Gastroesophageal intussusception in a Labrador retriever.

A 14-month-old, intact male Labrador retriever was referred for evaluation of vomiting and regurgitation. A diagnosis of gastroesophageal intussusception with aspiration pneumonia was made. The patient responded favorably to aggressive surgical and medical management. The guarded to poor prognosis for gastroesophageal intussusception makes the successful outcome of this case unique.

Conservative management of a ruptured gastrocnemius muscle in a male llama.

Rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle was diagnosed in an obese llama using physical examination and ultrasound imaging. Conservative therapy consisting of the use of a cast to immobilize the affected limb permitted the muscle to heal. Only mild, residual gait abnormalities were observed on follow-up examination.

Plasma von Willebrand factor in thoroughbreds in response to high-intensity treadmill exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) concentration changes in horses during and after treadmill exercise. ANIMALS: 5 mature, fit Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURE: A blood sampling catheter was placed in the right jugular vein. A warm-up period was followed by a 3-minute rest period. Horses were galloped at racing pace until fatigued (about 2 minutes). Blood samples were collected prior to warm-up, during the postwarm-up rest period, 1 minute into the run, at cessation of the run, and 5 to 120 minutes after cessation of the run. vWf activity was measured by ELISA and corrected for plasma volume changes (measured by changes in plasma albumin concentration). Platelet-poor plasma from 10 clinically normal, resting horses was pooled, assigned a value of 100 U/dl, and served as a control for all assays. RESULTS: vWf activity began increasing 1 minute after horses reached full speed. At 5 minutes after cessation of exercise, vWf values had increased by mean of 92% (P < 0.05) from baseline. vWf activity returned baseline by 15 minutes after exercise, and remained there until 90 minutes after exercise, when it began to increase. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The spontaneous decrease in vWf values after completion of exercise was unexpected because vWf has a long half-life in circulation. This unexpected finding is compatible with increased vWf consumption and suggests that microvascular trauma may occur in horses during strenuous exercise.

Use of bone marrow serum for biochemical analysis in healthy cats.

Bone marrow blood and venous blood were collected from 21 healthy cats for analysis of 13 serum biochemical variables. The relationship between values in venous serum and bone marrow serum for each variable was evaluated, using a linear regression F test. A P value < or = 0.05 was considered significant evidence that measurements in venous and marrow serum were correlated for that biochemical variable. Biochemical variables for which values were significantly correlated included urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, sodium, chloride, and phosphorus concentrations. In all cats, activities for alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in bone marrow serum exceeded the activities in venous serum. Potassium and phosphorus concentrations were greater in bone marrow serum than in venous serum in 20 cats. Glucose concentrations in bone marrow serum from 19 cats were lower than those in venous serum. Correlation between calcium concentrations in venous and bone marrow serum was not found.

Comparison of two dosages of prostaglandin F2a on canine uterine motility.

The effect of 50 ug/kg prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) was compared with 250 ug/kg PGF2a on uterine motility in the diestrous female. Microtipped pressure transducers were surgically implanted in the uteri of 6 females at 30 days diestrus and in 6 females at 60 days diestrus. Uterine responses to intravenous PGF2a (5 ug/kg), oxytocin (0.05 USP units/kg), and intramuscular PGF2a (50 ug/kg and 250 ug/kg) were measured in the awake females on Days 1 and 2 after implantation. There was no significant difference in the increase in intrauterine pressure produced by 50 ug/kg of PGF2a compared with 250 ug/kg of PGF2a. The longest duration of the effect occurred when 250 ug/kg of PGF2a were given. Side effects were also documented. Significantly more vomiting occurred when 250 ug/kg PGF2a were given than when 50 ug/kg PGF2a were administered. The only advantage to using a higher dosage of PGF2a appears to be the longer duration of motility.

Comparison of computed tomography with radiography as a noninvasive diagnostic technique for chronic nasal disease in dogs.

Computed tomography was evaluated as a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of chronic nasal disease in dogs. Computed tomographic images, radiographs, and histopathologic findings were compared in 11 dogs with chronic nasal disease. Definitive diagnosis was made following traumatic nasal flush, exploratory surgery, or necropsy. The study included 8 dogs with intranasal tumors, 2 dogs with bacterial rhinitis (Pasteurella sp), and 1 dog with mycotic rhinitis (Aspergillus sp). Computed tomography was superior to radiography in defining the extent of the disease process and in differentiating infectious rhinitis from nasal neoplasms. It defined lesions in the palate, nasopharyngeal meatus, maxillary sinus, caudal ethmoturbinates, and periorbital tissues that were difficult to demonstrate by use of conventional radiography. Tumors appeared as space-occupying lesions that obliterated the turbinates, caused deviation of the nasal septum, and eroded bone. Rhinitis appeared as a cavitating lesion that spared the paranasal sinuses, thickened and distorted the turbinates, and widened the meatus. Although morphologically distinct on computed tomographic images, infectious rhinitis and nasal neoplasms could not be differentiated by attenuation measurements or degree of contrast enhancement. Computed tomography appeared to be a reliable, noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of chronic nasal disease in dogs, and a promising alternative to diagnostic techniques currently in use.

Analysis of binding of a technetium-99m-labeled monoclonal antibody to lentivirus-infected cells.

