Equine neonatal septicaemia was confirmed in 24 foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1989 and 1992 with suspected septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed by culture of bacteria from blood of live foals and tissues obtained at necropsy of foals that died or were euthanased. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were predominantly Enterobacteriaceae (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella serovars) and Actinobacillus equuli. Clinical manifestations of septicaemia included signs of depression, dehydration, abnormalities in body temperature and manifestations of localised infection including diarrhoea, pneumonia, and septic arthritis. Most common haematological abnormalities were neutropenia and increase of circulating band neutrophils. Survival rate of foals with confirmed septicaemia was 70.8%. Survival was found to be less likely in the presence of pneumonia, severe signs of depression, marked haematological changes or septic arthritis at the time of admission. Seven foals were confirmed to have septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia. Of these, 4 had multiple joint involvement. Bacteria isolated from infected joints were predominantly Salmonella serovars. Four foals with septic arthritis failed to survive, due to multiple joint infection, which was unresponsive to treatment. The clinical and haematological abnormalities present in foals with confirmed septicaemia and septic arthritis were consistent with those observed in other studies. The bacterial isolates from foals with confirmed septicaemia were similar to those isolated in other studies. In contrast, the bacteria isolated from foals with septic arthritis without concurrent septicaemia were different from other studies.

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Summary Twenty‐one compromised neonatal foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre (RVC) during 1993 were studied to determine i) serum gentamicin concentrations obtained when gentamicin was administered at 3.3 mg/kg bwt twice daily i.m.; ii) factors which contributed to inter‐foal variation in serum gentamicin concentrations achieved and iii) clinical efficacy of gentamicin therapy in foals with confirmed septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed in 7 foals with positive blood cultures and suspected in 8 foals with a sepsis score >11. Peak serum concentrations (Ps) were >6 μg/ml in all foals and >8 μg/ml in 60% of foals. Trough serum concentrations (Ts) were <2 μg/ml in all foals. Factors found to produce inter‐foal variation in the Ps achieved included age (<24 h; decreased), bodyweight (<38 kg; decreased) and severity of dehydration (8–12% bodyweight; increased). Clinical response was not associated with achievement of Ps >8 μg/ml, but was negatively influenced by the severity of clinical signs of depression. None of the foals in this study developed septic arthritis or pneumonia during or after therapy. No serum biochemical evidence (i.e. elevated serum creatinine concentrations) of gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity was noted during therapy.

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centage of cleaved embryos increased to 32 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively.When counting the ovulations a high proportion of ovaries with follicles >5 mm in diameter was observed as estimated by comparing the follicles with the size of the instruments used for flushing. DiscussionThe laparoscopic technique described can be highly efficient for collecting pronuclear-stage goat embryos. The overall recovery rate of 77 per cent obtained in the two sessions is comparable with or higher than that reported by authors who used laparotomy as distinct from laparoscopy procedures (Selgrath and others 1990). The lower incidence of postoperative adhesions after laparoscopy, also observed by McKelvey and Robinson (1986), justifies the use of this technique. It should be mentioned that skill in laparoscopy takes time to acquire but the time needed for flushings and embryo recovery rates were improved with practice.To obtain pronuclear-stage embryos from Saanen goats treated with FSH and prostaglandin the optimal time for flushing the oviducts was 75 to 78 hours after the injection of prostaglandin. This correlates closely with the results of Selgrath and others (1990) who found 72 to 79 hours after the removal of progestagen implants to be optimal for the collection of one-cell embryos.Further research is required to find the optimal superovulation regimen for Saanen goats, and thereby to increase the efficiency of gene-transfer programmes. For example, at the time of flushing a large number of unovulated follicles was found at the surface of the ovary. It is probable that a superovulation protocol including the administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone could increase the ovulation rate.