Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of clinoptilolite against Cryptosporidium parvum in experimentally challenged neonatal lambs.

This study was designed to test the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of clinoptilolite against Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in lambs. Within the first day of life, three groups of 10 lambs were each inoculated with 1 × 106 oocysts of C. parvum. The prophylactic (PROP) group received orally clinoptilolite supplemented at a rate of 3% to the colostrum within the first day of life before inoculation and then to milk replacer for two weeks. The therapeutic (TREA) group was supplemented with the same rate, route and duration of clinoptilolite, starting from the day of the first appearance of oocysts in the faeces. The positive control group (pCON) was left untreated and fed only the basal diet. Disease development and clinoptilolite efficacy were assessed daily by evaluating oocyst per gram of faeces (OPG) counts, faecal consistent score (FCS), and clinical health score (CHS) from day -1 to 20 days post inoculation. A significantly (p < 0.001) lower OPG value was found in the PROP and TREA groups in comparison to the pCON group. The FCS and CHS were decreased in the PROP (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) and TREA (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) groups compared to the pCON group, respectively. The percentage efficacy of clinoptilolite was calculated to be 97.4 % in the PROP group and 91.6 % in the TREA group. In conclusion, this study proved for the first time that clinoptilolite has promising prophylactic and therapeutic activities against C. parvum in experimentally infected lambs.

Reference intervals for serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in apparently healthy neonatal lambs.

BACKGROUND: Acute-phase proteins (APPs) are considered biomarkers for diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment and health status monitoring. Reference intervals (RIs) are an integral part of diagnostic laboratory testing and clinical decision-making. The RIs for neonatal lambs are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the RIs of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and fibrinogen (Fb) concentrations in neonatal cross-bred Kivircik lambs. METHODS: The study consisted of 42 neonatal cross-bred Kivircik lambs. Physical examinations were performed daily, and blood samples were collected at 0 (precolostrum), 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. The RIs of SAA, Hp, Cp, and Fb concentrations were calculated according to the recommendation of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Results were also evaluated for age- and sex-related effects. RESULTS: The RI for serum Hp was 0-0.4 g/L, and no apparent effect of age or sex was noted. Because of significant age- and sex-related differences, the SAA (0.34-55.12 µg/mL), Cp (2.4-26.07 mg/mL), and Fb (218.86-527.82 mg/mL) results were given as minimum and maximum values. Serum SAA on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days of life, and Cp and Fb concentrations on the 14th and 21st days of life, were significantly higher than those on other study days. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to establish RIs for neonatal lambs, and the values obtained could be useful for making clinical decisions regarding cross-bred Kivircik lambs during this critical period.

Plasma citrulline, arginine, nitric oxide, and blood ammonia levels in neonatal calves with acute diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Plasma citrulline (CIT) concentration is considered to be a reliable marker of functional enterocyte mass, primarily in humans. However, information about CIT levels along with related metabolites, arginine (ARG), nitric oxide (NO), and ammonia in neonatal calves are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To compare plasma CIT, ARG, NO, and whole blood ammonia concentrations in neonatal calves with acute diarrhea with those in healthy calves and to assess their possible relationships with diarrhea-related criteria. ANIMALS: Seventy neonatal calves (60 with acute diarrhea and 10 healthy). METHODS: Observational case-control study. Diarrheic calves were classified into subgroups on the basis of etiology, severity of diarrhea, degree of dehydration, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) status. Plasma CIT and ARG concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Plasma CIT (median [range]: 67.5 [61.9-75.4] vs 30.1 [15.0-56.1] µmol/L) and ARG (170.7 [148.5-219.5] vs 106.1 [54.4-190.7] µmol/L) were lower and plasma NO (4.42 [3.29-5.58] vs 6.78 [5.29-8.92] µM) and blood ammonia concentrations (28.7 [26.1-36.9] vs 59.8 [34.6-99.5] µmol/L) were higher in the neonatal calves with diarrhea (P < .001). Plasma CIT (ß = -0.29, P = .02), ARG (ß = -0.33, P = .01), NO (ß = 0.55, P < .001), and blood ammonia (ß = 0.63, P <.001) were affected by SIRS status. Except for ammonia (0.52), the effects sizes for severity of diarrhea and degree of dehydration were small (ηp2 ≤ 0.45) for CIT, ARG, and NO. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The changes in these variables might have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value in diarrheic neonatal calves.

Haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A concentrations and their relationship with oocyst count in neonatal lambs experimentally infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.

This study aimed to evaluate the acute phase response (APR) through haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in serum and to examine the correlation between these acute phase proteins (APPs) and oocyst shedding using experimental Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) infection model in neonatal lambs. Twenty lambs were divided into two equal groups: group CON remained uninfected as negative control and lambs of the group EXP were inoculated orally with 1×106C. parvum oocysts. Blood and faecal samples were obtained from both groups before colostrum intake and prior to inoculation (day-1), and at 2, 6, 13, and 20days post-inoculation (dpi). The serum concentrations of SAA increased following the experimental infection of lambs with C. parvum, the difference being statistically significant from pre-inoculation levels at 2 dpi, while significant increases in serum concentration of Hp were observed at 2 and 6 dpi. At the same occasions, serum concentrations of both APPs were significantly higher in the C. parvum-infected lambs compared to the healthy control lambs. A moderate positive correlation (rho=0.67; p< 0.001) was observed between serum Hp concentration and oocyst count (OPG),whereas the serum SAA concentration didn't significantly correlate with OPG (rho=0.18; p>0.05). In conclusion, the results of the study shed some light on APR due to C. parvum infection in neonatal lambs.

Comparative Analysis of Serum Mineral Levels and Parasite Load in Goats Naturally Infected with Gastrointestinal Nematodes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum mineral levels and parasite load in Saanen (n=37) and Damascus (n=13) goats, which were all approximately 2 months pregnant and naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. METHODS: To determine parasite concentration individually, fecal samples were taken from each goat, and the eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was detected via a modified McMaster technique. To investigate the possible effects of parasite concentration on serum mineral levels, blood was drawn from the goats and serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, and cadmium levels were measured via the ICP-OES technique. RESULTS: In a correlation analysis of the individual EPG values and mineral levels performed on the basis of the species, it was seen that increased egg numbers did not cause a statistically significant increase or decrease in Saanens except for cadmium (significant moderate positive correlation, p<0.05) for both species. A comparison of the mineral element levels with the lower and upper normal limits in the published literature found that manganese and iron were below the normal range, while zinc and calcium levels were close to the lower limits. CONCLUSION: It is estimated that the effect of parasite load, which continuously increases with the progression of pregnancy and deliveries, on blood mineral levels would be much more significant.

Single dose of secnidazole treatment against naturally occuring Giardia duodenalis infection in Sakiz lambs / Tratamiento con dosis única con secnidazol en corderos naturalmente infectados con Giardia duodenalis

Objetive. The purposes of this study were to determine whether secnidazole administered at a single dose of 10 mg/kg, orally, lessens or eliminates Giardia cyst shedding, and to validate the benefit of secnidazole treatment on clinical signs and faecal consistency in lambs naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis. Materials and methods. To this extent weaned 12 weeks of age lambs were selected and randomly assigned into two groups based on placebo (group C, n=7 untreated control group) or treatment (group S, n=10 lambs treated with a single dose of secnidazole at 10 mg/kg). Results. On days 0 and 10, before and after treatment, respectively, reduction in cyst excretion was determined. The faecal consistency and general health were recorded at each sampling day. Conclusions. During the study there was a high (99.98%) reduction in cyst excretion in the secnidazol treatment group compared to the positive control group on day 10, resulting in a significant (p<0.001) reduction, making secnidazole highly effective treatment option.

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar si la administración oral de una dosis única de secnidazol de 10mh/kg reduce o elimina la presencia de quistes de Giardia y validar el beneficio del tratamiento con secnidazol en los signos clínicos y la consistencia fecal de corderos infectados naturalmente con Giardia duodenalis. Materiales y métodos. Se seleccionaron corderos destetados de 12 semanas de edad que fueron asignados al azar a dos grupos con base a placebo (grupo C, n=7, grupo de control sin tratar) o tratamiento (grupo S, n=10 corderos con tratamiento de dosis única de secnidazol de 10 mg/kg). Resultados. En los días 0 y 10, antes y después del tratamiento, respectivamente, se determinó una merma en la excreción de quistes. La consistencia de la materia fecal y el estado general de salud fue registrado en cada muestreo diario. Conclusiones. Durante el estudio hubo una alta reducción en la excreción de quistes (99.98%) en el grupo tratado con secnidazol comparado con el grupo control positivo en el día 10, resultando en una disminución significativa (p<0.001), haciendo del tratamiento con secnizadol una opción altamente efectiva.

