Semen evaluation in the Beagle dog

Using standard techniques, semen was collected from six normal Beagles, aged 1–2 years, at monthly intervals on seven occasions. The mean value of ejaculate was 3.1 ml, and the mean sperm count was 47.7 million/ml. Libido was maintained over the experimental period and the results were consistent throughout.
Résumé. Au moyen des méthodes habituelles, on a fait sept prélèvements, espacés d'un mois, de spermatozoïdes de six chiens beagles courants normaux, âgés de 1 à 2 ans. Le volume moyen de l'éjaculation était de 3,1 ml et le compte moyen était de 47,7 millions/ml. La libido a persisté pendant la période expérimentale et les résultats étaient consistants tout au long.
Zusammenfassung. Unter Venvendung von Standardmethoden wurde Sperma von sechs normalen Beagle-Rüden im Alter von 1–2 Jahren in monatlichen Abständen bei sieben Untersuchungen gewonnen. Die mittlere Ejakulatmenge betrug 3, l ml, und die rnittlere Spermienzahl 47,7 Millionen/ml. Die Libido blieb während der ganzen Versuchsperiode erhalten, und die Ergebnisse waren ebenfalls konsistent.     

Intraocular pressures in the Beagle dog

Using a Schiotz tonometer, measurements of intraocular pressure were made on 128 conscious Beagles of 5–36 months and on twelve anaesthetized Beagles aged 3–5 years. The normal range of pressures was between 10 and 31 mm Hg; up to 3 years no significant age or sex differences were found.
Résumé. L'auteur a mesuré à l'aide d'un tonomètre Schiotz la pression oculaire de 128 chiens beagles éveillés, âgés de 5 à 36 mois, et de douze chiens beagles anesthésiés, âgés de 3 à 5 ans. La tension normale oscille entre 10 et 31 mm Hg; jusqu'à l'âge de 3 ans, on n'observe aucune différence significative suivant l'âge ou le sexe.
Zusammenfassung. Unter Verwendung des Schiötzschen Tonometers wurden Messungen des Augeninnendrucks an 128 nicht narkotisierten Beagle-Hunden im Alter von 5 bis 36 Monaten und an zwölf narkotisierten Beagle-Hunden im Alter von 3–5 Jahren durchgeführt. Der normale Druckbereich lag zwischen 10 und 31 mm Hg; bis zum Alter von 3 Jahren wurden keine signifikanten Alters— oder Geschlechtsunterschiede dabei festgestellt.     

Intraocular haemorrhage in the Beagle dog

Vitreous haemorrhage is described in the Beagle dog. Résumé. On décrit une hémorragie vitreuse chez le Briquet. Zusammenfassung. Glasartige Blutung ist im kleinen Spürhund beschrieben.     

Age changes in the eyes of the Beagle dog

Changes with age in the eyes of Beagle dogs are described clinically and histologically. Lenticular changes involve increased prominence of the posterior lens sutures and opacity within the fetal nucleus. Cystoid degeneration of the retina was found in 85% of 8–year–old animals examined. A pigmentary change of the retina was found to be associated with focal degenerative change of the tapetum. No case of retinal atrophy was recorded.     

Unilateral ocular subalbinism in a laboratory Beagle dog

Blue discoloration of the iris was found in the left eye of a male laboratory Beagle dog, which had a normal tricolor coat and clinically showed no visual impairment. Ophthalmoscopically, the affected eye revealed red-colored tigroid fundus, in which no tapetum was present. The retinal vasculature and the optic disc showed no noticeable changes. Histopathologically, in the left eye melanocytes had extremely few melanin granules in the anterior segment, including the anterior border layer, in the stroma and sphincter muscle of the iris and in the stroma of the ciliary body and choroid. However, the posterior pigment epithelium of the iris, the pigment epithelium of the ciliary body and the retinal pigment epithelium showed normal pigmentation. The tapetal elements were completely absent. Number and distribution of the S-100 protein-positive melanocytes with or without melanin granules in the iris, ciliary body and choroid of the left eye were similar to those of the normal right eye. Ultrastructurally, melanocytes in the anterior segment of the affected iris possessed no or few melanosomes which were incompletely melanized. In the right eye, no abnormal features were observed. Based on these results, the present case was diagnosed as unilateral ocular subalbinism with tapetal aplasia in a Beagle dog.     

An unusual case of retinal atrophy in the Beagle dog

A case of retinal atrophy is described.
Résumé. On décrit un cas d'atrophie de la rétine.
Zusammenfassung. Ein Fall von Netzhautatrophie wird beschrieben.     

Fascicular nerve biopsy in the dog

A nerve fascicular biopsy technique that preserves the functional integrity of the parent nerve is reported in the dog. Fascicular biopsies from ulnar and peroneal nerves did not produce clinical sensory or motor deficits. Electrodiagnostic testing for the modalities of latency, duration, amplitude, and conduction velocities were not markedly altered after fascicular biopsies. Morphometric analysis of muscle fiber types, delineated by histochemic techniques, revealed no statistical (P greater than 0.05) difference between muscles from biopsied or control limbs. Fascicular biopsies resulted in small neuromas in all dogs.     

