Autonomic dysfunction in a Jack Russell terrier

A 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier was presented with an array of clinical signs suggestive of autonomic dysfunction. Many of the clinical signs were consistent with a diagnosis of dysautonomia; however, both chronicity and resolution of signs contradicted a diagnosis of this disease.     

Inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid analysis in cats: clinical diagnosis and outcome

The medical records of 62 cats with clinical signs of central nervous system disease and accompanying inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were examined retrospectively to determine if signalment, clinical signs, CSF analysis and ancillary testing could accurately predict the type of central nervous system disease that was present. An inflammatory CSF was defined as one in which a total nucleated cell count was greater than 5 cells/microl or one in which the total nucleated cell count was normal but the nucleated cell differential count was abnormal. Sex, degree of CSF inflammation, neuroanatomical location and systemic signs provided little contributory information to the final diagnosis. In 63% of the cases a presumptive diagnosis could be made based on a combination of clinical signs, clinicopathological data and ancillary diagnostic tests. CSF analysis alone was useful only in the diagnosis of cats with feline infectious peritonitis, Cryptococcus species infection, lymphoma and trauma. Overall, despite extensive diagnostic evaluation, a specific diagnosis could not be made in 37% of cats. The prognosis for cats with inflammatory CSF was poor with 77% of cats surviving less than 1 year.     

Antemortem Diagnosis of CDV Infection by RT-PCR in Distemper Dogs with Neurological Deficits without the Typical Clinical Presentation

In dogs with neurological disturbances without myoclonus and extraneural signs, the clinical diagnosis of distemper is difficult perform. Considering the great infectious potential of the disease, the possibility of carrying out an antemortem diagnosis of distemper is important, particularly in hospitalized patients with neurological disease. The present study was carried out to evaluate RT-PCR for antemortem CDV detection in hospitalized dogs with neurological disturbances without the typical findings of distemper. We investigated five dogs with canine distemper virus (CDV) encephalomyelitis, in which the clinical diagnosis was not performed owing to the absence of characteristic signs of the disease, such as myoclonus and systemic signs. We observed an apparent high sensitivity of RT-PCR in urine samples for detection of CDV: four out of five urine samples were RT-PCR positive. The results of the present study suggest that urine is a good biological sample for antemortem CDV detection by RT-PCR in dogs with distemper encephalomyelitis in which the clinical diagnosis is likely to be difficult owing to the absence of suggestive distemper signs. The use of two different body fluids (urine and CSF) may increase the RT-PCR sensitivity for antemortem diagnosis of distemper in such cases.     

Late-onset regurgitation associated with persistent right aortic arch in two dogs

Congenital persistent right aortic arch was diagnosed as the cause of weight loss and regurgitation in 2 dogs, aged 2.5 and 8 years, respectively. The first dog had 2 brief episodes of regurgitation that resolved spontaneously before the most recent onset of signs and diagnosis. The second dog had no clinical signs attributed to persistent right aortic arch until 2 months before the diagnosis was made. Dogs born with persistent right aortic arch typically have clinical signs of esophageal stenosis around the time of weaning. Evidence from the 2 dogs in this report indicate that clinical signs associated with vascular ring anomalies may not become evident until later in life. Veterinarians should consider the diagnosis of persistent right aortic arch in any age dog that is admitted because of regurgitation, weight loss, and dilatation of the cranial portion of the esophagus.     

Primary malignant pulmonary neoplasia in two horses

Although primary malignant pulmonary neoplasia of horses is rarely encountered, this diagnosis was confirmed in 2 horses on the basis of necropsy and histopathologic findings. One horse, with cystic mucinous adenocarcinoma, had respiratory tract and neurologic signs directly attributable to the neoplasm, and a tentative antemortem diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasia was made. The other horse, with anaplastic bronchogenic carcinoma, did not have clinical signs of pulmonary neoplasia.     

Clinical signs, treatment, and postmortem lesions in dairy goats with enterotoxemia: 13 cases (1979-1982).

