Feline histoplasmosis: a retrospective study of 22 cases (1986-2009)

Twenty-two cases of feline histoplasmosis seen at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital between 1986 and 2009 were reviewed. The median age of affected cats was 9 yr (mean, 8.8 yr). Female domestic shorthairs were more commonly affected. The clinical presentation of most cases was nonspecific. The most common presenting complaints included weakness, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and anorexia. Less frequent clinical signs included vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, and lameness. Less than half of the cats had clinical evidence of pulmonary disease on admission. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were common laboratory abnormalities. An interstitial pattern was the most common radiographic pattern observed with pulmonary disease. Diagnosis was based on identification of the organism on cytology or histopathology. Fifteen of the 22 cats were treated, and itraconazole was the most common antifungal agent prescribed. Median duration of the antifungal treatment was 5 mo for cats that survived to discharge. Overall survival at time of discharge for cats in this study was 55%.     

Feline epitheliotropic intestinal malignant lymphoma: 10 cases (1997-2000)

The clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of 10 cats with epitheliotropic intestinal malignant lymphoma (EIL) are described. Intestinal biopsy samples were reviewed by 3 pathologists to confirm the diagnosis of EIL. These samples (n = 10) were compared to the intestinal biopsies of normal cats (n = 11), cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; n = 7), and cats with non-EIL (n = 9) for quantification and immunophenotyping of intraepithelial lymphocytes. Immunophenotypic studies were performed with CD3 and CD79a antibody stains to assess for T- and B-cell immunoreactivity, respectively. EIL biopsies had markedly more intraepithelial lymphocytes than normal intestine (NRL) and samples from cats with IBD. However, no marked difference was observed in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in cats with non-EIL compared to cats with EIL. Regardless of the histologic diagnosis, the intraepithelial lymphocytes in all cats were small- to intermediate-sized T cells. Clinical findings and imaging studies in the cats identified minimal or nonspecific findings in affected cats. Most cats fit the typical profile of cats with IBD or alimentary malignant lymphoma. Nine of 10 cats with EIL were treated with prednisone with or without additional chemotherapy. Four cats were refractory to chemotherapy and were euthanized within 3.5 months. The remaining 5 cats had long-term survival times of 11 months or greater. The median survival time was 11 months. Additional studies are warranted to better characterize EIL and its relationship to IBD in cats and non-EIL and to identify optimal treatment strategies for this disease.     

Feline osteosarcoma: 145 cases (1990-1995)

Feline osteosarcoma (OSA) is a rare tumor in cats. Ninety (62%) of feline OSAs detailed in this study arose from the skeleton, and 55 (38%) arose from extraskeletal sites. Fifty OSAs originated in the appendicular skeleton, and 40 OSAs originated in the axial skeleton. Extraskeletal OSA sites included subcutaneous sites (n=44), with an apparent prevalence for sites commonly used for vaccination. Other locations included ocular/orbital (n=4), oral (n=3), intestinal/omental (n=3), and mammary sites (n=1). Survival data was available for 74 cases. When considered as a group, cats with either appendicular (mean, 11.8 mos) or extraskeletal (mean, 12.67 mos) OSA survived longer than those with axial (mean, 6.07 mos) OSA. Regardless of the type of feline OSA, aggressive surgical excision with or without ancillary therapy appeared to be the most effective form of treatment.     

Feline Hodgkin's-like lymphoma: 20 cases (1992-1999)

We identified 20 cases of feline lymphadenopathy that conform to many clinical and histologic manifestations of human Hodgkin's disease. Histologic subtypes encountered included lymphocyte predominance (nine cases), mixed cellularity (nine cases), and nodular sclerosis (two cases). Two cases were not easily classified; fibrous bands were present, but the absence of nodules supported a subclassification of mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease. Immunohistochemical staining of the tissues using antibodies against the pan T-cell antigen CD3, the human B-lymphocyte antigen 36 (BLA.36), the pan B-lymphocyte and plasma cell marker CD79a, and a myeloid antigen (MAC387) confirmed the phenotypic heterogeneity of the tumor. Classic Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells and mononuclear, multinucleate, and lacunar cell variants did not stain with any of the antibodies used. In contrast, lymphohistiocytic RS variants (L+H cells) reacted positively to BLA.36 and CD79a B-cell markers. Eighteen of 20 affected cats were > or = 6 years of age (range, 1-14 years). A sex predilection could not be identified. These findings support the existence of Hodgkin's-like lymphoma in the cat. Proper identification of this disease in the cat will enable further characterization of clinical features and biologic behavior to determine whether there are significant differences in the treatment and prognosis of feline Hodgkin's-like lymphoma compared with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.     

