Lack of LH response to exogenous estradiol in heifers with ACTH-induced ovarian follicular cysts.

The aim of the present study was to examine the LH response to exogenous estradiol in 4 heifers with ACTH-induced ovarian follicular cysts. During the control experiment, administration of estradiol 24 hr after PGF2alpha in luteal phase heifers resulted in a LH response in all 4 heifers. The LH response was obtained between 16-20 hr after estradiol administration. The peak LH concentration (Mean +/- SEM; 5.1 +/- 0.8 ng/ml) during the control study was significantly different (P<0.05) from the concentration after cyst formation. None of the 4 heifers responded to estradiol after ovarian cyst formation. This result suggests that heifers with ACTH-induced ovarian follicular cysts may have a defective hypothalamio-pituitary response to exogenous estradiol similar to cows with spontaneous ovarian cysts.     

Effects of cryotherapy on the palmar and plantar digital nerves in the horse

The duration of anesthetic effect and the histopathologic changes resulting from a controlled freeze of the palmar and plantar digital nerves in the horse were evaluated. Two techniques were compared: (i) nerves were frozen by direct application of the cryoprobe after surgical exposure and (ii) nerves were frozen by percutaneous application of the cryoprobe to the overlying skin. Return of skin sensation and ability to detect a stimulus were used to determine return of nerve function. The duration of anesthetic effect was significantly (P less than 0.005) longer for nerves frozen after surgical exposure than for those frozen by the percutaneous technique (mean 156 days vs 47.5 days). At the termination of the study, horses were euthanatized and all nerves were examined histologically. Neuromas-in-continuity were observed in 10 of 28 frozen nerves. Classification was based on the involvement of the supporting fibrous connective tissues of the nerve, endoneurium, perineurium, and epineurium. The direct technique of freezing the nerve after surgical exposure was repeatable and could be used to provide temporary neurectomy in the horse. The percutaneous technique caused a temporary loss of pain perception, but could not be relied on to interrupt nerve function for longer than a few weeks.     

Radiographic and ultrasonographic features of canine paraprostatic cysts

Mineralization of paraprostatic cysts is reported to be uncommon. This retrospective study was performed to review the imaging findings of eight histologically confirmed canine paraprostatic cysts. Radiographic patterns of mineralization seen are described. Four of the eight dogs had mineralized cysts. Mineralization seen on radiography was not consistently seen on ultrasonography, probably due to the lack of acoustic shadowing artefact from the small depth of mineralized tissue. It is thus concluded that mineralization of paraprostatic cysts is more common than implied in the literature, and that radiography is superior to ultrasonography in identifying its presence.     

Comparison of conventional and alternative arthroscopic approaches to the palmar/plantar pouch of the equine distal interphalangeal joint

Reasons for performing the study: The conventional arthroscopic approach to the palmar/plantar aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) may result in the inadvertent penetration of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) and the navicular bursa (NB). This iatrogenic communication would be undesirable subsequent to arthroscopic lavage of a septic DIPJ. Hypothesis: A lateral/medial approach to the palmar/plantar aspect of the DIPJ will result in a significantly lower rate of inadvertent penetration of the DFTS and NB, whilst still providing adequate intra‐articular evaluation. Methods: The conventional palmar/plantar approach or a novel lateral/medial approach to the DIPJ was performed on cadaver fore‐ and hindlimbs (30 limbs/approach). Subsequently, India ink was injected into the dorsal pouch of the DIPJ, and the DFTS (n = 60) and NB (n = 20) were examined for the presence/absence of ink. In addition, observations of the number of attempts made to access the joint, evidence of iatrogenic intra‐articular trauma and occurrence of incomplete visualisation of the palmar/plantar pouch were recorded. Results: With the conventional approach, DFTS penetration was noted in 18/30 (60%) of the limbs, compared to 1/30 (3.3%) with the lateral/medial approach (P≤0.001). NB penetration was seen in 5/10 limbs with the palmar/plantar approach compared to 0/10 with the lateral/medial approach (P = 0.01). No significant differences were found between the approaches in the number of attempts made to access the joint, the incidence of iatrogenic intra‐articular trauma, or the occurrence of incomplete visibility of the palmar/plantar pouch. Conclusions: The novel lateral/medial approach to the DIPJ significantly decreases the risk of inadvertent penetration of the DFTS and NB. Potential relevance: The novel lateral/medial approach to the DIPJ is an effective technique to gain access to the palmar/plantar pouches, and is particularly advantageous for arthroscopic lavage of a septic DIPJ.     

