Online small animal case simulations, a.k.a. the Virtual Veterinary Clinic

Six years of experience at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine using an online, asynchronous, problem-solving small animal case simulation tool are presented. Student satisfaction with the online problem-solving experience was high, and the majority of students felt that the experience was realistic and worthwhile. The effort required to keep the experience realistic required a large investment of time by instructors, which ultimately led to discontinuation of the online course. A summary of features to consider when creating case simulations is presented.     

Cholecystadenocarcinoma in a cat.

A malignant neoplastic process originating from gall bladder epithelium was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat. The tumor produced widespread pulmonary and lymphatic metastases. The clinical and pathological manifestations are described. Neoplasia arising from the gall bladder epithelium is rarely reported in animals.     

Phycomycosis in a dog.

Chronic vomiting in a 2-year-old dog was suspected to be due to a neoplasm of the stomach wall. During exploratory laparotomy, a lymph node from the pyloric area was examined microscopically. Inasmuch as neoplastic cells or evidence of metastasis were not found, all visibly involved tissue was removed surgically. A diagnosis of phycomycosis was then established by histologic evaluation of the tissue removed. It was concluded that diagnosis of this disease is important inasmuch as it may be treated successfully, in contrast to the situation with malignant neoplastic conditions, which it grossly resembles.     

Agammaglobulinemia in a horse.

Immunologic deficiency was suspected in an 18-month-old Standardbred horse with persistent fever, multifocal bacterial infection, and neutropenia with a large number of immature neutrophils. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed marked depression of the gamma-globulin fraction (0.2 g/100 ml). Immunologic testing and histologic examination of lymphoid tissues identified the immune deficit as agammaglobulinemia. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgG(T) were initially low and declined with time; IgM and IgA were not detectable. The horse failed to produce antibodies when inoculated with foreign antigens but had a positive cell-mediated skin reaction to intradermal phytolectin injection, and lymphocytes responded normally to in vitro stimulation by mitogens. Histologic examination of lymphoid tissues revealed absence of germinal centers and plasma cells.     

Trombiculosis in a cat.

Trombiculosis (dermatitis caused by trombiculid mites) in a Domestic Shorthair cat was characterized by diffuse thickening and crusting of the skin of the abdomen and limbs and by multiple papules on the face, ears, and sides of the trunk. Skin biopsy revealed acanthosis and hyperkeratosis involving the epidermis and hair follicles, mites in epidermal tunnels, and edema of the dermis, with infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells. Mites from skin scrapings were identified as Walchia americana. The cat was treated systemically with a broad-spectrum antibiotic and topically with a carbaryl and pyrethrin powder preparation. The lesions were resolved within 2 months.     

Toxoplasmosis in a calf.

Gross post mortem and histopathological changes are described in a calf with toxoplasmosis. The major pathological changes were restricted to the lungs and kidneys and comprised interstitial pneumonia with multifocal necrosis, and glomerular necrosis. Many pseudocysts were present in both organs. The calf had been in close contact with young cats, one of which was killed and examined and shown to have a high antibody titre to Toxoplasma gondii, although there was little histological evidence of infection. No antibodies to toxoplasma were detected in serum from the dam of the calf, and accordingly, it is suggested that the cat was the source of infection for the calf.     

Rhinosporidiosis in a cat.

A polypoid nasal mass from an adult cat was submitted for routine biopsy examination and was found to contain sporangia and sporangiospores consistent with Rhinosporidium seeberi. Inflammatory infiltrates were moderate and pyogranulomatous to lymphohistiocytic and were associated with hyperplasia of the transitional nasal epithelium. Apparently, this is the first reported case of rhinosporidiosis in a cat.