Lymphangiosarcoma with systemic metastases in a Japanese domestic cat

A 4-year-2-month-old female Japanese domestic cat was diagnosed with lymphangiosarcoma through tissue biopsy of an amputated leg. Two months later, the cat was euthanized, and postmortem findings revealed edema, and bruising at the caudal region of the trunk, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary nodules and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Microscopically, neoplastic tissues were observed in the dermis and subcutis of the trunk, lung, mediastinal lymph nodes, diaphragm, omentum and mesentery. The tumor cells were spindle to polygonal-shaped with nuclear pleomorphism aligning along pre-existing collagen bundles and forming irregular vascular channels in which the erythrocytes were rarely observed. These cells were immunopositive for vimentin, von Willebrand factor and CD31. Based on the histopathological and immunohistochemical features, the neoplasia was diagnosed as lymphangiosarcoma with systemic metastases.     

Age and body weight effects on glucose and insulin tolerance in colony cats maintained since weaning on high dietary carbohydrate

High dietary carbohydrate is suggested to promote development of diabetes mellitus in cats. Glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion were assessed in young [0.8–2.3 (median = 1.1) years, n = 13] and mature [4.0–7.0 (median 5.8) years, n = 12] sexually intact females of a large (n ? 700) feline colony in which only dry‐type diets (35% metabolizable energy as carbohydrate) were fed from weaning. Insulin sensitivity was assessed from the ‘late‐phase’ (60–120 min) plasma insulin response of intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) and from fractional change in glycaemia from baseline 15 min after an insulin bolus (0.1 U/kg, i.v.). Insulin secretion was assessed from the ‘early‐phase’ (0–15 min) plasma insulin response of IVGTTs. Compared to the young cats, the mature cats had greater body weights [2.3–3.8 (median = 2.9) vs. 3.0–6.3 (median = 4.0) kg, p < 0.01], greater late‐phase insulin responses (p < 0.05), lower insulin‐induced glycaemic changes (p = 0.06), lower early‐phase insulin responses (p < 0.05), and non‐significantly different rates of glucose disposal. The late‐phase insulin response was correlated with body weight and age (p < 0.05). When group assignments were balanced for body weight, the age‐group differences and correlations became non‐significant. The findings indicate that body weight gain is more likely than dry‐type diets to induce the pre‐diabetic conditions of insulin resistance and secretion dysfunction.     

Therapy of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis in a cat

An 8-year-old, spayed female Domestic Short-haired cat was referred for further evaluation of chronic lymphocytic-plasmacytic stomatitis and bilateral ocular disease. The cat had been treated with systemic glucocorticoids for several months. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral deep stromal corneal ulcers, exudative panuveitis and secondary glaucoma. Mature mild neutrophilia and monocytosis were detected on complete blood cell count. Abnormalities in the serum profile were hyperglycemia, mild azotemia, hyperglobulinemia and moderate polyclonal gammapathy. Urinalysis revealed glucosuria without ketonuria. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed and treatment with long-acting insulin was started. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was highly positive for leishmaniasis, and treatment with allopurinol was started. Although specific topical treatment was applied, melting ulcers progressed to corneal perforation and both eyes were enucleated. Ocular histology showed large numbers of intracellular organisms compatible with amastigotes of the genus Leishmania located in the uveal tract, cornea, sclera and retina. Results of inmunohistochemistry staining on ocular samples were positive for Leishmania. Bone marrow cytology demonstrated numerous macrophages with intracytoplasmatic Leishmania. Polymerase chain reaction results on bone marrow for Leishmania were positive. Three weeks later, hypoglycemic episodes permitted withdrawal of the insulin therapy. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed in vivo and under systemic treatment in a cat.     

Calvaria and orbital metastases of pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma in a cat: a diagnostic challenge

An 11-year-old cat with a 4-month history of lethargy, inappetence, dysphagia, partial mandibular paralysis and weight loss, was euthanized due to the rapid deterioration of his condition. Post-mortem radiographic examination revealed severe bone lysis of the left zygomatic arch, temporal and parietal bones. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed a large isointense mass of the left side of the skull associated with extensive lysis of the parietal and temporal bones and destruction of the adjacent tympanic bulla. Gross and histological examinations revealed a pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma of the left lung, with metastases to the spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes, mesentery, diaphragm, abdominal aorta, left orbit and calvaria. No limb or digit metastases were detected.     

