This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of canine pyometra and their correlations with clinical parameters. First, 90 dogs with pyometra and 26 healthy female dogs were compared. Then, paired samples (before and after ovariohysterectomy) from 22 dogs with pyometra and 9 healthy controls from the initial cohort were compared. Concentrations of acute inflammatory proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), were significantly higher in dogs with pyometra than in clinically healthy dogs. Cell-free DNA was the most sensitive biomarker for systemic inflammation, based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve = 0.959). In addition, cfDNA and CRP were significantly associated with inflammation and organ injury-related clinical parameters. Following the surgical removal of the inflamed uterus, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and procalcitonin (PCT) significantly decreased, whereas changes in CRP, SAA, and cfDNA were not significant. These findings indicate that cfDNA, CRP, and SAA are potential clinical biomarkers of systemic inflammation in dogs with pyometra and PCT, IL-6, and HMGB1 are potential biomarkers of clinical recovery.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of dexmedetomidine, doxapram, and dexmedetomidine plus doxapram on ventilation (e), breath frequency, and tidal volume (Vt) in ball pythons (Python regius) and of doxapram on the thermal antinociceptive efficacy of dexmedetomidine. ANIMALS 14 ball pythons. PROCEDURES Respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine and doxapram were assessed with whole-body, closed-chamber plethysmography, which allowed for estimates of e and Vt. In the first experiment of this study with a complete crossover design, snakes were injected, SC, with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg/kg), doxapram (10 mg/kg), or dexmedetomidine and doxapram, and breath frequency, e, and Vt were measured before and every 30 minutes thereafter, through 240 minutes. In the second experiment, antinociceptive efficacy of saline solution, dexmedetomidine, and dexmedetomidine plus doxapram was assessed by measuring thermal withdrawal latencies before and 60 minutes after SC injection. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine significantly decreased breath frequency and increased Vt but did not affect e at all time points, compared with baseline. Doxapram significantly increased e, breath frequency, and Vt at 60 minutes after injection, compared with saline solution. The combination of dexmedetomidine and doxapram, compared with dexmedetomidine alone, significantly increased e at 30 and 60 minutes after injection and did not affect breath frequency and Vt at all time points. Thermal withdrawal latencies significantly increased when snakes received dexmedetomidine or dexmedetomidine plus doxapram, versus saline solution. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Concurrent administration of doxapram may mitigate the dexmedetomidine-induced reduction of breathing frequency without disrupting thermal antinociceptive efficacy in ball pythons.

Disinfection is key for controlling microbial contamination and ensuring the safe production of milk and dairy products. In this study, we developed a new disinfection method using quaternary ammonium surfactant N-dodecyl-2-(pyridin-1-yl) acetamide chloride as the main component to form a bactericidal complex with either chlorhexidine acetate or glutaraldehyde, and we evaluated the bactericidal effects, safety, and clinical application value of the compound disinfectants. An in vivo acute oral toxicity assay in mice showed an LD50 > 5000 mg/kg body weight without abnormality in pathological tissue sections. Comparison with commercially available products also showed that they have outstanding bactericidal effects. Clinical trials proved that the compound disinfectants have excellent bactericidal effects on the air and ground of the dairy farm and on the skin of cattle, especially in a dairy farm environment. Our findings confirm that the new compound disinfectants have excellent bactericidal performance and are safe to use as disinfectants to prevent mastitis and contamination of the cattle farm environment.

OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of a novel technique involving a vessel and tissue–sealing device (VTSD) for ovariectomy in chickens to evaluate the potential application of the procedure to other avian species. ANIMALS 20 domestic laying hens (Gallus domesticus), of which 10 were immature (< 4 months old) and 10 were adults (> 18 months old). PROCEDURES Ovariectomy was performed with a VTSD through a left lateral celiotomy. Birds were allowed to recover for 14 days after the procedure and then were euthanized for necropsy. A board-certified veterinary pathologist performed complete necropsies, with particular attention to identifying any remaining ovarian tissue. RESULTS All birds survived the procedure. For the mature and juvenile birds, the mean ± SD durations of anesthesia (interval from intubation to extubation) were 67.2 ± 7.6 minutes and 50.5 ± 5.1 minutes, respectively, and mean durations of surgery were 45.3 ± 8.5 minutes and 31.6 ± 5.1 minutes, respectively. Three birds had severe hemorrhage during ovariectomy. At necropsy, ovarian tissue was present grossly in 2 mature birds and histologically in 6 additional birds (2 mature and 4 juvenile birds), indicating incomplete excision in 8 (40%) birds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that the evaluated VTSD can be used to successfully perform ovariectomies in both juvenile and mature chickens, although the procedure was associated with major hemorrhage and incomplete excision of ovarian tissue in some cases. Use of this VTSD for ovariectomy in birds of other species, particularly birds with reproductive tract disease, should be investigated.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) following single-dose IV or PO administration, characterize the pharmacokinetics of MMF following long-term PO administration, and describe the clinicopathologic effects of long-term MMF administration in horses. ANIMALS 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES In phase 1, 6 horses received a single IV (2.5 mg/kg) or PO (5 mg/kg) dose of MMF in a randomized balanced crossover assessment (≥ 2-week interval between administrations). In phase 2, 6 other horses received MMF for 60 days (5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 30 days and then 5 mg/kg, PO, q 48 h for an additional 30 days). RESULTS Following IV (single-dose) or PO (single- or multiple-dose) administration, MMF was rapidly converted to mycophenolic acid. For single-dose PO administration, mean ± SD maximum plasma mycophenolic acid concentration was 1,778.3 ± 441.5 ng/mL at 0.71 ± 0.29 hours. For single-dose IV administration, mean systemic clearance and volume of distribution at steady state were 0.689 ± 0.194 L/h/kg and 1.57 ± 0.626 L/kg, respectively. Following single doses, mean terminal half-life was 3.99 ± 0.865 hours for IV administration and 4.02 ± 1.01 hours for PO administration. The accumulation index following long-term PO administration was 1.0 ± 0.002, and the terminal half-life was 4.59 ± 1.25 hours following the final dose on day 60. None of the horses developed abnormal clinical signs or had any consistently abnormal clinicopathologic findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Further investigation of the clinical efficacy of long-term MMF treatment of horses with autoimmune diseases is warranted.

OBJECTIVE To determine the dose of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) needed to achieve at least a 3-fold increase in plasma CoQ10 concentration in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). ANIMALS 18 dogs with CHF due to MMVD and 12 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES In a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial, dogs with MMVD were given 50 or 100 mg of water-soluble CoQ10 (ubiquinone; total daily dose, 100 mg [n = 5] or 200 mg [6]) or a placebo (7), PO, twice a day for 2 weeks in addition to regular cardiac treatment. Plasma CoQ10 concentration was measured in dogs with MMVD before (baseline) and at various time points after supplementation began and in healthy dogs once. Concentrations were compared among and within groups. RESULTS No significant difference in median baseline plasma CoQ10 concentration was detected between healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD. Fold increases in plasma CoQ10 concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 4.7 and 3.2 to 6.8 for individual dogs in the 100-mg and 200-mg groups, respectively. The change in plasma CoQ10 concentration after supplementation began was significantly higher than in the placebo group at 4 hours and 1 and 2 weeks for dogs in the 200-mg group and at 1 and 2 weeks for dogs in the 100-mg group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A daily CoQ10 dose of 200 mg was sufficient to achieve at least a 3-fold increase in plasma CoQ10 concentration and may be used in CoQ10 supplementation studies involving dogs with CHF due to MMVD.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a stainless steel implant sterilized with a novel cold atmospheric plasma sterilization (CAPS) device adversely affects local tissues in rabbits and whether CAPS was as effective as steam sterilization with an autoclave to inactivate Pasteurella multocida. ANIMALS 31 healthy New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURES Steam-autoclaved stainless steel implants inoculated with P multocida underwent a second steam autoclave sterilization (AIA) or CAPS (AICAPS). One AIA implant and 3 AICAPS implants were randomly placed subcutaneously at 4 sites in 21 rabbits (84 implants). These rabbits were monitored daily for 5 days for evidence of systemic illness and local tissue reactions at the implantation sites and then euthanized. Samples were taken from each implant site for bacterial culture and histologic examination. RESULTS Cultures of samples obtained from all sites were negative for bacterial growth. No significant difference was observed in mean skin thickness or erythema between AIA and AICAPS implant sites on any observed day. Also, individual histologic grades for the epidermis, dermis, subcutis, and muscle and total histologic grade were not significantly different between AIA and AICAPS implant sites. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Cold atmospheric plasma sterilization was noninferior to steam sterilization of P multocida–contaminated stainless steel implants in the rabbits in the present study. However, studies of the efficacy of CAPS for inactivation of other important bacteria are needed.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate surfactant protein D (SP-D) concentrations in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from young healthy horses on pasture or housed in a typical barn. ANIMALS 20 young healthy horses. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (pasture, n = 10; barn, 10), and serum and BALF samples were collected for SP-D determination at baseline (all horses on pasture) and 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the barn group of horses was relocated from the pasture to the barn. Other evaluations included physical and tracheoscopic examinations. Findings were compared within and between groups. RESULTS Physical and tracheoscopic examinations, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis did not reveal evidence of respiratory disease, and no significant differences were present within and between groups. Serum SP-D concentrations did not significantly differ within and between groups, but BALF SP-D concentrations were significantly lower for the barn group at 2 weeks but not at 4 weeks, compared with baseline. The BALF SP-D concentration-to-BALF total protein concentration ratio was < 1.5 and did not significantly differ within and between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A mild decrease was evident in the concentration of SP-D in the BALF collected from young healthy horses after 2 weeks of exposure to a barn environment. The clinical importance of this finding remains to be determined.

An exposure assessment was conducted to quantitate tetracyclines (TCs) in chickens and the risk estimates were calculated using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. The results revealed that through deterministic approach, estimated daily exposure to TCs resulted in children aged 1<y<3 and 4<y<6 (0.05919 and 0.03946 μg/kg bw/day), followed by adults (0.02847 μg/kg bw/day) and children aged 7<y<10 at 0.02631 μg/kg bw/day. Based on the probabilistic approach, dietary exposure of Malaysian adults to TCs was estimated to range from 0.00174–0.35209 μg/kg bw/day. In comparison, for the children group, the estimated exposure was higher in age 1<y<3 at 0.0137 – 1.9845 μg/kg bw/day followed by children aged 4<y<6 and 7<y<10 at 0.00718 – 1.3967 μg/kg bw/day and 0.00834 – 0.91841 μg/kg bw/day respectively. However, the estimated risk calculated for all groups was <10 % ADI. These indicate that toxicological risk with regard to the consumption of chicken meat could not be considered as a public health problem, but the result can be supportive for the safety authorities to engage policies in managing any potential risk. The occurrence of high concentration of TCs residues in small samples still warrants closer monitoring and management of the use of TCs in chicken farms in Peninsular Malaysia.

The aim of this study is to determine the phytochemical constituent of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam (Jackfruit) and its effectiveness as an alternative for the anthelmintic treatment of parasitic nematodes in ruminants. Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam leaves were used to test on L3 nematode larva harvested from fecal culture. There are four species of parasitic nematodes identified, namely: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus sp., Cooperia sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. Haemonchus contortus was found to be the most dominant, followed by Trichostrongylus sp., Cooperia sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. The phytochemical test of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam leaves was revealed to possess alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, tripertenes and steroids. These components were shown to be effective at causing paralysis and deaths of parasitic nematode in the larval motility assay, where 100 % of the nematodes tested were killed below 6 hours at 5.0 mg/ml concentration; and inhibit migration in the larval migration assay, where migration of the larva was completely inhibited in 2 hours using 2.0 mg/ml concentration. The results suggest that Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam leaves can be used as an alternative for the anthelmintic treatment in goats and sheep.