Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Corneal ulcers, particularly from alkaline chemical injuries, are a leading ocular complication in animals, accounting for about 20% of emergency referrals. These burns damage the conjunctiva and cornea, causing deep ulcers, potential perforation, delayed healing, infections, and blindness. Prompt treatment is crucial to accelerate healing and minimize complications like permanent opacity. This study compared the efficacy of blood serums (autologous, homologous, heterologous) against standard treatment (N-acetylcysteine and ciprofloxacin eye drops) and a control group (Normal saline) in treating induced corneal ulcers in two groups consisting of 10 healthy mixed-bred female dogs. Ulcers were created using 3M sodium hydroxide-soaked filter paper on both eyes. Evaluations at 1, 7, 14, and 21 days assessed quantitative parameters (corneal/stromal thickness, ulcer size) and qualitative symptoms (photophobia, blepharospasm, discharge, congestion, edema, neovascularization, opacity) via ultrasonography and clinical exams, respectively. Results showed significant time- and treatment-dependent improvements. Heterologous serum notably reduced thickness and ulcer size from day 7 compared to others. By days 14-21, all treatments (serums and drugs) lowered stromal thickness versus control. Qualitative parameters improved significantly with all treatments from day 7. These findings support the use of blood-derived serums, especially heterologous serum, to accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes in canine corneal ulcers.

Abstract Echocardiography is a noninvasive, highly sensitive method for evaluating heart disease in veterinary medicine, crucial for measuring cardiac structures and functions. Despite its importance, limited data exist on sheep, particularly the Ghezel breed, a significant breed in Iran. This study aimed to establish normal echocardiographic values for Ghezel sheep, providing reference data for both clinical and research applications. We evaluated 15 healthy Ghezel sheep with a mean age of 16.50 ± 1.80 months and a mean weight of 42.69 ± 4.73 kg. Comprehensive clinical exams, biochemical and hematological tests and color Doppler echocardiography were performed. Descriptive results from standard right and left parasternal views in both longitudinal and transverse planes were obtained and compared to existing studies. The study successfully established pulse wave Doppler reference values for the Ghezel breed. These findings could be used in diagnosing heart disease in Ghezel sheep and would be beneficial in future research particularly in sheep used as an animal model for translation in human cardiac studies.

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg^-1) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg^-1) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 minubefore and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minu after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before pregabalin, 55 minu after pregabalin administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after xylazine hydrochloride acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were no significant differences regarding HHAG and echocardiographic indices between the two treatments. Intragastric administration of pregabalin prior to xylazine could be considered as an alternative premedication regimen when acepromazine administration is contraindicated or undesirable.

Abstract A 2-year-old intact male Asian Shepherd dog was referred with a history of chronic regurgitation along with normal appetite and diagnosis of megaesophagus on plain radiography. Clinical examination revealed normothermia, normocardia, normopnea, low body condition score and poor hair coat. The most important laboratory findings include anemia, azotemia, hyperlipidemia, increased thyroid stimulating hormone, decreased thyroxine and hypocortisolemia, as well as a marked increase in acetylcholine receptor antibody concentration. Based on the results, in addition to primary hypothyroidism and primary hypoadrenocorticism, myasthenia gravis was also diagnosed as an underlying cause of megaesophagus. Following nursing care and preferred treatment of each disease, the megaesophagus was resolved in the next visit. This clinical report describes for the first time, to the authors' knowledge, a dog with a rare type of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) known in human medicine as a Schmidt's syndrome. We want to emphasize the importance of clinicians’ awareness regarding the possibility of APS to identify different diseases caused by it in order to achieve successful treatment.

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of acepromazine-clonidine versus acepromazine-xylazine in horses. Four healthy cross-bred horses were included in the study. They were assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg^-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg^-1) intravenously (IV). In treatment II (T2), the animals received intra-gastric administration of clonidine (0.002 mg kg^-1) followed by acepromazine (0.05 mg kg^-1; IV) after 60 min. Head height above the ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 min before and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before clonidine, 55 min after clonidine administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were not significant differences regarding HHAG and echo-cardiographic indices between two treatments. For sedation of healthy horses, it was concluded that intra-gastric administration of clonidine and IV administration of acepromazine showed similar sedative and cardiovascular effects compared to IV acepromazine-xylazine administration.

Abstract Echocardiography is a non-invasive method of cardiac evaluation in most species. Echocardiographic reference parameters are poorly documented in sheep and not documented in Ghezel sheep. The purpose of this study was to determine reference ranges of normal echocardiographic parameters using two-dimensional and M-mode techniques in Ghezel sheep. In 15 healthy female Ghezel sheep aged between 15 and 18 months, echocardiography was performed in standing position from left and right parasternal approach focused at 3^rd - 5^th intercostal spaces using a 2.50 - 5.00 MHz phased array transducer. The following parameters were measured in two-dimensional echocardiography: left atrial diameter (LAD), mitral valve annulus (MVA), aortic sinus (AoS), aortic valve (AoV), pulmonary sinus (PuS), and pulmonary valve (PuV); and in M-mode echocardiography: interventricular septum (IVS), left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular free wall (LVFW), right ventricle free wall (RVFW), right ventricle internal diameter (RVID). Calculated variables included the ratios LAD/Ao and Pu/AoS, and the fractional shortening (FS), end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) of the left ventricle. In conclusion, echocardiographic parameters could be reliably assessed in Ghezel sheep and our study provided some normal echocardiographic reference ranges that might be useful in proper identification, visualization, and measurements of cardiac structures. Such findings could be useful to assess and to diagnose the specific heart diseases in sheep practice and also for experimental studies in sheep as an animal model used for research purposes in cardiovascular studies of human.