A nationwide survey on radiation safety management in Korean animal hospitals was conducted. By 2013, 53 radiation generators were registered as veterinary medical devices (41 X-ray generators and 12 computed tomography scanners). Additionally there were six approved laboratories for radiation equipment and protection facility, and five approved laboratories for radiation exposure of employees, respectively. By March 2013, 2,030 out of 3,829 animal hospitals operated radiation-generating devices. Among these devices, 389 (19.2%) out of 2,030 were not labeled with the model name and 746 (36.7%) were not labeled with production dates. Thus, most veterinary X-ray generators were outdated (42.6%) and needed replacements. When periodic inspections of 2,018 animal hospitals were performed after revision of the Veterinarians Act in 2011, the hospitals were found to be equipped with appropriate radiation generators and protection facilities. Among 2,545 employees exposed to radiation at the hospitals, 93.9% were veterinarians, 4.3% were animal nurse technicians, and 18% held other positions. Among 169 employees supervised by administrators, none of those had a weekly maximum operating load that exceeded 10mA min This study suggests that the radiation safety management system of animal hospitals was general good.

Bacterial infection of the uterus in Hanwoo can kill embryos. Therefore, many antibiotics have been used to treat this infection in the uterus of repeat breeders. Incorrect use of antibiotics has led to resistance in bacteria. Natural compounds have used as substitutes for antibiotics because they are safe and have very mild side effects. This study was conducted to examine the antimicrobial effects of five extracts from medicinal plants including Humulus japonicas (Hj), Phelledendron amurense (Pa), Viola mandshurica (Vm), Carthamus tinctorius (Ct), and Chelidoni herba (Ch) on bacteria isolated from the uterus of Hanwoo using the paper disc diffusion method. Hj and Pa extracts had potent antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus lentus, Streptococcus infantarius subsp. coli, and Bacillus pumilus. Pa had the greatest antimicrobial effect among the five medicinal plants and was effective against 19 types of bacteria from bovine uterus. Compared to Pa, Hj showed weaker antimicrobial effects on all the bacteria tested except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Vm, Ct, and Ch also showed weak antimicrobial effects on the tested bacteria. The results obtained suggest that Hj and Pa are natural compounds suitable for treating bacterial infection in repeat breeders and improving conception rates of Hanwoo.

A 2-year old castrated male Alaskan malamute was referred with primary complaints of marked anemia, hemeglobinuria and depression. Laboratory tests revealed canine babesiois with severe anemia. The dog was treated by blood transfusion and beneril (diminazene aceturate, 3.5 mg/kg IM). Two days after Beneril injection, the dog suddenly showed ataxia progressing to paresis. MRI revealed irregularly diffused lesions in the cerebellum. The case was tentatively diagnosed as cerebellar encephalopathy caused by diminazene toxicity. The dog successfully recovered following steroid therapy.

Bone marrow is a hematological and immunological organ that provides multiple immune cells, including B lymphocytes, and thus plays a critical role in the efficacy of vaccine. We previously demonstrated that Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica antigen has high immunogenicity in spleen cells, a peripheral immune organ. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity of B. bronchiseptica antigen in bone marrow cells, a central immune organ. B. bronchiseptica antigen increased the cellular activity of bone marrow cells and significantly enhanced the production of nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-¥�. Bone marrow cells primed with B. bronchiseptica antigen in vivo were harvested and stimulated with the same antigen in vitro. The stimulation of B. bronchiseptica antigen significantly increased the cellular activity and proliferation rate of the primed cells. B. bronchiseptica antigen also greatly induced the production of antigen-specific antibody in the primed cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that B. bronchiseptica antigen can stimulate bone marrow cells, a central immune organ, and recall the immune response of the primed bone marrow cells.

Uterine sterilization is important for improving fertility in cattle. This study compared bacterial flora in the uterus between healthy and repeat breeder cows (RBCs). The uterine flushing of six heifers, 13 healthy HanWoo cows and eight RBCs (HanWoo) were sampled, and 15 frozen semen samples were selected. Overall, 35 bacteria were identified from in HanWoo uterine flushing and semen. The bacterial genera identified from HanWoo uterine flushing were Alloiococcus, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Erysipelothrix, Gardnerella, Granulicatella, Kocuria, Pantoea, Pasteurella, Rothia, Serratia, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas and Streptococcus. The bacterial genera identified from HanWoo semen were Bacillus, Escherichia, Kocuria, Oligella, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas and Streptococcus. The prevalence and presence of the identified bacteria between healthy cows and RBCs differed significantly. Further studies are needed to determine the role of these bacteria in the uterus of HanWoo cattle with reproductive disorder.

Objective—To ultrasonographically measure the thickness of the individual wall layers of the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of dogs. Animals—85 dogs with no clinical signs or ultrasonographic evidence of gastrointestinal tract disease. Procedures—Total wall thickness and thickness of the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa were measured ultrasonographically in the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of each dog. Results—The mucosal layer was the thickest layer of the duodenum and jejunum. There was a significant difference in thickness of the mucosal layer between small and large dogs. Mean ± SD thickness of the mucosal layer of the duodenum for small, medium, and large dogs was 2.4 ± 0.5 mm, 2.6 ± 0.6 mm, and 2.8 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. Mean ± SD thickness of the mucosal layer of the jejunum for small, medium, and large dogs was 1.8 ± 0.4 mm, 2.0 ± 0.4 mm, and 2.2 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. The remaining wall layers of the duodenum and jejunum were similar in thickness, and there were no significant differences among small, medium, and large dogs. All layers contributed equally to the total colonic wall thickness. Mean ± SD thickness of the colonic wall for small, medium, and large dogs was 1.5 ± 0.3 mm, 1.4 ± 0.5 mm, and 1.6 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Values for thickness of the wall layers of the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of dogs reported here may be useful for assessing gastrointestinal tract diseases primarily targeting a specific wall layer.

