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Biomedical subjects

U Braun

Publications and source records attributed to U Braun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Ultrasonographic examination of the omasum in 30 healthy cows.

A 3.5 MHz linear transducer was used to scan the intercostal spaces of 30 healthy cows from dorsal to ventral on the right side, and the appearance, dorsal and ventral limits and size of the omasum were determined in each intercostal space. The size of the omasum determined ultrasonographically was compared with that determined postmortem. The distance between the omasum and the peritoneum of the lateral body wall was also determined electronically in each intercostal space by means of the two cursors. In the sixth to 11th intercostal spaces, the omasum had a crescent shape, with only the wall closest to the transducer visible as a thick echogenic line. The dorsal limit of the omasum appeared from cranial to caudal as the upper part of a circle, whereas the ventral omasal limit appeared as the lower part of a circle. The mean (sd) size of the omasum varied with the intercostal spaces from 16.3 (1.5) cm to 56.9 (10.0) cm; it was greatest in the ninth intercostal space and decreased cranially and caudally. The omasum was closest to the right abdominal wall in the eighth and ninth intercostal spaces, and was immediately adjacent to these spaces in 22 and 20 cows, respectively. There were significant correlations between the size of the omasum determined ultrasonographically in the ninth intercostal space and the weight, volume and largest and smallest diameters of the omasum determined postmortem, with correlation coefficients (r) between 0.38 and 0.55.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Clinical findings in 56 cows with toxic mastitis.

The clinical, haematological, biochemical and bacteriological findings in 56 cows with toxic mastitis are described. In addition to acute mastitis, the most frequent clinical findings were tachycardia in 40 of the cows, anorexia or reduced appetite in 50, reduced ruminal and intestinal motility in 52 and no ruminal and intestinal motility in 39. The most important haematological and biochemical findings were a high haematocrit in 26 of the cows, leucopenia in 23 and a high concentration of urea in 31. In 27 of the cows the secretion of the affected mammary gland did not resemble milk. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli from 26 of the cows and Staphylococcus aureus from 11. Seven of the cows were investigated by an exploratory laparotomy because the principal sign was intestinal in origin, but no abnormalities were found. Seventeen of the cows were euthanased immediately after the diagnostic work, and 14 during the course of their treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Cattle with thymic lymphoma and haematoma of the ventral neck: a comparison of findings.

The goal of the present paper was to establish criteria for the differentiation of thymic lymphoma and haematoma of the ventral neck in cattle. Four cattle with thymic lymphoma and seven with haematoma of the ventral neck underwent physical, haematological, biochemical and ultrasonographic examinations as well as histological evaluation of a biopsy specimen. All of the animals had firm non-painful swellings, which were no warmer than normal and extended from the pharyngeal region to the thoracic inlet. A diagnosis could not be established based on the results of physical examination and palpation of the swellings. Animals with a haematoma had a shorter history of being ill compared to those with thymic lymphoma. In patients with a haematoma, anaemia was present, the heart rate was elevated and the haematocrit was decreased, but not in cattle with thymic lymphoma. A tentative diagnosis was made on the basis of a macroscopic evaluation of the biopsy samples, which were dark red and firm in cattle with a haematoma. All cases of malignant thymic lymphoma were confirmed by histological examination of a biopsy sample. Ultrasonography did not help to differentiate between haematoma and thymic lymphoma. All animals with thymic lymphoma and three of those with a haematoma were euthanased. The four remaining animals with a haematoma were treated successfully.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

Estimating the true prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in cattle slaughtered in Switzerland in the absence of an absolute diagnostic test.

