Control trial and fecal egg count reduction test determinations of nematocidal efficacies of moxidectin and generic ivermectin in recently weaned, naturally infected calves.

An anthelmintic efficacy study was performed with young, naturally infected beef-type calves obtained at local farms. Presumably, the study calves had been recently weaned and had not been treated with a parasiticide prior to study acquisition. After blocking the 24 study calves in accordance with calculated Cooperia spp EPG counts, the calves were randomly allocated within each block to one of four treatment groups, resulting in 6 animals per treatment group (untreated controls, topical ivermectin at the rate of 500 mcg/kg BW [Noromectin Pour-On(®) Norbrook], topical moxidectin at the rate of 500 mcg/kg BW [Cydectin Pour-On(®) Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVM)] and injectable moxidectin at the rate of 200 mcg/kg BW [Cydectin(®) BIVM]. After treatment, the animals were penned by treatment group until necropsy. Fecal, strongyle egg count reduction percentages at 2 days post-treatment were 13, 52, 81 and 93 for control, topical ivermectin, topical moxidectin and injectable moxidectin treatment groups, respectively. In the same order as above, egg count reduction percentages at necropsy (15-18 days post-treatment) were -14, 91, 94 and 97. Based on geometric means for worm burdens quantified at necropsy, anthelmintic efficacies ranged from 96 to 100% for adult Oesophagostomum radiatum, Ostertagia ostertagi, Haemonchus placei and Trichostrongylus axei. Against adult Nematodirus helvetianus, percent efficacies based on geometric means were 56.7, 98.3 and 82.2 for topical ivermectin, topical moxidectin and injectable moxidectin, respectively; an observation that is guarded, as only 5 control animals were infected with adult N. helvetianus. Respective anthelmintic efficacies (%'s) against adult Cooperia oncophora and C. punctata were 93.0 and 73.4 (topical ivermectin), 99.3 and 99.9 (topical moxidectin) and 46.1 and 93.6 (injectable moxidectin). Judging from these data, it appears that treatment of calves soon after weaning with topical moxidectin is effective (>90% efficacy) for all common nematodes in cattle, but injectable moxidectin and topical ivermectin have limited effectiveness against Cooperia spp. With Cooperia spp and H. placei infections, the fecal egg count reduction test and the control trial determinations of anthelmintic effectiveness were in disagreement regarding injectable moxidectin and topical ivermectin.

Investigation of the effect of pasture and stable management on large intestinal motility in the horse, measured using transcutaneous ultrasonography.

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Management regimes have been identified as risk factors for equine intestinal motility disorders. However, it is not known how management factors affect gastrointestinal motility. HYPOTHESIS: Large intestinal motility was similar in horses on a stabled and a pastured management regime. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 2 different management regimes on large intestinal motility assessed with ultrasonography. METHODS: A within-subjects crossover design was used to compare large intestinal motility between a stabled and a pastured regime in 16 working horses. Group A was managed under a standardised stabled regime throughout the study. Group B was maintained at pasture for the first monitoring phase and then transferred to the stabled regime for the second monitoring phase. Motility of the caecum, sternal flexure and aboral left ventral colon (contractions/min) was measured twice daily for 2 consecutive days using transcutaneous ultrasonography. Mean values for each management regime were pooled for analysis using multilevel statistical modelling. RESULTS: Significant variables identified by the model included: time of day, region of intestine, management regime, and combination of region of intestine and management regime. Motility assessed by ultrasound was significantly lower in stabled horses compared to pasture-kept horses. Intestinal motility for caecum was 1.7 ± 0.3 contractions/min (pastured = 2.0, stabled = 1.4), sternal flexure was 1.6 ± 0.2 contractions/min (mean (pastured = 1.7, stabled = 1.5), and left ventral colon was 0.8 ± 0.3 contractions/min (pastured = 1.0, stabled = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: The null hypothesis was disproven. Large intestinal motility assessed by ultrasound was significantly reduced in stabled horses compared to pastured horses. This effect was most marked in the aboral left ventral colon. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: This study has demonstrated a possible mechanism for the increased risk of large intestinal impactions in stabled horses.

