Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates and Leukogram Changes in Canine Model of Osteoarthritis.

Inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) have been evaluated in humans withosteoarthritis (OA). However, there has been no record of evaluation of ESR during OA in dogs. Changes in erythrocytesedimentation rates (ESR) and leukogram functions were evaluated following experimental knee osteoarthritis (OA).Tendogs of both sexes with (mean weight = 12.4 ± 1.8kg) were used. Experimental OA was induced in the right knee, using thegroove model and confirmed radiographically using evidence of joint space narrowing and presence of osteophytes. Gaitwas assessed subjectively and scores (GAS) were assigned. Blood was obtained fortnightly for the determination of ESR,total white blood cell (tWBC), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, while knee radiographs were obtained fortnightly fortwelve weeks. Radiographic scores (RAS), GAS, ESR and leukocyte parameters between the different time points werecompared with ANOVA. Correlation between parameters was evaluated using Pearson's correlation. A "P" value less than0.05 was considered significant. Both ESR and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio increased from week 0 to week 12 of OA.However, tWBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts did not differ significantly. Both GAS and RAS increased up to week 4and 6 of OA respectively. Erythrocyte sedimentation rates was significantly (p= 0.033) and positively correlated (r=0.793)with N/L ratio, but negatively and slightly correlated (r= -0.843) with GAS. There was no significant correlation betweenESR and RAS. It was concluded that both ESR and N/L ratio might be useful in monitoring progression of OA in dogs.

Influence of Tramadol on Anaesthetic Indices and Physiological Parameters of Epidural Lignocaine in West African Dwarf Sheep Undergoing Laparo-Ovariectomy.

The influence of tramadol on the anaesthetic indices and physiological parameters of epidural injection of lignocaine was evaluated in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep undergoing laparo-ovariectomy. Ten female sheep weighing (16.2 ± 1.3 kg) were randomly allocated into anaesthesia with epidural injection of lignocaine (4mg/kg) (LIG), or lignocaine (2mg/kg) and tramadol (2mg/kg) (LIG-TRA). Following anaesthesia, they were aseptically prepared and subjected to laparo-ovariectomy. Behavioural changes were noted as they occur, and onset of drug action (OAN) (time between epidural injection and loss of pedal reflex), duration of analgesia (DAN) (time between disappearance and reappearance of pedal reflex) were determined. Also, duration of recumbency (DRC) (time between loss of righting reflex and returns to sternal recumbency) and recovery time (RCT) (time between re-appearance of pedal reflex and when the animal was able to stand without ataxia) were determined. Rectal temperatures (RT), respiratory rates (RR) and heart rates (HR) were determined every ten minutes for two hours. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. Anaesthetic indices were compared with Student's t-test, while physiological parameters were compared with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. In this study, one sheep anaesthetized with LIG-TRA had bloat while none in sheep anaesthetized with LIG had bloat. The OAN was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter in LIG-TRA (1.4 ± 0.5 mins) than with LIG (4.4 ± 2.8 mins). Although DAN and DRC were longer in LIG-TRA (133 ± 19.5 mins, 192.6 ± 43.6 mins) than LIG (119.4 ± 52.5 mins; 166.2 ± 30.6 mins) respectively, values were not statistically significant (p = 0.863). In addition, RCT was longer in LIG-TRA (56.0 ± 48.6 mins) than LIG (34.0 ± 20.6 mins). The RT, RR and HR did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between LIG-TRA and LIG, and as well as throughout the duration of study. It was therefore concluded that tramadol did not appear to improve the anaesthetic indices of epidural lignocaine injection in sheep but increased the duration of recumbency with the tendency to cause bloat.

Gross Morphometric Studies on the Tongue, Buccal Cavity and Hard Palate of the Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum).

This study was designed to assess the gross morphometric studies of the tongue, hard palate and buccal cavity of the fruit bat (Eidolon helvum). Sixty bats of both sexes were used for this study. The tongue was excised, and the weight and various linear measurements were determined. Linear measurements were also determined on the hard palate. The gross distribution of the lingual papillae was observed to be the same in both sexes; values obtained for the weight and length of the tongue were higher in the females, although no statistically significant differences were observed (P > 0.05). The number of ridges on the hard palate displayed sexual dimorphism. Results obtained from this study may find application in the field of comparative and clinical anatomy of wildlife and also in feeding physiology.

Effect of epidural tramadol and lignocaine on physiological and behavioural changes in goats subjected to castration with a high tension band.