Effect of surgery on the in vitro response of canine peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin

The effects of surgery (ovario-hysterectomy) and anesthesia on phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis were studied in vitro in 12 dogs. Four dogs had depressed lymphocyte blastogenic responses after surgery. This suppression was transient with normal blastogenic responses occurring in cells from all dogs 24 hours after surgery. Seemingly, T-lymphocyte function may be depressed, only transiently, after surgery.     

Pathogenesis and immunopathology of systemic and nervous canine distemper

Canine distemper is a worldwide occurring infectious disease of dogs, caused by a morbillivirus, closely related to measles and rinderpest virus. The natural host range comprises predominantly carnivores. Canine distemper virus (CDV), an enveloped, negative-sense RNA virus, infects different cell types, including epithelial, mesenchymal, neuroendocrine and hematopoietic cells of various organs and tissues. CDV infection of dogs is characterized by a systemic and/or nervous clinical course and viral persistence in selected organs including the central nervous system (CNS) and lymphoid tissue. Main manifestations include respiratory and gastrointestinal signs, immunosuppression and demyelinating leukoencephalomyelitis (DL). Impaired immune function, associated with depletion of lymphoid organs, consists of a viremia-associated loss of lymphocytes, especially of CD4+ T cells, due to lymphoid cell apoptosis in the early phase. After clearance of the virus from the peripheral blood an assumed diminished antigen presentation and altered lymphocyte maturation cause an ongoing immunosuppression despite repopulation of lymphoid organs. The early phase of DL is a sequel of a direct virus-mediated damage and infiltrating CD8+ cytotoxic T cells associated with an up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-12 and a lacking response of immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. A CD4+-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells contribute to myelin loss in the chronic phase. Additionally, up-regulation of interferon-γ and IL-1 may occur in advanced lesions. Moreover, an altered balance between matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors seems to play a pivotal role for the pathogenesis of DL. Summarized, DL represents a biphasic disease process consisting of an initial direct virus-mediated process and immune-mediated plaque progression. Immunosuppression is due to early virus-mediated lymphocytolysis followed by still poorly understood mechanisms affecting antigen presentation and lymphocyte maturation.     

Anal sac tumours of the dog and their response to cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy

A retrospective study of anal sac tumours without pulmonary metastases, from the author's clinical records for the period July 1989 to July 2002, was conducted to establish the response to treatment with surgery and melphalan chemotherapy. Of 21 dogs with tumours of the anal sacs 19 had apocrine gland adenocarcinomas of anal sac origin, one had a benign papillary cystadenoma and another had a malignant melanoma. Two of the 19 dogs had bilateral anal sac adenocarcinomas. Ten of the 19 dogs with apocrine gland adenocarcinomas of anal sac origin had sublumbar lymphadenopathy. Five dogs were excluded by their owners from recommended treatment. Fourteen dogs with apocrine gland adenocarcinomas of anal sac origin were treated by surgical cytoreduction and chemotherapy with melphalan. Seven of the 14 dogs had regional lymph node metastases. Cytoreduction was by local excision of the anal sac in all 14 dogs and concurrent removal of the sublumbar retroperitoneal lymph nodes in the seven dogs with regional lymph node metastases. The median survival time of dogs with sublumbar nodal metastasis was 20 months and for dogs with tumour localised to the anal sac the median survival time was 29.3 months. There was no difference in median survival of those dogs with sublumbar metastases compared to those without. This study suggests there is a role for melphalan in the treatment of dogs with anal sac adenocarcinoma when combined with cytoreductive surgery, with treatment survival times and the local recurrence rate of the primary tumour comparing favourably with previously published treatment regimes.     

