Pyloric outflow obstruction secondary to sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis in a dog

A 6-year-old, male neutered mixed breed dog was presented emergently with a three-week history of hyporexia, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Upon examination, the patient was dull, had generalised muscle atrophy, moderate abdominal pain and a mild amount of peritoneal effusion. A fluid-filled, distended, corrugated small bowel with marked gastroparesis and moderate peritoneal effusion was noted on abdominal ultrasonography. Endoscopy revealed hyperaemic and friable mucosa and a subjectively narrowed pylorus. Emergency exploratory celiotomy was performed due to worsening patient condition and revealed thick, diffuse, fibrous adhesions of the abdominal cavity. Based on these findings, sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) was suspected. A large mass of omentum adjacent to the greater curvature of the stomach had caused a pyloric outflow obstruction. Adhesiolysis was attempted but was unsuccessful due to the friability of the small intestines. The dog was humanely euthanased under anaesthesia. A diagnosis of SEP was confirmed via necropsy. No underlying cause was identified. This is the first known case of a pyloric outflow obstruction secondary to SEP in a dog. Although rare, this condition should be considered as a differential for dogs with signs of a pyloric outflow obstruction with concurrent ascites and abdominal pain, hyporexia, vomiting and diarrhoea.     

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma with metastasis in two ferrets.

Exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis was diagnosed in 2 ferrets. Clinical signs included abdominal distention and hind limb weakness. Ultrasonography revealed moderate ascites in both ferrets, an irregular abdominal mass in 1 ferret, and multiple abdominal masses in the other ferret. The ferrets were euthanatized, and necropsy of 1 ferret revealed carcinomatosis without visceral metastasis.     

Cytologic diagnosis of peritoneal cestodiasis in dogs caused by Mesocestoides sp

Background: Canine peritoneal larval cestodiasis caused by tapeworm larvae of the genus Mesocestoides is an uncommon and possibly fatal disease that can result in ascites and peritonitis. Although abdominal fluid analysis is recommended for dogs with ascites, the cytologic features of Mesocestoides infection have not been described fully.
Objective: Our goal was to describe the cytologic features of Mesocestoides larvae and of associated ascitic fluid that was collected from the peritoneal cavity of 4 infected dogs.
Methods: Abdominal fluid was obtained from 4 dogs with Mesocestoides sp infection. Gross, chemical, and microscopic evaluations of the fluid were performed using standard techniques.
Results: Cytologic findings in 1 dog included intact acephalic metacestodes (larvae without 4 suckers, not tetrathyridia) in various stages of asexual development, whereas fluid from the other 3 dogs contained primarily calcareous corpuscles, remnant tissue specific to cestodes. Abdominal fluid typically was an exudate, with suppuration, hemorrhage, and evidence of necrosis. Total protein concentrations ranged from 2.4 to 5.3 g/dL.
Conclusions: Abdominal fluid cytology was useful in the diagnosis of Mesocestoides larval infections in the peritoneal cavity of dogs with ascites. Observation of characteristic calcareous corpuscles or intact metacestodes can provide a defininitive diagnosis of canine peritoneal larval cestodiasis in dogs.     

牛蛙爱德华氏菌病病理形态学研究

牛蛙爱德华氏菌病的主要眼观病变是病牛蛙全身肿胀，腹部膨大，腹腔积液，躯体或四肢有时可见充血或炎性反应。主要组织学所见是肝、肾、心等脏器实质细胞变性、坏死以及呈渗出性和纤维素性炎症变化。     

Ultrasonographic findings in a cow with ascites due to thrombosis of the caudal vena cava.