Bioavailability of four slow-release theophylline formulations in the Beagle dog

Theophylline was administered to six Beagles intravenously (Aminophyllin Injectable, Searle Laboratories) and orally as four sustained-release formulations (Choledyl -SA Tablets, Parke-Davis; Theo-Dur Tablets, Key Pharmaceuticals; Theo-24 Capsules, Searle Laboratories, and Slo-bid Gyrocaps, William H. Rorer, Inc.). Values were determined for mean residence time, mean absorption time, absolute bioavailability, time to peak plasma concentration, and peak plasma concentration normalized to a theophylline dose of 20 mg/kg. In this order the values found for each formulation were: Choledyl (10.2 +/- 1.8 h, 2.8 +/- 2.2 h, 63 +/- 10%, 3.9 +/- 1.0 h, 10 +/- 1.1 micrograms/ml), Theo-Dur (12.1 +/- 5.2 h, 4.9 +/- 5.3 h, 76 +/- 18% 4.7 +/- 3.1 h, 12 +/- 3.7 micrograms/ml), Theo-24 (15.6 +/- 8.9 h, 8.1 +/- 8.4 h, 30 +/- 16%, 3.6 +/- 1.7 h, 3.5 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml), and Slo-bid (11.9 +/- 1.9 h, 4.4 +/- 1.3 h, 60 +/- 9%, 4 +/- 1.1 h, 8.6 +/- 0.8 micrograms/ml). Choledyl, Theo-Dur and Slo-bid appear to have absorption characteristics which, if given twice daily, would maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations of theophylline between 10 and 20 micrograms/ml in the dog. Of these, Theo-Dur was predicted to provide the least peak:trough fluctuation in theophylline plasma concentrations.     

An anomaly of the ocular fundus of the Beagle dog

An anomaly of the fundus in a strain of pure-bred Beagle dogs is described clinically and histologically.
Résumé. On décrit une anomalie du fond d'oeil observée cliniquement et histologiquement dans la Iignée de chien beagles pur-sang.
Zusammenfassung. Eine Anomalie des Fundus bei einem Stamm reinrassiger Beagle-Hunde wird klinisch und histologisch beschrieben.     

Stereotactic CT-guided brain biopsy in the dog

This study evaluated the accuracy of a new stereotactic CT-guided brain biopsy (SCTGBB) device on 23 client-owned dogs which presented with a brain lesion. Biopsy of the lesion was achieved in 95 per cent of cases. The target tissue was not sampled in one dog. Complications were observed in six dogs. Two dogs with highly vascularised brainstem tumours died after SCTGBB. Minor complications (slight variation in the neurological status) were observed in a further four cases. A diagnosis was reached in 16 dogs after cytological examination and in 21 dogs after histological evaluation. SCTGBB is an accurate diagnostic method for the diagnosis of brain lesions.     

The distribution of spirochaetes in the gingival crevice of a Beagle dog

In the Beagle dog the dental plaque at the orifice of the gingival crevice consisted of a dense, mixed bacterial population. More apically, large numbers of spirochaetes were observed and many were orientated parallel to one another with their long axes vertical to the tooth surface. It is suggested that the distribution of spirochaetes within the gingival crevice is related to the growth requirements of these organisms.
Résumé. Chez le bigle, la plaque dentaire à l'orifice de la crevasse gingivale consistait en une population dense d'un mélange de bactéries. On avait remarque au sommet un plus grand nombre de spirochètes beaucoup s'orientaient parallèles aux uns et aux autres avec leurs longs axes, verticaux à la surface de la dent. On suggère que la distribution de spirochètes dans la crevasse gingivale se rapporte à la grosseur exigée de ces organismes.
Zusammenfassung. Im kleinen Spürhund bestand die Zahnplaque am Orificium der Zahnfleischtasche aus einer dichten gemischten bakteriellen Bevölkerung. Mehr apikal, wurden grosse Anzahlen von Spirochäten bemerkt und viele waren parallel zueinander orientiert mit ihren Längsachsen waagerecht zu der Zahnoberfläche. Es wurde vorgeschlagen, dass die Verteilung von Spirochäten innerhalb der Zahnfleischtasche mit dem Wachstum Erfordernissen dieser Organismen verbunden ist.     

Spontaneous necrotizing sialometaplasia of the submandibular salivary gland in a Beagle dog

A single mass was found on the left submandibular salivary gland at necropsy of a 15-month-old male commercially bred laboratory Beagle dog from a control dose group from a repeat toxicity study. Microscopically, the mass was composed of a well-demarcated area of coagulative necrosis surrounded and separated from the normal salivary gland tissue by a thick fibrovascular capsule. Necrosis was admixed with areas of hemorrhage, fibrin, edema, fibrinoid necrosis of the vascular tunica media, and thrombosis of small and large vessels. Within the necrotic tissue, there was marked ductal hyperplasia, and squamous metaplasia of duct and acinar epithelium. The mass was diagnosed as necrotizing sialometaplasia of the submandibular gland. Hyperplastic ductal elements and squamous metaplasia can be mistaken microscopically with squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, pathologists should be aware of this lesion as to avoid errors in the diagnosis of this benign pathologic condition.     

Focal mastocytosis in lymph nodes from a Beagle dog.

An 11-year-old Beagle dog had focal mastocytosis in the midtracheobronchial and left tracheobronchial lymph nodes. The cells were well-differentiated and were arranged in well-defined follicles. There were neither skin tumors nor mast-cell accumulations in other tissues.     

Cytologic features of testicular tumours in dog

In this paper, we report on our experience of cytology of fine needle biopsies performed on 92 dogs with testicular tumours during the period from 1998 to 2002. Cytological diagnosis was consistent with seminoma in 20 cases, sertolioma in 16 cases, Leydig cell tumours in 50 cases and mastocytoma in one case. Five cases could not be diagnosed by cytology. Cytological observations were confirmed after surgery by histopathological examination in 87 cases. Cytology provided a sensitivity of 95% for seminoma, 88% for sertolioma and 96% for Leydig cell tumours. The specificity was 100% for all three tumour types. In our experience cytology of fine needle aspirations of testicular tumours is a very reliable technique.