Dermatitis associated with Cheyletiella infestation in cats.

Cheyletiella sp mites were isolated from 8 cats with pruritic dermatitis characterized by erythematous papules or increased scaling. Lesions cleared after treatments with malathion (dips) or pyrethrin (shampoos).     

Biliary cystadenoma in a Maltese dog: clinical and diagnostic findings

A 14-year-old Maltese dog presented for complete medical examination due to intermittent vomiting and diarrhea observed during the previous two days. A single, solitary, lobulated cystic mass was observed in the liver upon ultrasonographic and computed tomographic examination. After surgical hepatic resection to remove the mass, histological examination revealed a multilocular cyst lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells, which is consistent with biliary cystadenoma. Here, we report the clinical, clinicopathological, histopathological, and diagnostic imaging findings of biliary cystadenoma in a dog.     

Visceral leishmaniasis in a dog: clinical, hematological and pathological observations.

Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed in a dog that had been living with his owners in Spain for two years. Clinical diagnosis was somewhat delayed as the disease is largely unknown to Canada and was manifested by a nonresponsive anemia which was not easily explained on peripheral blood evaluation alone, and concomitant interstitial nephritis. On post mortem examination splenomegaly was the main gross pathological finding. Light microscopic examination of bone marrow aspirates and subsequent electron microscopic examination of splenic and hepatic tissues revealed numerous Leishman-Donovan bodies in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Parasitized reticuloendothelial cells were seen singly or forming granulomata. These latter did not contain giant cells and were confined mainly to the liver and spleen, being sparse and single in the first but extremely numerous and coalescing in the latter. Accumulation of intrafollicular hyaline material was seen in a small number of splenic follicles. Leishman-Donovan bodies on electron microscopic examination had a trilaminar periplast, a large round nucleus with heavy blocks of marginated chromatin and two nucleoli, a short flagellum and a kinetoplast. Lymph nodes and bone marrow had numerous parasitized macrophages but no granulomata. Leishman-Donovan bodies were not detected in the lungs and kidneys both of which exhibited a chronic intersitital reaction. The comparative hematological profile as well as the importance of bone marrow and electron microscopic examinations of the spleen and liver in diagnosis are discussed. The potential public health hazard of leishmaniasis to North America and particularly to Canada is considered.     

Atypical time course of clinical signs in a dog poisoned by strychnine

The general health of a German shepherd dog had deteriorated slightly when it was found after being loose for one hour. After 10 hours of observation, the dog showed signs of pain for the first time and signs of poisoning, such as tenseness of muscles, slight opisthotonus, regurgitation, salivation, mydriasis, dyspnoea and cyanosis, were observed; it died 15 minutes after showing the first clinical signs but it had no seizures or tetanic spasms at any time. A postmortem examination did not reveal any pathological changes. A screening test for alkaloids was positive for strychnine (strychnidin-10-one). The presence of strychnine was confirmed and its concentration was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in urine (728.5 ng/ml) and in the stomach contents (44.6m microg/g). No strychnine was detected in the dog's serum, but traces of brucine (2,3-dimethoxystrychnidin-10-one), the dimethoxy derivative of strychnine, were detected. This case was compared with other strychnine poisonings recorded in the authors' laboratory over the previous six years, taking into account the species, type of samples, the clinical signs and their duration, the postmortem findings, and the concentrations of strychnine. This was the only case to show such an atypical time course of clinical signs.     

Pneumotharax due to Filaroides osleri infestation in the dog

This article describes the occurrence of Filaroides osleri infestation in a 11/2 year-old male Miniature Schnauzer dog in which the presenting sign was recurrent pneumothorax, Diagnosis was made by direct visualization of the lesions caused by the parasite at bronchoscopic examination. Successful treatment consisted of endobronchial removal of the obstructing nodules. The unusual presenting signs exhibited by the dog are discussed in the light of current knowledge of the disease.
Résumé . Cet article décrit l'apparition d'infestation 'Filaroides' osleri dans un chien Schnauzer-nain mâle âgé d'un an et demi dans lequel le signe apparent se traduisait par un pneumothorax périodique. On a fait le diagnostique par une observation visuelle directe des lésions causées par le parasite à l'examen bronchoscopique. Le traitement qui a réussi a consisté en l'enlèvement endobronchique des nodules obstructifs. Les signes rares montrés par le chien sont discutés à la lumière de la connaissance actuelle de la maladie.
Zusammenfassung . Dieser Artikel beschreibt das Vorkommen des Befalls 'Filaroides osleri' in einem Kleinschnauzer Hund, der eineinhalb Jahre alt ist, in dem das sichbare Zeichen, wiederkehrender Pheumathode war. Die Diagnose wirt von director Sichtbarmachung der Verletzungen gemacht, die vom Parasit in bronchoscopisher Untersuchung verursachten. Die glückliche Behandlung bestand aus inner bronchialer Abtrennung der verstopfenden Knötchen. Die aussergewöhnliche Zeichen vorzeigten vom Hund, werden im Lichte vom laufenden Wissen der Krankheit besprochen.     

