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.

Tot op heden werden 13 enterohepatische Helicobacter-species aangetoond bij laboratorium knaagdieren. Verschil -lende van deze species, in het bijzonder Helicobacter hepaticus en Helicobacter bilis, veroorzaken ziekte bij immuun -deficiënte en immuuncompetente laboratorium muizen, -ratten en/of -hamsters. Bovendien kunnen subklinischeinfecties met deze bacteriën interfereren met de resultaten van experimenteel onderzoek bij deze dieren en dus eventueelleiden tot een foute interpretatie van data. Enkele helicobacters die voorkomen bij laboratorium knaagdieren kunnenook de mens infecteren en kunnen dus worden beschouwd als zoönotische agentia. Op Helicobacter hepaticus na, is depathogenese van Helicobacter-infecties slechts rudimentair bestudeerd waardoor de kennis van de virulentiemechanismenvan enterohepatische Helicobacter-species bij laboratoriumknaagdieren schaars is. Omwille van al deze redenen kanhet potentieel belang van deze bacteriële agentia niet worden ontkend en is er hiernaar duidelijk meer onderzoek nodig.

In dit overzichtsartikel komen de mogelijkheden tot objectivering van het kreupelheidsonderzoek bij hetpaard aan de orde. Aller eerst worden de beperkingen van het subjectief evalueren van kreupelheid besproken.De mogelijke voordelen van een kwantitatieve evaluatie worden toegelicht en de verschillende mogelijke kine -matische en kinetische methoden worden achtereenvolgens besproken. In experimentele opstelling en hebbendeze hun wetenschappelijke waarde bewezen. De klinische toepasbaarheid ervan is voorlopig nog beperkt. Dezoektocht naar een systeem dat routinematig ingezet kan worden tijdens het kreupelheidsonderzoek van hetpaard is echter nog niet ten einde.

In België komen veel kalveren ter wereld door middel van een Sectio Caesarea (SC). De oorzaak hiervan is degrote belangstelling voor koeien van het Belgisch Wit blauwe (BWB) ras en het feit dat bij dit ras een natuurlijkekalving niet of nauwelijks mogelijk is. De intensieve selectie bij het BWB op hyperbespiering heeft geleid tot eenwanverhouding tussen moeder en kalf. Een absoluut (of relatief) te groot levend kalf is bij BWB-koeien dan ookde belangrijkste indicatie voor het uitvoeren van een SC. Ondanks het feit dat de SC in België routinematigwordt verricht, blijft het een abdominale ingreep en kunnen er zich verschillende complicaties zowel vóór, tij -dens, als na de keizersnede voordoen. Door de toenemen de kennis over hygiëne, de operatietechniek en andererisicofactoren kunnen veel complicaties vermeden of tot een minimum beperkt worden.

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.