Objective-To determine the disposition of a bolus of meloxicam (administered IV) in horses and donkeys (Equus asinus) and compare the relative pharmacokinetic variables between the species. Animals-5 clinically normal horses and 5 clinically normal donkeys. Procedures-Blood samples were collected before and after IV administration of a bolus of meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg). Serum meloxicam concentrations were determined in triplicate via high-performance liquid chromatography. The serum concentration-time curve for each horse and donkey was analyzed separately to estimate standard noncompartmental pharmacokinetic variables. Results-In horses and donkeys, mean +/- SD area under the curve was 18.8 +/- 7.31 microgram/mL/h and 4.6 +/- 2.55 microgram/mL/h, respectively; mean residence time (MRT) was 9.6 +/- 9.24 hours and 0.6 +/- 0.36 hours, respectively. Total body clearance (CL(T)) was 34.7 +/- 9.21 mL/kg/h in horses and 187.9 +/- 147.26 mL/kg/h in donkeys. Volume of distribution at steady state (VD(SS)) was 270 +/- 160.5 mL/kg in horses and 93.2 +/- 33.74 mL/kg in donkeys. All values, except VD(SS), were significantly different between donkeys and horses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The small VD(SS) of meloxicam in horses and donkeys (attributed to high protein binding) was similar to values determined for other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Compared with other species, horses had a much shorter MRT and greater CL(T) for meloxicam, indicating a rapid elimination of the drug from plasma; the even shorter MRT and greater CL(T) of meloxicam in donkeys, compared with horses, may make the use of the drug in this species impractical.

Objective-To evaluate the effects of metabolic acidosis and changes in ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) concentration on Pao2 in dogs. Animals-33 anesthetized dogs receiving assisted ventilation. Procedure-Normal acid-base status was maintained in 8 dogs (group I), and metabolic acidosis was induced in 25 dogs. For 60 minutes, normocalcemia was maintained in group I and 10 other dogs (group II), and 10 dogs were allowed to become hypercalcemic (group III); hypocalcemia was then induced in groups I and II. Groups II and IV (5 dogs) were treated identically except that, at 90 minutes, the latter underwent parathyroidectomy. At intervals, variables including Pao2, Ca(2+) concentration, arterial blood pH (pHa), and systolic blood pressure were assessed. Results-In group II, Pao2 increased from baseline value (96 +/- 2 mm Hg) within 10 minutes (pHa, 7.33 +/- 0.001); at 60 minutes (pHa, 7.21 +/- 0.02), Pao2 was 108 +/- 2 mm Hg. For the same pHa decrease, the Pao2 increase was less in group III. In group I, hypocalcemia caused Pao2 to progressively increase (from 95 +/- 2 mm Hg to 104 +/- 3 mm Hg), which correlated (r = -0.66) significantly with a decrease in systolic blood pressure (from 156 +/- 9 mm Hg to 118 +/- 10 mm Hg). Parathyroidectomy did not alter Pao2 values. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Induction of hypocalcemia and metabolic acidosis each increased Pao2 in anesthetized dogs, whereas acidosis-induced hypercalcemia attenuated that increase. In anesthetized dogs, development of metabolic acidosis or hypocalcemia is likely to affect ventilatory control.

Objective-To determine via histologic examination and scintigraphy the effect of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on normal bone and the bone-ligament interface in horses. Animals-6 horses without lameness. Procedure-Origins of the suspensory ligament at the metacarpus (35-mm probe depth) and fourth metatarsal bone (5-mm probe depth) were treated twice (days 0 and 16) with 2,000 shocks (energy flux density, 0.15 mJ/mm2). One forelimb and 1 hind limb were randomly treated, and the contralateral limbs served as nontreated controls. Bone scans were performed on days -1 (before ESWT), 3, 16, and 19. Histomorphologic studies of control and treated tissues were performed on day 30. Results-ESWT significantly increased the number of osteoblasts but caused no damage to associated soft tissue structures and did not induce cortical microfractures. A significant correlation between osteoblast numbers and radiopharmaceutical uptake was noticed on lateral views of the hind limb on days 3 and 16 and on caudal views of the forelimb on day 3. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that ESWT has the potential to increase osteoblast numbers in horses. The correlation between increased osteoblast numbers and radiopharmaceutical uptake 3 days and 16 days after the first ESWT suggested that stimulation of osteogenesis occurred soon after ESWT. No damage to bone or the bone-ligament interface should occur at the settings used in this study, and ESWT can therefore be administered safely in horses.

