and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel disk electrophoresis was performed on tear and plasma samples obtained from 26 healthy dogs, and the results were compared. Mean +/- SEM concentration of total proteins in tears was 0.63 +/- 0.04 g/dl, and significant effects of age or gender were not found. The protein composition of tears in dogs was complex, and bands from light and heavy chains of immunoglobulins were identified by electrophoresis.

Polypeptides from whole cell preparations of Pasteurella multocida serotypes A:12 and A:3 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose paper. Antigens were detected by immunoblot analysis, using sera from 3 groups of rabbits. Sera were obtained from rabbits inoculated intranasally with P multocida serotype A:12 or A:3, from rabbits maintained in a rabbitry with enzootic P multocida A:12 infection, and from rabbits maintained in a rabbitry with enzootic P multocida A:3 infection. Immunoblot analyses of pre- and postinoculation sera from experimentally infected rabbits, using serotype A:12 antigen, revealed 3 polypeptides with approximate molecular mass of 28, 30, and 37 kDa that consistently detected antibodies after P multocida-induced infection. Sera from rabbits naturally infected with either serotype, tested against serotype A:12 and A:3 antigens, detected the same polypeptides in both serotypes. Thus, immunologic reactivity to these polypeptides may be useful for serologic detection of P multocida infection.

Protein profiles of whole homogenates of anconeus (slow twitch) and biceps femoris (fast twitch) muscles of clinically normal dogs and of Labrador Retrievers with hereditary myopathy (HM) were resolved on flat bed polyacrylamide isoelectric-focusing gels. Three methods of sample solubilization were performed. The solubilization buffer, with high concentrations of urea, precipitated the zwitterionic detergent, but use of the buffer containing 3% NP-40, 9.2M urea, and 0.1M arginine resulted in better resolution and stability of pH gradient. Gels of anconeus muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 2 protein bands specific to anconeus muscle, whereas gels of biceps femoris muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 3 protein bands amplified in biceps femoris muscle that were barely detectable in anconeus muscle. The staining intensity of protein bands in biceps femoris muscles from Labrador Retrievers with HM was decreased, relative to controls. The quantitative analysis of peak height ratios of biceps femoris muscle revealed significant (P less than 0.05) differences between profiles of clinically normal dogs and Labrador Retrievers with HM.

Objective-To quantitatively assess distraction-induced bone formation in a crural lengthening model in dogs by use of delayed-image bone scintigraphy. Animals-12 mature Labrador Retrievers. Procedure-Dogs were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups. A circular external skeletal fixation system was mounted on the right crus of each dog. Osteotomy of the distal portion of the tibia and fibula was performed in groups 1 and 2 and was followed by a lengthening procedure of 10 mm in the first group only. The third group served as sham-operated controls. Delayed-image bone scintigraphy with technetium-99m hydroxy methylene diphosphonate was performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery. Delayed-image-to-region-of-interest, delayed-image-to-crural, and delayed-image-to-femoral scintigraphic activity ratios were calculated. New bone formation was quantified by use of densitometric image analysis, and values for the scintigraphic ratios were compared. Results-In the distraction and osteotomy groups, delayed-image-to-region-of-interest and delayed-image-to-crural ratios increased significantly. Although densitometric image analysis revealed increased bone formation after distraction, the region-of-interest ratios and crural ratios were similar in both groups. All dogs had increased delayed-image-to-femoral ratios. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Delayed-image bone scintigraphy ratios were not effective at differentiating between the amounts of distraction-induced bone and osteotomy-induced bone. Metabolic bone activity in the adjacent femur was increased as a consequence of circular external skeletal fixator placement. Delayed-image bone scintigraphy was not adequately sensitive to quantitatively monitor bone formation but may be useful as an early predictor of bone healing.

Objective-To evaluate biocompatibility and effects of implantation of 3-dimensional chondrocyte-agarose autografts in tibial defects in rabbits and to compare in vitro and in vivo chondrocyte-agarose constructs with respect to cell viability, differentiation, and matrix production. Animals-24 adult New Zealand White rabbits. Procedure-Three-dimensional constructs with (grafted group) or without (control group) autogenous chondrocytes were implanted into tibial defects of rabbits and cultured in vitro. During an 8-week period, defects were evaluated radiographically, grossly, histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. In vitro constructs were evaluated histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. Results-Tibial defects had significantly higher radiographic densitometry values at 4 and 6 weeks after implantation in grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. Number of observed centers of endochondral ossification was significantly greater in defects of grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. On day 14, glycosaminoglycan concentration was significantly higher in tibial defects of grafted group rabbits, compared to defects of control group rabbits or in vitro constructs. At weeks 2, 4, and 8, glycosaminoglycan concentrations were significantly lower in the in vitro control constructs, compared with other groups. Collagen type I was present in bone and bony callous in defects of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type II was identified in cartilaginous tissues of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type X was associated with hypertrophic chondrocytes. Only type II collagen was found in the in vitro chondrocyte constructs. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Chondrocyte-agarose grafts are biocompatible in large tibial defects and appear to provide a cell source for augmenting endochondral ossification.

Membrane associated proteins from 8 untypeable Pasteurella haemolytica strains were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and compared with those of P haemolytica serotypes 1 and 2. Cattle antisera obtained from P haemolytica serotype 1 vaccine trials were used in immunoblotting assays to compare the membrane proteins from the 8 untypeable strains with those from P haemolytica serotypes 1 and 2. Densitometry was used to identify bands, and using linear regression analyses, the peak area optical densities (measuring antibody response) were correlated to lesion scores from the vaccinated calves. Significant antibody responses to proteins of 99, 69, 60, 55, 47, 45, 39, 33, 30, 16, and 14.5 kDa were detected for 4 or more of the 8 P haemolytica untypeable strains. Serotypes 1 and 2 of P haemolytica contained a comigrating 30-kDa protein. Antibody responses to proteins of 39, 33, and 32.5 kDa were significant for 3 of the untypeable strains and had significant correlation to lesion scores. Antibody responses to various other proteins were significant for 2 untypeable strains each.