The association between gingivitis and oral spirochetes in young cats and dogs.

Although gingivitis frequently occurs in young cats, spirochetes are often found in the early stages of periodontal disease. This study was conducted to determine the association between gingivitis and oral spirochetes in young cats and dogs. The degree of gingivitis was evaluated in a total of 68 cats and 31 dogs under one year of age, and plaques were collected from each carnassial. To detect spirochetes or Porphyromonas gulae in plaque samples, 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. All data were analyzed using Fisher's exact probability test and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The prevalence of gingivitis was significantly higher in young cats (92.6%) than in young dogs (45.2%). The positive rate of spirochetes by PCR in gingivitis cases was 85.4% in young cats and 15.4% in young dogs, and the positive rate of P. gulae was 66.7% in young cats and 15.4% in young dogs. Both results were significantly higher in young cats than in young dogs. In young cats, spirochetes were significantly associated with gingivitis (OR = 7.95; 95% CI = 1.17, 53.83; P < 0.05), but P. gulae was not (OR = 2.44; 95% CI = 0.38, 15.66; P = 0.23). These results suggest that spirochetes may be associated with the early stages of periodontal disease in cats.

Force Plate Gait Analysis and Clinical Results after Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Small Breed Dogs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate objective limb function using force plate gait analysis after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) in small breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Small breed dogs (15 kg or less) with unilateral CCLR treated with TPLO were evaluated using symmetry index (SI) of peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse and vector magnitude at PVF performed preoperatively and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively after routine TPLO surgery. RESULTS: Twelve dogs met the inclusion criteria. Hindlimb function was markedly improved after TPLO, with all three postoperative SI significantly higher after a month than preoperative values (p < 0.01). At 2 months after surgery, the SI was nearly normalized to 1.0 (preoperative SI: 0.50 ± 0.20, 0.44 ± 0.19 and 0.51 ± 0.19, and 2 months postoperative SI: 0.92 ± 0.16, 0.90 ± 0.18 and 0.92 ± 0.16 respectively). Complications were noted in two dogs (fibular fracture and a partial implant failure), neither of which required a revision surgery for acceptable functional recovery. CONCLUSION: The objective limb function of the affected hindlimb improved continuously after surgery and reached a near normal value at 6 months after surgery. It was suggested that TPLO for small breed dogs had good outcomes based on force plate gait analysis.

Evaluation of recovery of limb function by use of force plate gait analysis after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy for management of dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recovery of limb function by use of gait force analysis after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) in dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture. ANIMALS: 19 dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture treated with TPLO. PROCEDURES: Force plate gait analysis was performed before and 1, 2, 4, and 7 months after TPLO. Ground reaction forces (GRFs; which comprised peak vertical force [PVF], vertical impulse [VI], peak braking force, braking impulse, peak propulsion force [PPF], and propulsion impulse), time to switching from braking to propulsion, and vector magnitude at PVF in the forelimbs and hind limbs were evaluated. RESULTS: GRFs in the affected hind limb were significantly lower than in the contralateral hind limb before TPLO. These variables, except for PPF, were not significantly different 7 months after TPLO. Time to the switching point in the affected hind limb was significantly less from before to 2 months after TPLO. Vector magnitude at PVF had a similar pattern as PVF and VI during the recovery process. The PVF in the ipsilateral forelimb was significantly higher than in the contralateral forelimb before TPLO. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A similar pattern was detected between PVF or VI and craniocaudal force during recovery of dogs that underwent TPLO. Rupture of he CrCl resulted in a decrease in GRFs in the affected hind limb as well as in the switching point and PVF of limbs. However, weight distribution for the craniocaudal force was normalized before PVF or VI. Vector magnitude at PVF might be effectively evaluated by combining vertical force and craniocaudal force.

Hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide acid screws have better biocompatibility and femoral burr hole closure than does poly-L-lactide acid alone.

Hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly-l-lactide(PLLA) composite biomaterials are available for orthopedic applications, but bioresorption and cell-mediated inflammation in bone cortex are unknown. We conducted an 84-month follow-up study with Beagle dogs that were subjected to implants with either PLLA (left femur) or HA/PLLA (right femur). Histological and radiographic analysis showed that HA/PLLA screws induced significant increases in HA content from 36 months onward and complete burr hole closure at 60 months, whereas PLLA screws did not. Moreover, PLLA screws induced more severe fibrous tissue and histiocyte infiltration. HA/PLLA screws promote earlier burr hole replacement and have superior biocompatibility compared to PLLA screws.

In vitro evaluation of the relationship between the semitendinosus muscle and cranial cruciate ligament in canine cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the semitendinosus muscle in stabilization of the canine stifle joint. SAMPLE: Left stifle joints collected from cadavers of 8 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: Left hind limbs, including the pelvis, were collected. To mimic the tensile force of the quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and semitendinosus muscles, wires were placed under strain between the ends of each muscle. A sensor was used to measure the tensile force in each wire. Specimens were tested in the following sequence: cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) intact, CrCL transected, released (tensile force of semitendinosus muscle was released in the CrCL-transected stifle joint), and readjusted (tensile force of semitendinosus muscle was reapplied in the CrCL-transected stifle joint). Specimens were loaded at 65.3% of body weight, and tensile force in the wires as well as the cranial tibial displacement were measured. RESULTS: Tensile force for the CrCL-transected condition increased significantly, compared with that for the CrCL-intact condition. Mean ± SD cranial tibial displacement for the CrCL-transected condition was 2.1 ± 1.3 mm, which increased to 7.2 ± 2.3 mm after release of the tensile force in the semitendinosus muscle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results supported the contention that the semitendinosus muscle is an agonist of the CrCL in the stifle joint of dogs. Moreover, the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles may be antagonists of the CrCL. These findings suggested that the risk of CrCL rupture may be increased by diseases (such as cauda equina syndrome) associated with a decrease in activity of the semitendinosus muscle.