MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN SPINAL CORD INFARCTION IN THREE SMALL BREED DOGS

Fibrocartilaginous embolization (FCE) of the spinal cord is a common disease in large breed dogs. There are only a few reports about this entity in small breed dogs and it has never been reported in chondrodystrophic breed. For definitive diagnosis histopathologic examination is necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a potential diagnostic tool for intravitam diagnosis of FCE has been mentioned before, but results have not been reported so far. This report describes the neurological findings and MRI results in three small breed dogs, including a Pekingese dog, with FCE of the spinal cord. The disease was suspected in two animals based upon clinical and MRI-appearance and confirmed in the third by histopathological examination. In all three cases, similar focal intramedullary lesions, consisting of hyperintensive signals on T2-weighted images, were detected. Based on these findings, high-field MRI may be used as an antemortem tool for the diagnosis of FCE. It is also shown that FCE can occur in chondrodystrophic dogs.     

Agricultural extension approach: evidence from an Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project in Ethiopia

Agricultural extension is an approach to rural development and agricultural transformation in which training, demonstration and technology transfer are key to reducing rural poverty, ensuring food security, and sustainably managing natural resources. During recent decades, different extension approaches have been tested and validated by the Ethiopian government and non-governmental organizations to stimulate participation in the agricultural extension system (AES). The most recent was a German-funded project entitled “Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project” (ISFM⁺), which employed a novel approach to piloting and upscaling proven technology and best practice. The purpose of this study was to analyze and document the modalities of ISFM⁺ and illustrate its effects on technology uptake and dissemination. The study used a mixed methods approach to collect data. ATLAS.ti and SPSS were used for data management and analysis. Farmer Research and Extension Groups and Farmer Field Schools were found to be central to the participation process. Also, the ISFM⁺ was found to aid technology transfer and helped to increase grain and residue yields as well as farmer livelihoods. Based on these empirical findings, it is argued that the ISFM⁺ approach and technology should be integrated and institutionalized in the mainstream AES in order to promote their extensive application.     

Characterization of protection against systemic infection and disease from experimental bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 infection by use of a modified-live noncytopathic type 1 vaccine in calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate protection resulting from use of a modified-live noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1 vaccine against systemic infection and clinical disease in calves challenged with type 2 BVDV. ANIMALS: 10 calves, 5 to 7 months of age. PROCEDURES: Calves were allocated (n = 5/group) to be nonvaccinated or vaccinated SC on day 0 with BVDV 1 (WRL strain). Calves in both groups were challenged intranasally with BVDV type 2 isolate 890 on day 21. Rectal temperatures and clinical signs of disease were recorded daily, and total and differential WBC and platelet counts were performed. Histologic examinations and immunohistochemical analyses to detect lesions and distribution of viral antigens, respectively, were performed. RESULTS: After challenge exposure to BVDV type 2, nonvaccinated calves developed high rectal temperatures, increased respiratory rates, viremia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and infection of the thymus. Vaccinated calves did not develop high rectal temperatures or clinical signs of respiratory tract disease. Vaccinated calves appeared to be protected against systemic replication of virus in that they did not develop leukopenia, lymphopenia, viremia, or infection of target organs, and infectious virus was not detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or the thymus. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The modified-live BVDV type 1 vaccine protected against systemic infection and disease after experimental challenge exposure with BVDV type 2. The vaccine protected calves against infection and viremia and prevented infection of target lymphoid cells.     