Effects of carprofen and meloxicam on C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen concentrations in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of perioperative oral administration of carprofen and meloxicam on concentrations of 3 acute-phase proteins in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). ANIMALS: 18 healthy adult anestrous female dogs undergoing elective OVH. PROCEDURES: Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group). A placebo treatment, carprofen (2.0 mg/kg), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was orally administered to the dogs of the respective groups. The initial doses were administered 30 minutes before premedication prior to OVH; additional doses were administered once daily for 4 days after surgery. Blood samples were collected 45 minutes before premedication and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after the end of OVH; samples were used for measurement of total WBC and neutrophil counts and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen. RESULTS: Values did not differ significantly among groups for WBC and neutrophil counts, serum concentrations of CRP and ceruloplasmin, and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. Concentrations of all inflammatory markers, except serum ceruloplasmin, increased significantly following OVH, but in a similar manner for each group. No significant changes were detected in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perioperative administration of both carprofen and meloxicam did not significantly affect the concentrations of CRP, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in dogs undergoing OVH. Thus, use of carprofen or meloxicam should not affect clinical interpretation of results for these 3 acute-phase proteins.

Failure of combination therapy with imidocarb dipropionate and toltrazuril to clear Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs.

Current treatments with imidocarb dipropionate for infected dogs with Hepatozoon canis do not always provide parasitological cure. The objective of this study is to determine whether concomitant use of toltrazuril may potentiate the effect of imidocarb dipropionate in the management of H. canis infection (HCI). Twelve dogs were determined to have naturally HCI based on clinical signs, identification of the parasite in blood smears, and serologic assay. The animals were allocated randomly to one of two groups (n = 6 in each group). Dogs in Imi group were given imidocarb dipropionate at a dose of 6 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously in two injections 14 days apart. Imi plus Toltra group was given imidocarb dipropionate as dose mentioned above and toltrazuril at 10 mg/kg/day orally for the first five treatment days. Clinical findings, blood counts and parasitaemia levels in blood before and 14, 28 and 56 days after the initial treatment were performed to evaluate treatment response. The overall clinical efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate with and without toltrazuril was 83.3% and 66.7%, respectively; with a mean recovery time of 21.0 and 25.6 days, respectively. A substantial main effect of time on mean PCV, Hb, WBC, neutrophil and PLT and gradual reduction of parasitaemia were significantly observed in both groups (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was noticed between the studied protocols. The parasitologic cure rate at the end of eight weekly observation period was 16.6% and 33.3% in Imi and Imi plus Toltra groups, respectively. Similar clinicopathologic and parasitologic responses were observed in both treated groups; thus, it was concluded that toltrazuril does not reveal additional benefit to imidocarb therapy in dogs with HCI.

Use of a hand-held meter for detecting subclinical ketosis in dairy cows.

The Optium Xceed is a new hand-held meter for determining blood ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and glucose in human medicine. The objective of this study was to compare BHBA and glucose results obtained using the hand-held meter with those results made with a laboratory method and to evaluate its usefulness as a cowside test in the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows. Seventy-eight blood samples from clinically healthy Holstein cows between 5 and 60 days post-calving were analysed. BHBA and glucose values were significantly higher with the hand-held meter versus laboratory methods. Correlation coefficients (r) for BHBA and glucose with the Optium Xceed versus laboratory methods were 0.97 and 0.63, respectively. Based on Bland-Altman plot and Passing-Bablok regression, agreement between two methods was good for BHBA but the agreement for glucose was only fair. When SCK was defined as plasma BHBA levels ≥ 1200 µmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity of the hand-held meter ketone testing in determining SCK were 85% and 94%, respectively. Raising the threshold of the laboratory method to ≥ 1400 µmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity incremented to 0.90 and 0.98, respectively. In conclusion, the blood ketone-monitoring device can be used as a rapid and reliable diagnostic test to detect SCK under field conditions.

