Annelies Van den Eede

Low MRSA prevalence in horses at farm level

BackgroundIn Europe, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) belonging to the clonal complex (CC) 398 has become an important pathogen in horses, circulating in equine clinics and causing both colonization and infection. Whether equine MRSA is bound to hospitals or can also circulate in the general horse population is currently unknown. This study, therefore, reports the nasal and perianal MRSA screening of 189 horses on 10 farms in a suspected high prevalence region (East- and West-Flanders, Belgium).ResultsOnly one horse (0.53%) from one farm (10%) tested positive in the nose. It carried a spa type t011-SCCmecV isolate, resistant to β-lactams and tetracycline, which is typical for livestock-associated MRSA CC398.ConclusionIn the region tested here, horses on horse farms seem unlikely to substantially contribute to the large animal associated ST398 MRSA reservoir present at intensive animal production units.

Effects of dobutamine on cardiovascular function and respiratory gas exchange after enoximone in isoflurane‐anaesthetized ponies

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the combined effects of enoximone and dobutamine on the cardiovascular system and respiratory gas exchange in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, experimental study. ANIMALS Six ponies (286 +/- 52 kg), aged 5.0 +/- 1.6 years. METHODS After sedation (romifidine 80 microg kg(-1)), anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.06 mg kg(-1)) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg(-1)) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The ponies were ventilated to maintain eucapnia. After 90 minutes (=T0), enoximone alone (0.5 mg kg(-1)) (E) or enoximone, followed by a constant rate infusion of dobutamine (0.5 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) (ED) for 120 minutes, was administered. Each pony received both treatments in a crossover trial, with at least 2 weeks between treatments. Heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), right atrial (RAP), systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood gases, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), oxygen delivery (DO(2)) and several respiratory gas exchange variables were measured before treatment and until T120. Statistical analysis was based on a mixed model with treatment, time and their interaction as fixed categorical effects, pony as random effect, comparing treatments globally (alpha = 0.05) and at specific timepoints (Bonferroni-adjusted alpha = 0.00625). RESULTS Compared to enoximone alone, ED treatment produced an increase in HR, CO, SV, RAP, SAP, DAP, MAP, packed cell volume (PCV) and DO(2). The difference was significant from T60 to T120 (except at T80) for HR, throughout the observational period for CO, SAP, MAP, PCV and DO(2), from T40 to T120 for DAP, at T10,T60,T80 and T120 for SV and at T10 and T20 for RAP. Overall decreases occurred in SVR and dead space ventilation (V(D)/V(T)). V(D)/V(T) was lower at T20 and from T80 to T120. Venous oxygen saturation was increased from T60 onwards. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results suggest that enoximone and dobutamine have additive cardiovascular effects and reduce V(D)/V(T) in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies.

Comparison between lithium dilution and pulse contour analysis techniques for cardiac output measurement in isoflurane anaesthetized ponies: influence of different inotropic drugs

OBJECTIVE To compare cardiac output () measurements using lithium dilution (LiDCO) and pulse contour analysis (PulseCO) techniques in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies before and during the administration of different inotropic/vasoactive drugs. STUDY DESIGN Prospective randomized experimental cross-over trial. ANIMALS Six ponies aged 5.0 +/- 1.6 (4-6.5) years and weighing 286 +/- 53 (212-368) kg. METHODS After sedation (romifidine) and induction (midazolam + ketamine), anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. After 90 minutes (= T0), one of four treatments was administered: saline 0.1 mL kg(-1) (S), enoximone 0.5 mg kg(-1) IV (E), enoximone followed by dobutamine (0.5 microg kg(-1) minute(-1) for 120 minutes) (ED) or enoximone followed by a calcium chloride infusion (0.5 mg kg(-1) minute(-1) for 10 minutes) (EC). Data were recorded for 120 minutes after T0. The PulseCO (recorded from carotid artery) was calibrated before T0, no further recalibrations were performed. was determined with LiDCO ((LiDCO)) and PulseCO ((PulseCO)) simultaneously at T5, T10, T20, T40, T60, T80, T100 and T120. Systemic vascular resistances (SVR(LiDCO) and SVR(PulseCO)) were calculated. RESULTS In the saline group, (PulseCO) was 4.9 +/- 12.3% lower than LiDCO (p < 0.01), whereas SVR(PulseCO) was 6.9 +/- 14.4% higher than SVR(LiDCO) (p < 0.01). These differences increased over time (mean +/- SEM), by 0.06 +/- 0.03% minute(-1) (p = 0.042) and SVR by 0.08 +/- 0.03% minute(-1) (p = 0.018). (PulseCO) was higher than (LiDCO) in the EC group (1.8 +/- 23.3%), but lower than (LiDCO) in groups E (-11.7 +/- 20.4%) and ED (-10.0 +/- 25.9%) (significant difference between treatments, p < 0.01). The differences in SVR in groups E (20.4 +/- 32.0%) and ED (20.7 +/- 35.3%) were significantly higher than in groups S (6.9 +/- 14.4%) and EC (3.1 +/- 22.2%) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pulse contour analysis values deviated significantly from LiDCO measurements in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies. This difference was influenced by inotropic/vasoactive drugs.