Review of current and potential applications of mesenchymal stem cells in exotic animal species.

The discovery that a population of cells derived from adult tissues had regenerative properties and could be expanded and utilized therapeutically led to an abundance of research into the safety and efficacy of these cells for a variety of disease processes. Derived from tissues of mesenchymal origin, these cells were called mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). MSCs were subsequently found to have a variety of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and regenerative properties both in vitro and in vivo. These cells have been extensively studied and demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, and other pathologic conditions. Multiple veterinary clinical trials have been performed for diseases such as osteoarthritis, soft tissue, and tendon injuries in addition to other inflammatory and infectious conditions. Exotic animal species can pose additional challenges to the treatment of common medical conditions such as osteoarthritis due to varying metabolism and tolerance to medications as well as potential difficulty to medicate or utilize other common forms of therapy such as physical therapy, laser, massage, and acupuncture. Current knowledge of MSC use in exotic species is limited, but there is a large potential for benefit to a variety of species utilizing this novel therapeutic tool. This review includes a brief overview of mechanisms and known applications of this therapy as well as current and potential applications of MSCs in exotic animal species.

Pretreatment aerobic bacterial swab cultures to predict infection in acute open traumatic wounds: A prospective clinical study of 64 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of initial aerobic bacterial cultures of acute open traumatic wounds to predict bacterial species in wounds that become infected. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: Sixty-four dogs with naturally occurring acute cutaneous traumatic wounds (2017-2018). METHODS: Initial swabs were taken from each wound prior to and after lavage and debridement for quantitative and qualitative aerobic bacterial culture. Cultures were repeated on wounds that displayed any clinical sign of infection within 14 days of presentation. RESULTS: Fewer bacteria were cultured from postlavage than from prelavage swabs in 43 of 50 (86%) acute wounds. All primary clinicians prescribed ß-lactam antibiotics to the dogs at initial presentation. All bacteria cultured from postlavage/debridement cultures at initial presentation were susceptible to the prophylactic antimicrobial prescribed. Postoperative infection was subsequently diagnosed in 14 of 64 (22%) dogs; 13 of these dogs had positive culture results. No correlation was detected between the results of initial wound cultures and the subsequent development of wound infection. Bacterial species present in the initial wound swab did not correlate with those subsequently cultured from infected tissues. CONCLUSION: Results of pretreatment wound cultures from open traumatic wounds in dogs were not predictive of bacterial species subsequently recovered from infected wounds. The bacterial burden present in pretreatment wounds was not predictive of whether wounds would ultimately become infected after surgical management. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Routine bacterial culturing of acute wounds is not likely to help predict subsequent wound infection, nor is it likely to accurately guide early selection of antimicrobials to treat wounds that become infected.

Cationic Liposome-Oligonucleotide Complex as an Alternative Adjuvant for Polyclonal Antibody Production in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolaguscuniculus).

Because of their ideal size and temperament, rabbits are commonly used in polyclonal antibody production. Immunostimulatory adjuvants-such as Freund complete and incomplete adjuvants as well as various proprietary products-trigger a robust immune response, which increases antibody concentrations. However, these adjuvants can cause excessive soft tissue reactions, prompting concerns regarding animal wellbeing. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of cationic liposome- oligonucleotide complexes (CLDC) as an alternative adjuvant to conventional adjuvants. On days 0 and 14, 15 female New Zealand white rabbits were vaccinated subcutaneously with 15 µg ovalbumin mixed with either CLDC, Freund adjuvant (day 0, complete; day 14, incomplete), or a proprietary adjuvant (n = 5 per group). Antibody titers were measured by direct ELISA on days 0, 14, and 28. Rabbits were palpated daily for lesion development, and all lesions were measured. Rabbits in all groups developed a significant antibody response to ovalbumin over 28 d. However, the differences between groups were not statistically significant. No rabbits in the CLDC group developed skin lesions, whereas 80% of rabbits that received Freund adjuvant and 100% of those that received the proprietary product developed skin lesions. This study demonstrates that CLDC may be a valuable and effective alternative adjuvant for polyclonal antibody production in rabbits-one that avoids the palpable injection-site lesions often seen with other adjuvants.