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peer reviewed | The aim of this work was to measure the myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), both in crisis and in remission, as well as from healthy horses. Seven horses with RAO were exposed to moldy hay until the maximum change in pleural pressure was greater than 1.5 kPa. At that point, BAL was performed, and the total cell counts and percentages in the fluid were immediately determined. To measure the MPO concentration in BAL-fluid supernatant, we used a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with polyclonal antibodies against equine MPO. The tests were repeated on the horses with RAO after they had spent 2 mo on pasture. Six healthy horses serving as controls underwent the same tests. The absolute and relative neutrophil counts and the MPO concentration in the BAL fluid were significantly greater in the horses with an RAO crisis than in the control horses. After 2 mo on pasture, the horses that had been in RAO crisis were clinically normal, and their neutrophil counts and MPO levels in BAL fluid had significantly decreased; during remission their neutrophil counts were not significantly different from those in the healthy horses, but their MPO concentration remained significantly higher. This study showed that determining the MPO concentration in a horse's BAL fluid is technically possible and that during remission from RAO the concentration remains higher than normal. Thus, MPO may be a marker of neutrophil presence and activation in the lower airways. | Le but de cette étude était de mesurer la concentration de myéloperoxydase (MPO) dans le liquide de lavage broncho-alvéolaire (BAL) récolté chez des chevaux avec obstruction respiratoire récurrente (RAO), en période de crise et en rémission, ainsi que chez des chevaux en santé. Sept chevaux avec RAO ont été exposés à du foin moisi jusqu’à ce que le changement maximal dans la pression pleurale soit plus grand que 1,5 kPa. À cet instant on procéda au BAL et le dénombrement cellulaire total de même que les pourcentages dans le liquide furent immédiatement déterminés. Afin de mesurer la concentration de MPO dans le liquide de BAL on procéda à une épreuve immunoenzymatique spécifique utilisant des anticorps polyclonaux dirigés contre MPO. Les épreuves ont été répétées chez les chevaux avec RAO après qu’ils eurent passé 2 mois au pâturage. Six chevaux en santé servant de témoin ont subi les mêmes tests. Les comptes absolus et relatifs de neutrophiles et les concentrations de MPO dans le liquide de BAL étaient significativement plus élevés chez les chevaux avec RAO en période de crise que chez les chevaux témoins. Après 2 mois au pâturage, les chevaux qui avaient été en crise de RAO étaient cliniquement normaux et leurs comptes en neutrophiles et niveaux de MPO dans le liquide de BAL avaient diminué de manière significative; durant la rémission les comptes de neutrophiles n’étaient pas significativement différents de ceux des chevaux témoins, mais les concentrations de MPO sont demeurées significativement plus élevées. Cette étude a permis de démontrer qu’il était techniquement possible de déterminer la concentration de MPO dans du liquide de BAL équin et que durant la période de rémission d’une crise de RAO la concentration est demeurée plus élevée que la normale. Ainsi, la MPO pourrait être un marqueur de la présence et de l’activation des neutrophiles dans les voies respiratoires inférieures. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)

peer reviewed

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To compare the urodynamic and morphologic effects of the administration of estriol alone and in combination with phenylpropanolamine on the lower portion of the urogenital tract in female dogs. ANIMALS: 3 sexually intact and 3 spayed female Beagles without urinary incontinence. PROCEDURE: Dogs received estriol (2 mg, PO) once daily for 7 days followed by estriol (2 mg, PO) and phenylpropanolamine (1.5 mg/kg, PO) once daily for 7 days. Urethral pressure profilometry, diuresis cystometry, and vaginourethrography were performed before treatment (day 0) and at days 7 and 14. The maximum urethral pressure (MUP) and closure pressure (MUCP), urethral functional and anatomic profile lengths, integrated pressure (IP), plateau, distance before MUP, maximum meatus pressure, threshold pressure, threshold volume, compliance, urethral length, and vaginal length and width were measured. RESULTS: Before treatment, no urodynamic differences were observed between the 2 groups; however, vaginal length and width were significantly shorter in spayed dogs. Compared with day 0 values, estriol treatment significantly increased MUP, MUCP, and IP values at day 7, but at day 14, this effect decreased despite phenylpropanolamine administration. No morphologic changes from baseline were detected after either treatment in any dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Data suggest that estriol mainly acts on the urethral sphincter mechanism by increasing urethral resistance in sexually intact and spayed female dogs without urinary incontinence. Administration of estriol and phenylpropanolamine did not increase the urethral resistance more than estriol alone. The urodynamic effects of estriol in female dogs with urinary incontinence remain to be elucidated