Effects of Co‐stocking Smallmouth Buffalo,Ictiobus bubalus,with Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

Proliferative gill disease (PGD) in catfish is caused by the myxozoan Henneguya ictaluri. The complex life cycle requires Dero digitata as the oligochaete host. Efforts to control PGD by eradicating D. digitata have been unsuccessful. Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus, (SMB) are opportunistic bottom feeders and a putative option for controlling D. digitata. In 2011, 15 ponds (0.4 ha) were stocked with 5000 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; 7 of these 15 ponds were also stocked with 300 SMB fingerlings. There were no differences in benthic invertebrate numbers or water quality variables between ponds with or without SMB. At harvest, there were no differences in percent survival, total weight, or catfish feed conversion ratio. In the second year, 18 ponds (0.4 ha) were stocked with 6000 channel catfish. Half the ponds were also stocked with 300 SMB. Sentinel fish were used to estimate disease severity, and pond water was collected for molecular estimation of H. ictaluri actinospore concentrations. Similar to the first year, there were no differences between treatments in any variable tested, including PGD severity in sentinel fish and parasite concentrations in pond water. Under these study conditions, presence of SMB did not have a measureable effect on PGD incidence, parasite density, or overall catfish production.     

Influence of platelet count,acetylsalicylic acid,von Willebrand's disease,coagulopathies, and haematocrit on results obtained using a platelet function analyser in dogs

The platelet function analyser PFA-100 aspirates blood in vitro from a sample reservoir in disposable test cartridges through a microscopic aperture cut into a biologically active membrane at the end of a capillary. In different cartridges the membrane is coated with collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or collagen and epinephrine (adrenaline) inducing a platelet plug and closure of the aperture. The closure time and total volume of blood flow through the capillary until closure of its aperture were measured. The correlation between platelet count in samples of thrombocytopenic dogs and results of the collagen/ADP cartridge (closure time: r(S)=-0.579; total volume: r(S)=-0.549) was closer than between platelet count and capillary bleeding time. No significant correlation was observed between platelet count and the results obtained with the collagen/epinephrine cartridge. In addition, a higher sensitivity was obtained for the collagen/ADP cartridge. Injection of acetylsalicylic acid into healthy dogs significantly increased closure time and total volume of both types of cartridges (P<0.01). Two dogs with von Willebrand's disease had abnormal values. In contrast, coagulopathies did not significantly influence the results of the platelet function analyser (P>0.05). Despite adequate sensitivity of measurements using the collagen/ADP cartridge to assess quantitative and qualitative platelet disorders in dogs, the influence of haematocrit (P<0.0001) will limit the clinical application of the analyser.     

Field efficacy of ivermectin plus praziquantel oral paste against naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematodes and cestodes of horses in North America and Europe

The efficacy of an oral formulation of ivermectin plus praziquantel in the reduction of nematode and cestode egg counts in horses was assessed in 273 horses under field conditions at 15 sites in North America (n = 6) and Europe (n = 9). Horses were confirmed by fecal examination to have natural infections of strongyles (100%) and tapeworms (76%). Replicates of four horses were formed at each site, and in each replicate three animals received ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg body weight) plus praziquantel (1 mg/kg body weight) oral paste and one animal remained untreated or received vehicle paste. Fecal samples were collected for fecal nematode and cestode egg counting before and 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16 days after treatment. Horses treated with ivermectin plus praziquantel oral paste had significantly (P <.01) lower posttreatment strongylid and cestode egg counts (reductions of 98% or more) than controls. Combined site analyses revealed that 95% or 96% of the horses positive for cestode eggs before treatment that were treated with ivermectin plus praziquantel were negative for cestode eggs at each posttreatment fecal examination. No adverse reactions attributable to ivermectin plus praziquantel oral paste treatments were observed. The results of the studies demonstrated that ivermectin plus praziquantel paste was highly effective in reducing egg shedding by gastrointestinal nematodes and cestodes, and no adverse reactions were observed in horses treated under field conditions.     

Immunocytological confirmation of bone marrow metastases in a dog with cholangiocarcinoma

The case history of a four-year-old, male Bernese mountain dog is presented. Carcinoma cells were detected in the liver by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Bone marrow aspirated from the iliac crest and the left femur showed a distinct infiltration by carcinoma cells. Immunocytological examination of the liver and bone marrow metastases showed a negative staining result for large spectrum cytokeratin (CK) KL1, a strong positive result for CK7 and a focal weak positive result for CK20. The dog was euthanased due to the grave prognosis. Histopathological examination revealed metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. The authors conclude that cytological and immunocytological examination of bone marrow aspirates should be used more frequently for the detection of distant metastases of carcinomas in small animal medicine.     