Enterotoxemia attributable to Clostridium perfringens type D in goats is difficult to diagnose because of a lack of specific clinical signs or postmortem lesions, on which to base the diagnosis. This report describes the clinical signs, postmortem lesions, and clinical responses to treatment and vaccination in 4 goat herds, in which a diagnosis of enterotoxemia was confirmed. Four clinical cases had the diagnosis confirmed on the basis of signs of diarrhea or sudden death and the isolation of C perfringens and epsilon toxin from the feces at the time of admission. The 10 necropsy cases were diagnosed on the basis of the isolation of C perfringens (not typed) or epsilon toxin from the intestinal contents of goats that died with clinical signs compatible with enterotoxemia and without lesions associated with a second serious disease. Enterocolitis was the most consistent lesion reported at necropsy in the 10 goats with enterotoxemia. Ovine enterotoxemia vaccines were of limited value in preventing enterotoxemia. These observations imply that naturally induced enterotoxemia in goats involves a different pathophysiologic mechanism than that associated with enterotoxemia in sheep.     

Malignant catarrhal fever in Switzerland: 2. Evaluation of the diagnosis]

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a mostly fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle. In 1995 a PCR based method was introduced for the detection of the ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), which is regarded as the causative agent of the sheep-associated form of the disease. This PCR can be regarded as a gold standard for the in vivo diagnosis of sheep-associated MCF in cattle (Müller-Doblies et al., 1998). This semi-nested PCR was now used as a reference test for the reassessment of diagnostic criteria in the clinical and post mortem diagnosis that could previously not be quantitated. Based on 83 suspected cases with a complete clinical record the clinical signs were weighted and grouped according to their sensitivity and specificity into lead signs indicative of MCF and frequently accompanying signs supportive for the diagnosis of MCF and general clinical signs that were less reliable for the diagnosis. Differential diagnoses are discussed, which are of particular significance due to their status as OIE list A diseases e.g. foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest. 38 PCR confirmed cattle with MCF served for the quantitative analysis of organ lesions. For the post mortem diagnosis an essential set of organ samples is defined to permit a reliable histological diagnosis, as the gross pathology often did not give any indication for the diagnosis. These criteria should help to improve the diagnostic efficiency and to select the appropriate laboratory diagnostic procedures for MCF-suspected cattle.     

Owner-perceived signs and veterinary diagnosis in 50 cases of feline osteoarthritis

Veterinarians contacted to identify cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) provided information on signalment, method of diagnosis, treatment and concurrent disease. Owners of 50 cats were interviewed to collect information on specific OA signs observed in the home, relating to mobility, self-maintenance, social and exploratory behavior, and activity and habits at diagnosis and after treatment. Mean age at diagnosis was 12 y; concurrent diseases were common (44%). Owner-reported abnormalities led to OA diagnosis in most cases; either as the primary finding (30%), or combined with abnormal physical examination or radiographic findings (64%). Owners frequently reported changes in mobility, particularly gait, jumping, and use of stairs. Oral or injectable disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs were the most common treatments (71%). Feline OA diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring appear to rely heavily on owner-perceived signs; physical examination abnormalities may not be detected. Questioning of owners revealed various observable signs potentially useful in OA detection and monitoring.     

Acute pancreatitis attributed to dietary indiscretion in a female mixed breed canine

A female, mixed-breed dog was presented with signs of abdominal discomfort and vomiting of 24 h duration following an episode of dietary indiscretion. Clinical signs, previous medical history, and diagnostic tests supported a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Specific and supportive treatment was instituted, and clinical signs resolved 10 d after presentation.     

Feline atopy in three littermates

This case report describes the history, clinical signs and diagnosis of a pruritic skin disease in three sibling cats living the same household. Clinical signs consistent with pruritus (i.e. hair pulling, hair loss, excessive grooming and face rubbing) were first noted when the cats were 6 months of age. The cats were treated for a possible ear mite and/or flea infestation; there was no response to treatment and clinical signs progressed. Although the presence of pruritus in a multiple cat household suggested an infectious or contagious aetiology, none could be identified. There was no improvement in clinical signs after a 60‐day flea control trial, three treatments of ivermectin, an 8‐week restricted diet or removal from the home for 10 days. A diagnosis of feline atopy was made on the basis of elimination of other causes of pruritus, consistent history and clinical signs, a positive intradermal skin test and response to therapy.     

