Caesarean in mare by Marcenac incision under local anaesthesia.

A nulliparous non-descript mare was presented with a complaint of dystocia. The mare was recumbent and physical examination revealed that the animal was in shock. There was no straining and foetal forelimbs were visible outside the vulva. The foetus was dead as there was no pedal reflex. Vaginal examination revealed anterior presentation with dorso-sacral position and rigid lateral head deviation. Pre-operatively, the mare was given 5 ml Tetanus toxoid and 3 g Ceftriaxone as intramuscular injection, and 5 ml Dexamethasone in 15 L of 5% Dextrose Normal Saline (DNS) as intravenous (i/v) infusion. As pelvic space was inadequate and the mal posture was not correctable, manual correction or foetotomy could not be attempted and therefore caesarean section was planned. Condition of the animal warranted the use of local anaesthetic infiltration instead of general anesthesia. Post-operative care included intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory/analgesics and daily antiseptic dressing. The owner reported uneventful recovery. The authors would like to conclude the case as a rare emergency caesarean in equine where the surgery was done with animal in lateral recumbency employing a Marcenac incision under local anaesthesia.

An in vitro biomechanical investigation of an interlocking nail system developed for buffalo tibia.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study were to determine the mechanical properties of a customized buffalo interlocking nail (BIN), intact buffalo tibia, and ostectomized tibia stabilized with BIN in different configurations, as well as to assess the convenience of interlocking nailing in buffalo tibia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The BIN (316L stainless steel, 12 mm diameter, 250 mm long, nine-hole solid nails with 10° proximal bend) alone was loaded in compression and three-point bending (n=4 each); intact tibiae and ostectomized tibiae (of buffaloes aged 5-8 years, weighing 300-350 kg) stabilized with BIN using 4.9 mm standard or modified locking bolts (4 or 8) in different configurations were subjected to axial compression, cranio-caudal three-point bending and torsion (n=4 each) using a universal testing machine. Mechanical parameters were determined from load-displacement curves and compared using Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). RESULTS: Intact tibiae were significantly stronger than BIN and bone-BIN constructs in all testing modes. The strength of fixation constructs with eight locking bolts was significantly more than with four bolts. Overall strength of fixation with modified locking bolts was better than standard bolts. Based on technical ease and biomechanical properties, cranio-caudal insertion of bolts into the bone was found better than medio-lateral insertion. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The eight bolt BIN-bone constructs could be useful to treat tibial fractures in large ruminants, especially buffaloes.

Psoroptic mange infestation increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant status in sheep.

The present study was aimed to examine the status of nutritional and enzymatic antioxidants and oxidative stress indices in blood, skin and brain tissues of sheep with Psoroptic mange. Seventy-five sheep were divided into three equal groups, healthy control (group I, n=25), sub-clinical Psoroptic mange (group II, n=25) and clinical Psoroptic mange (group III, n=25). Lipid peroxides (LPO), zinc, copper, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and ceruloplasmin concentrations in blood; status of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in skin and LPO, SOD, CAT, copper and zinc in brain of sheep were measured. Ascorbic acid, zinc, copper alpha-tocopherol and ceruloplasmin concentrations in blood were significantly decreased in Psoroptic mange in comparison to control. In the skin, CAT, SOD and GST were significantly lowered, whereas LPO was increased in sheep with Psoroptic mange. In the brain, LPO was increased significantly and CAT, SOD activities and copper and zinc concentrations were significantly lower. From the present study, it may be concluded that Psoroptic mange infestation increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant status in sheep.