Recurrent single oesophageal stricture treated with a self-expanding stent in a cat

A 1-year-old, female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 4-week history of dysphagia and regurgitation soon after oral treatment with clindamycin. Fluoroscopic and endoscopic examinations confirmed the presence of a single cervical oesophageal stricture 4 cm caudal to the pharynx. A fluoroscopically and endoscopically guided balloon dilation was performed six times consecutively over a period of 3 weeks as reformation of the stricture appeared within 3-7 days. Feeding via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy-tube as long-term management of the condition was declined by the owner. A self-expanding metal oesophageal stent with the following dimension was subsequently implanted: fully open diameter 16 mm, length 30 mm. After stent implantation, the cat was fed on mashed canned food and did not show any clinical signs for 12 months. Twelve months post-implantation the cat was no longer able to eat even liquid food, became lethargic and the owner opted for euthanasia. On post-mortem examination the stent surfaces were overgrown by oesophageal mucosa by approximately 50%. Stent obstruction was detected and caused by swallowed hair which also seemed to have hampered mucosal integration in the distal part of the stent.     

Butterfly assemblages in residential gardens are driven by species’ habitat preference and mobility

Context

Understanding the factors contributing to maintaining biodiversity is crucial to mitigate the impact of anthropogenic disturbances. Representing large proportions of green area in highly modified landscapes, residential gardens are often seen as local habitats that can contribute to larger networks of suitable environments at the landscape scale.

Objectives

We investigated the impact of the landscape context on butterfly communities observed in residential gardens, taking into account garden characteristics, land-use types and presence of linear features in the surrounding landscape. We examined how species traits affected butterflies’ response to landscape context and habitat quality.

Methods

We performed a cross-scale study, based on citizen science data documenting butterfly species composition and abundance in 920 gardens across France. We examined the effect of garden quality, the area of different land-use types and the length of linear elements measured at three scales within the surrounding landscape. Species were grouped according to their habitat preference and mobility.

Results

Urbanization negatively affected total species richness and the abundance of butterfly in each group. This was related to declining habitat quality and reduced area of suitable habitat in the surrounding landscape. The magnitude of this effect, however, was negatively correlated with mobility, a trait related to habitat preference. The spatial scale at which landscape context best explained variation in butterfly abundance changed with species’ habitat preference.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of preserving high quality habitats in altered landscapes and considering species’ mobility and habitat preference when assessing the impact of landscapes on butterfly communities.

     

Right ventricular rupture after lateral thoracotomy for removal of rib-associated telangiectatic osteosarcoma in a dog

Objective – To describe a case of a focal right ventricular rupture following removal of a rib-associated telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) in a dog.
Case Summary – A 2-year-old spayed female mixed-breed dog, weighing 20 kg, was presented in compensated hypovolemic shock due to active bleeding into the thoracic cavity. The dog was stabilized with appropriate fluid administration. Subsequent computed tomographic examination revealed a large mineralized mass originating from the body of a rib and displacing the heart. Two days after surgical removal of this mass, focal right ventricular rupture occurred and the dog died. The mass was later identified as a TOS.
New or Unique Information Provided – Although hemothorax secondary to TOS has been described previously, this report describes for the first time, spontaneous focal right ventricular rupture as a rare complication of thoracotomy and rib resection for the removal of a rib-associated, intrathoracic TOS.     

Atypical scrapie in a Swiss goat and implications for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy surveillance.

