Over the last years a growing demand for ratite meat, including ostrich, emu, and rhea has been observed in the world. Ratite meat is recognised as a dietetic product because of low level of fat, high share of PUFA, favourable n6/n3 ratio, and higher amounts of iron content in comparison with beef and chicken meat. The abundance of bioactive compounds, e.g. PUFA, makes ratite meat highly susceptible to oxidation processes. Moreover, pH over 6 creates favourable environment for fast microbial growth during storage conditions affecting its shelf life. However, availability of information on ratite meat shelf life among consumers and industry is still limited. Thus, the aim of the present review is to provide current information about the effect of ratite meat packaging type, i.e. air packaging, vacuum packaging with skin pack, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), on its shelf life quality during storage, including technological and nutritional properties.

Dogs with lower airway pathology that present in respiratory distress often receive oxygen therapy as the first line of treatment regardless of the underlying cause. Conventional "low-flow" systems deliver oxygen with a maximum flow rate of 15 L/minute. Traditionally, when an animal's respiratory status does not improve with conventional oxygen therapy and treatments for underlying disease, options might be limited to either intubation and mechanical ventilation or humane euthanasia. High-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) has been gaining popularity in veterinary medicine as an alternative route of oxygen supplementation for animals that require support beyond conventional therapy. High-flow oxygen therapy can supply a mixture of air and oxygen via a heated and humidified circuit. It is user friendly and can be used in an environment in which mechanical ventilation is unavailable. This review article is written for emergency doctors and general practitioners who lack access to mechanical ventilation. This article briefly reviews pertinent respiratory physiology, traditional oxygen supplementation techniques, the physiology of HFOT, and the limited evidence available in veterinary medicine regarding the use of HFOT, its applications, and limitations. Guidelines for the use of HFOT are suggested and HFOT is compared to conventional therapy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of providing 100% O2, compared with provision of room air, in sedated spontaneously breathing inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). ANIMALS 8 adult bearded dragons. PROCEDURES Animals were sedated with alfaxalone (20 mg/kg, SC) and received 21% O2 (equivalent to room air) or 100% O2 via face mask (flow rate, 1 L/min) in a randomized, blinded, complete crossover study (2-week interval between treatments). Sedation variables, cardiopulmonary variables, venous blood gas values, and postsedation food intake were evaluated. RESULTS Respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and sedation quality were comparable between treatments. Venous blood gas analysis revealed a higher total Pco2 and HCO3− concentration for the 21% O2 treatment. Postsedation food intake was not affected by the inspired oxygen fraction provided during sedation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The fraction of inspired oxygen did not appear to have clinically relevant effects on physiologic variables of bearded dragons during and after sedation. Therefore, provision of 100% O2 can be considered for use in sedated bearded dragons without the risk of inducing hypoventilation. Similarly, failure to provide 100% O2 would be unlikely to result in clinically relevant consequences in healthy sedated bearded dragons.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a percutaneous, continuous gastric decompression technique for dogs involving a temporary T-fastener gastropexy and self-retaining decompression catheter. ANIMALS 6 healthy male large-breed dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs were anesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency with slight left-lateral obliquity. The gastric lumen was insufflated endoscopically until tympany was evident. Three T-fasteners were placed percutaneously into the gastric lumen via the right lateral aspect of the abdomen, caudal to the 13th rib and lateral to the rectus abdominis muscle. Through the center of the T-fasteners, a 5F locking pigtail catheter was inserted into the gastric lumen and attached to a device measuring gas outflow and intragastric pressure. The stomach was insufflated to 23 mm Hg, air was allowed to passively drain from the catheter until intraluminal pressure reached 5 mm Hg for 3 cycles, and the catheter was removed. Dogs were hospitalized and monitored for 72 hours. RESULTS Mean ± SD catheter placement time was 3.3 ± 0.5 minutes. Mean intervals from catheter placement to a ≥ 50% decrease in intragastric pressure and to ≤ 6 mm Hg were 2.1 ± 1.3 minutes and 8.4 ± 5.1 minutes, respectively. After catheter removal, no gas or fluid leakage at the catheter site was visible laparoscopically or endoscopically. All dogs were clinically normal 72 hours after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The described technique was performed rapidly and provided continuous gastric decompression with no evidence of postoperative leakage in healthy dogs. Investigation is warranted to evaluate its effectiveness in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Objective-To measure the effects of tidal volume, ventilatory frequency, and oxygen insufflation flow on the fraction of inspired oxygen in cadaveric horse heads attached to a lung model. Sample-8 heads of equine cadavers. Procedures-Each cadaveric horse head was intubated with a nasotracheal tube that extended into the proximal portion of the trachea. Oxygen was delivered through an oxygen catheter contained within and extending to the tip of the nasotracheal tube. The trachea was connected to the lung model by use of a spiral-wound hose with a sampling adaptor. Eight treatment combinations involving 2 tidal volumes (5 and 8 L), 2 ventilatory frequencies (6 and 12 mechanical breathes/min), and 2 insufflation rates (10 and 15 L/min) were applied to each head. Hand-drawn inspired gas samples were collected and analyzed for oxygen concentrations. Results-The fraction of inspired oxygen (measured at mid trachea) ranged from 26.8% to 39.4%. Fraction of inspired oxygen was significantly higher with a smaller tidal volume, lower ventilatory frequency, and higher insufflation rate. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In the study model, measured fraction of inspired oxygen varied with ventilatory pattern as well as oxygen insufflation rate. Clinically, this information could be beneficial for interpretation of data regarding arterial blood gases and hemoglobin saturation and in making appropriate oxygen insufflation decisions for anesthetized horses that are breathing room air.