Feline high-rise syndrome: 119 cases (1998-2001)

High-rise syndrome was diagnosed in 119 cats over a 4-year period. 59.6% of cats were younger than one year, and the average height of the fall was four stories. High-rise syndrome was more frequent during the warmer period of the year. 96.5% of the presented cats, survived after the fall. 46.2% of cats had fractured limbs; 38.5% of fractures were of the forelimb, 61.5% of the hindlimb. The tibia was fractured most often (36.4%), followed by the femur (23.6%). 78.6% of femoral fractures were distal. The mean age of patients with femoral fractures was 9.1 months, and with tibial fractures 29.2 months. Thoracic trauma was diagnosed in 33.6% of cats. Pneumothorax was diagnosed in 20% of cats, and pulmonary contusions in 13.4%. Falls from the seventh or higher stories, are associated with more severe injuries and with a higher incidence of thoracic trauma.     

Congenital Ureteral Ectopia in Continent and Incontinent‐Related Entlebucher Mountain Dogs: 13 Cases (2006–2009)

Background: Ectopic ureters (EUs) associated with varying combinations of urinary incontinence, hydronephrosis, and urinary tract infection have been identified in related North American Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. Objectives: To characterize the disease phenotype in affected dogs and evaluate possible modes of inheritance. Animals: Twenty client‐owned Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. Nine dogs had clinical signs of urinary tract disease. Methods: Prospective case series in which 17 dogs were evaluated with excretory urography, ultrasonography, and urethrocystoscopy. Three additional dogs were evaluated by necropsy alone. Clinical and pedigree histories from 165 North American Entlebuchers were compiled for analysis. Results: Eleven female and 2 male dogs were found to have EUs. Six females and 1 male were continent. Bilateral intravesicular ectopic ureters (IVEUs) were identified in 9 dogs, bilateral extravesicular ectopic ureters (EVEUs) in 3 dogs, and 1 dog had IVEU and EVEU. Hydronephrosis was identified in 5 dogs, 3 of which had bilateral IVEUs. Two necropsied dogs had bilateral hydronephrosis with presumed ureterovesical junction obstruction associated with chronic granulation tissue or lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. Twenty‐six dogs with EUs were identified in the pedigree. Because of incomplete penetrance, mode of inheritance could not be determined. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Ureteral ectopia is common in North American Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and clinical signs alone could not reliably predict disease phenotype. EVEUs were associated with urinary incontinence and occasionally hydronephrosis. IVEUs were clinically silent or associated with hydronephrosis. Further analyses are necessary to confirm and characterize the hereditary nature of the disorder.     

Canine spinal nephroblastoma: long-term outcomes associated with treatment of 10 cases (1996-2009)

Objective: To report clinical outcome associated with treatment of canine spinal cord nephroblastoma (CSN). Study Design: Case series. Animals: Dogs (n=10) with histopathologically confirmed CSN. Methods: Records of dogs with CSN were reviewed and clinicopathologic, diagnostic imaging, treatment, outcome, and survival data were collected. Results: CSN resulted in clinical signs of chronic, progressive T3–L3 myelopathy in young, large breed dogs, with an overrepresentation of German Shepherd Dogs (n=4). All CSN were located between T9 and L2. Dogs treated with cytoreductive surgery (n=6) or radiotherapy (1) survived longer (median, 374 days; range, 226–560 days) than dogs treated palliatively (3; median, 55 days; range, 38–176 days). Tumors confined to an intradural–extramedullary (ID–EM) location were associated with superior survival (n=6; median, 380 days; range, 176–560 days) than tumors with intramedullary (IM) involvement (n=4; median, 140 days; range, 38–269 days). Treatment resulted in temporary improvement in neurologic function in 9 dogs, including all dogs treated surgically, but local disease progression resulted in death of 8 dogs. Conclusions: Results of this observational study suggest that surgical cytoreduction and radiotherapy are effective at improving survival in dogs with CSN, and that ID–EM tumors may be associated with a more favorable prognosis than IM neoplasms.     

Feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective review of 160 cases (1985-2001)

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different tumor types within a large cohort of cats with intracranial neoplasia and to attempt to correlate signalment, tumor size and location, and survival time for each tumor. Medical records of 160 cats with confirmed intracranial neoplasia evaluated between 1985 and 2001 were reviewed. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, breed, FeLV/FIV status, clinical signs, duration of signs, number of tumors, tumor location(s), imaging results, treatment, survival times, and histopathologic diagnosis. Most of the cats were older (11.3 +/- 3.8 years). Primary tumors accounted for 70.6% of cases. Metastasis and direct extension of secondary tumors accounted for only 5.6 and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Twelve cats (7.5%) had 2 or more discrete tumors of the same type, whereas 16 cats (10.0%) had 2 different types of intracranial tumors. The most common tumor types were meningioma (n = 93, 58.1%), lymphoma (n = 23, 14.4%), pituitary tumors (n = 14, 8.8%), and gliomas (n = 12, 7.5%). The most common neurological signs were altered consciousness (n = 42, 26.2%), circling (n = 36, 22.5%), and seizures (n = 36, 22.5%). Cats without specific neurological signs were common (n = 34, 21.2%). The tumor was considered an incidental finding in 30 (18.8%) cats. In addition to expected relationships (eg, meninges and meningioma, pituitary and pituitary tumors), we found that lesion location was predictive of tumor type with diffuse cerebral or brainstem involvement predictive of lymphoma and third ventricle involvement predictive of meningioma.     

Peritonitis in horses: 55 cases (2004-2007)

Factors associated with the outcome of peritonitis in horses are seldom described. The objectives of this study were to determine the common clinical signs and clinicopathologic findings and to reveal prognostic factors associated with the outcome of peritonitis in equine patients. Data were examined in a retrospective manner in 55 horses diagnosed with and treated for peritonitis. The most common clinical and clinicopathologic findings were tachycardia (94%), increased amount of peritoneal fluid on ultrasound (84%), altered mucous membranes (82%), bacteria noted on the direct smear (67%), hyperfibrinogenaemia (58%) and left shift (40%). The most commonly isolated organism was E. coli (37%). Survival rates were as follow: 78% in the whole study, 81% in the abdominal lavage group, 93% in the medically and 46% in the surgically managed groups. Complications were more common in the non-survivor group (P < 0.001). Initial haematocrit and surgical interventions were strongly associated with non-survival in the multivariate logistic regression model (P = 0.049, OR: 1.07 and P = 0.01, OR: 9.87, respectively). Prognosis of peritonitis without gastrointestinal rupture depends on the initial hydration status, surgical interventions and development of secondary complications, while other clinical and clinicopathologic findings do not appear to correlate with survival. Prospective evaluation of hydration and perfusion parameters and abdominal lavage warrants further investigation.     

Use of cystoscopic-guided laser ablation for treatment of intramural ureteral ectopia in male dogs: four cases (2006-2007)

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the outcome of cystoscopic-guided laser ablation of intramural ureteral ectopia in male dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 4 incontinent male dogs with intramural ureteral ectopia. PROCEDURES: Intramural ectopic ureters were diagnosed via preoperative computed tomography-IV urography and subsequent cystoscopy. Transurethral cystoscopic-guided laser ablation (diode laser [n = 3 dogs] and holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser [1]) was performed to proximally relocate the ectopic ureteral orifice to the urinary bladder. Fluoroscopy was used during the procedures to confirm that the ureteral tract was intramural and the ureteral orifice was intravesicular after the procedure. In 1 dog with bilateral ureteral ectopia, staged laser ablation was performed at 6-week intervals because of difficulty viewing the second ureter on the first attempt. All ureteral orifices were initially located in the middle to proximal portion of the prostatic portion of the urethra. Six weeks after surgery, imaging was repeated in 3 of 4 dogs. RESULTS: Postoperative dysuria or hematuria did not develop. All dogs were immediately continent after laser treatment and remained so at a median follow-up period of 18 months (range, 15 to 20 months) without medical management. Conclusions and CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ureteral ectopia can cause urinary incontinence in male dogs and is usually associated with other urinary tract abnormalities. Cystoscopic-guided laser ablation provided an effective and minimally invasive alternative to surgical management of intramural ureteral ectopia.     

Feline cutaneous hemangiosarcoma: a retrospective study of 18 cases (1998-2003)

Cutaneous hemangiosarcoma (HSA) has been infrequently reported in dogs and cats. Medical records of 18 cats diagnosed with cutaneous HSA were reviewed. Age at the time of diagnosis, breed, sex, tumor location, tumor size, treatment type, survival time, disease-free interval, and cause of death were evaluated. Aggressive surgical excision of the tumor was attempted in 10 cats. A complete surgical excision was achieved in five of the 10 cats. Median survival times were statistically longer in cats that underwent surgery versus cats that did not. Cats with cutaneous HSA treated with aggressive surgical excision of their tumors may have a good long-term prognosis.     

