Detection of environmental contamination with feline and canine parvoviruses: new perspectives and challenges.

AIMS: To develop a protocol for environmental sampling to detect parvoviruses of dogs and cats in the environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Environmental contamination was carried out using different dilutions of parvovirus-contaminated materials; further field samplings were performed in areas in which clinical cases of parvovirus infections were present. Sterile cotton swabs and sponges for microbial surface sampling were used. Viruses were detected in these samples with different methods: conventional PCR, nested PCR and real-time PCR, detecting viral DNA; virus isolation, detecting infectious virus; and a commercial rapid enzyme immunoassay, detecting viral antigen. No substantial differences were observed in the two sampling methods, although the sponge was more convenient for sampling rough surfaces. Molecular assays were the most sensitive methods, identifying even very low amounts of viral DNA (up to 10 copies of viral DNA/10 µl of sample). Virus isolation and the rapid test detected the viruses only at the highest viral concentrations, both in the experimental setting and field conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental sampling and molecular protocols were effective in detecting environmental contamination with parvoviruses. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The protocol will be useful to identify possible sources of infection and to assess the efficacy of disinfection protocols in the environment.

Naproxen in the horse: pharmacokinetics and side effects in the elderly.

It is well-known that old animals show physiologic and/or pathologic variation that could modify the pharmacokinetics of drugs and the related pharmacodynamic response. In order to define the most appropriate therapeutic protocol in old horses, pharmacokinetic profile and safety of naproxen were investigated in horses aged over 18 years after oral administration for 5 days at the dose of 10 mg/kg b.w./day. After the first administration, the maximum concentration (Cmax 44.21 ± 9.21 µg/mL) was reached at 2.5 ± 0.58 h post-treatment, the harmonic mean terminal half-life was 6.96 ± 1.73 h, AUC0-24h was 459.71 ± 69.95 h µg/mL, MRT was 7.44 ± 0.74 h and protein binding was 98.47 ± 2.72%. No drug accumulation occurred with repeated administrations. No clinical and laboratory changes were detected after administration of naproxen. Gastric endoscopies performed after the treatment did not show pathological changes of the gastric mucosa.

Relationship between running speed, isoenzymes of serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase and left ventricular function in stallions.

The purpose of this study was to assess the possible relationship between maximal running speed, serum isoenzyme patterns of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function. A group of 15 healthy, 3-year-old Maremmano stallions were given a 100 day training programme. At the end of this the animals carried out a maximum speed test and were divided into 2 groups (A and B) according to whether or not they had attained a speed of 15 m/s. Venous blood samples were taken from each horse before exercise (T0), 2 min (T1) and 24 h (T2) after exercise. Total serum activity of CK and LDH was measured and their isoenzyme distribution pattern determined. The day before the speed test echocardiographic examination was carried out at rest to assess the left ventricular function by calculating telediastolic, telesystolic and stroke volume, ejection fraction and stroke index. Statistically significant differences were found for the CK isoenzyme pattern at T2, where Group A showed an increase in the MM fraction (P = 0.003) and a decrease in the MB fraction (P = 0.014). These changes were thought to be linked to an increased membrane leakage due to exercise and not to muscle fibre disruption because the CK and LDH total activities remained within the normal range. In Group A there was also greater left ventricular telediastolic volume (P = 0.044) and length (P = 0.033) at rest as well as a greater stroke index (P = 0.032). We concluded that the evaluation of CK pattern after exercise and of echocardiographic left ventricular function indices at rest made it possible to select for the fastest horses (Group A).