Collection of epididymal semen in the tomcat (Felix catus) by stereomicroscope-aided retrograde flushing (SARF) improves sample quality.

In small and laboratory animals epididymal spermatozoa can be collected only by the mincing technique however, blood and cell debris contamination may adversely affect the quality of the samples. This study aimed at performing the retrograde flushing technique, for the first time, in the tomcat. In the first experiment attempts to insert a blunted needle into tomcats' ductus deferentes were made and the cannulation time and the success rate were recorded. In the second experiment, insertion of the needle into the ductus was carried out under a stereomicroscope for one testis, while the other was submitted to mincing for sperm recovery and the samples obtained from paired testes were compared. In the first study, only twenty-eight percent of the cannulation attempts were successful whereas in the second experiment, 91% of the deferentes were successfully cannulated: 80% of the ducts were cannulated in less than three minutes. The stereomicroscope-aided retrograde flushing samples showed significantly higher sperm viability, motility and velocities, as compared to those resulted from mincing. The domestic cat serves as a model for more than 36 species of wild felids; the developed stereomicroscope-aided retrograde flushing technique has the potential to become the gold standard method for harvesting spermatozoa of endangered species that have a small ductus deferens.

In Vitro Activity of Ozone/Oxygen Gaseous Mixture against a Caprine Herpesvirus Type 1 Strain Isolated from a Goat with Vaginitis.

Alphaherpesviruses cause genital lesions and reproductive failure in both humans and animals. Their control is mainly based on prevention using hygienic prophylactic measures due to the absence of vaccines and limitations of antiviral drug therapy. Ozone is an oxidating gas showing a strong microbicidal activity on bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. The present study assessed the in vitro virucidal and antiviral activity of ozone against caprine herpesvirus type 1 (CpHV-1). The virucidal activity of a gaseous mixture containing O3 at 20 and 50 µg/mL was assessed against the virus at different contact times (30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, 180 s, and 300 s). Antiviral activity of a gaseous mixture containing O3 at 20 and 50 µg/mL was evaluated against the virus after 30 s and 60 s. Ozone displayed significant virucidal activity when used at all the tested concentrations whilst significant antiviral activity was observed using ozone at 50 µg/mL. The gaseous mixture, tested in the present study, showed virucidal and antiviral activity against CpHV-1 in a dose- and time contact-dependent fashion. Ozone therapy could be evaluated in vivo for the treatment of CpHV-1-induced genital lesions in goats using topical applications.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Current Alternatives in Veterinary Practice: A Review.

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections. For many years, antibiotics have been used at sub-therapeutic doses to promote animal growth and misused as prophylactics and metaphylactic on farms. The widespread and improper use of antibiotics has resulted in a serious problem, defined as antibiotic resistance by the World Health Organisation, which is a major public health threat in the 21st century. Bacteria have evolved sophisticated mechanistic strategies to avoid being killed by antibiotics. These strategies can be classified as intrinsic resistance (referring to the inherent structural or functional characteristics of a bacterial species) or acquired resistance (referring to mutations in chromosomal genes or the acquisition of external genetic determinants of resistance). In farm animals, the use of antibiotics warrants serious consideration, as their residues leach into the environment through effluents and come into contact with humans through food. Several factors have contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This review provides an update on antibiotic resistance mechanisms, while focusing on the effects of this threat on veterinary medicine, and highlighting causal factors in clinical practice. Finally, it makes an excursus on alternative therapies, such as the use of bacteriophages, bacteriocins, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, phytochemicals, and ozone therapy, which should be used to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. Some of these therapies, such as ozone therapy, are aimed at preventing the persistence of antibiotics in animal tissues and their contact with the final consumer of food of animal origin.

Evaluation of antibacterial oxygen/ozone mixture in vitro activity on bacteria isolated from cervico-vaginal mucus of cows with acute metritis.

Ozone is an oxidating gas showing a strong microbicidal activity on bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. The aim of this study was to test the in vitro bacteriocidal action of an Ozone/Oxygen gas mixture on bacteria isolated from the cervico-vaginal mucus of cows affected by acute metritis. A pilot study was initially carried out on reference strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium ATCC 19852) that were tested with three different treatments: a control positive baseline group (B-group) was incubated without gas treatment, a control positive oxygen group (O2-group) was treated with pure oxygen 100%, and the treated group (T-group) was exposed to a gaseous constant flow of an Ozone/Oxygen mixture, at 50, 35, 20 µg Ozone/ml and for 5, 3 and 1 min for every different Ozone concentration. In both positive control groups, the number of colony forming units (CFU) per ml was higher than 300 CFU/ml (E. coli and S. aureus) and higher than 30 CFU/ml for M. bovigenitalium, after incubation. The T-groups showed a minimal bacterial growth equal to or lower than 1 CFU/ml per plate. Based on the results of the pilot study, a second phase was performed on bacteria isolated from the cervico-vaginal mucus (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter agglomerans, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis and M. bovigenitalium) using the lower concentration of 20 µg/ml of Ozone for the minimum exposure time of 1 min. The E. coli and S. aureus reference strains and the clinical isolates (K. pneumoniae, E. agglomerans, E. coli, P. mirabilis) were incubated at 37 °C for 48 h and the colonies were manually counted at 24 h and 48 h following inoculation. The cultures of M. bovigenitalium (both ATCC and clinical isolate) were incubated in a jar with modified atmosphere conditions with 5% CO2 at 37 °C for 4-7 days and colony counting was performed. The second phase showed a low number of CFUs (equal to or less than 7 CFU/ml) for the clinical isolates K. pneumoniae, E. agglomerans, E. coli and P. mirabilis, and, of note, for M. bovigenitalium, both ATCC and clinical isolate, the growth was completely inhibited. Ozone was demonstrated to have a bacteriocidal activity. This study encourages further research of in vivo application of low doses of gaseous Ozone for the treatment of metritis in cows by using minimal exposure times.

