An unusual form of canine babesiosis

An Akita Inu, living in Belgium, was presented with unusual clinical manifestations of acute babesiosis that included neurological signs and pancytopenia. Diagnosis was made by identifying Babesia canis in the blood smear. Neurological signs resolved after treatment with imidocarb diproprionate. Normalization of hematological abnormalities was gradual over 5 months.     

Suspected hepatic amyloidosis in a horse

A 9-year-old Saddlebred gelding was referred to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care for decreased energy levels, weight loss, persistently elevated liver enzymes, hyperglobulinaemia and leukocytosis. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a large volume of peritoneal fluid of mixed echogenicity, and the presence of focally distributed, circular to oval (approximately 1–2 cm), hyperechoic areas within the parenchyma of an enlarged liver. Cytological analysis of the peritoneal fluid revealed sterile neutrophilic/macrophagic inflammation, with haemosiderophages. A liver biopsy confirmed the presence of hepatic amyloidosis and focal fibrosis. Medical therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 30 days and long-term dexamethasone was associated with both a clinical and biochemical response for 7 months, at which time the horse died from presumed hepatic rupture. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing potential successful management of hepatic amyloidosis in a horse.     

不孕奶牛卵巢异常的B超形态学

应用便携式实时B超诊断仪,采用直肠探测法探查武汉市几个奶牛场的37头长期不发情或屡配不孕奶牛的卵巢形态结构。采集到大量典型的奶牛异常卵巢B超声像图,包括卵巢囊肿、幼稚型卵巢、卵巢静止、卵巢萎缩、卵巢炎等。试验利用超声探查技术观察了不孕奶牛卵巢形态结构的变化特点,为奶牛不孕疾病诊断提供参考。     

An unusual myopathy in a dog

A nine-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was examined because it could not withdraw its tongue into its mouth and had difficulty eating and drinking. These clinical signs were first observed when the dog was two months of age. On percussion of the tongue a dimple could be produced and there was electromyographic evidence of myotonia. Histological examination showed replacement of muscle fibres by adipose tissue, focal areas of myonecrosis, neutrophil infiltration and proliferation of sub-sarcolemmal nuclei. These changes were considered to be consistent with a primary myopathy similar to paramyotonia in man. No related dogs were found to be affected.     

An unusual myopathy in a dog

A nine-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was examined because it could not withdraw its tongue into its mouth and had difficulty eating and drinking. These clinical signs were first observed when the dog was two months of age. On percussion of the tongue a dimple could be produced and there was electromyographic evidence of myotonia. Histological examination showed replacement of muscle fibres by adipose tissue, focal areas of myonecrosis, neutrophil infiltration and proliferation of sub-sarcolemmal nuclei. These changes were considered to be consistent with a primary myopathy similar to paramyotonia in man. No related dogs were found to be affected.     

Red cell morphologic alterations in cats with hepatic disease

Medical records from 39 cats with hepatic disease, examined at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Florida, between 1987 and 1992 were retrospectively evaluated for alterations in red blood cell (RBC) morphology. Diagnoses included: hepatic lipidosis, neoplasia, cholangiohepatitis, hepatitis/hepatopathy, systemic histoplasmosis, and portocaval shunt. A total of 56 laboratory data sets were studied which included complete blood counts and serum chemistry results. Stained blood smears were evaluated from 51 of the data sets. Twenty-two cats (56%) were determined to have poikilocytosis on the basis of blood smear evaluation. Eleven (28%) cats had moderate to marked poikilocytosis (2+ to 4+). Acanthocytes accounted for 62.6 -/+ 22.1% of morphologically abnormal RBC and were observed in blood smears from 100% of cats with poikilocytosis. Elliptocytes (ovalocytes) comprised 19.5 -/+ 15.8% of poikilocytes and were found in smears from 82% of cats with poikilocytosis. Keratocytes (7.0 -/+ 6.8%), schistocytes (3.6 -/+ 4.4%), and blister cells (2.6 -/+ 6.4%) were present in lower numbers and in fewer cats. Serum total cholesterol values were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in cats with moderate to marked alterations in RBC morphology. Cats with hepatic lipidosis were significantly (p < 0.04) more likely to have poikilocytosis than cats with other types of hepatic disease.     

Spontaneous hepatic rupture in six cats with systemic amyloidosis

Spontaneous hepatic rupture, secondary to the accumulation of hepatic amyloid, was diagnosed in six cats over a two-year period. Previous reports of feline hepatic amyloidosis have documented clusters of cases from breeding catteries. Most affected cats have been Siamese or a related breed and the disease is generally regarded as familial. In contrast, the cases presented here were sporadic, with relatives and other cats in the household not clinically affected. They included a Devon rex, a breed not previously reported with this condition, and a domestic shorthair. Clinical signs in three of these cases had, prior to referral, been misinterpreted as resulting from blunt trauma, immune-mediated haemolysis or a coagulopathy. Antemortem diagnostic features, including new data on the value of hepatic ultrasonography and fine-needle aspirate cytology, are reported. These cases illustrate how the course of this disease can vary between individuals and that, despite the dramatic underlying pathology, hepatic amyloidosis can present a diagnostic challenge and should be suspected in any young adult cat with consistent clinical signs, irrespective of breed or environment.     

