COMPARISONS OF RADIOGRAPHIC AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES IN CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE

Thoracic radiographs and electrocardiograms from 137 dogs with heartworm infection were independently evaluated and comparisons were made of (1) the presence or absence of right ventricular enlargement as assessed by these two diagnostic tests and (2) the presence or absence of right-sided congestive heart failure relative to the degree of right ventricular enlargement and ECG criteria of RVH.
Radiographic evidence of severe, but not moderate, right ventricular enlargement was associated with right-sided congestive heart failure. Similarly the presence of three or more, but not fewer than three, ECG criteria of RVH were associated with right-sided congestive heart failure. If either the thoracic radiographs or the ECG indicated that severe right ventricular enlargement was absent, right-sided congestive heart failure was seldom present. The most accurate correlation of the radiographic evaluation of severe right ventricular enlargement was afforded by the presence of three or more ECG criteria of RVH. ECG criteria of RVH such as R/S^v4, + T^v10 MEA^x, and S¹¹ are highly specific tests; while S^V2 is a highly sensitive but not highly specific test. The ECG is a good confirmation test of the presence of severe right ventricular enlargement and is a good exclusion test for the absence of right-sided congestive heart failure.     

RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE COEXISTING WITH RIGHT HEART FAILURE

Thoracic radiographs of 28 dogs with heartworm disease and right heart failure were evaluated subjectively and objectively. Radiographs of all dogs were abnormal. Abnormalities were consistent with those previously reported for heartworm disease but were more severe than those identified in another group of heartworm dogs that did not have right heart failure. The right ventricle and right caudal labor pulmonary artery were enlarged in every dog. The main pulmonary artery, right cranial lobar pulmonary artery, and caudal vena cava were enlarged in 24, 25, and 17 dogs, respectively. Radiographically apparent pathologic pulmonary conditions were present in 25 dogs. Pleural effusion was not identified.     

水源性原虫病流行病学与分子检测研究进展

水源性原虫病是由经水传播的原虫所引起的一类寄生虫病。近年来,由水污染原虫造成大量疾病的爆发引起了对水源性原虫病的高度重视。本文就近年来国内外对隐孢子虫、贾第虫和环孢子虫等水源性原虫病流行病学与分子检测研究进展作 一概述。     

COMPARISON OF RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE NASAL ASPERGILLOSIS

To compare the radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) findings and to evaluate the sensitivity of radiography and CT for diagnosis of nasal aspergillosis in dogs, the radiographic and CT studies of 48 dogs with chronic nasal disease were reviewed separately. The radiographic and CT findings were recorded, and a diagnosis was made. The results obtained in the dogs with nasal aspergillosis (n = 25) were used. Based on definite aspergillosis as diagnosis, CT had a sensitivity of 88% and radiography of 72%. Considering definite and probable aspergillosis as equivalent, CT had a sensitivity of 92% and radiography of 84%. The sensitivity was higher in dogs with lesions affecting the entire nasal cavity and frontal sinus on at least one side (n = 20) with a sensitivity of 100% for CT and 90-95% for radiography than in dogs with lesions restricted to the nasal cavities (n = 5) where CT had a sensitivity of 60-80% and radiography of 0-40%. CT was superior to radiography for evaluation of the nasal cavities (mucosal thickening along the nasal bones, surrounding bone hyperostosis/lysis), frontal sinuses (mucosal thickening along the frontal bone, fluid/soft tissue, frontal bone hyperostosis/lysis), and differentiation between a cavitated-like or a mass-like process. This study suggests that CT is more sensitive than radiography for diagnosis of nasal aspergillosis in the dog because of a better demonstration of some changes suggestive of nasal aspergillosis. A diagnosis of a nasal aspergillosis restricted to the nasal cavities or associated with an FB is challenging, even with the use of CT.     

INTEROBSERVER AGREEMENT ON THE ASSESSABILITY OF STANDARD VENTRODORSAL HIP-EXTENDED RADIOGRAPHS AND ITS EFFECT ON AGREEMENT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA AND ON ROUTINE FCI SCORING