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To validate a radioimmunoassay for measurement of procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP) concentrations in canine serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and investigate the effects of physiologic and pathologic conditions on PIIINP concentrations. SAMPLE POPULATION: Sera from healthy adult (n = 70) and growing dogs (20) and dogs with chronic renal failure (CRF; 10), cardiomyopathy (CMP; 12), or degenerative valve disease (DVD; 26); and sera and BALF from dogs with chronic bronchopneumopathy (CBP; 15) and healthy control dogs (10 growing and 9 adult dogs). PROCEDURE: A radioimmunoassay was validated, and a reference range for serum PIIINP (S-PIIINP) concentration was established. Effects of growth, age, sex, weight, CRF, and heart failure on S-PIIINP concentration were analyzed. In CBP-affected dogs, S-PIIINP and BALF-PIIINP concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: The radioimmunoassay had good sensitivity, linearity, precision, and reproducibility and reasonable accuracy for measurement of S-PIIINP and BALF-PIIINP concentrations. The S-PIIINP concentration reference range in adult dogs was 8.86 to 11.48 mug/L. Serum PIIINP concentration correlated with weight and age. Growing dogs had significantly higher S-PIIINP concentrations than adults, but concentrations in CRF-, CMP-, DVD-, or CBP-affected dogs were not significantly different from control values. Mean BALF-PIIINP concentration was significantly higher in CBP-affected dogs than in healthy adults. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs, renal or cardiac disease or CBP did not significantly affect S-PIIINP concentration; dogs with CBP had high BALF-PIIINP concentrations. Data suggest that the use of PIIINP as a marker of pathologic fibrosis might be limited in growing dogs.

Objective-To compare serum concentrations of liposome-encapsulated butorphanol tartrate (LEBT) and standard butorphanol tartrate (STDBT) following SC and IM administration, respectively, and to evaluate analgesic effects of LEBT and STDBT after parenteral administration to Hispaniolan parrots. Animals-11 adult Hispaniolan parrots. Procedure-The ability of LEBT to prolong the duration of analgesia in an avian species was tested. Blood samples were collected at serial time points after SC administration of LEBT (10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg) or IM administration of STDBT (5 mg/kg). Serum concentrations of butorphanol tartrate were determined by use of a commercial immunoassay that measured parent drug and metabolites. Analgesic efficacy was evaluated in parrots exposed to electrical and thermal stimuli. Foot withdrawal thresholds were recorded at baseline and at serial time points after LEBT (15 mg/kg), liposome vehicle, STDBT (2 mg/kg), or physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution administration. Results-LEBT had a prolonged in vivo release for up to 5 days. Negligible serum butorphanol and butorphanol metabolite concentrations were obtained at 24 hours after IM administration of STDBT. Analgesic efficacy of LEBT as measured by foot withdrawal threshold to noxious thermal and electrical stimuli persisted for 3 to 5 days following SC administration of LEBT. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-SC administration of LEBT provided analgesia and detectable serum butorphanol concentrations in Hispaniolan parrots for up to 5 days. The use of LEBT may allow for substantial improvement in long-term pain relief without subjecting birds to the stress of handling and multiple daily injections.

Objective-To correlate anatomic features of the equine tarsus identified in plastinated sections with images obtained via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Animals-4 horses. Procedure-MRI (1.5-Tesla magnet) of the tarsus was performed on the pelvic limbs of 4 clinically normal horses following euthanasia. After imaging, tarsocrural joint spaces and vasculature were injected with colored latex. Sagittal and transverse sections of the tarsi were plastinated to facilitate interpretation of MR images. Results-Relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled on the plastinated tissue slices and corresponding MR images. Results indicated high correlations between MRI findings and those of plastinated sections. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The data obtained provided certain reference standards for normal anatomic structure sizes and positions in the equine tarsus. This information may aid future physiologic or clinical studies of this joint.

