2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Both the peak gentamicin concentration at the end of the distribution phase (23.8 AE 2.1 versus 26.1 AE 2 µg/mL, P = 0.04) and the mean time-point at which gentamicin trough levels reached 2 µg/mL (common MIC for large-animal pathogens) were significantly lower in young-adult versus older animals (6.7 AE 1 versus 8.7 AE 1.9 hours, P = 0.03). These data indicate reduced renal drug clearance in aged alpacas. In recumbent dairy cows, the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an ancillary test frequently used at our referral center. Interpretation of the CSF analysis results in cattle is challenging, in part, because reported intervals for this species differ. In a previous retrospective study, we demonstrated that recumbent cows with a CSF total nucleated cells count (TNCC) ≥ 4.5 cells/µL and/ or a protein concentration ≥ 0.40 g/L had a spinal cord lesion on post mortem examination. However, CSF results below those threshold values did not exclude the presence of such a lesion.