Noninfectious nonerosive arthritis in two dogs

Two cases of noninfectious, nonerosive arthritis are presented. The diagnostic features, clinical course and treatment are reviewed. Potential etiologies are discussed in the light of relatively little current material on this subject in the veterinary literature.     

Pemphigus and pemphigoid in domestic animals: an overview

Pemphigus and pemphigoid are uncommon dermatological entities in domestic animals and of a presumed autoimmune nature. In one form or another, they have been reported in the dog, cat, horse and goat. Although these diseases are considered to be bullous dermatoses, the clinical presentation may vary from ulcerative to exfoliative to proliferative depending on the individual condition. Currently, four variants of pemphigus are recognized (vulgaris, vegetans, foliaceus, erythematosus) and two of pemphigoid (bullous, cicatricial) although cicatricial pemphigoid has not yet been conclusively demonstrated in animals. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, histopathology and immunopathology. Therapy must be immunosuppressive to be effective and is palliative rather than curative.     

Blood coagulation parameters in clinically normal intensively farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama)

Reference ranges for five parameters of blood coagulation were established in clinically normal farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). Storage of plasma at -15 degrees C resulted in small increases in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) for both species, and in the one stage prothrombin time (OSPT) of fallow deer, between days 1 and 30. These times were then stable between days 30 and 60. The fibrinogen levels of fallow deer plasma showed a small apparent increase over 60 days. These storage artefacts were not of sufficient magnitude to preclude the use of such plasma for diagnostic purposes although they could limit its use in research. Levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were not affected by storage at -15 degrees C. Rabbit brain thromboplastin appeared adequate for OSPT determination in both species. The activated clotting time (ACT) is recommended as a field test for screening the intrinsic and common pathways of blood coagulation in deer.     

The efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin against a morantel-resistant strain of Trichostrongylus colubriformis

A controlled slaughter trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg) and levamisole (8 mg/kg) against a morantel-resistant field strain of Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep. Mean worm count reductions of greater than 99% were recorded with both anthelmintics. The apparent contradiction between the high efficacy of levamisole and the common belief that resistance to levamisole and morantel is co-inherited, is discussed.     

The effect of gastro-intestinal parasitism on the temporary dentition of lambs

The temporary dentitions of 18 to 39-week-old lambs with a very light or a very heavy parasite burden are compared. The heavily parasitised lambs developed longer temporary incisors which tended to protrude further forward in relation to the upper dental pad. They showed absolute hypocalcaemia and hypoalbuminaemia and relative hypophosphataemia and hypoproteinaemia and in the alveolar bone of the mandible there was a reduction in ash and matrix densities and matrix mineralisation. The incisor protrusion and lengthening may have been a consequence of the loss of supporting bone, but inappetance was likely to have been a factor contributing to the lengthening.     

Roaring in Clydesdales

An endoscopic survey was performed to assess arytenoid cartilage movement during quiet respiration in 48 Clydesdale horses. Physical characteristics which could influence the length of the recurrent laryngeal nerves were also recorded from these horses and the relationship of these characteristics to the presence of abnormal left arytenoid cartilage movements was assessed statistically. Some degree of abnormal arytenoid movement was observed in 50% of the animals over one year of age. No significant correlation between sex, age, estimated weight, height, or neck length could be found although affected animals were, on average, slightly taller, lighter and longer necked.     

Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo Infection in Cattle in the South Okanagan District of British Columbia

An outbreak of leptospirosis due to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in the South Okanagan District of British Columbia was investigated. The infection was associated primarily with bulls, but serovar hardjo was isolated from both bulls and cows at slaughter. Kidney and cerebrospinal fluid were found to contain leptospires, independently of the presence and level of serum agglutinins. Treatment of a bull twice in six months with dihydrostreptomycin failed to diminish an agglutinin titer (1/200) which persisted for two years without reexposure of the bull. A serological survey of cull cows sold through a central auction mart revealed the presence of hardjo agglutinins in 15.4% of 1300 sera representing 163 herds in 20 locations. Thirty percent of these herds contained reactor cattle. The number of premises from which reactor cattle came in a given locality varied from 4% to 67.7%. Measures to control leptospirosis in the study are suggested.     

Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder in a Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

A transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was found in a beluga whale stranded in the St. Lawrence middle estuary. Various organs of this animal were submitted to high resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. High frequency of urinary bladder cancer in the human population of the same area and the presence of carcinogenic compounds in the marine environment of this animal are discussed.

Concurrent isolation of Edwardsiella tarda from various organs of this whale is also reported.