Melanocytic glaucoma in a cairn terrier

Melanocytic glaucoma, previously known as pigmentary glaucoma, is characterized by diffuse intraocular infiltration of heavily pigmented melanocytes. This unusual ocular disorder has been documented only in the cairn terrier and is considered familial. Treatment strategies are based on evidence that the condition is slowly progressive but not neoplastic.     

Abnormal ocular pigment deposition and glaucoma in the dog

The combined occurrence of ocular pigment deposition and glaucoma has been described in Cairn Terriers. Recently, this condition was also observed in two other breeds: the Boxer (two cases) and the Labrador Retriever (one case). Six dogs were referred to the Ophthalmology section of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals and to a private referral clinic because of glaucoma or blindness in one or both eyes. In five cases ophthalmic examination showed pigment depositions in the sclera around the entire circumference of the perilimbal zone. Eight enucleated eyes (four eyes of two Cairn Terriers, three eyes of two Boxers and one eye of a Labrador Retriever) were examined microscopically. All eyes showed the same findings: an extensive infiltration of large melanin-containing cells with an eccentric nucleus, located in the iris, ciliary body, retina, choroids and sclera. Transmission electron microscopy of two of the examined eyes revealed that the morphology of most of these cells was consistent with melanophages. While reports in the veterinary literature concerning this condition are limited the cells concerned have been described to be melanocytes. Further research is needed to conclusively identify the cell type. As described in the present report, the histologic and transmission electron microscopic findings suggest a different etiology of the ocular pigment deposition and glaucoma compared with the pigment dispersal syndrome in humans.     

A progressive neuronopathy in the young cairn terrier

The clinical signs and neuropathological changes of a nervous disease of pedigree cairn terriers are described. Three animals, of both sexes, between five and seven months of age showed hind leg weakness, quadriparesis, ataxia, loss of superficial and deep reflexes and tremor of the head. Pathologically there was chromatolysis of neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem. Although Wallerian-type degeneration was present in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, its severity did not correlate with the intensity of the neuronal changes. This suggests that the chromatolysis observed may reflect a primary neuronal abnormality rather than represent a secondary change resulting from a primary degeneration of peripheral axons. Although the age of onset and some of the clinical signs are similar to those seen with globoid cell leucodystrophy (an inherited disease which also affects cairn terriers), the presence of lower motor neuron paralysis and the absence of signs of severe brain involvement in progressive neuronopathy should enable the conditions to be distinguished clinically.     

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a Scottish terrier associated with gastric dilation

A case of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in an eight-month-old Scottish terrier associated with gastric dilation is reported,     

Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia associated with angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a Jack Russell terrier

A twenty-month-old Jack Russell terrier was presented with a four-day history of thrombocytopenia, echymotic inguinal haemorrhages, coughing and reduced exercise tolerance. Clinical examination revealed several petechial haemorrhages on the gingivae and small echymotic haemorrhages in the inguinal region, along with mild bilateral epistaxis. Haematology confirmed a platelet count of 1.0 × 10/L. Thoracic radiographs revealed a wide-spread mixed alveolar-interstitial lung pattern, apparent throughout the entire lungfield, but particularly marked within the left lung lobes. A presumptive diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia was made and the dog was treated with vincristine and immunosuppressive doses of prednisolone. Initially anaemia developed following gastrointestinal haemorrhage; however, after symptomatic treatment the dog showed a marked clinical improvement. Evaluation for an underlying cause of the disease revealed Angiostrongylus vasorum L1 larvae on faecal analysis and treatment with fenbendazole was commenced. The dog made a full clinical recovery with all treatment was withdrawn within five weeks of diagnosis. This is the second report of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection and it is the first to be successfully managed. The report highlights that Angiostrongylus vasorum should be considered in young dogs presented with thrombocytopenia.     

Gonioscopy in dogs and cats with glaucoma and ocular tumours

Iridocorneal angle abnormalities were detected by gonioscopy in five dogs and one cat with glaucoma and intraocular neoplasms. Gonioscopic photographs and the histological abnormalities were compared in the neoplasia cases (the cat and two dogs). Congenital mesodermal, iridocorneal angle anomalies may occur more frequently in canine glaucoma than previously suspected.
Résumé. La gonioscopie a permis de déceler des anomalies de l'angle irido-corntén chez cinq chiens et un chat atteints de glaucome et de néoplasies intraoculaires. Les photographies gonioscopiques et les anomalies histologiques ont été comparées chez les animaux porteurs de néoplasmes (le chat et deux chiens). Des anomalies mésodermiques congénitales de l'angle irido-cornéen peuvent s'observer dans le glaucome du chien dans une proportion de cas plus grande qu'on ne l'admettait jusqu'ici.
Zusammenfassung. Mittels Gonioskopie wurden bei fünf Hunden und einer Katze mit Glaukom und intraokularen Neoplasmen iridocorneale Winkelanomalien festgestellt. Die gonioskopischen Photographien und die histologischen Anomalien wurden in den Neoplasmen-Fällen (die Katze und zwei Hunde) verglichen. Kongenitale mesodermale Anomalien des iridocornealen Winkels können beim Glaukom des Hundes haufiger auftreten als bisher angenommen wurde.     