Oestrus ovis infestation of a dog in the UK

In March 2011, a dog on a sheep farm in the Cotswolds, UK, expelled a mature live third-stage larva of the sheep nasal botfly, Oestrus ovis, after a violent and traumatic sneezing episode. The dog had been infected with first-stage larvae deposited by an adult fly the previous autumn; larval development had progressed throughout the winter and spring with few apparent clinical signs and possibly masked by ongoing immunotherapy for an unrelated condition. Identification of the parasite at the Liverpool School of Veterinary Science was made from a submitted puparium, the "chrysalis" stage to which the larva had progressed within days of its expulsion from dog's nose. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of nasal botfly infestation of a dog in the UK.     

The relationship between clinical signs and brain herniation associated with rostrotentorial mass lesions in the dog

Retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings in a referral population of dogs was used to determine the relationship between rostrotentorial space-occupying lesions and the development of secondary neurological signs. Brain herniation was detected in 54/153 cases of uni-focal rostrotentorial space-occupying lesions; of these 30 had caudal transtentorial herniation (CTH) and 24 had both transtentorial and foramen magnum herniation (CTH/FMH). Masses associated with herniation were larger and situated more dorsally and caudally within the cranial vault. Clinical signs classically associated with CTH, e.g., oculomotor nerve palsy, were seen in only one case of isolated CTH and seven (14%) of all herniation cases. Deficits in caudal cranial nerve function were detectable in 39% of cases with FMH. We conclude that severe shifts in brain parenchyma can exist in the absence of detectable localising signs.     

Some observations on the sero-prevalence of heartwater and tick infestation in Zambian goats

A survey was carried out to define the distribution of heartwater in goats that originated from six districts in communal grazing semi-arid areas of Zambia. A total of 181 samples (40.1%) out of 451 serum samples from adult goats were positive for Ehrlichia ruminantium antibodies after screening using indirect MAP-1B antigen ELISA technique with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) between the six districts. Out of 1 036 adult goats examined for tick infestation, 105 were infested by ticks, with Amblyomma species being the most dominant tick encountered. Amblyomma variegatum, which is the vector for heartwater transmission in Zambia constituted 42.4% of the tick species, identified. The overall tick infestation rate was 10% while the tick:goat ratio was 2.1:1. Amblyomma variegatum appears to be widespread throughout the study area, as are antibodies to E. ruminantium.     

Food hypersensitivity dermatitis in the dog: diagnostic possibilities

Dogs with food hypersensitivity usually develop chronic pruritic dermatoses virtually indistinguishable from atopic dermatitis. These reactions are often called food allergy but the pathogenesis is poorly characterized. Several studies have addressed the incidence of canine adverse reactions to food but the outcomes were conflicting. The gold standard for the diagnosis of such a condition is the restricted dietary trial and the subsequent provocation challenge. Some attempts have been made to develop serological tests but none of these tests accurately predicted canine food sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of food hypersensitivity dermatitis and to evaluate a newly developed serological test for the diagnosis of food allergy in dogs. Only 9% of 55 dogs with dermatological signs compatible with food hypersensitivity or atopic dermatitis have been diagnosed as food hypersensitive dogs.The repeatability of the serological test has shown to be insufficient.     

Clinical signs and diagnosis of atopic disease in the dog

Atopic disease in dogs is caused by hypersensitivity to foods and/or environmental allergens. The sensitivity is caused by immunoglobulin E which attaches to the surface of basophils and mast cells, causing degranu–lation and discharge of vasoactive amines. The amines cause vasodili–tation, increased vascular permeability, smooth muscle contraction, glandular secretion and nerve irritability.
The clinical signs are redness, swelling, pruritus, and if the condition persists or becomes chronic, there is usually rash thickening and often pigmentation and lichenification of the affected areas.
The various causes of atopic disease are enumerated followed by a discussion of a systematic diagnostic approach to identify the problem and the specific cause(s) of the problem.     

Cattle lice in New Zealand: observations on the prevalence,distribution and seasonal patterns of infestation

Studies were made of the louse populations on 364 cattle of various ages and breeds in 19 herds. Eleven herds were infested with Damalinia bovis and 15 with Linognathus vituli. Neither Haematopinus eurysternus nor Solenopotes capillatus were encountered though both have been recorded in New Zealand. D. bovis and L. vituli occur throughout New Zealand with D. bovis more prevalent on beef breeds and L. vituli on dairy breeds.

In herds where observations covered the entire winter it appeared that L. vituli populations tended to peak earlier June/ July than those of D. bovis August/September.

Both species were most abundant on animals of up to approximately one year of age; only older cattle that were diseased or inadequately fed carried substantial burdens.

Within herds, lighter cattle tended to carry more lice than heavier ones. Animals kept on a low plane of nutrition were more heavily infested than those on a higher plane.