Acute pancreatitis: a newly recognised potential complication of canine babesiosis

This retrospective study describes 4 cases of canine babesiosis with histologically confirmed acute pancreatitis. In addition, 16 dogs with babesiosis are reported with serum amylase (>3500 U/l) and/or lipase (>650 U/l) activity elevations of a magnitude that would support a diagnosis of probable acute pancreatitis, although extra-pancreatic sources of the enzymes could not be excluded in these cases. Median time of pancreatitis diagnosis was 2.5 days post-admission, with primarily young (median age 3 years), sexually intact dogs affected. The development of pancreatitis was unrelated to the degree of anaemia at time of admission. In addition to pancreatitis, 80% of cases suffered from other babesial complications, namely icterus (13), acute respiratory distress syndrome (6), immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (6), renal failure (3), haemoconcentration (2) and cerebral syndrome (2). Acute respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure and cerebral syndrome were associated with a poor prognosis, with 4 of the 5 dogs included in the overall 26% mortality rate having at least 1 of these complications. Haemolytic anaemia with ischaemia-reperfusion injury to the pancreas is proposed as a possible primary pathophysiological mechanism in babesial pancreatitis. Hypotensive shock, immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, haemoconcentration and possibly altered lipid metabolism in babesiosis may also be involved. The previously postulated pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu of complicated babesiosis may underlie the progression, if not the primary initiation, of pancreatic pathology. Acute pancreatitis may represent the previously reported 'gut' form of babesiosis.     

Case-control study of canine infection by a newly recognised Babesia microti-like piroplasm

We did a case-control study to identify risk factors for prevalent infection of dogs by a newly recognised Babesia microti-like piroplasm. Clinical manifestations and haematology of infected dogs also were described. Forty-three laboratory-based cases and 86 individually matched controls were studied. Information on clinical signs and on risk factors was collected by a questionnaire and telephone interviews. Haematology was carried out for all the dogs. Variables were screened in a bivariable conditional logistic regression and checked for colinearity. The final multivariable model was selected by backward stepwise elimination. The odds of a case having ticks when examined at the clinic was 4 times that of a control and the odds of a case being a hunting or a house-guarding dog were, respectively, 24.2 and 2.7 times those of a control. The most consistently reported clinical signs were weakness (79%), tachycardia (43%) and haemoglobinuria (42%). Mean red-blood-cell count, haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, and mean platelet volume of infected dogs were lower than the reference values and those of non-infected dogs-but leukocyte count, mean corpuscular volume and red-blood-cell distribution width were higher.     

Recurrent supraventricular arrhythmias in a dog with atrial myocarditis and gastritis

This report describes a dog with recurrent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter associated with chronic gastritis. Although no underlying structural heart disease was apparent antemortem or on gross post-mortem examination, chronic atrial myocarditis was seen on histopathological examination. Atrial myocarditis is a recognised cause of atrial fibrillation in human beings with presumed lone fibrillation, and an association between supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and infectious agents has been made.     

Familial cutaneous vasculopathy and demodicosis in a German shepherd dog

A two-month-old female German shepherd dog was presented with a history of ulcerated central pads of all four feet. On physical examination, the footpads were swollen, soft and ulcerated. On the nasal planum there was a partially depigmented nodule. Multiple biopsies were taken from the cutaneous lesions and histological examination revealed focal collagen degeneration and vasculitis. A diagnosis of familial cutaneous vasculopathy was made. Seven months later the nasal nodule had disappeared and the footpads were still swollen but non-ulcerated. At this time, the dog manifested a generalised pustular demodicosis.     

Familial ichthyosiform keratoderma in newly out-of-pouch Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) and report of two cases

Primary inherited disorders of cornification in veterinary medicine are uncommon and rarely reported. Herein described is a unique syndrome associated with keratoderma that occurred in two Bennett's wallaby siblings (Macropus rufogriseus), and was characterized by profound thickening of the pad skin of all feet, generalized scaling of haired skin, and death within 7 weeks of out-of-pouch experience. The male also had depressed serum zinc levels. In addition, the male had, on electron microscopic exam of his skin, the presence of abnormal lipid deposits within the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum. The combination of clinical features and electron microscopic findings strongly suggests a syndrome analogous to harlequin ichthyosis or lamellar ichthyosis in humans.     

