Holmium:YAG Laser Lithotripsy for Urolithiasis in Horses

Background: Laser lithotripsy has been used as an alternative to surgical removal of uroliths.
Objective: To describe the procedure and efficacy of laser lithotripsy for removal of lower urinary tract uroliths in horses. Additionally, the ultrastructure and the differences in mineralogy and microstructure from 1 successful and 1 unsuccessful laser lithotripsy case are described.
Animals: Six client-owned horses with 7 episodes of naturally occurring urocystoliths, urethroliths, or both.
Methods: Retrospective study of all horses treated between 2006 and 2008 by laser lithotripsy. All horses were sedated followed by laser lithotripsy. Quantitative urolith analysis was performed in all cases. Ultrastructure and microstructure analyses were performed on uroliths from 2 horses.
Results: Procedural success was achieved in 5 of 7 laser lithotripsy procedures. No complications occurred as a result of laser lithotripsy. One horse developed uroabdomen likely as a result of manual lithotrite disruption of the bladder after failure of laser lithotripsy. There were differences in microstructure between 1 urolith that was successfully fragmented by laser lithotripsy and 1 urolith that was resistant to laser fragmentation.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Laser lithotripsy is an effective procedure for removal of some urocystoliths, urethroliths, or both in horses.     

Parotid duct transposition in dogs: a retrospective review of 92 eyes from 1999 to 2009

Objective The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective review of parotid duct transposition (PDT) in the dog to determine the rate and nature of complications, the success and failure rates and to evaluate owner satisfaction. Methods Medical records of 56 dogs (92 eyes) that underwent PDT and subsequent follow‐up by a veterinary ophthalmologist were reviewed. Forty owners (40 dogs/66 eyes) were contacted by telephone and 37 owners (37 dogs/60 eyes) also completed a visual analog scale questionnaire. Statistical evaluation included Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests, one‐way analysis of variance and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with Wilcoxon and Log‐rank tests. Results The mean follow‐up was 38.7 months (range 1–109 months). The surgical success rate was 92% (85/92 eyes). Total failures (8%, 7/92 eyes) were because of severe saliva intolerance (n = 5 eyes) and PDT failure (n = 2 eyes). The complication rate was 50% (46/92 eyes) of which 61% (28/46 eyes) were managed medically and 39% (18/46 eyes) required further surgery. Ninety percent (36/40) of owners indicated that they would proceed with surgery again. Statistically significant improvements in owner perception of ocular comfort, number of daily topical treatments, ocular wetness, and postoperative vision were identified. Conclusions This study shows that PDT is a successful procedure based on clinical findings and in terms of owner perception. It has also demonstrated that PDT improves ocular comfort and vision in medically refractive cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and that a low level of on‐going management is required in 33% of cases.     

Absence of Any Specific Diurnal Pattern in the Time of Ovulation in the Mare

This study investigates a long-held belief that mares tend to ovulate during the night. If this were so, a strategic examination regimen might replace multiple daily examinations when the time of ovulation needs to be known to within a few hours. Over 500 mares were examined at least three times daily to determine the time, to within ±4.25 hours, of 896 ovulations. The time of ovulation was determined as midway between the pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory examinations. Three broad peaks of incidence of ovulation occurred at 5:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 10:00 pm. The interval between peaks was 9, 8, and 7 hours. during which 34.2% (5:00 am to 2:00 pm), 44.3% (2:00 pm to 10:00 pm), and 21.3% (10:00 pm to 5:00 am) of ovulations occurred. The percentage of ovulations occurring in the period 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm was significantly higher (P < .001) than in the period 10:00 pm to 5:00 am and significantly higher (P < .01) than in the period 5:00 am to 2:00 pm. The data showed that mares ovulated at all times of the day and night, with some increased incidence between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Therefore, no strategic examination regimen was possible.     

