Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells reduce established S. aureus and E. coli biofilm matrix in vitro.

Biofilms reduce antibiotic efficacy and lead to complications and mortality in human and equine patients with orthopedic infections. Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) kill planktonic bacteria and prevent biofilm formation, but their ability to disrupt established orthopedic biofilms is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of MSC to reduce established S.

Technique for guttural pouch bead removal using a novel three-dimensional (3D)-printed instrument.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine if a three-dimensional (3D)-printed instrument technique would improve lavage removal of plastic beads (guttural pouch [GP] chondroid mimics) through a dorsal pharyngeal recess (DPR) fenestration. We hypothesized that using a 3D-printed instrument placed through the DPR fenestration would remove more beads, reduce lavage time and incur less soft tissue damage than using a lavage tube control or instrument placement through the salpingopharyngeal ostium (SPO).

Study Design: Experimental cadaveric study.

Comparing different sperm concentrations for optimizing cooled semen use in the dog.

The use of shipping canine semen for artificial insemination has bloomed over the last 20 years. This allows for the spread of genetic material while overcoming geographical or time-related challenges. The optimal sperm concentration for cooled semen transport in the dog is unknown.

Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic imaging characteristics and potential molecular mechanisms of feline meningioma associated calvarial hyperostosis.

Meningiomas are the most common feline primary brain tumours, and calvarial hyperostosis (CH) is frequently documented in association with this neoplastic entity. The clinical significance of and mechanisms driving the formation of CH in cats with meningiomas are poorly understood, although tumour invasion into the skull and tumour production of cytokines and enzymes have been implicated as causes of CH in humans. This retrospective study investigated relationships between signalment, MRI or CT imaging features, histopathologic tumour characteristics, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzyme concentrations, tumour expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and progression free survival times (PFS) following surgical treatment in 27 cats with meningiomas with (n = 15) or without (n = 12) evidence of CH.

Echocardiographic values and prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in clinically healthy adult Borzoi dogs.

Objective: To develop breed-specific echocardiographic values for normal Borzoi and to report the prevalence of structural cardiac abnormalities.

Animals: 146 clinically healthy, adult Borzoi dogs.

Methods: Cardiac auscultation and standard echocardiograms were performed.

Risk factors associated with development of colitis in horses post-exploratory laparotomy.

Background: Diagnosis of colitis has been shown to impact morbidity and mortality in hospitalised horses. There are no studies to date that describe the incidence of infectious colitis after exploratory laparotomy.

Objectives: To investigate risk factors associated with the development of colitis and infectious colitis post-exploratory laparotomy.

Intra-articular bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy improves lameness from naturally occurring equine osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) can be debilitating and is related to impaired resolution of synovial inflammation. Current treatments offer temporary relief of clinical signs, but have potentially deleterious side effects. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors that have the ability to reduce OA symptoms in people and inflammation in experimentally-induced synovitis in horses.

Point-of-care rapid immunoassay performed on voided urine, refrigerated up to 24 hours, accurately detects bacteriuria.

Objective: To collect voided urine from dogs with clinical signs of lower UTI and determine the diagnostic performance of a commercially available rapid immunoassay (RIA) immediately after urine collection and after refrigeration at 4 and 24 hours.

Animals: 40 client-owned dogs.

Methods: Aerobic urine culture was performed on urine collected by cystocentesis.

Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses.

Ileus is a common life-threatening problem in horses, and currently available treatments may be ineffective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bit chewing, a form of sham feeding, decreases the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses in a prospective crossover study. Nine healthy horses were acclimated and fed a standardized diet.

Pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness.

Background: Acetaminophen is used clinically in horses with musculoskeletal pain; however, no studies have been performed in horses with chronic lameness.

Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of chronic dosing of acetaminophen in horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness.

Study Design: Longitudinal.

Defining an Optimal Range of Centrifugation Parameters for Canine Semen Processing.

Our objective was to determine a clinically relevant range of centrifugation parameters for processing canine semen. We hypothesized that higher gravitational (g) force and longer time of centrifugation would result in improved spermatozoa recovery rate (RR) but poorer semen quality. Cooled storage under standard shipping conditions was used as a stressor to evaluate long-term treatment effects.