Chronic hypertrophic gastritis in a dog: successful treatment by partial gastrectomy

A dog with listlessness, anorexia and iron-deficiency anaemia was found to have chronic hypertrophic gastritis. The animal returned to good health following partial gastrectomy, suggesting that the gastric lesion was the cause of the clinical signs. The cause of the gastric lesion was not determined.     

Oslerus (Filaroides) osleri in a dog

A young female Queensland Blue Heeler with signs of severe respiratory distress was diagnosed as having Oslerus osleri. Radiographic, bronchoscopic, parasitologic and pathologic findings are described and treatment is briefly reviewed. A possible route of larval migration from the pulmonary capillaries to the predilection site is proposed.     

SOMA (carisoprodol) toxicity in a dog

Objective: To describe a case of SOMA intoxication in a dog. Case summary: A 13‐year‐old, 25 kg, female spayed Australian shepherd presented to the emergency service after ingestion of ten to fifteen 350 mg tablets of SOMA (carisoprodol), a muscle relaxant used for back pain in humans. Toxic effects of the drug in this dog included mild sinus tachycardia, respiratory depression, seizures, and ataxia. The dog's mentation progressively deteriorated from depressed to comatose within 1 hour after admission. Treatment on initial presentation consisted of induction of emesis while the dog still had a gag reflex, administration of activated charcoal, oxygen therapy, and supportive care. The dog was discharged to the owner prior to full recovery (4 days later). New or unique information provided: This is the first known report of carisoprodol intoxication in the dog.     

Myotonic dystrophy-like disease in a dog

A mature female Rhodesian Ridgeback was determined to have a progressive, degenerative myopathy associated with myotonia, dysphagia, and marked muscle wasting. Clinical findings revealed a diffuse muscular disease with percussion dimpling, dysphagia, and creatine kinase elevation. A paroxysmal atrial tachycardia was found. Electromyography revealed a diffuse myopathy with high-frequency bizarre waves, myotonic discharges especially in the masticatory, laryngeal, and pharyngeal muscles. A few positive sharp waves were found in some of the appendicular muscles. Histopathologic and histochemical stains on skeletal muscle biopsy specimens demonstrated moderate fiber-size variation, myofiber architectural changes, muscle-fiber splitting, focal necrosis and phagocytosis, high percentage of internal nuclei, and atrophy of type-2 muscle fibers. A review of myotonic myopathies in the dog is presented. The clinical, electrophysiologic, and histochemical findings are similar to those for myotonic muscular dystrophy in man.     

Urticaria pigmentosa-like disease in a dog

Urticaria pigmentosa is a rare dermatologic syndrome in humans, cats, and dogs. This report documents a case of canine urticaria pigmentosa-like disease with unusual features and no C-kit mutation.     

Acute sarcocystosis-like disease in a dog

Two of 8 littermate Rottweiler dogs developed persistent diarrhea at 6.5 weeks of age. Dog 1 was euthanatized at 14 weeks of age and had hepatitis characterized by necrosis and mixed leukocyte infiltrations in association with a previously unrecognized Sarcocystis-like protozoon. The organism was free in the hepatocyte cytoplasm without a parasitophorous vacuole, had divided by schizogony, and stained with anti-Sarcocystis serum, but did not stain with anti-Toxoplasma gondii or anti-Neospora caninum serum in an immunohistochemical test. Dog 2 was euthanatized at 10 weeks of age. This dog had large necrotic, hemorrhagic mesenteric lymph nodes. Numerous T gondii tachyzoites were observed in association with these lesions. The organism divided by endodyogeny and stained specifically with anti-T gondii serum.     

Tyzzer's disease in a dog.

A 5-week-old mixed-breed dog was examined because of emaciation and depression associated with chronic anorexia, diarrhea, and vomiting. Its rectal temperature was subnormal and it died on the day of admission. At necropsy, small focal lesions were distributed through the liver. Enteric alterations included catarrhal enteritis with fluid contents, excess production of mucus, and mucosal hyperemia. Microscopically, the hepatic lesions were disseminated foci of coagulative necrosis, with little or no associated inflammatory cell response. Numerous organisms morphologically consistent with Bacillus piliformis were demonstrated within viable hepatocytes at the periphery of the necrotic foci and in the intestinal mucosa. Numerous coccidial forms were found within the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa, which was focally necrotic.