The efficacy of praziquantel against cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep

Praziquantel is a new type of acylated isoquinoline-pyrazine. A single, low oral or subcutaneous dose of the compound is reliably effective against all tested juvenile and adult cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep. Praziquantel is the first cestodicide which is also effective on bile duct cestodes. In cats and dogs, 5 mg praziquantel per kg is completely effective on all stages of Taenia hydatigena, T pisiformis, T ovis, T taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum, Mesocestoides corti, Echinococcus multilocularis and E granulosus. Because of its very wide therapeutic index praziquantel is thus particularly suited for eradication programmes, eg, echinococcosis.     

Preliminary studies on congenital hypothyroidism in a family of Abyssinian cats.

Congenital hypothyroidism was diagnosed in related Abyssinian cats. The disease appeared to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait with affected homozygotes showing signs of reduced growth rate, shorter stature with kitten-like features, constipation and goitre. Hypothyroidism was confirmed by demonstrating low basal serum thyroxine levels which failed to increase after intravenous administration of thyroid stimulating hormone or thyrotropic releasing hormone. The radioiodide uptake of the thyroid glands was normal but a high proportion of the accumulated radioiodide was discharged after the administration of sodium perchlorate. It is concluded that the affected cats had a primary dyshormonogenesis: an organification (peroxidase) defect.     

Laparoscopy in dogs and cats.

Laparoscopic techniques have been developed in veterinary medicine for noninvasive evaluation of several organs, including liver, extrahepatic biliary system, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, bowel, and genitourinary tract. Biopsy procedures of these organs with minimal risk can be performed in most patients. This article reviews the equipment and technique necessary to perform laparoscopy in dogs and cats.     

Hemangiosarcoma in dogs and cats.

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA, including angiosarcoma and malignant hemangioendothelioma) is a highly malignant tumor derived from the endothelial cell line and is characterized by early and aggressive metastasis. HAS is a common tumor type in dogs, but is rare in other species. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and possibly radiation, but survival times are invariably short (usually < 1 year), except for patients with superficial dermal HSAs. Further options to treat this tumor type are currently being investigated.     

Comparative effects of uredofos, niclosamide, and bunamidine hydrochloride against tapeworm infections in dogs.

A single dose of a new broad-spectrum anthelmintic, uredofos, was more effective than single doses of either bunamidine hydrochloride (HCI) or niclosamide in removing natural infections of Dipylidium coninum from pound dogs, as determined by necropsy examination for scolices. The efficacy of uredofos was equal to that of bunamidine HCI and exceeded that of niclosamide in removing Taenia spp from his host. All of 12 dogs harboring D caninum and all of 5 dogs harboring Taenia spp were completely cleared of tapeworm infection following treatment with uredofos at 50 mg/kg of body weight. Bunamidine HCl cleared 9 of 11 dogs (82%) of D caninum and 5 of 5 dogs of Taenia spp. Niclosamide had the least anticestodal activity of the 3 drugs; 2 or more scolices of D caninum were found at necropsy in each of 12 dogs treated with this drug. Four of 5 dogs were cleared of Taenia spp following niclosamide therapy. Untreated control dogs did not shed tapeworms of either species during a 3-day period of posttreatment fecal collections, but did have tapeworms at the time of necropsy.     

Thyroid surgery in dogs and cats.

Thyroid surgery is indicated for malignant and benign neoplasms or hyperplasia of the thyroid glands. A ventral midline cervical approach allows for bilateral thyroid exploration. Care should be taken to avoid the surrounding neurovascular structures and esophagus. Evaluation of both thyroids should be done before proceeding with partial or complete thyroidectomy. Complications of thyroid surgery include intraoperative hemorrhage and clinical signs associated with damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerves, parathyroid blood supply, or parathyroidectomy.     

Escherichia coli as a pathogen in dogs and cats.

Certain strains of Escherichia coli behave as pathogens in dogs and cats causing gastro-intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. Among the five known groups of diarrhoeagenic E. coli, namely enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC), only EPEC and ETEC were clearly associated with enteric disease in young dogs. ETEC isolates from diarrhoeic dogs were found to be positive for the heat-stable enterotoxins STa and STb but negative for heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). Canine ETEC were found to be different from those of other animals and humans by their serotypes, production of alpha-haemolysin and adhesive factors and by the production of uncharacterized types of enterotoxins by some ETEC. Canine EPEC could be distinguished from EPEC of humans or other animals by their serotypes and by the eae-protein intimin which mediates intimate adherence of EPEC to intestinal mucosa cells. STEC were occasionally isolated from faeces of healthy and diarrhoeic dogs but their role in canine diarrhoea is not yet well known. EIEC and EAggEC were not reported to occur in dogs or cats. Very little is known on diarrhoegenic E. coli in cats and further epidemiological investigations on this subject are needed. Besides its role in gastro-intestinal infections, E. coli can cause infections of the urogenital tract and systemic disease in dogs and cats. Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains from dogs and cats belong to a limited number of serotypes and clonal groups and are frequently found as a part of the normal gut flora of these animals. Many of these E. coli strains carry P-fimbriae and produce alpha-haemolysin and a necrotizing cytotoxin (CNF1). Some of the frequently isolated types of extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli from dogs, cats and humans were found to be highly genetically related but showed differences in their P-fimbrial adhesins which determine host specificity. Transmission of extra-intestinal and enteral pathogenic E. coli between dogs and humans was reported. Further research is needed, however, to determine the role of dogs and cats as transmission vectors of pathogenic E. coli strains to other animals and humans.     

Thyroid tumors in dogs and cats.

The clinical presentation and biologic behavior of thyroid tumors vary widely among dogs, cats, and human beings. Although thyroid tumors in dogs are rare, they are most likely to be malignant. Clinical signs are usually the result of impingement on surrounding structures, and clinical hyperthyroidism is rare. In contrast, hyperthyroidism resulting from benign thyroid proliferation is relatively common among older cats. Malignant tumors are extremely uncommon but have high metastatic potential. Irrespective of the tumor's ability to produce functional thyroid hormone, scintigraphy is often helpful in the diagnosis and staging of thyroid tumors in all three species. Treatment with surgery is a reasonable treatment option for noninvasive tumors. Iodine 131 is a well-established treatment for thyroid nodules in cats, but its effectiveness in dogs is controversial. In dogs, external beam radiation therapy has produced more consistent results in affording local tumor control when surgery is not possible.     

Anticonvulsant therapy in dogs and cats.

This article reviews anticonvulsant therapies in current use for dogs and cats and briefly describes new modes of anticonvulsant therapy that are being investigated or pending publication. Most of the information contained within the article is based on published information. Some of the information, however, is based on the author's clinical experience and is identified as such.     

Bullet, bite, and burn wounds in dogs and cats.

Veterinarians are frequently presented with bullet, bite, or burn trauma patients. Injuries can vary from simple minor penetrating skin wounds to major life-threatening soft and hard tissue damage with concurrent complex metabolic ramifications. This article reviews the diagnostic and therapeutic options for each type of injury.     

Optic neuritis in dogs and cats.

The term "optic neuritis" compromises all diseases of the optic nerve that cause primary demyelination and usually manifest themselves as a sudden visual field defect or total loss of vision in one or both eyes. As in man, the cause of optic neuritis is often difficult to determine in the living animal. Neurologic examination, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and laboratory tests can be normal. Optic neuritis affects dogs far more frequently than other animal species. This article examines the causes of immune-mediated optic neuritis and etiologic differentials in dogs and cats, with comparisons to human beings and laboratory animal models.