Successful treatment of babesiosis in a horse

Babesiosis is the only intraerythrocytic parasitic disease that affects horses. Signs include fever, depression, anorexia, weakness, ataxia, lacrimation, mucoid nasal discharge, icterus and hemoglobinuria. Death may occur within 48 hours or chronic cases may persist for months. In May 2001, a three year old cross-bred mare was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital of Kerman university, with anorexia and depression for five days and jaundice in conjunctiva. Hematological examination revealed a PCV of 40.In the blood smear, Babesiaequiwas observed and typified. Treatment was performed by Imizol [4mg/kg, im] for three days. The animal got better and vital signs were normal after completion of the treatment. The mucous membrane was completely normal and the appetite was normal as well

[Determination of bovine subclinical ketosis by measurement of beta-hydroxy butyrate serum values in dairy farms of Kerman]

Objective: determination of frequency of subclinical ketosis of dairy farms of Kerman by measurement of beta hydroxy butyrate

Design: cross sectional study

Animals: a total of 90 lactating cows in 3-6 weeks of lactation

Procedure: in this study the frequency of subclinical ketosis in 90 cows of 1 dairy farms containing 3542 cows were evaluated. Cows were selected in 3 to 6 weeks after parturition. The blood samples of each week for each cow were submitted to laboratory for detection of BHB and glucose. Statistical analysis: Student t-test, analysis of variance

Results: thirteen [14.4%] and 5 cows [5.55%] have showed ketonemia with cut of point of BHB levels [> 1.2 mmol/l] and [>I .7 mmol/l] respectively. The percentage of subclinical ketosis in city of Kerman is low but this is similar to some reports of the other parts of the world with range of 7-34%. The range of the glucose levels in these cows was 28-42 mg/dl and there is a reverse relationship between level of glucose and ketonemia

Clinical implication: it seems that some percentages of our daires suffer from subclinical ketosis that is effect on lactation level and some other organs mechanisms. However, further investigations should be gathered about the real cut of point of BHB values in Iranian cows

Urinary enzyme concentrations and urinalysis in healthy horses

The tubules of the kidneys are metabolically very active being responsible for the absorption or excretion of a wide range of substances. The transport of these compounds is facilitated by a variety of enzymes which can generally be found in large amounts in tubular cells. The regular turnover of these cells results in the presence of their enzymes in urine [enzymuria]. Measurement of the changes in the content of these enzymes in urine can be a good aid in detection of early kidney diseases. In this study the normal values of the following enzymes ALP [alkaline phosphatase] AST [aspartate aminotransfrase] ALT [Alanine amino transfrase] and creatinine in Iranian crossbreed horses were measured, the subjects were divided into two groups of males and females. The sex of the horses did not influence urinary enzymes activity [p>0.05]. Normal values of ALP, AST, ALT were found to be 3.99 +/- 1.23 Iu/L, 4.34 +/- 1.17 Iu/L 1.78 +/- 0.54 Iu/L respectively and creatinine was 3.70 +/- 0.69 g/L in males and 1.46 +/- 0.17 g/L in females