Pathogenesis of canine parvovirus-2 in dogs: haematology, serology and virus recovery

The pathogenesis of canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) was studied in orally inoculated conventional dogs using haematological, serological and virological techniques. Virus was first isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes on day 2 after exposure, tonsil on day 3 and small intestine on day 3. Viraemia occurred subsequently and was present in most dogs on days 4 and 5 after exposure. CPV-2 could be isolated from all tissues during viraemia. Relative pyrexia, lymphopenia and neutropenia occurred on days 5, 6 and 7 after exposure, respectively. Virus excretion in faeces began in most dogs on day 4 and continued despite the appearance of neutralising serum antibody. Specific serum antibody, detected in some dogs as early as day 3 and in all dogs by day 7 after exposure, eliminated viraemia and inhibited virus isolation from tissues in cell culture.     

Administration of progesterone to cows with ovarian follicular cysts results in a reduction in mean LH and LH pulse frequency and initiates ovulatory follicular growth

Cows with ovarian follicular cysts were treated with progesterone to determine whether a reduction in LH concentrations and initiation of ovulatory follicular waves would occur. Cysts were diagnosed using transrectal ultrasonography when single follicular structures > 20 mm or multiple structures > 15 mm in diameter were present for 7 d in the presence of low progesterone concentrations. Three groups were studied: 1) cows with normal estrous cycles (CYC, n = 8); 2) cows with untreated cysts (CYST, n = 7); and 3) cows with cysts treated with two progesterone-releasing intravaginal devices (PRID, n = 8) for 9 d. Ovaries were examined with transrectal ultrasonography, and blood samples were collected daily for analysis of progesterone and FSH. Serial blood samples for determination of mean LH and LH pulse frequency were collected on d 0 (CYST and PRID cows only), 1, 5, 9, and 10. Progesterone concentrations were higher in PRID cows than in CYST cows throughout the PRID treatment period (P < .002). On d 0, LH pulse frequency was similar (P = .10) in PRID (6.6+/-.6 pulses/8 h) and CYST cows (5.1+/-.6 pulses/8 h), but mean LH tended to be higher (P = .054) on d 0 in PRID cows (2.5+/-.2 ng/mL) than in CYST cows (1.9+/-.2 ng/mL). Mean LH and LH pulse frequency decreased (P < .002) by d 1 in PRID cows (1.1+/-.2 ng/mL, 1.8+/-.6 pulses/8 h) compared with CYST cows (2.1+/-.2 ng/mL, 5.6+/-.6 pulses/8 h) and remained lower throughout most of the experimental period. The FSH concentrations were higher (P < .01) in PRID cows than in CYC and CYST cows on d 3 and 4. The increase in FSH concentrations preceded emergence of the PRID-induced follicular wave. All PRID cows and four of seven CYST cows initiated new follicular waves during the period of PRID treatment. Follicular waves were initiated later (P < .05) in CYST cows (d 5.2+/-1.7) and PRID cows (d 5.5+/-.6) than in CYC cows (d 1.8+/-.3). Cysts were smaller (P < .01) at the end of the treatment period in PRID cows compared with CYST cows. No CYST cows ovulated, but all PRID cows ovulated newly developed follicles 3 or 4 d after PRID removal. Treatment with exogenous progesterone reduced LH in cows with cysts, and this was followed by development of normal ovulatory follicles.     

Serum antibody response to canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus-1, and canine distemper virus in dogs with known status of immunization: study of dogs in Sweden