Blood plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17beta,testosterone and testosterone/oestradiol ratio in dogs with neoplastic and degenerative testicular diseases

Oestradiol-17beta and testosterone blood plasma concentrations were measured in dogs with Leydig-cell tumours (n=20), Sertoli-cell tumours (n=6), seminomas (n=9), unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism (n=7), abdominal cryptorchidism (n=9, one bilateral), degenerate scrotal testicles (n=6, two bilateral), and animals with normal scrotal testicles (n=20). The testosterone/oestradiol ratio (testosterone concentration [ng/mL]x100/oestradiol concentration [pg/mL]) was calculated.A considerably higher oestradiol concentration was found in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (29.0, 14.4-48.3 pg/mL; median, minimum-maximum; P=0.0256, Mann-Whitney test) and lower oestradiol levels were found in animals with seminomas (12.0, 3.4-17.6 pg/mL; P=0.0025) compared to the healthy control group (18.0, 8.6-31.5 pg/mL). Testosterone concentration was decreased in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.08, 0.03-0.77 ng/mL) when compared to the control group (1.95, 0.05-3.70 ng/mL; P=0.0012). Testosterone/oestradiol ratios differed from the control (9.6, 0.58-35.8) only in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.32, 0.06-2.80; P=0.0005). Clinical signs of feminization were observed in five dogs with Sertoli-cell tumour and one dog with a Leydig-cell tumour, and were more often associated with decreased testosterone/oestradiol ratios than with an increased oestradiol-17beta concentration.     

Further contributions to the genetic aspect of congenital sensorineural deafness in Dalmatians

Sensorineural deafness is a common congenital disorder in Dalmatians and is genetically transmitted. Different modes of inheritance have been proposed and the objective of this study was to study these by segregation analyses using maximum likelihood procedures. Data from 33 complete Dalmatian families were collected and data from 56 single Dalmatians added. This resulted in a total of 575 dogs with 357 known phenotypes. All dogs were clinically evaluated and electrophysiologically tested with brainstem auditory evoked responses.The prevalence of deafness was 16.5% (9.4% unilaterally deaf, 7.1% bilaterally deaf). Females were 4.4% more affected than males but this difference was not significant. Within the same litter, different phenotypic expressions of deafness occurred, which suggested different expressions of the disease. In addition, two data sets were analysed: the first included normal, uni- and bilaterally deaf dogs, the second had normal and deaf Dalmatians. We found that a recessive allele at a single biallelic major locus fitted our data best, although an incomplete penetrance of the recessive homozygotes was observed.     

Effect of a high single subcutaneous dose of unfractionated heparin on platelet function in dogs

The influence of heparin on different tests of platelet function was investigated in 5 healthy dogs receiving subcutaneously 1000 I.E./kg BW of a commercial unfractionated Sodium heparin preparation. Blood samples were collected before and 4 hours after heparin injection. Besides plasma activity of heparin platelet count, capillary bleeding time with two different methods, platelet aggregation according to Breddin and to Born with the inductors ADP, collagen, and thrombin as well as in vitro bleeding time were measured. The activity of heparin four hours after the subcutaneous heparin application was 1.20 +/- 0.11 I.E./ml. Compared to the starting values no significant influence of this heparin level could be demonstrated on platelet count, platelet aggregation according to Born with the inductors ADP and collagen, platelet aggregation according to the Breddin method as well as in vitro bleeding time (p > 0.05). Only one of the two methods used for measuring the capillary bleeding time showed a slight prolongation compared to the starting value (mean = 77 sec) to 88 sec (p < 0.05). The most significant influence was seen on the platelet aggregation induced by 1 I.U./ml thrombin, whereby the aggregation maximum decreased from 92.0% (mean) to 12.2% (p < 0.001). Whereas the latter result has to be interpreted primarily as a consequence of the anti-thrombin effect of heparin, the results of the other tests in summary illustrate the clinical unimportant influence of heparin on platelet function in dogs.