Acute and short-term toxicoses associated with the administration of doxorubicin to dogs with malignant tumors

One hundred eighty-five dogs with histologically confirmed, measurable malignant tumors were used in a study to determine the toxicity of the anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, doxorubicin, which was administered once or twice (at a 21-day interval) at the rate of 30 mg/m2 of body surface area, iv. During this study, 7 dogs died as a direct result of doxorubicin-induced toxicosis and 16 died as a direct result of the malignant neoplastic disease. Each dog was evaluated for signs of toxicosis for 3 weeks after the last dose was administered (15 dogs received 1 dose, 170 dogs received 2 doses) or until the dog died, whichever came first. The most common signs of toxicosis were vomiting, diarrhea, colitis, anorexia, and pruritus. The probability of doxorubicin-induced toxicosis decreased significantly (P less than 0.0001) in inverse relationship to body weight. Dogs with signs of toxicosis during the 21-day interval from administration of the first dose of doxorubicin were 17.2 times (P less than 0.01; 95% confidence interval; 5.5, 54.2) more likely to develop signs of toxicosis during the 21-day interval from the second dose of doxorubicin. The performance status of each dog was evaluated using a modified Karnofsky performance scheme; the only time the performance status was adversely affected to a significant extent by doxorubicin-induced toxicosis was during the 21-day period, starting with the second dose (P less than 0.0001).     

Clinicopathological findings associated with feline infectious peritonitis in Sydney, Australia: 42 cases (1990-2002)

Objectives To review the clinicopathological findings in naturally-occurring, histopathologically confirmed cases of feline infectious peritonitis in client-owned cats in Sydney, Australia, with the purpose of identifying factors assisting in the diagnosis of this complex disease syndrome and to characterise the disease as it occurs in this region.
Design Retrospective clinical study: the clinical records of all cats with histopathologically confirmed feline infectious peritonitis at the University Veterinary Centre Sydney and a private cat hospital in Sydney between 1990 and 2002 were reviewed for signalment, history, physical findings, diagnostic test results and the distribution of histological lesions throughout the body at necropsy.
Results Forty-two cats met the inclusion criteria. Significant features of this study that unique to the contemporary literature are i) the over-representation of certain breeds (Burmese, Australian Mist, British Shorthaired, and Cornish Rex) and the under-representation of other breeds (Domestic Shorthaired, Persian); ii) the overrepresentation of males; iii) the tendency for effusive disease in Australian Mist cats and non-effusive disease in Burmese; iv) the even age distribution of disease seen in cats older than 2 years-of-age; and v) the presence of fulminant immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in two cats in this study.
Conclusion The study highlights the diverse range of clinical manifestations and the complexities experienced by clinicians in diagnosing this fatal disease. Some aspects of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of feline infectious peritonitis appear different to the disease encountered in Europe and North America, most notably the over-representation of specific breeds and the presence of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.     

Interstitial lung disease in West Highland White Terriers

Progressive respiratory failure and pulmonary fibrosis in West Highland White Terriers (WHWT) is an apparently genetic disorder of unknown pathogenesis. This study characterizes the light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of affected WHWT in comparison with lesions in usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) of humans. Lesions in WHWT were confined to the expansion of the interstitial space of alveolar septa by extracellular matrix (ECM) determined to be mixtures of type-I and -III collagens. Features of UIP such as intra-alveolar fibroblastic foci, subpleural distribution, and honeycombing were not observed in six WHWT. Comparison with normal dogs showed no apparent increase in septal myofibroblasts. Ultrastructually, the ECM in alveolar septa consisted of large aggregates of periodic collagen filaments underlying alveolar capillaries that were surrounded by thick bands of amorphous to fine fibrillar matrix. This study suggests that chronic pulmonary disease of WHWT is a result of aberrant collagen regulation.     

Pancreatolithiasis and pancreatic pseudobladder associated with pancreatitis in a cat

Pancreatolithiasis has been documented to occur naturally in humans and cattle. It has been associated with chronic pancreatitis in humans, and, when found, it may signify the presence of chronic pancreatic disease. This is the first report of a case involving a cat that had both an apparent obstruction with pancreatolithiasis as well as concurrent evidence of chronic pancreatic changes on histopathological evaluation. Additionally, this case documents the presence of a suspected congenital abnormality of a feline exocrine pancreas.     

