Transplacental infection of a foal with Anaplasma phagocytophilum

This is the first report to document transplacental transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophillum in the horse. A 4‐year‐old late‐term pregnant mare presented for a recent onset of pyrexia due to equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). She was hospitalised for treatment with oxytetracycline and monitoring of high‐risk foaling due to significant thrombocytopenia. Parturition occurred overnight, and the foal was PCR positive for A. phagocytophilum at birth. The foal was slow to stand and nurse, with signs of neonatal encephalopathy and anaplasmosis (thrombocytopenia). Therapy with oxytetracycline resulted in complete clinical recovery of the mare and foal within 5 days. Congenital anaplasmosis should be considered in any foal delivered to a mare suffering from EGA during late‐term pregnancy and guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy

Energetic cost of breathing, body composition, and pulmonary function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction

This study was conducted to determine whether horses with naturally occurring, severe chronic recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) 1) have a greater resting energy expenditure (REE) than control horses, 2) suffer body mass depletion, and 3) have significantly decreased REE after bronchodilation and, therefore, also 4) whether increased work of breathing contributes to the cachexia seen in some horses with RAO. Six RAO horses and six control horses underwent indirect calorimetric measures of REE and pulmonary function testing using the esophageal balloon-pneumotachograph method before and after treatment with ipratropium bromide, a parasympatholytic bronchodilator agent, at 4-h intervals for a 24-h period. Body condition scoring was performed, and an estimate of fat mass was determined via B-mode ultrasonography. O2 and CO2 fractions, respiratory airflow, respiratory rate, and pleural pressure changes were recorded, and O2 consumption, CO2 production, REE, pulmonary resistance, dynamic elastance, and tidal volume were calculated. In addition, we performed lung function testing and calorimetry both before and after sedation in two control horses. RAO horses had significantly lower body condition scores (2.8 ± 1.0 vs. 6.4 ± 1.2) and significantly greater O2 consumption than controls (4.93 ± 1.30 vs. 2.93 ± 0.70 ml·kg−1·min−1). After bronchodilation, there was no significant difference in O2 consumption between RAO horses and controls, although there remained evidence of residual airway obstruction. There was a strong correlation between O2 consumption and indexes of airway obstruction. Xylazine sedation was not associated with changes in pulmonary function but did result in markedly decreased REE in controls

Estimating total body water content in suckling and lactating llamas (Lama glama) by isotope dilution

Total body water (TBW) in 17 suckling and six lactating llamas was estimated from isotope dilution at three different post natum and lactation stages using both 18O and deuterium oxide (D2O). In total, 69 TBW measurements were undertaken. While TBW in lactating dams, expressed in kilogram, remained stable during the three measurement periods (91.8 ± 15.0 kg), the body water fraction (TBW expressed in percent of body mass) increased slightly (P = 0.042) from 62.9% to 65.8%. In contrast, TBW (kilogram) in suckling llamas increased significantly (P < 0.001) with age and decreased slightly when expressed as a percentage of body mass (P = 0.016). Relating TBW to body mass across all animals yielded a highly significant regression equation (TBW in kilogram = 2.633 + 0.623 body mass in kilogram, P < 0.001, n = 69) explaining 99.5% of the variation. The water fraction instead decreased in a curve linear fashion with increasing body mass (TBW in percent of body mass = 88.23 body mass in kilogram−0.064, P < 0.001, R2 = 0.460). The present results on TBW can serve as reference values for suckling and lactating llamas, e.g., for the evaluation of fluid losses during disease. Additionally, the established regression equations can be used to predict TBW from body mass, providing that the body masses fall inside the range of masses used to derive the equations

Long-Term Clinicopathological Characteristics of Alpacas Naturally Infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Type Ib

Background: Substantial bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)-related production losses in North American alpaca herds have been associated with BVDV type Ib infection. Objectives: To classify and differentiate the long-term clinicopathological characteristics of BVDV type Ib infection of al- paca crias, after natural virus exposure. We hypothesized that persistently infected (PI) alpacas specifically demonstrate growth retardation, clinicopathological evidence of opportunistic infections, and early mortality. Animals: Thirty-five crias naturally exposed to BVDV (18 acute, 3 chronic, 14 PIs), and 19 healthy cohort controls of 5 northeastern alpaca farms were prospectively evaluated over 2 years (September 2005–September 2008). Methods: Observational cohort-control study. Results: Chronically (viremia 43 weeks) and PI crias demonstrated significantly lower birth weights, decreased growth rates, anemia, and monocytosis compared with control animals. Common clinical problems of PI alpacas included chronic wasting, diarrhea, and respiratory disease. Median survival of PI alpacas that died was 177 days (interquartile range, 555) with a case fatality rate of 50% within 6 months of life. Transplacental infection was confirmed in 82% (9/11) of pregnant females on 1 farm, resulting in the birth of 7 PI crias (7/10 deliveries; 1 animal was aborted). Mean gestation at the beginning and end of BVDV exposure was 64 and 114 days, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Natural BVDV type 1b infection during early pregnancy resulted in a high incidence of PI offspring. Although PI alpacas may have distinct clinical characteristics, verification of persistent viremia in the absence of endogenous, neutralizing antibodies is essential to differentiate persistent from chronic infection

The effect of inhaled heliox on peak flow rates in normal and brachycephalic dogs