Using a Bayesian belief network to aid differential diagnosis of tropical bovine diseases

The examination of presenting signs has always played an important role in the diagnosis of diseases in animal populations. In the case of diseases of tropical cattle, such expertise is often scarce and confined to those experts with many years of experience. To capture, conserve and disseminate such valuable expert knowledge remains a key challenge to the application of knowledge-based systems in veterinary medicine. In this communication, we explore the use of a Bayesian belief network to quantify expert opinion with a view to estimating the likelihood of various diseases in the presence and absence of certain signs. Information was elicited from a panel of 44 experienced veterinarians to provide the response matrix of 27 signs associated with 20 commonly occurring diseases in sub-Saharan cattle. Using this prior information, estimates of the probability of certain signs occurring with each disease were calculated from which the Bayesian belief network was able to propagate the posterior probability of each of the diseases based on the observed signs. The method as an aid in making diagnosis is discussed. It is recognised that such an approach is but one strand in the process of arriving at a diagnosis. For ease of use and accessibility, the approach has been converted into the software program CaDDiS (Cattle Disease Diagnosis System) which is available for consultation on the World Wide Web.     

Plasma cell stomatitis-pharyngitis in cats: 40 cases (1973-1991).

Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and treatment results of 40 cats with the histologic diagnosis of plasma cell stomatitis-pharyngitis are discussed. Median age was 7.1 years, with no discernable sex predilection. Anorexia and difficulty prehending food were the most common clinical signs. Hyperproteinemia with associated hyperglobulinemia was the most common laboratory finding. Of various treatments, administration of corticosteroids or injectable gold (aurothioglucose) proved most effective in controlling the clinical signs.     

Haemoperitoneum secondary to testicular rupture caused by blunt trauma in a stallion

Testicular trauma is a commonly reported consequence of injury to the scrotum in humans and horses. In the majority of cases in stallions, injury is caused by a kick from a mare during mating. This case report describes a traumatically induced unilateral testicular rupture in a stallion associated with haemoperitoneum and acute, severe signs of abdominal discomfort. Initially, testicular ultrasound and clinical examinations were inconclusive and the clinical signs led to a diagnosis of an inflammatory abdominal disorder, possibly caused by inguinoscrotal herniation. The patient underwent exploratory celiotomy with unilateral orchiectomy at which time no involvement of the gastrointestinal tract was noted (aside from the presence of haemoperitoneum) and the testicular trauma was discovered. As this case demonstrates, testicular trauma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for inguinoscrotal herniation in stallions with clinical signs of discomfort even when there is no history of recent mating. Detailed clinical examination should be performed to establish a diagnosis but may not be conclusive.     

Measurement of serum antinuclear antibody titer in dogs with and without systemic lupus erythematosus: 120 cases (1997-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To determine serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers in dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in dogs with related clinical and clinicopathologic findings. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 120 dogs. PROCEDURES: Information that was evaluated included signalment, clinical signs, results of routine laboratory testing, ANA titer, and diagnosis. RESULTS: The most common clinical signs were arthralgia, myalgia, and stiffness (n = 41 [34.2%]); the most common clinicopathologic abnormality was thrombocytopenia (30 [25%]). Serum ANA titer was < 160 (seronegative) in 89 dogs (74.2%), 160 in 14 dogs (11.7%), 320 in 5 dogs (4.2%), and > or = 640 in 12 dogs (10%). Immune-mediated disease was confirmed in 40 dogs, 18 of which fulfilled the criteria for a definitive or probable diagnosis of SLE. Only 1 of 47 dogs with no major signs compatible with SLE had immune-mediated disease, compared with 26 of 57 dogs with 1 major sign and 13 of 16 dogs with > or = 2 major signs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that measurement of ANA titer was not a useful diagnostic test in dogs without any major clinical or clinicopathologic abnormalities suggestive of SLE. In contrast, there was a good chance that results of the ANA assay would be positive and that the dog would be found to have immune-mediated disease if at least 2 major signs were evident. Findings suggest that it would be reasonable to limit the use of the ANA assay to those dogs that have at least 1 major sign compatible with a diagnosis of SLE.     

Chronic nodular panniculitis in a three-year-old mare

The clinical signs of chronic nodular panniculitis in a three-year-old mare were consistent with a diagnosis of sterile nodular panniculitis, but the mare had histopathological signs of both generalised steatitis and sterile nodular panniculitis. The mare was deficient in vitamin E and selenium.     