Relationships between Longevity and Linear Type Traits in Holstein Cattle Population of Southern Africa

Relationships between longevity and linear type traits were estimated using data on 34,201 cows with lifetime information and linear type scores. The longevity trait considered was the number of lactations initiated and the linear type traits were rump height, body depth, angularity, rear udder height, fore udder attachment, udder depth, fore teat placement and fore teat length. Fixed effects included in the models were herd year, season of calving and herd-date of classification-classifier and days in milk. Age at first calving and age at classification were included as linear and quadratic covariates. Heritability estimates were low for longevity and moderate for most type traits except rump height and fore teat length. All the phenotypic correlations between longevity and the linear type traits were slightly positive (0.01 to 0.09) except the relationships with rump height and fore teat length which were -0.01 and -0.02, respectively. Genetic correlations between longevity and udder traits as well as angularity were moderate to high and positive (0.22 to 0.48). The only notable negative genetic correlations were longevity with body depth and fore teat length (-0.15 and -0.07, respectively). The genetic correlations suggest that selection for udder traits and angularity should improve longevity in the Holstein cattle population.     

Genetic parameter estimates for body weight in local Venda chickens

Genetic parameters were estimated for Venda chicken body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks of age. A single-trait animal model with restricted maximum-likelihood procedures was used. Random effects were additive direct and maternal genetic, common environmental and error. The heritability estimates for direct effects were 0.36, 0.25, 0.41 and 0.22 for hatch, 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks, respectively. The maternal effects were estimated at hatch and 4 weeks of age and were not present at later ages. Common environmental effects disappeared with increasing age. There was an antagonistic relationship between direct and maternal effects. The results show potential for genetic improvement of indigenous Venda chickens through selection. Maternal effects should be considered if selection is carried out at early ages.     

Nocardia infections in cats: a retrospective multi-institutional study of 17 cases

OBJECTIVE: To record 17 cases of nocardiosis in cats from eastern Australia and to compare this series with cases previously reported. DESIGN: Retrospective/prospective study. RESULTS: Nocardia spp infections were diagnosed in 17 cats over 14 years from the three eastern states of Australia. There were no isolates from dogs during this period, but one isolate from a koala and two from dairy cows. The majority of cats presented with spreading lesions of the subcutis and skin associated with draining sinus tract(s). Early cutaneous lesions consisted of circumscribed abscesses. Infections spread at a variable rate, generally by extension to adjacent tissues. Lesions were generally located in regions subjected to cat bite or scratch injuries, including limbs, body wall, inguinal panniculus and nasal bridge. In some other cases, lesions were situated on distal extremities. The clinical course was variable, from chronic, indolent, initially localised infections to acute fulminating disease. Of the 17 cats, 14 were domestic crossbreds and three were purebreds. There was a preponderance of male cats (12 castrated, 1 entire young adult, 1 entire kitten). Nine of 17 cats were 10 years or older. Interestingly, the majority of infections were attributable to N nova. Immediate and/or predisposing causes could be identified in all cases, and included: renal transplantation [one cat]; chronic corticosteroid administration [three cats]; catabolic state following chylothorax surgery [one cat]; fight injuries [seven cats]; FIV infections [three of seven cats tested]. Of the 17 cats, three were apparently cured. Four were thought to be cured, but infection recurred after several months. Three cats responded partially but were euthanased, while another was improving when it died of unrelated complications. Two died despite treatment and two were euthanased without an attempt at therapy. For two cats there were either insufficient records or the patient was lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: Nocardiosis is a rare, serious disease. Currently it is more common in cats than dogs. Nocardial panniculitis may be clinically indistinguishable from the syndrome caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria. Although the prognosis is guarded, patients with localised infections caused by N nova often respond to appropriate therapy. If definitive treatment is delayed because of misdiagnosis, the disease tends to become chronic, extensive and refractory. Insufficient duration of therapy leads to disease recurrence.     

Risk factors for death from canine parvoviral-related disease in Australia

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious cause of serious and often fatal disease in dogs worldwide despite the availability of safe and efficacious vaccines. Although a number of studies have focussed on identifying risk factors in disease development, risk factors associated with death from CPV are largely unknown. In this study we analysed a total of 1451 CPV cases reported from an Australian surveillance system - using univariate and multivariate techniques - to determine significant risk factors associated with death and euthanasia. A crude case fatality rate of 42.3% was estimated - higher than has been reported previously. We found that 3.3% of CPV cases had a history of vaccination in the previous 12 months, despite having completed the primary puppy vaccination course. The majority (89.5%) of these cases occurred in dogs <12 months of age, indicating failure of the primary vaccination course to provide protective immunity (most likely due to interference of the vaccine antigen with maternal antibodies but other reasons are discussed). Extending the age at which the final puppy vaccination is administered might be one of several strategies to consider. The final multivariate model showed that in non-litter CPV cases, risk of death was significantly associated with season of diagnosis (summer) and pedigree type (hounds and non-sporting dogs). Euthanasia in non-litter CPV cases was significantly associated with season of diagnosis (summer), state of residence (Northern Territory/South Australia/Tasmania combined), age (相似文献