Kiyoshi Taguchi

Distribution of capsaicin-sensitive substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves in bovine respiratory tract

The distribution of nerve fibers immunoreactive for substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined by means of immunohistochemical methods in the respiratory tract from nose to lung of normal and capsaicin-treated cattle. SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers with varicosities were detected in all portions. They were more numerous in calves than in cows. They were abundant in the nasal and laryngeal mucosae and tracheal bronchus, and few in number in the lung. SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers were mainly seen in the epithelium, in connective tissue beneath the epithelium and around blood vessels, and in the glands throughout the respiratory tract. In contrast, SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers were sparse in the smooth muscle layer. Capsaicin treatment of neonates caused a remarkable reduction in the number of SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers in the respiratory tract of calves. Double immunofluorescence experiments showed the colocalization of SP and CGRP in most of the nerve fibers. The present findings suggest that SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers are involved in the regulation of the bovine respiratory tract, and that capsaicin-sensitive SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers are sensory neurons of the bovine respiratory tract.

Evaluation of a milk-flow assessment technique in dairy cows with normal teat canals or stenotic teat canals

OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness and reliability of a milk-flow measurement technique and the values obtained in unobstructed teats and teats with teat canal stenosis in dairy cows. ANIMALS 16 Holstein cows. PROCEDURES Teats were assessed via hand milking and classified as unobstructed or partially obstructed. Partially obstructed teats were further categorized according to the anatomic location of the obstruction via ultrasonography into teat canal obstruction (TCO) and obstruction at the proximal portion of the teat canal (Fürstenberg rosette obstruction [FRO]) The milk-flow characteristics of the teat canal were assessed by measuring the intracisternal pressure at the start (PSL) and at cessation (PCL) of leakage of an infused solution. RESULTS The PSL and PCL values among unobstructed teats were not significantly different between lactating and nonlactating cows nor among quarters. In assessment of test-retest intrarater reliability, a high degree of correlation was detected for PSL (correlation coefficient, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.90 to 0.96) and PCL (correlation coefficient, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.86 to 0.95). Teats with TCO and FRO had higher PSL and PCL values, compared with unobstructed teats. Teats with FRO had significantly higher PSL but lower PCL than teats with TCO. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated the usefulness and reliability of the technique in assessing the milk-flow characteristics of the teat canal. The milk-flow pattern of teats with teat canal stenosis varies depending on the location of obstruction. This technique may be a valuable tool in evaluating the effectiveness of teat canal surgery.

Analysis of Trace and Major Elements in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Mycoplasma Bronchopneumonia in Calves

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of direct determination of trace and major element concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from Holstein calves with Mycoplasma bronchopneumonia (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 20). The samples were obtained during bronchoscopy using a standard examination method. A total of 18 elements (aluminum, bromine, calcium, chlorine, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorous, sulfur, silicon, strontium, titanium, and zinc) were detected by particle-induced X-ray emission. The average bromine, iron, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous concentrations were higher in calves with bronchopneumonia than in controls (p < 0.05). They were found to have higher amounts of calcium and zinc, and a higher zinc–copper ratio than that in healthy calves (p < 0.001). Based on the receiver operating characteristics curves, we propose a diagnostic cutoff point for zinc–copper ratio for identification of Mycoplasma pneumonia of 8.676. Our results indicate that assessment of the elemental composition of broncholaveolar lavage fluid is a promising diagnostic tool for Mycoplasma bronchopneumonia.