Rheumatoid arthritis subsequent to Borrelia burgdorferi infection in two dogs

Two dogs with clinical signs of polyarthritis developed rheumatoid arthritis subsequent to Borrelia burgdorferi infection. In both dogs, the diagnosis of B burgdorferi infection was based on clinical signs of disease and high serum B burgdorferi titer. After antibiotic administration, both dogs had decreased B burgdorferi titer, but clinical response was temporary or was lacking. The dogs subsequently were rheumatoid factor-positive (antinuclear antibody- and anti-globulin-negative) and responded to anti-inflammatory drug administration. Development of rheumatoid arthritis in both dogs after B burgdorferi infection implicates the Borrelia organism as an infective agent leading to the development of rheumatoid arthritis in dogs. Dogs with clinical signs suggestive of B burgdorferi infection should have antiglobulin, anti-nuclear antibody rheumatoid factor, and B burgdorferi tests performed to aid definitive diagnosis.     

Emergency presentations of 4 dogs with suspected neurologic toxoplasmosis

Objective: To review the signalment, clinical signs, abnormal laboratory data, therapeutics, and response to therapy of dogs with clinical signs consistent with toxoplasmosis infection. Series summary: A retrospective review was performed on the records of 4 dogs presented to the Animal Emergency Center between January 1998 and February 2000 exhibiting neurologic signs and having elevated titers for Toxoplasma gondii. A tentative diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was based upon one of the following criteria: (1) a serial 4‐fold or greater change in serum T. gondii IgG titers; 2) serially decreasing serum T. gondii IgM titers with concurrent increasing serum T. gondii IgG titers; or 3) positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T. gondii titers. In addition, inclusion of cases was limited to dogs that showed improvement of neurologic signs following treatment with antiprotozoal drugs. Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole treatment was associated with successful elimination of clinical signs in all of the dogs. Two of the dogs developed side effects potentially attributed to the trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (TMS), and antiprotozoal treatment was continued using clindamycin. Unique information presented: Toxoplasmosis is an important differential diagnosis in any dog that presents as an emergency with central or peripheral neurologic signs. Affected dogs need not be immunocompromised for clinical signs of toxoplasmosis to occur. Appropriate treatment with TMS or clindamycin can lead to resolution of clinical signs.     

Cytological Analysis of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in the Diagnosis of Spontaneous Respiratory Tract Disease in Dogs: A Retrospective Study

Results of cytological analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAD fluid were compared with clinical diagnoses in dogs that presented with signs of respiratory disease to referral hospitals. Of 68 dogs in which a clinical diagnosis was possible, BAL cytological findings were considered definitive for the diagnosis in 17 cases (25%), supportive of the diagnosis in 34 cases (50%), and not helpful in 17 cases (25%). Findings were most often considered supportive of or definitive for the clinical diagnosis in dogs with alveolar or bronchial radiographic patterns, or the presence of pulmonary masses. BAL results among lung lobes differed in 23 of 63 dogs (37%) with diffuse radiographic patterns. Tracheal wash cytology differed from BAL fluid cytology in 45 of 66 dogs (68%). Bronchoalveolar lavage was a clinically useful procedure for the diagnostic evaluation of dogs with signs of respiratory disease.     

Clinical and biochemical findings in bovine cerebrocortical necrosis produced by oral administration of amprolium

Purposing to get some hints on cause and early diagnosis for cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN), CCN was produced in three healthy calves by the oral administration of amprolium. All three calves showed central nervous signs characterized by ataxic gait, clonic spasm, astasia and opisthotonus, from 24 to 49 days after the start of daily administration of 321-418 mg/kg amprolium. They showed bradycardia from about 20 days before the appearance of the nervous signs, which was supposed to be a finding of primary change and to be useful for early diagnosis of CCN. At necropsy of the two calves, large necrotic lesion was found in the cerebral cortex, and tissue thiamine levels decreased significantly, especially in cerebrum and cerebellum. In the other calf, injection with 25 mg thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) was proved to be effective for the recovery of clinical signs. No significant changes in thiamine level were recorded in the whole blood, but those in erythrocytes decreased slightly at about a week before the appearance of the clinical signs. No significant alteration of thiamine excretion was observed in urine. Those findings suggest that CCN in calves is caused by thiamine deficiency and that the blood thiamine levels cannot be used for diagnosis of CCN.