Insufficient agreement on scoring hip quality might be caused by differences in the assessability of a radiograph (exposure, contrast, positioning, and diagnostic quality). We studied the agreement in assessability of standard ventrodorsal hip-extended radiographs by experienced (nine) and inexperienced (21) observers, using the standard subjective method of quality control, currently applied in screening programs. The effect of assessability on the agreement of scoring hip quality [dysplastic vs. nondysplastic and the final Federation Cinologique International (FCI) score] was also investigated. There was a significant difference ( P <0.0001) in agreement on assessability between the experienced and inexperienced observers. In 68% of evaluations, experienced observers stated that the radiograph was assessable. Inexperienced observers evaluated the radiographs as being assessable in only 46.5% of evaluations. Increased interobserver agreement on assessability of a radiograph did not increase the overall interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of hip dysplasia, nor did it result in consistent scoring of the hip status from that radiograph, despite a significant ( P <0.05) increase in agreement of FCI scoring with an increasing agreement on assessability at a one to five ratio in the experienced group. The inconsistent evaluation of radiographic quality, as well as the inconsistent evaluation of the hip quality, caused differences in diagnosing hip dysplasia and FCI scoring in the same dog ranging from excellent hips to moderate hip dysplasia. Therefore, the credibility of the FCI screening method for canine hip dysplasia, using the standard hip-extended radiographic view, as currently applied in most European countries, is questionable.     

THE IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF HYDATID DISEASE

SUMMARY: The tests that have been most commonly employed for the diagnosis of hydatid disease in Australia include the intradermal test (ID or Casoni test), complement fixation test (CFT), indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test, latex agglutination (LA) test, indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the immunoelectrophoresis test (IEP). More recently developed tests are the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). This paper outlines the uses for immunological diagnosis of hydatid disease and the criteria for determining the test of choice in a particular circumstance. The principles of each test, and their usefulness in terms of the criteria set down is discussed. At the present time, for pre-treatment diagnosis IHA and LA appear to be the best suited for screening purposes while IEP is the most specific diagnostic test. For postoperative follow up IEP and the CFT are both useful.     

THE DIAGNOSIS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AN INFERTILITY DISEASE IN THE FEMALE KOALA

A radiographic technique, incorporating pneumoperitoneum, was developed to aid in identification of cyst-like structures in the reproductive tract of female koalas. These lesions, including pyometra and fluid-filled cysts associated with the upper reproductive tract, were viewed as radiopacities with clearly demarcated margins lateral to the caudal lumbar vertebrae. This technique provided a means of assessing with a high degree of reliability the incidence and distribution of this condition in various populations of koalas throughout eastern and southern Australia. A radiographic survey of 237 adult female koalas revealed a 43% (101/237) incidence of this condition, which is closely correlated with the lack of reproductive success observed in some populations of koalas in the wild. Although the etiology of this condition is little understood at present, the isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from the reproductive tracts of affected koalas, both male and female, is recorded.     

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES AND MYELOGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE CANINE MYELOPATHY

Forty‐six dogs with either cervical (C1–C5 or C6–T2) or thoracolumbar (T3–L3) acute myelopathy underwent prospective conventional computed tomography (CT), angiographic CT, myelography, and CT myelography. Findings were confirmed at either surgery or necropsy. Seventy‐eight percent of lesions were extradural, 11% were extradural with an intramedullary abnormality, 7% were intramedullary, 2% were intradural–extramedullary, and 2% had nerve root compression without spinal cord compression. Intervertebral disc herniation was the most frequent abnormality regardless of signalment or neurolocalization. Twenty‐one of 23 Hansen type I disc extrusions but none of the Hansen type II disc protrusions were mineralized. Two chondrodystrophic dogs had acute myelopathy attributable to extradural hemorrhage and subarachnoid cyst. CT myelography had the highest interobserver agreement, was the most sensitive technique for identification of compression, demonstrating lesions in 8% of dogs interpreted as normal from myelography and enabling localization and lateralization in 8% of lesions incompletely localized on myelography due to concurrent spinal cord swelling. None of the imaging techniques evaluated permitted definitive diagnosis of spinal cord infarction or meningomyelitis but myelography and CT myelography did rule out a surgical lesion in those cases. While conventional CT was adequate for the diagnosis and localization of mineralized Hansen type I disc extrusions in chondrodystrophic breeds, if no lesion was identified, plegia was present due to concurrent extradural compression and spinal cord swelling, or the dog was nonchondrodystrophic, CT myelography was often necessary for correct diagnosis.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE HYDROCEPHALUS

The brains of 23 canine patients and six random-source dogs were examined ultrasonographically through the bregmatic fontanelle or a surgical craniotomy. Fifteen dogs had abnormal neurologic signs; the others were normal on neurologic examination. Untrasound results were compared with signalment, clinical signs, electroencephalography, computed tomography, radiology and histopathology. The purposes of the study were to demonstrate the use of ultrasound for the diagnosis of canine hydrocephalus and to determine whether there is a relationship between ventricular size and clinical signs. Lateral ventricles were considered enlarged if lateral ventricular height, ventricle-mantle ratio, or ventricle-hemisphere ratio, at the level of or caudal to the interthalamic adhesion in the transverse plane, exceeded 0.35 cm, 0.25 or 0.19, respectively. Of the 29 dogs examined, 14 had enlarged lateral ventricles and abnormal neurologic signs. Five dogs had enlarged lateral ventricles but appeared neurologically normal (occult hydrocephalus). Correlation was poor between ventricular size and clinical signs.     