Antinociceptive, sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of subarachnoid and epidural xylazine-lidocaine in xylazine-sedated calves.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the antinociceptive, sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of subarachnoid and epidural administration of xylazine-lidocaine in xylazine-sedated calves. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, crossover study. ANIMALS Six clinically healthy Holstein calves. MATERIALS The calves were allocated randomly to receive two treatments, subarachnoid or epidural xylazine (0.025 mg kg(-1))-lidocaine (0.1 mg kg(-1)) diluted to a total volume of 5 mL with physiological saline. Prior to either epidural or subarachnoid injection, sedation was induced in all calves by intravenous administration of 0.1 mg kg(-1) xylazine. The quality and duration of antinociception and sedation were monitored. Areas of the cranial abdomen, umbilicus, and caudal abdomen were evaluated for antinociception using pinprick tests with a scoring system of 0-3 (0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, complete). Sedation was assessed by using a 4-point scale (0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, deep). The following cardiopulmonary variables were monitored: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f(R)), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood pH, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)), bicarbonate (HCO(3)), base excess (BE), and oxygen saturation (SaO(2)). RESULTS Xylazine sedation and subarachnoid xylazine-lidocaine resulted in significantly higher nociceptive block than the epidural technique. Moreover, subarachnoid xylazine-lidocaine induced a significantly longer duration of complete antinociception (median [IQR]) in the cranial abdomen (15.0 [15.0-30.0] versus 7.5 [1.3-10.0] minutes; p < 0.05) and umbilicus (45.0 [32.5-57.5] versus 10.0 [6.3-17.5] minutes; p < 0.05) compared with epidural xylazine-lidocaine. There was moderate sedation with both techniques. In both treatments, blood pH, MAP and PaO(2) decreased significantly, and PaCO(2) increased significantly during anaesthesia. No change was evident in HR, f(R), HCO(3,) BE, or SaO(2). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The subarachnoid injection provided better quality and longer duration of antinociception than epidural administration of the same doses of xylazine-lidocaine in xylazine-sedated calves, while cardiopulmonary depressant effects were observed with both regimens.

Prognostic Judgment at Post-Surgery by Biochemical Parameters in Beef Cattle with Left Displaced Abomasum

ABSTRACT We examined whether the postoperative prognosis of beef cattle with left displaced abomasum (LDA) can be estimated from changes in laboratory parameters. Preoperatively, beef cattle with LDA showed increases in plasma glucose with decreased serum insulin in the glucose tolerance test compared to non-LDA cattle. Postoperatively, the cattle with LDA were retrospectively divided into two groups, good and bad prognoses. Although plasma glucose concentrations significantly increased either pre- or postoperatively, no difference was noted between the good and bad prognosis groups. Serum insulin concentrations in the bad prognosis group significantly decreased, compared to those in the good prognosis group. These findings suggest that beef cattle with LDA elicit disturbed glucose metabolite pre- and postoperatively, and serum insulin levels may predict their prognoses after surgery.

Ultrasonographic Appearance of Bovine Coxofemoral Luxation in Different Directions

Coxofemoral luxation is common in cattle and prognosis is very guarded or poor. Diagnosis is generally based on thorough physical examination by identifying the structure of the hip, but an accurate diagnosis can be challenging, especially in heavy and recumbent cows because large muscle mass covering the pelvis and hip makes palpation of the bony structures difficult. In cattle practice, ultrasound has been widely used as an important ancillary test for a more accurate diagnosis and avoidance of unnecessary treatment. The purpose of this report is to describe ultrasonographic features of twenty two dairy cows (3-7 years) with coxofemoral luxation in three different directions. Five cows with craniodorsal, six with caudodorsal, and eleven with caudoventral luxation were examined ultrasonographically. Only three cows were able to stand and eleven exhibited asymmetry of the hip upon external examination of the hindlimbs. Sonographic findings on the dorsolateral view of the hip in standing and laterally recumbent cows invariably included the ball-shaped femoral head outside the acetabulum in dorsal luxations and heterechoic empty joint cavity of the acetabulum in ventral luxation. On the ventrodorsal view for dorsal recumbency with the frog-leg position, either luxated femoral head or empty acetabular cavity was visible in fifteen examined cows in the three different directions of luxation, but the femoral head of the caudodorsal luxation was translated caudoventrally to the acetabulum owing to severe soft tissue damage around the acetabulum. Transrectal ultrasonography of the caudoventral luxation revealed the ball of the femoral head in or ventral to the obturator foramen with varying amounts of fibrin deposit on it. Ultrasonography can be used to make a definitive diagnosis of coxofemoral luxation in three different directions in recumbent cows, as well as standing cows.