Objective- To describe the optimal thoracoscopic approach to the bovine pleural cavity and evaluate the short-term effects of thoracoscopy on cardiovascular and pulmonary function of healthy cattle. Sample- 6 healthy adult Holstein cows (12 hemithoraxes). Procedures- For each cow, thoracoscopy was performed in both the left and right hemithoraxes with a 24-hour interval between procedures. Cows were sedated and restrained in a standing position for each thoracoscopic examination. Examination of each hemithorax lasted for 30 minutes. Arterial blood gas variables, heart rate, and respiratory rate were assessed at predetermined times before, during, and after the procedures to monitor cardiovascular and pulmonary function. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed immediately and at 24 hours and 1 week after each thorascopic examination to evaluate the extent of residual pneumothorax. Results- Insertion of the laparoscope into the pleural cavity at the ninth intercostal space 15 cm ventral to the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae provided optimal visibility of structures in both the left and right hemithoraxes. Most structures of the pleural cavity were equally visible from both sides except the esophagus and the dorsal branch of the vagus nerve, which were best observed in the left hemithorax, and the pericardium, which was best observed in the right hemithorax. Mild increases in heart and respiratory rates and moderate decreases in arterial oxygen saturation and Pao2 were detected during the procedures. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Standing thoracoscopy was well tolerated in healthy adult dairy cattle and needs to be evaluated in cattle with pulmonary disease.

Objective-To evaluate the effects of sequential anesthesia of the individual compartments of the equine stifle joint on lameness induced by intra-articular deposition of interleukin (IL)-1β. Animals-6 horses. Procedures-For each horse, baseline hind limb lameness was first evaluated. A randomly selected compartment of 1 stifle joint was then injected with IL-1β to induce synovitis and lameness; subsequently, the same compartment was anesthetized with 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride, and lameness was reevaluated. Two weeks later, baseline lameness was evaluated, and lameness was similarly induced; thereafter, the 2 synovial compartments of the stifle joint not injected with IL-1β were anesthetized sequentially in random order (ie, first and second blocks); lameness was evaluated after each block. Finally, the IL-1β–treated compartment was anesthetized (third block); lameness was again evaluated. This second experiment was repeated for the contralateral stifle joint 2 weeks later. Throughout the study, lameness was quantified objectively by assessing vertical pelvic movement asymmetry with a wireless, inertial sensor-based system. Results-Intra-articular deposition of IL-1β induced lameness in all injected limbs. In the first experiment, anesthesia of the compartment injected with IL-1β resulted in a significant decrease in lameness, with vertical pelvic movement asymmetry approaching baseline. In the second experiment, lameness improved significantly after the second and third blocks and was almost completely abolished after all 3 synovial compartments were anesthetized. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In horses, lameness caused by a lesion in 1 compartment of a stifle joint can be improved more by instillation of local anesthetic solution into that compartment than by anesthesia of the other compartments.

Objective- To determine whether a flexible vaccination regimen provides protection against challenge exposure with a virulent Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo isolate. Animals- Fifty-five 4-week-old calves seronegative for antibodies against L borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo. Procedures- Calves were assigned to 3 groups and administered 2 doses of adjuvant (control calves; n = 11), 1 dose of serovar Hardjo bacterin and 1 dose of adjuvant (22), or 2 doses of the serovar Hardjo bacterin (22); there was a 16-week interval between dose administrations. Three weeks after the second dose, all calves were challenge exposed by use of conjunctival instillation of a heterologous strain of L borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo for 3 consecutive days. Urine samples for leptospiral culture were collected for 5 weeks after challenge exposure; at that time, all calves were euthanized and kidney samples collected for leptospiral culture. Results- Antibody titers increased in both leptospiral-vaccinated groups of calves. A significant increase in antibody titers against L borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo was detected after administration of the second dose of L borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo bacterin and challenge exposure. In 10 of 11 adjuvant-treated control calves, serovar Hardjo was isolated from both urine and kidney samples. Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo was not isolated from the urine or kidney samples obtained from any of the 21 remaining calves that received 1 dose of bacterin or the 20 remaining calves that received 2 doses of bacterin. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance- Protection in young calves was induced by vaccination with 1 or 2 doses of a serovar Hardjo bacterin.

Objective-To determine the safety and short-term efficacy of intrabursal administration of botulinum toxin type B (BTXB) to alleviate lameness in horses with degenerative injury to the podotrochlear apparatus (PA). Animals-10 Quarter Horses with degenerative injury to the PA. Procedures-Degenerative injury to the PA was confirmed with diagnostic analgesia and imaging. Then, BTXB (3.8 to 4.5 U/kg) was injected into the podotrochlear (navicular) bursa of each horse. Three horses were used in a safety evaluation. Subsequently, video recordings of lameness evaluations were obtained for 7 client-owned horses 5 days before (baseline) and 7 and 14 days after BTXB treatment and used to determine the effect of BTXB injection on lameness; 1 horse was removed from the study 8 days after BTXB treatment. Three investigators who were unaware of the treated forelimbs or time points separately reviewed the recordings and graded the lameness of both forelimbs of the horses. Results-Improvement in lameness of the treated forelimbs was detected at 1 or both time points after BTXB administration in all horses. However, all horses had some degree of lameness at the end of the study. Two horses developed transient increases in lameness 48 to 72 hours after treatment; lameness resolved uneventfully. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Intrabursal injection of BTXB temporarily alleviated chronic lameness in horses with degenerative injury to the PA, without causing serious short-term adverse effects. Further investigation into the potential use of BTXB in horses affected by degenerative injury to the PA is warranted.