Objective-To determine the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone (MP) and develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of the related changes in plasma concentrations of endogenous hydrocortisone (HYD) and cortisone (COR) following intra-articular administration of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) in horses. Animals-6 Thoroughbreds. Procedures-In each horse, 200 mg of MPA was injected intrasynovially into a carpal joint, and plasma MP, HYD, and COR concentrations were determined via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results-A 5-compartment pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was used to describe the concatenated changes in the plasma concentrations of MP, HYD, and COR and to estimate the instantaneous rate of endogenous HYD production. The median transfer half-life (t(1/2t)) of methylprednisolone from the joint to plasma and elimination half-life (t(1/2e)) from plasma were 1.7 and 19.2 hours, respectively. Maximum plasma concentration of methylprednisolone was 7.26 +/- 3.3 ng/mL at 8 hours, which decreased to 0.11 +/- 0.08 ng/mL at 144 hours after injection. At 3 hours after MPA administration, plasma COR and HYD concentrations were significantly decreased from baseline values (from 2.9 +/- 0.28 ng/mL to 2.10 +/- 1.0 ng/mL and from 61.1 +/- 18.9 ng/mL to 25.7 +/- 12.1 ng/mL, respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The sensitivity of the analytic method used allowed complete description of the related kinetics of MP, HYD, and COR following intra-articular administration of MPA. A single intra-articular administration of MPA profoundly affected the secretion of HYD and COR in horses; secretion of endogenous corticosteroids remained suppressed for as long as 240 hours after injection.

We have studied pharmacokinetics of a new anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agent VP-0501 and its amino acid prodrug VP-0501AL which is designed to improve oral bioavailability. After oral administration at 100 mg/kg dose in rats (n=4), VP-0501 was not detectable in plasma (less than 50 ng/ml), while after the administration of VP-0501AL, VP-0501 was quantitatively detected, at least for 8 hrs, with Cmax of ca. 2.5 μg/ml and AUC of 8 hr*μg/ml.

Generally known psittacosis or ornithosis is a disease of birds caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Humans are accidential hosts and are most commonly infected from avian sources. It raises hepatitis or neurosis. As major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia psittai has been known to play a role in the avoidance of host immune defenses, research on developing a Chlamydia vaccine has focused on the MOMP. In this study, the gene encoding the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of the Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli Strain M-15.

Iridovirus is an icosahedral cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA virus with a genome size of 170-200kb. Outbreaks of fish iridovirus infection are characterized by their wide geographic distribution and broad host spectrum, especially in water temperatures of 22-27℃ Recently, the causative agent of high mortalities in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was identified as fish iridovirus in Korea. Iridoviral infection repeatedly occurs in the same area for long periods, suggesting the possibility of viral infection in nursery.

This paper describes the slaughter check results of breeding pigs from the Korean Swine Testing Station for the control of endemic diseases. Gross lesions monitored in the present study included those conditions commonly associated with economically significant subclinical herd infections enzootic pneumonia, pleuropnemonia, pleuritis, atrophic rhinitis, liver white spots, papular dermatitis and ileitis. A total of 128 slaughter pigs were investigated at 4 subsequent tests according to the slaughter check procedures established.

Vitellogenin (Vtg), a phospholipoglycoprotein precursor of egg yolk is synthesized and secreted from the liver in response to estrogens in femals fish. Vtg is normally undetectable in the blood of male fish, but can be induced by exposure to chemicals possessing estrogenic activity. Thus, the presence of Vtg in blood of male fish can serve as a useful biomarker for assessing previous exposure to estrogenic compounds. In the present study, Vtg was abnormally expressed in Rhynchocypris oxycephalus using estradiol benzoate (E₂).

A 6-month-old thoroughbred filly foal had torticollis and circled towards the right side. A local veterinarian treated her twice using dexamethasone for 1 week but there was little clinical improvement. Needles were inserted into Ting points of both hind limb and one ocular acupoint (shang jiao area from GB01). Injection acupuncture (dexamethasone, twice/week) was used at GV16, GB20, BL10 and LU07, for the neck and head. Acupoint GB34 was added to those points at session 4. In addition, a trigger point in the left neck was injected with 0.2 ml (200 μg of apitoxin) of bee-venom diluted with 1 ml of 2% lidocaine from session 1 to session 3.