Fecal egg count reduction and control trial determinations of anthelmintic efficacies for several parasiticides utilizing a single set of naturally infected calves.

In this study, a single set of naturally infected calves was used for the conduct of a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) immediately followed by a control trial; all, to evaluate the efficacies of several commonly used, non-generic anthelmintics. Ten animals were allocated into each of the five treatment groups; untreated control (UTC), injectable 1% moxidectin given at 0.2 mg kg(-1)BW (MXD), injectable 1% ivermectin given at 0.2 mg kg(-1)BW (IVM), 9.06% oxfendazole given orally at 4.5 mg kg(-1)BW (OXF), and 10.0% fenbendazole given orally at 5.0 mg kg(-1)BW (FBZ). Confinement of animals to clean, concrete-floored pens was initiated on day -7 and continued until animal necropsy (2 animals were necropsied per treatment group per day on days 35-39 for nematode collections). All treatments were given on day 0, and the FECRT was conducted on all animals until necropsy. From days 2 to 14, FECR %'s for the combined strongyle egg counts were >or=90% for all anthelmintic groups. At the time of necropsy, FECRT %'s for the combined strongyle egg counts continued to be >or=90% for all treatments with the exception of IVM (84%). After adjustment of the strongyle egg counts in accordance with coproculture larvae percentages, FECRT %'s at the time of necropsy for Haemonchus, Ostertagia and Cooperia were found to be >or=94% for MXD and OXF, but <90% for FBZ (Ostertagia) and IVM (Haemonchus and Cooperia). At necropsy, more than six of the ten untreated animals were infected with Ostertagia ostertagi (adults, EL(4) and LL(4)), and adult Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia oncophora, C. surnabada and C. punctata. Based on geometric means: all of the above populations were removed by >or=96% by MXD; were removed by >or=90% by IVM except for O. ostertagi LL(4) (81.9%), C. oncophora and C. surnabada adults (77.4%) and C. punctata adults (84.8%); were removed by >or=90% by OXF except for O. ostertagi adults, EL(4) and LL(4) (89.9, 70.2 and 48.1%, respectively); and were removed by >or=90% by FBZ except for O. ostertagi adults, EL(4) and LL(4) (72.5, 0.0 and 21.9%, respectively). Judging from the above data, FECR and control trial results can be extremely similar given the proper experimentation and, despite varied degrees of nematode resistance, targeted nematode burdens commonly carried by Midwestern beef cattle are effectively removed by the parasiticides that are available today.

Effectiveness evaluation of several cattle anthelmintics via the fecal egg count reduction test.

Utilizing groups of cograzed, naturally infected beef-type heifers, three fecal egg count reduction tests were conducted in the later months of 2007 at the University of Arkansas. Each test was 28 days in length consisting of individual animal fecal nematode egg counts and coprocultures. Both original and generic ivermectin injectable formulations were used in two of the tests at 0.2 mg/kg BW, with FECR percentages never exceeding 90% in either test. Oral fenbendazole was evaluated at 5 and 10 mg/kg BW, with FECR%'s exceeding 90% on all occasions, but with a precipitous drop when recently treated animals were treated at the lower dose. Evaluated in one test, injectable moxidectin given at 0.2 mg/kg BW resulted in egg count reductions of 96-92% (days 7 to 28). Also evaluated in one test, albendazole delivered orally at 10 mg/kg BW was 98% and 97% effective at 17 and 28 days post-treatment. For all tests, coprocultures conducted post-treatment contained only Cooperia spp. larvae (benzimidazole use), relatively unmodified percentages of Cooperia spp. and Haemonchus spp. larvae (ivermectin use), and primarily Cooperia spp. larvae with a small percentage of Haemonchus spp. larvae (moxidectin use).

Fecal egg count reductions and performance effect of Dectomax, Cydectin, and Cydectin plus Synanthic as used in feedlot steers.

