Feline cytauxzoonosis: a case report and literature review

A 5.5-year-old Siamese presented for evaluation of a three-day history of anorexia and lethargy. Upon physical examination, the cat was depressed, dehydrated, pyrexic, had injected conjunctiva and sclera, pale mucous membranes, and a grade II/VI systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate to severe, diffuse, bronchointerstitial pulmonary changes with enlarged and tortuous pulmonary vessels. With continued hospitalization, the cat became dyspneic and died. The postmortem cytopathological examination of the liver, spleen, and lung impressions revealed reticuloendothelial cell infection with Cytauxzoon felis.     

Q fever osteomyelitis: a case report and literature review

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. The clinical manifestations of Q fever include endocarditis, pneumonitis and hepatitis. Disease awareness and evolving diagnostic tests have enabled the recognition of unusual manifestations of Q fever. We report a case of Q fever osteomyelitis. A 51-year-old patient was admitted to hospital because of fever, leg weakness, and asthenia. His past medical history included surgery and a bone graft for the treatment of a giant cell tumor on the distal part of the femur. Blood and bone biopsy cultures were negative. Bone histological examination was consistent with a sub-acute or chronic inflammatory reaction that involved foci of epithelioid and gigantocellular infiltrates and necrosis. Serology testing revealed high antibody titers to C. burnetii antigens (phase I: IgG 3200; IgA 200; phase II: IgG 6400; IgA 400), which is indicative of chronic Q fever. The specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the abscess sample from the femoral region was positive for C. burnetii. The patient was treated for chronic Q fever with doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for 18 months and recovered gradually without recurrence of pain or functional impairment. Q fever osteomyelitis is a rare and most likely underestimated disease. Epithelioid and gigantocellular granulomatous osteomyelitis in the context of culture-negative bone specimens should raise suspicion of Q fever. Serological tests, specific PCR and cell culture can provide evidence of a C. burnetii infection. Although bone diffusion may be a concern, the currently recommended treatment for Q fever was effective in this case.     

Canine mycetoma: a case report and review of the literature

This paper describes a mycetoma of the fourth tarsal bone of a 5-year-old spayed Corgi-cross bitch caused by the eumycete Curvularia geniculata. The condition was treated successfully by surgical excision, followed by chemotherapy using iodine, trimethoprim-sulphadiazine, amphotericin B. dimethyl sulphoxide. thiabendazole and nystatin. An attempt was made to establish the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration of various antifungal drugs on the causative organism. No clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence was found 3 years after initiation of treatment, despite the original poor prognosis.     

Bovine sole ulcer: a literature review

Sole ulcers are the most frequently encountered lesion in lame cattle. They are of growing concern to the dairy industry since the incidence of ulcers is increasing. Ulcers cause financial losses, the animal's wellbeing is disturbed to a high degree and they harm the image of the industry in general. Biomechanic factors and laminitis are of particular significance in the pathogenesis of the sole ulcer. The development of sole contusions and ulcers is assumed to occur in 3 phases (Sinking theory). In the first phase there is a general disturbance in the vascular system of the corium. The second phase follows when the structures that suspend the claw bone within the horn shoe give way. The locus minoris resistentiae has yet to be identified. The claw bone sinks and causes various lesions when it pinches the underlying sole or heel corium. The third phase begins when haemorrhages become visible on the horn surface of the sole or when the sole ulcerates; socalled third phase lesions. The relationship between the development of sole ulcers and anatomical structures such as the claw bone's tuberculum flexorium or the fat bodies under the bone are unclear. Epidemiological studies have shown that sole ulcers have a high rate of recurrence. The healing processes and the factors that influence them have hitherto not been studied.     

Olfactory ganglioneuroblastoma in a dog: case report and literature review

A 7-y-old, intact male Alaskan Malamute was presented with a 3-mo history of stertor and epistaxis. Computed tomography of the skull revealed generalized loss of gas throughout both nasal passages with replacement by a soft tissue mass that traversed the cribriform plate. Histopathology revealed neoplastic neuroblast cells arranged in anastomosing cords, as well as separately located aggregates of ganglion cells. Both neoplastic cell populations demonstrated immunoreactivity to MAP-2, TuJ-1, and synaptophysin. Neuroblastic cells additionally exhibited punctate immunoreactivity to MCK and CK8/18. We document here both the positive neural immunohistochemical markers for this neoplasm, as well as propose possible histomorphologic variants.     

Bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy (weaver syndrome) in brown swiss cattle in Canada: a literature review and case report

A 15-month-old purebred Brown Swiss heifer was presented because of posterior paresis and ataxia. Histopathological examination of the brain and spinal cord showed evidence of a mild diffuse degenerative myeloencephalopathy. The most severe degenerative lesions were located in the white matter of the thoracic spinal cord. We believe this to be the first documented case of bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy (“weaver syndrome”) in Canada.     

Otomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. in a dog: case report and literature review

This report describes the clinical findings, clinicopathology and treatment of otomycosis caused by Aspergillus spp. in an atopic dog affected by chronic unilateral purulent otitis externa unresponsive to topical and oral antibiotics and antifungal treatments. Cytology of otic exudate revealed neutrophils and septate fungal hyphae, and otic culture grew Aspergillus spp. and no bacteria. Treatments included allergen‐specific immunotherapy, topical and oral antifungal therapy and anti‐inflammatory steroid therapy. Final resolution occurred after treatment of the underlying hypersensitivity disorder, administration of topical ketoconazole and debridement of infectious ear exudate. Otomycosis due to filamentous fungi may, as in humans, occur in dogs with ear canals compromised by pre‐existing allergic or bacterial otitis, and possibly previous antibiotic therapy. Antifungal medications provided clinical improvement, but the key to successful treatment was the restoration of the normal physiology of the external auditory canal.     

Pylorogastric intussusception in the dog: a case report and literature review

A 10-month-old, neutered male Saint Bernard presented for evaluation of acute, severe vomiting. A soft-tissue mass was noted within the stomach on survey abdominal radiographs. The diagnosis of pylorogastric intussusception was made during exploratory celiotomy. The intussusception was manually reduced at surgery, the pyloric antrum was enlarged, and the duodenum was permanently affixed to the abdominal wall in an attempt to prevent recurrence of the intussusception. The dog recovered, has gained weight (5 kg), and has had only one isolated episode of vomiting during the one year since discharge from the hospital. This report documents the fourth reported case of pylorogastric (i.e., duodenogastric, gastrogastric) intussusception in the veterinary literature and is the first report that details the surgical management of the disease.     

Nerve sheath tumors in cattle: literature review and case report]

Incidence, clinical signs, pathomorphological findings, differential diagnosis and prognosis of bovine nerve sheath tumours are reviewed. Own clinical and pathomorphological findings are described in an eight years old cow with a benign SCHWANNoma of the eight spinal nerve.     

Canine protothecosis: review of the literature and report of an additional case

A review of protothecosis in dogs revealed that this malady usually begins in the gastrointestinal tract and progresses to systemic involvement. Clinical signs generally include bloody diarrhea or blood-stained feces as well as blindness, ataxia, and polyuria. Histologically, myriads of protothecal organisms in different stages of development are found in the granulomatous lesions. Two main species have been culturally identified: Prototheca zopfii and P wickerhamii. In the absence of cultural studies, species identification can be accomplished readily by immunofluorescence. The present case involved P zopfii infection in a 5-year-old female Cocker Spaniel that had bloody diarrhea, with a history of bloody diarrhea 6 months earlier.     

Bovine postparturient hemoglobinuria: a review of the literature

Predisposing causes of bovine post-parturient hemoglobinuria are summarized along with suspected pathogeneses, clinical signs, laboratory findings, clinical management and early experimentation.     

Rickets in a Thoroughbred-cross foal: case report and review of the literature

Rickets is a metabolic bone disease associated with failure of endochondral ossification and impaired osteoid mineralization in growing animals. As a consequence, affected individuals can develop gross and microscopic bone malformations. The most common causes of rickets in domestic species include vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Rickets has been described in multiple species; however, comprehensive postmortem characterizations with confirmatory histopathology in equids have not been published. A 6-mo-old, Thoroughbred-cross foal was diagnosed with rickets based on gross autopsy findings and microscopic examination of the ribs and long bones. Grossly, all costochondral junctions of the ribs were enlarged with a “rachitic rosary” appearance, and there were multiple fracture calluses in the rib bodies. Epiphyses and metaphyses of the long bones appeared widened on sagittal section, and their physes were irregularly thickened. Histologically, there were poorly organized columns of hypertrophic chondrocytes within the physes of affected bones, islands of chondrocytes embedded within the primary and secondary spongiosa, and faintly eosinophilic seams of poorly mineralized osteoid within the bone trabeculae. Areas of focally increased osteoclastic activity were observed in some of the sections, perhaps pointing to a more complex metabolic bone disease in a growing animal. Low serum concentrations of calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were detected in an antemortem sample. The pathogenesis of these imbalances was not definitively established, but lack of sunlight exposure, low concentration of vitamin D precursors in the diet (perhaps secondary to malnutrition), or both, were suspected; a genetic basis cannot be ruled out.     

Equine multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease: A case report and review of literature

CASE HISTORY: A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding presented with a history of fever over 1 week, anorexia and skin lesions on all four legs. The lesions were associated with severe pruritus and oedema, and there was no response to therapy.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: The horse was in poor body condition, was lethargic and severely pruritic. Skin lesions consisted of diffuse alopecia and crusting of the distal extremities. Initially it was slightly febrile, but subsequently its temperature increased up to 40°C. Ten days after admission it developed profuse watery diarrhoea and the skin lesions progressed. Skin biopsies revealed superficial and deep perivascular dermatitis with lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic predominance. Based on the poor prognosis the horse was subject to euthanasia.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The most notable lesions included ulcerative gastritis, typhlitis and colitis with prominent oedema of the intestines, marked subcutaneous oedema and severe thickening of the large bile ducts. Histopathology showed marked eosinophilic and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of various tissues including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, mesenteric lymph nodes, large bile ducts, pancreatic duct and kidney. Immunohistochemistry revealed a clear predominance of CD3-positive cells in the lymphocytic infiltrations.

DIAGNOSIS: Based on the clinical findings and histopathology a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED) was made.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is rare in horses, and usually chronic. In the current case the horse showed an apparently acute onset with high fever and rapid clinical deterioration. A diagnosis of MEED should be considered in horses presenting with weight loss and skin lesions with or without fever. A final diagnosis is based on histological results of biopsy specimens from affected organs.     

Chalastospora gossypii in a Maine Coon cat: case report and literature review

A 15-y-old castrated male Maine Coon cat was evaluated for an ulcerated soft tissue mass on the right hindlimb that had been observed for 4 mo and had grown rapidly. A 3 × 3 cm soft, raised, amorphous, and ulcerated subcutaneous mass was observed on the lateral right metatarsus. In-house cytology via fine-needle aspiration was nondiagnostic. Incisional biopsy of the mass and further staging was declined, and amputation was elected. The amputated limb was submitted for histopathology, which revealed severe chronic nodular granulomatous dermatitis and multifocal granulomatous popliteal lymphadenitis with large numbers of intralesional fungal hyphae. Fungal PCR and sequencing on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue identified Chalastospora gossypii. No adjunctive therapy was elected at the time. The patient has done well clinically 1 y post-operatively. C. gossypii is a rare microfungus found worldwide and is considered a minor pathogen of several plants. To our knowledge, infection by this fungus has not been reported previously in veterinary species. Features in our case are comparable to other mycotic infections. Nodular granulomatous mycotic dermatitis and cellulitis, although uncommon, should be a differential for soft tissue masses in veterinary species; C. gossypii is a novel isolate.     

Necrotising encephalitis in the Yorkshire terrier: a case report and literature review

A four-year-old, spayed female Yorkshire terrier was presented with a two-month history of lameness in the left forelimb, circling and falling. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination 11 days after presentation revealed dilation of the right lateral ventricle. Following euthanasia, which was performed about 10 months after the onset of clinical signs, there was gross evidence of degeneration and cavitation of the cerebrum and dilation of the lateral ventricle on the right side. Microscopically, cavitation and necrosis were observed in the white and grey matter of the right cerebrum and there was abundant gemistocytic and fibrillary astrocytosis. Haemorrhage and marked perivascular cuffing with mononuclear cells were found in the mesencephalon. Inflammatory lesions consisting of lymphocytic infiltration and glial proliferation were also present in the dorsal funiculus of the cervical spinal cord. This case was diagnosed as necrotising encephalitis in the Yorkshire terrier (NEYT) with involvement of the spinal cord. NEYT is a chronic progressive neurological disorder, resulting from widespread, destructive non-suppurative inflammation of the central nervous system of unknown cause. In the past decade, 12 cases have been documented in adult to aged Yorkshire terriers. Computed tomography and MRI can detect the characteristic multifocal cavitations and ventriculomegaly, facilitating premortem diagnosis.