Background Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, alleviates airway obstruction in people and improves air flow, and its use has been proposed in dogs. Brachycephalic dogs have naturally occurring airway obstruction where heliox might be a useful therapeutic option. Objective The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the impact of breathing heliox on peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF/PEF) in healthy dogs and (2) determine if brachycephalic dogs and mesocephalic dogs have similar responses to inhaled heliox. Animals Eleven healthy dogs: 5 mesocephalic and 6 brachycephalic dogs. Methods A prospective study. Tidal breathing flow‐volume loops were recorded when dogs were breathing room air (nitrogen‐oxygen) and heliox. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates were recorded and the subjective shape of loops assessed. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows pre‐ and post‐heliox were compared using a Mann‐Whitney Rank sum test with a P‐value of <.05 considered significant. Results In inhaled heliox, PIF and PEF were evaluated by tidal breathing flow‐volume loops. In mesocephalic dogs, PIF increased from a median of 820 mL/s (range, 494‐1010 mL/s) to 1386 mL/s; P = .02; and for PEF from 688 mL/s to 1793 mL/s (P = .04), whereas in brachycephalic dogs, the median PIF increased from 282 mL/s to 694 mL/s; P = .01 and the median PEF increased from 212 mL/s to 517 mL/sec; P = .03. Brachycephalic dogs showed normalization of loop shapes. Conclusions and clinical importance Heliox improves flow rate and appears to improve flow patterns in brachycephalic dogs

Primary cardiac hemangiosarcoma in a horse: echocardiographic and necropsy findings

Cardiac hemangiosarcoma, especially primary, is infrequently reported in the horse and remains a diagnostic challenge because of vague clinical signs and difficulty to reach an antemortem diagnosis. A 17-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was presented with a history of tongue swelling and secondary aspiration pneumonia. Initial assessment indicated dehydration, and thoracic ultrasound revealed an abnormal structure within the myocardium alongside the previously suspected aspiration pneumonia. A subsequent, complete echocardiogram identified a large, heterogeneous, ill-defined mass invading and replacing the normal myocardium of the right ventricular free wall. Because of lack of improvement the horse was euthanized, and postmortem examination confirmed primary cardiac hemangiosarcoma with no further masses identified in other organs. This case is an unusual presentation of primary cardiac hemangiosarcoma for which echocardiography played a significant role in identifying a cardiac mass

Neonatal intensive care of 10 hospitalized giraffe calves (Giraffa camelopardalis) requiring hand-rearing

This retrospective case series describes the clinicopathologic findings, diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes of 10 hand-reared newborn giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) calves admitted to a university teaching hospital for intensive care. Ten calves (five males, five females; nine reticulated giraffes [Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata], one Masai giraffe [G. c. tippelskirchi]), were admitted under 2 days of age. Inadequate transfer of passive immunity was suspected in 5 of 10 calves based on assessment of serum total solids and globulin values. These calves were treated with oral frozen bovine colostrum and/or intravenous hyperimmune bovine plasma. Diarrhea occurred in 6 of 10 calves and was managed with supportive care, fecal microbiota transplantation, and limiting milk intake (offering 10% body weight [BW] in milk per day, while feeding &lt;2 L per meal at 2- to 4-hr intervals). Less common diagnoses included pneumonia (n = 3) and mycoplasma-associated septic arthritis (n = 1). Eight calves received systemic antimicrobial therapy. Hyperlactatemia (lactate &gt; 5 mmol/L; n = 8) and hypercreatininemia (creatinine &gt; 2.0 mg/dl, n = 7) were the most common presenting laboratory abnormalities, which resolved with intravenous fluid therapy. All neonatal giraffes survived to discharge after a median hospitalization of 9.5 days (range, 5–37 days) and were successfully hand-reared at their place of birth. In conclusion, neonatal giraffe calves can be intensively managed in a hospital environment. Diarrhea was a common clinical problem and can be related to feeding regimens. Intravenous hyperimmune bovine plasma infusion was well tolerated to manage failure of transfer of passive immunity in calves with inadequate colostrum administration. The current study supports that compromised neonatal giraffe calves may carry an excellent prognosis after early, intensive intervention

Humoral response to an equine encephalitis vaccine in healthy alpacas

Objective—To determine humoral responses to an equine encephalitis vaccine in healthy alpacas. Design—Clinical trial. Animals—39 healthy alpacas on 1 farm and 86 healthy alpacas on a second farm. Procedures—All alpacas were given 3 doses IM of a bivalent, killed-virus equine encephalitis vaccine, with 4 weeks between doses. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus neutralizing antibody responses were determined with a plaque reduction neutralization assay every 14 days in alpacas on the first farm and 70 days after the first dose of vaccine on the second farm. Results—For alpacas on the first farm, geometric mean virus neutralizing antibody titer peaked 2 weeks after the third vaccine dose was given (ie, day 70). At this time, 29 of 38 (76%) animals were seropositive for antibodies against EEE virus, and percentage of animals ≤ 2 years old that were seropositive (16/17) was significantly higher than percentage of animals \u3e 6 years old that were seropositive (1/5). For alpacas on the second farm, 76 (88%) were seropositive on day 70, and percentage of animals ≤ 2 years old that were seropositive (24/24) was significantly higher than percentage of animals \u3e 6 years old that were seropositive (27/33). For both farms, geometric mean titer on day 70 was significantly higher in animals \u3c 2 years old than in animals \u3e 6 years old. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that inoculation of alpacas with 3 doses of a bivalent, killed-virus equine encephalitis vaccine induced a humoral antibody response against EEE virus