Comparison of pathophysiologic changes in the lungs of calves challenge exposed with Escherichia coli-derived endotoxin and Pasteurella haemolytica, alone or in combination

Pulmonary responses to intratracheal challenge exposure with Pasteurella haemolytica, with or without Escherichia coli-derived endotoxin, E coli endotoxin alone, or saline solution were compared in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated neonatal calves. Baseline values for dynamic compliance, total pulmonary resistance, functional residual capacity, arterial blood gas tensions, hemogram, leukogram, and systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were recorded for each calf. After baseline data were obtained, calves were challenge exposed with logarithmic-growth phase P haemolytica organisms with or without E coli endotoxin, E coli endotoxin alone, or saline solution (0.9% NaCl). Physiologic data were obtained immediately after challenge exposure and at various intervals over the next 6 hours. Calves challenge exposed with P haemolytica alone developed sever hypoxemia, had increased alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and threefold increases in total pulmonary resistance, became hypercarbic, had decreased functional residual capacity, and developed systemic hypotension without change in pulmonary arterial pressure. At necropsy, these calves had extensive multifocal areas of necrohemorrhagic and purulent pneumonia. Ratio of extravascular lung water to lung dry weight was not significantly increased in lung specimens obtained from calves challenge exposed with P haemolytica, but ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight was increased, indicating that increased lung wet weight was attributable largely to increased solids and not to fluid alone. (Extravascular lung water measurement excludes fluid from the vascular compartment.) Intratracheal challenge exposure with endotoxin failed to alter lung function and caused minor changes in lung structure consisting of focal areas of hemorrhage and edema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Heartworm in dogs in Canada in 1991

In late November 1991, 1883 clinics in Canada were sent a questionnaire to assess the status of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in 1991 and there was a 60.0% response. There were 344,031 dogs tested for heart-worm (HW), 627 were found infected and the prevalence of HW infection was 0.18%. There were 417 dogs with HW in Ontario, 116 in Manitoba, 38 in Quebec, 53 in British Columbia, three in Alberta, and one in Nova Scotia. In British Columbia, all of the infected dogs but one were from the Okanagan valley which, as from 1991, is a new focus of infection in Canada. Most dogs with HW had not been on preventive medication in 1990, and the prevalence among dogs tested and unprotected was 0.59%. That prevalence was considerably higher in endemic areas. Companion dogs, over three years of age and maintained primarily outdoors in rural areas, were most frequently infected. One cat was diagnosed with D. immitis and 33 dogs had Dipetalonema reconditium.     

Combined Streptomycin-Isoniazid-Rifampin Therapy in the Treatment of Johne's Disease in a Goat

Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) is an insidious, invariably fatal, chronic disease of ruminants. An increasing role for the goat as a companion animal as well as its commercial use stimulated interest in attempting to treat Johne's disease in this species. The disease tends to differ both clinically and pathologically in goats compared to cattle because the former species often has less severe intestinal involvement. It was, therefore, speculated that response to therapy may differ between cattle and goats. In addition, the combination drug regime of isoniazid, rifampin and streptomycin, widely accepted for human mycobacterial infections, has not been previously employed for treatment of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The clinical course and pathological findings of a case of naturally occurring Johne's disease subsequent to a combined drug regime of isoniazid, rifampin and streptomycin is discussed.     

Risk factors for Thoroughbred racehorse fatality in jump starts in Victoria, Australia (1989-2004)

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The risk of fatality is greater in jump than in flat racing in Victoria, Australia. This is the first study to identify risk factors specific to jump starts in Victoria. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for fatality of Thoroughbred racehorses in jump starts on all racecourses in Victoria, Australia between 1989 and 2004. METHODS: Fatalities comprised all horses that died during or immediately after a jump (hurdle or steeplechase) race or official jump trial and all horses that were subjected to euthanasia within 24 h of an event in which an injury was sustained. The retrospective study involved 191 case starts and 2324 control starts. Univariable and multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for fatality at any one start. A multiple level model was used with racecourse included as a random effect. RESULTS: In the final multivariable model, the duration of the racing career of the horse, the number of flat, hurdle and steeple starts accumulated in the 60 days prior to the case or control start, the number of flat and jump starts accumulated over the racing career, if the horse had had a start between 1 and 14 days prior to the case or control start, the type of jump race (hurdle or steeple), the calendar year of the start and the location of the racecourse were associated with fatality. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need to investigate further the differences between hurdle and steeplechase events and the adverse effect of prolonged prior flat racing careers on the risk of fatality in jump starts. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: This is the first study to examine risk factors for fatality in jump starts in Victoria. The results should shape the development of interventions to reduce the risk in jump starts in the future.     

Asymptomatic anomalous pulmonary veins in a Siberian Husky

A 2-year-old, neutered male Siberian Husky presented with depression, weight loss and an inability to prehend food and water. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected under general anaesthesia prior to euthanasia. The elevated white cell count comprised mostly mononuclear cells. Histological changes within the brain were variable and multifocal. Non-suppurative meningitis secondary to lymphoma was diagnosed. At necropsy, abnormal venous drainage of the right cranial and middle lung lobes was found. A dilated major pulmonary vein from these lobes passed across the lateral aspect of the right caudal lung lobe prior to entering the heart, and subpleural veins from the affected lobes were enlarged and tortuous. These vascular abnormalities were considered incidental. There were no apparent congenital abnormalities of the heart and the animal's clinical signs were related to lymphoma of the brain.     

Strongylus equinus: development and pathological effects in the equine host.

The development and pathological effects of Strongylus equinus were studied in 17 pony foals and one horse foal raised in isolation and examined at necropsy from seven days to 40 wk postinfection (PI). Following inoculation of 15000 +/- 6% or 16000 +/- 6% infective larvae by stomach tube foals were monitored for clinical signs and selected blood changes. Larvae penetrated the wall of the ileum, cecum and colon. The molt to the fourth stage occurred mostly in the wall of the ventral colon before 2 wk PI and larvae attained the liver mainly via the peritoneal cavity as early as eight days PI and persisted in the liver until 17 wk PI. Following active migration within the liver, invasion of the pancreas was accomplished at least by 7 wk PI with maximum numbers at 17 wk. The fourth molt occurred about 15 wk PI and preadults were present in the wall of the ventral colon at 30 wk PI and in the lumen of the colon at 40 wk. Strongylus equinus tends to wander retroperitoneally to the flanks, perirenal fat, diaphragm, omentum and occasionally to the lungs. Between 1 and 4 wk PI small raised hemorrhagic areas were present on the serosa of the ileum and colon. Small white foci on the surface of the liver at 1 wk PI were followed by tortuous tracks 3 wk later. Pathological changes in the pancreas were evident at three months PI and more severe by four months. Granulomas containing larvae were common in the flanks, diaphragm, omentum and occasionally beneath the pleura of the lungs. Clinical signs were correlated with invasion of the pancreas, the fourth molt, maximum globulin values and high eosinophil counts.     

Pathogenesis of helminths in equines

This review summarizes information on the clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions associated with nematode and cestode infections and discusses the development of these conditions in the equine host.