Sodium hyaluronate reduces adhesions after tendon repair in rodents and dogs, and has been used in limited clinical trials in people. To evaluate its effect on tendon healing and adhesion formation in horses and to compare these effects with those of a compound of similar viscoelastic properties, a study was performed in horses, using a model of collagenase injection in the flexor tendons within the digital sheath. Eight clinically normal horses were randomly allotted to 2 groups. Adhesion formation between the deep digital flexor tendon and the tendon sheath at the pastern region was induced in the forelimbs of all horses. Using tenoscopic control, a 20-gauge needle was inserted into the deep digital flexor tendon of horses under general anesthesia and 0.2 ml of collagenase (2.5 mg/ml) was injected. The procedure was repeated proximally at 2 other sites, spaced 1.5 cm apart. A biopsy forceps was introduced, and a 5-mm tendon defect was created at each injection site. Group-A horses had 120 mg of sodium hyaluronate (NaHA) gel injected into the tendon sheath of one limb. Group-B horses had methylcellulose gel injected at the same sites. The contralateral limbs of horses in both groups served as surgical, but noninjected, controls. Horses were euthanatized after 8 weeks of stall rest. Ultrasonographic evaluation revealed improved tendon healing after NaHA injection, but no difference in peritendinous adhesion formation. Tendon sheath fluid volume and hyaluronic acid (HA) content were greater in NaHA-treated limbs. Gross pathologic examination revealed considerably fewer and smaller adhesions when limbs were treated with NaHA. However, significant difference in pull-out strengths was not evident between NaHA-treated and control limbs. Histologically, the deep digital flexor tendon from the NaHA-treated limbs had reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, improved tendon structure, and less intratendinous hemorrhage. Treatment with methylcellulose had no significant effect on tendon healing, adhesion size, quantity, or strength or on the volume and composition of the tendon sheath fluid. Sodium hyaluronate, administered intrathecally, appears to have a pharmaceutically beneficial action in this collagenase-induced tendinitis and adhesion model in horses.

Nine 115- to 180-kg, hay-adapted, Holstein steers were fed an experimental diet with added sodium sulfate that induces polioencephalomalacia (PEM). Five calves developed the disease. Thiamine concentrations in blood, CSF, brain, and liver were not indicative of thiamine deficiency. The odor of hydrogen sulfide in eructated rumen gas was associated with the onset of PEM. Sulfide concentrations in rumen fluid were measured 1 or 2 times a week by 2 techniques. Sulfide concentrations progressively increased in all 9 calves after the feeding of the PEM-inducing diet commenced. The highest concentrations coincided with the onset of clinical signs of PEM and were significantly higher in the calves that developed PEM than in those that did not. This suggests that PEM can result from sulfide toxicosis following excess production of sulfide in the rumen.

Central venous pressure (CVP), portal pressure (PP), and heart rate (HR) were monitored in 6 female, sexually intact, middle-age Beagles during temporary portal vein obstruction, anesthetic recovery, abdominal bandaging, and propranolol administration. Intraoperative baseline PP was 7.3 mm of Hg (+/- 1.7 SD). Portal pressure was significantly increased throughout portal vein occlusion, but returned to baseline values 2 minutes after release of the ligature. Central venous pressure was significantly decreased throughout portal vein occlusion, but did not differ significantly from baseline values 3 minutes after release of the portal vein ligature. Portal pressure increased significantly (8 +/- 3.3 mm of Hg) over baseline values after application of an abdominal bandage; however, CVP did not change significantly. During postoperative monitoring, CVP and PP did not change significantly from respective 18-hour mean postoperative values in resting dogs. At 60 and 75 minutes after surgery, heart rate was significantly increased over the 18-hour mean. Portal pressure and CVP, respectively, were significantly increased over intraoperative baseline values in the first hour and the first 8 hours after surgery. Postoperative CVP and HR were significantly correlated. Individual measurements of PP in dogs that were abdominal pressing during barking or defecation were significantly increased (9 +/- 3 mm of Hg) above measurements taken after cessation of abdominal press. Portal pressure measurements in standing dogs decreased 7.5 +/- 2 mm of Hg, compared with measurements of the same dog in lateral recumbency. Central venous pressure was inaccurate in dogs performing abdominal press. Portal pressure did not decrease significantly from baseline after injection of propranolol (2 mg/kg, IV). Central venous pressure was significantly decreased at 2.5 and 3.0 hours after propranolol injection, and HR was significantly decreased from 1 to 3.5 hours after injection. Heart rate quickly returned to normal values if the dogs became excited. After propranolol administration, significant correlations were found between PP and HR, and between CVP and HR.

