estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs with various degrees of renal function. Animals—50 Great Anglo-Francais Tricolor Hounds with various degrees of renal function. Procedures—Boluses of iohexol (40 mg/kg) and creatinine (647 mg/kg) were injected IV. Blood samples were collected before administration and 5 and 10 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after administration. Plasma creatinine and iohexol concentrations were assayed via an enzymatic method and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. A noncompartmental approach was used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Pharmacokinetic variables were compared via a Bland-Altman plot and an ANOVA. Results—Compared with results for creatinine, iohexol had a significantly higher mean ± SD plasma clearance (3.4 ± 0.8 mL/min/kg vs 3.0 ± 0.7 mL/min/kg) and a significantly lower mean volume of distribution at steady state (250 ± 37 mL/kg vs 539 ± 73 mL/kg), mean residence time (80 ± 31 minutes vs 195 ± 73 minutes), and mean elimination half-life (74 ± 20 minutes vs 173 ± 53 minutes). Despite discrepancies between clearances, especially for high values, the difference was < 0.6 mL/min/kg for 34 (68%) dogs. Three dogs with a low GFR (< 2 mL/min/kg) were classified similarly by both methods. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Plasma iohexol and creatinine clearances can be used interchangeably for screening patients suspected of having chronic kidney disease (ie, low GFR), but large differences may exist for dogs with a GFR within or above the reference range. (Am J Vet Res 2012;73:1841–1847)

peer reviewed | Objective—To culture equine myoblasts from muscle microbiopsy specimens, examine myoblast production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in conditions of anoxia followed by reoxygenation, and assess the effects of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) on ROS production. Animals—5 healthy horses (5 to 15 years old). Procedures—Equine skeletal myoblast cultures were derived from 1 or 2 microbiopsy specimens obtained from a triceps brachii muscle of each horse. Cultured myoblasts were exposed to conditions of anoxia followed by reoxygenation or to conditions of normoxia (control cells). Cell production of ROS in the presence or absence of HRP or MPO was assessed by use of a gas chromatography method, after which cells were treated with a 3,3′-diaminobenzidine chromogen solution to detect peroxidase binding. Results—Equine skeletal myoblasts were successfully cultured from microbiopsy specimens. In response to anoxia and reoxygenation, ROS production of myoblasts increased by 71%, compared with that of control cells. When experiments were performed in the presence of HRP or MPO, ROS production in myoblasts exposed to anoxia and reoxygenation was increased by 228% and 183%, respectively, compared with findings for control cells. Chromogen reaction revealed a close adherence of peroxidases to cells, even after several washes. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that equine skeletal myoblast cultures can be generated from muscle microbiopsy specimens. Anoxia-reoxygenation– treated myoblasts produced ROS, and production was enhanced in the presence of peroxidases. This experimental model could be used to study the damaging effect of exercise on muscles in athletic horses.

peer reviewed

peer reviewed

International audience | Susceptibility of two French strains of stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) to six insecticides was assayed, using an exposure technique (1-hour contact) with treated filter papers. Three replicates per insecticide, per concentration (10 concentrations per insecticide), per fly strain (ENVT, Cabanac) and fly category (blood-engorged - non-blood-engorged) were performed using a total of 14,400 adult flies in this trial. The LD50 and LD90 are higher for the blood-engorged flies than the non-blood-engorged flies for both strains of S. calcitrans. The LD90 (mg/m(2)) of the engorged flies for both strains were respectively: cypermethrin (637.9, 54.9), deltamethrin (264.3, 28.1), fenvalerate (2392.5, 125.1), lambda-cyhalothrin (118.2, 41.3), permethrin (353.7, 88.1), and phoxim (194, 226.8). Phoxim, which has not been used in the ENVT for several years, showed the same susceptibility for both strains. The LD90 values obtained for the Cabanac strain (organic farm) were 1 to 4 times lower than the recommended doses of all five pyrethroids. For the ENVT strain (blood-engorged flies), the LD90 was 7.1 and 22.6 times over the recommended doses of both deltamethrin and fenvalerate respectively, which are commonly used insecticides on this site.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2010 in five states of South Sudan that were selected on the basis of the perceived risk of tick-borne diseases. The purpose was to investigate epidemiological parameters of tick-borne diseases in South Sudan and their uses in future control strategies. A total of 805 calves were assessed by clinical, microscopic and serological examination and tick counts. The indirect Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect antibodies to<em> Theileria parva</em>, <em>Theileria mutans</em>, <em>Anaplasma marginale</em> and <em>Babesian bigemina</em>. Sero-conversion risks for <em>T. parva</em> and <em>T. mutans</em> were 27.3% and 31.3% respectively, whilst the risk was 57.6% and 52.8% for <em>A. marginale</em> and <em>B. bigemina</em>, respectively. Major tick species identified include <em>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus decoloratus</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em>, <em>Amblyomma variegatum</em>, and <em>Rhipicephalus evertsi</em>. There was great variation (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.001) in the number of all these ticks, both between herds in a state and between calves in an individual herd. The low and intermediate sero-conversion risks observed in the study states suggest that immunisation against East Coast fever (ECF) is justified. Fortunately, three major genotypes that were identified by applying Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCRRFLP) analysis on the p104 to the blood samples and T. parva Muguga, matched very well with <em>T. parva</em> Kiambu 5 and <em>T. parva</em> Muguga; therefore the Muguga cocktail can be used for the immunisation of cattle in South Sudan. However, prospective studies are required to develop optimal control measures for tick-borne diseases under different ecological and husbandry practices in South Sudan.