EARLY STAGES OF DISEASE OF THE PERIPHERAL PULMONARY ARTERIES IN CANINE DIROFILARIASIS

Peripheral pulmonary arterial disease sometimes associated with immature filariae (larvae) was found in 5 dogs in which infestations of D. Immitis were considered to be relatively recent. Gross and histological arterial lesions were similar to the endarteritis described in association with adult filariae. No adult filariae were associated with these peripheral lesions.     

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF ADULT DIROFILARIA IMMITIS

Dogs infected with D. immitis were treated with oral levamisole hydrochloride at various dose rates over different durations. Clinical toxicity, haematological and biochemical parameters, body weight and food intake were recorded and filarial mortality estimated at autopsy. All filariae were dead in dogs treated at 10 mg/kg body weight twice daily (12 hourly) for 14 days, with minimal clinical toxicity being seen during the treatment period.     

THE USE OF INTRAPERITONEAL FLUID AS A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCING SONOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION OF THE CANINE PANCREAS

Sonographic evaluation of the pancreas was performed in ten healthy research dogs following intraperitoneal fluid administration. Physiological saline solution was aseptically introduced into the peritoneal cavity of each dog to create an acoustic window that would facilitate sonographic delineation of normal pancreatic tissues. Abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed in all dogs before and after the production of the diagnostic hydroperitoneum. Sonograms of the pancreas and other abdominal organs were scored on the basis of image clarity by experienced and novice ultrasonographers. Statistical analysis was then used to compare the effectiveness of each preparation method. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was established between the scores from the diagnostic hydroperitoneum sonograms and the baseline scans performed without intraperitoneal fluid placement. Sonographic visualization scores for the pancreas and other abdominal organs were increased following production of the diagnostic hydroperitoneum. These results indicate that the technique of diagnostic hydroperitoneum will significantly improve ultrasonographic visualization of the pancreas, and may prove useful in the diagnosis of canine pancreatic disease.     

POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CEREBRAL GYRIFICATION IN THE CANINE BRAIN

Data herein provide a reference for the normal development of canine postnatal cerebral cortical morphology. The growth of the canine cerebrum involves the emergence of sulci in a regular sequence of appearance through a number of breeds. The sequential course of sulcus development is constant in all breeds of the same age. The cortical surface is characterized by the full set of sulci at day 14 postpartum. These data will be useful for the investigations into abnormal canine cerebral cortex development.