RESUMO
The main objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of mechanical cervical dislocation using the Koechner Euthanasia Device Model C (KED) in comparison to manual cervical dislocation in layer chickens. Laying hens and/or roosters in three different age groups (12, 27-29, and 65-70 weeks old) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups: manual cervical dislocation in conscious birds (CD), manual cervical dislocation in anesthetized birds (aCD), or mechanical cervical dislocation by KED in anesthetized birds (aMCD). Anesthetized birds received an intramuscular dose of 0.3 mg/kg medetomidine and 30 mg/kg of ketamine to achieve clinical anesthesia. A comparison of CD vs. aCD responses confirmed that the anesthetic plane abolished or reduced clonic convulsions, nictitating membrane reflex, tonic convulsions, and cloacal relaxation. Time to loss of the pupillary light reflex (~123 s), and time to cardiac arrest (~172 s) were longer (p < 0.001) in the birds in the aMCD group than aCD (~71 and ~137 s, respectively). Radiographs revealed that the majority of the birds killed by manual cervical dislocation (CD + aCD) had dislocations between the skull and atlas (C1) or between cervical vertebrae C1-C2. The KED resulted in a majority of dislocations at C2-C3. Birds killed by manual cervical dislocation presented more subdural and parenchymal hemorrhage in the brain stem compared to birds killed by KED. Radiographs indicated the presence of fractures in a few birds killed by either method (CD + aCD versus aMCD). Compared to manual CD, KED resulted in less brain trauma and a longer latency to brain death, indicating a lower efficacy of KED as an on-farm killing method.
RESUMO
This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of Surolan with the use of a pinna model of inflammation in 80 mice and a randomized complete block design. Within each of 8 blocks, 10 treatments, consisting of different combinations of the constituents of Surolan with and without the prednisolone acetate component, were randomly assigned to the 9-wk-old CD-1 mice. The treatments were administered as a single dose 30 min after pinna inflammation was induced with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. Ear-skin edema and erythema were assessed and measured 4 and 6 h thereafter. Treatment effects were evaluated with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Inclusion of prednisolone acetate with the Surolan vehicle, either alone or in combination with the nonsteroidal constituents of the suspension, resulted in a significant reduction in mean ear-skin thickness and erythema. The inflammation-reducing properties of prednisolone were not significantly affected by the other components of Surolan.