Different types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) affect sheep and goats. In addition to the classical form of scrapie, both species are susceptible to experimental infections with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent, and in recent years atypical scrapie cases have been reported in sheep from different European countries. Atypical scrapie in sheep is characterized by distinct histopathologic lesions and molecular characteristics of the abnormal scrapie prion protein (PrP(sc)). Characteristics of atypical scrapie have not yet been described in detail in goats. A goat presenting features of atypical scrapie was identified in Switzerland. Although there was no difference between the molecular characteristics of PrP(sc) in this animal and those of atypical scrapie in sheep, differences in the distribution of histopathologic lesions and PrP(sc) deposition were observed. In particular the cerebellar cortex, a major site of PrP(sc) deposition in atypical scrapie in sheep, was found to be virtually unaffected in this goat. In contrast, severe lesions and PrP(sc) deposition were detected in more rostral brain structures, such as thalamus and midbrain. Two TSE screening tests and PrP(sc) immunohistochemistry were either negative or barely positive when applied to cerebellum and obex tissues, the target samples for TSE surveillance in sheep and goats. These findings suggest that such cases may have been missed in the past and could be overlooked in the future if sampling and testing procedures are not adapted. The epidemiological and veterinary public health implications of these atypical cases, however, are not yet known.     

Trilostane therapy for treatment of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in 5 cats

Hyperadrenocorticism is a rare syndrome in cats. Current medical therapy is unsatisfactory and prognosis for long-term survival with surgical treatment is guarded. We report on 5 cats treated with the 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor trilostane. Diagnosis was confirmed in all cats by endocrine testing. Three cats had concurrent diabetes mellitus. Trilostane reduced clinical signs and improved endocrine test results in all cats, but insulin requirements did not change and all continued to have some signs of hypercortisolemia. Two died or were euthanized after 16 and 140 days, whereas 3 were still alive 6, 11, and 20 months after the start of trilostane therapy. Trilostane ameliorates clinical signs of feline hyperadrenocorticism, but more research is needed before it can be recommended for treatment.     

Evaluation of morphological and production characteristics and nutritive value of 47 lucerne cultivars/lines in temperate Australia

ABSTRACT

Forty-seven lucerne varieties/lines were examined to quantify their morphological, production characteristics, and nutritive values in southeastern Australia. The experiment was established in 2015 with a randomized complete block design and four replications. The morphological and production characteristics were measured from January to October 2017, and nutritive values were measured in February 2017. The results showed that the cultivars differed significantly (P < 0.01) in morphological, production characteristics, and nutritive values. Total herbage yield was highest for Haymaster 7 (14,186 kg/ha) and lowest for Qingshui (5927 kg/ha). Plant height was highest for Cropper 9.5 (31.4 cm) and lowest for Qingshui (14.5 cm). SF 714QL had the greatest branch number (44.7 branches/15 cm row segment). AV1001 had longest leaf (2.3 cm) and greatest leaf area (16.68 cm²/10 leaves) whereas Force 10 and SARDI 10 SERIES 2 had widest leaves (1.3 cm). AV1005 had the highest leaf-to-stem ratio (5.64). Crude protein (CP) content was highest for SARDI 10 SERIES 2 (15.1%) and lowest for SF 714QL (8.0%). AV12 was highest in crude fat (4.5%). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content was lowest in Stamina 5 (33.5%). Acid detergent fiber (ADF) content was lowest in Gannong 4 (29.3%). Relative feed value (RFV) was highest in Force 11 (193.0%). Calcium (Ca) content was highest for Titan 5 (1.8%). Phosphorous content was highest for AV1 and Gannong 6 (0.1%). Overall, Cropper 9.5, SARDI 10 SERIES 2, Haymaster 9, Titan 9, SF 714QL, Kaituna, Haymaster 7, AV1001, AV1002, and WL925HQ performed well based on their comprehensive scores.     