Gastric carcinoma associated with Menetrier's‐like disease in a West Highland white terrier

A seven‐year‐old West Highland white terrier was presented for chronic vomiting associated with mild regenerative anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Further examination showed a giant polypoid cerebriform mass located in the lesser curvature of the stomach. Partial gastrectomy was performed and histology was consistent with hypertrophic gastritis with typical features of Ménétrier's disease. Five years after surgery, the dog was re‐examined for recurrence of vomiting episodes. Endoscopy showed ulceration of the lesser curvature of the stomach and histological analysis revealed a poorly differentiated superficial gastric carcinoma surrounded by hypertrophic gastritis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the second time that coexistence of these two types of lesions is reported, suggesting that recurrence of gastritis could be the starting point of the tumoural process.     

Protein-losing nephropathy associated with Borrelia burgdorferi seropositivity in a soft-coated wheaten terrier: Response to therapy

A soft-coated wheaten terrier was examined for lameness with subsequent identification of protein-losing nephropathy, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and seroconversion to Borrelia burgdorferi. Following doxycycline therapy, the urine protein loss decreased significantly and serum albumin concentration remained close to or within the reference interval for over 3 years, contrary to the reported poor prognosis for renal disease associated with B. burgdorferi or protein-losing nephropathy of soft-coated wheaten terriers.     

Posterior lens luxation with associated glaucoma in a pony

Secondary lens luxation is an infrequent consequence of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). This Case Report describes a pony with posterior lens luxation with associated glaucoma, thought to be secondary to ERU.     

Amphibian ocular malformation associated with frog virus 3

During an on-going amphibian ecology study, a free-ranging American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) metamorph was captured in a pitfall trap adjacent to a constructed farm pond at the Plateau Research and Education Center (PREC) on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tennessee, USA. Grossly, the right eye was approximately 50% the size of the left. Stereo and light microscopic examination revealed two granulomas within the orbit. Electron microscopic examination revealed virus particles scattered throughout one structure but mostly aggregated toward the center. Subsequent PCR and sequencing (GenBank accession Number EF175670) confirmed frog virus 3 (FV3). This represents the first report of a malformation in an anuran associated with FV3.     

不同动物促生长剂对黄鸡色素沉积作用的研究

最近的一系列研究发现 ,某些动物促生长剂对促进类胡萝卜素在内的大分子在消化道内的吸收有特殊增强作用 (Ｗｉｃｈｅｒ等 ,1 977;Ｍｏｒｉｔａ等 ,1 994;Ｔｏｚａｋｉ,1 998;Ｙａｍａｍｏｔｏ等 ,1 994;Ｇｏｔｏｈ等 ,1 995;陈波等 1 999)。本试验的目的是以类胡萝卜素为研究对象 ,比较 3种动物促生长剂对大分子在动物肠道吸收的促进作用 ,并初步探讨其作用机理。1　材料与方法1 1　试验动物　本试验选用 40 0羽 1 7日龄健康商品代黄羽肉鸡 (安卡红×江村黄杂交 ) ,平均体重 2 4 0ｇ,试验分 5个组 ,每组设 4个重复 ,每个重复 2 0羽。1 2…     

Abnormal canine bone development associated with hypergravity exposure.

Chronic centrifugation of 85- to 92-day-old Beagles at 2.0 X g and 2.6 X g for 26 weeks during the time of active skeletal growth caused skeletal abnormalities in the radius and the ulna of ten of 11 dogs. The pattern of change mimicked that found in naturally occurring and experimentally induced premature distal ulnar physeal closure or delayed growth at this physis. Minimal changes in bone density were detected by sensitive photon absorptiometric techniques. Skeletal abnormalities also were found in five of the six cage-control dogs, although the run-control dogs were radiographically normal.     

Pathology of ocular lesions associated with gas supersaturation in white seabass

Cultured juvenile white seabass Atractoscion nobilis (WSB) can suffer from intraocular emphysemas and exophthalmia in the hatchery environment. To identify the cause, two size-groups of WSB were exposed to five gas saturation levels, ranging from 98% to 122% total gas pressure (TGP), over a 96-h exposure period in 18 degrees C and 23 degrees C seawater. Histological examination revealed that the gross and subgross lesions associated with gas supersaturation included corneal and orbital emphysema, along with subretinal, optic nerve, and iridial hemorrhage. Corneal emphysema was the most prominent gross lesion, with the severity and prevalence increasing between size-groups and water temperatures as TGP increased. Following the same pattern was orbital emphysema, which affected more than 93% of the fish examined and caused hemorrhage in the subretinal space, around the optic nerve, in the iris, or a combination thereof. Iridial hemorrhage occurred in 91% of the fish examined and decreased significantly with fish size. The prevalence and severity of hemorrhage in the subretinal space increased significantly with TGP and fish size but not with temperature. Optic nerve hemorrhage was absent in small fish exposed at 18 degrees C but increased significantly with temperature and fish size. The reverse was true for the large fish.