牛肝片吸虫及其对胆管损伤的组织化学和扫描电镜观察

牛肝片吸虫的成虫体表有环行排列的、呈“牛舌状”的棘,其顶部有?数个齿;迷走幼虫体表无体棘,仅有环状排列的、粗细不一的皱纹,其头锥较长,约为虫体的1/2,口腹吸盘是圆形,上有细皱纹和数个乳突。受损职管的大部分功能消失殆尽。而增生小胆管则功能旺盛。浸润的嗜酸粒细胞、淋巴细胞功能较活跃。浸润的细胞中未见巨噬细胞。探讨了虫体与胆管损伤的关系。     

Ovarian Teratoma in a Mare

During a routine trip to a horse slaughterhouse, we found bilateral ovarian teratoma. Macroscopic findings were confirmed by the presence of hair, bones, and cartilage. Under microscopy, these tumors had mature foreign tissues as stratified squamous and respiratory epithelia, sebaceous and sweat glands, as well as follicular endocrine cells, inflammatory cells, hepatocytes, and hyaline cartilage.     

Gastric Neoplasia in Horses

Background: Gastric neoplasia of horses is incompletely described.
Objective: Provide history, clinical signs, and clinicopathological and pathological findings associated with gastric neoplasia in horses.
Animals: Twenty-four horses with gastric neoplasia.
Methods: Retrospective study. History, clinical signs, and clinicopathological and pathologic findings in horses diagnosed histologically with gastric neoplasia were reviewed.
Results: Horses ranged in age from 9 to 25 years (median 18 years at presentation). There was no apparent breed or sex predisposition. The most common presenting complaints were inappetance (17/24), weight loss (14/24), lethargy (7/24), hypersalivation (7/24), colic (5/24), and fever (5/24). The most consistent clinical signs were tachypnea (10/19), decreased borborygmi (8/19), and low body weight (7/17). Useful diagnostic tests included rectal examination, routine blood analysis, gastroscopy, abdominocentesis, and transabdominal ultrasound examination. Anemia was the most common hematologic abnormality encountered (7/19), and hypercalcemia of malignancy was seen in 4/16 horses. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common tumor identified (19/24), and was most often (14/19) found as a single ulcerated, necrotic mass in the nonglandular portion of the stomach. Other gastric neoplasms encountered were leiomyoma (n=2), mesothelioma (n=1), adenocarcinoma (n=1), and lymphoma (n=1). Metastatic neoplasia was found in 18/23 horses. The median time from onset of clinical signs to death was 4 weeks, and all horses died or were euthanized because of gastric neoplasia.
Conclusions: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common primary gastric neoplasia in horses. The survival time after diagnosis of gastric neoplasia in horses is short.     

Anagen Defluxion in Two Horses

Abstract— Anagen defluxion is an unusual cause of non-pruritic alopecia in many species. Two cases are described in horses, the onset coinciding with upper respiratory disease associated with pyrexia. Skin biopsies showed typical changes with follicles containing broken hairs of irregular shaft diameter. The alopecia resolved slowly without therapy. Résumé— L'effluvium anagène est une cause rare d'alopécie non prurigineuse dans de nombreuses espèces. Deux cas ont été obserés chez des chevaux. Le début a coincidé avec une atteinte des voies respiratoires supérieures associées à une fièvre. Les biopsies cutanées ont révélé des lésions caractéristiques: follicules contenant des poils cassés de diamètre iérrgulier. L'alopécie s'est progressivement résorbée sans traitement. Zusammenfassung— Anagen-Deflux ist eine ungewöhnliche Ursache für eine nicht pruritische Alopezie bei vielen Spezies. Beim Pferd werden zwei Fälle beschrieben, wobei der Beginn mit einer fieberhaften Erkrankung der oberen Atemwege zusammenfällt. Hautbiopsien zeigten typische Veränderungen mit Follikeln, die abgebrochene Haare mit unregelmäßigem Schaftdurchmesser enthielten. Die Alopezie heilte langsam ohne Therapie ab. Resumen La defluxión de la fase anagenica del pelo es una rara causa de alopecia de tipo no pruriginoso en una variedad de especies. En este artículo se describe el caso de dos caballos, en los cuales el punto más agudo de la enfermedad coincide con afeccion de las vías respiratorias altas acompañada de fiebre. Las biopsias cutáneas demostraron la presencia de cambios típicos en los folículos pilosos que contenían pelos rotos o de diámetro irregular. La alopecia se resolvió de manera lenta sin ningun tipo de terapia.