To evaluate renal function and obtain reference values for measurements of urinary excretion of various substances, quantitative urinalysis was performed in healthy, growing kittens from 4 to 30 weeks after birth. Endogenous creatinine clearance, 24-hour urine protein excretion, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio were determined. Additionally, fractional excretion to creatinine clearance was calculated for calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride. Mean +/- SD endogenous creatinine clearance values (range, 3.80 +/- 0.48 to 4.74 +/- 0.61 ml/min/kg) were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in kittens 9 to 19 weeks old, compared with younger (range, 1.39 +/- 0.85 to 3.59 +/- 0.86 ml/min/kg) and older kittens (range, 2.69 +/- 0.40 to 3.46 +/- 0.37 ml/min/kg). Mean values for all kittens for 24-hour urine protein excretion (range, 2.54 +/- 1.81 mg/kg at 4 weeks to 11.39 +/- 7.61 mg/kg at 14 weeks) and for urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (range, 0.14 +/- 0.03 to 0.34 +/- 0.18) varied from week to week of age. The urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in kittens greater than or equal to 9 weeks old correlated well (R2 = 0.861) with 24-hour urine protein excretion. Urinary fractional excretion of calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride in kittens varied among age groups, being significantly (P < 0.01) different for potassium and calcium in young kittens (4 to 6 weeks) and older kittens (greater than or equal to 7 weeks).

Hyperlipemic serum and plasma samples often are received by clinical laboratories for endocrinologic analysis by radioimmunoassay. We designed a study to determine what effect, if any, hyperlipemia has on estimation of lipid-soluble hormone concentrations determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassays. Progesterone, testosterone, thyroxine, and cortisol concentrations were determined in canine plasma and serum with various degrees of lipemia. Samples of serum, heparinized plasma, and EDTA-treated plasma were obtained from blood collected from 4 female and 4 male Beagles by use of evacuated tubes. To induce hyperlipemia in vitro, IV fat emulsion was diluted in deionized water to produce 0 (water only), 33, 67, or 100% mixtures. Twenty microliters of each mixture then was added to the subsamples of serum and plasma from each dog. Hormone concentrations were determined, using validated radioimmunoassays. Triglyceride concentrations were determined by enzymatic assay. Addition of IV fat emulsion in vitro was an accurate and reproducible means of altering triglyceride concentrations in the samples. Triglyceride concentrations as high as 700 mg/dl had no effect on radioimmunoassays for progesterone, testosterone, and thyroxine in serum, heparinized plasma, or EDTA-treated plasma. Addition of 100% (but not 33 or 67%) fat emulsion reduced the mean cortisol concentration in heparinized plasma by 12% (P < 0.05). This severe hyperlipemia did not affect quantification of cortisol in serum or EDTA-treated plasma.

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) virus was recovered from the feces and crop washings from various species of psittacine birds diagnosed with PBFD. High concentrations of the virus also could be demonstrated in feather dust collection from a room where 22 birds with active cases of PBFD were being housed. The virions recovered from the feces, crop, and feather dust were confirmed to be PBFD virus by ultrastructural, physical, or antigenic characteristics. Virus recovered from the feather dust and feces hemagglutinated cockatoo erythrocytes. The specificity of the agglutination was confirmed by hemagglutination inhibition, using rabbit antibodies against PBFD virus. During the test period, 26% (8 of 31) of the birds screened were found to be excreting PBFD virus in their feces, and 21% (3 of 14) of crop washings were positive for PBFD virus. Some birds in the sample group had active cases of diarrhea, whereas others had normal-appearing feces. Diarrhea was found to be the only significant indicator of whether a bird was likely to be excreting virus from the digestive tract. These findings suggest that exposure of susceptible birds to PBFD virus may occur from contact with contaminated feather dust, feces, or crop secretions. Viral particles that were morphologically similar to parvovirus (2- to 24 nm-icosahedral nonenveloped virions) also were recovered from feces of some of the birds.

Seventy-nine cattle in all stages of gestation were inoculated with a low dose (2.5 X 10(8) colony-forming units) of Brucella abortus strain 19, then challenge exposed with pathogenic B abortus strain 2308 during the subsequent gestation. A brucellosis case was defined by isolation of strain 2308 from dam or calf samples. Cumulative incidence of brucellosis cases was 48, 33, 25, or 47% for cattle that were, respectively, not pregnant, or 19 to 87, 100 to 167, or 190 to 253 days in gestation at vaccination. The cumulative incidence was 56% in 27 nonvaccinated controls. The 95% confidence intervals for risk ratios included 1 in all cattle, except those that were 100 to 167 days in gestation at vaccination (ie, second trimester); the confidence interval for this group was 0.21 to 0.97. The prevented fraction (1-risk ratio) attributed to strain 19, in ascending order, was 0.14, 0.16, 0.4, or 0.55, respectively, for cattle that were not pregnant, or were 190 to 253, 19 to 87, or 100 to 167 days in gestation at vaccination. Potential confounders of breed, pen effect, and gestation days at challenge exposure did not significantly affect results. Results supported the hypothesis that stage of gestation at vaccination will affect the prevented fraction of brucellosis, or efficacy of strain 19, in cattle vaccinated with a low dose and, therefore, is one factor that may explain variation in strain 19-induced protection.