Cardiovascular effects and pulmonary gas exchange were compared during conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and interrupted high-frequency, positive-pressure ventilation (IHFPPV) in 6 anesthetized ponies in dorsal recumbency. When the peak airway pressure (Paw) was held constant at control values attained during CMV (18 to 20 cm of H2O), and the ventilator frequency of IHFPPV was varied over the range, 2.5 to 12.5 Hz, significant (P less than 0.05) changes from control values were observed only in the ratio of dead-space volume to tidal volume (VD/VT) and in the respiratory minute volume (VE). The mean +/- SEM) carbon dioxide excretion (VCO2) was 2.12 +/- 0.1 ml/kg/min during IHFPPV. Dead-space ventilation ranged from 40 to 73.7% of total ventilation and increased directly with increasing frequency. The VE also increased, from 89 ml/kg/min at a ventilatory frequency of 2.5 Hz to 145 ml/kg/min at a frequency of 12.5 Hz. Maintaining the frequency of IHFPPV constant at 12.5 Hz and increasing the Paw over the range of 5 to 30 cm of H2O caused significant (P less than 0.05) changes in arterial partial pressure of O2 (PaO2), VCO2, pulmonary shunt fraction (QS/QT), VE, arterial-alveolar differences in oxygen tension (AaDO2), VD/VT, and cardiac output, compared with CMV. The PaO2 and the VCO2 increased linearly with increasing Paw. With increasing Paw, VD/VT decreased directly with increasing Paw from 98 to 69.3%. Gas exchange at a Paw of 15 cm of H2O during IHFPPV was equivalent to conditions at Paw of 20 cm of H2O during CMV. At a higher Paw during IHFPPV, improvements over control values were observed in gas exchange.

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system modulates the degree of injury caused by inflammation, while enhancing the activity of phagocytes that promote resolution of inflammation and tissue repair. In-vitro studies with the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitor JZL184 have suggested that increased eCB signaling might enhance the ability of the host immune system to clear invading pathogens. Although the neurochemical effects of JZL184 on the eCB system in rodents are well-known, its immuneregulating effects are less clear, especially in chickens. The primary objective of this study was to explore whether modulating the eCB system affects immune responses in chickens. To do this, we administered JZL184 [10 and 40 mg/kg body weight (BW), intraperitoneal injection] into chickens prior to a challenge with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) O78. Bacteria were isolated from livers, blood, air sacs, and hearts at 8, 28, and 56 h post-infection and the gross lesions in air sacs, livers, and hearts were also examined. Serum levels of JZL184 were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which indicated that the drug was distributed systemically. The number of birds positive for airsacculitis after APEC O78 challenge was marginally higher in groups treated with JZL184 than in the control group (P = 0.064). Rather than augmenting host defense and enhancing pathogen clearance, these results suggested that JZL184 might have immunosuppressive effects that exacerbated APEC O78 infection in chickens.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of exposure to a balanced electrolyte solution (BES), or equine abdominal fat on the knot-holding capacity (KHC), relative knot security (RKS), weight, and volume of forwarder knots versus surgeon's knots. SAMPLE 315 knots tied and tested in vitro. PROCEDURES United States Pharmacopeia size-3 polyglactin 910 suture exposed to air (dry [control]), equine abdominal fat (fat-exposed), or BES (BES-exposed) was used to tie forwarder knots with 2, 3, and 4 throws and surgeon's knots with 5, 6, 7, and 8 throws. A universal materials testing machine was used to test the tensile strength of suture and knots to failure, and the KHC, RKS, weight, and volume of knots were determined. RESULTS Forwarder knots had significantly higher KHC and RKS and lower volume, compared with surgeons’ knots. Forwarder knots tied with fat-exposed suture had greater weight, but not volume, than did forwarder knots tied with dry or BES-exposed suture with the same number of throws. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that forwarder knots were superior to surgeon's knots when configured as start knots intended for continuous lines of suture. Exposure to media did not negatively affect mechanical or physical properties of forwarder knots and may improve specific biomechanical functions, including KHC and RKS.

OBJECTIVE To determine the amount of negative pressure generated by syringes of various sizes with and without an attached thoracostomy tube and whether composition of thoracostomy tubes altered the negative pressure generated. SAMPLE Syringes ranging from 1 to 60 mL and 4 thoracostomy tubes of various compositions (1 red rubber catheter, 1 polyvinyl tube, and 2 silicone tubes). PROCEDURES A syringe or syringe with attached thoracostomy tube was connected to a pneumatic transducer. Each syringe was used to aspirate a volume of air 10 times. Negative pressure generated was measured and compared among the various syringe sizes and various thoracostomy tubes. RESULTS The negative pressure generated decreased as size of the syringe increased for a fixed volume across syringes. Addition of a thoracostomy tube further decreased the amount of negative pressure. The red rubber catheter resulted in the least amount of negative pressure, followed by the polyvinyl tube and then the silicone tubes. There was no significant difference in negative pressure between the 2 silicone tubes. The smallest amount of negative pressure generated was −74 to −83 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Limited data are available on the negative pressure generated during intermittent evacuation of the thoracic cavity. For the present study, use of a syringe of ≥ 20 mL and application of 1 mL of negative suction volume resulted in in vitro pressures much more negative than the currently recommended pressure of −14.71 mm Hg for continuous suction. Additional in vitro or cadaveric studies are needed.