Scopolamine administration in repeat breeder cows on the day of heat.

Scopolamine is a parasympatholytic drug that can modulate uterine contractile activity. Based on the hypothesis that deficiency in uterine contractility is a cause of Repeat Breeder (RB) syndrome in cows, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of scopolamine administration in RB cows, on the day of heat, in increasing conception rates. Forty RB cows were randomly divided into treated group [T; 20 cows treated with scopolamine butylbromide 40 mg/100 kg of body weight (BW) by the intramuscular (IM) route after clinical confirmation of heat (T0)] and the control group [C; 20 cows treated with 2 mL/100 kg of BW of saline solution, IM, at T0]. Twelve hours later (T1), all of the cows were artificially inseminated (AI). Blood plasma-progesterone (P4), hydroxyproline, and prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM), concentrations were assessed at T0 and T1. Additionally, the uterine tone was evaluated by transrectal palpation. Conception rates were recorded. Drug administration increased the conception rates in group T to 80% unlike group C (25%) (P < 0.0001). Higher PGFM concentration levels were registered in the treated group than in the control group. The higher PGF2α secretion in pregnant cows of the T group may have reduced the P4 levels, making conception possible. Scopolamine administration at the time of heat can improve uterine contractility. This makes it more suitable for promoting conception in RB cows, where hormonal alterations and contractile and biochemical deficits are responsible for the syndrome.

The Use of Abdominal Ultrasound to Improve the Cryptorchidectomy of Pigs.

This study aimed to describe a technique to locate retained testes in pigs by means of ultrasound examination and thereafter proceed with cryptorchidectomy. Fifty-two monolateral cryptorchid pigs were enrolled. After anaesthesia, 42 pigs (Group U) underwent ultrasound examination before cryptorchidectomy, and 10 pigs (Group C) were used as control group without ultrasonography. The total duration of anaesthesia, ultrasound examination, and surgery was evaluated. In 10 pigs of Group U and 10 pigs of Group C, the heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and body temperature (T) were monitored to assess intraoperative pain response. An operator used the Piglet Grimace Scale (PGS) to assess postoperative pain. In Group U, the total time required for anaesthesia and surgery was less than Group C. No intra- or postoperative complications were reported in both groups. For HR, RR, and T, no statistically significant differences were observed. During the postoperative pain assessment, the highest pain scores were recorded at T6 (6 h after surgery). Ultrasound examination was found to be a valid technique for locating the retained testis in the abdomen in cryptorchid pigs and to reduce the duration of the surgery.

Analgesic comparison between topical irrigation (splash block) versus injection of lidocaine on the ovarian pedicle in canine ovariectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of topical irrigation versus injection of lidocaine on the ovarian pedicle to provide analgesia in bitches ovariectomy. In the current study were monitored: increased blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate to identify an acute intraoperative nociceptive response. These parameters were registered at six times during the surgical procedure: grasping of the ovary (time 1), dissection of the mesosalpinx (time 2), tightening of the first loop ligature (time 3), tightening of the second loop ligature (time 4), transection of the ovarian pedicle (time 5) and release of the ovary (time 6). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty healthy bitches were randomly assigned in two groups (n = 20) to receive topical irrigation (splash block) of 2% lidocaine (C group) on both ovarian pedicle (2 mg/kg each), or an equal volume of lidocaine was injected at the same sites (R group). RESULTS: The results of the present study suggest that splash block may provide intraoperative analgesic effects equivalent to injection in the ovarian pedicle in dogs that have undergone ovariectomy. The lidocaine improved surgical analgesia during canine ovariectomy in both groups, and this action is not affected by the inoculation technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pain management in veterinary patients is a crucial component of appropriate patient care. Therefore, the need for achieving safer anaesthesia for surgical intervention is gaining much attention. Ovariectomy is a common surgical procedure in bitches with medium level of pain. This study concluded that considering its relative simplicity, low cost, and safety, both techniques could be used in daily clinical practice.