A survey of 1,331 cattle presented for slaughter at two abattoirs in Switzerland was used to estimate the true prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection and the diagnostic parameters of visual meat inspection, coproscopy after sedimentation technique, a commercial ELISA test for specific antibody detection in serum and the post mortem microscopic detection of eggs in bile. Faeces, blood and the gall bladder were taken from most cattle presented for slaughter. In addition, livers that were rejected by the meat inspectors were also dissected to examine for the presence of liver fluke. Bayesian techniques (Markov Chain-Monte Carlo) were used to estimate the diagnostic parameters of each of these procedures and the true prevalence of bovine fasciolosis. The true prevalence of F. hepatica infection was estimated at 18.0% (95% credible intervals 15.9-20.3%). The diagnostic sensitivity of coproscopy, bile examination, antibody ELISA and meat inspection were estimated at 69.0% (57.3-79.7%), 93.4% (88.0-97.5%), 91.7% (87.2-95.2%) and 63.2% (55.6-70.6%), respectively. The diagnostic specificity of the ELISA test was estimated at 93.7% (91.7-95.2%). These results demonstrate that the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis is higher than previously thought due to the low sensitivity of meat inspection. They also demonstrate that traditional coproscopy can be very efficient if there is repeated sampling, resulting in sensitivity of approximately 92%.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2006

Clinical findings and treatment of 94 cattle presumptively diagnosed with listeriosis.

The clinical findings and treatment of 94 cattle with listeriosis are described. The general behaviour and condition of the animals were mostly moderately to severely disturbed. A common abnormality in posture was an exaggerated forward or sideward stance, and 11 of the animals were recumbent. More than half of the animals were ataxic and 22 circled. The most frequent cranial neurological signs observed were facial nerve paralysis, salivation, strabismus, reduced or absent pupillary light reflex, reduced or absent tongue movement and head tilt. The haematological and biochemical findings did not contribute to the diagnosis of listeriosis, but they were useful indicators of dehydration and the acid-base status of the animal. Forty-four of 57 of the animals had high leucocyte counts in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), mostly mononuclear cells. Eighty-seven of the animals were treated with various antibiotics (penicillin G, oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, and amoxicillin and gentamicin combined), but there was no significant difference in the success rate of the different treatments. Only two of the nine recumbent animals that were treated survived. Univariable analysis suggested that animals that were recumbent, excited, with an absent or weak menace reflex, nystagmus, high numbers of leucocytes in the CSF, high serum concentrations of urea and calcium and high serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, and an acid-base deficit, had a smaller chance of surviving. When a logistic regression model was constructed, only recumbency, excitement and a weak or absent menace reflex remained significant factors affecting the likelihood of survival.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The effect of intravenous magnesium hypophosphite in calcium borogluconate solution on the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus in healthy cows.

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of intravenous (IV) administration of phosphite on the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus in cows. Twelve clinically healthy cows were divided into four groups of three. All cows received 600 mL of a 40% calcium borogluconate solution; three cows each received this as a rapid (20 min) IV infusion with and without 6% magnesium hypophosphite, and three other cows each received this as a slow IV infusion (8 h) with and without 6% magnesium hypophosphite. Samples of blood were collected for the determination of serum concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium before and 10, 20, 40, 60 and 90 min and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after the start of treatment. The concentration of calcium increased after treatment in all cows but the increase was most rapid in cows that received the rapid infusion. In cows that received the rapid IV infusion containing magnesium hypophosphite, the mean concentration of inorganic phosphorus decreased significantly 3-4 h after treatment compared with initial serum levels. The serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus did not change significantly in cows that received the rapid IV solution without magnesium hypophosphite or the slow IV infusion with or without magnesium hypophosphite. The serum concentration of magnesium increased after treatment in all cows receiving magnesium hypophosphite but remained unchanged in the others. The rapid infusion of calcium borogluconate without magnesium hypophosphite made all three cows anorexic and hypercalcaemic and the slow infusion made 1/3 anorexic. It is concluded that the IV administration of a calcium solution containing magnesium hypophosphite does not increase the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Ultrasonography of the spleen in 50 healthy cows.

