1,721,040 research outputs found
Il diabete mellito nel cane: eziopatogenesi, indagini diagnostiche statiche di laboratorio.
No full textLaparoscopic castration of cryptorchid horses: 20 cases.
No full textIntroduction: Laparoscopic surgery provides a direct means of assessing intraabdominal
testes in horses and offers significant advantages over a laparotomy approach
under a general anaesthetic.. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe our
experience with laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses. Methods: 22
horses aged 1,5 years in mean, of different breeds and weight were admitted for
laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy between May 2006 and April 2008. The retained testicle
was the left in 7 horses, the right in 9, in 6 cases both testes were retained. Horses were
restrained in a set of stocks and sedated with detomidine HCl in infusion. After surgical
preparation of the paralumbar fossa region ipselateral to the retained testis, abdominal
insufflation was initiated and maintained using a CO2 pump. After cannula and
laparoscope placement the retained testis was identified and grasped. A ligature of 0
polydioxanone suture was napplied to encircle the mesorchium, mesoductus, deferens,
and the caudal epididymal ligament. After cutting the spermatic cord, the testis was
removed via a flank incision. When present, the descended testis was removed using a
standard open standing technique. Results: No surgical or postoperative complications
were observed. The median surgical time of procedures was 63 minutes. Discussion and
conclusions: Laparoscopy allowed excellent visualization of the structures of the vaginal
ring and facilitated removal of the abdominally located testis. The internal and external
inguinal rings were not invaded, thus the chance of serious complications that may result
during open cryptorchidectomy procedures was minimized. The standing laparoscopic
approach to remove the retained testis is easily performed
Evaluation of veterinary students’ suture performance according to three different instructional modalities
No full textBackground: Higher education attempts to ameliorate the learning experience through match between learning subjects and students’ learning styles. Aim: This study evaluates the efficacy of three different instructional modalities aimed at teaching veterinary students how to make simple suture knots. Methods: A cohort of 43 fourth-year students were split into 3 groups and provided with different instructional modalities: presentation with pictures and descriptions, hard copy text, and muted video. The student’s surgical simulation performance was evaluated. Then, they answered a 23 question-survey, Fleming VARK questionnaire based, investigating their learning profile. Kruskal Wallis test evaluated different instructional modalities effect on student’s performance. The chi-square test assessed differences between instructional modalities and learning profiles, profile self evaluation, and training session comprehension. Results: Students showed auditory unimodal VARK profile (16/43), did not know their learning profile (26/43), and favored personalized teaching strategies (43/43). No differences were found for: surgical performance, except for forceps handling; and between instructional modalities: either for learning profiles (p-value = 0.43), or profile self evaluation (p-value = 0.42). Differences were found between instructional modalities and training session comprehension. As limitations, auditory instructional modalities, participants’ age, and gender were not recorded or evaluated. Conclusion: Our study provides feedback on modern teaching modalities in which students play a key role. Participants showed a variety of learning profiles although displaying no significant performance differences
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia magnitude quantification as a potential marker of stress and pain in cows and sheep
No full textRespiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) provides a quantitative evaluation of ‘vagal tone’ and may be used for pain and stress assessment in livestock. The aim was to quantify the magnitude of RSA in cows and sheep. In 7 cows and 4 sheep standing at rest we measured the 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) together with the pneumogram, to identify inspiration and expiration. For each breath, RSA was the difference in instantaneous heart rate (HR) between the inspiratory peak and the expiratory trough, in percent of mean HR. The resting breathing rates (28 ± 2 and 32 ± 5 breaths/min in cows and sheep, respectively) were about twice those expected for similar size non-ruminants, in conformity with previous reports. Both species had long-period (>15 s) HR fluctuations. The average values of RSA, 1.4 ± 0.2% in cows and 7.8 ± 3.1 in sheep, were lower than those previously computed by an identical approach in humans (12%), dogs (40%) and horses (9%). In conclusion, by breath-by-breath analysis of instantaneous HR we measured RSA in both cows and sheep. Results from the present study represent a preliminary step in assessing whether or not RSA could be used as a biomarker for stress or pain in ruminants
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytological findings in healthy Amiata donkeys
Full text linkBackground: The approach to respiratory diseases in donkeys is similar to that for horses; nevertheless, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheal wash cytology in this species have been described only a few times in the literature. Aim: To describe BALF cytological findings in a cohort of 24 healthy Amiata donkeys. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out via standing sedation with a large animal where the BAL catheter passed blindly through the nasal passage into the trachea. Results: The total nucleated cell count of the BALF was found similar to that already described in healthy horses and donkeys. No differences in the differential count were observed according to age and sex. A decreased macrophage percentage and an increased eosinophil percentage were observed in our donkey population when compared to the existing reference range for horses. Conclusion: The reference intervals for BAL cytology in donkeys may be significantly different for those referred for horses
A case of septicemia in a calf: why calves' management is so important at the farm
Full text linkA 21 days old female Holstein Friesian calf was referred by the private veterinarian for the worsening clinical signs despite the therapy. The calf belonged to a farm with poor calves' management. At admission time, the calf presented severe depression, dehydration, positive Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome score and signs of septic shock. Increase lung sounds and watery diarrhea were detected. Laboratory analysis showed signs of septicemia. The calf died almost 12 hours after the admission. A diagnosis of neonatal septicemia has been confirmed by necropsy.
