In the present study, we report the effect of medetomidine followed by atipamezole on plasma glucose, cortisol and noradrenaline in calves, cows and sheep. Eight calves, eight lactating dairy cows and eight adult female sheep were included in a crossover trial. The animals were injected i.v. with medetomidine (40 microg/kg), followed 60 min later by atipamezole i.v. (200 microg/kg) or saline. The wash-out period between experiments was 1 or 2 weeks. In every animal, medetomidine induced a marked hyperglycaemia, which was reversed by atipamezole. Cortisol levels increased significantly in cows and sheep, reaching levels 4-8-fold higher than the baseline levels 25-45 min after injection of medetomidine. Atipamezole did not affect the cortisol levels, except in sheep where an increase was observed. Plasma levels of noradrenaline decreased in cows and sheep after medetomidine injection, reflecting the inhibition of sympathetic activity by the drug. After injection of the antagonist, there was a large increase in noradrenaline levels. In conclusion, a high dose of medetomidine does not seem to reduce the overall endocrine stress response in cattle and sheep, which has previously been reported in other species.

During March to May 2000, 48 carcasses of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were collected on winter pastures and calving grounds from two herds in western Finnmark and two herds in eastern Finnmark, northern Norway. The animals were autopsied and blood and tissue samples were collected for serology (alphaherpes- and pestivirus; virus neutralization test) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR; parapoxvirus; B2L gene) investigations. Autopsy revealed that 39 of 48 animals (81%) had died of emaciation. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in samples from 6 of 48 animals (12.5%; liver, parotid salivary gland and/or pulmonary lymph nodes). A DNA sequence of 376 base pairs from a PCR amplicon obtained from a liver sample from one animal showed 98-99% identity with orf virus strain Orf-11 and reindeer parapoxvirus isolates from Norway and Finland (1992 and 1994), 92-93% similarity with pseudocowpoxvirus and 87% similarity with bovine papular stomatitis virus. Alphaherpes- and pestivirus antibodies were detected in 10% and 33% of the animals, respectively. These results indicates that parapoxvirus, presumably orf-virus, is present among reindeer also in Finnmark, although contagious ecthyma has never been reported in reindeer in this important reindeer herding area. Furthermore, they show that herpes- and pestiviruses are still endemic in reindeer herds in Finnmark. The nature of these viruses and their impact on reindeer health and reproduction and reindeer herding economy should be further addressed, as well as the possibility that these viruses may be transferred between reindeer and domestic animals in this region.

Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: I løpet av perioden mars-mai 2000 ble 48 reinsdyrkadavre (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) samlet inn fra vinterbeiter og kalvingsområder fra to flokker i Vest-Finnmark og to i Øst-Finnmark, Norge. Dyrene ble obdusert, og blod og vevsprøver ble samlet for påvisning av antistoffer mot alfaherpes- og pestivirus i blod(serologi) og tilstedeværelse av parapoxvirus-DNA i vev (Polymerase kjedereaksjon, PCR; parapoxvirus B2L genet). Obduksjonen viste at 39 av de 48 dyrene (81%) hadde dødd av avmagring. Parapoxvirus-spesifikt DNA ble funnet i prøver av lever, spyttkjertel (Gl. parotis) og/eller lungelymfeknuter fra 6 av de 48 dyrene (12,5%). En DNA sekvens på 376 basepar fra PCR-oppformeringsproduktet fra en leverprøve hadde 98-99% likhet med orf-virus (Orf-11) og parapoxvirus isolert fra reinsdyr i Norge og Finland (1992 og 1994), 92-93% likhet med pseudocowpoxvirus og 87% likhet med bovint papulær stomatittvirus, hvorav de to siste parapoxvirusartene er assosiert med storfé. Disse resultatene viser at også reinsdyr i Finnmark er infisert av parapoxvirus, til tross for at sykdommen munnskurv ikke ennå er rapportert hos rein i dette fylket. Alfaherpes- og pestivirus antistoffer ble funnet hos henholdsvis 10% og 33% av dyrene. Dette er i samsvar med tidligere funn ...

Background: In a project to determine the causes of winter mortality in reindeer in Finnmark County, northern Norway, the most frequent diagnosis turned out to be complete emaciation, despite several of the reindeer having been given silage for up to 4 weeks before they died. The present paper describes autopsy results and other findings in these animals.

The higher dose requirement of MED-KET administration outdoors, compared with indoors, was explained by factors inherent in the darting technique and the different confinements. The iteration and the prediction methods seem applicable for determination of optimal doses of MED-KET in reindeer. The iteration and the prediction procedures may be used to reduce the number of experimental animals in dose-response studies in other species.

mmobilization of captive reindeer achieved by use of the optimal dose established here is clinically acceptable, although Spo2 should be carefully monitored. Administration of the optimal dose produced the same clinical effect during repeated immobilization of the same reindeer.