Serum antibody titers to canine parvovirus (CPV), canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1), and canine distemper virus (CDV) were measured in dogs with known immunization status. The dogs represented 3 groups: nonvaccinated dogs less than 12 months old; vaccinated dogs less than 12 months old; and adult dogs greater than 12 months old. For practical reasons, the population from which the specimens were obtained could be considered as free from natural infection with CAV-1 and CDV. In nonvaccinated dogs less than 12 months old, antibodies against all 3 viruses were measured at the time the dogs were given their first vaccination. Altogether, 50.7% of the dogs had titer greater than or equal to 1:10 to CPV, and 26.1 and 46.2% had titer greater than or equal to 1:8 to CAV-1 and CDV, respectively. The concentration of maternal antibody seemed to be of major importance for failure of immunization with use of inactivated CPV vaccine, but not with CAV-1 and CDV vaccination. In dogs less than 12 months old and vaccinated against CPV infection with inactivated virus, only 11.5% had titer greater than or equal to 1:80. In dogs vaccinated against infectious canine hepatitis and canine distemper, 63.2 and 78.3%, respectively, had titer greater than or equal to 1:16. In adult dogs greater than 2 months old and vaccinated against CPV infection, less than 50% had titer greater than or equal to 1:80, regardless of time after vaccination. There was no significant difference in titer between vaccinated and nonvaccinated dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transrectal ultrasonic diagnosis of ovarian follicular cysts in goats and treatment with GnRH

Cystic ovarian disease is an important cause of reproductive failure. The objective of this study was to evaluate transrectal ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) as a therapeutic approach for ovarian follicular cysts in goats. Goats were considered to have a follicular cyst(s) if a non-echoic structure >10 mm in diameter was detected in the absence of corpora lutea (CL) in three ultrasonic examinations performed at 5-day intervals. After diagnosis (Day 0), goats with ovarian follicular cysts (n = 5) were treated with a single bolus injection of 10.5 microg synthetic GnRH followed by administration of 125 microg prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) 10 days later. Five blood samples were collected at 5-day intervals for determination of progesterone and estradiol-17beta. For detection of LH surge, blood samples were collected every 2 h. Ovulation rate was determined and pregnancy was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography. The results showed that transrectal ultrasonography is reliable for diagnosis of ovarian follicular cysts and the mean diameter of the follicular cysts was 12.6 +/- 0.4 mm. Plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17beta at the time of diagnosis of follicular cysts (Day 0) were 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/ml and 12.7 +/- 0.9 pg/ml, respectively. The concentration of progesterone increased to 4.0 +/- 0.5 ng/ml 10 days after administration of GnRH indicating luteinization of the ovarian follicular cysts concomitant with a decrease in the concentration of estradiol-17beta (3.5 +/- 0.4 pg/ml). Administration of GnRH to cystic goats resulted in a surge of LH within 2 h of treatment. The interval from PGF2alpha injection to the preovulatory LH surge was 62.8 +/- 1.4 h. All goats exhibited estrus 55.2 +/- 2.3 h after PGF2alpha injection and four goats out of the five ovulated. The ovulation rate was 1.5 +/- 0.3. In conclusion, results of this study suggest that transrectal ultrasonography is a reliable tool for diagnosis of ovarian follicular cysts. In addition, GnRH can be used to effectively treat ovarian follicular cysts in goats with 80% success rate.     

Morphologic aspects and morphogenesis of blood cysts on canine cardiac valves

We investigated retrospectively the morphologic aspects of blood cysts of the atrioventricular valve in eight Beagle dogs and clarified the morphogenesis of the lesions. Study of serial sections revealed that the cysts communicate with the blood vessels; however, they showed no connection with the valve surface. Immunohistochemically, the thin endothelium of the lesions showed positive staining for factor VIII-related antigen. Histologic studies of a variety of sizes of blood cysts revealed four basic stages of blood cyst formation: 1) initially, the involved blood vessel undergoes only a slight enlargement that is not grossly detectable; 2) next, the vessel becomes moderately or markedly dilated and contains a large number of erythrocytes. The changes of this stage are macroscopically detectable; and 3) then, blood flow is arrested partly in the cystic lesion, followed by degeneration and necrosis of the cyst. At this third stage, fibrous tissue or dense collagenous connective tissue is usually seen surrounding the cyst; 4) and finally, metaplastic bone is formed within the lesion. Colloidal carbon infusion into the valves of normal canine hearts revealed the presence of an extensive, dense arrangement of blood vessels in the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, which usually is the recognized site to develop blood cysts.