A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness (fecal egg count reductions) and benefit (improvement in feed efficiency, average daily gain, health, and so forth) of a macrocyclic lactone (moxidectin [Cydectin Injectable] or doramectin [Dectomax 1% Injectable]) alone or in combination with a benzimidazole (oxfendazole [Synanthic Bovine Dewormer]) as used in steers upon their arrival at a feedlot. The cattle were kept in the feedlot for 181 days. Only minor differences in fecal egg count reductions were seen among treatments, with all egg counts reduced by more than 98% by 28 days posttreatment. Likewise, no statistically significant differences among treatments were seen in terms of animal performance (feed efficiency, intake, gain, morbidity, mortality, and carcass quality). All three treatment regimens appear to be comparable in decreasing nematode burdens and the consequences thereof in feedlot cattle.

A field trial evaluation of the effectiveness and benefit of cydectin long-acting injectable and ivomec injectable as used one time in grazing stocker cattle.

Use of moxidectin long-acting injectable and ivermectin injectable in female Bos taurus beef-type calves was evaluated in terms of efficacy (fecal egg counts) and performance parameters (weight gain). In this 150-day study, moxidectin-treated calves gained 20% more weight than did ivermectin-treated and control calves. Mean fecal egg count reductions ranged from 76.7 to 99.0 for moxidectin and -0.8 to 83.4 for ivermectin. Moxidectin long-acting injection provided efficacious (immediate as well as long-term) egg count suppressions as well as enhanced animal productivity (weight gains). The study also showed that Cooperia spp appear poised to present the most immediate challenges once long-acting macrocyclic lactone treatments become available.

Recognition of Yersinia enterocolitica multiple strain infection in twin infants using PCR-based DNA fingerprinting.

AIMS: Yersinia enterocolitica causes several syndromes in humans. The most common presentation is enterocolitis in children, presenting as fever and diarrhoea. A Y. enterocolitica multiple strain infection in twin infants was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: One isolate was recovered from one patient and two morphologically-different isolates were recovered from the other infant. Biochemically, all isolates were identified as Y. enterocolitica group. The genomic DNA from each strain was purified and DNA fingerprinting was performed. The banding patterns observed for Y. enterocolitica isolates 2 and 3, from patients 1 and 2, respectively, were identical when comparing the presence or absence of major bands. However, Y. enterocolitica isolate 1, from patient 1, showed a distinctive banding pattern from isolates 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that one infant was colonized by more than one strain of Y. enterocolitica, demonstrating that multiple strains can colonize and invade a patient. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Recognition of multiple strain infections can be important in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Y. enterocolitica infections, as well as in disease epidemiology. The technique described here offers a straightforward method for strain comparison.

Comparison of vertical ground reaction forces during overground and treadmill walking.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare vertical ground reaction forces walking overground with vertical foot-belt forces for treadmill gait. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects walked overground and on a treadmill at three speeds (slow, normal, and fast), and at comparable cadences and stride length at each of the speeds. Treadmill and overground vertical force curves were normalized to 100% of stance time and compared using Person's product moment correlation. Selected measures from vertical force records were compared between the two modes of locomotion via repeated measures ANOVA (P < 0.05). Post-hoc analysis consisted of paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction. All comparisons were made across conditions (treadmill vs overground) at each of the three walking speeds. RESULTS: The pattern of reaction forces were similar. Correlation between curves were 0.998, 0.983, and 0.983 for the slow (1.03-1.05 m.s-1), normal (1.40-1.44 m.s-1) and fast (1.65-1.71 m.s-1) walking trials. Small (5-9%) but significant differences in force magnitude for the two forms of locomotion were evident during mid-stance for normal (P = 0.00009) and fast (P = 0.0007) walking speeds and in late stance for normal (P = 0.0014) and fast (P = 0.0005) trials. CONCLUSIONS: Although the patterns of the vertical reaction forces for the two forms of locomotion were nearly identical, small but significant differences in selected force magnitudes were evident. The interpretation of locomotion data collected on a treadmill should consider that forces during mid- and late-stance may be different than if the subject walked overground.

Multiple-dose activated charcoal compared to urinary alkalinization for the enhancement of phenobarbital elimination.

