2007 - 76 (2)

A black jaguar (Panthera onca) was anesthetized with a combination of medetomidine, ketamine and isoflurane in oxygen for radiological examination and surgical repair of a fractured mandible. Since a non-domesticated cat is potentially dangerous, induction of anesthesia was performed by intramuscular injection using a mechanical squeeze cage. The cardiopulmonary parameters during anesthesia remained within normal ranges; only a small increase in the respiration rate was recorded 75 minutes after intubation. This hyperventilation was treated with buprenorphine (for additional analgesia) and an increased inspiratory fraction of isoflurane. Recovery was rather slow after 165 minutes of general anesthesia, so atipamezole was administered. Ten minutes after the intramuscular injection of atipamezole, the animal started to recover. Meloxicam and buprenorphine were used for post-operative analgesia.

Swine dysentery is causing severe economic losses in affected herds. In the present study an elimination protocol without depopulation was developed and evaluated on three farrow-to-finish farms using fecal examination. The elimination protocol consisted of stringent rodent control, hygienic measures and an elimination treatment of the sows using tiamulin 10 mg/kg BW or valnemulin 4 mg/kg BW for 3 weeks, followed by a 3 week treatment at half the dose. On day 10 of antimicrobial supplementation, treatment was accompanied by washing of the sows and cleaning of the environment. Once treated and washed according to this protocol, the sows were considered clean. Thus the piglets born from these sows in a clean environment were considered clean and were kept separated from the rest of the piglets and fatteners. For the piglets and fatteners born before the elimination treatment, no elimination treatment was done. Only pigs showing clinical symptoms were treated, in combination with hygienic measures to prevent spreading. Fecal samples from sows and clean pigs were monitored monthly until one year after the start of the treatment program. In two herds, elimination of the disease was successful: no clinical signs were seen and fecal samples remained negative until the end of the testing period. In one herd, clinical symptoms reappeared in the fatteners. The findings of this study confirm the potential usefulness of the elimination protocol described in single-site, farrow-to finish herds. In addition, the results of the prolonged follow-up strongly indicate that the causal bacterium itself, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, can be eliminated at the farm level when this elimination protocol is applied.

Swine dysentery is causing severe economic losses in affected herds. In the present study an elimination protocol without depopulation was developed and evaluated on three farrow-to-finish farms using fecal examination. The elimination protocol consisted of stringent rodent control, hygienic measures and an elimination treatment of the sows using tiamulin 10 mg/kg BW or valnemulin 4 mg/kg BW for 3 weeks, followed by a 3 week treatment at half the dose. On day 10 of antimicrobial supplementation, treatment was accompanied by washing of the sows and cleaning of the environment. Once treated and washed according to this protocol, the sows were considered clean. Thus the piglets born from these sows in a clean environment were considered clean and were kept separated from the rest of the piglets and fatteners. For the piglets and fatteners born before the elimination treatment, no elimination treatment was done. Only pigs showing clinical symptoms were treated, in combination with hygienic measures to prevent spreading. Fecal samples from sows and clean pigs were monitored monthly until one year after the start of the treatment program. In two herds, elimination of the disease was successful: no clinical signs were seen and fecal samples remained negative until the end of the testing period. In one herd, clinical symptoms reappeared in the fatteners. The findings of this study confirm the potential usefulness of the elimination protocol described in single-site, farrow-to finish herds. In addition, the results of the prolonged follow-up strongly indicate that the causal bacterium itself, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, can be eliminated at the farm level when this elimination protocol is applied.

In 56 dogs and 1 cat a diagnosis of suspected fibrocartilaginous embolism was made based on the history, the typical clinical presentation, and the absence of specific abnormalities on radiography and myelography. None of the diagnoses was confirmed by histopathological examination; since none of the patients was euthanized at the time of diagnosis. Therapy consisted of supportive care, with additional physio and/or hydrotherapy in a quarter of the cases. Short- and long-term results (more than 1 year after diagnosis) were better than earlier reported.

To date, 13 enterohepatic Helicobacter species have been detected in laboratory rodents. Some of these species, in particular Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter bilis, cause disease in immunocompromised and immunocompetent laboratory mice, rats and/or hamsters. In addition, subclinical infections with these bacteria may interfere with results obtained from experimental research in these animals and thus may lead to faulty interpretation of the data. Some laboratory rodent-associated Helicobacter species may also be considered zoonotic agents. Apart from Helicobacter hepaticus, the pathogenesis of Helicobacter infections has not been studied extensively, a fact which means there are substantial gaps in the comprehension of the virulence mechanisms of enterohepatic Helicobacter species associated with laboratory rodents. For all these reasons, the potential importance of these bacterial pathogens cannot be overlooked and undoubtedly merits further investigation.

Paper in Dutch

Paper in Dutch

Feline hyperthyroidism is currently the most diagnosed endocrine disorder in cats. It is caused by benign adenomatous hyperplasia of the thyroid gland in 98% of the cases. The two major non-surgical treatment options, administration of antithyroid drugs and radioiodine therapy, are reviewed in this article. Before treatment is initiated, special attention should be given to renal and cardiovascular function. Antithyroid drugs contain thiourylenes, which block the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Therapy should be started at a conservative dose with monitoring of the patient for side effects. Radioiodine is taken up by the hyperactive cells of the thyroid tumor. The decay with emission of bèta-particles causes local destruction of the surrounding follicle cells. Radioiodine is considered the treatment of choice in most cats.