Bead size has a greater effect on in vitro elution from antimicrobial-impregnated calcium sulfate beads than drug concentration.

Objective: To compare the elution characteristics of amikacin-impregnated calcium sulfate (CaSO4) beads based on different drug concentrations and bead size configurations.

Sample: Six groups of amikacin-impregnated CaSO4 beads and one negative control group.

Procedures: Amikacin-impregnated CaSO4 beads were formed with either 500 mg (low-concentration) or 1 g (high-concentration) of amikacin per 15 g CaSO4 hemihydrate powder.

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of orally administered acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia.

Background: Acetaminophen has been evaluated in horses for treatment of musculoskeletal pain but not as an antipyretic.

Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of acetaminophen compared to placebo and flunixin meglumine in adult horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia.

Animals: Eight university owned research horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia.

Echocardiographic measurement of the mitral valve in normal Cavalier King Charles spaniels: repeatability, optimal future study methods, and preliminary reference intervals.

Introduction/objectives: Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) are ideal candidates for longitudinal study of myxomatous mitral valve (MV) disease and stage B1 clinical trials; however, the optimization of MV measurement acquisition and repeatability must be better defined to realize this potential. Additionally, breed-specific reference ranges for CKCS MV measurements are lacking. Study objectives were to assess measurement repeatability and define optimal methods for the longitudinal study of echocardiographic MV anatomy and to define preliminary, two-dimensional echocardiographic reference ranges for MV measurements in CKCS.

Association Between Prolonged Shedding of Zika Virus in Human Semen and Male Reproductive Tract Inflammation.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes congenital defects. Sexual transmission of ZIKV was confirmed in a recent epidemic; however, mechanisms behind ZIKV infection and persistence in the male reproductive tract (MRT) are unknown. Previously, we found that approximately 33% of men with symptomatic ZIKV infections shed ZIKV RNA in semen, and some men shed ZIKV RNA for >3 months.

The prevalence of sacroiliac joint CT and MRI findings is high in large breed dogs.

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disease has been described as one of the possible causes of lumbosacral (LS) region pain in dogs. However, published information is currently lacking for the computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of canine SIJ disease. The objectives of this retrospective, observational study were to describe and quantify CT and MRI SIJ findings in a sample of large breed dogs and test associations between the numbers of SIJ findings and other variables.

Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with mechanically induced lameness.

Background: Acetaminophen has been used clinically in horses alone or combined with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment of musculoskeletal pain in horses.

Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of acetaminophen at two doses in horses with mechanically induced lameness compared with phenylbutazone or placebo control.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

High-field MRI using standard pulse sequences has moderate to substantial interobserver agreement and good accuracy for differentiation between intracranial extra-axial histiocytic sarcoma and meningioma in dogs.

Intracranial extra-axial histiocytic sarcoma shares common MRI features with meningioma. As histiocytic sarcoma carries a generally worse prognosis than meningioma, the ability to differentiate between these two neoplasms is of clinical value. The aim of this retrospective diagnostic accuracy and observer agreement study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of high-field MRI to differentiate between these two tumors, using standard pulse sequences and published MRI features.

Horses affected by EPM have increased sCD14 compared to healthy horses.

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a debilitating neurologic disease affecting horses across the Americas. Gaps in understanding the inflammatory immune response in EPM-affected horses create difficulties with diagnosis and treatment, subsequently negatively impacting the prognosis of affected horses. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate circulating levels of the inflammatory immune marker soluble CD14 (sCD14), in horses with EPM (n = 7) and determine if they differed from healthy neurologically normal horses (n = 6).

Effect of food toys on owner-perceived quality of life of cats during a prescribed weight loss plan.

Objective: To determine the effect of a food toy on owner-perceived quality of life (QOL) of overweight cats during a weight loss plan.

Animals: 44 adult cats, 1 to 10 years of age with a body condition score (BCS) ≥ 7/9.

Procedures: Cats were randomly assigned to the food toy or food bowl group.

Evaluation of perfusion index as a noninvasive tool to determine epidural anesthesia effectiveness in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate perfusion index (PI) as a noninvasive tool to determine effectiveness and onset of epidural anesthesia in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective clinical trial.

Animals: A total of 21 adult dogs, aged 6.