[Haptoglobin, serum amyloid-a and ceruloplasmin concentrations in goats with mixed helminth infection]. / Miks Helmint Enfeksiyonlu Keçilerde Haptoglobin, Serum Amiloid-A ve Seruloplazmin Konsantrasyonlari.

In this study, the concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin were measured in goats with mixed gastrointestinal infections of nematodes and liver trematodes. Twelve patients who were diagnosed as having mixed helminth infection after detection of Trichuris spp., Trichostrongylidae spp. and Fasciola spp. and six healthy controls participated in the study. The concentrations of the acute phase proteins (haptoglobin p< or =0.001; serum amyloid-A p< or =0.05) were significantly higher in the goats with mixed gastrointestinal infection with nematodes and liver trematodes than the control goats. As a result of this study, we determined that the concentrations of haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A increased in goats with mixed helminth infection but further studies of the clinical importance of those increases in relation to prognosis and monitoring therapy of helminthic infections in goats should be made.

Efficacy of topical administration of eprinomectin for treatment of ear mite infestation in six rabbits.

Six rabbits naturally infested with Psoroptes cuniculi were treated topically on the skin at the base of the neck with 0.5 mg kg(-1) of 0.5% pour-on eprinomectin for cattle, twice at 14-day intervals. Efficacy of the drug was based on the disappearance of clinical signs and the absence of live mites for a period of 6 weeks. Clinical improvement was seen within 3 days of the first application; however, complete recovery of clinical signs and elimination of mites in 5/6 rabbits did not occur until the end of the study. No adverse reactions attributable to eprinomectin treatment were observed during the observation period. Results of this trial indicated that eprinomectin was partially effective in the treatment of psoroptic mange in rabbits.

Use of doramectin for treatment of sarcoptic mange in five Angora rabbits.

The efficacy of administering doramectin after moxidectin treatment, which has previously proved only partially effective, was evaluated in five Angora rabbits naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei mange. Evaluations included physical examination for clinical signs of sarcoptic mange and collection of skin scrapings for determination of mites. The rabbits first received two subcutaneous injections, 10 days apart, of moxidectin 1% injectable solution at a dosage of 0.2 mg kg(-1) of bodyweight. Although moxidectin treatment resulted in clinical improvement within 10 days post initial injection, on days 10 and 35 post initial treatment live mites were present in skin scrapings. Administration of doramectin 1% injectable solution using the same route and dosage and at similar intervals to moxidectin led to complete disappearance of signs of scabies and parasitological cure in all rabbits.

Clinical and serological follow-up in dogs with visceral leishmaniosis treated with allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate.

Seven dogs with parasitologically proven clinical visceral leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) were treated with a combination of allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate. The dogs received first orally 15 mg/kg of allopurinol every 12 h until the clinical signs improved, in the following 1 month period allopurinol at same dose and subcutaneously 30 mg/kg of sodium stibogluconate combination were given daily and at the end of the combined treatment, allopurinol was continued alone at the same dose till the end of 8 months. During the treatment period, dogs were supported by additional proteins, vitamins, and minerals. A long acting insecticide (collar or drop) was also used in order to prevent further parasite transmission. Follow-up was maintained by clinical, clinicopathological evaluation, and parasitological examination of lymph node, serology using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Before treatment commenced, the most important clinical signs were exfoliative dermatitis, ulcerations, peripheral lymhadenopathy, pale mucous membranes, weight loss, and ocular lesions. Clinicopathological findings included commonly anaemia, hyperproteinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Before the treatment, amastigotes were seen in six of the seven dogs by examination of lymph node aspiration, and IFAT-titers were positive in all dogs. At the end of 8 months treatment, remission of clinical signs, restoration to normal of clinicopathological abnormalities were noticed. Lymph node aspiration was performed on three out of the seven dogs at the end of the treatment because of the very small sizes of the lymph nodes, and no amastigotes were observed. Although the mean IFAT-titer of the dogs were significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared with pretreatment, IFAT-titers of dogs were still positive. No relapses occurred during treatment period and a 6-24-month duration after the end of therapy. Based on the above results, long-term use of allopurinol combined with sodium stibogluconate together with support treatment concluded to have enough therapeutic efficacies in the treatment of dogs with visceral leishmaniosis. Observations of the cases for possible relapses were still going on and insecticide application was carefully carrying on in order preventing a possible re-infection.