AIM: To compare the effect of a single epidural injection of either lignocaine or tramadol on behavioural changes, anaesthetic indices, leucocyte parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rates and concentration of cortisol in plasma in goats subjected to castration by high tension band. METHODS: Ten male goats weighing 14.4 (SD 0.7) kg were randomly allocated to anaesthesia with epidural injections of tramadol (3 mg/kg), or lignocaine (4 mg/kg). Following anaesthesia, a rubber ring was applied and tensioned to the scrotal neck of each goat. Behavioural changes were noted as they occurred, and the onset of drug action (time between epidural injection and loss of pedal reflex) and duration of antinociception (time interval between disappearance and reappearance of pedal withdrawal reflex) were determined. Hearts rates, respiratory rates and rectal temperatures were determined every 15 minutes for a 90-minute period, while blood was obtained for determination of white cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates and concentrations of cortisol. Anaesthetic indices were compared using Student's t-test, while physiological parameters were compared using an ANOVA for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Goats treated with epidural tramadol were not recumbent and continued rumination while goats treated with epidural lignocaine were recumbent and did not continue rumination. The onset of analgesia was longer (p=0.01) in goats treated with epidural tramadol (5.0 minutes; SD 1.2) than goats treated with epidural lignocaine (3.0 minutes; SD 1.1), while duration of analgesia was shorter (p=0.003) in goats treated with epidural tramadol (47.2 minutes; SD 13.1) than goats treated with epidural lignocaine (89.8 minutes; SD 23.1). There was no significant difference in heart rates, respiratory rates and erythrocyte sedimentation rates, while the concentration of cortisol in plasma differed (p<0.05) between goats treated with epidural tramadol and lignocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural lignocaine injection produced longer duration of antinociception with lower frequency of pain-associated behavioural changes; while treatment with epidural tramadol injection allowed the goats to continue grazing once the rubber ring has been applied. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Epidural tramadol produced partial pain relief, while epidural lignocaine injection provided the most effective pain control. However, epidural tramadol has an advantage over epidural lignocaine in conditions such as perineal surgery and caesarian section in cattle and where the ability of the animal to maintain standing is desired.

Increasing ketamine dose enhances the anaesthetic properties of ketamine-xylazine-midazolam combinations in growing pigs.

The influence of increasing the dosage of ketamine on anaesthesia induced by a combination of ketamine, xylazine and midazolam in pigs was determined by assessing the onset of action (OAN), duration of analgesia (DAN), anaesthesia time (ANT), and recovery time (RCT) in 10 growing pigs (Mean weight: 18.2 +/- 1.65 kg) receiving either 10 mg/kg intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 10% ketamine, 2 mg/kg i.m. injection of 2% xylazine and 0.25 mg/kg i.m. injection of 0.1% midazolam (K10XM) or 20 mg/kg i.m. injection of ketamine and 2 mg/kg i.m. injection of xylazine and 0.25 mg/kg i.m. injection of 0.1% midazolam (K20XM). In addition, the heart rates (HR), respiratory rates (RR) and rectal temperatures (RT) were determined immediately after drug administration and at 10 minute intervals over a period of 60 minutes. Analgesia was assessed by the response of the pigs to artery forceps applied at the interdigital space. Recovery was determined as pigs' ability to stand without ataxia. Data were expressed as mean +/- SEM while anaesthetic indices were compared using Student's t-tests. A P value of 0.05 was accepted as significant in all cases. In this study, both the OAN and RCT were significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (1.4 +/- 0.2 min; 7.8 +/- 2.2 min) than in K20XM (2.2 +/- 0.2; 18.6 +/- 1.4 min) respectively. Similarly, the duration of anaesthesia was significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in K10XM (55.4 +/- 8.4 min) than in K20XM (92.0 +/- 13.6 min). The pigs that received K20XM combination had analgesia of duration of 41.4 +/- 12.6 min while those that received K10XM combination had no analgesia. However, the HR, RR, and RT were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between K10XM and K20XM. It was therefore concluded that the lower dose ketamine combination is better for the induction of anaesthesia, while the higher dose ketamine combination is preferable for surgery of short duration in pigs.

Influence of dosage and chemical restraints on feline excretory urography.

Three series of trials involving 10 domestic short-haired cats were carried out to determine the influence of dosage of contrast media or type of chemical restraint on feline excretory urography. The 1st series (group A) involved 5 cats sedated with 2.0 mg/kg intramuscular (i.m) injection of 2% xylazine and receiving 800 mg/kg of 76 % meglumine diatrizoate (urografin). The 2nd series (group B) involved another 5 cats sedated with 2.0 mg/kg (i.m) injection of 2% xylazine and receiving 1200 mg/kg of 76% urografin. The 3rd series (group C) involved the repeat urography of the group B cats but sedated with 15 mg/kg (i.m) injection of 5% ketamine hydrochloride. Ventrodorsal radiographs were obtained immediately, 5, 15 and 40 minutes after the injection of 76% urografin. Scores were assigned to nephrographic opacification as described in the literature. The heart rates, respiratory rates and rectal temperatures of the cats were also determined before sedation, after sedation, immediately after the injection of 76% urografin and at 15-minute intervals over a period of 60 minutes. In this study, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the nephrographic opacification scores between the group A and group B cats at times 0 and 40 minutes post-administration of urografin. Group A cats had good initial nephrographic opacification which faded later while the nephrographic opacification of group B cats progressively increased. Similarly, nephrographic opacification was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the xylazine-sedated cats (groups A and B) than the ketamine-sedated cats (group C). However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in heart rates, respiratory rates and rectal temperatures between the 3 groups of cats. It was therefore concluded that increasing the dosage of urografin above 800 mg/kg in cats does not provide additional beneficial effects on the nephrograms produced. Xylazine sedation was observed to produce better nephrographic opacification, however, with delayed nephrographic fading compared to ketamine sedation.