This paper describes the ultrasonographic appearance, location and size of the spleen in 50 healthy commercial milk cows destined for slaughter. The intercostal spaces of the left thoracic wall were scanned with a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. In each intercostal space, the appearance of the splenic parenchyma, the dorsal and ventral margins and the distance between them, and the diameter of the splenic vessels were recorded. The spleen was seen in intercostal spaces 7-12. It was 2.0-5.0 cm thick, and tapered ventrally. The splenic capsule appeared as an echogenic line. The splenic parenchyma consisted of numerous small regularly spaced echoes, and vessels within the parenchyma appeared as anechoic round to oval or elongated images. The long axis was oblique, running caudodorsal to cranioventral. The distance from the dorsal margin of the spleen to the midline of the back was greatest in the 7th intercostal space (60.9+/-6.81) and smallest in the 12th intercostal space (12.7+/-2.85 cm). The extent of the spleen was greatest in the 8th intercostal space (24.9+/-10.77 cm) and smallest in the 12th intercostal space (9.5+/-5.38 cm). The mean diameter of the splenic vessels ranged from 0.66+/-0.28 to 0.90+/-0.65 cm, depending on the intercostal space scanned. Ultrasonography of the spleen in healthy cows provides information that can be used as a reference when examining cattle with suspected splenic disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Ileal impaction in 22 cows.

The clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of 22 cows with ileal impaction were investigated using the medical records of bovine patients referred to the Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich from 1993 to 2003. Only 15 of the cows had signs of colic, which were subtle but slowly increased in severity in some patients. The results of haematological and biochemical analyses were mildly abnormal in only few animals. There was no correlation between the duration of the disorder before admission, the severity of symptoms and the results of the haematological and biochemical analyses. Dilated loops of small intestine in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdomen could be palpated transrectally and imaged via ultrasonography. A definitive diagnosis of ileal impaction was made during exploratory laparotomy by finding the impaction and ruling out other abnormalities. In 19 cows, the obstructing food mass was easily massaged into the caecum, and in three animals an enterotomy was carried out. All cows had an uneventful recovery with no recurrence of the disorder. It is concluded that the cause of the impaction was most likely due to seasonal influences and winter-feeding with a hay based ration. The short and long-term prognosis after surgical intervention was good.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

[Treatment of parturient paresis with high-dose calcium].

The goal of the present study was to evaluate a calcium dose that was higher than the conventional dose for treatment of parturient paresis in cows. Thirty cows with parturient paresis received 1000 ml of 40 per cent calcium borogluconate solution supplemented with 6 per cent magnesium hypophosphite. Cows in group A received 200 ml of the solution intravenously over a 10-minute period, and the remaining 800 ml via a slow intravenous drip over a six-hour period. Cows in group B received 500 ml of the solution intravenously over a 20-minute period, and the remaining 500 ml via a slow intravenous drip over a six-hour period. Afterwards, the cows were monitored continuously and examined every hour for eight hours. Samples of blood were collected from all the cows before treatment and at 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420 and 480 minutes and 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. The concentrations of total calcium, ionised calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium were determined. Cows that did not stand within 12 hours of treatment received one or more additional treatments. There was no significant difference in the recovery rate between the two groups. Of the 30 cows, 14 (47 per cent) rised after one treatment and 15 others (50 per cent) were cured after two or more treatments. One cow did not respond to repeated treatments and was euthanased four days after the start of treatment. The results of electrolyte analyses before treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups. In 27 (90 per cent) cows, the concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus were lower than normal and in 3 (10 per cent) cows, only the concentration of inorganic phosphorus was lower than normal. The concentration of total calcium increased markedly ten minutes after the start of treatment in both groups, and at eight hours, the mean concentration of calcium was within the normal range. At 24 and 48 hours, the mean concentration of calcium was below normal, but at 72 hours it was again within the normal range. The concentration of inorganic phosphorus increased slowly in both groups, although it was not within the normal range at eight hours. In both groups, it achieved normal values at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The mean electrolyte concentrations did not differ significantly at any measuring point between cows that stood within eight hours of treatment and those that did not. Our results indicate that increasing the dose of calcium administered does not improve the recovery rate of cows with parturient paresis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Botulism in cattle].