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is a model for the study of lentiviral infections. The authors' hypothesis is that radioimmunodetection has the potential to detect lentiviral proteins at the surface of infected cells. A monoclonal antibody (CAEV92A1) specific for a CAE virus (CAEV)-associated glycoprotein and a control antibody were radiolabeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) using the pretinning method. Cell binding assays were used to evaluate immunoreactivity and binding properties of 99mTc-labeled antibodies to CAEV-infected cells. 99mTc-CAEV92A1 bound preferentially to paraformaldehyde-fixed and live CAEV-infected cells. 99mTc-CAEV92A1 did not appear to be shed rapidly from its binding site.

Intraoperative monitoring of ischiatic nerve function with sensory evoked potentials.

Serial recordings of sensory evoked potentials (SEP) generated in response to stimulation of each tibial nerve were obtained from 23 anesthetized dogs. Five dogs were anesthetized for 3 hours to evaluate changes in serial SEP during general anesthesia. Nonsurgical and surgical manipulations were performed on one hind limb of five dogs to determine the effects of limb positioning and nerve retraction on SEP. In 13 dogs, the ischiatic nerve was exposed surgically and retracted until the SEP deteriorated and disappeared, to determine the relationship between amount of tension on the nerve and the time to complete deterioration of the SEP. Sensory evoked potential waveforms, which consisted of two to five peaks, were stable throughout the anesthetic period. The first two peaks were the most stable. Latency of the first two peaks was the easiest and most reliable parameter to evaluate. Although the peak latency in recordings from the superior hind limb was always slightly longer, SEP recordings from the inferior limb were good controls to monitor nerve function. There was considerable variation in sensitivity to nerve retraction. The technique proved to be a reliable way to monitor nerve function in normal anesthetized dogs.

A modified Cloward's technique for arthrodesis of the normal metacarpophalangeal joint in the horse.

A modified Cloward's technique was performed for arthrodesis of one metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint in eight horses. Dorsal arthrotomies were performed medial and lateral to the common digital extensor tendon and two 16 mm holes were drilled through the joint. A perforated cylindrical stainless steel basket filled with cancellous bone was impacted into each hole. The limbs were supported in casts for 8 weeks. The joints were examined and radiographed at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 months, and 10 months. One horse was euthanatized at week 14 to assess the progress of the arthrodesis. In the other seven horses, there was clinical fusion at month 6. Dynamographic evaluations were performed 11 months after surgery at the walk and trot. The maximum vertical forces exerted during weight bearing by treated and control limbs were compared. No difference was detected at the walk; however, a significant difference was present at the trot (p less than 0.05). It was calculated that at the trot the horses placed 90% as much force on the treated limb as on the control limb. Eleven months after surgery, the baskets contained compact and cancellous bone. Ingrowth of bone occurred through all openings, completely filling the baskets and fusing the joints.

Computer applications. An overview.

Applications are programs that are designed for specific tasks. They may be written by the ultimate user or by commercial programmers. Personally written software offers the benefit of a custom solution and adaptability to changing conditions but at a very high cost. Vendor software is cheaper, but more general in nature. It may be difficult for some practitioners to find commercial software that exactly duplicates their operation, and adaptations will add expense. Software maintenance may not be available or it may mean additional cost. Veterinarians can profit from practice management packages, computer-aided diagnostics, educational software, and other programs. Computers must solve the users' problems or they are worthless. With appropriate applications, they represent one of the most cost-effective instruments in the practice.

Acute arthritis in caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus challenge exposure of vaccinated or persistently infected goats.

Goats vaccinated with inactivated caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) developed more severe arthritis after infectious CAEV challenge exposure than did goats vaccinated with tissue culture medium. Arthritis also developed more rapidly in the group vaccinated with inactivated virus. In another experiment, goats with persistent CAEV infection developed acute arthritis after at least 2 injections of infectious CAEV at monthly intervals. In this experiment, the control group consisted of goats with persistent CAEV that were given tissue culture medium. Seemingly, the immune response to CAEV is an important cause of the CAEV-induced arthritis.

Regional distribution and variation of gamma-globulin absorption from the small intestine of the neonatal calf.

125I-labeled immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 in colostral whey was used to determine the region of maximum absorption of Ig from the small intestine of the neonatal calf and the variation in Ig absorption among calves at the intestinal level. In experiment 1, 5 segments (approx 5%, 35%, 60%, 80%, and 95% of the duodenocecal length) were formed in the small intestine of 9 colostrum-deprived calves shortly after birth. These segments were injected with colostral whey containing 125I-IgG1 4 hours after birth, and uptake, transfer, and absorption (defined as uptake plus transfer) were determined for each segment 2 hours later. Raw data were adjusted for the milligrams of IgG1 injected per gram of intestinal tissue to obtain the least squares mean (LSM) value. The LSM values for absorption of IgG1 from distal segments 3, 4, and 5 were significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than those values for proximal segments 1 and 2. The region of the maximum IgG1 absorption was the lower small intestine, 60% to 80% of the duodenocecal length. There was also an indication of independence between uptake and transfer in each of the segments. Significant differences (P less than 0.05) were present among calves in the LSM values for uptake and absorption, but not for transfer. In experiment 2, thoracic ducts of 8 newborn calves were cannulated 4 to 5 hours after birth. At 6 hours after birth, colostral whey with 125I-IgG1 was injected into an intestinal segment (approx 60% to 80% of the duodenocecal length).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)