Proximal tibiotarsal infarcts in turkeys.

Necrotic lesions in the proximal tibiotarsal bones of turkeys were evaluated by pathologic and bacteriologic examinations. Lesions were compatible with infarcts and were grossly visible as focal, gray-black, red-black, or entirely black triangular areas in the growth plate and proximal metaphysis at the posterior-medial angle of the tibial head. The lesions were detected in 408 of 1000 (41%) tibias that were collected at seven processing plants. Histologic lesions were characterized by thrombosed blood vessels and a well-demarcated focal area of necrosis primarily in the growth plate. No inflammatory cells were present. Massive hemorrhage and cellular debris were common in the necrotic zone, and extensive, fibrin-lined clefts were often seen nearby. Staphylococci and Escherichia coli were frequently isolated from the lesions either in pure cultures or in combination with other bacteria. Histologic evidence suggests that the infarcts were probably traumatic in origin and that the bacterial infection was secondary.

Arthrotomy versus arthroscopy and partial synovectomy for treatment of experimentally induced infectious arthritis in horses.

To evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and histologic effects of 2 methods of treatment for infectious arthritis in horses, Staphylococcus aureus (3.4 to 3.9 x 10(3) colony-forming units) was inoculated into the tarsocrural joints of 8 horses on day 0. Each horse was treated with phenylbutazone (2 g, PO, q 24 h) and gentamicin sulfate (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 8 h) for 14 days. On day 2, general anesthesia was induced, and each horse had 1 tarsocrural joint treated by arthrotomy, with removal of accessible fibrin and lavage with 3 L of sterile balanced electrolyte solution. An indwelling plastic drain was placed in the standing horse to provide a means for lavage with 3 L of balanced electrolyte solution twice daily for 72 hours. The contralateral tarsocrural joint was treated via arthroscopic debridement, synovectomy, and lavage with 3 L of balanced electrolyte solution. Arthrotomy and arthroscopic portals were allowed to heal by second intention. Lameness and thermographic examinations, analysis and bacteriologic culture of synovia, CBC, and WBC differential count were performed prior to inoculation and on days 1, 3, 6, 8, and 13. On day 14, each horse was euthanatized, and the joints were measured, opened, and photographed. Synovium and articular cartilage were obtained for semiquantitative histologic (H&E stain) and histochemical (safranin O fast green stain) evaluation. Lameness and joint circumference were significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in limbs treated by arthroscopy, synovectomy, and lavage. Arthrotomy with lavage eliminated the S aureus infection significantly (P less than 0.05) earlier than arthroscopy, synovectomy, and lavage, however, both treatments eliminated the infection in all but a single joint.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of potentiated chlorhexidine on bacteria and tarsocrural joints in ponies.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the bactericidal properties of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHD) after potentiation with EDTA and Tris buffer (EDTA-Tris), and to find a potentiated CHD concentration that would achieve 90 to 100% killing for all bacteria tested. ANIMALS: 6 adult ponies. PROCEDURES: Serial dilutions of CHD, CHD in EDTA-Tris and EDTA-Tris alone were evaluated for bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The tarsocrural joints of 6 ponies were lavaged with either 1 L phosphate-buffered saline solution (control) or 1 L of 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris. Synovial fluid was collected before lavage and on days 1,4, and 8. Synovia, cartilage, and bone with cartilage were collected on day 8 when the ponies were euthanatized. RESULTS: In vitro results indicated that 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris was 90% lethal to all bacteria tested. Results of synovial fluid analysis, glycosaminoglycan analysis, and histologic examination of the synovial membrane and articular cartilage indicated that joint lavage with 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris was not detrimental to the synovium or the articular cartilage of pony tarsocrural joints. Changes observed were a result of the actual lavage process, the phosphate-buffered saline solution, and hemarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: A concentration of 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris was 90% lethal to all bacteria tested. Pony tarsocrural joint lavage with 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris was not detrimental to the synovium or the articular cartilage. The efficacy of 0.0005% CHD potentiated with EDTA-Tris as a potential joint lavage fluid for treatment of infectious arthritis needs to be evaluated in clinical patients.

Polyarthritis in kids associated with Mycoplasma putrefaciens.

Fifteen two- to three-week-old kids, fed artificially with goats' milk from a dairy, were found to have polyarthritis. The most affected joints were the carpals, either unilaterally or bilaterally, and in some cases the tarsal joints. Mycoplasma putrefaciens was isolated from the joints which showed an acute fibrinopurulent arthritis. No clinical mastitis was detected in the dairy.

[Isolation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus from the tarsal joint of a bull (author's transl)]. / Isolement du virus de la rhino-trachéite infectieuse bovine à partir du liquide synovial du tarse d'un taureau.

Isolation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus from the tarsal joint of a bullInfectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus was isolated from the right tarsal joint of a bull who was showing signs of a systemic viral infection. The clinical signs manifested by 16 bulls of this herd are described, the laboratory methods used are listed and the results are analysed and discussed.

Distinct characteristics of resistance to Borrelia burgdorferi-induced arthritis in C57BL/6N mice.

Studies of mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi have indicated that the severity of arthritis is influenced by the genetic composition of the host: the C3H mouse develops severe arthritis while BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice develop mild arthritis. In this study, the effects of increasing infectious dose on the severity of arthritis were determined in these three mouse strains. C3H/He mice developed severe arthritis at all infectious doses, with 100% infection requiring 200 spirochetes. In BALB/cAnN mice, arthritis severity was dependent on infectious dose; symptoms were mild with infection by 200 B. burgdorferi and progressively more severe with increasing infectious dose. Infection of BALB/cAnN mice with 2 x 10(4) B. burgdorferi resulted in arthritis with severity identical to that in C3H/He mice. Spirochete levels in rear ankle joints of C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice were relatively high, as detected by PCR, and did not increase with infectious dose. Spirochete levels in joints from BALB/cAnN mice increased with increasing infectious dose to levels found in severely arthritic C3H/He mice. Thus, resistance to severe arthritis in BALB/cAnN mice was conditional: it could be overcome by high infectious dose and the arthritis became severe when high levels of B. burgdorferi were present in joints. A unique response to increasing infectious dose was seen in C57BL/6N mice, which displayed mild to moderate arthritis at all doses of B. burgdorferi tested, up to 2 x 10(5). At all infectious doses, the levels of spirochetes in ankle joints of C57BL/6N mice were high, equivalent to those found in the severely arthritic C3H/He mice. The arthritis observed in infected (C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN)F1 mice was of severity intermediate between those of the two parental strains. The finding that resistance to severe arthritis in C57BL/6N mice could not be overcome by high infectious doses and was independent of spirochete levels in joints suggested that it was mediated by a distinct mechanism from that operating in BALB/cAnN mice.