Effects of oral orbifloxacin on fecal coliforms in healthy cats: a pilot study

The study objective was to determine the effect of oral orbifloxacin (ORB) onantimicrobial susceptibility and composition of fecal coliforms in cats. Nine cats wererandomized to two groups administered a daily oral dose of 2.5 and 5.0 mg ORB/kg for 7days and a control group (three cats per group). Coliforms were isolated from stoolsamples and were tested for susceptibilities to ORB and 5 other drugs. ORB concentrationin feces was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The coliformswere undetectable after 2 days of ORB administration, and their number increased in mostcats after termination of the administration. Furthermore, only isolates ofEscherichia coli were detected in all cats before administration, andthose of Citrobacter freundii were detected after termination of theadministration. E. coli isolates exhibited high ORB susceptibility[Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), ≤0.125 µg/ml]or relatively low susceptibility (MIC, 1−2 µg/ml) with asingle gyrA mutation. C. freundii isolates largelyexhibited intermediate ORB susceptibility (MIC, 4µg/ml), in addition to resistance to ampicillin andcefazolin, and harbored qnrB, but not a gyrA mutation.HPLC revealed that the peaks of mean concentration were 61.3 and 141.0µg/g in groups receiving 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively. Our findingssuggest that oral ORB may alter the total counts and composition of fecal coliform, but isunlikely to yield highly fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants of E. coli andC. freundii in cats, possibly because of the high drug concentration infeces.     

Insulin resistance: Relationship between indices during late gestation in dairy cows and effects on newborn metabolism

To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance indices [“Revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index” (RQUICKI; RQ), “Revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index ‐ β‐hydroxybutyrate” (RQUICKI_BHB; RQ_BHB), and “Homeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance” (HOMA‐IR; HR)], and metabolic parameters in dams during late gestation, and their newborn calves. Blood was sampled twice weekly during the experimental period in 30 dry Holstein cows. In calves, blood sampling and body weight measurements were performed immediately after birth, and in 1‐week‐old male calves, liver and muscle biopsy samples were obtained for determining metabolic factor mRNA levels. RQ and RQ_BHB were negatively correlated with insulin, nonesterified fatty acid, BHB, and albumin and were positively correlated with leptin levels in blood during late gestation (p < .05). RQ, rather than RQ_BHB, reflected metabolism of dams, while stronger positive correlations were present between HR and blood insulin concentrations than other parameters, and calves of dams with high HR had low body weight, and high liver and muscle expression of growth hormone and insulin receptor mRNA (p < .05). RQ and HR of dams during late gestation could serve as indicators of dam metabolism and predictors of metabolism in newborn calves respectively.     

Monoblastic leukemia (M5a) with chronic basophilic leukemia in a cat

A cat was presented with depression and anorexia. The complete blood cell count (CBC) revealed non-regenerative anemia (PCV, 8.5%), marked thrombocytopenia (2,400/µl), and leukocytosis (32,090/µl). In the peripheral blood, proliferation of blast cells (85%; 27,276/µl) and basophils (7.7%; 2,460/µl) was observed. Bone marrow aspirate showed hyperplasia with 8.8% blasts and 90.2% basophils of all nucleated cells. The blast cells were negative for myeloperoxidase staining and positive for alpha-naphthol butyrate esterase staining, indicating the agranular blasts are monoblasts. Thus, acute monoblastic leukemia (M5a) with chronic basophilic leukemia was diagnosed. Basophils accounted for more than 40% of the bone marrow, and we diagnosed secondary basophilic leukemia. Secondary basophilic leukemia should be included in the differential list when abnormal basophil increases are observed in feline bone marrow.     

Transient hyperglycaemia in a prediabetic dog treated with prednisone and cyclosporin A

A dog with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia developed transient hyperglycaemia and glucosuria requiring insulin therapy in association with prednisone and cyclosporin A therapy. Following short-term therapy with insulin and cyclosporin A, the dog remained on prednisone therapy but required no further insulin therapy for 12 weeks, at which time the dog became permanently diabetic. We hypothesise that prednisone and cyclosporin A contributed to insulin resistance in a prediabetic dog with suboptimal endogenous insulin concentration and that the degree of insulin resistance decreased when cyclosporin A therapy was discontinued.     

