Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Antinoff.
The clinical manifestations of odontomas in prairie dogs are described. Familiarity with this disease is important because it is common, and the signs of this disease mimic other respiratory disorders.
As rabbits gain increasing popularity as house pets, more rabbit owners are seeking basic preventive veterinary care. Although a knowledge of the unique anatomic and physiologic characteristics of pet rabbits is essential, annual examination and review of diet and husbandry are as important as with any other species. Many disease states can be detected or prevented with routine veterinary care. Despite all the advances in diagnostic testing in veterinary medicine, there will never be a substitute for a complete physical examination.
In emergency situations, veterinarians often are presented with critical patients of any species. The principles for critical care in traditional species such as the dog or cat can be applied to other small mammals. Although there are many unique aspects of the anatomy and physiology of different species, emergency care of small mammals can be instituted with the adaptation of products found in many general practices. Careful assessment of the patient, prioritization of the injuries, and rapid intervention can be life saving in any species.
Infraorbital sinus infections, which form the bulk of upper respiratory tract infections in companion birds, are commonly encountered in clinical practice and often require medical and/or surgical management. The infraorbital sinus with its dorsal drainage into the nasal cavity makes it difficult to treat these infections. The sinus has various compartments throughout the skull, and subcutaneous tissue. As an aid in determining the location and extent of the sinuses of the parrot and macaw, a corrosion cast of the infraorbital sinus was made. Also, computed tomography (CT) images of cadaver heads were completed at 2-mm scans. Prior to sectioning for sheet plastination, the infraorbital sinus of one half of the imaged heads was injected with a mixture of colored epoxy. The specimens were frozen (-25 degrees C) prior to sawing 2-mm-thick sections which corresponded to the CT scans. The sections were dehydrated, impregnated and sheets prepared using the standard E12 technique. The slices were used to identify the compartments of the infraorbital sinuses and to aid identification of such on the CT images.
Mycobacterium genavense, a recently reported cause of a wasting illness in patients with AIDS, was isolated from a cervical lymph mode from a dog with severe hind limb weakness and from trachael tissue from a parrot with acute onset respiratory distress. Physicians caring for immunocompromised patients should consider birds and dogs potential sources of M. genavense infection and submit appropriate specimens for culture.
The effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on hematopoietic reconstitution after autologous bone marrow transplantation was evaluated in a primate model. Animals were given a continuous intravenous infusion of recombinant human GM-CSF for several days both before and after transplantation or only after the transplant procedure. Marrow ablation was accomplished by total body irradiation. In both groups of animals, the neutrophil count reached 1,000/mm3 by 8-9 d posttransplant compared with an interval of 17 and 24 d for two concurrent controls. After withdrawal of GM-CSF, neutrophil counts fell to values comparable to those observed in untreated controls. Accelerated recovery of platelet production was also observed in four of the five animals. Two additional animals were initially given GM-CSF several weeks posttransplantation because of inadequate engraftment. Prompt and sustained increases in neutrophil and platelet counts were observed. We conclude that GM-CSF may be useful in accelerating bone marrow reconstitution.