Feline superficial pyoderma: a retrospective study of 52 cases (2001-2011)

Background – Superficial pyoderma is traditionally considered rare in cats but may be more prevalent than previously reported. Objectives – To better characterize superficial pyoderma in cats. Animals – Fifty‐two cats from a dermatology referral population over a 10 year period. Methods – This study was retrospective. Cases were included if neutrophils and intracellular bacteria were reported from surface cytology of skin lesions. Medical records were reviewed for signalment, historical and clinical data, cytology results, primary skin diagnoses and treatment details. Results – Disease prevalence was 20%, with no breed or sex predispositions. The estimated median age of onset was 2 years, affecting 54% of cats by 3 years and 23% after 9 years. Fewer cases presented during winter (15%) compared with other seasons. Skin lesions were typically multifocal, affecting the face (62%), neck (37%), limbs (33%) and ventral abdomen (29%) most commonly. Crusting (83%), alopecia (67%), ulceration/erosion (54%) and erythema (46%) were common lesion types. Pruritus was reported in 92% of cats. Underlying hypersensitivities (confirmed in 60%; suspected in 19%), and atopic dermatitis specifically (confirmed in 48%), were the most frequent primary dermatoses. Cats were treated with a variety of systemic and/or topical antimicrobials. The overall apparent response was considered good in 61% and poor in 27% of cats. Recurrence was confirmed or suspected in 42% of cats. Conclusions and clinical importance – Feline superficial pyoderma was more prevalent in this study population than previously reported. Young cats with hypersensitivities and older cats were more commonly affected, and a variety of lesion types and distributions occurred.     

Canine schistosomiasis in Kansas: five cases (2000-2009)

This is a retrospective case series consisting of five dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis. The purpose of this article is to report the presence of naturally occurring canine schistosomiasis in Kansas and to provide clinical details regarding schistosomiasis. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with schistosomiasis from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed, and information extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome. Affected dogs were primarily medium to large breed and young to middle aged. All dogs were considered outdoor dogs, with three having known access to surface water. Common clinical signs included gastrointestinal disease and signs associated with hypercalcemia. Fecal flotation was negative in all dogs in contrast to fecal saline sedimentation and fecal polymerase chain reaction, which were both positive in all dogs in which it was performed. All dogs treated specifically for schistosomiasis fully recovered. This article describes the first reported cases of canine schistosomiasis in the Midwest and the first reported case of intestinal intussusception secondary to schistosomiasis. Recognizing that canine schistosomiasis is present in Kansas and possibly other Midwestern states should prompt veterinarians to perform appropriate diagnostic investigation in suspect animals as the diagnosis is straight forward and relatively inexpensive.     

Equine paranasal sinus disease: a long-term study of 200 cases (1997-2009): treatments and long-term results of treatments

Reasons for performing study: There is limited objective information available on the treatment and the long‐term response to treatment of the different types of equine sinus disease. Objectives: To document the treatments and long‐term response to these treatments in 200 cases of equine sinus disease (1997–2009). Methods: The treatments of horses affected with subacute primary sinusitis (n = 52); chronic primary sinusitis (n = 37); dental sinusitis (n = 40); sinus cyst (n = 26); traumatic (n = 13); dental‐related oromaxillary fistula (n = 8); sinus neoplasia (n = 10); mycotic sinus disease (n = 7); and intrasinus progressive ethmoid haematoma (n = 7) and the long‐term response to these treatments were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Treatments evolved throughout the study and latterly were as conservative as possible, including sinoscopic lavage and standing sinusotomy, with a maxillary sinusotomy approach preferred for the mainly mature horses treated in this study. Removal of intrasinus inspissated pus, including transendoscopically (by sinusotomy and via existing sinonasal fistulae), was the main treatment for chronic primary sinusitis and sinonasal fistulation was seldom performed latterly. Attempted oral extraction of infected cheek teeth, even if unsuccessful, facilitated subsequent dental repulsion, resulting in few post operative problems. Sinus cyst removal carried an excellent prognosis. Except for cases of sinus neoplasia (only 22% cured), an excellent long‐term response to treatment (91% fully cured, 7% partially cured) was obtained for all other types of sinus disease following a median of one treatment. Conclusions: More conservative treatments, including removal of intrasinus inspissated pus by sinoscopy, pre‐existing sinonasal fistula or sinusotomy, are effective for chronic primary sinus disease. Standing sinusotomy, mainly using a small maxillary site, was suitable for most cases of sinus disease in mature horses.