抗猫细小病毒嵌合抗体基因在昆虫细胞中的表达与鉴定

为降低单克隆抗体(MAb)在犬体内的免疫原性,本研究克隆了具有中和猫、犬细小病毒(FPV、CPV)活性的MAb(3EB)的轻、重链可变区基因及犬天然抗体(NAb)轻、重链恒定区基因,通过融合PCR获得鼠-犬嵌合抗体基因。构建能够表达嵌合抗体的重组质粒,经昆虫杆状病毒表达系统对重组嵌合抗体进行表达。SDS-PAGE和western blot试验显示鼠-犬嵌合抗体重链为55ku、轻链为25ku。间接免疫荧光试验显示该嵌合抗体能够与抗犬IgG和FPV特异性结合。上述结果表明,嵌合抗体保留了原MAb3EB对病毒特异结合能力的基础上,将鼠源恒定区替换为犬源NAb的恒定区。病毒中和试验表明嵌合抗体保留了3EB对FPV、CPV的中和活性。本研究首次通过昆虫杆状病毒表达系统表达了抗FPV、CPV的嵌合抗体,降低了原MAb的免疫原性,对FPV、CPV病临床治疗用抗体药物的研制具有重要指导意义。     

用抗体水平探索矮小蛋鸡对禽流感抗力的研究

为了探索矮小蛋鸡经选育后对禽流感的抗性及培育高抗病品系,试验采用测定抗体效价的方法,比较了矮小蛋鸡和普通蛋鸡及同品种内不同家系对禽流感H5N1的抗病力。结果表明:矮小蛋鸡和普通蛋鸡对禽流感的抗病力无显著差异,而在同一品种内,矮小鸡的43家系和普通鸡的61家系对禽流感的抗病力最强,且产蛋数和蛋重未下降。说明矮小蛋鸡经选育后,并未造成其对禽流感抗病力的降低,同时还可以不断选育高抗病力的家系来提高群体的抗病力。     

母猪猪瘟病毒抗体与仔猪母源抗体衰减规律的研究

为了研究仔猪猪瘟病毒(CSFV)母源抗体的衰减规律,本研究随机选择36头待产母猪,产后采血,选择每头母猪对应的仔猪连续采血至8周龄,分离血清,通过ELISA方法检测CSFV抗体阻断率,所测结果利用EXCEL拟合指数曲线,计算分析母猪CSFV抗体水平与仔猪母源抗体衰减规律。结果显示,36头母猪中母猪抗体阻断率80%以上6头,母猪抗体阻断率70%~79%的11头,母猪抗体阻断率60%~69%的8头,母猪抗体阻断率50%~59%的5头,母猪抗体阻断率49%以下的6头。3周龄仔猪抗体阻断率整体与母猪抗体阻断率相近且高度相关,相关系数为99%。母猪抗体阻断率在80%以上时,母源抗体对所产仔猪8周龄时仍然具有保护力;母猪抗体阻断率在70%~79%时,母源抗体对所产仔猪7周龄时不再具有保护力;母猪抗体阻断率在60%~69%时,母源抗体对所产仔猪5周龄时不再具有保护力;母猪抗体阻断率在50%~59%时,母源抗体对所产仔猪4周龄时不再具有保护力;母猪抗体阻断率49%以下时,母源抗体对所产仔猪3周龄时不再具有保护力。以上结果表明仔猪母源CSFV抗体随着仔猪周龄的增加逐渐衰减,由试验得出仔猪猪瘟疫苗首免日龄的计算公式:y=1.19x-46.55(x为母猪CSFV抗体阻断率,y为首免日龄)。因此,母猪抗体阻断率在80%以上时,仔猪母源抗体在60日龄不再具有保护力,仔猪猪瘟疫苗首免为56日龄;母猪抗体阻断率在70%~79%时,母源抗体对仔猪的保护持续到50日龄,仔猪猪瘟疫苗首免为42日龄;母猪抗体阻断率在60%~69%时和50%~59%时,母源抗体对仔猪的保护持续至36日龄和29日龄,仔猪猪瘟疫苗首免分别为28日龄和21日龄。本研究中所得母猪CSFV抗体水平计算母源抗体衰减变化,为选择母猪首免日龄,提高仔猪猪瘟疫苗免疫效果提供了科学依据。     

GM1 gangliosidosis in a Japanese domestic cat: a new variant identified in Hokkaido,Japan

A male Japanese domestic cat with retarded growth in Hokkaido, Japan, showed progressive motor dysfunction, such as ataxia starting at 3 months of age and tremors, visual disorder and seizure after 4 months of age. Finally, the cat died of neurological deterioration at 9 months of age. Approximately half of the peripheral blood lymphocytes had multiple abnormal vacuoles. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bisymmetrical hyperintensity in the white matter of the parietal and occipital lobes in the forebrain on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and mild encephalatrophy of the olfactory bulbs and temporal lobes. The activity of lysosomal acid β-galactosidase in leukocytes was negligible, resulting in the biochemical diagnosis of GM1 gangliosidosis. Histologically, swollen neurons characterized by accumulation of pale, slightly granular cytoplasmic materials were observed throughout the central nervous system. Dysmyelination or demyelination and gemistocytic astrocytosis were observed in the white matter. Ultrastructually, membranous cytoplasmic bodies were detected in the lysosomes of neurons. However, genetic analysis did not identify the c.1448G>C mutation, which is the single known mutation of feline GM1 gangliosidosis, suggesting that the cat was affected with a new variant of the feline disease.     

