Skip to main content
PMC home page
Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2008 Feb 5;19(3):336–343. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2005.tb02704.x

Synovial Fluid Changes in Induced Infectious Arthritis in Calves

David Francoz 1,3, André Desrochers 1,2, Gilles Fecteau 1, Clarisse Desautels 2, Jean Sébastien Latouche 2, Mado Fortin 2
PMCID: PMC7166555  PMID: 15954548

Abstract

The objective was to develop an experimental model of septic arthritis in calves and to evaluate the effect of treatment on cytologic and bacteriologic variables of synovial fluid. The right tarsus of 7 healthy Holstein bull calves were inoculated with 108 colony‐forming units of viable Escherichia coli of a pap‐positive strain (day 1). On day 2, joint lavage was performed and antibiotic treatment was instituted. Cytologic examinations, bacterial cultures, and pap factor determinations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on synovial fluid samples that were collected daily until day 4, then every 4 days until day 24. Results of physical examination, the severity of lameness, and swelling were recorded. Clinical signs of septic arthritis appeared on day 2 and persisted until day 9 for all calves. Bacterial cultures from all calves were positive for E coli on day 2, and remained positive until day 3 for 1 calf and until day 4 for 5 calves. In addition, PCR results were positive for all calves, with 6 positive through day 3 and 1 positive through day 4, after which a positive result was again obtained on day 24. Synovial fluid neutrophil counts and white blood cell counts were significantly increased on days 2–4; however, synovial total protein concentrations were increased (P < .05) throughout the experiment in comparison to day 1. Results of all bacterial cultures were negative on day 8, although clinicopathologic signs of inflammation persisted until day 20. This model successfully induced acute septic arthritis in calves. Rapid recovery occurred within 1 week when an appropriate treatment was instituted early in the course of the disease

