Repair of transverse process fractures of multiple lumbar vertebrae in an adult dairy cow.

OBJECTIVE: To report lumbar vertebrae transverse process fracture repair using a narrow 3.5 mm limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) in an adult dairy cow. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: A 3-year-old Holstein cow. METHODS: Under general anesthesia, fractured left transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae 2-4 were repaired using internal fixation. A narrow 3.5 mm LC-DCP was contoured and secured to the spinous process and the transverse process of each fractured vertebra. RESULTS: Fractured transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae were successfully repaired and the cow discharged 10 days after surgery. At 10 months after surgery, the cow was declared reserved champion at a regional show. CONCLUSION: A paramedian approach and muscle splitting can be used to repair multiple lumbar transverse process fractures using internal fixation with an excellent cosmetic outcome.

Unilateral nephrectomy in 10 cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and imaging findings, treatment, and long-term outcome of cattle undergoing unilateral nephrectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Cattle (n=10). METHODS: Medical records (January 1991-August 2008) of cattle that had unilateral nephrectomy were reviewed. Follow-up data were obtained by owner telephone interview. RESULTS: Nephrectomy was performed without surgical complications. Transient increases in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations occurred after surgery and then returned to, or below, presurgical values in 9 cattle. Nine cows were discharged and 7 rejoined their respective herd as productive animals without long-term complications. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography was the most useful imaging tool for presurgical diagnosis. Based on our follow-up data, unilateral nephrectomy resulted in few serious short-term or long-term complications, and cattle undergoing this procedure are capable of satisfactory growth, reproduction, and milk production after surgery.

Congenital enlargement of the suburethral diverticulum in a Holstein calf.

A 3-month-old, female Holstein calf was examined because of marked perineal swelling and tenesmus of 4-days duration. A congenitally enlarged urethral diverticulum was diagnosed using fluoroscopic and ultrasonographic imaging techniques. The urethral diverticulum was surgically resected and the perineal area was reconstructed.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of inhibitors of thymidine monophosphate kinase from Bacillus anthracis.

Nineteen lipophilic thymidine phosphate-mimicking compounds were designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of thymidine monophosphate kinase of Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive bacterium that causes anthrax. These thymidine analogues were substituted at the 5'-postion with sulfonamide-, amide-, (thio)urea-, or triazole groups, which served as lipophilic surrogates for phosphate. Three of the tested compounds produced inhibition of B. anthracis Sterne growth and/or thymidine monophosphate activity. Additional studies will be necessary to elucidate the potential of this type of B. anthracis thymidine monophosphate inhibitors as novel antibiotics in the treatment of anthrax.

Seminal vesiculitis.

Although accurate diagnosis of seminal vesiculitis still seems to be a problem, the disease can be treated surgically if the value of the animal warrants. Although this technique offers superior surgical exposure and seems to be successful in young bulls, its value in adult bulls is still questionable. There have been no reports of successful seminal vesiculectomy in aged bulls of which the authors are aware.

External skeletal fixation of fractures in cattle.

External skeletal fixation (ESF) is a versatile method for rigid immobilization of long bone fractures in cattle. Traditional ESF devices may be used in young calves for clinical management of open fractures. Transfixation pinning and casting is an adaptation of ESF principles to improve versatility and clinical management of selected fractures.

Acute compartment syndrome in the pelvic limb of a cow following biopsy of a skeletal muscle-associated hemangiosarcoma.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-year-old Holstein cow was examined because of chronic lameness and swelling near the stifle joint of the left pelvic limb. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A mass was palpated in the soft tissues lateral to the proximal aspect of the left tibia. Multiple attempts to obtain a biopsy specimen of the mass resulted in acute compartment syndrome of the femoral compartment (tensor fasciae latae and biceps femoris muscles) and lateral tibial compartment (cranial tibial and peroneus tertius muscles) with associated sciatic nerve paralysis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Surgical decompression via tensor fasciae latae and biceps femoris incision resolved the sciatic nerve paralysis. On the fifth day following surgery, the cow began to develop signs of increased respiratory effort. Thoracic radiography revealed a pulmonary metastatic micronodular pattern. The cow was euthanized because its condition deteriorated. Metastatic hemangiosarcoma was confirmed at necropsy, and the primary tumor was the mass that was lateral to the tibia and within the biceps femoris muscle. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hemangiosarcoma should be considered a differential diagnosis for lameness in cattle when no orthopedic cause can be identified. Close patient surveillance is strongly recommended in the event that a vascular tumor is present because catastrophic consequences are possible. To our knowledge, this is the first report of acute compartment syndrome in a pelvic limb of a bovine patient and the only report of hemangiosarcoma in the skeletal muscle of cattle.

Duodenal obstruction caused by duodenal sigmoid flexure volvulus in dairy cattle: 29 cases (2006-2010).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize duodenal sigmoid flexure volvulus (DSFV) and determine the prognosis for affected cattle undergoing surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 29 dairy cattle. PROCEDURES: The medical records were analyzed for history, signalment, clinical signs, medical management, surgical findings, and outcome. RESULTS: 29 cattle were determined to have DSFV between December 2006 and August 2010. Twenty cattle had had an omentopexy or pyloropexy performed 1 day to 2 years before initial evaluation. Cattle were afebrile, tachycardic, and moderately dehydrated, with a small zone of percussion with a ping at the 10th to 12th right intercostal spaces and associated succussion. Biochemical changes were a severe hypokalemic (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 0.5 mmol/L; median, 3.1 mmol/L; range, 2.08 to 3.92 mmol/L), hypochloremic (mean, 69.7 ± 11.1 mmol/L; median, 71.7 mmol/L; range, 49.1 to 94.1 mmol/L) metabolic alkalosis (mean total CO(2), 44.5 ± 7.4 mmol/L; median, 45.3 mmol/L; range, 31.5 to 59.6 mmol/L) and hyperbilirubinemia (mean, 32.4 ± 29.0 µmol/L; median, 20.5 µmol/L; range, 7.8 to 107 µmol/L). Surgical findings for DSFV included an empty descending duodenum adjacent to a dorsally displaced and dilated cranial segment of the duodenum, distended abomasum and gallbladder, and a tight volvulus at the base of the duodenal sigmoid flexure. Manual reduction was considered successful if the descending duodenum filled after cranial duodenal massage. Twenty-two patients were successfully treated; the remaining 7 died or were euthanized within 4 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A condition clinically resembling abomasal volvulus but affecting the duodenal sigmoid flexure has been recognized in dairy cattle. When a focal, dorsal right-sided ping and succussion are present combined with severe hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and high bilirubin concentration, DSFV should be suspected, especially when there is a history of prior abomasal fixation. After surgical correction, the prognosis is fair to good.

Evaluation of Bacillus anthracis thymidine kinase as a potential target for the development of antibacterial nucleoside analogs.

Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax, has attracted attention because of its potential use as a biological weapon. The risk of multidrug resistance against B. anthracis increases the need for antibiotics with new molecular targets. Nucleoside analogs are well-known antiviral and anticancer prodrugs, and thymidine kinase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the activation of pyrimidine nucleoside analogs used in chemotherapy. The thymidine kinase gene from B. anthracis Sterne strain (34F2) (Ba-TK) was cloned and expressed in E. coli, and the product was purified and characterized regarding its substrate specificity. Ba-TK phosphorylated pyrimidine nucleosides and all natural nucleoside triphosphates served as phosphate donors. Size exclusion chromatography indicated a dimeric form of Ba-TK, regardless of the presence of ATP. Thymidine was the most efficient substrate with a low K(m) value (0.6 microM) and a V(max) of 3.3 micromol dTMP mg(-1) min(-1), but deoxyuridine (K(m)=4.2 microM, V(max)=4.1 micromol dUMP mg(-1) min(-1)) was also a good substrate. Several pyrimidine analogs were also tested and analogs with 5-position modifications showed higher activities compared to analogs with 3'- and N3-position modifications. Deoxyuridine analogs were the most potent inhibitors of B. anthracis growth in vitro. These results may be used to guide future development of nucleoside analogs against B. anthracis.