The major critical points of this farm were the absence of colostrum and passive transfer of immunity management and the high prevalence of diarrhea (almost 92%) in pre-weaning calves. Both these concerning might predisposed calves to neonatal septicemia. The cleaning, steaming and disinfection of calf housing and calving pens was largely improved. More calf pens were added in order to decrease the animals density and a regular disinfection of utensils and an adequate and clean straw bedding was introduced in the daily management. The colostrum was checked with a Brix refractometry and the 21% has been considered the break point for high-quality (>50 g of IgG/L) maternal colostrum. The farmer was also advised to administer 4 L of colostrum 6 to 8 hours after birth. Every calf was checked for the immunity passive transfer by the evaluation of refractometric serum total protein. The incidence rate of diarrhea in pre-weaning calves decreased to 78% and no more cases of sepsis have been reported since 6 months. Improving the general calves' management at the farm would be essential for the prevention of septicemia in calves and related economical losses
Evaluation of Some Physical, Haemathological and Clinical Chemistry Parameters in Healthy Newborn Italian Holstein Calves
Full text linkThe aim of the present study was to investigate some physical,
haematological and clinical chemistry parameters in the newborn Italian
Holstein calf at birth and at 24 h of life, to evaluate changes during the
immediate post-partum period. Forty-six Italian Holstein Friesian calves
were included in this study. Heart rate, respiratory rate and body
temperature were recorded at birth and at 24 h of life. The time needed to
raise the head, acquire sternal recumbency, stand up were also recorded.
Blood samples were collected before first feeding and at 24 h of age and
CBC count, L-lactate, glucose and total protein concentrations were
evaluated. The head was raised immediately in 46/46 calves, suckling
reflex was acquired within 12±9 min, sternal position in 5±2 min and
newborn stood up in 38±30 min. Some of the physical data,
haematological and biochemical values showed statistical differences
between birth and 24 h of age. The results from this study provide some
information about physical and laboratory data of Italian Holstein
Friesian calves, at birth and at 24 h of life. Our results confirm that
several clinical and laboratory values in newborn calves differ from adult
reference intervals and from calves of different breeds
Doppler evaluation of renal resistivity index in healthy conscious horses and donkeys
Full text linkThe renal resistive index (RRI) is used as a measurement of downstream resistance in arter- ies. The aim of this study was to assess the RRI of the arcuate arteries by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography in healthy conscious horses and donkeys, and to verify any differ- ences related to age, breed, bodyweight (BW) or body condition (BCS). Thirty-three healthy conscious horses and nine donkeys had their systolic and diastolic flow velocities at the level of the arcuate arteries estimated by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound, and the RRI was calculated. The relationship of RRI with age, breed (Trotters vs. other breeds), bodyweight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) were evaluated. PW Doppler evaluation of RRI was successfully applied in most of the horses, but to date not in the donkeys. In horses, median RRI values for the right kidney (0.58±0.006) were statistically higher than for the left (0.51 ±0.006). For the donkeys the values were comparable. There was no significant difference in RRI between horses younger or older than 15 years, and between breeds in horses. No correlation with age, BW or BCS was found in either horses or donkeys
Evaluation of Brix Refractometry for the Estimation of Colostrum Quality in Jennies
Full text linkDonkey placenta does not allow the passage of immunoglobulins; thus, foals are born hypogammaglobulinemic and an adequate intake of high-quality colostrum in the first 24 hours of life is crucial for the surviving. The study aims to assess the relation between colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration evaluated by the single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) test and the Brix refractometer in donkeys to establish a cutoff value for high quality of colostrum based on Brix refractometry. Colostrum was collected at foaling, and at 6, 12, and 24 hours after foaling from the left and the right half of nine Amiata jennies. A total of 72 colostrum samples were analyzed. A Friedman test with a Dunn's test for multiple comparisons was used for assessing the differences between the left and right half at each sampling time. No differences were found between the left and right halves; the average value was used to analyze the effect of sampling time on the IgG concentrations and Brix values. The relationship between colostrum IgG concentrations (SRID test) versus Brix value and Brix value versus time was analyzed using two different mixed linear models. A strong statistically significant relation has been found between IgG concentrations and Brix values (R2 = 0.84). The relation between IgG concentrations and Brix refractometer showed a cutoff point of 17% Brix score for the identification of high-quality colostrum. The Brix value (%) decreased continuously from 16.29 by 0.29 × hour. Jennies’ and donkey foals’ management may be greatly improved using this simple and cheap device
Maternal and neonatal evaluation of derived reactive oxygen metabolites and biological antioxidant potential in donkey mares and foals
Full text linkOur aim was to measure the concentrations of derived reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) of donkey mares and foals at delivery and to verify the protective role of the placenta against fetal oxidative stress. A total of 15 Amiata jennies with a physiological gestation length and delivery were included together with 17 foals (two twin foalings). After delivery, maternal and foal venous blood samples were collected along with blood from the artery. Circulating lactate and plasma d-ROMs and BAP were evaluated. The Wilcoxon test for paired data was applied to verify differences in d-ROMs and BAP values, while the Spearman test was used to evaluate correlations. A significantly higher d-ROMs concentration was found in jennies compared to their foals, and to the umbilical artery blood. The BAP was higher in jennies than in their foals, but no differences were observed in the umbilical artery blood. No difference was found between foals and their umbilical cord. Blood lactate was higher in foals than in their dams. Positive correlations were found between mares and umbilical cord for BAP and d-ROMs, and between mares and foals and umbilical cord for BAP. In conclusion, the placenta may be a protective factor for the fetus. As with equine foals, the antioxidant system of donkey foals does not seems to be effective at birth
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