BACKGROUND: Urinary alkalinization and multiple-dose activated charcoal are modalities advocated for the enhancement of phenobarbital elimination in poisoned patients. However, no studies exist comparing the efficacy of these two means of elimination enhancement. We compared their effects on the pharmacokinetic disposition of intravenously administered phenobarbital. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers participated in each of three randomly ordered study phases. During each phase, 5 mg of intravenous phenobarbital per kilogram of body weight was administered. During phase I, no interventions were made in attempt to enhance phenobarbital elimination. In phase II, participants underwent 24 hours of urinary alkalinization. Throughout phase III, volunteers received six doses of activated charcoal and two doses of sorbitol over 24 hours. RESULTS: The phenobarbital elimination half-life was 148 hours, 47 hours and 19 hours during the control, alkalinization and charcoal phases, respectively. Statistically significant differences in the elimination of phenobarbital were detected when each of the following phases were compared: I vs II, I vs III and II vs III. CONCLUSIONS: Both urinary alkalinization and multiple doses of activated charcoal are effective for the enhancement of phenobarbital elimination but multiple-dose charcoal was superior to urinary alkalinization in our study population.

A survey into the prevalence of poultry helminths in northwest Arkansas commercial broiler chickens.

A 12-month survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of poultry helminths in Northwest Arkansas commercial broiler chickens. Intestinal tracts from market-ready broilers were collected weekly from two commercial broiler companies; a total of 3542 intestinal tracts were collected for parasite enumeration from 67 company A and 52 company B farms. Ascaridia galli was found on 37.3% of company A farms and 3.9% of company B farms, Raillietina cesticillus was found on 67.2% of company A farms and 69.2% of company B farms, and Heterakis gallinarum was found on 7.5% of company A farms and 1.9% of company B farms. No other parasitic helminths were found. No significant relationship was detected between grow-out feed efficiency and helminth infection rate or magnitude.

Evaluation of skin microtopography as a measure of ultraviolet exposure.

A pilot study was conducted to investigate the use of skin microtopography as a semiquantitative noninvasive method for estimating cumulative sun exposure in epidemiologic studies of eye disease. The subjects received a kit through the mail containing materials needed to make a replica of the skin texture of a sun-exposed area of the hand. Each subject previously had undergone a skin biopsy around the same site to evaluate elastotic degeneration, and all were interviewed about past sun exposures. A gradable skin impression was obtained from 96 of 115 (83%) participants after two mailings. The impressions were graded according to the degree of skin texture alteration using standard photographs; interobserver reliability was 0.73 using a weighted kappa statistic. The impression score was correlated most strongly with age (r = 0.53). Independent predictors of higher impression scores (more skin texture changes) were older age, cigar or pipe smoking, less education, lighter iris color, lighter skin color, male gender, and tendency to sunburn. After adjustment for age and the other predictor variables, the biopsy score was not correlated with the impression grade (r = 0.18, P = 0.13). Behaviors indexing sun exposure were not correlated with microtopography. These results suggest that skin microtopography as done in this study reflects aging from intrinsic parameters more than from actinic damage.

Management of early nasal injuries with long term follow up.

Postnatal nasal injury occurring before full growth results in certain changes in the development of the nose and of the face. An assessment of the role of the cartilaginous nasal septum in this growth has been attempted by observing adults who had dissolution of the cartilaginous septum in childhood. The immediate management of long term follow up care of patients so afflicted is discussed. Also observed into adult life were several patients on whom lateral, medial or transverse osteotomies or combinations of these had been performed in childhood to determine if such procedures interfered with growth of the nose and face.

A clinical evaluation of the Cottle rhinomanometry "flow" nozzle.

A clinical study was undertaken to establish what changes in values were caused by the nozzle used in the Cottle flow-pressure technique of rhinomanometry. Cottle rhino-sphygmo-manometry was performed over seven hundred times, half with the nozzle and half without and the results analyzed using pattern, rate, amplitude, work co-efficient and four breath factor as outlined by Cottle. In many instances marked changes did occur but were unpredictable by examination prior to testing. It is suggested that Cottle rhino-sphygmo-manometry be carried out routinely with and without this nozzle in order to better evaluate results of flow-pressure relationship in which this nozzle is used.