STANDARD-FREE METHOD FOR HOOF SAMPLES TAKEN FROM DOMESTIC ANIMALS SUCH AS COW, CALF, PONY AND SHEEP

A standard-free method for hoof samples taken from cattle such as cow, calf, pony and sheep has been developed in order to estimate the state of health of these animals. The standard-free method developed for human nails was confirmed to be applicable to quantitative analysis of hoof samples since the shape of continuous X-rays is almost the same for nail and hoof taken from these ungulate animals. Accuracy and sensitivity of the present standard method were examined by comparing the results with those obtained by an internal-standard method combined with a chemical-ashing method, and it is confirmed that the method is applicable to hoof samples taken from domestic animals of many species. The method allows us to quantitatively analyze untreated hoof samples and to prepare the targets without complicated preparation technique which often brings ambiguous factors such as elemental loss from the sample and contamination of the sample during preparation procedure. It is also confirmed that halogens, which are important elements for estimating the state of health and are mostly lost during chemical-ashing, can be analyzed without problem by the present method. It is found that elemental concentration of more than twenty elements can be constantly analyzed and it is expected to be quite useful in order to estimate the state of health and to make diagnosis of domestic animals. It is also confirmed that elemental concentration of essential elements in hoof is not so changed depending on the positions in the sliced sample along both horizontal and vertical axis.

Milk-flow, ultrasonographic, theloscopic, and histopathological characteristics of the teat in cows with toxic mastitis.

The milk-flow, imaging, and histopathological characteristics of the teat in five cows with toxic mastitis were investigated. Teats were grouped into type I (without gross and histopathological abnormality), type II (no abnormal gross findings, but with histopathological abnormality), and type III (with gross and histopathological abnormality). Normal teats from six cows served as controls. Type II and III teats had lower milk-flow, compared with the controls. Ultrasonography revealed no abnormal findings, except for irregular mucosal surface in type II teats and absence of hyperechoic line along the teat canal in type III teats. The theloscopic findings varied from normal to mucosal abnormalities in type II and III teats. Histopathology demonstrated epithelial changes, congestion, hemorrhage, edema, cellular infiltration, and elastic fiber degradation in type II and III teats, with the type III teats showing severe changes. Toxic mastitis was characterized by impaired milk-flow and various degrees of imaging and histopathological abnormality.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF FEATHER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM WILD BIRDS BASED ON A STANDARD-FREE METHOD

The standard-free method developed by ourselves 13 years ago has been widely applied to quantitative analyses of hairs such as head hair taken from human and body hair taken from companion and domestic animals. In the present work, the standard-free method for feather and down samples taken from wild birds such as swan, waxwing, osprey, heron and crow is developed. It is found that the standard-free method developed for human hairs can be successfully applied to feather samples without essential modification since the main constituents of feather are almost the same as those for human and animal hairs and, consequently, the shape of continuous X-rays is also the same. Accuracy and sensitivity of the present method were examined by comparing the results with those obtained by an internal-standard method combined with a chemical-ashing method. The method allows us to quantitatively analyze untreated feather samples of very small quantities and to prepare the target without complicated preparation technique. It is expected that the method will become a powerful tool for the studies not only on the mode of life of wild birds but also on environmental contamination by toxic elements.

Pressor Effects of Ephedrine in Cows with Segmental Lumbar Epidural Analgesia Induced by a Combination of Xylazine/Lidocaine.

健康なホルスタイン種成乳牛17頭を4頭ずつ5群に分けて, 計20回のキシラジン・リドカイン混合液 (XL) による腰椎分節硬膜外麻酔を行った (3頭は1週間間隔で2度用いた) 。エフェドリンを投与しなかったコントロール群では硬膜外薬液投与後30～120分で約20%の平均血圧の下降がみられた。他の4群にはXL液の硬膜外薬液投与10分前に4種類の方法 (0.2mg/kg静注, 0.2mg/kg硬膜外投与, 0.5mg/kg皮下注, 1.0mg/kg皮下注) でエフェドリンを投与した。0.2mg/kg静脈内投与した群および0.2mg/kg硬膜外投与群では, それぞれ約15および10%の平均血圧の下降がみられたが, 1mg/kg皮下注射した群では20%以上の血圧上昇と鎮静効果持続時間の短縮がみられた。0.5mg/kg皮下注射群では, 収縮期, 拡張期, 平均血圧ともbaseline値を維持し, XL液による腰椎分節硬膜外投与による鎮静効果にも影響を及ぼさなかった。