Measurement of C‐peptide concentrations and responses to somatostatin,glucose infusion,and insulin resistance in horses

Reasons for performing study: Hyperinsulinaemia is detected in horses with insulin resistance (IR) and has previously been attributed to increased pancreatic insulin secretion. Connecting peptide (C‐peptide) can be measured to assess pancreatic function because it is secreted in equimolar amounts with insulin and does not undergo hepatic clearance. Hypothesis: A human double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) detects C‐peptide in equine serum and concentrations would reflect responses to different stimuli and conditions. Methods: A validation procedure was performed to assess the RIA. Six mature mares were selected and somatostatin administered i.v. as a primed continuous rate infusion, followed by 50 nmol human C‐peptide i.v. Insulin and C‐peptide concentrations were measured in horses (n = 6) undergoing an insulin‐modified frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test, and in horses with insulin resistance (n = 10) or normal insulin sensitivity (n = 20). Results: A human RIA was validated for use with equine sera. Endogenous C‐peptide secretion was suppressed by somatostatin and median (range) clearance rate was 0.83 (0.15–1.61) ml/min/kg bwt. Mean ± s.d. C‐peptide‐to‐insulin ratio significantly (P = 0.004) decreased during the glucose tolerance test from 3.60 ± 1.95 prior to infusion to 1.03 ± 0.18 during the first 20 min following dextrose administration. Median C‐peptide and insulin concentrations were 1.5‐ and 9.5‐fold higher, respectively in horses with IR, compared with healthy horses. Conclusions: Endogenous C‐peptide secretion decreases in response to somatostatin and increases after dextrose infusion. Results suggest that relative insulin clearance decreases as pancreatic secretion increases in response to dextrose infusion. Hyperinsulinaemia in insulin resistant horses may be associated with both increased insulin secretion and decreased insulin clearance. Potential relevance: Both C‐peptide and insulin concentrations should be measured to assess pancreatic secretion and insulin clearance in horses.     

Porencephaly in dogs and cats: relationships between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and hippocampal atrophy

Porencephaly is the congenital cerebral defect and a rare malformation and described few MRI reports in veterinary medicine. MRI features of porencephaly are recognized the coexistence with the unilateral/bilateral hippocampal atrophy, caused by the seizure symptoms in human medicine. We studied 2 dogs and 1 cat with congenital porencephaly to characterize the clinical signs and MRI, and to discuss the associated MRI with hippocampal atrophy. The main clinical sign was the seizure symptoms, and all had hippocampal atrophy at the lesion side or the larger defect side. There is association between hippocampal atrophy or the cyst volume and the severe of clinical signs, and it is suggested that porencephaly coexists with hippocampal atrophy as well as humans in this study.     

绿头鸭卵黄硒含量与禽流感新城疫病毒抗体滴度关系探讨

绿头鸭(Anas platyrhynchos)是大庆龙凤湿地的优势物种,为研究绿头鸭卵黄硒含量与病毒抗体之间的相关关系,采用血凝抑制试验及原子荧光光谱法(AFS)检测105枚绿头鸭卵黄内硒含量及H1、H5、H9亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)和新城疫病毒(NDV)抗体。结果表明,卵黄硒含量为0.48μg/g±0.15μg/g;卵黄内H1、H5、H9亚型AIV和NDV抗体阳性率分别为:100%、59.05%、71.43%、68.57%;其评价抗体滴度分别为:6.17log2、2.89log2、3.34log2、4.22log2。经相关分析结果表明,卵黄内H1、H5、H9亚型AIV和NDV抗体滴度与卵黄硒含量的相关系数分别为:0.077、0.714、0.690、0.611。由此可见,龙凤湿地绿头鸭种群卵黄硒含量与相关病毒抗体之间呈明显的正相关,说明硒元素对动物机体抗病毒能力起到一定的增强作用。