References

  • 1. van Pelt RW, Langham RF. Synovial fluid changes produced by infectious arthritis in cattle. Am J Vet Res 1968;29: 507–516. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. Bertone AI. Infectious arthritis In: McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW, eds. Joint Disease in the Horse, 1st ed Philadelphia , PA : WB Saunders; 1996:397–409. [Google Scholar]
  • 3. Weisbrode SE, Doige CE. Bone and joints In: McGavin MD, Carlton WW, Zachary JF, eds. Thomson's Special Veterinary Pathology, 3rd ed St Louis , MO : Mosby Inc; 2001:524–530. [Google Scholar]
  • 4. Rohde C., Anderson DE, Desrochers A., et al Synovial fluid analysis in cattle: A review of 130 cases. Vet Surg 2000;29: 341–346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5. Butson RJ. Bovine septic arthritis: A review of current and future treatment regimes. Cattle Pract 1994;2: 315–321. [Google Scholar]
  • 6. Desrochers A., Anderson DE, St‐Jean G.. Lameness examination in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2001;17: 39–51. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7. Weaver AD. Joint conditions In: Greenough PR, Weaver AD, eds. Lameness in Cattle, 3rd ed Philadelphia , PA : WB Saunders; 1997:162–170. [Google Scholar]
  • 8. Bertone AI, McIlwraith CW, Jones RL, et al Comparison of various treatments for experimentally induced equine infectious arthritis. Am J Vet Res 1987;48: 519–529. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9. van der Heijden IM, Wilbrink B., Vije AE, et al Detection of bacterial DNA in serial synovial samples obtained during antibiotic treatment from patients with septic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1999;42: 2198–2203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10. Canvin JM, Goutcher SC, Hagig M., et al Persistence of Staphylococcus aureus as detected by polymerase chain reaction in the synovial fluid of a patient with septic arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1997;36: 203–206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11. Cuchacovich R., Quinet S., Santos AM. Applications of polymerase chain reaction in rheumatology. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2003;29: 1–20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12. Daigle F., Harel J., Fairbrother JM, et al Expression and detection of pap‐, sfa‐, and afa‐encoded fimbrial adhesin systems among uropathogenic Escherichia coli . Can J Microbiol 1994;40: 286–291. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13. Goldenberg DL, Chisholm PL, Rice PA. Experimental models of bacterial arthritis: A microbiologic and histopathologic characterization of the arthritis after the intraarticular injections of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus, group A streptococci, and Escherichia coli . J Rheumatol 1983;10: 5–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14. Lloyd KC, Stover SM, Pascoe JR, et al Synovial fluid pH, cytologic characteristics, and gentamicin concentration after intra‐articular administration of the drug in an experimental model of infectious arthritis in horses. Am J Vet Res 1990;51: 1363–1369. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15. Schurman DJ, Mirra J., Ding A., et al Experimental E. coli arthritis in the rabbit. A model of infectious and post‐infectious inflammatory synovitis. J Rheumatol 1977;4: 118–128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16. Stasiak KL, Maul D., French E., et al Species‐specific assessment of pain in laboratory animals. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci 2003;42: 13–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17. Madison JB, Tulleners EP, Ducharme NG, et al Idiopathic gonitis in heifers: 34 cases (1976–1986). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989;194: 273–277. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18. Bedard S., Desrochers A., Fecteau G., et al Comparaison de quatre protocoles de préparation préopératoire chez le bovin. Can Vet J 2001;42: 199–203. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19. Brown SA, Chester ST, Robb EJ. Effects of age on the pharmacokinetics of single dose ceftiofur sodium administered intramuscularly or intravenously to cattle. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 1996;19: 32–38. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20. Bertone AI, McIlwraith CW, Jones RL, et al Povidone‐iodine lavage treatment of experimentally induced equine infectious arthritis. Am J Vet Res 1987;48: 712–715. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21. van Pelt RW, Conner GH. Synovial fluid from the normal bovine tarsus. I. Cellular constituents, volume, and gross appearance. Am J Vet Res 1963;24: 112–121. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22. Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey BK, et al Enterobacteriaceae In: Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey BK, Carter GR, eds. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology. London , UK : Mosby‐Year Book Europe Limited; 1994:209–236. [Google Scholar]
  • 23. von Essen R.. Culture of joint specimens in bacterial arthritis. Impact of blood culture bottle utilization. Scand J Rheumatol 1997;26: 293–300. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24. Shirtliff ME, Mader JT. Acute septic arthritis. Clin Microbiol Rev 2002;15: 527–544. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25. Jalava J., Skurnik M., Toivanen A.. Bacterial PCR in the diagnosis of joint infection. Ann Rheum Dis 2001;60: 287–289. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26. Kuipers JG, Nietfeld L., Dreses‐Werringloer U., et al Optimised sample preparation of synovial fluid for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Ann Rheum Dis 1999;58: 103–108. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27. Panasyuk A., Colantuoni G., Khatib AM, et al Human synovium produces substances that inhibit DNA and stimulate proteoglycan and collagen synthesis by cultured human articular chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. Scand J Rheumatol 2003;32: 240–246. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28. Donowitz GR, Mandell GL. Beta‐lactam antibiotics. N Engl J Med 1988;318: 419–426. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29. Wagner AE, McIlwraith CW, Martin GS. Effect of intra‐articular injection of orgotein and saline solution on equine synovia. Am J Vet Res 1982;43: 594–597. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30. Mahaffey EA. Synovial fluid In: Cowell RL, Tyler RD, eds. Diagnostic Cytology and Haematology of the Horse, 2nd ed St Louis , MO : Mosby Inc; 2002:163–170. [Google Scholar]
  • 31. Jain NC. Hematologic techniques In: Jain NC, ed. Shalm's Veterinary Hematology, 4th ed Philadelphia , PA : Lea & Febiger; 1986:20–86. [Google Scholar]
  • 32. Journeycake JM, Buchanan GR. Thrombotic complications of central venous catheters in children. Curr Opin Hematol 2003;10: 369–374. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33. Nade S.. Septic arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2003;17: 183–200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES