The effect of intestinal microflora on digestible energy (DE) value and fiber digestion was studied in single-comb White Leghorn chickens fed a low-fiber diet (experiment 1) or a high-fiber diet with low or adequate metabolizable energy (ME) value (experiment 2). Fecal energy excretion was calculated from the difference between total energy excretion in urinary and fecal droppings and urinary energy excretion, which was estimated from the energy values for individual urinary nitrogenous compounds extracted with Li2CO3. When the birds were fed the low-fiber diet, no differences in growth, DE, or ME were observed between germ-free and conventional environments. Of birds fed the high-fiber diet, growth of those in the conventional environment was similar to that of the birds in the germ-free environment at the adequate ME value, whereas birds in the conventional environment grew faster than the birds in the germ-free environment at the low ME value. Changes in observed dietary ME values of the high-fiber diets, being higher in birds in the conventional environment than in birds in the germ-free environment (experiment 2), were almost entirely accounted for by those in dietary DE values, most of which was contributed by crude fiber digestion. It was concluded, therefore, that by means of fiber digestion, the intestinal microflora may benefit the host bird by supplying extra energy, which would result in growth promotion, particularly when the bird is deficient in energy.

OBJECTIVE To assess agreement between 2 benchtop blood gas analyzers developed by 1 manufacturer (BGA 1 and BGA 2 [a newer model with reduced maintenance requirements]) and a reference chemistry analyzer for measurement of electrolyte (sodium, chloride, and potassium) in blood samples from dogs. ANIMALS 17 healthy staff- and student-owned dogs and 23 client-owned dogs admitted to an emergency and intensive care service. PROCEDURES Blood collected by venipuncture was placed in lithium heparin–containing tubes. Aliquots were analyzed immediately with each BGA. Samples were centrifuged, and plasma was analyzed with the reference analyzer. Results for each BGA were compared with results for the reference analyzer by Passing-Bablok regression analysis. Percentage differences between BGA and reference analyzer results were compared with published guidelines for total allowable error. RESULTS Proportional bias was detected for measurement of chloride concentration (slope, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.7 to 0.8), and constant positive bias was detected for measurement of chloride (y-intercept, 34, mmol/L; 95% CI, 16.9 to 38 mmol/L) and potassium (y-intercept, 0.1 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.2 mmol/L) concentrations with BGA 1. There was no significant bias for measurement of potassium or chloride concentration with BGA 2 or sodium concentration with either BGA. Differences from the reference analyzer result exceeded total allowable error guidelines for ≥ 1 sample/analyte/BGA, but median observed measurement differences between each BGA and the reference analyzer did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Good agreement with reference analyzer results was found for measurement of the selected electrolyte concentrations in canine blood samples with each BGA.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate hemodynamic, respiratory, and sedative effects of buccally administered detomidine gel and reversal with atipamezole in dogs. ANIMALS 8 adult purpose-bred dogs. PROCEDURES Arterial and venous catheters were placed. Baseline heart rate, respiratory rate, cardiac output (determined via lithium dilution with pulse contour analysis), oxygen delivery, systemic vascular resistance, arterial blood gas values, and sedation score were obtained. Detomidine gel (2.0 mg/m2) was administered on the buccal mucosa. Cardiopulmonary data and sedation scores were obtained at predetermined times over 180 minutes. Atipamezole (0.1 mg/kg) was administered IM at 150 minutes. Reversal of sedation was timed and scored. Data were analyzed with an ANOVA. RESULTS Compared with baseline values, heart rate was lower at 45 to 150 minutes, cardiac output and oxygen delivery were lower at 30 to 150 minutes, and systemic vascular resistance was increased at 30 to 150 minutes. There were no significant changes in Paco2, Pao2, or lactate concentration at any time point, compared with baseline values, except for lactate concentration at 180 minutes. All dogs became sedated; maximum sedation was detected 75 minutes after administration of detomidine. Mean ± SD time to recovery after atipamezole administration was 7.55 ± 1.89 minutes; sedation was completely reversed in all dogs. No adverse events were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Buccally administered detomidine gel was associated with reliable and reversible sedation in dogs, with hemodynamic effects similar to those induced by other α2-adrenoceptor agonists. Buccally administered detomidine gel could be an alternative to injectable sedatives in healthy dogs.

This was a preliminary investigation of the use of lithium to prevent lomustine-induced myelosuppression. Four 10 to 11 kg beagles received lomustine 20 to 30 mg, PO, q3wk, with cephalexin prophylaxis. Two dogs also received lithium, 150 to 300 mg, PO, q12h. Lithium blood concentrations fluctuated in and out of therapeutic interval. Lithium was discontinued in one dog in week 13, and in the other dog in week 38, due to toxicoses. All dogs developed grade 1 to 4 neutropenia after each lomustine treatment. In dogs receiving lomustine only, platelet concentrations decreased from 274 and 293 × 10(9)/L in week 1, to 178 and 218 × 10(9)/L in weeks 38 and 13, respectively. In dogs receiving lomustine and lithium, platelet concentrations decreased from 351 and 288 × 10(9)/L in week 1, to 214 and 212 × 10(9)/L, in weeks 36 and 13, respectively. Lithium did not prevent lomustine-induced myelosuppression and had important side-effects.

Melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, participates in the regulation of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. Lithium inhibits both inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (IPPase) and inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), which are involved in a wide range of signal transduction pathways. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of lithium on endothelial-dependent relaxation to melatonin and on the melatonin-induced inhibition of contraction by phenylephrine (PE) in isolated rat aorta. Melatonin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted in endothelium-intact (+E) aortic rings.

OBJECTIVE To determine the tonicity effects of β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and lactate in canine RBCs. SAMPLE RBCs from approximately 40 dogs. PROCEDURES 2 in vitro methods were used to conduct 4 experiments. The modified osmotic fragility assay was used to measure the ability of ketoacid salts added to serial sucrose dilutions to protect RBCs from osmotic hemolysis. In a second assay, a handheld cell counting device was used to measure changes in RBC diameter to assess the tonicity effect of solutions of ketoacid and lactate salts. RESULTS For the modified osmotic fragility assay, all ketoacid salts had an osmoprotective effect, but the effect was determined to be completely attributable to the tonicity effect of added cations (sodium and lithium) and not the ketoacid moieties. However, both the sodium and lithium lactate salts provided osmoprotection attributable to both the cation and lactate anion. For the second assay, RBC diameter was significantly increased with the addition of urea (an ineffective osmole) but did not change with the addition of glucose (an effective osmole), which established the behaviors of ineffective and effective osmoles in this assay. The RBC diameter was significantly increased over that of control samples by the addition of sodium β-hydroxybutyrate, lithium acetoacetate, and lithium lactate but was decreased by the addition of sodium lactate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE For both assays, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate acted as ineffective osmoles, whereas lactate acted as an effective osmole in 3 of 4 experiments.

Objective- To assess the accuracy of an ultrasound velocity dilution cardiac output (UDCO) method, compared with that of the lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) method, for determination of cardiac output (CO) in juvenile horses with experimentally induced hypovolemia. Animals- 12 anesthetized 2- to 6-month-old horses. Procedures- For each anesthetized horse, CO was determined by the LiDCO and UDCO methods prior to any intervention (baseline state), after withdrawal of approximately 40% of the horse's blood volume (low CO state), after maintenance of hypovolemia and infusion of norepinephrine until mean arterial blood pressure was equal to baseline value (high CO state), and after further infusion of norepinephrine and back-transfusion of withdrawn blood (posttransfusion state). For each of the 4 hemodynamic situations, CO and calculated cardiac index (CI) values were obtained by each method in duplicate (8 pairs of measurements/horse); mean values for each horse and overall mean values across all horses were calculated. Agreement between CI determined by each method (96 paired values) was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. Results- For the UDCO method–derived CI measurements among the 12 horses, mean ± SD bias was −4 ± 11.3 mL/kg/min (95% limits of agreement, −26.1 to 18.2 mL/kg/min) and mean relative bias was −10.4 ± 21.5% (95% limits of agreement, −52.6% to 31.8%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance- Results indicated that, compared with the LiDCO method, the UDCO method has acceptable clinical usefulness for determination of CO in foals.

Influence of inorganic and organic salts of lithium on activity of amplifiers and concentration of metabolites in plasma of chicken blood in the process of vaccination against infectious bursal disease was studied in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. After administration of lithium of citrate, sulfate and succinate there were noted the metabolic disorders. Research results testified that a dry live-viral vaccine on the basis of a strain KMIEhV-61 did not render essential influence on biochemical indicators of blood plasma. At the same time, immunization of chickens against application of salts of lithium (carbonate, sulphate, citrate, succinate) caused to authentic decrease in activity of alanine aminotransferase that testified to function oppression of hepatocytes. Application of lithium of citrate, sulfate and succinate made it possible to considerably increase the concentration of uric acid that was connected, apparently, with infringement of secretory function of kidneys. Metabolic disorders were observed in various terms of research - at 3, 7 and 14 days after vaccine administration. | Изучено влияние неорганических и органических солей лития на активность индикаторных ферментов и концентрацию метаболитов в плазме крови цыплят при вакцинации против инфекционной бурсальной болезни (ИББ). Выявлены метаболические нарушения при использовании лития цитрата, сульфата и сукцината. Полученные результаты исследований свидетельствуют о том, что сухая живая вирус-вакцина из штамма КМИЭВ-61 не оказывает существенного влияния на биохимические показатели плазмы крови. В то же время иммунизация цыплят на фоне применения солей лития (карбонат, сульфат, цитрат, сукцинат) приводит к достоверному снижению активности АлТ, что свидетельствует об угнетении функции гепатоцитов. Применение лития цитрата, сульфата и сукцината способствует также достоверному повышению концентрации мочевой кислоты, что связано, по-видимому, с нарушением выделительной функции почек. Метаболические нарушения наблюдаются в различные сроки исследований - на 3, 7 и 14 дни после введения вакцины.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was determined the influence of different rates of lithium addition into mixed fodders for sows feeding on hematological indexes and their reproductive qualities. In course of the study there was analyzed the dynamics of body weight of sows over the reproductive period; indexes of productivity of sows (number of born piglets; weight of 1 piglet; litter weight; weight of weanling piglets; number of weanling piglets; etc.); hematological indexes of sows; state of humoral factors of immunity of sows. Research results showed that in case of lithium application in diets of sows there was stated an improvement of hematological indexes and immunity functions and resistance. The optimal level of lithium in rations was 15 milligram per 1 kilogram of dry matter of a diet. This dose essentially promoted the increasing of reproductive performance, piglets weight and milking capacity of sows as well as better viability of piglets.