Secnidazole for the treatment of giardiasis in naturally infected cats.

Giardia duodenalis causes enteric infections in humans and animals worldwide. Inefficiency of metronidazole is commonly reported in the veterinary clinic routine in the treatment of giardiasis in dogs and cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of secnidazole in the control of infection caused by G. duodenalis in naturally infected cats. For this purpose two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment seven cats were infected with G. duodenalis and treated orally with a single dose of secnidazole (30 mg kg(-1)). In the second experiment a total of 16 cats were used, 11 naturally infected with G. duodenalis and five negative for the parasite. Animals were divided into three groups: group A (n=5) was composed by non-infected animals (negative control), group B (n=5) consisted of infected but untreated animals and group C (n=6) was composed by cats treated orally with a single dose of secnidazole (30 mg kg(-1)). Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated before and after treatment. The first experiment reached 100% of efficacy because no cysts were found in the feces after treatment. However, doubts about intoxication and interference with hematological and biochemical parameters came to light. No side effects were observed, and the biochemical and hematological parameters of treated animals remained within physiological range, except for one feline which had elevation of liver enzymes. Based on these results, the utilization of secnidazole could be suggested for the treatment of giardiasis in cats. The main advantage of this treatment is that only a single dose is required, which is interesting in animals hard to handle like cats.

Biópsia pulmonar incisional por toracoscopia paraxifoide transdiafragmática com dois portais em cães / Pulmonary incisional biopsy by means of transdiaphragmatic paraxiphoid thoracoscopy with two ports in dog

As doenças respiratórias observadas na clínica médica de pequenos animais são numerosas, assim como as possibilidades diagnósticas, dentre as quais encontram-se os exames laboratoriais, os estudos radiográficos, os lavados broncoalveolares e as biópsias. Na presente pesquisa avaliaram-se os resultados da toracoscopia paraxifoide transdiafragmática para a realização de biópsia pulmonar em cães, sendo utilizados para tanto, 13 animais clinicamente sadios. Sob anestesia geral, produziu-se pneumotórax no volume de 30ml kg-1 de ar ambiente para cada hemitórax. O acesso foi obtido a partir de dois trocartes, posicionados entre o apêndice xifoide e o arco costal, os quais transfixaram o diafragma. O primeiro portal foi empregado para a passagem do endoscópio e o segundo para a utilização de pinça saca-bocado, empregada na obtenção de biópsia. Em seguida, a pinça foi removida e um dreno torácico foi posicionado através do portal. Durante os procedimentos, aferiram-se as frequências respiratória e cardíaca, a saturação de oxigênio, as pressões arterial média e venosa central e os parâmetros hemogasométricos. Os drenos foram removidos num período de até 48 horas de pós-operatório, verificando-se mínima produção de ar e/ou líquido. Concluiu-se se tratar de uma técnica rápida, segura e sem complicações trans e pós-operatórias, permitindo aquisição de material suficiente para a avaliação histológica do pulmão.

There are many respiratory diseases in small animals, as well as the possibilities of diagnoses, as laboratory and radiographic exams, bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsies. This research aimed at assessing the results of transdiaphragmatic paraxiphoid thoracoscopies in pulmonary biopsies of thirteen clinically healthy dogs. Under general anesthesia, each dog was insufflated with 30ml kg-1 of air in each hemithorax; two trocars were placed between the xiphoid appendix and the costal arch through the diaphragm. An endoscope was introduced by the first portal; while the second portal was used to allow access to the nippers in the biopsy forceps. Then, these nippers were removed and replaced by chest tube drainage. During the procedures, respiratory frequency, heart rate, oxygen saturation, arterial pressure and central venous pressure (CVP), hemogasometric parameters were checked. Within 48 hours after the surgery, drains were or drain was removed, with minimal production of air and/or liquid. In conclusion, this is a fast and safe technique, which is free of trans and post surgical complications, thus allowing the collection of sufficient material for pulmonary histological evaluation.

Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and S(+)-ketamine in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate total intravenous anesthesia with propofol alone or in combination with S(+)-ketamine in rabbits undergoing surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded trial. ANIMALS: Nine 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.5-3 kg. METHODS: Animals received acepromazine (0.1 mg kg(-1)) and buprenorphine (20 microg kg(-1)) IM, and anesthesia was induced with propofol (2 mg kg(-1)) and S(+)-ketamine (1 mg kg(-1)) IV. Rabbits received two of three treatments: propofol (0.8 mg kg(-1) minute(-1)) (control treatment, P), propofol (0.8 mg kg(-1) minute(-1)) + S(+)-ketamine (100 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) (PK100) or propofol (0.8 mg kg(-1) minute(-1)) + S(+)-ketamine (200 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) (PK200). All animals received 100% O(2) during anesthesia. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were measured every 5 minutes for 60 minutes. Blood-gas parameters were measured at zero time and 60 minutes. Additional propofol injections, if necessary, and recovery time were recorded. RESULTS: An increase in heart rate was observed in P and PK200 up to 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. Blood pressure decreased from baseline values during the first 10 minutes in P and PK200, and during the first 15 minutes and between 45 and 55 minutes in PK100. A reduction in respiratory rate was observed after 5 minutes in all treatments. Respiratory acidosis was observed in all treatments. Six (2.8) [median (interquartile range)] further propofol injections were necessary in P, which differed statistically from PK100 [1 (0.2)] and PK200 [2 (0.6)]. Recovery time was shorter in P compared with PK100 and PK200, being [7.5 minutes (4.11)], [17.5 minutes (10.30)], and [12 minutes (10.30)], respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: S(+)-ketamine potentiates propofol-induced anesthesia in rabbits, providing better maintenance of heart rate. All of these techniques were accompanied by clinically significant respiratory depression.