An unusual portosystemic shunt in a dog

An unusual portosystemic shunt was diagnosed in a 4-month-old male Miniature Poodle examined because of stunted growth and episodes of dementia characterized by hysteria, ataxia, and staggering. Operative splenoportography revealed a portosystemic shunt. Exploratory surgery to identify and correct the shunt was attempted. Evidence of any portal circulation was not detected, and the dog was euthanatized. The possible embryologic basis for this vascular anomaly is discussed.     

An unusual urethral defect in a dog

Extract

This paper describes a field trial designed to determine the value of bunamidine hydrochloride as an anthelmintic within the framework of the New Zealand hydatid eradication campaign and within an environment where there are no wild carnivorous animals host either to Echinococcus granulosus or to other Taeniidae with intermediate stages in sheep.     

A morphologic and immunocytochemical study of hepatic neoplasms in cats.

A retrospective study was done of 47 neoplasms of the hepatic and biliary systems from 47 cats brought to The Animal Medical Center over a period of 10 years (1980 to 1989). Histologic examination of specimens taken at necropsy revealed that 87% (41/47) of the hepatic neoplasms were epithelial and 13% (6/47) were nonepithelial. Of the epithelial tumors, 25/47 (53%) were of intrahepatic bile duct origin, 9/47 (19%) were of hepatocellular origin, 5/47 (11%) involved the extrahepatic bile ducts, and 2/47 (4%) were adenocarcinomas of the gall bladder. Of the nonepithelial neoplasms, hemangiosarcomas were more common, 5/47 (11%), than leiomyosarcomas, 1/47 (2%). Multiple liver lobes were involved in 21/34 (62%) of the epithelial and all six of the nonepithelial intrahepatic neoplasms. Most of the bile duct adenocarcinomas (6/9) were predominantly characterized by acinar structures with mucin production, diffuse necrosis, and little desmoplasia. The hepatocellular carcinomas were characterized by three patterns-trabecular (five tumors), pseudoglandular pattern (two tumors), and anaplastic (one tumor). The hepatic carcinoid was characterized by various-sized groups of acinar and rosettelike structures, some with lumens, separated by thin fibrovascular stroma. The extrahepatic bile duct adenocarcinomas (4/4) were acinopapillary with moderate desmosplasia, whereas the adenocarcinomas of the gall bladder had elongated tubular structures lined by anaplastic cells and a severe desmoplastic reaction. The neuroendocrine carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct, the hemangiosarcomas, and the leiomyosarcoma had morphologic features characteristic of these neoplasms. Two of the 16 (13%) bile duct adenomas had anaplastic and precancerous changes. Residual benign components were seen in 10/15 (67%) of the biliary adenocarcinomas, 4/9 (44%) of the intrahepatic bile duct adenocarcinomas, and all of the extrahepatic bile duct adenocarcinomas and gall bladder adenocarcinomas. Results of immunohistochemical studies of the biliary neoplasms were similar to those described in studies of biliary neoplasms in human beings. Results of this study revealed that the frequency of different types of hepatic neoplasms in cats varied from that seen in dogs and human beings, but the morphologic features were comparable.     

An unusual case of dermatophilosis in a calf

Abstract

Extract

Dermatophilus congolensis is recognized as the cause of “cutaneous streptothricosis” in cattle — an exudative dermatitis resulting from infection of the superficial layers of the epidermis (as deep as the stratum granulosum). Acute fulminating infections resulting in death are seen, as also are fatal complications such as necrotic or gangrenous dermatitis resulting from secondary bacterial infection (Jubb and Kennedy, 1970 Jubb, K. V. F. and Kennedy, P. C. 1970. Pathology of Domestic Animals, 2nd Ed., Vol. 2, 606–607. New York and London: Academic Press.  [Google Scholar]). A range of inflammatory proliferative lesions of the tongue have been reported also from cases of streptothricosis (Mornet and Thiery, 1955 Mornet, P. and Tbiery, G. 1955. Streptothricose cutanée des bovins. Bull. épiz. Dis. Afr., 23: 302–324.  [Google Scholar]). With the exception of granulomatous lesions of the posterior oral cavity in cats (O'Hara and Cordes, 1963 O'Hara, P. J. and Cordes, D. O. 1963. Granulomata caused by Dermatophilus in two cats. N.Z. vet. J., 11: 151–154. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; Baker etal., 1972 Baker, G. J., Breeze, R. G. and Dawson, C. O. 1972. Oral dermatophilosis in a cat: a case report. J. small Anim. Pract., 13: 649–654. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) infections of other sites with D. congolensis do not appear to have been reported.