Female biased mortality caused by anthropogenic nest loss contributes to population decline and adult sex ratio of a meadow bird

Meadow breeding birds such as the whinchat Saxicola rubetra have been declining due to increased farming intensity. In modern grassland management, the first mowing and the bird’s breeding cycle coincide, causing high nest destruction rates and low productivity of grassland bird populations. However, it is virtually unknown whether the mowing process directly affects adult survival by accidentally killing incubating females. We studied adult survival of an Alpine whinchat population during two breeding seasons using either colour-ringing or radio-tracking of 71 adults. Assessing territories, mowing phenology and nest destruction from 1988 to 2007 allowed changes in the factors associated with female mowing mortality to be estimated. Adult survival over 5-day-periods was Φ = 0.986, but during the period of mowing female survival was strongly reduced (Φ = 0.946). As a result, 80.6% of the males, but only 68.4% of the females survived the breeding season. Mowing undoubtedly killed two of 20 radio-tagged females when they were laying or incubating. In the 20-year period, an increasing proportion of nests were destroyed before the chicks hatched and this change was associated with an increased distortion of the adult sex ratio. Modelling the population growth rate showed that including the additional effect of mowing on female mortality resulted in a 1.7 times faster local population decline. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the extinction of whinchat populations in the lowlands of central Europe was caused not only by habitat degradation and low productivity, but also by increased man-made female mortality.     

The effectiveness of conservation measures to enhance nest survival in a meadow bird suffering from anthropogenic nest loss

The main reason for meadow bird declines is supposed to be the intensification of grassland management with earlier first harvest dates and more frequent harvests, resulting in high nest destruction rates. To increase productivity of meadow bird populations in intensified grassland areas a delay of mowing date and individual nest protection measures have been proposed. However, for ground-nesting songbirds such as the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) the effectiveness of such measures remains widely unknown. In particular, if nest predation rate is high, measures to protect nests from agricultural destruction alone might be questionable. Here, we quantify whinchat nest survival of (1) unprotected nests situated in early mown meadows, (2) protected nests situated in early mown meadows, and (3) nests situated in late mown meadows. Analyses considered the fact that successful and unsuccessful nests are not found with equal probabilities. Periods of reduced nest survival were associated with mowing periods in the different types of meadows. In early mown meadows nest survival rates were low (S < 0.1), and both conservation measures, individual nest protection and delayed mowing, resulted in significantly increased nest survival rates (S > 0.7). Individual nest protection cannot avoid changes in habitat quality of intensively managed meadows, and therefore is only suitable as small-scale and short-term measure to increase nest success until a high portion of late mown meadows is established. Thus, we suggest that a combination of the two measures applied to intensified grassland fields should be provided to maintain viable sizes of endangered meadow bird populations.     

Antigenic and genetic variations in European and North American equine influenza virus strains (H3N8) isolated from 2006 to 2007

Equine influenza virus (EIV) surveillance is important in the management of equine influenza. It provides data on circulating and newly emerging strains for vaccine strain selection. To this end, antigenic characterisation by haemaggluttination inhibition (HI) assay and phylogenetic analysis was carried out on 28 EIV strains isolated in North America and Europe during 2006 and 2007. In the UK, 20 viruses were isolated from 28 nasopharyngeal swabs that tested positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All except two of the UK viruses were characterised as members of the Florida sublineage with similarity to A/eq/Newmarket/5/03 (clade 2). One isolate, A/eq/Cheshire/1/06, was characterised as an American lineage strain similar to viruses isolated up to 10 years earlier. A second isolate, A/eq/Lincolnshire/1/07 was characterised as a member of the Florida sublineage (clade 1) with similarity to A/eq/Wisconsin/03. Furthermore, A/eq/Lincolnshire/1/06 was a member of the Florida sublineage (clade 2) by haemagglutinin (HA) gene sequence, but appeared to be a member of the Eurasian lineage by the non-structural gene (NS) sequence suggesting that reassortment had occurred. A/eq/Switzerland/P112/07 was characterised as a member of the Eurasian lineage, the first time since 2005 that isolation of a virus from this lineage has been reported. Seven viruses from North America were classified as members of the Florida sublineage (clade 1), similar to A/eq/Wisconsin/03. In conclusion, a variety of antigenically distinct EIVs continue to circulate worldwide. Florida sublineage clade 1 viruses appear to predominate in North America, clade 2 viruses in Europe.