Bulent Ulutas

Acute phase protein response in dogs with experimentally induced gastric mucosal injury

BACKGROUND The acute phase response is part of the innate defense system of an animal against trauma, inflammation, and infection. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the acute phase response in dogs with acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastric mucosal injuries and to determine its potential diagnostic significance. METHODS Ten, healthy, cross-breed dogs (6 females and 4 males) were given oral acetylsalicylic acid in a single oral dose of 200 mg/kg for the experimental model of acute gastric mucosal injury. Heparinized blood samples were collected before (day 0) and on days 1, 4, and 7 after acetylsalicylic acid administration to determine plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid-A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen, total protein, albumin, and iron concentrations. Total WBC counts were done in whole blood. Endoscopy was done on each of the selected days, and gastric lesions were scored and localized. RESULTS Hemorrhagic linear erosions were found in all dogs on day 1, concurrent with significant increases in CRP, SAA, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen concentrations, and in WBC counts; however, iron concentration was decreased. Peak haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations occurred on day 4, at which time only nonhemorrhagic lesions were observed endoscopically. On day 7, results for all analytes except haptoglobin had returned to baseline levels, along with resolution of most gastric lesions. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study indicate that a rapid acute phase protein response occurs after induced gastric mucosal injury in dogs and may be potentially useful together with gastroscopy in the diagnosis and monitoring of gastric injury.

Eprinomectin treatment of psoroptic mange in hunter/jumper and dressage horses: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of topical eprinomectin for the treatment of psoroptic mange infestation in horses. 24 privately owned hunter/jumper and dressage horses were diagnosed with psoroptic mange infestation based on physical findings and skin scraping results were enrolled and randomly assigned to either topical eprinomectin pour-on solution (at a dose of 500microg/kg body weight weekly once for four applications) treatment group or a placebo group (purified water). Clinical evaluations and skin scrapings were done by the same veterinary investigator at the beginning, during and at the end of the treatment. Both owners and veterinary investigator were blinded to the allocation to the groups. The efficacy of eprinomectin was assessed both clinically and parasitologically by the presence or absence of viable mites. Horses were scraped for psoroptic mites on days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 40 for follow-up. Fishers exact test was used to assess differences between the eprinomectin treatment and placebo in the number of horses without mites (cure rates) on each assessment date. It was found that significantly fewer eprinomectin treated horses had P. equi mites detected on skin scrapings (p<0.01) than the placebo group. In conclusion, eprinomectin was effective and safe therapy against natural infestations of P. equi in the horses included in this study.

Macroscopic findings of idiopathic congenital megaoesophagus in a calf

MEGAOESOPHAGUS is a congenital or acquired dilation of the oesophagus (Vestweber and others 1985, Ndikuwera and others 1990, Jubb and others 1992). Functional or morphologic defects due to systemic diseases are the underlying cause of acquired megaoesophagus. Congenital megaoesophagus is considered to be a disorder of neuromuscular development in dogs; the pathogenesis of the condition is not clear in other domestic animals (Jubb and others 1992). This short communication describes the clinical and macroscopic postmortem findings in a calf with congenital megaoesophagus. A 15-day-old, male Simmental cross Holstein calf, weighing 23 kg, was referred to the large animal clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, with a history of regurgitation and a swelling on the left side of the neck since birth. The calf was able to drink milk continuously for approximately one to three minutes but this was followed by extension of the head and neck ventrally and reflux of milk from the nose and mouth. The calf was alert. Physical examination revealed a normal rectal temperature (39·2°C), respiratory rate (76 breaths/minute) and heart rate (128 bpm). Increased bronchovesicular sounds could be heard on auscultation. A blood sample was taken from a jugular vein for haematological and biochemical tests. The packed-cell volume (PCV) was measured in whole blood using a microhaematocrit centrifuge (Hettich). The activities of gamma glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in the plasma, and the plasma concentrations of total bilirubin, glucose, urea and total protein, were measured on a spectrophotometer (Model 1601; Shimatzu) using a commercially available kit (Randox). The gamma glutamyltransferase, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin were all within normal ranges. The PCV was 35 per cent (reference range 19 to 34 per cent), total protein was 75·5 g/l (reference range 57 to 73 g/l) and urea was 11·35 mmol/l (reference range 1·6 to 6·0 mmol/l). The slight increase in these parameters might have been related to dehydration or protein catabolism. Lateral and ventrodorsal plain cervicothoracic radiographs revealed enlargement of the oesophagus, and contrast radiography with barium sulphate (R-X suspension 150 g/ 240 ml; Yenisehir) confirmed a megaoesophagus (Fig 1). Because of the poor prognosis, euthanasia was performed with the owner’s consent. Immediately after the calf had been euthanased, its abdominal cavity was opened and the abdominal aorta was cannulated, the vessels were washed with 0·9 per cent physiological saline and red-coloured latex was injected. Macroscopic examination confirmed the dilation of the oesophagus, which caused stretching of the vagus nerve. The broncho-oesophageal artery was enlarged and its caudal branch had a tortuous path, like a rete, at the level of the caudal mediastinal lymph node (Fig 2). The oesophagus was pale and thin walled. There were two constrictions present: the first was at the level of the aortic arch, between the aortic arch on the left, the mediastinal lymph node on the right, the broncho-oesophageal artery dorsally and the trachea ventrally. The colour of the oesophagus was darker at the constriction site from its colour in other parts. The second constriction was observed where the dorsal branches of the vagus nerve on the left and right sides united to form the dorsal vagus trunk (Fig 2). There was no vascular ring anomaly present. The oesophagus was marked at six different regions, removed and emptied, and its diameter was measured using micrometric callipers. Its diameter increased from the neck (22·47 mm) and thoracic inlet (23·79 mm) to the level of the third thoracic vertebra (27·34 mm). The narrowest diameter of the thoracic oesophagus was 23·64 mm, at the level of aortic arch, and it enlarged to 26·45 mm caudally. At the level of the dorsal vagus trunk it again decreased to 24·97 mm (Fig 2). A 10-day-old Holstein calf weighing 37 kg, which had been euthanased because of a pelvic fracture, was examined similarly: the diameter of its oesophagus was 14·48 mm, 14·60 mm, 13·57 mm, 14·07 mm, 14·08 mm and 16·49 mm at the respective regions. In this case, microscopic examination was not performed and the macroscopic examination did not reveal any gross morphological defect that would cause oesophageal dilation. While there are a few reports about acquired segmental megaoesophagus in cattle (Anderson and Vestweber 1984, Vestweber and others 1985, Ross and Rebhun 1986), there has Veterinary Record (2006) 158, 26-27