奶牛隐孢子虫Nested PCR—RFLP方法的建立及初步应用

为快速检测并准确鉴别奶牛隐孢子虫种,以隐孢子虫18S rRNA基因的特殊区域为基础,设计内、外引物,并根据软件分析确定相应的内切酶EcoT141,采用Nested PCR-RFLP方法进行虫种种型鉴别分析。在Nested PCR两次PCR反应中,以微小隐孢子虫（Cryptos poridium parvum,C．p）和安氏隐孢子虫（Cryptosporidium andersoni,C．an）卵囊提取的DNA为模板,均能扩增出长约800bp和500bp的明亮条带,且特异性强,其他虫种不能扩增出条带,该方法最低可检测到5个卵囊／g粪便;对于由内引物扩增出的500bp的条带,C.an的PCR产物能被内切酶EcoT141酶切,酶切后的片段分别为416bp和92bp,C.p的PCR产物不能被此酶酶切。用所建立的Nested PCR-RFLP法对上海奶牛389头和进口奶牛200头的共计589份粪样进行检测,Nested PCR的结果表明上海奶牛和进口奶牛的隐孢子虫阳性率分别为19．02％和3．5％,RFLP的结果表明上海奶牛感染的主要是Cp和C．an,进口奶牛感染的主要是C．p。研究结果表明,本研究建立的检测奶牛粪便中的隐孢子虫的NestedPCR-RFLP法,可用于奶牛隐孢子虫流行病学调查并有效鉴别奶牛隐孢子虫种。     

CARDIAC AND PULMONARY ARTERY MENSURATION IN FELINE HEARTWORM DISEASE

A retrospective study was undertaken to quantify thoracic radiographic changes in cats with heartworm diseases, ( Dirofilaria immitis ). Using a blinded study format, the cardiac silhouette, thoracic cavity and pulmonary arteries were measured from thoracic radiographs of 21 cats with feline heartworm disease and 30 cats without known cardiac or pulmonary vessel pathology. Measured data were normalized to the thoracic cavity or bony structures within the radiographic field of view. The measurements were compared between the two groups of cats using an unpaired, two-tailed Student's t -test, with a p value of < 0.05 being considered significant. Cats with feline heartworm disease had enlargement of the craniocaudal aspect of the cardiac silhouette and normalized cardiac:thoracic ratio (p < 0.05) on the lateral view. Also, there was significant enlargement of the central and peripheral caudal lobar pulmonary arteries and their normalized ratios (p < 0.05) in the heartworm infected cats as visualized on the ventrodorsal projection. Tortuosity of the pulmonary arteries was seen in three of the 21 infected cats. Eleven of the 21 cats with feline heartworm disease had pulmonary parenchymal changes. Based on the present study, central and peripheral pulmonary artery enlargement as viewed on the ventrodorsal radiograph was the single best radiographic indicator of feline heartworm disease.     

用ELISA测乳汁孕酮进行奶牛的发情检查和早孕诊断的研究

本试验用ELISA测定了101头奶牛配种期0～2天和配种后18～24天的乳汁孕酮含量,提供了牧场分两阶段测试乳样进行奶牛的发情检查和早孕诊断的可行方案。测定的结果经临床检验核实:发情检查的确诊率为100％;配种后20～22天,妊娠牛和空怀牛的确诊率分别为92.1％和96.9％,可疑率为4.0％,总确诊率为89.9％。     

山羊mtDNA多态性及其起源分化研究

本文用１４种识别６碱基的限制性内切酶ＡｐａⅠ、ＢａｍＨⅠ、ＢｇｌⅠ、ＢｇｌⅡ、ＤｒａⅠ、ＥｃｏＲⅠ、ＥｃｏＲⅤ、ＫｐｎⅠ、ＰｖｕⅡ、ＰｓｔⅠ、ＳａｃⅠ、ＳｍａⅠ和ＸｈｏⅠ研究了来自我国１２个省和自治区共计１８个地方山羊品种２１８个体ｍｔＤＮＡ的ＲＦＬＰ,并运用Ｎｅｉ氏公式计算了各限制性类型间的遗传距离Ｐ和群丛遗传多态度π值。结果表明,在研究的所有个体中共检测到４１个酶切位点,１８种限制性态,其中Ｂ