This case report describes a three-year-old Swiss Braunvieh cow with ascites due to thrombosis of the caudal vena cava. Ultrasonography verified the ascites and revealed dilatation of the abdominal portion of the caudal vena cava (4.8 cm). It was presumed that the caudal vena cava was occluded by a thrombus or by perivenous compression cranial to the dilatation. Post mortem findings included: a massive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity; a 15 cm long thrombus in the subphrenic region of the caudal vena cava; multiple pulmonary abscesses; severe thrombosis of the pulmonary vasculature; hepatic congestion; oedematous abomasal folds; and severe thrombophlebitis of the left jugular vein and both udder veins, due to poor intravenous injection technique. Ascites caused by thrombosis of the caudal vena cava is rare because collateral routes of venous return, including the udder veins, are usually established. It was therefore concluded that the ascites was attributable to bilateral thrombosis of the udder veins.     

Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma with systemic metastasis in a young dog

A 2-year-old intact female Golden Retriever presented due to rapidly progressing depression, ascites, dysuria, abdominal pain, and severe vaginal bleeding. At necropsy, the retroperitoneal space was expanded by multiple coalescing neoplastic nodules and the uterine wall was thickened with poorly defined neoplastic infiltrates. The urinary bladder was markedly thickened due to botryoid nodules exhibiting exophytic growth into the lumen. Metastases to lung, liver, kidney, and abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes were also noted. Microscopically, the genital tract and retroperitoneal masses were consistent with the alveolar subtype of rhabdomysarcoma, while the urinary bladder mass had characteristics of the embryonal subtype. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells in all these tissue sites were intensely positive for desmin, sacromeric actin, and vimentin, while they were uniformly negative for cytokeratin and smooth muscle actin. Phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin stain revealed cross-striations in the cytoplasm of scattered neoplastic cells. Based on the gross findings, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma with multisystemic metastases was made.     

Liver lobe torsion in three adult rabbits

This paper describes three cases of liver lobe torsion in rabbits presenting with anorexia, lethargy, jaundice and abdominal pain. This condition was associated with anaemia and elevation of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Abnormal radiological findings included hepatomegaly, gas-filled intestinal loops consistent with gastrointestinal ileus and ascites. Ultrasonographic findings included heterogeneous liver parenchyma, free abdominal fluid and reduced bowel motility. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver in all three cases.     

Somatosensory-evoked and spinal cord-evoked potentials in response to pudendal and tibial nerve stimulation in cats

Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP) and spinal cord-evoked potentials (SCEP) were recorded in clinically normal adult cats in response to electrical stimulation of pudendal and tibial nerves to provide normative data that can be used in a clinical evaluation of pudendal nerve function in cats after sacral or sacrococcygeal luxations or fractures. Responses to tibial nerve stimulation were included in the study as an internal control because it is usually not involved in these types of injuries and because its SEP and SCEP are easily recorded. Evoked potentials were characterized by the latencies (ms) of positive (P or p) and negative (N or n) peaks. The SEP resulting from percutaneous pudendal nerve stimulation consisted of a prominent P-N-P potential in the 30- to 80-ms range. The pudendal SCEP was not successfully recorded because of large muscle artifacts evoked from the sacral area. The tibial SEP was similar to the pudendal SEP, except that the prominent P-N-P series in the 35- to 81-ms range was preceded by a smaller p-n-p-n sequence in the 7- to 23-ms range. The tibial SCEP consisted of a P-N-P series in the 2- to 4-ms range.     

Observations on ascites in nine cattle

Signs of ascites were observed in only nine of 1863 cattle examined over a period of five years. The ascites was most commonly associated with either primary or secondary cardiac disease; cattle with ascites have a poor prognosis because the condition is usually assocaited with terminal disease. Two animals had cor pulmonale with chronic pneumonia, three had cardiomyopathy, one had bacterial endocarditis, two had thrombosis of the caudal vena cava and one had diffuse abdominal epithelioid mesothelioma.     

Pig trypanosomiasis: comparative anaemia and histopathology of lymphoid organs.

Anaemia with characteristic clinical symptoms, haematological changes and histopathology of lymphoid organs, was observed following experimental infection of pig with pathogenic species of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma congolense, the former being more virulent than the latter. Mean incubation periods were 4 and 7 days, and generalized fluctuating levels of parasitaemia and pyrexia without mortality were observed. Other symptoms included hyperaemia, petechial haemorrhages leading to plaques or lesions, inappetence, dehydration and/or ascites. Trypanosomiasis significantly (P less than 0.01) lowered the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration and red blood cells, but elevated white blood count (differentials) of infected pigs. Trypanosomes were localised in and destroyed the lymphoid tissues, the major lesions of which included haemorrhages, mononuclear infiltration prolification and distortion of follicles, and tissue necrosis or fibrosis. Significant effects of resultant immunosuppression, erythrophagocytosis and hence secondary infections to pig production in trypanosome endemic areas are highlighted.     

Granulosa cell tumor in 8 African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris)

A retrospective study involving eight African pygmy hedgehogs histopathologically diagnosed with granulosa cell tumors was conducted. The age at onset was 2.2–4.5 years, with a median age of 3.6 years. The most common clinical signs were hematuria and abdominal distension, which were observed in >50% cases. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in all cases, and ovariohysterectomy or excision of the abdominal mass was performed. Patients with only hematuria survived for >250 days after surgery, whereas those with initial ascites showed recurrence of ascites or tumor growth and survived for approximately 130 days after surgery. Intraperitoneal injection of carboplatin was performed in three recurrent cases. In one of these three cases, the tumor mass disappeared. Hence, carboplatin can be considered a potential antineoplastic drug for the treatment of granulosa cell tumors.     

Clinical manifestations of tansy ragwort poisoning

The clinical signs of tansy ragwort poisoning are variable and in 5 cases included diarrhea, tenesmus, ascites, bloody feces, icterus, paresis, CNS involvement, rectal prolapse, poor appetite and weight loss. It is thus apparent that the disease can be confused clinically with many others, and tansy ragwort poisoning should be considered in animals exhibiting ascites, diarrhea and rectal prolapse. Several cases of tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) poisoning occurring from 1969 to 1976 are reported to illustrate the numerous clinical pictures that might confront a practitioner. The disease is sporadic in this area. The poisonous principles in tansy ragwort are pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which cause gradual alteration and necrosis of liver cells with replacement by fibrous tissue. The development of signs in all of these cases could be attributed to failure of one or more liver functions.     

马来熊胆囊癌一例

苏州市动物园1只25岁雌性马来熊(Helarctos malayanus)于2019年9月18日起腹围缓慢增大,治疗6周后,于2019年11月4日死亡。解剖发现有胸腔积液、腹腔积液、肝硬化、胆结石等组织病变,送检病变组织样本。化验报告:心肌轻度萎缩,肾间质慢性炎细胞浸润,肝脏、胆囊、肺脏病理切片显示大量癌栓/转移性低分化腺癌;胆汁、胸腔积液和腹腔积液中均分离出大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)和迟钝爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)2种细菌;诊断为结石性胆囊癌引起的渗出性腹水。在野生动物中,临床表现为腹水的胆囊癌较为少见,马来熊相关文献资料缺乏,本文将记述该动物的病程,解剖及检查结果,以供大家参考。     

Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma with a Sarcomatoid Growth Pattern and Signet-Ring-Like Structure in a Female F344 Rat

We report a biphasic malignant mesothelioma in an aged female F344/DuCrlCrlj rat. Macroscopically, multiple pale brown nodules were observed in the abdominal cavity with retention of bloody ascites. Histopathologically, the tumor cells spread over the peritoneum and formed masses on the surface and underlying adipose tissues. The tumor cells dominantly proliferated in a solid, nodular or nest-like pattern with modest amount of fibrillar connective tissues, which contained hyaluronan. The tumor consisted of ovoid, polygonal or spindle-shaped cells that possessed eosinophilic cytoplasms including glycogen; some tumor cells showed a signet-ring-like structure. Multinucleated cells and mitosis were found frequently, and direct invasion to intra-abdominal organs and intravascular metastasis to the liver were observed. Immunohistochemically, keratin and mesothelin were strongly positive in most of tumor cells, while vimentin was mainly positive in spindle-shaped cells. Podoplanin was also positive, particularly in the cell membrane of tumor cells. Electron microscopically, tumor cells showed an intercellular desmosome-like structure, basement membrane and microvillus. We diagnosed the case as a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with a sarcomatoid growth pattern and signet-ring-like structure.     

从鸭腹水综合征病鸭体内分离鉴定到血清1型鸭肝炎病毒

2011年4月份,河北省某地一些鸭场饲养的20～45日龄的樱桃谷肉鸭发生了以腹腔中充满大量清亮、茶色或啤酒样腹水为主要病变特征的疾病,即鸭腹水综合征。采集两个不同日龄的病死鸭肝脏样品,接种SPF鸭胚进行病毒分离,获得两个病毒分离物（HB01和HB02）。这两个病毒分离物对鸡、鸭和鹅的红细胞均无血凝活性。RT-PCR或PCR检测表明,HB01和HB02中鸭肝炎病毒检测为阳性,而鸭呼肠孤病毒、鸭圆环病毒、鸭黄病毒等检测均为阴性。将HB02接种5日龄SPF鸭,致死率为40%;对20日龄的鸭不致死。HB02分离物中鸭肝炎病毒的序列分析表明其与鸭肝炎病毒NA株及弱毒疫苗株C80和F64遗传距离较近。根据试验结果,推测鸭肝炎病毒可能是诱发本次鸭腹水综合症的因素之一。     

Cytology of canine malignant histiocytosis

Cytologic features of bone marrow, tissue, and abdominal fluid in seven cases of malignant histiocytosis in dogs are described, and histopathology, hematology, and serum biochemistry of the cases are reviewed. Diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis was confirmed by tissue morphology and immunohistochemistry; neoplastic cells in all cases had positive immunoreactivity to lysozyme. This stain can be used to definitively establish the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis on cytology specimens as well as tissue sections. Cytologic findings included numerous pleomorphic, large, discrete mononuclear cells with abundant, lightly basophilic, vacuolated, granular cytoplasm. Nuclei were round to oval to reniform with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; nucleoli were prominent. Mitotic figures, often bizarre, were occasionally seen. Multinucleated giant cells and phagocytosis of erythrocytes and leukocytes were prominent features in cytologic preparations in four cases. Four dogs were anemic, five dogs were thrombocytopenic, and three dogs were hypercalcemic. Breeds affected included Doberman Pinscher (1), Golden Retriever (2), Flat Coated Retriever (3), and mixed-breed dog (1).     

Hematology and cytodiagnosis of leukosis of the horse (review)]

In a review supplementary to prior evaluations further hematological or cytodiagnostic aspects respectively of equine leucosis are discussed. Leukemic nature of the disease is characterized by increased count of normal blood cells or by the presence of morphologically non-differentiated cells in circulating blood or by disorder or loss of function of blood cells respectively. Thrombocytopenia in the most cases is accompanied by anemia, leukemia and tumor cell infiltration in bone marrow. Tumor cells in circulating blood indicate their presence in bone marrow too. In cases of equine leucosis with effusions in thoracic and/or in abdominal cavities tumor cells seem to be present more frequently in hydrothorax than in ascites.     

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis associated with abnormal liver development in a young dog

A 6-month-old male miniature pinscher dog developed chronic ascites, formation of fibrous membrane covering the abdominal organs, and numerous adhesions between the intestinal loops. The membrane and adhesions were surgically removed twice, but the dog died 1 month after initial presentation. Necropsy revealed recurrence of the membrane and intestinal adhesions. The fibrous membrane was composed of a thick layer of mature collagenous connective tissue, covered by immature collagenous connective tissue with mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, prominent neovascularization, and fibrin exudation. Similar fibrotic lesions were observed in the serosa of the liver, spleen, stomach and intestines. These findings are consistent with encapsulating peritoneal fibrosis reported in humans and dogs. The dog also had a maldeveloped liver, which is characterized by disorganized hepatic lobules and disarranged hepatic cords.