Botulism is an intoxication caused by ingestion of feed or water contaminated with the toxin of Clostridium botulinum. In cattle, intoxication usually results from the ingestion of feed containing preformed type C or D toxin, either in feed which has been contaminated with toxin-containing carcasses or in feed in which there has been primary multiplication of C. botulinum and toxin production. The initial signs of botulism are progressive difficulty in chewing and swallowing, caused by paralysis of the tongue and muscles of mastication. This results in slow prehension and chewing of feed, water and feed falling out of the mouth, excessive salivation and weakness of the tongue. After 1 to 3 days, generalised paralysis occurs followed by death due to respiratory paralysis. Intravenous fluid therapy is the recommended treatment. The administration of antiserum is of limited value in advanced stages and is used mainly as a prophylactic measure in cattle herds in which an outbreak has just started. Active immunization of cattle in high-risk herds is also an option. It is critical that cattle not be fed feed contaminated with soil or carcasses.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

[Imported coenurosis in sheep].

Thirteen sheep from a milk producing farm in the Canton of Grisons that presented chronic coenurosis were examined and subjected to treatment trials at the veterinary hospital in Zurich. Symptoms were first observed around two months after the import of two dogs from Italy (Abruzza) of which one was infected with Taenia multiceps and Echinococcus granulosus. The most frequently observed clinical symptoms of the sheep were reduced general condition, circling, reduced menace reflex, apathy, unsteady gait and head tilt. Analyses of cerebrospinal fluid revealed an increased leucocyte count in 3 sheep and eosinophilia in 4 sheep. In 4 animals that underwent computertomography, one or more hypodense, definable lesions were found in the brain. In 2 sheep surgical treatment and in 10 animals medical treatment with either Praziquantel (n=8) or Oxfendazol (n=2) was attempted. Only one animal treated with Praziquantel needed not to be euthanized. At necropsy, one or two coenurus cysts could be found either in a side ventricle (n=2), in the cerebellum (n=3) or in the cerebrum (n=7). The locations corresponded with the clinical findings. Despite Praziquantel or Oxfendazol treatment, living protoscoleces could be found in the parasite cysts.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Airway management practices at German university and university-affiliated teaching hospitals--equipment, techniques and training: results of a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, Germany did not have national airway management guidelines. This survey collected comprehensive data on departmental airway management practices from German teaching institutions to identify weaknesses, and the results are presented here. German national airway guidelines were formulated by an expert group on the basis of these data and the current evidence in the literature. METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to the directors of 452 university and university-affiliated anaesthesia departments. They were asked to respond to 39 questions on the use of particular equipment and techniques, management of the difficult airway and training in airway management. RESULTS: Two hundred and twelve questionnaires were returned. Many alternative devices for endotracheal intubation, such as the Bullard laryngoscope, the Bonfils laryngoscope and the Trachlight, are not used in the majority (80%) of departments. Thirty-six per cent of departments do not have difficult airway carts. No departmental difficult airway management plan is used in 22% of departments. Patients are not provided with written information on their personal airway management difficulties in 14% of departments. Structured training in the form of block rotation is offered in only 29-40% of departments. Although trainees perform fibreoptic intubation (FOI) in most departments, appropriate training in FOI is not available in some departments (8%). CONCLUSION: There are deficits in various areas of airway management, in particular training and the use of algorithms. International guidelines and recommendations are not followed by a large number of German teaching institutions. The provision of German national airway guidelines should improve this situation.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2005

Estimating the financial losses due to bovine fasciolosis in Switzerland.

In dairy cattle in Switzerland, the prevalence of infection with Fasciola hepatica is over 16 per cent. Previous studies have suggested that even subclinical infections with liver fluke may induce significant reductions in the performance of cattle. The financial losses attributable to F hepatica were estimated using a simple spreadsheet model to sum the individual losses that have been suggested in the literature. Because there is substantial variability in these production losses, Monte Carlo sampling techniques were used to model this variability. Each cost item and each data item related to the prevalence of F hepatica was assigned a mathematical distribution which took account of the variability of the experimental data and/or the sample size of the data. A total of 10,000 simulations were undertaken, with each item randomly varied through its mathematical distribution on each simulation. The results suggest that the median financial loss due to bovine fasciolosis in Switzerland is approximately 52 million, with probable 95 per cent confidence limits ranging from 22 million to 92 million per annum, which represents a median loss of 299 per infected animal. Most of the losses arise from reduced milk yield and reduced fertility, and smaller losses are due to reduced meat production and the condemnation of livers.

Animals↗