Objective-To use in vitro assays to evaluate the effects of a novel immunosuppressive agent, FTY720, on biological functions (migration, phagocytosis, and production of reactive-oxygen species ROS) of feline peripheral neutrophils and determine the cytotoxic effects of FTY720 on feline peripheral neutrophils. Sample Population-Peripheral neutrophils obtained from 8 healthy cats. Procedure-Peripheral neutrophils were isolated from blood samples obtained from the 8 cats and exposed to the phosphorylated form of FTY720 (FTY720-P). A fluorescence-based in vitro evaluation of migration was performed. Phagocytosis of microbes and production of ROS were evaluated by use of a 2-color flow cytometry system. Samples of whole blood obtained from the cats were incubated with various concentrations of FTY720-P, fluorescein-labeled Staphylococcus aureus, and dihydroethidium. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated by use of propidium iodide staining. Results-Addition of FTY720-P caused a slight nonsignificant decrease in phagocytosis and production of ROS by feline peripheral neutrophils. Migration activity of feline peripheral neutrophils was significantly increased by the addition of FTY720-P. Addition of FTY720-P at concentrations considered for clinical use did not increase the death rate of feline peripheral neutrophils. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-FTY720 does not inhibit critical functions of feline peripheral neutrophils in vitro.

Objective-To establish a sensitive test for the detection of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in canine serum samples. Sample Population-365 serum samples from dogs with hypothyroidism as determined on the basis of serum concentrations of total and free triiodothyronine (T3), total and free thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone, of which 195 (53%) had positive results for at least 1 of 3 thyroid autoantibodies (against thyroglobulin Tg, T4, or T3) and serum samples from 28 healthy dogs (control samples). Procedure-TPO was purified from canine thyroid glands by extraction with detergents, ultracentrifugation, and precipitation with ammonium sulfate. Screening for anti-TPO autoantibodies in canine sera was performed by use of an immunoblot assay. Thyroid extract containing TPO was separated electrophoretically, blotted, and probed with canine sera. Alkaline phosphatase-conjugated rabbit anti-dog IgG was used for detection of bound antibodies. Results-TPO bands were observed at 110, 100, and 40 kd. Anti-TPO autoantibodies against the 40-kd fragment were detected in 33 (17%) sera of dogs with positive results for anti-Tg, anti-T4, or anti-T3 autoantibodies but not in sera of hypothyroid dogs without these autoantibodies or in sera of healthy dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The immunoblot assay was a sensitive and specific method for the detection of autoantibodies because it also provided information about the antigen. Anti-TPO autoantibodies were clearly detected in a fraction of hypothyroid dogs. The value of anti-TPO autoantibodies for use in early diagnosis of animals with thyroid gland diseases should be evaluated in additional studies.

Objective-To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of tarsometatarsal joints in horses. Animals-8 healthy female horses without lameness or radiographic evidence of tarsal joint osteoarthritis. Procedure-In each horse, 1 tarsometatarsal joint was treated with 4 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol and the opposite joint was treated with 4 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol. Lameness examinations were performed daily for 2 weeks, followed by monthly evaluations for the duration of the 12-month study. Radiographic evaluations of both tarsi were performed 1 month after injection and every 3 months thereafter. Gross and histologic examinations of the tarsi were undertaken at completion of the study. Results-Horses had minimal to no lameness associated with the treatments. Radiography revealed that 8 of 16 joints were fused by 4 months after treatment, with significantly more joints fused in the 70% ethyl alcohol group. Fifteen of 16 joints were considered fused at postmortem examination at 12 months. Gross and histologic examinations revealed foci of dense mature osteonal bone spanning the joint spaces. Bony fusion appeared to be concentrated on the dorsolateral, centrolateral, and plantarolateral aspects of the joints. Significant differences were not detected between treatment groups for lameness or pathologic findings. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Administration of ethyl alcohol into the tarsometatarsal joint of healthy horses appeared to facilitate arthrodesis of the joint in a pain-free manner. Results warrant further investigation into the potential use of ethyl alcohol in horses clinically affected with osteoarthritis of the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints.