EFFECTS OF DIET AND AGING ON RENAL MEASUREMENTS IN UNINEPHRECTOMIZED GERIATRIC BITCHES

Under controlled, but varied dietary conditions among geriatric, uninephrectomized Beagle bitches (dogs) observed for 4 years, renal size increase as assessed radiographically and ultrasonographically occurred at variable rates, but on a seemingly continuous basis. The maximum observed mean renal linear parameter increase found was approximately 15%. However, a 10 and 15% increase is a more representative expectation among the 4 parameters (sonographic length, radiographic length, sonographic width, radiographic width) under consideration. The rate of renal size increase was rapid during the first 2 to 3 months following uninephrectomy. Thereafter, the rate of increase was slow, but occurred to varying degrees in both the length and width as assessed radiographically or ultrasonographically. The mechanism creating the size change was hypertrophy, not hyperplasia. Within limits of the 3 diets used in the study, no significant diet effect was found on the rate or degree of long term compensatory hypertrophy. Radiographically and ultrasonographically measured renal length had the greatest correlation with each other as well as with post mortem measurements and are, therefore, the recommended parameter for imaging assessment of compensatory hypertrophy. When the prenephrectomy, radiographic renal lengths and widths were normalized as a ratio of the second lumbar vertebral body length (L2) measured from ventrodorsal radiographs, the diet group means across dogs (approximately three L2 lengths for renal length; two L2 lengths for renal width) were in the middle of the respective previously published normal radiographic ranges for mature dogs (e.g. 2.5 L2 < or = length < or = 3.5 L2; 1.58 L2 < or = width < or = 2.38 L2 lengths). Even after the hypertrophic changes occurred, the radiographic group mean lengths and widths across dogs were still within the specified normal ranges, although toward the upper end of the respective range. This information provides background for clinical interpretation of potential compensatory hypertrophy that may be encountered following uninephrectomy for spontaneous disease in aged dogs. In addition, it appears that available radiographic renal linear ranges for normal mature dogs are applicable to geriatric dogs as well.     

CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH NEPHROLITHIASIS, URETEROLITHIASIS, AND RENAL DYSPLASIA IN A 2-YEAR-OLD QUARTER HORSE GELDING

A 2-year-old quarter horse gelding presented for evaluation of polyuria and polydipsia. Azotemia was detected on serum chemistry profile. Small, misshapen, hyperechoic kidneys with decreased corticomedullary demarcation, hydronephrosis, and a right nephrolith were noted ultrasonographically. The diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease and dysplasia was made histopathologically using ultrasound-guided biopsy. Two ureteroliths were found in the right ureter via cystoscopy, and a nephrolith was seen in the right kidney at necropsy. Clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic features of equine urolithiasis and renal dysplasia are discussed.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF PERITONEAL CESTODIASIS CAUSED BY MESOCESTOIDES SP. IN A DOG AND IN A CAT

Peritoneal infections caused by Mesocestoides spp. are rare in dogs and cats. Little data exist on the role of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosis and therapy management of the disease. We describe the ultrasonographic features of peritoneal cestodiasis in a dog and in a cat. In the dog, abdominal ultrasound allowed both a presumptive diagnosis and the collection of tissue samples to confirm peritoneal larval infection. Ultrasound was also very useful for therapy management. In the second patient the ultrasonographic features of tetrathyridial infection in a cat in which the parasite was observed as an incidental finding during ovariohysterectomy are described.     

TECHNETIUM-99M AND IODINE-131 THYROID SCINTIGRAPHY IN NORMAL AND RADIOTHYROIDECTOMIZED COCKATIELS (NYMPHICUS HOLLANDICUS)

Thyroid scintigraphy using sodium ^99mTechnetium pertechnetate (⁹⁹TcO₄-) was performed in normal and radiothyroidectomized cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ). ¹³¹I scintigraphy was performed in the course of ablating the thyroid glands. The thyroid glands in normal birds were clearly visualized, but were not individually resolvable. Thyroid glands were not visualized in thyroid-ablated birds. With ^99mTcO₄ scans, thyroid (or other region of interest)/body count density ratios were used for comparisons of normal and thyroid-ablated birds. Normal ^99mTcO₄- thyroid/body ratios (mean +/− SD) for the dorsal and lateral views were 1.83 +/− 0.31 and 1.70 +/− 0.34 respectively. Pertechnetate thyroid/body count density ratios decreased (to 0.93 -/−0.14 and 0.88 +/− 0.12 for dorsal and lateral views respectively) after thyroid ablation, while crop/body ratios increased. ^99mTcO₄- thyroid scintigraphy, therefore, was capable of detecting hypofunctional thyroid abnormalities in ¹³¹I radiothyroidectomized cockatiels.     

BONE INFECTION IN THE BOVINE APPENDICULAR SKELETON: A CLINICAL, RADIOGRAPHIC, AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Four hundred and forty-five bovines with bone infection of the appendicular skeleton were selected for clinical and radiographic assessment. A distinction was made between hematogenous and post-traumatic origin (wound/fracture). Bone infection was classified into four types according to the site of infection: type 1 is metaphyseal and/or epiphyseal osteomyelitis close to the growth plate; type 2 is primary subchondral osteomyelitis mostly accompanied by septic arthritis; type 3 is infectious osteoarthritis with subchondral osteomyelitis implicating that infection in the subchondral bone originates from the infection. Type 4 summarizes bone infections which can not be categorized in the previous groups. Hematogenous osteomyelitis is 3.2 times more frequent than post-traumatic osteomyelitis. Within the different groups, the relation of hematogenous to post-traumatic infection changed significantly. In type 1 infection the ratio was 5/1, in type 2 the ratio was 8/1 and in type 3 it was 3/1. Epiphyseal or metaphyseal osteomyelitis exhibited early radiographic bone changes, whereas with infection eminating from the joint, the bone lesions were detected later, because the bone was infected as a consequence of a primary septic arthritis. In smaller bones, severe and complete bone destruction was often present. Hematogenous bone infection never involved the entire diaphysis. Actinomyces pyogenes was discovered to be the main etiologic agent, whether or not combined with anaerobes. Bone fragments from the metaphysis of young calves were subjected to the effect of pure cultures of different bacteria. Radiographic changes to the structure of the bone were not identified within 2 weeks. Rapid radiographic changes in osteomyelitis cannot be explained by the direct effect of the bacteria on bone tissue in vivo. General infections of the lungs, disorders of the intestines and other internal organs were rarely responsible for osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Osteomyelitis and infectious osteoarthritis is probably often induced by external and internal traumatic events to joints and bones in cattle.     

UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN A LLAMA CAUSED BY ABERRANT NASOPHARYNGEAL BOTS (CEPHENEMYIA SP.)

A 9 month old female llama was presented with inspiratory dyspnea. Radiographically, there was a large soft tissue mass nearly occluding the nasopharynx. During endoscopic examination three nasopharyngeal bots were identified embedded in the mass. The larvae were removed and the patient treated with ivermectin. The patient was discharged one week later free of clinical respiratory disease. In follow-up radiographs made 6 weeks later, only residual radiopacity in the area of the mass remained.     

VERTEBRAL TUMORS IN THE DOG: A CLINICAL RADIOLOGIC, AND PATHOLOGIC STUDY OF 61 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LESIONS

The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of 26 primary and 35 secondary vertebral tumors of the dog with varying periods of clinical signs, possibly influenced by their being referred dogs, are presented. Pain without neurologic signs was the predominant initial sign with both primary and secondary tumors. However, by the time of hospital admission, most dogs had neurologic deficits. The time from pain onset to neurologic deficit ranged from two days to nine months. German Shepherd Dogs, Standard Poodles, and Labrador Retrievers were heavily represented; the average age was 7 years and there was a slight predominance of male dogs. Both primary and secondary tumors showed a destructive pattern, often with cortical destruction and adjacent disc space collapse. An associated paravertebral soft tissue mass was frequently present in the secondary tumors, 13 of 35 being secondary to intrapelvic tumors. Osteosarcomas were the most common primary tumor; the secondary tumor cell type varied. Most dogs were euthanized immediately upon histopathologic confirmation of the disease.     

MEASUREMENT OF INTERTHALAMIC ADHESION THICKNESS AS A CRITERIA FOR BRAIN ATROPHY IN DOGS WITH AND WITHOUT COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION (DEMENTIA)

The criteria for brain atrophy in dogs have not yet been established, because of wide variation in the morphology of the ventricles and sulci of the brain depending on the breed and size. In this study, we examined the thickness of the interthalamic adhesion in a transverse magnetic resonance image to investigate normal, to examine the correlation with age, body weight, and breed, and to assess whether measurement would be a useful indicator of brain atrophy. The animals used in this study were of various breeds and weight, and had no identifiable intracranial lesion. They were divided into two groups: a normal group (0.6-15-year-old, n = 66) and a demented aging group (12-18-year-old, n = 12). The interthalamic adhesion thickness in both T1- and T2-weighted transverse images were measured in all dogs. The interthalamic adhesion thickness in the normal and demented groups was 6.79 +/- 0.70 and 3.82 +/- 0.79 mm, respectively. The interthalamic adhesion thickness in the demented group was significantly smaller. In an analysis of the correlation of interthalamic adhesion thickness with age and weight in normal dogs, significant negative and positive correlation was recognized, respectively. However, the strength of these correlations was low. These results suggest that interthalamic adhesion thickness may be a good parameter for evaluating brain atrophy in dogs with cognitive dysfunction.     

RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF GASTRIC EMPTYING AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT TIME IN HYBRID TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS×O. MOSSAMBICUS)

Hybrid tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus) were studied to determine gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit time. The fish were divided into two groups. All fish were fasted for 12 h. The first experiment consisted of 11 fish fed with commercial food pellets and then administration of barium sulfate directly into the stomach using a blunt-end needle. Fish were then radiographed at different time intervals. The second experiment consisted of eight fish, which were given only barium sulfate after 12 h of fasting. In the first experiment, the stomach emptied completely, ranging from 4 to 15h postcontrast medium administration, whereas the gastrointestinal transit time ranged between 10 and 26 h. As for the second experiment, the contrast medium was still retained in the stomach in 50% of the fish after 24 h. The study did not proceed beyond 24 h as fish were considered stressed after this period of time. Thus, no data for the gastrointestinal transit time was obtained.     

萱草根中毒山羊血液和脑脊液某些生化成分的研究

本文研究了17例人工发病的萱草根中毒山羊的血液和脑脊液(CSF)主要生化成分的变化。结果表明:血糖(BG)、血清乳酸脱氢酶(S-LDH)、谷草转氨酶(SGOT)、总胆红素(TB)、清/球比值(A/G)和胆碱酯酶(SchE)等随病情发展有明显的动态变化规律,其中BG、SLDH、SGOT和TB呈显著升高趋势,A/G和SchE呈显著下降趋势,此类规律变化可借以评价病情和预后;连续口服萱草根素达一定剂量,症状尚未出现时血液的生化成分就已有变化;肝功能生化指标SGOT、SLDH、A/G及SchE的显著改变和LDH同功酶谱的变化(LD-H_4、LDH_5升高)证实肝实质受到损害;CSF生化成分除蛋白外,BG、GOT、LDH、chE和CPK在中毒之后均显著升高,反映脑组织也有损害;血液、尿液和脑脊液含糖量极显著升高,急性中毒血糖升高程度更为显著,证明病程中糖代谢发生紊乱;血糖或尿糖测定可作为早期诊断的参考。     

COMPARISON OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS TO HISTOPATHOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 41 DOGS AND CATS WITH SUSPECTED SMALL BOWEL INFILTRATIVE DISEASE (1985 to 1990)

It was the intent of this study to define which, if any, radiographic observations corresponded with specific causes of diffuse infiltrative small bowel disease and if radiographic findings could differentiate inflammatory disease from neoplastic disease and either of them from normal. Bowel spasticity, luminal narrowing, and thumbprinting tend to indicate the presence of tumor more often than inflammatory disease. Increased bowel gas in cats and barium adhesion in dogs and cats suggest that a component of enteritis is present. Decreased bowel gas in dogs is more often associated with obstructive disease, but is not helpful in differentiating diffuse inflammatory disease from diffuse neoplastic disease. While several observations that can foster differentiation of neoplastic from inflammatory disease were found, this study also indicated that the UGI lacks a high degree of predictive value other than to indicate the presence of infiltrative small bowel disease.     

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF 99mTECHNETIUM DIETHYLENETRIAMINE PENTAACETIC ACID, 99mTECHNETIUM DIMERCAPTOSUCCINIC ACID, AND 99mTECHNETIUM MERCAPTOACETYLTRIGLYCINE FOR RENAL SCINTIGRAPHY IN CORN SNAKES (ELAPHE GUTTATA GUTTATA)

The efficacy of three radiopharmaceuticals, 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA), 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA), and 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3), for renal imaging was examined in 16 corn snakes (Elaphe guttata guttata). All snakes received the radiopharmaceutical via an intracardiac injection. The kidneys could not be visualized in the three snakes that received 99mTc-DTPA or in the three snakes that received 99mTc-DMSA, but were well delineated in all 10 snakes receiving 99mTc-MAG3. These snakes were anesthetized and a dynamic frame mode acquisition was obtained for 30 min immediately following injection. A 60 s single static frame mode image was then obtained with the snake in a curled position. Two of the 10 snakes that received 99mTc-MAG3 were removed from further analysis because of suspected pericardial injections. Of the remaining eight snakes, the mean (+/- SD) renal uptake was 25 +/- 9.8% or 24 +/- 9.7%, with or without correction for residual injection site activity, respectively. Correction for remaining radioactivity in the heart does not appear to be necessary if it is less than 10% of the total dose. 99mTc-MAG3 provided consistently high quality images of the kidneys and further studies are warranted to evaluate its sensitivity for detecting decreased function in snakes with renal disease.     

THE EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL AND MEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, ATROPINE ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE IN DOGS

The effects of intramuscularly administered medetomidine and butorphanol (MB), and medetomidine, butorphanol, atropine (MBA) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined in six dogs as measured by 99m-Tc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) nuclear scintigraphy. Direct systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate were measured at regular time intervals before, during, and after GFR calculations. The mean GFR measurement following MB was significantly greater (4.44 ml/min/kg) than following MBA (3.82 ml/min/kg) or saline treatment (3.41 ml/min/kg). There was no significant difference between the mean GFR measurements following MBA injection and following saline injection. Diastolic and mean arterial pressures following MBA injection were significantly higher than the values recorded after either MB or saline alone. Heart rate following MB administration was significantly lower than that recorded for dogs receiving MBA or saline alone. The results of this study indicate that the administration of medetomidine in combination with butorphanol significantly increases total GFR in healthy dogs, while the administration of the combination of medetomidine, butorphanol, and atropine does not.     

CLINICAL,DIAGNOSTIC, AND PATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF 2 CASES OF METASTATIC IRIDOPHOROMA IN A VEILED CHAMELEON (CHAMAELEO CALYPTRATUS) AND A RED-BARRED DRAGON (CTENOPHORUS VADNAPPA)

Iridophores are iridescent cutaneous pigment cells found in reptiles, fish, and amphibians. Neoplasms of iridophores are rarely reported, and little is known about their behaviour, metastatic potential, and prognostic indicators. This paper reports details of the clinical course and pathological findings of metastatic iridophoroma in a veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and red-barred dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa). The veiled chameleon presented with a subcutaneous mass on the right lateral elbow and was diagnosed as an iridophoroma on fine needle aspiration. It was otherwise clinically normal. Within 35 days of excision, multiple secondary skin masses developed which were often non-pigmented and required microscopic examination to identify them as iridophoroma metastases. There were in total 54 days between the first detection of the primary mass and end stage, extensive cutaneous and visceral metastatic disease, and there had been no detectable primary mass during routine clinical examination 128 days prior to death. The red-barred dragon presented with a white sub-mandibular mass. While undergoing an excisional biopsy the animal expired, post-mortem examination revealed a cutaneous malignant iridophoroma with tumour cell clusters seen in pulmonary arterial vessels, suggesting that surgical handling of iridophoroma could precipitate the release of circulating tumour cell clusters. This is the first iridophoroma described in a red-barred dragon and the second report of a malignant iridophoroma in a veiled chameleon. Timely detection and careful excision of lizard iridophoroma may be an important factor in clinical outcome.     

绵羊黄体溶解时雌二醇对催产素和PGF2a分泌的影响

在20只按双因子试验设计,分别以X射线破坏卵泡和埋植雌二醇进行处理的4组羊中,卵泡被破坏而未埋植雌二醇的5只羊,到周期第17天仍有4只未出现发情,且PGFM峰值间隔时间最长(P<0.07)。。凡是埋植雌二醇的羊只PGFM峰值间隔时间缩短(P<0.01);催产素峰值数减少(P<0.05),峰值间隔时间延长(P<0.01)。同时两种激素峰值重合的百分数降低(P<0.05)。结果表明,PGF_(2α)分泌需要达到一定频率才能引起黄体溶解,雌二醇的存在和/或伴之以孕酮浓度下降可以增加PGF_(2α)分泌频率。雌二醇处理组PGF_(2α)和催产素分泌的相关性减弱,说明在黄体溶解时,可能还存在一个对雌激素敏感的调节PGF_(2α)分泌的机制。     

抗保幼激素活性物质YA_(20)诱导三眠蚕效果及对茧丝的影响

探讨了应用昆虫抗保幼激素活性物质(YA_(20))调控家蚕生长发育和对茧丝的影响。结果表明:(1)一龄蚕添食YA_(20)液30—50ppm,三眠蚕诱导率很低;二龄到四龄蚕24小时前任何时间起连续添食48小时(30ppm),均能100％地诱导出三眠蚕,龄期经过当龄延长1—2天,而全龄则缩短2天、3天、4天以上;五龄蚕后期添食YA_(20),全茧量、茧层量可提高。(2)YA_(20)诱导的三眠蚕茧的全茧量、茧层量依二龄蚕添食>三龄蚕添食>四龄蚕添食而变化。(3)三眠蚕单位饲料转化率高于对照的4％—9％,单位饲料的生产量为对照的75％—90％。(4)三眠茧的解舒优,茧丝纤度偏差小,生丝强力、伸度、抱合力好,可缫制出4A—6A级高品位细纤度生丝。     

用免疫荧光、酶标技术检测赭曲霉毒素A的研究

该项研究采用本课题组提纯的赭曲霉毒素A(Ochratoxin A·简称OA)和研制的兔抗OA抗体等,进行间接荧光法和ELISA间接法检测OA的试验。通过对不同浓度的OA纯品和含毒饲料浸提液及中毒死亡鸡内脏的间接荧光染色,均能检出分布均匀、大小有别的黄绿色荧光亮点;用OA为被检抗原和兔抗OA抗体与羊抗兔IgG-HRP进行ELISA间接法试验,对含不同浓度OA的试验孔和对照孔的检测,结果均正确稳定。研究结果证明,以上两种检测方法检测OA均具有灵敏、特异、快速等优点。     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND CT FINDINGS IN A GRAY SEAL (HALICHOERUS GRYPUS) WITH HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS,PYELONEPHRITIS, AND NEPHROLITHIASIS

An immature gray seal was presented with lethargy, weight loss, vomiting and hematuria. Hepatic disease and urinary tract infection were suspected. Abdominal ultrasound showed hyperechoic structures with marked acoustic shadowing spread throughout both kidneys, but incomplete visualization of the liver. Abdominal CT showed mineral densities scattered throughout both kidneys and poor delineation of the liver. Due to the poor quality of life, the seal was euthanized. Postmortem examination showed ammonium urate nephroliths, pyelonephritis, and hepatic cirrhosis. This case report emphasizes the difficulty of characterizing liver disease with conventional 2D‐ultrasound and CT in a deep‐chested animal with minimal intra‐abdominal fat.