Assay procedures for determining serum haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in dogs were validated, and reference values were established. Serum haptoglobin concentration is reported as milligrams per deciliter of cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity, whereas serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was determined by use of p-phenylenediamine as substrate. Both assays were used to analyze serum samples from 288 dogs. In each dog's case record, clinical history and final diagnosis were evaluated to determine whether the dog had an inflammatory condition. Complete blood cell counts were performed in 265 dogs, using simultaneously collected blood samples. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was determined for 161 dogs. A positive correlation (P < 0.01) was found for serum haptoglobin concentration and for ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, compared with WBC counts, segmented neutrophil and band neutrophil counts, and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Ceruloplasmin oxidase activity and haptoglobin concentration were up to 6 times more sensitive than fibrinogen concentration or leukocyte counts in detecting inflammation. Specificity of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was comparable to fibrinogen concentration and leukocyte counts, whereas haptoglobin concentration was found to be slightly less specific. Specificity of haptoglobin concentration improved slightly (from 0.82 to 0.88) when dogs with a history of glucocorticoid administration were excluded from analysis. Predictive value of a negative test result (haptoglobin concentration < 125 mg/dl; ceruloplasmin oxidase activity < 20 IU/L) and predictive value of a positive test result for haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin activity were comparable to or better than fibrinogen concentration or various oxidase leukocyte counts in detection of inflammation in a variety of disease conditions. We concluded that serum haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin oxidase assays could be used as adjuncts for diagnosis of the inflammation in dogs.

A nuclear imaging technique of the stomach, using technetium pertechnetate (99mTcO4), was evaluated in healthy dogs. The stomach was first insufflated with room air, then filled with barium sulfate to induce mild distention, outlining the gastric wall. Six dogs were imaged twice: initially without use of drugs that might affect gastric secretion of 99mTcO4, then after pretreatment with cimetidine and glycopyrrolate. These scans established the appearance of the normal (control) stomach and compared the quality of the image in the same dogs not pretreated, then pretreated with cimetidine and glycopyrrolate before administration of 99mTcO4. Avascular defects were then surgically created on the greater curvature of the stomach of the same 6 dogs, and gastroscintigraphy was performed in similar manner. Significant (P < 0.05) quantitative differences were detected in the gastric images for scans of the avascular area, compared with various control scans. Qualitative assessment had overall accuracy of 90.28%. Results of the study reported here indicate that nuclear imaging can be a valuable diagnostic technique for detecting ischemic areas in the gastric wall of dogs.

Interregional, as well as intraregional (local), distributions of the inhalation-to-perfusion ratio were analyzed in the lungs of 20 prone anesthetized healthy dogs--10 dogs with barrel-shaped thorax (Beagles) and 10 dogs with deep thorax (Greyhound-type dogs)--using 99mTc inhalation-perfusion lung scintigraphy. Dorsoventral and lateral views were analyzed. In both types of dogs, the ratio between the mean inhalation and perfusion values (interregional mismatching factor) decreased from craniad to caudad and the decrease was more sustained in the right than in the left lung. However, the total decrease was less in Greyhound-type dogs than in Beagles (cranial-to-caudal decrease of 14 and 27%, respectively, in the left lung, and 62 and 56%, respectively, in the right lung). The dorsal-to-ventral distribution of interregional mismatching factor was different in the 2 types of dogs. In Beagles, it increased from dorsal to ventral zones by about 50% of the initial dorsal zone value, whereas in Greyhound-type dogs, only a slight dorsal-to-ventral decrease was evident, with the exception of the more ventral zone. Differences in the intraregional mismatching factor (rho) indicated that the intraregional inhalation-to-perfusion inequalities were more pronounced within the caudal regions and within the ventral zones of the lungs in both types of dogs, and in the more cranial zones in the lungs of Beagles. However, the degree of intraregional mismatching was generally lower in Greyhound-type dogs. Thus, the gravitational force is not the dominating determinant of interregional or intraregional inhalation-to-perfusion ratio distributions in the lungs of anesthetized prone dogs. Its influence is modulated by other factors morphologic characteristics, such as the shape and size of the thorax, and body weight of the dog. In particular, the height of the thorax in Greyhound-type dogs could permit the gravitational force to exert a more determinant influence than it does in Beagles.